Bay Street News

Transocean Ltd. Shareholders Approve Acquisition of Ocean Rig UDW Inc.

STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, Nov. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) announced today that its shareholders approved the acquisition of Ocean Rig UDW Inc. (“Ocean Rig”), by approving the proposals presented at Transocean’s Extraordinary General Meeting.  

“We are extremely pleased that our shareholders have overwhelmingly approved our acquisition of Ocean Rig,” said Jeremy Thigpen, President and CEO. “Through this combination, Transocean further enhances our industry-leading fleet of high specification floaters, thus improving our competitive position. We are excited to begin actively marketing these assets into the growing list of opportunities we continue to see emerging across our global customer base.” Thigpen concluded, “We look forward to closing the transaction in the coming days and welcoming Ocean Rig’s experienced crews into the company.”

About Transocean

Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services, and believes that it operates the highest specification floating offshore drilling fleet in the world.

Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in, and operates a fleet of 41 mobile offshore drilling units consisting of 23 ultra-deepwater floaters, 12 harsh environment floaters, two deepwater floaters and four midwater floaters. In addition, Transocean is constructing two ultra-deepwater drillships; and one harsh environment semisubmersible in which the company has a 33.0% interest.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements described in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements contain words such as “possible,” “intend,” “will,” “if,” “expect,” or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, estimated duration of customer contracts, contract dayrate amounts, future contract commencement dates and locations, planned shipyard projects and other out-of-service time, sales of drilling units, timing of the company’s newbuild deliveries, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the future prices of oil and gas, the intention to scrap certain drilling rigs, the timing and likelihood of the completion of the contemplated acquisition of Ocean Rig, the benefits from the transaction, the ability to successfully integrate the Transocean and Ocean Rig business, our ability to successfully integrate our business with that of Songa Offshore SE (“Songa”), and other factors, including those and other risks discussed in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, Ocean Rig’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, and in Transocean’s or Ocean Rig’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 the other consequences of such a development worsen), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. 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 to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which we become aware of, after the date hereof, except as otherwise may be required by law. 

This press release, or referenced documents, do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and do not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean.

Analyst Contacts:
Bradley Alexander
+1 713-232-7515

Lexington May
+1 832-587-6515

Media Contact:
Pam Easton
+1 713-232-7647