Form 10-Q Noble Corp plc For: Sep 30

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November 7, 2014 4:48 PM EST

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�

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

�

FORM 10-Q

�

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: September�30, 2014

�

�	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from �� to ��

Commission file number: 001-36211

�

Noble Corporation plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

�

England and Wales (Registered Number 08354954)

�

98-0619597

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

�

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

Devonshire House, 1 Mayfair Place, London, England, W1J8AJ

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant�s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: +44 20 3300 2300

Commission file number: 001-31306

�

Noble Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

�

Cayman Islands

�

98-0366361

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

�

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

Suite 3D Landmark Square, 64 Earth Close, P.O. Box 31327 George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-1206

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant�s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (345)�938-0293

�

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant (1)�has filed all reports required to be filed by Section�13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)�has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.��Yes��x��No��

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (�232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).��Yes��x��No��

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of �large accelerated filer,� �accelerated filer� and �smaller reporting company� in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

�


Noble�Corporation�plc:��	��	Large�accelerated�filer��x	��	Accelerated�filer��	��	Non-accelerated�filer��	��	Smaller�reporting�company��
Noble Corporation:	��	Large accelerated filer��	��	Accelerated filer��	��	Non-accelerated�filer��x	��	Smaller�reporting�company��

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).��Yes��No��x

Number of shares outstanding and trading at October�31, 2014: Noble Corporation plc � 252,258,871

Number of shares outstanding at October�31, 2014: Noble Corporation � 261,245,693

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1) (a)�and (b)�to Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format contemplated by paragraphs (b)�and (c)�of General Instruction H(2) of Form 10-Q.

�

TABLE OF CONTENTS

�


�	�	�	��	Page		�
PART�I	�	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	��
Item�1	�	Financial Statements	��
	�	Noble Corporation plc (Noble-UK) Financial Statements:	��
	�	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013	��	�	3	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	4	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September� 30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	5	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	6	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Equity for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	7	��

	�	Noble Corporation (Noble-Cayman) Financial Statements:	��
	�	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013	��	�	8	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	9	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September� 30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	10	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	11	��
	�	Consolidated Statements of Equity for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013	��	�	12	��

	�	Notes to Combined Consolidated Financial Statements	��	�	13	��

Item 2	�	Management�s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	��	�	41	��
Item 3	�	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	��	�	55	��
Item 4	�	Controls and Procedures	��	�	57	��
PART�II	�	OTHER INFORMATION	��
Item 1	�	Legal Proceedings	��	�	57	��
Item 1A	�	Risk Factors	��	�	57	��
Item 2	�	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	��	�	58	��
Item 6	�	Exhibits	��	�	58	��
	�	SIGNATURES	��	�	59	��
	�	Index to Exhibits	��	�	60	��

This combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is separately filed by Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (�Noble-UK�), and Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (�Noble-Cayman�). Information in this filing relating to Noble-Cayman is filed by Noble-UK and separately by Noble-Cayman on its own behalf. Noble-Cayman makes no representation as to information relating to Noble-UK (except as it may relate to Noble-Cayman) or any other affiliate or subsidiary of Noble-UK. Since Noble-Cayman meets the conditions specified in General Instructions H(1)(a) and (b)�to Form 10-Q, it is permitted to use the reduced disclosure format for wholly-owned subsidiaries of reporting companies as stated in General Instructions H(2). Accordingly, Noble-Cayman has omitted from this report the information called for by Item�3 (Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk) of Part I of Form 10-Q and the following items of Part II of Form 10-Q: Item�2 (Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds) and Item�3 (Defaults upon Senior Securities).

This report should be read in its entirety as it pertains to each Registrant. Except where indicated, the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes are combined. References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to �Noble,� the �Company,� �we,� �us,� �our� and words of similar meaning refer collectively to Noble-UK and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Noble-Cayman.

