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| NE > SEC Filings for NE > Form 8-K on 4-Feb-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
4-Feb-2009
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Financial Statements and Exhibits
As previously reported, on December 19, 2008, Noble Corporation
("Noble-Cayman"), a new Swiss corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of
Noble-Cayman that is also called Noble Corporation ("Noble-Switzerland") and
Noble Cayman Acquisition Ltd., a Cayman Islands company and wholly-owned
subsidiary of Noble-Switzerland ("merger sub"), entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger, Reorganization and Consolidation (the "Agreement"), pursuant to
which the parties would effect a merger, reorganization and consolidation
transaction by way of schemes of arrangement under Cayman Islands law that would
effectively change the place of incorporation of the parent holding company of
the Noble group of companies from the Cayman Islands to Switzerland. Pursuant to
the Agreement, Noble-Cayman will merge with merger sub, Noble-Cayman will
survive the merger, merger sub will cease to exist and Noble-Cayman will become
a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-Switzerland, the resulting publicly
traded parent of the Noble group of companies (the "Transaction"). In this
Current Report, we sometimes refer to Noble-Cayman and Noble-Switzerland
together as the "Company." As a result of the Transaction, Noble-Cayman
shareholders will become Noble-Switzerland shareholders, and Noble-Switzerland
shareholder rights will be governed by Swiss law and Noble-Switzerland's
articles of association and by-laws.
On February 4, 2009, the parties entered into Amendment No. 1 to the
Agreement. The Amendment provides (1) that the form of Noble-Switzerland's
articles of association attached thereto as Annex A shall replace the form of
Noble-Switzerland's articles of association attached as Exhibit A to the
Agreement, and (2) for the revision of Section 7.4 of the Agreement to provide
greater flexibility to Noble-Switzerland and Noble-Cayman in establishing the
timing and terms of any guarantee or assumption by Noble-Switzerland of
indebtedness or other obligations of Noble-Cayman or its subsidiaries that may
be agreed to between the parties. A copy of the Amendment is filed as
Exhibit 2.2 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On February 4, 2009, the Company posted to its website a revised Questions &
Answers document, dated February 4, 2009 (the "Q&A"), relating to the
Transaction. The Q&A is posted under the Investor Relations section of the
Company's website, which may be found at www.noblecorp.com. A copy of the Q&A is
furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein. Information
on the Company's website or any other website is not incorporated by reference
into this report.
The information in the Q&A is being furnished, and not filed, pursuant to
Item 2.02. Accordingly, the information in the Q&A will not be incorporated by
reference into any registration statement filed by the Company under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as
being incorporated therein by reference.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements made herein and in the documents incorporated herein by
reference regarding the consummation of the Transaction, benefits, timing and
effects of the Transaction, the satisfaction of closing conditions, plans
related to the Company's share repurchase program,
the payment of dividends, distributions in relation to a reduction in par value
and the relocation of the Company's principal executive offices and other
statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are subject to
numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including but not limited to, an
inability to realize expected benefits from the Transaction or the occurrence of
difficulties in connection with the Transaction, an inability to obtain third
party consents or waivers in connection with the Transaction, any unanticipated
costs in connection with the Transaction, worldwide demand for oil and gas, oil
and gas prices, the level of activity in offshore oil and gas exploration,
development and production, exploration success by producers, competition and
market conditions in the offshore contract drilling industry, the ability to
enter into and the terms of future drilling contracts, risks of international
operations and compliance with foreign laws, political and other uncertainties
inherent in non-U.S. operations, including exchange and currency fluctuations,
the impact of governmental laws and regulations, the adequacy of sources of
liquidity, changes in the tax laws, the effect of litigation and contingencies,
fluctuations in the value of Noble shares and other factors discussed in
Noble-Cayman's preliminary proxy statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 4, 2009, Noble-Cayman's Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Noble-Cayman's other filings with the
SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from
those indicated. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the
particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements.
Important Additional Information Regarding the Transaction
In connection with the proposed Transaction, Noble-Cayman has filed materials
related to the Transaction with the SEC, including a preliminary proxy
statement. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF NOBLE-CAYMAN ARE ADVISED TO READ
THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION
BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND THE
COMPANY. Investors and security holders may obtain, without charge, a copy of
the proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the
SEC's website at www.sec.gov or at the Company's website at www.noblecorp.com.
Security holders and other interested parties will also be able to obtain,
without charge, copies of the proxy statement and other relevant documents by
directing a request by mail or telephone to Investor Relations, Noble
Corporation, 13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800, Sugar Land, Texas 77478,
telephone number (281) 276-6100.
Participants in Solicitation
The Company and its directors, executive officers and certain other members
of management may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies
from Noble-Cayman's shareholders with respect to the Transaction. Information
about these persons is set forth in the preliminary proxy statement, as filed
with the SEC on February 4, 2009. Investors and security holders may obtain
additional information regarding the interests of such persons, which may be
different than those of Noble-Cayman's shareholders generally, by reading the
proxy statement and other relevant documents regarding the Transaction that are
filed with the SEC.
(d) Exhibits.
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
2.1 - Agreement and Plan of Merger, Reorganization and Consolidation,
dated as of December 19, 2008, among Noble Corporation, Noble
Corporation and Noble Cayman Acquisition Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 1.1
to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December
22, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).
2.2 - Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, Reorganization and
Consolidation, dated as of February 4, 2009, among Noble
Corporation, Noble Corporation and Noble Cayman Acquisition Ltd.
99.1 - Questions & Answers Document dated as of February 4, 2009.
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