UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

R

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2016

2017

OR

o

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period fromto

Commission file number: 001-36211

Noble Corporation plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

England and Wales (Registered Number 08354954)

98-0619597

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

Devonshire House, 1 Mayfair Place, London, England, W1J8AJ

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: +44 20 3300 2300

Commission file number: 001-31306

Noble Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Cayman Islands

98-0366361

Cayman Islands98-0366361
(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

Suite 3D Landmark Square, 64 Earth Close, P.O. Box 31327 George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-1206

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (345) 938-0293

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  Rþ    No  o¨

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  Rþ    No  o¨

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” andfiler,” “smaller reporting company”company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Noble Corporation plc:

Large accelerated filer Rþ

Accelerated filer £¨

Non-accelerated filer £¨

Smaller reporting company £¨

Emerging growth company ¨

Noble Corporation:

Large accelerated filer £¨

Accelerated filer £¨

Non-accelerated filer Rþ

Smaller reporting company £¨

Emerging growth company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  o¨    No  Rþ

Number of shares outstanding and trading at April 22, 2016:25, 2017: Noble Corporation plc —243,213,745

—244,685,144

Number of shares outstanding: Noble Corporation — 261,245,693

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1) (a) and (b) to Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format contemplated by paragraphs (b) and (c) of General Instruction H(2) of Form 10-Q.




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Page
PART I

Item 1

Noble Corporation plc (Noble-UK) Financial Statements:

Noble Corporation (Noble-Cayman) Financial Statements:

Item 2

Item 3

44

Item 4

46

PART II

Item 1

46

Item 1A

Item 2

46

Item 6

46

47

48

This combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is separately filed by Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Noble-UK”), and Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”). Information in this filing relating to Noble-Cayman is filed by Noble-UK and separately by Noble-Cayman on its own behalf. Noble-Cayman makes no representation as to information relating to Noble-UK (except as it may relate to Noble-Cayman) or any other affiliate or subsidiary of Noble-UK. Since Noble-Cayman meets the conditions specified in General Instructions H(1)(a) and (b) to Form 10-Q, it is permitted to use the reduced disclosure format for wholly-owned subsidiaries of reporting companies as stated in General Instructions H(2). Accordingly, Noble-Cayman has omitted from this report the information called for by Item 3 (Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk) of Part I of Form 10-Q and the following items of Part II of Form 10-Q: Item 2 (Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds) and Item 3 (Defaults upon Senior Securities).

This report should be read in its entirety as it pertains to each Registrant. Except where indicated, the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes are combined. References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “Noble,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and words of similar meaning refer collectively to Noble-UK and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Noble-Cayman.




PART I. FINANCIALFINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

236,198

 

 

$

512,245

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

506,017

 

 

 

498,931

 

Taxes receivable

 

 

55,326

 

 

 

55,525

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

154,478

 

 

 

173,917

 

Total current assets

 

 

952,019

 

 

 

1,240,618

 

Property and equipment, at cost

 

 

14,100,263

 

 

 

14,056,323

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(2,712,587

)

 

 

(2,572,700

)

Property and equipment, net

 

 

11,387,676

 

 

 

11,483,623

 

Other assets

 

 

115,217

 

 

 

141,404

 

Total assets

 

$

12,454,912

 

 

$

12,865,645

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

$

299,523

 

 

$

299,924

 

Accounts payable

 

 

142,955

 

 

 

223,221

 

Accrued payroll and related costs

 

 

53,278

 

 

 

81,464

 

Taxes payable

 

 

92,694

 

 

 

87,940

 

Interest payable

 

 

42,033

 

 

 

72,961

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

98,469

 

 

 

98,074

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

728,952

 

 

 

863,584

 

Long-term debt

 

 

3,864,060

 

 

 

4,162,638

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

70,750

 

 

 

92,797

 

Other liabilities

 

 

299,737

 

 

 

324,396

 

Total liabilities

 

 

4,963,499

 

 

 

5,443,415

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares; 243,212 and 241,977 shares outstanding

 

 

2,432

 

 

 

2,420

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

630,371

 

 

 

628,483

 

Retained earnings

 

 

6,199,112

 

 

 

6,131,501

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(60,638

)

 

 

(63,175

)

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

6,771,277

 

 

 

6,699,229

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

720,136

 

 

 

723,001

 

Total equity

 

 

7,491,413

 

 

 

7,422,230

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

12,454,912

 

 

$

12,865,645

 

  March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
ASSETS    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $519,771
 $725,722
Accounts receivable, net 285,522
 319,152
Taxes receivable 96,233
 55,480
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 62,958
 92,260
Total current assets 964,484
 1,192,614
Property and equipment, at cost 12,381,850
 12,364,888
Accumulated depreciation (2,437,452) (2,302,940)
Property and equipment, net 9,944,398
 10,061,948
Other assets 97,084
 185,555
Total assets $11,005,966
 $11,440,117
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
Current liabilities    
Current maturities of long-term debt $249,299
 $299,882
Accounts payable 83,782
 108,224
Accrued payroll and related costs 34,958
 48,383
Taxes payable 49,036
 46,561
Interest payable 63,252
 61,299
Other current liabilities 69,586
 68,944
Total current liabilities 549,913
 633,293
Long-term debt 3,792,520
 4,040,229
Deferred income taxes 179,742
 2,084
Other liabilities 301,966
 297,066
Total liabilities 4,824,141
 4,972,672
Commitments and contingencies 

 

Shareholders' equity    
Shares; 244,685 and 243,239 shares outstanding 2,447
 2,432
Additional paid-in capital 657,149
 654,168
Retained earnings 4,852,610
 5,154,221
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (51,672) (52,140)
Total shareholders' equity 5,460,534
 5,758,681
Noncontrolling interests 721,291
 708,764
Total equity 6,181,825
 6,467,445
Total liabilities and equity $11,005,966
 $11,440,117
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.




NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

$

591,367

 

 

$

779,361

 

Reimbursables

 

 

20,606

 

 

 

24,981

 

 

 

 

611,973

 

 

 

804,342

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

 

251,248

 

 

 

321,750

 

Reimbursables

 

 

16,006

 

 

 

20,157

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

149,719

 

 

 

154,138

 

General and administrative

 

 

19,540

 

 

 

23,938

 

 

 

 

436,513

 

 

 

519,983

 

Operating income

 

 

175,460

 

 

 

284,359

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

 

 

(57,100

)

 

 

(49,044

)

Interest income and other, net

 

 

(730

)

 

 

6,582

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

117,630

 

 

 

241,897

 

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

 

6,503

 

 

 

(43,447

)

Net income

 

 

124,133

 

 

 

198,450

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(18,648

)

 

 

(20,047

)

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc

 

$

105,485

 

 

$

178,403

 

Per share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.72

 

Diluted:

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.72

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
Operating revenues    
Contract drilling services $354,659
 $591,367
Reimbursables 8,304
 20,606
Other 13
 
  362,976
 611,973
Operating costs and expenses    
Contract drilling services 160,385
 251,248
Reimbursables 5,146
 16,006
Depreciation and amortization 135,718
 149,719
General and administrative 15,880
 19,540
  317,129
 436,513
Operating income 45,847
 175,460
Other income (expense)    
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized (73,447) (57,100)
Interest income (expense) and other, net 1,233
 (730)
Income (loss) before income taxes (26,367) 117,630
Income tax benefit (provision) (257,407) 6,503
Net income (loss) (283,774) 124,133
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (17,920) (18,648)
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc $(301,694) $105,485
Per share data:    
Basic: $(1.24) $0.42
Diluted: $(1.24) $0.42
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.




NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(LOSS)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net income

 

$

124,133

 

 

$

198,450

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

768

 

 

 

(3,299

)

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

 

986

 

 

 

(3,145

)

Amortization of deferred pension plan amounts (net of tax provision of $409 and

   $566 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015)

 

 

783

 

 

 

1,081

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

(5,363

)

Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(18,648

)

 

 

(20,047

)

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation plc

 

$

108,022

 

 

$

173,040

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
Net income (loss) $(283,774) $124,133
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax    
Foreign currency translation adjustments 186
 768
Foreign currency forward contracts (110) 986
Amortization of deferred pension plan amounts (net of tax provision of $167 and $409 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively) 392
 783
Other comprehensive income, net 468
 2,537
Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests (17,920) (18,648)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc $(301,226) $108,022
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.



NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

124,133

 

 

$

198,450

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

149,719

 

 

 

154,138

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(22,513

)

 

 

(10,164

)

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

 

10,958

 

 

 

11,400

 

Net change in other assets and liabilities

 

 

(87,496

)

 

 

14,758

 

Net cash from operating activities

 

 

174,801

 

 

 

368,582

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(51,357

)

 

 

(89,307

)

Change in accrued capital expenditures

 

 

(37,967

)

 

 

(29,010

)

Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

 

3,031

 

 

 

 

Net cash from investing activities

 

 

(86,293

)

 

 

(118,317

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities

 

 

 

 

 

(1,099,497

)

Repayment of long-term debt

 

 

(300,000

)

 

 

 

Issuance of senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

1,092,728

 

Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facilities

 

 

 

 

 

(14,775

)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(21,513

)

 

 

(19,369

)

Repurchases of shares

 

 

 

 

 

(100,630

)

Dividend payments

 

 

(37,546

)

 

 

(92,855

)

Employee stock transactions

 

 

(5,496

)

 

 

(2,174

)

Net cash from financing activities

 

 

(364,555

)

 

 

(236,572

)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(276,047

)

 

 

13,693

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

512,245

 

 

 

68,510

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

236,198

 

 

$

82,203

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net income (loss) $(283,774) $124,133
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 135,718
 149,719
Deferred income taxes 268,076
 (22,513)
Amortization of share-based compensation 7,297
 10,958
Net change in other assets and liabilities 14,556
 (89,859)
Net cash provided by operating activities 141,873
 172,438
Cash flows from investing activities    
Capital expenditures (18,716) (51,357)
Change in accrued capital expenditures (19,666) (37,967)
Proceeds from disposal of assets 273
 3,031
Net cash used in investing activities (38,109) (86,293)
Cash flows from financing activities    
Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facility (42) 
Repayment of long-term debt (300,000) (300,000)
Dividend payments 
 (37,546)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests (5,393) (21,513)
Taxes withheld on employee stock transactions (4,280) (3,133)
Net cash used in financing activities (309,715) (362,192)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (205,951) (276,047)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 725,722
 512,245
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $519,771
 $236,198
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.




NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Paid-in

 

 

Retained

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Balance

 

 

Par Value

 

 

Capital

 

 

Earnings

 

 

Loss

 

 

Interests

 

 

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2014

 

 

247,501

 

 

$

2,475

 

 

$

695,638

 

 

$

5,936,035

 

 

$

(69,418

)

 

$

722,304

 

 

$

7,287,034

 

Employee related equity activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of share-based

   compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,400

 

Issuance of share-based

   compensation shares

 

 

670

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

(4,095

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,088

)

Tax benefit of equity transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,181

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,181

)

Repurchases of shares

 

 

(6,209

)

 

 

(62

)

 

 

(100,568

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(100,630

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

178,403

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,047

 

 

 

198,450

 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling

   interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,369

)

 

 

(19,369

)

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(92,855

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(92,855

)

Other comprehensive loss, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,363

)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,363

)

Balance at March 31, 2015

 

 

241,962

 

 

$

2,420

 

 

$

600,194

 

 

$

6,021,583

 

 

$

(74,781

)

 

$

722,982

 

 

$

7,272,398

 

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

 

241,977

 

 

$

2,420

 

 

$

628,483

 

 

$

6,131,501

 

 

$

(63,175

)

 

$

723,001

 

 

$

7,422,230

 

Employee related equity activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of share-based

   compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,958

 

Issuance of share-based

   compensation shares

 

 

1,235

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

(3,562

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,550

)

Tax benefit of equity transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,508

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,508

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

105,485

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,648

 

 

 

124,133

 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling

   interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,513

)

 

 

(21,513

)

Dividends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,874

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,874

)

Other comprehensive income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,537

 

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

 

243,212

 

 

$

2,432

 

 

$

630,371

 

 

$

6,199,112

 

 

$

(60,638

)

 

$

720,136

 

 

$

7,491,413

 

  Shares 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Equity
  Balance Par Value     
Balance at December 31, 2015 241,977
 $2,420
 $628,483
 $6,131,501
 $(63,175) $723,001
 $7,422,230
Employee related equity activity              
Amortization of share-based compensation 
 
 10,958
 
 
 
 10,958
Issuance of share-based compensation shares 1,235
 12
 (3,562) 
 
 
 (3,550)
Tax benefit of equity transactions 
 
 (5,508) 
 
 
 (5,508)
Net income 
 
 
 105,485
 
 18,648
 124,133
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (21,513) (21,513)
Dividends 
 
 
 (37,874) 
 
 (37,874)
Other comprehensive income, net 
 
 
 
 2,537
 
 2,537
Balance at March 31, 2016 243,212
 $2,432
 $630,371
 $6,199,112
 $(60,638) $720,136
 $7,491,413
Balance at December 31, 2016 243,239
 $2,432
 $654,168
 $5,154,221
 $(52,140) $708,764
 $6,467,445
Employee related equity activity              
Amortization of share-based compensation 
 
 7,297
 
 
 
 7,297
Issuance of share-based compensation shares 1,446
 15
 (21) 
 
 
 (6)
Shares withheld for taxes on equity transactions 
 
 (4,295) 
 
 
 (4,295)
Net income (loss) 
 
 
 (301,694) 
 17,920
 (283,774)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (5,393) (5,393)
Dividends 
 
 
 83
 
 
 83
Other comprehensive income, net 
 
 
 
 468
 
 468
Balance at March 31, 2017 244,685
 $2,447
 $657,149
 $4,852,610
 $(51,672) $721,291
 $6,181,825
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.




NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

235,423

 

 

$

511,795

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

506,017

 

 

 

498,931

 

Taxes receivable

 

 

55,317

 

 

 

55,442

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

150,967

 

 

 

168,469

 

Total current assets

 

 

947,724

 

 

 

1,234,637

 

Property and equipment, at cost

 

 

14,098,497

 

 

 

14,054,558

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(2,712,173

)

 

 

(2,572,331

)

Property and equipment, net

 

 

11,386,324

 

 

 

11,482,227

 

Other assets

 

 

106,134

 

 

 

132,319

 

Total assets

 

$

12,440,182

 

 

$

12,849,183

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

$

299,523

 

 

$

299,924

 

Accounts payable

 

 

141,117

 

 

 

221,077

 

Accrued payroll and related costs

 

 

52,954

 

 

 

81,364

 

Taxes payable

 

 

92,845

 

 

 

88,108

 

Interest payable

 

 

42,033

 

 

 

72,961

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

98,081

 

 

 

96,331

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

726,553

 

 

 

859,765

 

Long-term debt

 

 

3,864,060

 

 

 

4,162,638

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

70,750

 

 

 

92,797

 

Other liabilities

 

 

294,852

 

 

 

319,512

 

Total liabilities

 

 

4,956,215

 

 

 

5,434,712

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholder equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares; 261,246 shares outstanding

 

 

26,125

 

 

 

26,125

 

Capital in excess of par value

 

 

570,428

 

 

 

561,309

 

Retained earnings

 

 

6,227,916

 

 

 

6,167,211

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(60,638

)

 

 

(63,175

)

Total shareholder equity

 

 

6,763,831

 

 

 

6,691,470

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

720,136

 

 

 

723,001

 

Total equity

 

 

7,483,967

 

 

 

7,414,471

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

12,440,182

 

 

$

12,849,183

 

  March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
ASSETS    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $518,968
 $653,833
Accounts receivable, net 285,522
 319,152
Taxes receivable 96,233
 55,480
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 59,715
 88,749
Total current assets 960,438
 1,117,214
Property and equipment, at cost 12,381,850
 12,364,888
Accumulated depreciation (2,437,452) (2,302,940)
Property and equipment, net 9,944,398
 10,061,948
Other assets 90,117
 178,552
Total assets $10,994,953
 $11,357,714
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
Current liabilities    
Current maturities of long-term debt $249,299
 $299,882
Accounts payable 83,643
 107,868
Accrued payroll and related costs 34,935
 48,319
Taxes payable 48,629
 46,561
Interest payable 63,252
 61,299
Other current liabilities 68,038
 67,312
Total current liabilities 547,796
 631,241
Long-term debt 3,792,520
 4,040,229
Deferred income taxes 179,742
 2,084
Other liabilities 297,083
 292,183
Total liabilities 4,817,141
 4,965,737
Commitments and contingencies 

 

Shareholder equity    
Ordinary shares; 261,246 shares outstanding 26,125
 26,125
Capital in excess of par value 601,356
 594,091
Retained earnings 4,880,712
 5,115,137
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (51,672) (52,140)
Total shareholder equity 5,456,521
 5,683,213
Noncontrolling interests 721,291
 708,764
Total equity 6,177,812
 6,391,977
Total liabilities and equity $10,994,953
 $11,357,714
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.




NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

OPERATIONS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

$

591,367

 

 

$

779,361

 

Reimbursables

 

 

20,606

 

 

 

24,981

 

Other

 

 

600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

612,573

 

 

 

804,342

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

 

249,290

 

 

 

319,479

 

Reimbursables

 

 

16,006

 

 

 

20,157

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

149,673

 

 

 

153,866

 

General and administrative

 

 

10,605

 

 

 

12,208

 

 

 

 

425,574

 

 

 

505,710

 

Operating income

 

 

186,999

 

 

 

298,632

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

 

 

(57,100

)

 

 

(49,044

)

Interest income and other, net

 

 

(733

)

 

 

6,448

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

129,166

 

 

 

256,036

 

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

 

6,503

 

 

 

(43,558

)

Net income

 

 

135,669

 

 

 

212,478

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(18,648

)

 

 

(20,047

)

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

 

$

117,021

 

 

$

192,431

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
Operating revenues    
Contract drilling services $354,659
 $591,367
Reimbursables 8,304
 20,606
Other 13
 600
  362,976
 612,573
Operating costs and expenses    
Contract drilling services 160,016
 249,290
Reimbursables 5,146
 16,006
Depreciation and amortization 135,718
 149,673
General and administrative 9,064
 10,605
  309,944
 425,574
Operating income 53,032
 186,999
Other income (expense)    
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized (73,447) (57,100)
Interest income (expense) and other, net 1,119
 (733)
Income (loss) before income taxes (19,296) 129,166
Income tax benefit (provision) (257,373) 6,503
Net income (loss) (276,669) 135,669
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (17,920) (18,648)
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation $(294,589) $117,021
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.




NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(LOSS)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net income

 

$

135,669

 

 

$

212,478

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

768

 

 

 

(3,299

)

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

 

986

 

 

 

(3,145

)

Amortization of deferred pension plan amounts (net of tax provision of $409 and

   $566 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively

 

 

783

 

 

 

1,081

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

(5,363

)

Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(18,648

)

 

 

(20,047

)

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation

 

$

119,558

 

 

$

187,068

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
Net income (loss) $(276,669) $135,669
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax    
Foreign currency translation adjustments 186
 768
Foreign currency forward contracts (110) 986
Amortization of deferred pension plan amounts (net of tax provision of $167 and $409 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively) 392
 783
Other comprehensive income, net 468
 2,537
Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests (17,920) (18,648)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation $(294,121) $119,558
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.




NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

135,669

 

 

$

212,478

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

149,673

 

 

 

153,866

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

(22,513

)

 

 

(10,164

)

Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation

 

 

9,119

 

 

 

7,348

 

Net change in other assets and liabilities

 

 

(84,198

)

 

 

(4,505

)

Net cash from operating activities

 

 

187,750

 

 

 

359,023

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(51,357

)

 

 

(89,307

)

Change in accrued capital expenditures

 

 

(37,967

)

 

 

(29,010

)

Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

 

3,031

 

 

 

 

Net cash from investing activities

 

 

(86,293

)

 

 

(118,317

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities

 

 

 

 

 

(1,099,497

)

Repayment of long-term debt

 

 

(300,000

)

 

 

 

Issuance of senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

1,092,728

 

Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facilities

 

 

 

 

 

(14,775

)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(21,513

)

 

 

(19,369

)

Distributions to parent company, net

 

 

(56,316

)

 

 

(186,597

)

Net cash from financing activities

 

 

(377,829

)

 

 

(227,510

)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(276,372

)

 

 

13,196

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

511,795

 

 

 

65,780

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

235,423

 

 

$

78,976

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net income (loss) $(276,669) $135,669
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 135,718
 149,673
Deferred income taxes 268,076
 (22,513)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation 7,265
 9,119
Net change in other assets and liabilities 14,125
 (84,198)
Net cash provided by operating activities 148,515
 187,750
Cash flows from investing activities    
Capital expenditures (18,716) (51,357)
Change in accrued capital expenditures (19,666) (37,967)
Proceeds from disposal of assets 273
 3,031
Net cash used in investing activities (38,109) (86,293)
Cash flows from financing activities    
Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facility (42) 
Repayment of long-term debt (300,000) (300,000)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests (5,393) (21,513)
Contributions (distributions) from (to) parent company, net 60,164
 (56,316)
Net cash used in financing activities (245,271) (377,829)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (134,865) (276,372)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 653,833
 511,795
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $518,968
 $235,423
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.



NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Excess of

 

 

Retained

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Balance

 

 

Par Value

 

 

Par Value

 

 

Earnings

 

 

Loss

 

 

Interests

 

 

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2014

 

 

261,246

 

 

$

26,125

 

 

$

530,657

 

 

$

6,009,114

 

 

$

(69,418

)

 

$

722,304

 

 

$

7,218,782

 

Distributions to parent company, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(186,597

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(186,597

)

Capital contribution by parent - share-

   based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,348

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,348

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

192,431

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,047

 

 

 

212,478

 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,369

)

 

 

(19,369

)

Other comprehensive loss, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,363

)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,363

)

Balance at March 31, 2015

 

 

261,246

 

 

$

26,125

 

 

$

538,005

 

 

$

6,014,948

 

 

$

(74,781

)

 

$

722,982

 

 

$

7,227,279

 

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

 

261,246

 

 

$

26,125

 

 

$

561,309

 

 

$

6,167,211

 

 

$

(63,175

)

 

$

723,001

 

 

$

7,414,471

 

Distributions to parent company, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(56,316

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(56,316

)

Capital contribution by parent - share-

   based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,119

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

117,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,648

 

 

 

135,669

 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,513

)

 

 

(21,513

)

Other comprehensive income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,537

 

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

 

261,246

 

 

$

26,125

 

 

$

570,428

 

 

$

6,227,916

 

 

$

(60,638

)

 

$

720,136

 

 

$

7,483,967

 

  Shares 
Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Equity
  Balance Par Value     
Balance at December 31, 2015 261,246
 $26,125
 $561,309
 $6,167,211
 $(63,175) $723,001
 $7,414,471
Distributions to parent company, net 
 
 
 (56,316) 
 
 (56,316)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation 
 
 9,119
 
 
 
 9,119
Net income 
 
 
 117,021
 
 18,648
 135,669
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (21,513) (21,513)
Other comprehensive income, net 
 
 
 
 2,537
 
 2,537
Balance at March 31, 2016 261,246
 $26,125
 $570,428
 $6,227,916
 $(60,638) $720,136
 $7,483,967
Balance at December 31, 2016 261,246
 $26,125
 $594,091
 $5,115,137
 $(52,140) $708,764
 $6,391,977
Contributions to parent company, net 
 
 
 60,164
 
 
 60,164
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation 
 
 7,265
 
 
 
 7,265
Net income (loss) 
 
 
 (294,589) 
 17,920
 (276,669)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (5,393) (5,393)
Other comprehensive income, net 
 
 
 
 468
 
 468
Balance at March 31, 2017 261,246
 $26,125
 $601,356
 $4,880,712
 $(51,672) $721,291
 $6,177,812
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.



NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Presentation

Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Noble-UK”), is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. We perform contract drilling services with our global fleet of mobile offshore drilling units. As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,May 5, 2017, our fleet consisted of 14 jackups, eight drillships and eight semisubmersibles, including one high-specification, harsh environment jackup under construction.

six semisubmersibles.

We report our contract drilling operations as a single reportable segment, Contract Drilling Services, which reflects how we manage our business, and the fact that all of our drilling fleet is dependent upon the worldwide oil and gas industry. The mobile offshore drilling units comprising our offshore rig fleet operate in a global market for contract drilling services and are often redeployed to different regions due to changing demands of our customers, which consist largely of major independent and government owned/government-owned or controlled oil and gas companies throughout the world. As of March 31, 2016,2017, our contract drilling services segment conducted operations in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, the North Sea, the Mediterranean,South Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.South America. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”), is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-UK, our publicly-traded parent company. Noble-UK’s principal asset is all of the shares of Noble-Cayman. Noble-Cayman has no public equity outstanding. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-UK conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as they pertain to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited consolidated financial statements. All such adjustments are of a recurring nature. The December 31, 20152016 Consolidated Balance Sheets presented herein are derived from the December 31, 20152016 audited consolidated financial statements. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015,2016, filed by both Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. In accordance with our adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-03, unamortized debt issuance costs related to our senior notes2016-09, excess tax benefits of approximately $26$5.5 million as of DecemberMarch 31, 2015, which were2016, previously includedclassified as a financing activity in “Employee stock transactions,” are classified as an operating activity in “Other assets,current liabilities” on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Shares withheld for taxes on employee stock transactions of approximately $3 million as of March 31, 2016, previously classified as an operating activity in “Other current liabilities,” are includedclassified as a financing activity in either “Current maturities of long-term debt” or “Long-term debt”“Employee stock transactions” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, based upon the maturity dateStatement of the respective senior notes.

Cash Flows.

Note 2 — Spin-off of Paragon Offshore plc (“Paragon Offshore”)

On August 1, 2014, Noble-UK completed the separation and spin-off of a majority of its standard specification offshore drilling business (the “Spin-off”) through a pro rata distribution of all of the ordinary shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore, to the holders of Noble’s ordinary shares.

In February 2016, Paragon Offshore sought approval of a pre-negotiated plan of reorganization (the "Prior Plan") by filing for voluntary relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As part of the Prior Plan, we entered into an agreement in principle for a settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore (the “Settlement Agreement”) under which, in exchange for a full and unconditional release of any claims by Paragon Offshore in connection with the Spin-off (including certainfraudulent conveyance claims that could be brought on behalf of Paragon Offshore’s creditors), we agreed to provide certain tax bonding in Mexico as well as assume certain tax liabilities and the administration of Mexican tax claims for a specified years upnumber of years. The bonding to and including 2010, as well as the related bonding obligations and certainbe provided by Noble-UK was a key benefit to Paragon Offshore of the relatedSettlement Agreement, which was subject to bankruptcy court confirmation as part of a bankruptcy plan. The Prior Plan was rejected by the bankruptcy court in October 2016.
In April 2017, Paragon Offshore filed an updated disclosure statement and a revised plan of reorganization (the “New Plan”) in its bankruptcy proceeding. Under the New Plan, including Paragon Offshore’s revised business plan, Paragon Offshore will no longer need the Mexican tax liabilities. The finalbonding that Noble-UK was to provide under the Settlement Agreement. As a result, the Settlement Agreement is no longer applicable to the anticipated ongoing business of Paragon Offshore. Consequently, Paragon Offshore
NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


abandoned the Settlement Agreement as part of the New Plan and the Settlement Agreement was terminated at the time of the filing of the New Plan. On May 2, 2017, Paragon Offshore announced that it had reached an agreement in principle with both its secured and unsecured creditors to revise the New Plan to, among other things, create and fund a litigation trust to pursue litigation against us.
We continue to discuss our continuing relationship with Paragon Offshore, including the possibility of entering into a new settlement agreement. There can be no assurance that the Company will reach any such settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore. If we do not enter into a settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore, which was signed bywe expect Paragon Offshore or its creditors would use the parties on April 29, 2016, is subjectlitigation trust to pursue claims against us relating to the approvalSpin-off, including any alleged fraudulent conveyance claims. We continue to believe that Paragon Offshore, at the time of the Spin-off, was properly funded, solvent and had appropriate liquidity and that any fraudulent conveyance claim or other claim related to the Spin-off that may be brought by Paragon Offshore’s bankruptcy planOffshore or its creditors, would be without merit and would be contested vigorously by a bankruptcy court. A hearing to confirm the plan is set for late June 2016us (see Note 1314 for additional information).

Prior to the completion of the Spin-off, NobleNoble-UK and Paragon Offshore entered into a series of agreements to effect the separation and Spin-off and govern the relationship between the parties after the Spin-off.

13


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

Spin-off (the "Separation Agreements").

Master Separation Agreement (“MSA”)

The general terms and conditions relating to the separation and Spin-off are set forth in the MSA. The MSA identifies the assets transferred, liabilities assumed and contracts assigned either to Paragon Offshore by us or by Paragon Offshore to us in the separation and describes when and how these transfers, assumptions and assignments would occur. The MSA provides for, among other things, Paragon Offshore’s responsibility for liabilities relating to its business and the responsibility of NobleNoble-UK for liabilities related to our, and in certain limited cases, Paragon Offshore’s business, in each case irrespective of when the liability arose. The MSA also contains indemnification obligations and ongoing commitments by us and Paragon Offshore.

Employee Matters Agreement (“EMA”)

The EMA allocates liabilities and responsibilities between us and Paragon Offshore relating to employment, compensation and benefits and other employment related matters.

Tax Sharing Agreement (“TSA”)

The TSA provides for the allocation of tax liabilities and benefits between us and Paragon Offshore and governs the parties’ assistance with tax-related claims.

Transition Services Agreements

Under two transition services agreements, we agreed to continue, for a limited period of time, to provide various interim support services to Paragon Offshore, and Paragon Offshore agreed to provide various interim support services to us, including providing operational and administrative support for our remaining Brazilian operations.

In the course of its bankruptcy, Paragon Offshore may elect to reject the Separation Agreements. If Paragon Offshore rejects the Separation Agreements, the indemnity obligations that Paragon Offshore may owe us under the Separation Agreements would terminate, including indemnities arising under the MSA and the TSA in respect of obligations related to Paragon Offshore’s business that were incurred through Noble-retained entities prior to the Spin-off. We could, however, pursue claims against Paragon Offshore for such indemnity amounts in the bankruptcy proceeding. Any such claims would be unsecured claims in the bankruptcy. Likewise, any indemnity obligations that we may owe Paragon Offshore under the Separation Agreements, including those under the MSA and the TSA in respect of Noble-UK’s business that was conducted prior to the Spin-off through Paragon Offshore-retained entities, would also be extinguished. We do not expect that a rejection of the Separation Agreements by Paragon Offshore would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity. However, any loss we experience with respect to which we are unable to secure indemnification from Paragon Offshore could have an adverse impact on our results of operations in any period, which impact may be material depending on our results of operations during this down-cycle.
Note 3 — Consolidated Joint Ventures

We maintain a 50 percent interest in two joint ventures, each with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”), that own and operate the two Bully-class drillships. We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the joint ventures. Accordingly, we consolidate the entities in our consolidated financial statements after eliminating intercompany transactions. Shell’s equity interests are presented as noncontrolling interests on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

During the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, the Bully joint ventures approved and paid dividends totaling $43$11 million and $39$43 million, respectively. Of these amounts, 50 percent was paid to our joint venture partner.

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


The combined carrying amount of the Bully-class drillships at both March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 20152016 totaled $1.4 billion. These assets were primarily funded through partner equity contributions. Cash held by the Bully joint ventures totaled approximately $41$45 million at March 31, 20162017 as compared to approximately $50$35 million at December 31, 2015.

14


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

2016.

Note 4 — Share Data

Earnings per share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for Noble-UK:

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Noble-UK

 

$

105,485

 

 

$

178,403

 

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

 

 

(3,822

)

 

 

(3,931

)

Net income to common shareholders - basic

 

$

101,663

 

 

$

174,472

 

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Noble-UK

 

$

105,485

 

 

$

178,403

 

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

 

 

(3,822

)

 

 

(3,931

)

Net income to common shareholders - diluted

 

$

101,663

 

 

$

174,472

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

 

 

242,826

 

 

 

242,685

 

Incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock

   options

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

 

 

242,826

 

 

 

242,685

 

Weighted average unvested share-based payment awards

 

 

9,129

 

 

 

5,468

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.72

 

Diluted

 

$

0.42

 

 

$

0.72

 

Dividends per share

 

$

0.150

 

 

$

0.375

 

  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
Numerator:    
Basic    
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble-UK $(301,694) $105,485
Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards 
 (3,822)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders - basic
 $(301,694) $101,663
Diluted  
  
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble-UK $(301,694) $105,485
Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards 
 (3,822)
Net income (loss) to common shareholders - diluted $(301,694) $101,663
Denominator:  
  
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 244,222
 242,826
Incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 244,222
 242,826
Weighted average unvested share-based payment awards 
 9,129
Earnings (loss) per share    
Basic $(1.24) $0.42
Diluted $(1.24) $0.42
Dividends per share $
 $0.150
Only those items having a dilutive impact on our basic earnings per share are included in diluted earnings per share. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, and 2015, approximately 1.61.3 million and 2.01.6 million shares underlying stock options, respectively, were excluded from the diluted earnings per share as such stock options were not dilutive.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we experienced a net loss from continuing operations and as a result, approximately 9 million unvested share-based payment awards were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation, as such awards were not dilutive.

Share capital

As of March 31, 2016,2017, Noble-UK had approximately 243.2244.7 million shares outstanding and trading as compared to approximately 242.0243.2 million shares outstanding and trading at December 31, 2015.2016. Our Board of Directors may increase our share capital through the issuance of up to 53 million authorized shares (at current nominal value of $0.01 per share) without obtaining shareholder approval.

Our most recent quarterly dividend payment to shareholders, totaling approximately $38 million (or $0.15 per share), was declared on January 29, 2016 and paid on February 16, 2016 to holders of record on February 8, 2016.

On April 22, 2016, our Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly dividend to shareholders of $0.02 per share. The payment is expected to total approximately $5 million, based on the number of shares currently outstanding.

The declaration and payment of dividends require authorization of the Board of Directors of Noble-UK, provided that such dividends on issued share capital may be paid only out of Noble-UK’s “distributable reserves” on its statutory balance sheet. Noble-UK is not permitted to pay dividends out of share capital, which includes share premiums. The resumption of the payment of future dividends will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future business prospects, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

15


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

Share repurchases

Under UK law, the Company is only permitted to purchase its own shares by way of an “off-market purchase” in a plan approved by shareholders. In December 2014,Prior to April 22, 2016, we receivedhad shareholder approval to repurchase up to 37 million ordinary shares, or approximately 15 percentshares. That authority has now expired and we do not currently have shareholder authority to repurchase shares.
NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


Note 5 — Contract Settlement and Termination Agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
On May 10, 2016, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (“Freeport”), Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC and one of our outstanding ordinary shares atsubsidiaries entered into an agreement terminating the timecontracts on the Noble Sam Croft and the Noble Tom Madden (“FCX Settlement”), which were scheduled to end in July 2017 and November 2017, respectively.
Pursuant to the FCX Settlement, Noble may receive payments based upon the average price of oil over a 12 month period from June 30, 2016 through June 30, 2017. These contingent payments were not designated for hedge accounting treatment under FASB standards, and therefore, changes in fair value are recognized as either income or loss in the shareholder approval. The authority to make such repurchases expired at the endaccompanying Consolidated Statements of the Company’s 2016 annual general meeting of shareholders, which was held on April 22, 2016. During 2015, we repurchased 6.2 million of our ordinary shares covered by this authorization for a total cost of approximately $101 million. DuringOperations. For the three months ended March 31, 2016,2017, we did not repurchase anyrecognized a loss of our shares.

approximately $7.9 million in “Contract drilling services revenue,” related to the valuation of this contingent payment. As of March 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of these contingent payments was $6.5 million which is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” (see Note 511 for additional information).

Note 6 — Receivables from Customers

At March 31, 2016,2017, we had receivables of approximately $14 million related to the Noble Max Smith, which are being disputed by our former customer, Petróleos Mexicanos (“Pemex”). These receivables have been classified as long-term and are included in “Other assets” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The disputed amounts relate to lost revenues for downtime that occurred after our rig was damaged when one of Pemex’s supply boats collided with our rig in 2010. In January 2012, we filed a lawsuit against Pemex in Mexican court seeking recovery of these amounts. While we can make no assurances as to the outcome of this dispute, we believe we are entitled to the disputed amounts.

Note 67 — Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, at cost, as of March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 20152016 for Noble-UK consisted of the following:

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Drilling equipment and facilities

 

$

13,443,211

 

 

$

13,074,804

 

Construction in progress

 

 

443,843

 

 

 

761,347

 

Other

 

 

213,209

 

 

 

220,172

 

Property and equipment, at cost

 

$

14,100,263

 

 

$

14,056,323

 

  March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Drilling equipment and facilities $12,100,890
 $12,048,571
Construction in progress 76,261
 112,103
Other 204,699
 204,214
Property and equipment, at cost $12,381,850
 $12,364,888
Capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, totaled $51$19 million and $89$51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, and 2015, respectively. There was no capitalized interest for the three months ended March 31, 2017, due to the completion of our newbuild program. Capitalized interest was $4 million and $5$4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, we completed the sale of the previously retired drillship, the Noble Discoverer2016.. In connection with the sale of this rig, we received proceeds of approximately $3 million.

16


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)



Note 78 — Debt

Our total debt consisted of the following at March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015:

2016:

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

$

299,965

 

 

$

299,997

 

Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

(442

)

 

 

(73

)

Current maturities of long-term debt, net of debt

   issuance costs

 

$

299,523

 

 

$

299,924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.05% Senior Notes due March 2016

 

$

 

 

$

299,997

 

2.50% Senior Notes due March 2017

 

 

299,965

 

 

 

299,956

 

5.00% Senior Notes due March 2018

 

 

249,645

 

 

 

249,602

 

7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019

 

 

201,695

 

 

 

201,695

 

4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020

 

 

499,322

 

 

 

499,287

 

4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021

 

 

399,694

 

 

 

399,680

 

3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022

 

 

399,377

 

 

 

399,354

 

6.95% Senior Notes due April 2025

 

 

448,838

 

 

 

448,814

 

6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040

 

 

399,897

 

 

 

399,896

 

6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041

 

 

397,728

 

 

 

397,719

 

5.25% Senior Notes due March 2042

 

 

498,346

 

 

 

498,338

 

7.95% Senior Notes due April 2045

 

 

394,577

 

 

 

394,563

 

Total senior unsecured notes

 

 

4,189,084

 

 

 

4,488,901

 

Credit facility & commercial paper program

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt

 

 

4,189,084

 

 

 

4,488,901

 

Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

(25,059

)

 

 

(26,266

)

Less: Current maturities of long-term debt

 

 

(299,965

)

 

 

(299,997

)

Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs

 

$

3,864,060

 

 

$

4,162,638

 

In accordance with our adoption of ASU No. 2015-03, unamortized debt issuance costs related to our senior notes are shown as a direct reduction of the carrying amount of the related debt. The debt issuance costs previously included in “Other assets,” are included in either “Current maturities of long-term debt” or “Long-term debt” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, based upon the maturity date of the respective senior notes.

  March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Senior unsecured senior notes    
2.50% Senior Notes due March 2017 $
 $299,992
5.75% Senior Notes due March 2018 249,817
 249,771
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 201,695
 201,695
4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020 167,610
 167,576
4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021 208,552
 208,538
3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022 125,512
 125,488
7.75% Senior Notes due January 2024 980,647
 980,117
7.20% Senior Notes due April 2025 448,934
 448,909
6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040 399,899
 399,898
6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041 397,768
 397,758
5.25% Senior Notes due March 2042 498,376
 498,369
8.20% Senior Notes due April 2045 394,625
 394,613
Total debt 4,073,435
 4,372,724
Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs (31,616) (32,613)
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt (1)
 (249,299) (299,882)
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs $3,792,520
 $4,040,229
(1)Presented net of current portion of unamortized debt issuance costs of $0.5 million and $0.1 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
Credit Facility and Commercial Paper Program

We currently have a five-year $2.4 billion senior unsecured credit facility that matures in January 2020.2020 and is guaranteed by our indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries, Noble Holding (U.S.) LLC ("NHUS") and Noble Holding International Limited ("NHIL"). The credit facility provides us with the ability to issue up to $500 million in letters of credit. The issuance of letters of credit under the facility reduces the amount available for borrowing.
Throughout the term of the credit facility, we pay a facility fee on the daily unused amount of the underlying commitment which ranges from 0.1 percent to 0.35 percent depending on our debt ratings. At March 31, 2016,2017, based on our debt ratings on that date, the facility fee was 0.35 percent. At March 31, 2017, we had no borrowings outstanding or letters of credit issuedissued. In addition, our credit facility has provisions which vary the applicable interest rates based upon our debt ratings. At March 31, 2017, the interest rate in effect is the highest permitted interest rate under the credit facility.

We also have a

During 2016, we terminated our commercial paper program that allowswhich had allowed us to issue up to $2.4 billion in unsecured commercial paper notes. Amounts issued underThis termination does not reduce the commercial paper program are supported by the unused capacity under our credit facilityfacility.
Debt Issuances
In December 2016, we issued $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes, which we issued through our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, NHIL. The net proceeds of approximately $968 million, after estimated expenses, were primarily used to retire debt related to our tender offer and therefore, are classified as long-termthe remaining portion will be used for general corporate purposes.
Senior Notes Interest Rate Adjustments
During 2016, we experienced several debt rating downgrades by Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings, which reduced our debt ratings below investment grade. As a result of these downgrades, we experienced interest rate increases during 2016 on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The outstanding amountsSenior Notes due 2018, 2025 and 2045, all of commercial paper reduce availability under our credit facility. Accesswhich are subject to our commercial paper program is dependent upon our credit ratings. As our credit ratings are below investment grade, we are currently prohibited from accessing the commercial paper market.

As of March 31, 2016, we had no amounts drawn on our credit facility.

Our credit facility and certain of our senior notes, as discussed below, have provisions which vary the applicable interest rates based uponif our credit ratings.

17


debt rating falls below investment grade, with continued adjustments up to a contractually-defined maximum interest rate increase set for each rating agency. Effective March 2017, the interest rates on our Senior Notes due 2018 increased to 5.75% and effective April 1, 2017, the interest rates on our Senior Notes due 2025 and 2045 increased to 7.70% and 8.70%, respectively, as a result of the most recent debt rating downgrade. On April 28, 2017, Moody’s Investors Service reduced our debt rating.  However,

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

Senior Unsecured Notes

In March 2015, our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Noble Holding International Limited (“NHIL”), issued $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes



there was no further increase in three separate tranches, comprised of $250 million of 4.00% Senior Notes due 2018, $450 million of 5.95% Senior Notes due 2025, and $400 million of 6.95% Senior Notes due 2045. The interest rates for these Senior Notes are subject to adjustment from time to time upon a change to our debt rating, pursuant to the terms of these Senior Notes. In February 2016, as a result of a reduction in our debt rating below investment grade, the interest rates on these Senior Notes were increased to 5.00%, 6.95% and 7.95%, respectively, effectivebecause we have reached the first daycontractually-defined maximum interest rate increase in respect of each interest period after which the downgrade occurred.Moody’s Investors Service downgrades. The interest rates on these Senior Notes may be further increased if our debt ratingratings were to be downgraded further by S&P Global Ratings (up to a maximum of an additional 10025 basis points).

or decreased if our debt ratings were to be raised by either rating agency above specified levels.

Our other outstanding senior notes, including the Senior Notes due 2024 issued in December 2016, do not contain provisions varying applicable interest rates based upon our credit rating.
Debt Tender Offers and Repayments
In MarchDecember 2016, we repaidcommenced cash tender offers for our $300 million 3.05%4.90% Senior Notes due 2020, of which $468 million principal amount was outstanding, our 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021, of which $397 million principal amount was outstanding and our 3.95% Senior Notes due 2022, of which $400 million principal amount was outstanding. On December 28, 2016, we purchased $762 million of these Senior Notes for $750 million, plus accrued interest, using cash on hand.

a portion of the net proceeds of the $1 billion Senior Notes due 2024 issuance in December 2016. As a result of this transaction, we recognized a net gain of approximately $7 million.

In March 2016, we commenced cash tender offers for our 4.90% Senior Notes due 2020, of which $500 million principal amount was outstanding, and our 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021, of which $400 million principal amount was outstanding. On April 1, 2016, we purchased $36 million of these Senior Notes for $24 million, plus accrued interest, using cash on hand.

Our As a result of this transaction, we recognized a net gain of approximately $11 million.

In March 2017, we repaid our maturing $300 million 2.50% Senior Notes mature during the first quarter of 2017. using cash on hand.
We anticipate using cash on hand to repay the outstanding balances.

balance of our $250 million 5.75% Senior Notes, maturing in March 2018.

