Noble Corporation plc Announces Adjusted Dividend

LONDON, April 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation plc (NYSE: NE) today announced a decision by its Board of Directors to adjust the Company's dividend and declare a quarterly dividend of $0.02 per share.

Addressing the Board's decision to adjust the dividend, David W. Williams, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation plc, said, "Noble continues to implement strategic adjustments that further reinforce our sound position as we guide the Company through this historic downturn.  This action fortifies our robust liquidity, which stood at $2.7 billion at March 31, 2016.  We are confident that the efficient use of cash reserves, which enhances liquidity and improves our financial flexibility, will help drive our long-term success and continue to strengthen our competitiveness in the offshore drilling industry."   

The ex-dividend date for this payment is expected to be April 28, 2016, with a record date of May 2, 2016 and a payment date of May 9, 2016.  The Company expects that this dividend will be treated as a qualified dividend for purposes of U.S. taxes.

About Noble Corporation plcNoble 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 performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 30 offshore drilling units, consisting of 16 semisubmersibles and drillships and 14 jackups, focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high-specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Noble is a public limited company registered in England and Wales with company number 08354954 and registered office at Devonshire House, 1 Mayfair Place, London, W1J 8AJ England. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com  

Forward-looking Disclosure StatementStatements regarding operational or financial performance, shareholder value, future performance, growth opportunities, market outlook, dividend levels, sustainability of dividend levels, capital allocation strategies, liquidity levels, as well as any other statements that are not historical facts in this release, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These include but are not limited to operating hazards and delays, risks associated with operations outside of the U.S., actions by regulatory authorities, customers and other third parties, legislation and regulations affecting drilling operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, 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, violations of anti-corruption laws, hurricanes and other weather conditions, market conditions, the future price of oil and gas and other factors detailed in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q's and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. 

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SOURCE Noble Corporation