Noble Corporation announced Thursday that subsidiaries of the Company have reached a definitive agreement to sell four jackups to ADES International Holding Ltd., through its subsidiary, (ADES) for $292 million. ADES Group is a leading oil & gas drilling and production services provider in the Middle East and Africa, offering offshore and onshore contract drilling, workover and offshore production services.
Noble expects to generate approximately $285 million in cash from the transaction net of fees, expenses, and the settlement of working capital.
The Noble Roger Lewis, Noble Scott Marks, Noble Joe Knight, and Noble Johnny Whitstine will be sold, and the current drilling contracts novated to ADES. Closing is expected before the end of October 2021 and is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including novation of the drilling contracts and regulatory approvals.
“We are very pleased to have reached this mutually beneficial deal with ADES, which is accretive to our shareholders,” said Robert Eifler, President and CEO of Noble Corporation. “The sale of these four jackups further bolsters our already strong balance sheet and improves Noble’s financial flexibility.”
He said looking forward to 2022, the company’s anticipated net cash position coupled with its expected free cash flow generation better positions it to execute financial priorities to repay debt and return cash to shareholders.
“Our crews in the Kingdom have executed at the highest level for many years, and Noble and ADES are fully aligned to ensure this level of operational excellence is maintained. I would personally like to thank the Noble employees who will be hired by ADES for their dedicated service and wish them continued success,” Eifler said.
DNB Markets, a part of DNB Bank ASA, and Ducera Partners LLC are acting as financial advisors, and Baker Botts L.L.P. is acting as legal advisor to Noble. Clarksons Platou is acting as broker.