Covenants

The credit facility is guaranteed by NHILNHUS and Noble Holding Corporation (“NHC”).NHIL. The credit facility contains a covenant that limits our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization, as defined in the credit facility, to 0.60. At March 31, 2016,2017, our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization was approximately 0.36.0.40. We were in compliance with all covenants under the credit facility as of March 31, 2016.

2017.

In addition to the covenants from the credit facility noted above, the indentures governing our outstanding senior unsecured notes contain covenants that place restrictions on certain merger and consolidation transactions, unless we are the surviving entity or the other party assumes the obligations under the indenture, and on the ability to sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, there are restrictions on incurring or assuming certain liens and on entering into sale and lease-back transactions. At March 31, 2016,2017, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. We continually monitor compliance with the covenants under our notes and expect to remain in compliance during the remainder of 2016.

2017.

Fair Value of Debt

Fair value represents the amount at which an instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. The estimated fair value of our senior notes was based on the quoted market prices for similar issues or on the current rates offered to us for debt of similar remaining maturities (Level 2 measurement). All remaining fair value disclosures are presented in Note 11.

18


12.

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)



The following table presents the estimated fair value of our total debt, not including the effect of unamortized debt issuance costs, as of March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, respectively:

 

March 31, 2016

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

Carrying

 

 

Estimated

 

 

Carrying

 

 

Estimated

 

 March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016

 

Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value

Senior unsecured notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

3.05% Senior Notes due March 2016

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

299,997

 

 

$

299,340

 

2.50% Senior Notes due March 2017

 

 

299,965

 

 

 

283,313

 

 

 

299,956

 

 

 

284,334

 

 $
 $
 $299,992
 $299,128

5.00% Senior Notes due March 2018

 

 

249,645

 

 

 

232,369

 

 

 

249,602

 

 

 

227,285

 

5.75% Senior Notes due March 2018 249,817
 253,179
 249,771
 249,808

7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019

 

 

201,695

 

 

 

172,323

 

 

 

201,695

 

 

 

194,273

 

 201,695
 210,089
 201,695
 209,524

4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020

 

 

499,322

 

 

 

369,375

 

 

 

499,287

 

 

 

378,761

 

 167,610
 165,168
 167,576
 167,329

4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021

 

 

399,694

 

 

 

276,500

 

 

 

399,680

 

 

 

289,450

 

 208,552
 191,962
 208,538
 196,416

3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022

 

 

399,377

 

 

 

242,500

 

 

 

399,354

 

 

 

265,643

 

 125,512
 107,685
 125,488
 112,791

6.95% Senior Notes due April 2025

 

 

448,838

 

 

 

288,984

 

 

 

448,814

 

 

 

308,870

 

7.75% Senior Notes due January 2024 980,647
 961,685
 980,117
 945,317
7.20% Senior Notes due April 2025 448,934
 425,021
 448,909
 423,267

6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040

 

 

399,897

 

 

 

195,500

 

 

 

399,896

 

 

 

237,005

 

 399,899
 293,082
 399,898
 280,221

6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041

 

 

397,728

 

 

 

195,000

 

 

 

397,719

 

 

 

239,464

 

 397,768
 287,602
 397,758
 273,854

5.25% Senior Notes due March 2042

 

 

498,346

 

 

 

235,625

 

 

 

498,338

 

 

 

279,919

 

 498,376
 332,440
 498,369
 325,814

7.95% Senior Notes due April 2045

 

 

394,577

 

 

 

220,500

 

 

 

394,563

 

 

 

255,887

 

Total senior unsecured notes

 

 

4,189,084

 

 

 

2,711,989

 

 

 

4,488,901

 

 

 

3,260,231

 

Credit facility & commercial paper program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.20% Senior Notes due April 2045 394,625
 367,318
 394,613
 328,608

Total debt

 

$

4,189,084

 

 

$

2,711,989

 

 

$

4,488,901

 

 

$

3,260,231

 

 $4,073,435
 $3,595,231
 $4,372,724
 $3,812,077

Note 89 — Income Taxes

Our income tax benefit (provision) decreased $50 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015, which is primarily the result of the recognition of a favorable discrete item in the current quarter of $27 million coupled with a decrease in pre-tax earnings.

At March 31, 2016,2017, the reserves for uncertain tax positions totaled $144$185 million (net of related tax benefits of $1 million). If the March 31, 20162017 reserves are not realized, the provision for income taxes would be reduced by $144$185 million. At December 31, 2015,2016, the reserves for uncertain tax positions totaled $166$173 million (net of related tax benefits of $14$1 million).

It is reasonably possible that our existing liabilities related to our reserve for uncertain tax positions may fluctuate in the next 12 months primarily due to the completion of open audits or the expiration of statutes of limitation. However, we cannot reasonably estimate a range of changes in our existing liabilities due to various uncertainties, such as the unresolved nature of various audits.

At March 31, 2017, our income tax provision included a non-cash, discrete item of $260 million as the result of an internal tax restructuring, which was implemented to reduce costs associated with the ownership of multiple legal entities, simplify the overall legal entity structure, ease deployment of cash throughout the business and consolidate operations into one centralized group of entities. The effect of this tax restructuring will be to lower current tax expense.
Note 910 — Employee Benefit Plans

Pension costs include the following components for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016
  Non-U.S. U.S. Non-U.S. U.S.
Service cost $
 $
 $775
 $1,662
Interest cost 478
 2,148
 634
 2,389
Return on plan assets (701) (2,941) (895) (3,097)
Amortization of prior service cost 
 
 26
 29
Recognized net actuarial loss 266
 366
 37
 1,100
Net pension benefit cost (gain) $43
 $(427) $577
 $2,083
During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we made no contributions to our pension plans. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, and 2015:

we made contributions to our pension plans of approximately $0.1 million.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

Non-U.S.

 

 

U.S.

 

 

Non-U.S.

 

 

U.S.

 

Service cost

 

$

775

 

 

$

1,662

 

 

$

874

 

 

$

2,149

 

Interest cost

 

 

634

 

 

 

2,389

 

 

 

642

 

 

 

2,300

 

Return on plan assets

 

 

(895

)

 

 

(3,097

)

 

 

(926

)

 

 

(3,286

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

26

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

36

 

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

 

37

 

 

 

1,100

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

1,539

 

Net pension expense

 

$

577

 

 

$

2,083

 

 

$

662

 

 

$

2,738

 

19


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)



During the three months ended Marchfourth quarter of 2016, we approved amendments, effective as of December 31, 2016, and 2015, we made contributions to our pensionnon-U.S. and U.S. defined benefit plans. With these amendments, employees and alternate payees will accrue no future benefits under the plans totaling approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

after December 31, 2016. However, these amendments will not affect any benefits earned through that date.

Note 1011 — Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We periodically enter into derivative instruments to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We have documented policies and procedures to monitor and control the use of derivative instruments. We do not engage in derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes, nor are we a party to leveraged derivatives.

The FCX Settlement includes two contingent payments, which are further discussed below. We are accounting for these contingent payments as derivative instruments that do not qualify under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) standards for hedge accounting treatment, and therefore, changes in fair values are recognized as either income or loss in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
For foreign currency forward contracts, hedge effectiveness is evaluated at inception based on the matching of critical terms between derivative contracts and the hedged item. Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in earnings.

Cash Flow Hedges

Several of our regional shorebases, including our North Sea and Australian operations, have a significant amount of their cash operating expenses payable in local currencies. To limit the potential risk of currency fluctuations, we periodically enter into forward contracts, which settle monthly in the operations’ respective local currencies. All of these contracts have a maturity of less than 12 months. The forward contract settlements in the remainder of 20162017 represent approximately 6070 percent of these forecasted local currency requirements. The notional amount of the forward contracts outstanding, expressed in U.S. Dollars, was approximately $36$25 million at March 31, 2016.2017. Total unrealized gainslosses related to these forward contracts were approximately $1$0.1 million as of March 31, 20162017 and were recorded as part of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” (“AOCL”).

FCX Settlement
As discussed in Note 5, pursuant to the FCX Settlement, Noble may receive contingent payments from the FCX Settlement on September 30, 2017, depending on the average price of oil over a 12 month period from June 30, 2016 through June 30, 2017. The average price of oil will be calculated using the daily closing price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil (“WTI”) (CL1) on the New York Mercantile Exchange for the period of June 30, 2016 through June 30, 2017. If the price of WTI averages more than $50 per barrel during such period, Freeport will pay $25 million to Noble. In addition to the $25 million contingent payment, if the price of WTI averages more than $65 per barrel during such period, Freeport will pay an additional $50 million to Noble. These contingent payments do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under FASB standards, and therefore, changes in fair values are recognized as either income or loss in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. These contingent payments are referred to as non-designated derivatives in the following tables.
For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recognized a loss of approximately $7.9 million in “Contract drilling services revenue,” related to the valuation of this contingent payment. As of March 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of these contingent payments was $6.5 million which is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets.”
Financial Statement Presentation

The following table, together with Note 11,12, summarizes the financial statement presentation and fair value of our derivative positions as of March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015:

2016:

 

 

 

 

Estimated fair value

 

 

 

Balance sheet

classification

 

March 31,

2016

 

 

December 31,

2015

 

Asset derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term foreign currency forward

   contracts

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

$

1,112

 

 

$

 

Liability derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term foreign currency forward

   contracts

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

126

 

 

$

 

    Estimated fair value
  
Balance sheet
classification
 March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Asset derivatives      
Non-designated derivatives      
FCX Settlement Prepaid expenses and other current assets $6,500
 $14,400
Liability derivatives      
Cash flow hedges      
Short-term foreign currency forward contracts Other current liabilities $110
 $
NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


To supplement the fair value disclosures in Note 11,12, the following table summarizes the recognized gains and losses of cash flow hedges and non-designated derivatives through AOCL or throughas “contract drilling services” revenue or expense for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015:

2016:

 

 

Gain/(loss)

recognized through

AOCL

 

 

Gain/(loss)

reclassified from

AOCL to "contract

drilling services"

expense

 

 

Gain/(loss) recognized

through "contract

drilling services"

expense

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash flow hedges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

894

 

 

$

(3,111

)

 

$

92

 

 

$

(34

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

20


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

  
Gain/(loss)
recognized through
AOCL
 
Gain/(loss)
reclassified from
AOCL to "contract
drilling services"
expense
 
Gain/(loss) recognized
through "contract
drilling services"
revenue
  2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016
Cash flow hedges            
Foreign currency forward contracts $(37) $894
 $(73) $92
 $
 $
Non-designated derivatives            
FCX Settlement $
 $
 $
 $
 $(7,900) $
Note 1112 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The FASB guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data from independent sources (“observable inputs”) and a reporting entity’s internal assumptions based upon the best information available when external market data is limited or unavailable (“unobservable inputs”). The fair value hierarchy under FASB guidance prioritizes inputs within three levels:
Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets;
Level 2: Valuations based on observable inputs that do not meet the criteria for Level 1, including quoted prices in inactive markets and quoted prices in active markets for similar but not identical instruments; and
Level 3: Valuations based on unobservable inputs.
The following tables present the carrying amount and estimated fair value of our financial instruments recognized at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

 

March 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Fair Value Measurements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prices in

 

 

Other

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active

 

 

Observable

 

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

Carrying

 

 

Markets

 

 

Inputs

 

 

Inputs

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

(Level 1)

 

 

(Level 2)

 

 

(Level 3)

 

Assets -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable securities

 

$

6,492

 

 

$

6,492

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

 

1,112

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,112

 

 

 

 

Liabilities -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

126

 

 

$

 

 

$

126

 

 

$

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Fair Value Measurements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prices in

 

 

Other

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active

 

 

Observable

 

 

Unobservable

 

 March 31, 2017

 

Carrying

 

 

Markets

 

 

Inputs

 

 

Inputs

 

   Estimated Fair Value Measurements

 

Amount

 

 

(Level 1)

 

 

(Level 2)

 

 

(Level 3)

 

 
Carrying
Amount
 
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

Assets -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

Marketable securities

 

$

6,352

 

 

$

6,352

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 $6,590
 $6,590
 $
 $
FCX Settlement 6,500
 
 
 6,500
Liabilities -
        
Foreign currency forward contracts $110
 $
 $110
 $

The foreign currency forward contracts have been valued using actively quoted prices and quotes obtained from the counterparties to the contracts.

  December 31, 2016
    Estimated Fair Value Measurements
  
Carrying
Amount
 
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets -
        
Marketable securities $6,246
 $6,246
 $
 $
FCX Settlement $14,400
 $
 $
 $14,400
NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


Our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, marketable securities and accounts payable are by their nature short-term. As a result, the carrying values included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value.

21


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

The foreign currency forward contracts have been valued using actively quoted prices and quotes obtained from the counterparties to the contracts. The FCX Settlement has been valued using a Monte Carlo Simulation Model based on the following assumptions as of March 31, 2017:

Valuation assumptions:  
Expected volatility 45.25%
Mean-reversion rate 2.80
Discount rate (1)
 2.5%
Underlying spot price (2)
 $50.60
(1)Based on the cost of debt of Freeport.
(2)Based on the last trading price of the WTI spot contract from Bloomberg as of March 31, 2017.
The following table details the activity related to the FCX Settlement asset classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy for the periods indicated:
Balance as of December 31, 2016 $14,400
Change in fair value recognized in earnings (7,900)
Balance as of March 31, 2017 $6,500
Note 1213 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following tables set forthtable presents the components of, and changes in the accumulated balances for each component of AOCL for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015.2016. All amounts within the tables are shown net of tax.

 

 

Gains /

 

 

Defined

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Losses) on

 

 

Benefit

 

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow

 

 

Pension

 

 

Currency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedges(1)

 

 

Items(2)

 

 

Items

 

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2014

 

$

 

 

$

(58,440

)

 

$

(10,978

)

 

$

(69,418

)

Activity during period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

 

 

(3,111

)

 

 

 

 

 

(3,299

)

 

 

(6,410

)

Amounts reclassified from AOCL

 

 

(34

)

 

 

1,081

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,047

 

Net other comprehensive (loss)/income

 

 

(3,145

)

 

 

1,081

 

 

 

(3,299

)

 

 

(5,363

)

Balance at March 31, 2015

 

$

(3,145

)

 

$

(57,359

)

 

$

(14,277

)

 

$

(74,781

)

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

$

 

 

$

(46,919

)

 

$

(16,256

)

 

$

(63,175

)

Activity during period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 

 

894

 

 

 

 

 

 

768

 

 

 

1,662

 

Amounts reclassified from AOCL

 

 

92

 

 

 

783

 

 

 

 

 

 

875

 

Net other comprehensive income

 

 

986

 

 

 

783

 

 

 

768

 

 

 

2,537

 

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

$

986

 

 

$

(46,136

)

 

$

(15,488

)

 

$

(60,638

)

  
Gains /
(Losses) on
Cash Flow
Hedges (1)
 
Defined
Benefit
Pension
Items (2)
 
Foreign
Currency
Items
 Total
Balance at December 31, 2015 $
 $(46,919) $(16,256) $(63,175)
Activity during period:        
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 894
 
 768
 1,662
Amounts reclassified from AOCL 92
 783
 
 875
Net other comprehensive income 986
 783
 768
 2,537
Balance at March 31, 2016 $986
 $(46,136) $(15,488) $(60,638)
Balance at December 31, 2016 $
 $(35,865) $(16,275) $(52,140)
Activity during period:        
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications (37) 
 186
 149
Amounts reclassified from AOCL (73) 392
 
 319
Net other comprehensive income (loss) (110) 392
 186
 468
Balance at March 31, 2017 $(110) $(35,473) $(16,089) $(51,672)

(1)

(1)Gains / (losses) on cash flow hedges are related to foreign currency forward contracts. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized through “contract drilling services” expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income.Operations. See Note 1011 for additional information.

(2)

(2)Defined benefit pension items relate to actuarial changes and the amortization of prior service costs. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized as expense on our Consolidated Statements of IncomeOperations through either “Contract drilling services” or “General and administrative.” See Note 910 for additional information.

Note 1314 — Commitments and Contingencies

In January 2017, a subsidiary of Transocean Ltd. filed suit against us and certain of our subsidiaries for patent infringement in a Texas federal court. The suit claims that five of our newbuild rigs that operated in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico violated Transocean patents relating to what is generally referred to as dual-activity drilling. We were aware of the patents when we constructed the
NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


rigs, and we do not believe that our rigs infringe the Transocean patents, which are now expired. We intend to defend ourselves vigorously against this claim.
In December 2014, one of our subsidiaries reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) regarding our former drillship, the Noble Discoverer, and the Kulluk,a rig we were providing contract labor services for, in respect of violations of applicable law discovered in connection with a 2012 Coast Guard inspection in Alaska and our own subsequent internal investigation. Under the terms of the agreement, the subsidiary pled guilty to oil record book, ballast record and required hazardous condition reporting violations with respect to the Noble Discoverer and an oil record book violation with respect to the Kulluk. The subsidiary paid $8.2 million in fines and $4 million in community service payments and was placed on probation for four years, provided that we may petition the court for early dismissal of probation after three years. If, during the term of probation, the subsidiary fails to adhere to the terms of the plea agreement, the DOJ may withdraw from the plea agreement and would be free to prosecute the subsidiary on all charges arising out of its investigation, including any charges dismissed pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, as well as potentially other charges. We also implemented a comprehensive environmental compliance plan in connection with the settlement.

We have used a commercial agent in Brazil in connection with our Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (“Petrobras”) drilling contracts. We understand that this agent has represented a number of different companies in Brazil over many years, including several offshore drilling contractors. In November 2015, this agent pled guilty in Brazil in connection with the award of a drilling contract to a competitor and implicated a Petrobras official as part of a wider investigation of Petrobras’ business practices. Following news reports relating to the agent’s involvement in the Brazil investigation in connection with his activities with other companies, we have been conductingconducted a review, which is now substantially complete, of our relationship with the agent and with Petrobras. We are in contact with the SEC, the Brazilian federal prosecutor’s office and the DOJ about this matter. We are cooperating with these agencies and they are aware of our internal review. To our knowledge, neither the agent, nor the government authorities investigating the matter, has alleged that the agent or Noble acted improperly in connection with our contracts with Petrobras.

22


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

We are from time to time a party to various lawsuits that are incidental to our operations in which the claimants seek an unspecified amount of monetary damages for personal injury, including injuries purportedly resulting from exposure to asbestos on drilling rigs and associated facilities. At March 31, 2016,2017, there were 4243 asbestos related lawsuits in which we are one of many defendants. These lawsuits have been filed in the United States in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. We intend to vigorously defend against the litigation. We do not believe the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

We are a defendant in certain claims and litigation arising out of operations in the ordinary course of business, the resolution of which, in the opinion of management, will not be material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. There is inherent risk in any litigation or dispute and no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these claims.

We operate in a number of countries throughout the world and our tax returns filed in those jurisdictions are subject to review and examination by tax authorities within those jurisdictions. We recognize uncertain tax positions that we believe have a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being sustained. We cannot predict or provide assurance as to the ultimate outcome of any existing or future assessments.

During 2014, the IRS began its examination of our tax reporting in the U.S. for the taxable years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011. The IRS examination team has completed its examination of our 2010 and 2011 U.S. tax returns and proposed adjustments and deficiencies with respect to certain items that were reported by us for the 2010 and 2011 tax year. On December 19, 2016, we received the Revenue Agent Report ("RAR") from the IRS. We believe that we have accurately reported all amounts in our 2010tax returns, and 2011 tax returns.have submitted administrative protests with the IRS Office of Appeals contesting the examination team’s proposed adjustments. We intend to vigorously defend our reported positions, and believe the ultimate resolution of the adjustments proposed by the IRS examination team will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Under We have also been informed by the TSA entered into atIRS that our 2012 and 2013 tax returns will be examined, and we anticipate that examination beginning during 2017. The IRS examination team also completed its examination of two U.S. subsidiaries of Frontier Drilling for 2011, and proposed no changes to those returns.

On August 1, 2014, Noble-UK completed the timeSpin-off through a pro rata distribution of all of the Spin-off, Noble andordinary shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore, are each responsible forto the taxes that relate to their respective business (whether such taxes were incurred through a Noble-retained or a Paragon-retained entity) and provide a corresponding indemnity. holders of Noble’s ordinary shares. In addition, in February 2016, Paragon Offshore sought approval of the Prior Plan by filing for voluntary relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As part of the Prior Plan, we entered into an agreement in principlethe Settlement Agreement with Paragon Offshore relating to tax matters in Mexico described belowunder which, in exchange for a full and unconditional release of any claims by Paragon Offshore in connection with the Spin-off (including anyfraudulent conveyance claims that could be brought on behalf of Paragon Offshore’s creditors), we agreed to provide certain tax bonding in Mexico as well as assume certain tax liabilities and the administration of Mexican tax claims for specified years. The bonding to be provided by Noble-UK was a
NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


key benefit to Paragon Offshore of the Settlement Agreement, which was subject to bankruptcy court confirmation as part of a bankruptcy plan. The Prior Plan was rejected by the bankruptcy court in October 2016.
In April 2017, Paragon Offshore filed an updated disclosure statement and a New Plan in its creditors)bankruptcy proceeding. Under the New Plan, including Paragon Offshore’s revised business plan, Paragon Offshore will no longer need the Mexican tax bonding that Noble was to provide under the Settlement Agreement. The finalAs a result, the Settlement Agreement is no longer applicable to the anticipated ongoing business of Paragon Offshore. Consequently, Paragon Offshore abandoned the Settlement Agreement as part of the New Plan, and the Settlement Agreement was terminated at the time of the filing of the New Plan. On May 2, 2017, Paragon Offshore announced that it had reached an agreement in principle with both its secured and unsecured creditors to revise the New Plan to, among other things, create and fund a litigation trust to pursue litigation against us.
We continue to discuss our continuing relationship with Paragon Offshore, including the possibility of entering into a new settlement agreement. There can be no assurance that we will reach any settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore. If we do not enter into a settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore, which was signed bywe expect Paragon Offshore or its creditors would use the parties on April 29, 2016, is subjectfunds in the litigation trust to pursue claims against us relating to the approvalSpin-off, including any alleged fraudulent conveyance claims. We continue to believe that Paragon Offshore, at the time of the Spin-off, was properly funded, solvent and had appropriate liquidity and that any fraudulent conveyance claim or other claim related to the Spin-off that may be brought by Paragon Offshore or its creditors would be without merit and would be contested vigorously by us. If litigation is instituted against Noble and we are unsuccessful in defending such claims, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.
In the course of its bankruptcy, Paragon Offshore may elect to reject the Separation Agreements. If Paragon Offshore rejects the Separation Agreements, the indemnity obligations that Paragon Offshore may owe us under the Separation Agreements would terminate, including indemnities arising under the MSA and the TSA in respect of obligations related to Paragon Offshore’s business that were incurred through Noble-retained entities prior to the Spin-off. We could, however, pursue claims against Paragon Offshore for such indemnity amounts in the bankruptcy planproceeding. Any such claims would be unsecured claims in the bankruptcy. Likewise, any indemnity obligations that we may owe Paragon Offshore under the Separation Agreements, including those under the MSA and the TSA in respect of Noble-UK’s business that was conducted prior to the Spin-off through Paragon Offshore-retained entities, would also be extinguished. We do not expect that a rejection of the Separation Agreements by Paragon Offshore would have a bankruptcy court. A hearingmaterial adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity. However, any loss we experience with respect to confirm the plan is set for late June 2016 (see Note 2 for additional information).

which we are unable to secure indemnification from Paragon Offshore could have an adverse impact on our results of operations in any period, which impact may be material depending on our results of operations during this down-cycle.

