Transocean Ltd. Announces Closing of U.S. $750 Mil

ZUG, Switzerland, Oct. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG ) announced today that Transocean Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary (collectively with Transocean Ltd., “Transocean”), has closed its previously announced offering of U.S. $750 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due January 2026 pursuant to Rule 144A/Regulation S to eligible purchasers. The notes are guaranteed by Transocean Ltd. and certain of Transocean Inc.’s subsidiaries.

Transocean intends to use the net proceeds from the offering as follows:

• to repay in full and retire its 2.5% Senior Notes due October 15, 2017;
• to redeem all of its outstanding 6.00% Senior Notes due March 2018 and its 7.375% Senior Notes due April 2018 (together, the “2018 Notes”);
• to repay in full the amounts outstanding on its Eksportfinans Loans due January 2018; and
• for general corporate purposes.

On October 17, 2017, Transocean issued notices of redemption with respect to each series of 2018 Notes, which redemptions will be consummated on November 16, 2017.

The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The securities offered may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities in the United States, shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any securities in any jurisdiction where such offering or sale would be unlawful and does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. This press release contains information about pending transactions, and there can be no assurance that these transactions will be completed. Any public offering of Transocean’s securities in the United States will be made only by means of a prospectus that will contain detailed information about Transocean and its management, as well as financial statements. There shall not be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption under the indentures governing the 2018 Notes nor an offer to tender for, or purchase any 2018 Notes or any other security.

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 one of the most versatile offshore drilling fleets in the world.

Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in, and operates a fleet of 38 mobile offshore drilling units consisting of 25 ultra-deepwater floaters, seven harsh environment floaters, two deepwater floaters and four midwater floaters. In addition, Transocean has four ultra-deepwater drillships under construction or under contract to be constructed.  The company also operates two high-specification jackups that were under drilling contracts when the rigs were sold, and the company continues to operate these jackups until completion or novation of the drilling contracts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking information, as well as other statements that are not historical facts which may be forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimated duration of customer contracts; contract dayrate amounts; future contract commencement dates and locations; planned shipyard projects; timing of Transocean’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 redemption of the 2018 Notes; the expected timing and likelihood of the completion of the proposed acquisition of Songa Offshore SE (the “Transaction”), including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the Transaction that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the Transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the transaction agreement for the Transaction; the ability to successfully complete the Transaction, including the related exchange offers; regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of the Transaction; the success of the business following completion of the Transaction; the ability to successfully integrate the Transocean and Songa businesses; the possibility that Transocean’s shareholders may not approve certain matters that are conditions to the Transaction or that the requisite number of Songa shares may not be exchanged in the public offer; the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the Transaction; the risk that the announcement or completion of the Transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Transocean’s or Songa’s shares or the ability of Transocean or Songa to retain customers, retain or hire key personnel, maintain relationships with their respective suppliers and customers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; the risk that Transocean may be unable to achieve expected synergies from the Transaction or that it may take longer or be more costly than expected to achieve those synergies; and other factors including those and other risks discussed in Transocean’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and in Transocean’s other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at: www.sec.gov, and in Songa’s annual and quarterly financial reports made publicly available. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to Transocean as of the date of this press release and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include the risk that the Transaction may not close for any reason, including the risk that the requisite number of Songa Offshore shares may not be tendered; difficulties that may be encountered in integrating the combined businesses and realizing the potential synergies of the proposed combination; and the other risks and uncertainties faced by each company, in the case of Transocean, as reported in its most recent Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No forward-looking statements in this press release should be relied upon as representing Transocean’s views or expectations as of any subsequent date and Transocean does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the statement was made.

Additional Information

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable European and Norwegian regulations. The transaction and distribution of this document may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities will be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would be inconsistent with the laws of such jurisdiction. Analyst Contacts: Bradley Alexander +1 713-232-7515 Diane Vento +1 713-232-8015 Media Contact: Pam Easton +1 713-232-7647