Noble Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2020 Results

SUGAR LAND, Texas, March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation ("Noble" or the "Company"), as the successor entity for Noble Holding Corporation plc ("Legacy Noble"), today reported fourth quarter and full year 2020 results. 

Robert W. Eifler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation, stated, "In early February we completed our financial restructuring transactions and emerged from Chapter 11 with a much stronger financial foundation.  I am very proud of the dedication that the Noble team showed throughout this process.  Despite challenging conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, our crews remained focused on safe and efficient operations.  We had zero lost-time incidents during 2020 and set several company safety records during the year.  During the fourth quarter we disposed of five cold-stacked rigs, which we believe was the right economic decision for our shareholders.  Through our deep customer relationships, we increased our backlog during 2020 and ended the year with contract backlog of over $1.6 billion."

Contract drilling services revenues for the fourth quarter totaled $195 million compared to $227 million in the third quarter of 2020. The decrease in revenues was due largely to a lower dayrate on the Noble Lloyd Noble and lower operating days on the Noble Tom Prosser and Noble Clyde Boudreaux in the fourth quarter.  Marketed fleet utilization was 70% in the fourth quarter compared to 72% in the third quarter.

For the full year 2020, operating days declined by 19% compared to 2019, driven by lower utilization on a number of rigs including the Bully II, Noble Scott Marks, Noble Sam Turner, Noble Hans Deul, and Noble Joe Beall.

Contract drilling services costs for the fourth quarter were $125 million compared to $137 million in the third quarter of 2020. The 9% decline from third quarter was primarily driven by the disposition of the five cold-stacked rigs, and lower expenses on rigs that were idle during the fourth quarter. Contract drilling margin decreased to 36 percent from 40 percent in the previous period. 

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $57 million compared to $76 million in the third quarter.  For the full year 2020, Adjusted EBITDA totaled $281 million versus $329 million for the full year 2019. 

Operating Highlights

During the fourth quarter, the jackup Noble Sam Turner signed a two-year contract award with Total in Denmark for work beginning in March 2021, the jackup Noble Tom Prosser was awarded a contract with Santos in Timor-Leste for work beginning in May 2021, and the jackup Noble Hans Deul executed a contract with IOG for 440 days of work beginning in April 2021.  ExxonMobil also transferred contracted term among our rigs working under the Commercial Enabling Agreement, solidifying the contract coverage for the Noble Tom Madden to the end of 2027, the Noble Bob Douglas and Noble Don Taylor to the end of 2022, and finally the Noble Sam Croft to the end of 2021.

In February, the semisubmersible Noble Clyde Boudreaux was awarded a 180-day contract with Premier Oil in Indonesia. 

Additionally, Saudi Aramco has rescinded the previously issued suspension notice on the Noble Roger Lewis and replaced with a shorter standby period for well planning and maintenance after which the rig is expected to resume operations.  The Company has agreed to adjust dayrates for the Noble Scott Marks and Noble Roger Lewis to $90,000 while drilling for oil and $139,000 while drilling for gas, effective during the period from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

Restructuring Update          

On July 31, 2020, Legacy Noble and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Debtors") commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the "Chapter 11 Cases") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.  On February 5, 2021, the Debtors emerged from the Chapter 11 Cases with a new parent company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands named Noble Corporation.

Noble is adopting fresh start accounting as of the date of emergence, which will result in a new reporting entity and include adjustments for reporting periods after the emergence date.  Accordingly, because fresh start accounting rules apply, our financial condition and results of operations following emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases will not be comparable to the financial condition and results of operations reflected in our historical financial statements from before February 5, 2021.

As a result of the financial restructuring, Noble emerged with a substantially delevered balance sheet with less than $300 million of net debt and liquidity of over $600 million. Noble's new capital structure includes a new $675 million revolving credit facility, of which $178 million is currently drawn, and $216 million of second lien notes. 