Audit claims of approximately $168$49 million attributable to income and other business taxes have been assessed against usNoble entities in Mexico, as detailed below. Under our recent agreement with Paragon Offshore, we agreed to assume the administration of Paragon Offshore’s Mexican income and value-added taxes for the years 2005 through 2010 and for Paragon Offshore’s Mexican customs taxes through 2010, as well as the related bonding obligations and certain of the tax related liabilities.Mexico. In addition, under the recent agreement withTSA, we must indemnify Paragon Offshore we agreed to (i) pay allfor final assessed amounts in respect of the ultimate resolved amountapproximately $9 million of tax audit claims arising from Noble's Mexican income and value-added taxes related to Paragon Offshore’s business that were incurred through a Noble-retained entity, (ii) pay 50 percent of the ultimate resolved amount of Mexican income and value-added taxes related to Paragon Offshore’s business that were incurred through a Paragon Offshore-retained entity, (iii) pay 50 percent of the ultimate resolved amount of Mexican custom taxes related to Paragon Offshore’s business, and (iv) be required to post any tax appeal bond that may be required to challenge a final assessment. Tax assessments of approximately $48 million for income and value-added taxes have been made against Noble entities in Mexico. Tax assessments for income and value-added taxes of approximately $196 million have been made against Paragon Offshore entities in Mexico, of which approximately $45 million relates to Noble’s business that operatedwas conducted through Paragon Offshore-retained entities in Mexico prior to the Spin-off. We will only be obligatedIf the Separation Agreements, including the TSA, are terminated, we would no longer have an obligation to post a tax appeal bond in the event a final assessment is made by Mexican authorities. As of April 15, 2016, there have been $3 million in final assessments that have been bonded.

indemnify Paragon Offshore for such amounts.

In January 2015, Noble received an official notification of a ruling from the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court in Mexico. The ruling settled an ongoing dispute in Mexico relating to the classification of a Noble subsidiary’s business activity and the applicable rate of depreciation under the Mexican law applicable to the activities of that subsidiary. The ruling did not result in any additional tax liability to Noble. Additionally, the ruling is only applicable to the Noble subsidiary named in the ruling and, therefore, does not establish the depreciation rate applicable to the assets of other Noble subsidiaries. Under the recent agreement with Paragon Offshore, we agreed to be responsible for any tax liability ultimately incurred because these depreciation liabilities would be incurred by Noble-retained entities, and such amounts are reflected in the discussion of Mexican audit claims in the preceding paragraph. We will continue to contest future assessments received, and do not believe we are liable forcan make no assurances regarding the ultimate outcome of these tax claims or our obligations to pay additional tax.

23


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amountstaxes in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

respect of these tax claims.

Paragon Offshore has received certain tax assessments of approximately $134 million attributable to income, customs and other business taxes in Brazil, of which $36including $46 million relatesrelating to Noble’s business that operated through a Paragon Offshore-retained entity in Brazil prior to the Spin-off. Under the TSA, we must indemnify Paragon Offshore for all final assessed amounts that are related to Noble’s Brazil business approximately $36 million, if and when such payments become due.

If the Separation Agreements, including the TSA, are terminated, we would no longer have an obligation to indemnify Paragon Offshore for such amounts.

We have contested, or intend to contest or cooperate with Paragon Offshore in Brazil where it is contesting, the assessments described above, including through litigation if necessary, and we believe the ultimate resolution, for which we have not made any accrual, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. Tax authorities may issue additional assessments or pursue legal actions as a result of tax audits and we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the ultimate outcome of such assessments and legal actions or our ability to collect indemnities from Paragon Offshore under the TSA or the recent agreement with Paragon Offshore.

TSA.

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


We have been notified by Petrobras that it is currently challenging assessments by Brazilian tax authorities of withholding taxes associated with the provision of drilling rigs for its operations in Brazil during 2008 and 2009. Petrobras has also notified us that if Petrobras must ultimately pay such withholding taxes, it will seek reimbursement from us for the portion allocable to our drilling rigs. The amount of withholding tax that Petrobras indicates may be allocable to Noble drilling rigs is R$79 million (approximately $22 million).approximately $25 million. We believe that our contract with Petrobras requires Petrobras to indemnify us for these withholding taxes. We will, if necessary, vigorously defend our rights.

We maintain certain insurance coverage against specified marine perils, which includes physical damage and loss of hire to our drilling rigs along with other associated coverage common in our industry. We maintain a physical damage deductible on our rigs of $25 million per occurrence. With respect to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, hurricane risk has generally resulted in more restrictive and expensive coverage for U.S. named windstorm perils, and we have opted in certain years to maintain limited or no windstorm coverage. Our current program provides for $500 million in named windstorm coverage in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. For the Noble Bully I, our customer assumes the risk of loss due to a named windstorm event, pursuant to the terms of the drilling contract, through the purchase of insurance coverage (provided that we are responsible for any deductible under such policy) or, at its option, the assumption of the risk of loss up to the insured value in lieu of the purchase of such insurance. The loss of hire coverage applies only to our rigs operating under contract with a dayrate equal to or greater than $200,000 a day and is subject to a 45-day waiting period for each unit and each occurrence.

Although we maintain insurance in the geographic areas in which we operate, pollution, reservoir damage and environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. Our insurance policies and contractual rights to indemnity may not adequately cover our losses or may have exclusions of coverage for some losses. We do not have insurance coverage or rights to indemnity for all risks, including loss of hire insurance on most of the rigs in our fleet. Uninsured exposures may include expatriate activities prohibited by U.S. laws and regulations, radiation hazards, certain loss or damage to property on board our rigs and losses relating to shore-based terrorist acts, strikes or cyber risks. If a significant accident or other event occurs and is not fully covered by insurance or contractual indemnity, it could materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Additionally, there can be no assurance that those parties with contractual obligations to indemnify us will necessarily be financially able to indemnify us against all these risks.

We carry protection and indemnity insurance covering marine third party liability exposures, which also includes coverage for employer’s liability resulting from personal injury to our offshore drilling crews. Our protection and indemnity policy currently has a standard deductible of $10 million per occurrence, with maximum liability coverage of $750 million.

In connection with our capital expenditure program, we had outstanding commitments, including shipyard and purchase commitments of approximately $570 million at March 31, 2016.

We have entered into agreements with certain of our executive officers, as well as certain other employees. These agreements become effective upon a change of control of Noble-UK (within the meaning set forth in the agreements) or a termination of employment in connection with or in anticipation of a change of control, and remain effective for three years thereafter. These agreements provide for compensation and certain other benefits under such circumstances.

24


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1415 — Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, which creates Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. In addition, ASU No. 2014-09 supersedes the cost guidance in Subtopic 605-35, “Revenue Recognition—Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts,” and creates new Subtopic 340-40, “Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Contracts with Customers.” In summary, the core principle of Topic 606 is to recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. Companies are allowed to select between two transition methods: (1) a full retrospective transition method with the application of the new guidance to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) a retrospective transition method that recognizes the cumulative effect on prior periods at the date of adoption together with additional footnote disclosures. The amendments in ASU No. 2014-09 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, and early application is not permitted. In March 2016 and April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08 and ASU No. 2016-10, respectively. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-08 and ASU No. 2016-10 do not change the core principle of ASU No. 2014-09, but instead clarify the implementation guidance on principle versus agent considerations and identify performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, respectively. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and have not made any decision on the method of adoption.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, which amends ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation.” The guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition and should not be reflected in the estimate of the grant-date fair value of the award. The guidance is effectivepermitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The guidance can be applied prospectively for all awards granted or modified after2016. We have formed an implementation work team, completed training on ASC Topic 606 and have begun a project to review relevant contracts. We plan on adopting the new standard effective date orJanuary 1, 2018 concurrently with ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASC Topic 842) as discussed below and applying it retrospectively to all awards with performance targets outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, which amends ASC Subtopic 205-40, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to continue as a Going Concern.” The amendments in this ASU provide guidance related to management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The amendments are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annualcomparative periods and interim periods thereafter. The adoption of this guidance is not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, which amends ASC Subtopic 225-20, “Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items.” The amendment in this ASU eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. The amendments in this update are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, which amends ASC Subtopic 810, “Consolidations.” This amendment affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. Specifically, the amendments modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities; eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The standard may be applied retrospectively or through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, which amends ASC Subtopic 835-30, “Interest – Imputation of Interest.” The guidance requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the associated debt liability. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15 which amends ASC Subtopic 835-30, “Interest – Imputation of Interest.” The guidance allows a debt issuance cost related to a line-of-credit to be presented in the balance sheet as an asset and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the line-of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement.

25


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

The new guidance is applied on a retrospective basis. In accordance with our adoption of ASU No. 2015-03, unamortized debt issuance costs related to our senior notes of approximately $26 million as of December 31, 2015, which were previously included in “Other assets,” are included in either “Current maturities of long-term debt” or “Long-term debt” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, based upon the maturity date of the respective senior notes.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-04, which amends ASC Topic 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits.” The guidance gives an employer whose fiscal year end does not coincide with a calendar month end the ability, as a practical expedient, to measure defined benefit retirement obligations and related plan assets as of the month end that is closest to its fiscal year end. The ASU also provides a similar practical expedient for interim remeasurements of significant events. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-12, which amends ASC Topic 960, “Plan Accounting-Defined Benefit Pension Plans,” ASC Topic 962, “Defined Contribution Pension Plans” and ASC Topic 965, “Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.” There are three parts to the ASU that aim to simplify the accounting and presentation of plan accounting. Part I of this ASU requires fully benefit-responsive investment contracts to be measured at contract value instead of the current fair value measurement. Part II of this ASU requires investments (both participant-directed and nonparticipant-directed investments) of employee benefit plans be grouped only by general type, eliminating the need to disaggregate the investments in multiple ways. Part III of this ASU provides a similar measurement date practical expedient for employee benefit plans as available in ASU No. 2015-04, which allows employers to measure defined benefit plan assets on a month-end date that is nearest to the year’s fiscal year-end when the fiscal period does not coincide with a month-end. Parts I and II of the new guidance should be applied on a retrospective basis. Part III of the new guidance should be applied on a prospective basis. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, which amends Topic 805, “Business Combinations.” This amendment eliminates the requirement to retrospectively account for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination at the acquisition date with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill, and revise comparative information for prior periods presented in financial statements. Those adjustments are required when new information about circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date would have affected the measurement of the amount initially recognized. This update requires an entity to recognize these adjustments in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. An acquirer must record the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. An entity must present separately on the face of the income statement, or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

presented.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, which amends ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” This amendment aligns the presentation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities with International Financial Reporting Standards. International Accounting Standard 1, Presentation of Financial Statements, requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The current requirement that deferred tax liabilities and assets be offset and presented as a single amount is not affected by the amendments in this update. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The amendments in this update may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. We are evaluating what impact, if any, theThe adoption of this guidance willdid not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

disclosures and we determined that there is no retrospective adjustment necessary, as such, the update will be implemented prospectively.

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which creates ASC Topic 842, “Leases.” This update increases transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Under the updated accounting standards, we have preliminarily determined that our drilling contracts contain a lease component, and our adoption, therefore, will require that we separately recognize revenues associated with the lease and services components. Our adoption, and the ultimate effect on our consolidated financial statements, will be based on an evaluation of the contract-specific facts and circumstances, and such effect could result in differences in the timing of our revenue recognition relative to current accounting standards. Given the interaction with the accounting standard update related to revenue from contracts with customers, we expect to adopt the updates concurrently, effective January 1, 2018. We are evaluating what impact if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

26


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

We have formed an implementation work team, completed training on ASC Topic 842 and have begun a project to review relevant leases.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-05, which amends ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” This amendment clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument under Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and may be applied on either a prospective basis or a modified retrospective basis. We are evaluating what impact, if any, theThe adoption of this guidance willdid not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

disclosures and we determined that there is no retrospective adjustment necessary, as such, the update will be implemented prospectively.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, which amends ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” This amendment simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Under the new provision, current period excess tax benefits related to stock compensation will be recognized in the “Provision for income taxes” in the results of operations, rather than in "Additional paid-in capital" in the consolidated balance sheets and will be applied on a prospective basis. Changes to the statements of cash flows related to the classification of prior period excess tax benefits and employee taxes paid for share-based payment arrangements will be implemented on a retrospective basis. In accordance with our adoption of this update, in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, excess tax benefits of approximately $5.5 million as of March 31, 2016, which were previously classified as a financing activity in “Employee stock transactions,” are classified as an operating activity in “Other current liabilities.” Additionally, employee taxes paid for share-based payment arrangements of approximately $3 million as of March 31, 2016, which were previously classified as an operating activity in “Other current liabilities,” are classified as a financing activity in “Employee stock transactions”.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 which amends ASC Topic 230, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” The amendments in this update address eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The update outlines the classification of specific transactions as either cash inflows or outflows from financing activities, operating activities, investing activities or non-cash activities. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16 which amends ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” The amendments in this update improve the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18 which amends ASC Topic 230, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” The amendments in this update require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.
In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-06 which amends ASC Topic 960, “Defined Benefit Pension Plans," ASC Topic 962, "Defined Contribution Pension Plans" and ASC Topic 965, "Health and Welfare Benefit Plans." The amendments in this update clarify presentation requirements for a plan’s interest in a master trust and require more detailed disclosures of the plan’s interest in the master trust. The amendments also eliminate a redundancy relating to 401(h) account disclosures. This guidance
NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)


is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07 which amends ASC Topic 715, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits." The amendments in this update require that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost. The amendments also provide explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement and allow only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.
Note 1516 — Supplemental Financial Information

Consolidated Balance Sheets Information

Deferred revenues from drilling contracts totaled $173$125 million and $180$134 million at March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, respectively. Such amounts are included in either “Other current liabilities” or “Other liabilities” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, based upon our expected time of recognition. Related expenses deferred under drilling contracts totaled $69$50 million at March 31, 20162017 as compared to $78$54 million at December 31, 2015,2016, and are included in either “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” or “Other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, based upon our expected time of recognition.

In April 2015, we agreed to contract dayrate reductions for five rigs working for Saudi Arabian Oil Company (“Saudi Aramco”), which were effective from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. During the first quarter of 2016, we agreed to further contract dayrate reductions for the remaining four contracted rigs through the end of 2016. Given current market conditions and based on discussions with the customer, we do not expect the rates to return to the original contract rates. In accordance with accounting guidance, we are recognizing the reductions on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the existing Saudi Aramco contracts. At March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, revenues recorded in excess of billings as a result of this recognition totaled $45$13 million and $53$18 million, respectively, and are included in either “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” or “Other assets” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, based upon our expected time of recognition.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Information

The net effect of changes in other assets and liabilities on cash flows from operating activities is as follows.

 

 

Noble-UK

 

 

Noble-Cayman

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

(7,086

)

 

$

(24,890

)

 

$

(7,086

)

 

$

(24,890

)

Other current assets

 

 

20,750

 

 

 

102,206

 

 

 

18,739

 

 

 

76,635

 

Other assets

 

 

23,845

 

 

 

13,827

 

 

 

23,845

 

 

 

13,825

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(48,925

)

 

 

676

 

 

 

(48,619

)

 

 

1,284

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

(50,889

)

 

 

(58,682

)

 

 

(45,885

)

 

 

(52,979

)

Other liabilities

 

 

(25,191

)

 

 

(18,379

)

 

 

(25,192

)

 

 

(18,380

)

 

 

$

(87,496

)

 

$

14,758

 

 

$

(84,198

)

 

$

(4,505

)

27


  Noble-UK Noble-Cayman
  Three Months Ended March 31, Three Months Ended March 31,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
Accounts receivable $33,630
 $(7,086) $33,630
 $(7,086)
Other current assets (11,451) 20,750
 (11,719) 18,739
Other assets 89,065
 23,845
 89,029
 23,845
Accounts payable (9,017) (48,925) (8,800) (48,619)
Other current liabilities (95,810) (53,252) (96,154) (45,885)
Other liabilities 8,139
 (25,191) 8,139
 (25,192)
  $14,556
 $(89,859) $14,125
 $(84,198)
In accordance with our adoption of ASU No. 2016-09, in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, shares withheld for taxes on employee stock transactions, which were previously classified as an operating activity in “Other current liabilities,” are classified as a financing activity in “Employee stock transactions”. Prior period excess tax benefits, which were previously classified as a financing activity in “Employee stock transactions,” are classified as an operating activity in “Other current liabilities” in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Current period excess tax benefits, which were previously classified as a financing activity on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, are recognized in the “Provision for income taxes” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations rather than in “Additional paid-in capital” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.


NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1617 — Information about Noble-Cayman

Guarantees of Registered Securities

Noble-Cayman, or one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of Noble-Cayman, are a co-issuer or full and unconditional guarantor or otherwise obligated as of March 31, 20162017 as follows:

Issuer

Notes

(Co-Issuer(s))

Guarantor

Issuer
Notes(Co-Issuer(s))Guarantor
$300250 million 2.50%5.75% Senior Notes due 2017

2018

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$250 million 5.00% Senior Notes due 2018

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$202 million 7.50% Senior Notes due 2019

NHC

NHUS

Noble-Cayman

Noble Drilling Holding, LLC ("NDH")


Noble Drilling Services 6 LLC ("NDS6")


$500168 million 4.90% Senior Notes due 2020

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$400209 million 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$400126 million 3.95% Senior Notes due 2022

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$450 million 6.95%1 billion 7.75% Senior Notes due 2025

2024

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$450 million 7.20% Senior Notes due 2025

NHILNoble-Cayman
$400 million 6.20% Senior Notes due 2040

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$400 million 6.05% Senior Notes due 2041

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$500 million 5.25% Senior Notes due 2042

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

$400 million 7.95%8.20% Senior Notes due 2045

NHIL

Noble-Cayman

The following condensed consolidating financial statements of Noble-Cayman, NHC,NHUS, NDH, NHIL, NDS6 and all other subsidiaries present investments in both consolidated and unconsolidated affiliates using the equity method of accounting.



NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

March 31, 2016

2017

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noble -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Consolidating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman

 

 

NHC

 

 

NDH

 

 

NHIL

 

 

NDS6

 

 

of Noble

 

 

Adjustments

 

 

Total

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

8

 

 

$

 

 

$

71

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

235,344

 

 

$

 

 

$

235,423

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,702

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

484,315

 

 

 

 

 

 

506,017

 

Taxes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

12,124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43,193

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,317

 

Short-term notes receivable

   from affiliates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

119,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

171,925

 

 

 

(291,401

)

 

 

 

Accounts receivable from

   affiliates

 

 

930,359

 

 

 

471,793

 

 

 

138,267

 

 

 

92,764

 

 

 

60,439

 

 

 

3,443,616

 

 

 

(5,137,238

)

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other

   current assets

 

 

105

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,799

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

149,063

 

 

 

 

 

 

150,967

 

Total current assets

 

 

930,472

 

 

 

483,917

 

 

 

281,315

 

 

 

92,764

 

 

 

60,439

 

 

 

4,527,456

 

 

 

(5,428,639

)

 

 

947,724

 

Property and equipment, at cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,900,406

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,198,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,098,497

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(365,767

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,346,406

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2,712,173

)

Property and equipment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,534,639

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,851,685

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,386,324

 

Notes receivable from affiliates

 

 

3,304,798

 

 

 

 

 

 

236,921

 

 

 

1,587,927

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

1,762,825

 

 

 

(6,897,471

)

 

 

 

Investments in affiliates

 

 

5,294,156

 

 

 

1,949,551

 

 

 

2,340,680

 

 

 

9,557,179

 

 

 

7,975,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,117,192

)

 

 

 

Other assets

 

 

5,539

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,697

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

92,898

 

 

 

 

 

 

106,134

 

Total assets

 

$

9,534,965

 

 

$

2,433,468

 

 

$

4,401,252

 

 

$

11,237,870

 

 

$

8,041,065

 

 

$

16,234,864

 

 

$

(39,443,302

)

 

$

12,440,182

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term notes payables from

   affiliates

 

$

 

 

$

171,925

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

119,476

 

 

$

(291,401

)

 

$

 

Current maturities of long-term

   debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

299,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

299,523

 

Accounts payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,524

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

135,593

 

 

 

 

 

 

141,117

 

Accrued payroll and related costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

47,989

 

 

 

 

 

 

52,954

 

Accounts payable to affiliates

 

 

1,232,826

 

 

 

61,428

 

 

 

2,088,145

 

 

 

96,868

 

 

 

7,139

 

 

 

1,650,832

 

 

 

(5,137,238

)

 

 

 

Taxes payable

 

 

 

 

 

10,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

81,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

92,845

 

Interest payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41,403

 

 

 

630

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,033

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

98,081

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

1,232,842

 

 

 

244,203

 

 

 

2,102,857

 

 

 

437,794

 

 

 

7,769

 

 

 

2,129,727

 

 

 

(5,428,639

)

 

 

726,553

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,662,729

 

 

 

201,331

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,864,060

 

Notes payable to affiliates

 

 

1,518,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

461,380

 

 

 

1,414,151

 

 

 

124,215

 

 

 

3,379,362

 

 

 

(6,897,471

)

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,314

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

69,436

 

 

 

 

 

 

70,750

 

Other liabilities

 

 

19,929

 

 

 

 

 

 

27,214

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

247,709

 

 

 

 

 

 

294,852

 

Total liabilities

 

 

2,771,134

 

 

 

244,203

 

 

 

2,592,765

 

 

 

5,514,674

 

 

 

333,315

 

 

 

5,826,234

 

 

 

(12,326,110

)

 

 

4,956,215

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholder equity

 

 

6,763,831

 

 

 

2,189,265

 

 

 

1,808,487

 

 

 

5,723,196

 

 

 

7,707,750

 

 

 

9,248,066

 

 

 

(26,676,764

)

 

 

6,763,831

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,160,564

 

 

 

(440,428

)

 

 

720,136

 

Total equity

 

 

6,763,831

 

 

 

2,189,265

 

 

 

1,808,487

 

 

 

5,723,196

 

 

 

7,707,750

 

 

 

10,408,630

 

 

 

(27,117,192

)

 

 

7,483,967

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

9,534,965

 

 

$

2,433,468

 

 

$

4,401,252

 

 

$

11,237,870

 

 

$

8,041,065

 

 

$

16,234,864

 

 

$

(39,443,302

)

 

$

12,440,182

 

(Unaudited)

  Noble -
Cayman
 NHUS NDH NHIL NDS6 Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble
 Consolidating
Adjustments
 Total
ASSETS                
Current assets                
Cash and cash equivalents $1
 $
 $100
 $
 $
 $518,867
 $
 $518,968
Accounts receivable 
 
 27,057
 
 
 258,465
 
 285,522
Taxes receivable 
 57,040
 
 
 
 39,193
 
 96,233
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates 52,611
 
 124,601
 119,314
 
 
 (296,526) 
Accounts receivable from affiliates 2,825,054
 
 134,251
 65,415
 80,483
 5,946,376
 (9,051,579) 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 95
 
 2,181
 77
 
 57,362
 
 59,715
Total current assets 2,877,761
 57,040
 288,190
 184,806
 80,483
 6,820,263
 (9,348,105) 960,438
Property and equipment, at cost 
 
 1,066,013
 
 
 11,315,837
 
 12,381,850
Accumulated depreciation 
 
 (232,729) 
 
 (2,204,723) 
 (2,437,452)
Property and equipment, net 
 
 833,284
 
 
 9,111,114
 
 9,944,398
Notes receivable from affiliates 3,605,249
 
 1,053,784
 318,999
 6,378,539
 1,167,802
 (12,524,373) 
Investments in affiliates 2,221,570
 3,314,708
 3,906,599
 12,145,901
 6,328,697
 
 (27,917,475) 
Other assets 3,877
 
 6,818
 1
 
 79,421
 
 90,117
Total assets $8,708,457
 $3,371,748
 $6,088,675
 $12,649,707
 $12,787,719
 $17,178,600
 $(49,789,953) $10,994,953
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                
Current liabilities                
Short-term notes payables from affiliates $
 $171,925
 $
 $249,299
 $
 $124,601
 $(296,526) $249,299
Accounts payable 
 
 4,125
 
 
 79,518
 
 83,643
Accrued payroll and related costs 
 
 4,468
 
 
 30,467
 
 34,935
Accounts payable to affiliates 3,231,974
 422,363
 1,882,042
 467,987
 7,873
 3,039,340
 (9,051,579) 
Taxes payable 
 
 
 
 
 48,629
 
 48,629
Interest payable 24
 
 
 62,598
 630
 
 
 63,252
Other current liabilities 9
 
 25
 
 
 68,004
 
 68,038
Total current liabilities 3,232,007
 594,288
 1,890,660
 779,884
 8,503
 3,390,559
 (9,348,105) 547,796
Long-term debt 
 
 
 3,591,068
 201,452
 
 
 3,792,520
Notes payable to affiliates 
 2,305,243
 467,139
 3,175,661
 
 6,576,330
 (12,524,373) 
Deferred income taxes 
 
 6
 
 
 179,736
 
 179,742
Other liabilities 19,929
 
 6,129
 
 
 271,025
 
 297,083
Total liabilities 3,251,936
 2,899,531
 2,363,934
 7,546,613
 209,955
 10,417,650
 (21,872,478) 4,817,141
Commitments and contingencies 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholder equity 5,456,521
 472,217
 3,724,741
 5,103,094
 12,577,764
 5,636,150
 (27,513,966) 5,456,521
Noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 1,124,800
 (403,509) 721,291
Total equity 5,456,521
 472,217
 3,724,741
 5,103,094
 12,577,764
 6,760,950
 (27,917,475) 6,177,812
Total liabilities and equity $8,708,457
 $3,371,748
 $6,088,675
 $12,649,707
 $12,787,719
 $17,178,600
 $(49,789,953) $10,994,953


NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

December 31, 2015

2016

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noble-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Consolidating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman

 

 

NHC

 

 

NDH

 

 

NHIL

 

 

NDS6

 

 

of Noble

 

 

Adjustments

 

 

Total

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,627

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,101

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

508,067

 

 

$

 

 

$

511,795

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

489,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

498,931

 

Taxes receivable

 

 

 

 

 

12,124

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43,291

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,442

 

Short-term notes receivable

   from affiliates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

119,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

171,925

 

 

 

(291,401

)

 

 

 

Accounts receivable from

   affiliates

 

 

626,305

 

 

 

451,201

 

 

 

128,457

 

 

 

811,785

 

 

 

67,684

 

 

 

3,445,590

 

 

 

(5,531,022

)

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other

   current assets

 

 

246

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,696

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

166,527

 

 

 

 

 

 

168,469

 

Total current assets

 

 

628,178

 

 

 

463,325

 

 

 

261,138

 

 

 

811,785

 

 

 

67,684

 

 

 

4,824,950

 

 

 

(5,822,423

)

 

 

1,234,637

 

Property and equipment, at cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,877,520

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,177,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,054,558

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(344,591

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,227,740

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2,572,331

)

Property and equipment, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,532,929

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,949,298

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,482,227

 

Notes receivable from affiliates

 

 

3,304,652

 

 

 

 

 

 

236,921

 

 

 

1,587,927

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

2,435,154

 

 

 

(7,569,654

)

 

 

 

Investments in affiliates

 

 

5,159,064

 

 

 

2,174,480

 

 

 

3,001,327

 

 

 

9,752,912

 

 

 

7,438,397

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,526,180

)

 

 

 

Other assets

 

 

5,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

118,869

 

 

 

 

 

 

132,319

 

Total assets

 

$

9,097,848

 

 

$

2,637,805

 

 

$

5,039,811

 

 

$

12,152,624

 

 

$

7,511,081

 

 

$

17,328,271

 

 

$

(40,918,257

)

 

$

12,849,183

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term notes payables from

   affiliates

 

$

 

 

$

171,925

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

119,476

 

 

$

(291,401

)

 

$

 

Current maturities of long-term

   debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

299,924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

299,924

 

Accounts payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,676

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

210,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

221,077

 

Accrued payroll and related costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,584

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

74,780

 

 

 

 

 

 

81,364

 

Accounts payable to affiliates

 

 

868,046

 

 

 

60,100

 

 

 

2,440,965

 

 

 

96,543

 

 

 

6,426

 

 

 

2,058,942

 

 

 

(5,531,022

)

 

 

 

Taxes payable

 

 

 

 

 

917

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

87,191

 

 

 

 

 

 

88,108

 

Interest payable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

68,549

 

 

 

4,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

72,961

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,108

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

92,183

 

 

 

 

 

 

96,331

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

868,086

 

 

 

232,942

 

 

 

2,462,333

 

 

 

465,016

 

 

 

10,838

 

 

 

2,642,973

 

 

 

(5,822,423

)

 

 

859,765

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,961,338

 

 

 

201,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,162,638

 

Notes payable to affiliates

 

 

1,518,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

461,379

 

 

 

2,086,480

 

 

 

124,216

 

 

 

3,379,216

 

 

 

(7,569,654

)

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,529

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

91,268

 

 

 

 

 

 

92,797

 

Other liabilities

 

 

19,929

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,312

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

274,271

 

 

 

 

 

 

319,512

 

Total liabilities

 

 

2,406,378

 

 

 

232,942

 

 

 

2,950,553

 

 

 

6,512,834

 

 

 

336,354

 

 

 

6,387,728

 

 

 

(13,392,077

)

 

 

5,434,712

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholder equity

 

 

6,691,470

 

 

 

2,404,863

 

 

 

2,089,258

 

 

 

5,639,790

 

 

 

7,174,727

 

 

 

9,781,284

 

 

 

(27,089,922

)

 

 

6,691,470

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,159,259

 

 

 

(436,258

)

 

 

723,001

 

Total equity

 

 

6,691,470

 

 

 

2,404,863

 

 

 

2,089,258

 

 

 

5,639,790

 

 

 

7,174,727

 

 

 

10,940,543

 

 

 

(27,526,180

)

 

 

7,414,471

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

9,097,848

 

 

$

2,637,805

 

 

$

5,039,811

 

 

$

12,152,624

 

 

$

7,511,081

 

 

$

17,328,271

 

 

$

(40,918,257

)

 

$

12,849,183

 

(Unaudited)

  Noble-
Cayman

NHUS
NDH
NHIL
NDS6
Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

Consolidating
Adjustments

Total
ASSETS  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Current assets  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Cash and cash equivalents $2,537
 $
 $10,855
 $
 $
 $640,441
 $
 $653,833
Accounts receivable 
 
 33,162
 
 
 285,990
 
 319,152
Taxes receivable 
 21,428
 
 
 
 34,052
 
 55,480
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates 
 
 243,915
 
 1,349,708
 52,611
 (1,646,234) 
Accounts receivable from affiliates 361,313
 
 137,476
 67,560
 85,274
 3,038,658
 (3,690,281) 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 270
 
 1,611
 
 
 86,868
 

 88,749
Total current assets 364,120
 21,428
 427,019
 67,560
 1,434,982
 4,138,620
 (5,336,515) 1,117,214
Property and equipment, at cost 
 
 2,376,862
 
 
 9,988,026
 
 12,364,888
Accumulated depreciation 
 
 (428,308) 
 
 (1,874,632) 
 (2,302,940)
Property and equipment, net 
 
 1,948,554
 
 
 8,113,394
 
 10,061,948
Notes receivable from affiliates 3,304,672
 
 112,706
 69,564
 5,000
 1,798,614
 (5,290,556) 
Investments in affiliates 2,848,855
 2,007,016
 1,411,874
 8,369,728
 6,129,082
 
 (20,766,555) 
Other assets 4,292
 
 5,687
 
 
 168,573
 
 178,552
Total assets $6,521,939
 $2,028,444
 $3,905,840
 $8,506,852
 $7,569,064
 $14,219,201
 $(31,393,626) $11,357,714
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Current liabilities  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Short-term notes payables from affiliates $
 $171,925
 $
 $
 $
 $1,474,309
 $(1,646,234) $
Current maturities of long-term debt 
 
 
 299,882
 
 
 
 299,882
Accounts payable 
 
 4,228
 
 
 103,640
 
 107,868
Accrued payroll and related costs 
 
 4,882
 
 
 43,437
 
 48,319
Accounts payable to affiliates 818,737
 111,801
 1,995,788
 123,642
 
 640,313
 (3,690,281) 
Taxes payable 
 
 
 
 
 46,561
 
 46,561
Interest payable 48
 
 
 56,839
 4,412
 
 
 61,299
Other current liabilities 12
 
 4,296
 
 
 63,004
 
 67,312
Total current liabilities 818,797
 283,726
 2,009,194
 480,363
 4,412
 2,371,264
 (5,336,515) 631,241
Long-term debt 
 
 
 3,838,807
 201,422
 
 
 4,040,229
Notes payable to affiliates 
 700,000
 467,139
 744,181
 
 3,379,236
 (5,290,556) 
Deferred income taxes 
 
 534
 
 
 1,550
 
 2,084
Other liabilities 19,929
 
 24,035
 
 
 248,219
 
 292,183
Total liabilities 838,726
 983,726
 2,500,902
 5,063,351
 205,834
 6,000,269
 (10,627,071) 4,965,737
Commitments and contingencies 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholder equity 5,683,213
 1,044,718
 1,404,938
 3,443,501
 7,363,230
 7,106,323
 (20,362,710) 5,683,213
Noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 1,112,609
 (403,845) 708,764
Total equity 5,683,213
 1,044,718
 1,404,938
 3,443,501
 7,363,230
 8,218,932
 (20,766,555) 6,391,977
Total liabilities and equity $6,521,939
 $2,028,444
 $3,905,840
 $8,506,852
 $7,569,064
 $14,219,201
 $(31,393,626) $11,357,714


NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS and COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
  Noble-
Cayman

NHUS
NDH
NHIL
NDS6
Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

Consolidating
Adjustments

Total
Operating revenues                
Contract drilling services $
 $
 $47,104
 $
 $
 $324,724
 $(17,169) $354,659
Reimbursables 
 
 1,136
 
 
 7,168
 
 8,304
Other 
 
 
 
 
 13
 
 13
Total operating revenues 
 
 48,240
 
 
 331,905
 (17,169) 362,976
Operating costs and expenses                
Contract drilling services 1,001
 2,571
 11,499
 12,487
 
 149,627
 (17,169) 160,016
Reimbursables 
 
 820
 
 
 4,326
 
 5,146
Depreciation and amortization 
 
 16,515
 
 
 119,203
 
 135,718
General and administrative 513
 1,307
 
 6,833
 4
 407
 
 9,064
Total operating costs and expenses 1,514
 3,878
 28,834
 19,320
 4
 273,563
 (17,169) 309,944
Operating income (loss) (1,514) (3,878) 19,406
 (19,320) (4) 58,342
 
 53,032
Other income (expense)                
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates (295,102) (313,565) 2,369
 96,817
 50,619
 
 458,862
 
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized (2,605) (17,511) (3,092) (106,002) (3,817) (57,313) 116,893
 (73,447)
Interest income and other, net 4,632
 (65) 39,902
 4,203
 63,418
 5,922
 (116,893) 1,119
Income (loss) before income taxes (294,589) (335,019) 58,585
 (24,302) 110,216
 6,951
 458,862
 (19,296)
Income tax benefit (provision) 
 50,459
 509
 
 
 (308,341) 
 (257,373)
Net income (loss) (294,589) (284,560) 59,094
 (24,302) 110,216
 (301,390) 458,862
 (276,669)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (17,582) (338) (17,920)
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation (294,589) (284,560) 59,094
 (24,302) 110,216
 (318,972) 458,524
 (294,589)
Other comprehensive income, net 468
 
 
 
 
 468
 (468) 468
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation $(294,121) $(284,560) $59,094
 $(24,302) $110,216
 $(318,504) $458,056
 $(294,121)



NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

and COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noble-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Consolidating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman

 

 

NHC

 

 

NDH

 

 

NHIL

 

 

NDS6

 

 

of Noble

 

 

Adjustments

 

 

Total

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

52,207

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

557,474

 

 

$

(18,314

)

 

$

591,367

 

Reimbursables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

746

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,860

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,606

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

600

 

 

 

 

 

 

600

 

Total operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52,953

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

577,934

 

 

 

(18,314

)

 

 

612,573

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

 

1,745

 

 

 

7,395

 

 

 

14,558

 

 

 

32,314

 

 

 

 

 

 

211,592

 

 

 

(18,314

)

 

 

249,290

 

Reimbursables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

542

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,464

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,006

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,461

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

128,212

 

 

 

 

 

 

149,673

 

General and administrative

 

 

419

 

 

 

3,315

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,545

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,674

)

 

 

 

 

 

10,605

 

Total operating costs and

   expenses

 

 

2,164

 

 

 

10,710

 

 

 

36,561

 

 

 

46,859

 

 

 

 

 

 

347,594

 

 

 

(18,314

)

 

 

425,574

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(2,164

)

 

 

(10,710

)

 

 

16,392

 

 

 

(46,859

)

 

 

 

 

 

230,340

 

 

 

 

 

 

186,999

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) of unconsolidated

   affiliates

 

 

135,092

 

 

 

53,855

 

 

 

(13,583

)

 

 

176,354

 

 

 

137,371

 

 

 

 

 

 

(489,089

)

 

 

 

Interest expense, net of amounts

   capitalized

 

 

(17,556

)

 

 

(1,327

)

 

 

(2,748

)

 

 

(61,409

)

 

 

(4,275

)

 

 

(4,399

)

 

 

34,614

 

 

 

(57,100

)

Interest income and other, net

 

 

1,649

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

3,476

 

 

 

15,321

 

 

 

69

 

 

 

13,370

 

 

 

(34,614

)

 

 

(733

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

117,021

 

 

 

41,814

 

 

 

3,537

 

 

 

83,407

 

 

 

133,165

 

 

 

239,311

 

 

 

(489,089

)

 

 

129,166

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

(10,082

)

 

 

(205

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,503

 

Net income

 

 

117,021

 

 

 

31,732

 

 

 

3,332

 

 

 

83,407

 

 

 

133,165

 

 

 

256,101

 

 

 

(489,089

)

 

 

135,669

 

Net income attributable to

   noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,816

)

 

 

4,168

 

 

 

(18,648

)

Net income attributable to Noble

   Corporation

 

 

117,021

 

 

 

31,732

 

 

 

3,332

 

 

 

83,407

 

 

 

133,165

 

 

 

233,285

 

 

 

(484,921

)

 

 

117,021

 

Other comprehensive income, net

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

(2,537

)

 

 

2,537

 

Comprehensive income

   attributable to Noble

   Corporation

 

$

119,558

 

 

$

31,732

 

 

$

3,332

 

 

$

83,407

 

 

$

133,165

 

 

$

235,822

 

 

$

(487,458

)

 

$

119,558

 

(Unaudited)

  Noble-
Cayman

NHUS
NDH
NHIL
NDS6
Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

Consolidating
Adjustments

Total
Operating revenues  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Contract drilling services $
 $
 $52,207
 $
 $
 $557,474
 $(18,314) $591,367
Reimbursables 
 
 746
 
 
 19,860
 
 20,606
Other 
 
 
 
 
 600
 
 600
Total operating revenues 
 
 52,953
 
 
 577,934
 (18,314) 612,573
Operating costs and expenses  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Contract drilling services 1,745
 7,395
 14,558
 32,314
 
 211,592
 (18,314) 249,290
Reimbursables 
 
 542
 
 
 15,464
 
 16,006
Depreciation and amortization 
 
 21,461
 
 
 128,212
 
 149,673
General and administrative 419
 3,315
 
 14,545
 
 (7,674) 
 10,605
Total operating costs and expenses 2,164
 10,710
 36,561
 46,859
 
 347,594
 (18,314) 425,574
Operating income (loss) (2,164) (10,710) 16,392
 (46,859) 
 230,340
 
 186,999
Other income (expense)  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates 135,092
 53,855
 (13,583) 176,354
 137,371
 
 (489,089) 
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized (17,556) (1,327) (2,748) (61,409) (4,275) (4,399) 34,614
 (57,100)
Interest income and other, net 1,649
 (4) 3,476
 15,321
 69
 13,370
 (34,614) (733)
Income before income taxes 117,021
 41,814
 3,537
 83,407
 133,165
 239,311
 (489,089) 129,166
Income tax (provision) benefit 
 (10,082) (205) 
 
 16,790
 
 6,503
Net income 117,021
 31,732
 3,332
 83,407
 133,165
 256,101
 (489,089) 135,669
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (22,816) 4,168
 (18,648)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation 117,021
 31,732
 3,332
 83,407
 133,165
 233,285
 (484,921) 117,021
Other comprehensive loss, net 2,537
 
 
 
 
 2,537
 (2,537) 2,537
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation $119,558
 $31,732
 $3,332
 $83,407
 $133,165
 $235,822
 $(487,458) $119,558


NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

Three months Ended March 31, 2015

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noble-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Consolidating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman

 

 

NHC

 

 

NDH

 

 

NHIL

 

 

NDS6

 

 

of Noble

 

 

Adjustments

 

 

Total

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

75,059

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

737,807

 

 

$

(33,505

)

 

$

779,361

 

Reimbursables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,379

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,602

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,981

 

Total operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

760,409

 

 

 

(33,505

)

 

 

804,342

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

 

1,815

 

 

 

8,291

 

 

 

29,378

 

 

 

22,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

290,661

 

 

 

(33,505

)

 

 

319,479

 

Reimbursables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,482

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,675

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,157

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,368

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

136,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

153,866

 

General and administrative

 

 

457

 

 

 

3,388

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,349

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,208

 

Total operating costs and

   expenses

 

 

2,272

 

 

 

11,679

 

 

 

48,228

 

 

 

31,188

 

 

 

 

 

 

445,848

 

 

 

(33,505

)

 

 

505,710

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

(2,272

)

 

 

(11,679

)

 

 

29,210

 

 

 

(31,188

)

 

 

 

 

 

314,561

 

 

 

 

 

 

298,632

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) of unconsolidated

   affiliates

 

 

216,726

 

 

 

32,081

 

 

 

55,024

 

 

 

289,758

 

 

 

179,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

(772,639

)

 

 

 

Interest expense, net of amounts

   capitalized

 

 

(24,753

)

 

 

(1,019

)

 

 

(3,255

)

 

 

(48,336

)

 

 

(6,216

)

 

 

(13,727

)

 

 

48,262

 

 

 

(49,044

)

Interest income and other, net

 

 

2,730

 

 

 

4,832

 

 

 

12,712

 

 

 

20,779

 

 

 

1,399

 

 

 

12,258

 

 

 

(48,262

)

 

 

6,448

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

192,431

 

 

 

24,215

 

 

 

93,691

 

 

 

231,013

 

 

 

174,233

 

 

 

313,092

 

 

 

(772,639

)

 

 

256,036

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

(16,093

)

 

 

(379

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,086

)

 

 

 

 

 

(43,558

)

Net income

 

 

192,431

 

 

 

8,122

 

 

 

93,312

 

 

 

231,013

 

 

 

174,233

 

 

 

286,006

 

 

 

(772,639

)

 

 

212,478

 

Net income attributable to

   noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30,464

)

 

 

10,417

 

 

 

(20,047

)

Net income attributable to

   Noble Corporation

 

 

192,431

 

 

 

8,122

 

 

 

93,312

 

 

 

231,013

 

 

 

174,233

 

 

 

255,542

 

 

 

(762,222

)

 

 

192,431

 

Other comprehensive loss, net

 

 

(5,363

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,363

)

 

 

5,363

 

 

 

(5,363

)

Comprehensive income

   attributable to Noble

   Corporation

 

$

187,068

 

 

$

8,122

 

 

$

93,312

 

 

$

231,013

 

 

$

174,233

 

 

$

250,179

 

 

$

(756,859

)

 

$

187,068

 


NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Three monthsMonths Ended March 31, 2016

2017

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noble-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Consolidating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman

 

 

NHC

 

 

NDH

 

 

NHIL

 

 

NDS6

 

 

of Noble

 

 

Adjustments

 

 

Total

 

Cash flows from operating

   activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash from operating activities

 

$

(8,420

)

 

$

(12,190

)

 

$

20,809

 

 

$

(120,093

)

 

$

(7,988

)

 

$

315,632

 

 

$

 