At emergence, Legacy Noble's ordinary shares were cancelled and shares of the Company were issued to Legacy Noble's former bondholders.  Certain former bondholders and former equity holders of Legacy Noble were also issued warrants to purchase shares of the Company.  The Company intends to pursue listing on a national securities exchange.

Outlook

Commenting on the state of the offshore drilling industry, Mr. Eifler added, "While our industry continues to face significant challenges, we are starting to see an increase in tender activity in various markets and expect further improvements to the extent operators remain confident in forward oil and gas prices. We remain highly focused on putting our assets to their best and highest use, and, to that end, look forward to commencing operations for the Noble Lloyd Noble in Norway later this year.  Our fleet of high specification assets, our global footprint, and our diverse customer relationships position us not only to benefit as the market continues to improve but also to take advantage of strategic growth opportunities that may arise. As always, we remain focused on serving the needs of our customers and delivering exceptional results."

About Noble Corporation

Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.  Currently, Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 19 offshore drilling units, consisting of 7 drillships and semisubmersibles and 12 jackups, focused largely on ultra- deepwater and high-specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Noble is an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability with registered office at P.O. BOX 31327, Ugland House, S. Church Street, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104.  Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com.

Forward-looking Disclosure Statement

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this communication or in the documents incorporated by reference, including those regarding the effect, impact, and other implications of the Chapter 11 Cases, the global novel strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, strategic opportunities, agreements regarding production levels among members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil and gas producing nations ("OPEC+") and any expectations we may have with respect thereto, and those regarding rig demand, the offshore drilling market, oil prices, contract backlog, fleet status, our future financial position, business strategy, impairments, repayment of debt, liquidity, borrowings under our credit facility or other instruments, sources of funds, future capital expenditures, contract commitments, dayrates, contract commencements, extension or renewals, contract tenders, plans and objectives of management for future operations, stock exchange listing, industry conditions, access to financing, impact of competition, worldwide economic conditions, timing or results of acquisitions or dispositions, and timing for compliance with any new regulations are forward-looking statements.  When used in this report, or in the documents incorporated by reference, the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "project," "should," "shall" and "will" 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 communication 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, the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company's liquidity or results of operations or business prospects, the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company's business and the interests of various constituents, the effects of public health threats, pandemics and epidemics, such as the recent and ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, and the adverse impact thereof on our business, financial condition and results of operations (including but not limited to our growth, operating costs, supply chain, availability of labor, logistical capabilities, customer demand for our services and industry demand generally, our liquidity, the price of our securities and trading markets with respect thereto, our ability to access capital markets, and the global economy and financial markets generally), the effects of actions by, or disputes among OPEC+ members with respect to production levels or other matters related to the price of oil, 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 US, actions by regulatory authorities, credit rating agencies, customers, joint venture partners, contractors, lenders and other third parties, legislation and regulations affecting drilling operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, violations of anti-corruption laws, shipyard risk and timing, delays in mobilization of rigs, 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 "Risk Factors" referenced or described in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q's, and other filings with the Commission.  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.

Conference Call

Noble will not host a conference call to review fourth quarter 2020 results.

NOBLE CORPORATION (formerly known as Noble Holding Corporation plc)
AND SUBSIDIARIES (DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATION

Certain non-GAAP performance measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the Company have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and prior operating periods. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as net loss from continuing operations before income taxes; interest income and other, net; gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net; interest expense, net of amounts capitalized; loss on impairment; pre-petition charges; reorganization items, net; certain corporate legal matters; and depreciation and amortization expense. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA measure provides greater transparency of our core operating performance.

 In order to fully assess the financial operating results, management believes that the results of operations, adjusted to exclude the following items, which are included in the Company's press release issued on March 11, 2021, are appropriate measures of the continuing and normal operations of the Company:

These non-GAAP adjusted measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, contract drilling revenue, contract drilling cost, contract drilling margin, average daily revenue, operating income, cash flows from operations, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please see the following non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations for a complete description of the adjustments.

SOURCE Noble Corporation