 

$

187,750

 

Cash flows from investing

   activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14,575

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(74,749

)

 

 

 

 

 

(89,324

)

Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,031

 

Net cash from investing

   activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14,575

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(71,718

)

 

 

 

 

 

(86,293

)

Cash flows from financing

   activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment of long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(300,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(300,000

)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling

   interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,513

)

 

 

 

 

 

(21,513

)

Distributions to parent company,

   net

 

 

(56,316

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(56,316

)

Advances (to) from affiliates

 

 

63,117

 

 

 

12,190

 

 

 

(8,264

)

 

 

420,093

 

 

 

7,988

 

 

 

(495,124

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash from financing

   activities

 

 

6,801

 

 

 

12,190

 

 

 

(8,264

)

 

 

120,093

 

 

 

7,988

 

 

 

(516,637

)

 

 

 

 

 

(377,829

)

Net change in cash and

   cash equivalents

 

 

(1,619

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2,030

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(272,723

)

 

 

 

 

 

(276,372

)

Cash and cash equivalents,

   beginning of period

 

 

1,627

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

508,067

 

 

 

 

 

 

511,795

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end

   of period

 

$

8

 

 

$

 

 

$

71

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

235,344

 

 

$

 

 

$

235,423

 

(Unaudited)

  Noble-
Cayman

NHUS
NDH
NHIL
NDS6
Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

Consolidating
Adjustments

Total
Cash flows from operating activities                
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $8,341
 $(6,607) $54,422
 $(115,438) $55,815
 $151,982
 $
 $148,515
Cash flows from investing activities  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Capital expenditures 
 
 (277) 
 
 (38,105) 
 (38,382)
Proceeds from disposal of assets 
 
 
 
 
 273
 
 273
Net cash provide by (used in) investing activities 
 
 (277) 
 
 (37,832) 
 (38,109)
Cash flows from financing activities  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facility 
 
 
 (42) 
 
 
 (42)
Repayment of long-term debt 
 
 
 (300,000) 
 
 
 (300,000)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (5,393) 
 (5,393)
Distributions to parent company, net 60,164
 
 
 
 
 
 
 60,164
Advances (to) from affiliates (71,041) 6,607
 (64,900) 415,480
 (55,815) (230,331) 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (10,877) 6,607
 (64,900) 115,438
 (55,815) (235,724) 
 (245,271)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (2,536) 
 (10,755) 
 
 (121,574) 
 (134,865)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 2,537
 
 10,855
 
 
 640,441
 
 653,833
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $1
 $
 $100
 $
 $
 $518,867
 $
 $518,968


NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Three monthsMonths Ended March 31, 2015

2016

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noble-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Consolidating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cayman

 

 

NHC

 

 

NDH

 

 

NHIL

 

 

NDS6

 

 

of Noble

 

 

Adjustments

 

 

Total

 

Cash flows from operating

   activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash from operating activities

 

$

(27,097

)

 

$

36,360

 

 

$

33,705

 

 

$

(102,007

)

 

$

(8,568

)

 

$

426,630

 

 

$

 

 

$

359,023

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,344

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(90,973

)

 

 

 

 

 

(118,317

)

Net cash from investing

   activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,344

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(90,973

)

 

 

 

 

 

(118,317

)

Cash flows from financing

   activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in borrowings

   outstanding on bank credit

   facilities

 

 

(1,099,497

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,099,497

)

Repayment of long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,092,728

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,092,728

 

Debt issuance costs on senior

   notes and credit facilities

 

 

(6,392

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8,383

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14,775

)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling

   interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19,369

)

 

 

 

 

 

(19,369

)

Distributions to parent company,

   net

 

 

(186,597

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(186,597

)

Advances (to) from affiliates

 

 

1,319,583

 

 

 

(36,360

)

 

 

(6,344

)

 

 

(982,338

)

 

 

8,568

 

 

 

(303,109

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash from financing

   activities

 

 

27,097

 

 

 

(36,360

)

 

 

(6,344

)

 

 

102,007

 

 

 

8,568

 

 

 

(322,478

)

 

 

 

 

 

(227,510

)

Net change in cash and cash

   equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,196

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning

   of period

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

65,521

 

 

 

 

 

 

65,780

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of

   period

 

$

5

 

 

$

 

 

$

271

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

78,700

 

 

$

 

 

$

78,976

 

(Unaudited)

  Noble-
Cayman

NHUS
NDH
NHIL
NDS6
Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

Consolidating
Adjustments

Total
Cash flows from operating activities                
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $(8,420) $(12,190) $20,809
 $(120,093) $(7,988) $315,632
 $
 $187,750
Cash flows from investing activities  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Capital expenditures 
 
 (14,575) 
 
 (74,749) 
 (89,324)
Proceeds from disposal of assets 
 
 
 
 
 3,031
 
 3,031
Net cash used in investing activities 
 
 (14,575) 
 
 (71,718) 
 (86,293)
Cash flows from financing activities  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Repayment of long-term debt 
 
 
 (300,000) 
 
 
 (300,000)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
 
 (21,513) 
 (21,513)
Distributions to parent company, net (56,316) 
 
 
 
 
 
 (56,316)
Advances (to) from affiliates 63,117
 12,190
 (8,264) 420,093
 7,988
 (495,124) 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 6,801
 12,190
 (8,264) 120,093
 7,988
 (516,637) 
 (377,829)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (1,619) 
 (2,030) 
 
 (272,723) 
 (276,372)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 1,627
 
 2,101
 
 
 508,067
 
 511,795
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $8
 $
 $71
 $
 $
 $235,344
 $
 $235,423


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion is intended to assist you in understanding our financial position at March 31, 2016,2017, and our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015.2016. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20152016 filed by Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Noble-UK”), and Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”).

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report regarding rig demand, the offshore drilling market, oil prices, contract backlog, fleet status, our financial position, business strategy, impairments, repayment of debt, credit ratings, borrowings under our credit facility or other instruments, sources of funds, completion, delivery dates and acceptance of any newbuild rigs, future capital expenditures, contract commitments, dayrates, contract commencements, extension or renewals, contract tenders, the outcome of any dispute, litigation, audit or investigation, plans and objectives of management for future operations, foreign currency requirements, results of joint ventures, indemnity and other contract claims, construction and upgrade of rigs, industry conditions, access to financing, impact of competition, governmental regulations and permitting, availability of labor, worldwide economic conditions, taxes and tax rates, indebtedness covenant compliance, dividends and distributable reserves, timing or results of acquisitions or dispositions, and timing for compliance with any new regulations are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report on Form 10-Q and we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. We have identified factors including but not limited to market conditions, factors affecting the level of activity in the oil and gas industry, supply and demand of drilling rigs, factors affecting the duration of contracts, the actual amount of downtime, factors that reduce applicable dayrates, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with operations outside the U.S., actions by regulatory authorities, credit rating agencies, customers, joint venture partners, contractors, lenders and other third parties, legislation and regulations affecting drilling operations, violations of anti-corruption laws, hurricanes and other weather conditions and the future price of oil and gas that could cause actual plans or results to differ materially from those included in any forward-looking statements. These factors include those referenced or described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015,2016, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We cannot control such risk factors and other uncertainties, and in many cases, we cannot predict the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. You should consider these risks and uncertainties when you are evaluating us.

Executive Overview

We are a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. We perform contract drilling services with our global fleet of mobile offshore drilling units. As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,May 5, 2017, our fleet consisted of 14 jackups, eight drillships and eight semisubmersibles, including one high-specification, harsh environment jackup under construction.

six semisubmersibles.

We report our contract drilling operations as a single reportable segment, Contract Drilling Services, which reflects how we manage our business, and the fact that all of our drilling fleet is dependent upon the worldwide oil and gas industry. The mobile offshore drilling units comprising our offshore rig fleet operate in a global market for contract drilling services and are often redeployed to different regions due to changing demands of our customers, which consist largely of major independent and government owned/government-owned or controlled oil and gas companies throughout the world. As of March 31, 2016,2017, our contract drilling services segment conducted operations in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, the North Sea, the Mediterranean,South Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.South America. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.


Outlook

The business environment for offshore drillers during the first three months of 20162017 remained challenging. TheA rig capacitysupply imbalance causedremained in partplace, as curtailed offshore spending by the additioncustomers contributed to a growing number of newbuild units and rigs completingwithout follow-on drilling programs as current contracts continuedexpire. In addition, some newbuild rigs ordered prior to increasethe decline in industry activity, continue to exit shipyards, while customer demand for these rigs has remained weak. Beginning in June 2014, the pricedelivery of other newbuild orders have been delayed into the future and are adding to the supply imbalance. Our customers have adopted a cautious approach to offshore spending as crude oil a key factor in determining customer activity levels, began to decline rapidly, with the Brent crude price decliningprices declined from approximately $112 per barrel on June 30, 2014 to as low as approximately $30 per barrel in January 2016, before improving to $40$52 per barrel on March 31, 2016.April 25, 2017. Although the price improvement duringcrude oil prices have traded in a more sustainable range over the first quarterthree months of 2016 from


2017, we expect that the January lows is encouraging, it is not expected to stimulate customer spending in 2016. Theoffshore drilling programs of operators are expected towill remain curtailed, especially exploration activity, until higher, sustainable crude oil prices are achieved. Until then, further deterioration in rig utilization and dayrates is possible. While there have been a number of rig retirements since 2014, and more are expected over the next two years, the rig capacity imbalance has not been corrected.

We expect that the business environment for the remainder of 20162017 and into 2017 will2018 to remain challengingweak and it could potentially deteriorate further. The present subdued level of global economic activity, the potential increaseuncertainty of oil supply from Iranthe viability and a lacklength of reductions in production cuts withinagreed to by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) in November 2016, the incremental production capacity in non-OPEC countries, including growing production from the U.S. shale activity, the current U.S. political environment and the Brexit vote in the UK are contributing to an uncertain oil price environment, leading to a persistent disruptionconsiderable uncertainty in our customers’ exploration and production spending plans. Capital expenditures undertakenHowever, the production limits recently agreed to by the offshore drilling industryOPEC could help to establish market conditions supporting higher, sustained crude prices in recent years have increased the supply of drilling rigs and current and expected demand from customers during the remainder of 2016 is not expected to support this current supply.2017. In general, recent contract awards have been short-term in nature and subject to an extremely competitive bidding process. As a result, the contracts have been for dayrates that are substantially lower than rates were for the same class of rigs before this period of imbalance. We cannot give any assurances as to when conditions in the offshore drilling market will improve, or when there will be higher demand for contract drilling services or a decline in the supplyoversupply of available drilling rigs.rigs will end. While current market conditions persist, we will continue to focus on operating efficiency, cost control initiatives and managing liquidity and operating margin preservation, whichliquidity. The current business environment could includelead to the Company stacking or retirement ofretiring additional drilling rigs.

We believe in the long-term fundamentals for the industry, especially for those contractors with a modern fleet of high-specification rigs like ours. Also, we believe the ultimate market recovery will benefit from any sustained under-investment by customers during this current phase of the market cycle.

Consistent with our policy, we evaluate property and equipment for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Further declines in the offshore drilling market, or lack of recovery in market conditions, to the extent actual results do not meet our estimated assumptions, may lead to potential impairments in the future.

Results and Strategy

Our business strategy focuses on deepwater drilling and high-specification jackups and the deployment of our drilling rigs in important oil and gas basins around the world. 

We have expanded our offshore deepwater drilling and high-specification jackup capabilities through the construction of rigs. Currently, we have one newbuild project remaining, the heavy-duty, harsh environment jackup, Noble Lloyd Noble, which is scheduled to commence operations under a four-year contract in the North Sea during the fourth quarter of 2016. Although we plan to focus on capital preservation and liquidity based on current market conditions, we also plan to continue to evaluate opportunities as they arise from time to time to enhance our fleet, particularly focusing on higher specification rigs, to execute the increasingly more complex drilling programs required by our customers.

While we cannot predict the future level of demand or dayrates for our services, or future conditions in the offshore contract drilling industry, we believe we are strategically well positioned.

We believe in the long-term fundamentals for the industry, especially for those contractors with a modern fleet of high-specification rigs like ours. Also, with the ultimate market recovery benefitting from any sustained under-investment by customers during this current phase of the market cycle. The acceleration in customer’s offshore spending, in combination with further fleet attrition should contribute to a balanced rig supply over time.
Results and Strategy
Our business strategy focuses on a balanced fleet of both deepwater and high-specification jackup assets and the deployment of our drilling rigs in important oil and gas basins around the world. 
Over the past five years, we have expanded our drilling fleet through our newbuild program. We took delivery of our last remaining newbuild, the heavy-duty, harsh environment jackup, Noble Lloyd Noble, in July 2016. The Noble Lloyd Noble commenced operations in November 2016 under a four-year contract in the North Sea. Although we plan to focus on capital preservation and liquidity based on current market conditions, we also continue to evaluate opportunities to enhance our fleet, particularly focusing on higher specification rigs, to execute the increasingly complex drilling programs required by our customers.
Spin-off of Paragon Offshore plc

On August 1, 2014, Noble-UK completed the separation and spin-off of a majority of its standard specification offshore drilling business (the “Spin-off”) through a pro rata distribution of all of the ordinary shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore, to the holders of Noble’s ordinary shares.

In February 2016, Paragon Offshore sought approval of a pre-negotiated plan of reorganization (the "Prior Plan") by filing for voluntary relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As part of the Prior Plan, we entered into an agreement in principle for a settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore (the "Settlement Agreement") under which, in exchange for a full and unconditional release of any claims by Paragon Offshore in connection with the Spin-off (including certainfraudulent conveyance claims that could be brought on behalf of Paragon Offshore’s creditors), we agreed to provide certain tax bonding in Mexico as well as assume certain tax liabilities and the administration of Mexican tax claims for specified years upyears. The bonding to and including 2010, as well as the related bonding obligations and certainbe provided by Noble-UK was a key benefit to Paragon Offshore of the relatedSettlement Agreement, which was subject to bankruptcy court confirmation as part of a bankruptcy plan. The Prior Plan was rejected by the bankruptcy court in October 2016.
In April 2017, Paragon Offshore filed an updated disclosure statement and a revised plan of reorganization (the “New Plan”) in its bankruptcy proceeding. Under the New Plan, including Paragon Offshore’s revised business plan, Paragon Offshore will no longer need the Mexican tax liabilities. The finalbonding that Noble-UK was to provide under the Settlement Agreement. As a result, the Settlement Agreement is no longer applicable to the anticipated ongoing business of Paragon Offshore. Consequently, Paragon Offshore abandoned the Settlement Agreement as part of the New Plan and the Settlement Agreement was terminated at the time of the filing of the New Plan. On May 2, 2017, Paragon Offshore announced that it had reached an agreement in principle with both its secured and unsecured creditors to revise the New Plan to, among other things, create and fund a litigation trust to pursue litigation against us.
We continue to discuss our continuing relationship with Paragon Offshore, including the possibility of entering into a new settlement agreement. There can be no assurance that we will reach any settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore. If we do not enter into a settlement agreement with Paragon Offshore, whichwe expect Paragon Offshore or its creditors would use the funds in the litigation trust to pursue claims against us relating to the Spin-off, including any alleged fraudulent conveyance claims. We co


ntinue to believe that Paragon Offshore, at the time of the Spin-off, was signedproperly funded, solvent and had appropriate liquidity and that any fraudulent conveyance claim or other claim related to the Spin-off that may be brought by Paragon Offshore or its creditors, would be without merit and would be contested vigorously by us.
Prior to the completion of the Spin-off, Noble-UK and Paragon Offshore entered into a series of agreements to effect the separation and Spin-off and govern the relationship between the parties on April 29, 2016, is subjectafter the Spin-off (the "Separation Agreements"). In the course of its bankruptcy, Paragon Offshore may elect to reject the Separation Agreements. If Paragon Offshore rejects the Separation Agreements, the indemnity obligations that Paragon Offshore may owe us under the Separation Agreements would terminate, including indemnities arising under the Master Separation Agreement and the Tax Sharing Agreement in respect of obligations related to Paragon Offshore’s business that were incurred through Noble-retained entities prior to the approvalSpin-off. We could, however, pursue claims against Paragon Offshore for such indemnity amounts in the bankruptcy proceeding. Any such claims would be unsecured claims in the bankruptcy. Likewise, any indemnity obligations that we may owe Paragon Offshore under the Separation Agreements, including those under the Master Separation Agreement and Tax Sharing Agreement in respect of Noble-UK’s business that was conducted prior to the Spin-off through Paragon Offshore’s bankruptcy planOffshore-retained entities, would also be extinguished. We do not expect that a rejection of the Separation Agreements by Paragon Offshore would have a bankruptcy court. A hearingmaterial adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity. However, any loss we experience with respect to confirm the plan is set for late June 2016. which we are unable to secure indemnification from Paragon Offshore could have an adverse impact on our results of operations in any period, which impact may be material depending on our results of operations during this down-cycle.
For additional information regarding the Spin-off and the settlement agreementSettlement Agreement with Paragon Offshore, see Note 2 and Note 1314 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.


Contract Drilling Services Backlog

We maintain a backlog (as defined below) of commitments for contract drilling services. The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2016,2017, the amount of our contract drilling services backlog and the percent of available operating days committed for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ending December 31,

 

 

 

Total

 

 

2016 (1)

 

 

2017

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2020-2023

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

Contract Drilling Services Backlog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semisubmersibles/Drillships (4)(5)(7)

 

$

4,789

 

 

$

1,190

 

 

$

1,063

 

 

$

658

 

 

$

508

 

 

$

1,370

 

Jackups (3)

 

 

1,446

 

 

 

444

 

 

 

455

 

 

 

285

 

 

 

159

 

 

 

103

 

Total (2)

 

$

6,235

 

 

$

1,634

 

 

$

1,518

 

 

$

943

 

 

$

667

 

 

$

1,473

 

Percent of Available Days Committed (6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semisubmersibles/Drillships

 

 

 

 

 

 

54

%

 

 

36

%

 

 

25

%

 

 

20

%

 

 

13

%

Jackups

 

 

 

 

 

 

87

%

 

 

66

%

 

 

36

%

 

 

7

%

 

 

1

%

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

69

%

 

 

50

%

 

 

30

%

 

 

14

%

 

 

8

%

    Year Ending December 31,
  Total 
2017 (1)
 2018 2019 2020 2021-2024
  (In millions)
Contract Drilling Services Backlog            
Semisubmersibles/Drillships (4)(6)
 $2,056
 $349
 $451
 $348
 $326
 $582
Jackups (3)
 1,474
 396
 393
 303
 223
 159
Total (2)
 $3,530
 $745
 $844
 $651
 $549
 $741
Percent of Available Days Committed (5)
            
Semisubmersibles/Drillships   32% 29% 22% 21% 13%
Jackups   77% 50% 28% 19% 7%
Total   54% 40% 25% 20% 10%

(1)

(1)Represents a nine monthnine-month period beginning April 1, 2016.

2017.

(2)

(2)Some of our drilling contracts provide the customer with certain early termination rights and, in very limited cases, these termination rights require minimal or no notice or financial penalties. However, asAs of April 22, 2016, we have not received any notification25, 2017, no notifications of contract cancellations.

terminations have been received.

(3)

(3)
Our Saudi Aramco contract rates for the Noble Joe Beall and Noble Gene Housewere adjusted downward forin 2016. Given current market conditions and based on discussions with the customer, we do not expect the rates to return to the original contract rates. Instead, weWe expect the contract rates to be in the general range of the amended rates forin 2016 through the end of each respective contract. Backlog for these contracts has been prepared assuming the reduced rates forfrom 2016 apply for the remainder of the contract.

(4)

Three

(4)
As previously reported, three of our long-term contracts with Shell, relating to the Noble Bully II, Noble Globetrotter I and Noble Globetrotter II, respectively, contain a dayrate adjustment clauses aftermechanism that utilizes an average of market rates that match a set of distinct technical attributes and is subject to a modest discount, beginning on the initial five-yearfifth year anniversary of the contract term. After the initial five-year term, dayrates adjust up or downand continuing every six months based onthereafter. On December 12, 2016, we amended those long-term contracts with Shell. As a discount toresult of the amendments, each of the contracts now has a market basket of comparable dayrates, all as defined in the contracts. These contracts commence indexing in April 2017, July 2017 and September 2018contractual dayrate floor. The contract amendments for the Noble Globetrotter I and Noble Globetrotter II provide a dayrate floor of $275,000 per day. The Noble Bully II, contract contains a dayrate floor of $200,000 per day plus daily operating expenses. The amendment also provided Shell the right to idle the Noble Bully II for up to one year and the Noble Globetrotter III for up to two years, each at a special stacking rate. Shell has exercised its right and beginning late December 2016 we idled the Noble Globetrotter II, respectively. There can be no assurance regarding at a rate of $185,000 per day. The Noble Bully II was idled at a rate of $200,000 per day, effective April 3, 2017. Once the level of future dayrates under these market-indexed contracts. For every $50,000 change in dayrate under one of these contracts, our backlog would be adjusted by approximately $91 million. The backlog shown herein assumes the initial dayrate continues for the entirety of the contract because of the lack of relevant available market data. Should the current adverse market conditions persist into 2017, 2018 or beyond, we would expect a material reduction to dayrates as compared to the initial five-year term rate.

adjustment


mechanism becomes effective and following any idle periods, the dayrate for these rigs will not be lower than the higher of (i) the contractual dayrate floor or (ii) the market rate as calculated under the adjustment mechanism. The impact to contract backlog from these amendments has been reflected in the table above and the backlog calculation assumes that, after any idle period at the contractual stacking rate, each rig will work at their respective dayrate floor for the remaining contract term.

(5)

The Noble Sam Croft and Noble Tom Madden remain under contract with a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (“Freeport”) into July 2017 and November 2017, respectively. Freeport has announced plans to reorganize their oil and gas subsidiary and reduce the number of rigs the subsidiary utilizes in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. We are currently in discussion with Freeport regarding these contracts to determine whether there is a mutually beneficial arrangement that appropriately addresses the interests of each party. The impact to backlog from these discussions is uncertain, including both the amount and timing of backlog ultimately realized. The amount of backlog attributable to the Freeport contracts is $682 million, or 11 percent of total backlog at March 31, 2016.

(6)

(5)

Percent of available days committed is calculated by dividing the total number of days our rigs are operating under contract for such period or committed days, by the product of the total number of our rigs, including cold stacked rigs and the number of calendar days in such period. Committed days do not include the days that a rig is stacked or the days that a rig is expected to be out of service for significant overhaul, repairs or maintenance. Percentages take into account additional capacity from the estimated dates of deployment of our newbuild rig that is scheduled to commence operations during 2016.

(7)

(6)
Noble and a subsidiary of Shell are involved in joint ventures that own and operate both the Noble Bully I and the Noble Bully II. Under the terms of the joint venturePursuant to these agreements, each party has an equal 50 percent share in both rigs.vessels. As of March 31, 2016,2017, the combined amount of backlog for these rigs totals approximately $1.2 billion,totaled $573 million, all of which is included in our backlog. Noble’s proportional interest in the backlog for these rigs totals $588totaled $286.5 million.

Our contract drilling services backlog reflects estimated future revenues attributable to both signed drilling contracts and letters of intent that we expect to result in binding drilling contracts. A letter of intent is generally subject to customary conditions, including the execution of a definitive drilling contract. It is possible that some customers that have entered into letters of intent will not enter into signed drilling contracts. As of March 31, 2016,2017, our contract drilling services backlog did not include any letters of intent.


We calculate backlog for any given unit and period by multiplying the full contractual operating dayrate for such unit by the number of days remaining in the period.period and, for the three rigs contracted with Shell mentioned in the above, utilize the idle period and floor rates as described in Footnote (4) to the Backlog table above. The reported contract drilling services backlog does not include amounts representing revenues for mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation, which are not expected to be significant to our contract drilling services revenues, amounts constituting reimbursables from customers or amounts attributable to uncommitted option periods under drilling contracts or letters of intent.

The amount of actual revenues earned and the actual periods during which revenues are earned may be materially different than the backlog amounts and backlog periods set forth in the table above due to various factors, including, but not limited to, shipyard and maintenance projects, unplanned downtime, the operation of market benchmarks for dayrate resets, achievement of bonuses, weather conditions, reduced standby or mobilization rates and other factors that result in applicable dayrates lower than the full contractual operating dayrate. In addition, amounts included in the backlog may change because drilling contracts may be varied or modified by mutual consent or customers may exercise early termination rights contained in some of our drilling contracts or decline to enter into a drilling contract after executing a letter of intent. As a result, our backlog as of any particular date may not be indicative of our actual operating results for the periods for which the backlog is calculated. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors – We can provide no assurance that our current backlog of contract drilling revenue will be ultimately realized” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

2016.

As of March 31, 2016,2017, Shell, Saudi Aramco and FreeportStatoil ASA represented approximately 6459 percent, 19 percent and 1115 percent of our backlog, respectively.

Results of Operations

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015

2016

Net incomeloss from continuing operations attributable to Noble-UK for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 (the “Current Quarter”) was $302 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $363 million, compared to net income from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 (the “Comparable Quarter”) of $105 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $612 million, compared to net income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 (the “Comparable Quarter”) of $178 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $804 million.

As a result of Noble-UK conducting all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries, the financial position and results of operations for Noble-Cayman, and the reasons for material changes in the amount of revenue and expense items between the Current Quarter and the Comparable Quarter, would be the same as the information presented below regarding Noble-UK in all material respects, except operating income for Noble-Cayman for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and 2015 was $12$7 million and $14$12 million higher, respectively, than operating income for Noble-UK for the same periods. The operating income difference is primarily a result of executive costs directly attributable to Noble-UK for operations support and stewardship related services.



Rig Utilization, Operating Days and Average Dayrates

Operating results for our contract drilling services segment are dependent on three primary metrics: rig utilization, operating days and dayrates. The following table sets forth the average rig utilization, operating days and average dayrates for our rig fleet for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015:

2016:

 

 

Average Rig

 

 

Operating

 

 

Average

 

 

 

Utilization (1)

 

 

Days (2)

 

 

Dayrates

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

% Change

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

% Change

 

Jackups

 

 

84

%

 

 

92

%

 

 

981

 

 

 

990

 

 

 

-1

%

 

$

134,868

 

 

$

172,700

 

 

 

-22

%

Semisubmersibles

 

 

48

%

 

 

65

%

 

 

350

 

 

 

493

 

 

 

-29

%

 

 

258,786

 

 

 

392,777

 

 

 

-34

%

Drillships

 

 

100

%

 

 

100

%

 

 

728

 

 

 

810

 

 

 

-10

%

 

 

506,141

 

 

 

512,259

 

 

 

-1

%

Total

 

 

79

%

 

 

86

%

 

 

2,059

 

 

 

2,293

 

 

 

-10

%

 

$

287,169

 

 

$

339,961

 

 

 

-16

%

  
Average Rig
Utilization (1)
 
Operating
Days (2)
 
Average
Dayrates
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
   Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
  2017 2016 2017 2016 % Change 2017 2016 % Change
Jackups 93% 84% 1,170
 981
 19 % $123,154
 $134,868
 (9)%
Semisubmersibles 17% 48% 90
 350
 (74)% 131,015
 258,786
 (49)%
Drillships 68% 100% 490
 728
 (33)% 405,719
 506,141
 (20)%
Total 69% 79% 1,750
 2,059
 (15)% $202,674
 $287,169
 (29)%

(1)

(1)We define utilization for a specific period as the total number of days our rigs are operating under contract, divided by the product of the total number of our rigs, including cold stacked rigs, and the number of calendar days in such period. Information reflects our policy of reporting on the basis of the number of available rigs in our fleet, excluding newbuild rigs under construction.

(2)

(2)Information reflects the number of days that our rigs were operating under contract.


Contract Drilling Services

The following table sets forth the operating results for our contract drilling services segment for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 20152016 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31

 

 

Change

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

$

 

 

%

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

$

591,367

 

 

$

779,361

 

 

$

(187,994

)

 

 

-24

%

Reimbursables (1)

 

 

20,606

 

 

 

24,981

 

 

 

(4,375

)

 

 

-18

%

 

 

$

611,973

 

 

$

804,342

 

 

$

(192,369

)

 

 

-24

%

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract drilling services

 

$

251,248

 

 

$

321,750

 

 

$

(70,502

)

 

 

-22

%

Reimbursables (1)

 

 

16,006

 

 

 

20,157

 

 

 

(4,151

)

 

 

-21

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

144,029

 

 

 

148,208

 

 

 

(4,179

)

 

 

-3

%

General and administrative

 

 

19,540

 

 

 

23,938

 

 

 

(4,398

)

 

 

-18

%

 

 

 

430,823

 

 

 

514,053

 

 

 

(83,230

)

 

 

-16

%

Operating income

 

$

181,150

 

 

$

290,289

 

 

$

(109,139

)

 

 

-38

%

  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
  2017 2016 $ %
Operating revenues:        
Contract drilling services $354,659
 $591,367
 $(236,708) (40)%
Reimbursables (1)
 8,304
 20,606
 (12,302) (60)%
  $362,963
 $611,973
 $(249,010) (41)%
Operating costs and expenses:        
Contract drilling services $160,385
 $251,248
 $(90,863) (36)%
Reimbursables (1)
 5,146
 16,006
 (10,860) (68)%
Depreciation and amortization 129,778
 144,029
 (14,251) (10)%
General and administrative 15,880
 19,540
 (3,660) (19)%
  311,189
 430,823
 (119,634) (28)%
Operating income $51,774
 $181,150
 $(129,376) (71)%

(1)

(1)We record reimbursements from customers for out-of-pocket expenses as operating revenues and the related direct costs as operating expenses. Changes in the amount of these reimbursables generally do not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Operating Revenues.Changes in contract drilling services revenues for the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter were driven by a decrease in both average dayrates and operating days. The 1629 percent decrease in average dayrates, reducedwhich decreased revenues by $108$148 million and the 10as well as a 15 percent decrease in operating days, reducedwhich decreased revenues by $80$89 million.

The decrease in contract Contract drilling services revenues relateddecreased in the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter by $170 million and $79 million on our semisubmersibles, drillships and jackups, which generated $103semisubmersibles, respectively, and increased by $12 million $46on our jackups.

During the Current Quarter drillship revenues decreased by $170 million and $39 million less revenue, respectively, than in the Comparable Quarter.

The $103 million decrease in semisubmersible revenue was driven by a 2933 percent declinedecrease in operating days and a 3420 percent declinedecrease in average dayrates, resulting in decreases in revenues of $121 million and $49 million, respectively, from the Comparable Quarter. The decrease in both operating days and average dayrates was primarily the result of the contract cancellations of the Noble Sam Croft,Noble Tom Madden and Noble Bob Douglas, which operated in the Comparable Quarter and increased stacked days on the Noble Bully I in the Current Quarter. Additionally, the valuation of the contingent payments from the FCX Settlement declined $8 million in the Current Quarter.



Semisubmersible revenues decreased by $79 million, driven by a 74 percent decrease in operating days and a 49 percent decrease in average dayrates, resulting in a $56$67 million and $47$12 million declinedecrease in revenues, respectively, from the Comparable Quarter. The decrease in both operating days and average dayrates was primarily attributable to the Current Quarter contract completions since the Comparable Quarter for the Noble Jim Day, Noble Clyde Boudreaux, the Noble Jim Day, the Noble Amos Runner, Noble Dave Beardand the Noble Danny Adkins,. The each of which has not returned to work since their respective completions. Additionally, decreases in the dayrate for the Noble Paul Romano contributed to the decrease in revenueaverage dayrates during the Current Quarter.
Jackup revenues increased by $12 million, driven by a 19 percent increase in operating days, resulting in a $26 million increase in revenues, which was partially offset by the Noble Paul Romano, which was operational during the Current Quarter but was off contract during the Comparable Quarter.

The $46 million decrease in drillship revenues was driven by a 10 percent decrease in operating days and a 1nine percent decrease in average dayrates, resulting in a $42 million and a $4$14 million decrease in revenues respectively,in the Current Quarter from the Comparable Quarter. The decreaseincrease in operating days was primarily driven by the resultcommencement of the retirementnewbuilds Noble Lloyd Noble and subsequent sale ofNoble Sam Hartley, which commenced their contracts in November 2016 and January 2016, respectively, as well as Noble Mick O'Brien and Noble Regina Allen, which operated during the Current Quarter but were off contract during the Comparable Quarter. This was partially offset by the Noble Discoverer,Tom Prosser, which was operationaloff contract during the Current Quarter but operated in the Comparable Quarter. The decrease in average dayrates was driven by the Noble Discoverer as noted above and unfavorable dayrate changes on contracts across the drillship fleet.

The $39 million decrease in jackup revenues was driven by a 22 percent decrease in average dayrates and a 1 percent decrease in operating days, resulting in a $37 million and a $2 million decrease in revenues, respectively, from the Comparable Quarter. The decrease in both average dayrates and operating days was primarily driven by the Noble Regina Allen, which was off contract during the Current Quarter but operational during the Comparable Quarter, and the retirement of the Noble Charles Copeland, which was operational in the Comparable Quarter. Additionally, unfavorable dayrate changes on contracts across the jackup fleet contributed to the decrease in average dayrates. This was partially offset by the commencement of the newbuilds, the fleet.

Noble Tom Prosser and the Noble Sam Hartley, which commenced their contracts in October 2015 and January 2016, respectively.

Operating Costs and Expenses.Contract drilling services operating costs and expenses decreased $71$91 million for the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter. This was due toCosts decreased costs of $37$66 million related tofor rigs that operated during the Comparable Quarter but were idle or stacked during the Current Quarter. Additional cost control measures led to a cost reduction of $35 million across rigs and $34 million related towith comparable operating days in both the retirement of the Noble Discoverer, the Noble Jim Thompson, the Noble Driller, the Noble Charles CopelandCurrent Quarter and the Noble Paul Wolff.Comparable Quarter. These cost decreases were primarily recognized in labor and training related costs, operations support and repair and maintenance costs of approximately $13 million, $8 million and $5 million, respectively, as well as other rig-related expenses. This was partially offset by crew-up andthe newly operating expenses for our newbuild rigs as they commenced, or prepared to commence, operating under contracts,rig, the Noble Lloyd Noble, which added costs of approximately $8$10 million in expense in the Current Quarter. .

The remaining $8 million decrease in costs was driven by a $6 million decrease in repair and maintenance costs, a $1 million decrease in insurance costs related to our policy renewal in March 2015 and a $1 million decrease in other rig-related expenses.


The $4$14 million decrease in depreciation and amortization in the Current Quarter fromas compared to the Comparable Quarter was primarily attributable to the retirement and subsequent sale of the five rigs discussed above,Noble Max Smith and the retirement of the Noble Homer Ferrington, as well as the impairment of the Noble Amos Runner, Noble Clyde Boudreaux and Noble Dave Beard in December 2016, partially offset by the newbuild rigsrig, the Noble Lloyd Noble, placed in service.

service November 2016.

Other Income and Expenses

General and administrative expenses.Overall, general and administrative expenses decreased $4 million in the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter primarily as a result of decreased employee related costs of $2 million and legal and other professional fees of $2 million.employee-related costs.

Interest Expense, net of amount capitalized.Interest expense net of amount capitalized, increased $8$16 million in the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter. The increase isQuarter primarily due to a resultfull period of interest in respect of the issuance of $1.1 billion of senior notes issued in March 2015, coupled with a reduction inDecember 2016, no capitalized interest in the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter due to the completion of constructionour newbuild program, as well as an increase in applicable interest rates on twocertain of our newbuild jackups. Duringsenior notes due to the Current Quarter, wedowngrading of our credit rating below investment grade in the prior year. We capitalized approximately 6 percent of total interest charges versus approximately 10six percent during the Comparable Quarter. This wasThese expense increases were partially offset by the retirement of a portion of our 2020, 2021 and 2022 Senior Notes as a result of two different tender offers in the prior year, as well as the repayment of our $350maturing $300 million 3.45%3.05% Senior Notes and our $300 million 3.05%2.50% Senior Notes in August 2015March 2016 and March 2016,2017, respectively.

Income Tax Provision.Our income tax provision decreased $50increased $264 million in the Current Quarter driven byas compared to the Comparable Quarter primarily due to a $260 million non-cash discrete item as the result of an internal tax restructuring, which was implemented to reduce costs associated with the ownership of multiple legal entities, simplify the overall legal entity structure, ease deployment of cash throughout the business and consolidate operations into one centralized group of entities. The effect of this tax restructuring will be to lower current tax expense. Excluding the discrete tax items from both the Current Quarter and the Comparable Quarter, a $23 million decrease in our income tax provision was a result of a lower effective tax rate and lowerapplied to a pre-tax book loss in the Current Quarter as compared to pre-tax book income than in the Comparable Quarter. The decrease in the worldwide effective tax rate duringexcluding the Current Quarter generated a $28 million decrease in incomediscrete tax expense as compared to the Comparable Quarter, and wasitems is primarily a result of the recognition of a favorable discrete item in the Current Quarter, coupled with the geographic mix of income and sources of revenue. Additionally,revenue during the decrease in pre-tax earnings generated a $22 million decrease in income tax expense.Current Quarter.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Net cash fromprovided by operating activities was $175$142 million infor the three months ended March 31, 2017 (“Current QuarterPeriod”) and $369$172 million infor the three months ended March 31, 2016 (“Comparable Quarter.Period”). The decrease in net cash fromprovided by operating activities in the Current QuarterPeriod was primarily attributable to decreasesrecognizing a net loss in other current assets and accounts payable.the Current Period. We had working capital of $223$415 million and $377$559 million at March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, respectively.



Net cash used in investing activities in the Current QuarterPeriod was $86$38 million as compared to $118$86 million in the Comparable Quarter.Period. The variance primarily relates to lower capital expenditures related to our major projects and newbuild expenditures.

expenditures in the Current Period.

Net cash used in financing activities in the Current QuarterPeriod was $365$310 million as compared to $237$362 million in the Comparable Quarter.Period. During the Current Quarter,Period, our primary uses of cash included the repayment of our maturing $300 million 3.05%2.50% Senior Notes in March 2016, coupled with shareholder dividend payments of approximately $38 million, and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests of approximately $22$5 million. Our total debt as a percentage of total debt plus equity was 36 percent at March 31, 2016, down from 38 percent at December 31, 2015 as a result of the repayment of certain maturing notes in 2016.

Our principal source of capital in the Current QuarterPeriod was cash generated from operating activities.activities and cash on hand. Cash generatedon hand during the Current QuarterPeriod was primarily used for the following:

·

normal recurring operating expenses;

·

repayment of our $300 million 3.05% Senior Notes;

normal recurring operating expenses;

·

payment of our quarterly dividends;repayment of our maturing $300 million 2.50% Senior Notes; and

·

capital expenditures.

Our currently anticipated cash flow needs, both in the short-term and long-term, may include the following:

·

normal recurring operating expenses;

·

committed and discretionary capital expenditures;

normal recurring operating expenses;

·

repayment of debt;planned and discretionary capital expenditures; and

·

payments of dividends.

repayment of debt and interest.

We currently expect to fund these cash flow needs with cash generated by our operations, cash on hand, borrowings under our existing credit facility and potential issuances of long-term debt or asset sales. However, to adequately cover our expected cash flow needs, we may require capital in excess of the amount available from these sources, and we may seek additional sources of liquidity and/or delay or cancel certain discretionary capital expenditures or other payments as necessary.


At March 31, 2016,2017, we had a total contract drilling services backlog of approximately $6.2$3.5 billion. Our backlog as of March 31, 20162017 includes a commitment of 6954 percent of available days for the remainder of 20162017 and 5040 percent of available days for 2017.2018. For additional information regarding our backlog, see “Contract Drilling Services Backlog.”

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, totaled $51$19 million and $89$51 million for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively. Capital expenditures during the first three months of 20162017 consisted of the following:

·

$41 million for sustaining capital, major projects, subsea related expenditures and upgrades and replacements to drilling equipment;

·

$6 million in newbuild expenditures, including costs for the Noble Lloyd Noble and trailing costs on our recently completed newbuilds; and

$9 million for sustaining capital and upgrades and replacements to drilling equipment;

·

$4 million in capitalized interest.

$5 million in subsea related expenditures; and

$5 million in major projects.
Our total capital expenditure estimate for 20162017 is approximately $798 million, which includes capitalized interest that may fluctuate as a result of the timing of completion of ongoing projects.

In connection with our capital expenditure program, as of March 31, 2016, we had outstanding commitments, including shipyard and purchase commitments, for approximately $570 million, all of which we expect to spend within the next twelve months.

$115 million.

From time to time we consider possible projects that would require expenditures that are not included in our capital budget, and such unbudgeted expenditures could be significant. In addition, we will continue to evaluate acquisitions of drilling units from time to time. Other factors that could cause actual capital expenditures to materially exceed plan include delays and cost overruns in shipyards (including costs attributable to labor shortages), shortages of equipment, latent damage or deterioration to hull, equipment and machinery in excess of engineering estimates and assumptions, changes in governmental regulations and requirements and changes in design criteria or specifications during repair or construction.

Dividends

Our most recent quarterly dividend payment to shareholders, totaling approximately $38 million (or $0.15 per share), was declared on January 29, 2016 and paid on February 16, 2016 to holders

During the fourth quarter of record on February 8, 2016.

On April 22, 2016, our Board of Directors approved the payment of aeliminated our quarterly dividend to shareholders of $0.02 per share. The payment is expected to total approximately $5 million, based on the number of shares currently outstanding.

cash dividend.

The declaration and payment of dividends require authorization of the Board of Directors of Noble-UK, provided that such dividends on issued share capital may be paid only out of Noble-UK’s “distributable reserves” on its statutory balance sheet. Noble-UK is not permitted to pay dividends out of share capital, which includes share premiums. The resumption of the payment of future dividends will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future business prospects, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

Share Repurchases

In December 2014,

Under UK law, the Company is only permitted to purchase its own shares by way of an “off-market purchase” in a plan approved by shareholders. Prior to April 22, 2016, we receivedhad shareholder approval to repurchase up to 37 million additional ordinary shares, or approximately 15 percent of our outstanding ordinary shares at the time of theshares. That authority has now expired and we do not currently have shareholder approval. The authority to make such repurchases expired at the end of the Company’s 2016 annual general meeting of shareholders, which was held on April 22, 2016.

repurchase shares.



Credit Facility and Senior Unsecured Notes

Credit Facility and Commercial Paper Program

We currently have a five-year $2.4 billion senior unsecured credit facility that matures in January 2020. The credit facility provides us with the ability to issue up to $500 million in letters of credit. The issuance of letters of credit under the facility reduces the amount available for borrowing. At March 31, 2016,2017, we had no letters of credit issued under the facility.


Throughout the term of the credit facility, we pay a facility fee on the daily unused amount of the underlying commitment which ranges from 0.1 percent to 0.35 percent depending on our debt ratings. At March 31, 2017, based on our debt ratings on that date, the facility fee was 0.35 percent. At March 31, 2017, we had no borrowings outstanding or letters of credit issued. In addition, our credit facility has provisions which vary the applicable interest rates based upon our debt ratings. At March 31, 2017, the interest rate in effect is the highest permitted interest rate under the credit facility.

We also have a

During 2016, we terminated our commercial paper program that allowswhich had allowed us to issue up to $2.4 billion in unsecured commercial paper notes. Amounts issued underThis termination does not reduce the commercial paper program are supported by the unused capacity under our credit facility and, therefore, are classified as long-term on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The outstanding amounts of commercial paper reduce availability under our credit facility. Access to our commercial paper program is dependent upon our credit ratings. As our credit ratings are below investment grade, we are currently prohibited from accessing the commercial paper market.

As of March 31,

Debt Issuances
In December 2016, we had no amounts drawn on our credit facility.

Our credit facility and certain of our senior notes, as discussed below, have provisions which vary the applicable interest rates based upon our credit ratings.

Senior Unsecured Notes

Our total debt related to senior unsecured notes was $4.2 billion at March 31, 2016 as compared to $4.5 billion at December 31, 2015. The decrease in senior unsecured notes outstanding is a result of the issuance of $1.1issued $1 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes in March 2015,7.75% Senior Notes, which we issued through our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Noble Holding International Limited (“NHIL”). These senior notesNHIL. The net proceeds of approximately $968 million, after estimated expenses, were issued in three separate tranches, comprisedprimarily used to retire debt related to our tender offer and the remaining portion will be used for general corporate purposes.

Senior Notes Interest Rate Adjustments
During 2016, we experienced several debt rating downgrades by Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings, which reduced our debt ratings below investment grade. As a result of $250 million of 4.00%these downgrades, we experienced interest rate increases during 2016 on our Senior Notes due 2018, $450 million2025 and 2045, all of 5.95%which are subject to provisions which vary the applicable interest rates if our debt rating falls below investment grade, with continued adjustments up to a contractually-defined maximum interest rate increase set for each rating agency. Effective March 2017, the interest rates on our Senior Notes due 2018 increased to 5.75% and effective April 1, 2017, the interest rates on our Senior Notes due 2025 and $400 million of 6.95% Senior Notes due 2045. The interest rates for these Senior Notes are subject2045 increased to adjustment from time to time upon a change to our debt rating, pursuant to the terms of these Senior Notes. In February 2016,7.70% and 8.70%, respectively, as a result of a reduction inthe most recent debt rating downgrade. On April 28, 2017, Moody’s Investors Service reduced our debt rating below investment grade,rating.  However, there was no further increase in the interest rates on these Senior Notes were increased to 5.00%, 6.95% and 7.95%, respectively, effectivebecause we have reached the first daycontractually-defined maximum interest rate increase in respect of each interest period after which the downgrade occurred.Moody’s Investors Service downgrades. The interest rates on these Senior Notes may be further increased if our debt ratingratings were to be downgraded further by S&P Global Ratings (up to a maximum of an additional 10025 basis points).

or decreased if our debt ratings were to be raised by either rating agency above specified levels.

Our other outstanding senior notes, including the Senior Notes due 2024 issued in December 2016, do not contain provisions varying applicable interest rates based upon our credit rating.
Debt Tender Offers and Repayments
In MarchDecember 2016, we repaidcommenced cash tender offers for our $300 million 3.05%4.90% Senior Notes due 2020, of which $468 million principal amount was outstanding, our 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021, of which $397 million principal amount was outstanding and our 3.95% Senior Notes due 2022, of which $400 million principal amount was outstanding. On December 28, 2016, we purchased $762 million of these Senior Notes for $750 million, plus accrued interest, using cash on hand.

a portion of the net proceeds of the $1 billion Senior Notes due 2024 issuance in December 2016. As a result of this transaction, we recognized a net gain of approximately $7 million.

In March 2016, we commenced cash tender offers for our 4.90% Senior Notes due 2020, of which $500 million principal amount was outstanding, and our 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021, of which $400 million principal amount was outstanding. On April 1, 2016, we purchased $36 million of these Senior Notes for $24 million, plus accrued interest, using cash on hand.

Our As a result of this transaction, we recognized a net gain of approximately $11 million.

In March 2017, we repaid our maturing $300 million 2.50% Senior Notes mature during the first quarter of 2017. using cash on hand.
We anticipate using cash on hand to repay the outstanding balances.

balance of our $250 million 5.75% Senior Notes, maturing in March 2018.

Covenants

The credit facility is guaranteed by NHILNHUS and Noble Holding Corporation (“NHC”).NHIL. The credit facility contains a covenant that limits our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization, as defined in the credit facility, to 0.60. At March 31, 2016,2017, our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization was approximately 0.36.0.40. We were in compliance with all covenants under the credit facility as of March 31, 2016.

2017.



In addition to the covenants from the credit facility noted above, the indentures governing our outstanding senior unsecured notes contain covenants that place restrictions on certain merger and consolidation transactions, unless we are the surviving entity or the other party assumes the obligations under the indenture, and on the ability to sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, there are restrictions on incurring or assuming certain liens and on entering into sale and lease-back transactions. At March 31, 2016,2017, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. We continually monitor compliance with the covenants under our notes and expect to remain in compliance during the remainder of 2016.

2017.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014,

See Part I, Item 1, "Financial Information, Note 15 - Accounting Pronouncements," to the Consolidated Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, which creates Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry TopicsStatements for a description of the Codification. In addition, ASU 2014-09 supersedes the cost guidance in Subtopic 605-35, “Revenue Recognition—Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts,” and creates new Subtopic 340-40, “Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Contracts with Customers.” In summary, the core principle of Topic 606 is to recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. Companies are allowed to select between two transition methods: (1) a full retrospective transition method with the application of the new guidance to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) a retrospective transition method that recognizes the cumulative effect on prior periods at the date of adoption together with additional footnote disclosures. The amendments in ASU No.


2014-09 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, and early application is not permitted. In March 2016 and April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08 and ASU No. 2016-10, respectively. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-08 and ASU No. 2016-10 do not change the core principle of ASU No. 2014-09, but instead clarify the implementation guidance on principle versus agent considerations and identify performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, respectively. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and have not made any decision on the method of adoption.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, which amends ASC Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation.” The guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition and should not be reflected in the estimate of the grant-date fair value of the award. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The guidance can be applied prospectively for all awards granted or modified after the effective date or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, which amends ASC Subtopic 205-40, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to continue as a Going Concern.” The amendments in this ASU provide guidance related to management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The amendments are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. The adoption of this guidance is not anticipated to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, which amends ASC Subtopic 225-20, “Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items.” The amendment in this ASU eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. The amendments in this update are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, which amends ASC Subtopic 810, “Consolidations.” This amendment affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. Specifically, the amendments modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs or voting interest entities; eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The standard may be applied retrospectively or through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, which amends ASC Subtopic 835-30, “Interest – Imputation of Interest.” The guidance requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the associated debt liability. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15 which amends ASC Subtopic 835-30, “Interest – Imputation of Interest.” The guidance allows a debt issuance cost related to a line-of-credit to be presented in the balance sheet as an asset and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the line-of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The new guidance is applied on a retrospective basis. In accordance with our adoption of ASU No. 2015-03, unamortized debt issuance costs related to our senior notes of approximately $26 million as of December 31, 2015, which were previously included in “Other assets,” are included in either “Current maturities of long-term debt” or “Long-term debt” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, based upon the maturity date of the respective senior notes.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-04, which amends ASC Topic 715, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits.” The guidance gives an employer whose fiscal year end does not coincide with a calendar month end the ability, as a practical expedient, to measure defined benefit retirement obligations and related plan assets as of the month end that is closest to its fiscal year end. The ASU also provides a similar practical expedient for interim remeasurements of significant events. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-12, which amends ASC Topic 960, “Plan Accounting-Defined Benefit Pension Plans,” ASC Topic 962, “Defined Contribution Pension Plans” and ASC Topic 965, “Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.” There are three parts to the ASU that aim to simplify therecent accounting and presentation of plan accounting. Part I of this ASU requires fully benefit-responsive investment contracts to be measured at contract value instead of the current fair value measurement. Part II of this ASU requires investments (both participant-directed and nonparticipant-directed investments) of employee benefit plans be grouped only by general type, eliminating the need to disaggregate the investments in multiple ways. Part III of this ASU provides a similar measurement date practical expedient for employee benefit plans as available in ASU No. 2015-04, which allows employers to

pronouncements.

measure defined benefit plan assets on a month-end date that is nearest to the year’s fiscal year-end when the fiscal period does not coincide with a month-end. Parts I and II of the new guidance should be applied on a retrospective basis. Part III of the new guidance should be applied on a prospective basis. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, which amends Topic 805, “Business Combinations.” This amendment eliminates the requirement to retrospectively account for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination at the acquisition date with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill, and revise comparative information for prior periods presented in financial statements. Those adjustments are required when new information about circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date would have affected the measurement of the amount initially recognized. This update requires an entity to recognize these adjustments in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. An acquirer must record the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. An entity must present separately on the face of the income statement, or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, which amends ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” This amendment aligns the presentation of deferred income tax assets and liabilities with International Financial Reporting Standards. International Accounting Standard 1, Presentation of Financial Statements, requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The current requirement that deferred tax liabilities and assets be offset and presented as a single amount is not affected by the amendments in this update. The standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The amendments in this update may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, which creates ASC Topic 842, “Leases.” This update increases transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-05, which amends ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.” This amendment clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument under Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and may be applied on either a prospective basis or a modified retrospective basis. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, which amends ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” This amendment simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the potential for loss due to a change in the value of a financial instrument as a result of fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or equity prices, as further described below.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to market risk exposure related to changes in interest rates on borrowings under the credit facility and commercial paper program.facility. Interest on borrowings under the credit facility is at an agreed upon percentage point spread over LIBOR, or a base rate stated in the agreement. At March 31, 2016,2017, we had no borrowings outstanding under our credit facility andfacility.
During 2016, we terminated our commercial paper program which is supported by the credit facility.


Accesshad allowed us to ourissue up to $2.4 billion in unsecured commercial paper program is dependent uponnotes. This termination does not reduce the capacity under our credit ratings.facility.

During 2016, we experienced several debt rating downgrades by Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings, which reduced our debt ratings below investment grade. As a result of these downgrades, we experienced interest rate increases during 2016 on our credit ratings being below investment grade, weSenior Notes due 2018, 2025 and 2045, all of which are currently prohibited from accessing the commercial paper market.

Our credit facility and certain of our senior notes havesubject to provisions which vary the applicable interest rates based upon our credit ratings. In February 2016, as a result of a reduction inif our debt rating falls below investment grade, with continued adjustments up to a contractually-defined maximum interest rate increase set for each rating agency. Effective March 2017, the interest rates on our $250 million of 4.00% Senior Notes due 2018 increased to 5.75% and effective April 1, 2017, the interest rates on our $450 million of 5.95% Senior Notes due 2025 and 2045 increased to 7.70% and 8.70%, respectively, as a result of the most recent debt rating downgrade. On April 28, 2017, Moody’s Investors Service reduced our $400 million of 6.95%debt rating.  However, there was no further increase in the interest rates on these Senior Notes due 2045 were increased to 5.00%, 6.95% and 7.95%, respectively, effectivebecause we have reached the first daycontractually-defined maximum interest rate increase in respect of each interest period after which the downgrade occurred.Moody’s Investors Service downgrades. The interest rates on these Senior Notes may be further increased if our debt ratingratings were to be downgraded further by S&P Global Ratings (up to a maximum of an additional 10025 basis points).

or decreased if our debt ratings were to be raised by either rating agency above specified levels.

We maintain certain debt instruments at a fixed rate whose fair value will fluctuate based on changes in market expectations for interest rates and market perceptions of our credit risk. The fair value of our total debt was $2.7$3.6 billion and $3.3$3.8 billion at March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, respectively. The decrease in the fair value of debt primarily relates to the overall decline of our sector in the marketplace coupled with the repayment of our maturing $300 million 3.05%2.50% Senior Notes, which matured in March 2016.

2017, partially offset with changes in market expectations for interest rates and perceptions of our credit risk.

Foreign Currency Risk

Although we are a UK company, we define foreign currency as any non-U.S. denominated currency. Our functional currency is primarily the U.S. Dollar, which is consistent with the oil and gas industry. However, outside the United States, a portion of our expenses are incurred in local currencies. Therefore, when the U.S. Dollar weakens (strengthens) in relation to the currencies of the countries in which we operate, our expenses reported in U.S. Dollars will increase (decrease).

We are exposed to risks on future cash flows to the extent that local currency expenses exceed revenues denominated in local currency that are other than the functional currency. To help manage this potential risk, we periodically enter into derivative instruments to manage our exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and we may conduct hedging activities in future periods to mitigate such exposure. These contracts are primarily accounted for as cash flow hedges, with the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the hedge recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” (“AOCL”). Amounts recorded in AOCL are reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods that the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the hedged item is recorded directly to earnings. We have documented policies and procedures to monitor and control the use of derivative instruments. We do not engage in derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes, nor are we a party to leveraged derivatives.

Several of our regions, including our operations in the North Sea, and Australia, have a significant amount of their cash operating expenses payable in local currencies. To limit the potential risk of currency fluctuations, we periodically enter into forward contracts, which settle monthly in the operations’ respective local currencies. All of these contracts have a maturity of less than 12 months. The


forward contract settlements in the remainder of 20162017 represent approximately 6070 percent of these forecasted local currency requirements. The notional amount of the forward contracts outstanding, expressed in U.S. dollars, was approximately $36$25 million at March 31, 2016.2017. Total unrealized gainslosses related to these forward contracts were approximately $1$0.1 million as of March 31, 20162017 and were recorded as part of AOCL. A 10 percent change in the exchange rate for the local currencies would change the fair value of these forward contracts by approximately $4$3 million.

Market Risk

We have a U.S. noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers certain salaried employees and a U.S. noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers certain hourly employees, whose initial date of employment is prior to August 1, 2004 (collectively referred to as our “qualified U.S. plans”). These plans are governed by the Noble Drilling Employees’ Retirement Trust. The benefits from these plans are based primarily on years of service and, for the salaried plan, employees’ compensation near retirement. These plans are designed to qualify under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), and our funding policy is consistent with funding requirements of ERISA and other applicable laws and regulations. We make cash contributions, or utilize credits available to us, for the qualified U.S. plans when required. The benefit amount that can be covered by the qualified U.S. plans is limited under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) of 1986. Therefore, we maintain an unfunded, nonqualified excess benefit plan designed to maintain benefits for specified employees at the formula level in the qualified salary U.S. plan. We refer to the qualified U.S. plans and the excess benefit plan collectively as the “U.S. plans.”

In addition to the U.S. plans, each of Noble Drilling (Land Support) Limited and Noble Resources Limited, both indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Noble-UK, maintains a pension plan that covers all of its salaried, non-union employees, whose most recent date of employment is prior to April 1, 2014 (collectively referred to as our “non-U.S. plans”). Benefits are based on credited service and employees’ compensation, as defined by the plans.


Changes in market asset values related to the pension plans noted above could have a material impact upon our Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) and could result in material cash expenditures in future periods.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

David W. Williams, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble-UK, and Dennis J. Lubojacky,Adam C. Peakes, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Vice President, Controller and Treasurer of Noble-UK, have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures of Noble-UK as of the end of the period covered by this report. On the basis of this evaluation, Mr. Williams and Mr. LubojackyPeakes have concluded that Noble-UK’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2016.2017. Noble-UK’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Noble-UK in the reports that it files with or submits to the SEC isare recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

David W. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble-Cayman and Dennis J. Lubojacky, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Noble-Cayman, have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures of Noble-Cayman as of the end of the period covered by this report. On the basis of this evaluation, Mr. Williams and Mr. Lubojacky have concluded that Noble-Cayman’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2016.2017. Noble-Cayman’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Noble-Cayman in the reports that it files with or submits to the SEC isare recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There was no change in either Noble-UK’s or Noble-Cayman’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 20162017 that hashave materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of each of Noble-UK or Noble-Cayman, respectively.



PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Notes 56 and 1314 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
There are numerous factors that affect our business and results of operations, many of which are beyond our control. In addition to the risk factors set forth below and the other information set forth in this quarterly report, you should carefully read and consider "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part I and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which contains descriptions of significant risks that might cause our actual results of operations in future periods to differ materially from those currently anticipated or expected.
Paragon Offshore plc has formed a litigation trust as part of its bankruptcy proceedings and it will likely pursue fraudulent conveyance claims against us. In addition, Paragon Offshore may seek to reject in the bankruptcy proceedings certain separation agreements entered into with us, in which case we could be responsible for those liabilities for which we would have otherwise sought indemnification under the separation agreements.
In August 2014, we completed the separation and spin-off of a majority of our standard specification offshore drilling business (the “Spin-off”) through a pro rata distribution of all of the ordinary shares of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore plc (“Paragon Offshore”), to the holders of our ordinary shares. In April 2016 we entered into an agreement with Paragon Offshore (subject to approval of the bankruptcy court having jurisdiction over Paragon Offshore’s bankruptcy proceeding initiated in February 2016) for a settlement with Paragon Offshore under which, we were to receive a full and unconditional release of any claims by Paragon Offshore in connection with the Spin-off (including fraudulent conveyance claims). In April 2017, Paragon Offshore filed a new bankruptcy plan (the “New Plan”). The New Plan, which was further modified in May 2017 and is subject to bankruptcy court approval, did not provide for the approval of the settlement agreement and as a result the settlement agreement was terminated. The New Plan provides for the creation and funding of a litigation trust to which Paragon Offshore would transfer its claims against us, including claims of alleged fraudulent conveyance in connection with the Spin-off. The litigation trust would be entitled to pursue those claims against us.
If the New Plan is approved and the litigation trust is established and funded, it is likely that the litigation trust would make claims against us relating to the Spin-off, including claims of alleged fraudulent conveyance. If any such claim is successful, any damages we are required to pay could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We entered into certain separation agreements with Paragon Offshore at the time of the Spin-off (including the master separation agreement, tax sharing agreement, transition services agreement and transition services agreement relating to our operations offshore Brazil) under which we have agreed to indemnify Paragon Offshore for certain liabilities, and Paragon Offshore has agreed to indemnify us for certain liabilities. We believe that Paragon Offshore may seek to reject some or all of these contracts in its bankruptcy proceeding. If one or more of the separation agreements are rejected, we would not be entitled to seek indemnity from Paragon Offshore under such agreement, and we could be responsible for those liabilities for which we would have otherwise sought indemnification. We could pursue claims against Paragon Offshore for such indemnity amount in the bankruptcy proceeding, but such claims would be unsecured claims and, consequently, it is uncertain whether we would be able to recover any amount of such claims. Furthermore, even if such agreements are not rejected, there can be no assurance that the indemnity from Paragon Offshore will be sufficient to protect us against the full amount of such liabilities, or that Paragon Offshore will be able or willing to fully satisfy its indemnification or performance obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Paragon Offshore any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses. If the indemnity obligations of Paragon Offshore are extinguished as a result of the rejection of one or more of the separation agreements, or if such agreements are not rejected, but Paragon Offshore is unable or unwilling to satisfy its indemnification and other obligations, the underlying liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Under UK law, the Company is only permitted to purchase its own shares by way of an “off-market purchase” in a plan approved by shareholders. In December 2014, we received shareholder approval to repurchase up to 37 million ordinary shares, or approximately 15 percent of our outstanding ordinary shares at the timeAs of the shareholder approval. The authority to makedate of this report, no such repurchases expired at the end of the Company’s 2016 annual general meeting of shareholders, which occurred on April 22, 2016. The Company may only fund the purchase of its own shares out of distributable reserves or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made expressly for that purpose. If any premium above the nominal value of the purchased shares is paid, it must be paid out of distributable reserves.  Any shares purchased by the Company out of distributable reserves may be held as treasury shares or cancelled at the Company’s election. Duringplan has been approved and during the three months ended March 31, 2016,2017, there were no repurchases by Noble-UK of its shares.

Item 6. Exhibits

The information required by this Item 6 is set forth in the Index to Exhibits accompanying this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.


SIGNATURES


SIGNATURES
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 thereunto duly authorized.

Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales

/s/ David W. Williams

May 5, 2016

2017

David W. Williams

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date

/s/ Dennis J. Lubojacky

Adam C. Peakes

May 5, 2017

Dennis J. Lubojacky

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Controller and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

/s/ David W. Williams

May 5, 2016

David W. Williams

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date

/s/ Dennis J. Lubojacky

Dennis J. Lubojacky

Adam C. Peakes
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Date
/s/ Dennis J. LubojackyMay 5, 2017
Dennis J. Lubojacky
Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date


Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company
/s/ David W. WilliamsMay 5, 2017
David W. Williams
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date
/s/ Dennis J. LubojackyMay 5, 2017
Dennis J. Lubojacky
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Date


Index to Exhibits

Exhibit

Number

Exhibit

Exhibit
Number

Exhibit

  2.1

2.1Merger Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2013, between Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (“Noble-Swiss”) and Noble Corporation Limited (“Noble-UK”) (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Noble-Swiss’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 1, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference).

2.2

Agreement and Plan of Merger, Reorganization and Consolidation, dated as of December 19, 2008, among Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (“Noble-Swiss”), Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”), and Noble Cayman Acquisition Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 1.1 to Noble-Cayman’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

2.3

Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, Reorganization and Consolidation, dated as of February 4, 2009, among Noble-Swiss, Noble-Cayman and Noble Cayman Acquisition Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 2.2 to Noble-Cayman’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

2.4

Master Separation Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-Cayman and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.1

Composite Copy of Articles of Association of Noble-UK, as of June 10, 2014 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Noble-UK’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

3.2

Memorandum and Articles of Association of Noble-Cayman (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Noble-Cayman’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.1

Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of January 26, 2015, among Noble-Cayman and Noble International Finance Company, a Cayman Islands company, as borrowers; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and a swingline lender; Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a swingline lender; the lenders party thereto; Barclays Bank PLC, Citibank, N.A., DNB Bank ASA New York Branch, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo, as co-syndication agents; BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch and Mizuho Bank, Ltd, as co-documentation agents; and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Bank PLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., DNB Markets, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2

Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2015, among Noble Holding International Limited, as Issuer, and Wells Fargo N.A., as Trustee, relating to 4.000% senior notes due 2018, 5.950% senior notes due 2025 and 6.95% senior notes due 2045 of Noble Holding International Limited (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 16, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3

First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 16, 2015, among Noble Holding International Limited, as Issuer, Noble Corporation, as Guarantor, and Wells Fargo N.A., as Trustee, relating to 4.000% senior notes due 2018, 5.950% senior notes due 2025 and 6.95% senior notes due 2045 of Noble Holding International Limited (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 16, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.1

Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-UK and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.2

Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-Cayman and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.3

Transition Services Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-Cayman and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).



 10.4

Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
10.4Transition Services Agreement (Brazil), dated as of July 31, 2014, among Paragon Offshore do Brasil Limitada, Paragon Offshore (Nederland) B.V., Paragon Offshore plc, Noble-Cayman, Noble Dave Beard Limited and Noble Drilling (Nederland) II B.V. (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

 10.5*

General Release

10.6Definitive Settlement Agreement, and Special Release Agreement, each dated as of February 27,April 29, 2016, by and between Paragon Offshore plc and Noble-UK (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to Noble-UK’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.7Settlement and Termination Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2016, by and among Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC and Noble Drilling Services Inc.(U.S.) LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Noble-UK’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2016 and James A. MacLennan.

incorporated herein by reference).

 10.6*

10.9*Noble Corporation plc 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, restated as of May 1, 20162017 (filed as an exhibit 10.1 to Noble-UK’sNoble-UK's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2016May 2, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).


 10.7

10.10*

Noble Corporation plc 2017 Director Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as an exhibit 10.2 to Noble-UK's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 2, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).

10.11*Noble Corporation plc Summary of Directors Compensation.
10.12*Termination Letter dated as of April 21, 2017, for Definitive Settlement Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2016, by and between Paragon Offshore plc and Noble-UK.

31.1

Certification of David W. Williams pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), for Noble-UK and for Noble-Cayman.

.

31.2

Certification of Adam C. Peakes pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).

31.3Certification of Dennis J. Lubojacky pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 13a- 14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), for Noble-UK and for Noble-Cayman.

.

32.1+

Certification of David W. Williams pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, for Noble-UK and for Noble-Cayman.

2002.

32.2+

Certification of Adam C. Peakes pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.3+Certification of Dennis J. Lubojacky pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, for Noble-UK and for Noble-Cayman.

2002.

101

Interactive Data File

*

*Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

+

+Furnished in accordance with Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K.


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