�

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item�1. Financial Statements

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�


�	��	September�30, 2014		�	�	December�31, 2013		�
ASSETS	��				�
Current assets	��				�
Cash and cash equivalents	��	$	68,354	��	�	$	114,458	��
Accounts receivable	��	�	610,134	��	�	�	949,069	��
Taxes receivable	��	�	126,295	��	�	�	140,269	��
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	��	�	226,262	��	�	�	187,139	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total current assets	��	�	1,031,045	��	�	�	1,390,935	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Property and equipment, at cost	��	�	15,304,758	��	�	�	19,198,767	��
Accumulated depreciation	��	�	(2,671,092	)�	�	�	(4,640,677	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Property and equipment, net	��	�	12,633,666	��	�	�	14,558,090	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Other assets	��	�	285,486	��	�	�	268,932	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total assets	��	$	13,950,197	��	�	$	16,217,957	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	��				�
Current liabilities	��				�
Accounts payable	��	$	267,811	��	�	$	347,214	��
Accrued payroll and related costs	��	�	102,533	��	�	�	151,161	��
Taxes payable	��	�	115,192	��	�	�	125,119	��
Dividends payable	��	�	��	��	�	�	128,249	��
Other current liabilities	��	�	170,474	��	�	�	300,172	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total current liabilities	��	�	656,010	��	�	�	1,051,915	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Long-term debt	��	�	4,737,081	��	�	�	5,556,251	��
Deferred income taxes	��	�	165,750	��	�	�	225,455	��
Other liabilities	��	�	289,637	��	�	�	334,308	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total liabilities	��	�	5,848,478	��	�	�	7,167,929	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Commitments and contingencies	��				�

Shareholders� equity	��				�
Shares; 252,258 and 253,448 shares outstanding	��	�	2,523	��	�	�	2,534	��
Additional paid-in capital	��	�	787,374	��	�	�	810,286	��
Retained earnings	��	�	6,634,194	��	�	�	7,591,927	��
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	��	�	(45,768	)�	�	�	(82,164	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total shareholders� equity	��	�	7,378,323	��	�	�	8,322,583	��

Noncontrolling interests	��	�	723,396	��	�	�	727,445	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total equity	��	�	8,101,719	��	�	�	9,050,028	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total liabilities and equity	��	$	13,950,197	��	�	$	16,217,957	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

�

��

Three Months Ended
September�30,

�

Nine Months Ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

2013

�

Operating revenues

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

810,200

��

�

623,168

��

�

2,360,205

��

�

1,750,627

��

Reimbursables

��

�

18,595

��

�

17,319

��

�

67,558

��

�

45,416

��

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

17,000

��

Other

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

828,796

��

�

640,513

��

�

2,427,764

��

�

1,813,054

��

�

Operating costs and expenses

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

�

385,674

��

�

283,429

��

�

1,109,456

��

�

836,825

��

Reimbursables

��

�

13,641

��

�

14,812

��

�

52,877

��

�

36,686

��

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

��

�

2,084

��

�

��

�

10,966

��

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

161,246

��

�

129,843

��

�

460,306

��

�

370,402

��

General and administrative

��

�

24,602

��

�

33,776

��

�

77,319

��

�

86,196

��

Loss on impairment

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

Gain on disposal of assets, net

��

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net

��

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

��

�

��

�

585,163

��

�

401,265

��

�

1,699,958

��

�

1,278,396

��

�

Operating income

��

�

243,633

��

�

239,248

��

�

727,806

��

�

534,658

��

Other income (expense)

��

�

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

��

�

(37,751

)�

�

(23,149

)�

�

(114,494

)�

�

(75,115

)�

Interest income and other, net

��

�

2,760

��

�

1,522

��

�

131

��

�

2,231

��

�

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

��

�

208,642

��

�

217,621

��

�

613,443

��

�

461,774

��

Income tax provision

��

�

(40,782

)�

�

(33,852

)�

�

(110,625

)�

�

(74,341

)�

��

�

Net income from continuing operations

��

�

167,860

��

�

183,769

��

�

502,818

��

�

387,433

��

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

��

�

(20,214

)�

�

116,690

��

�

175,532

��

�

274,065

��

�

Net income

��

�

147,646

��

�

300,459

��

�

678,350

��

�

661,498

��

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

��

�

(20,471

)�

�

(18,502

)�

�

(60,290

)�

�

(52,861

)�

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

127,175

��

�

281,957

��

�

618,060

��

�

608,637

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

�

Income from continuing operations

��

147,389

��

�

165,267

��

�

442,528

��

�

334,572

��

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

��

�

(20,214

)�

�

116,690

��

�

175,532

��

�

274,065

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

127,175

��

�

281,957

��

�

618,060

��

�

608,637

��

�

Per share data:

��

�

Basic:

��

�

Income from continuing operations

��

0.57

��

�

0.64

��

�

1.71

��

�

1.30

��

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

��

�

(0.08

)�

�

0.46

��

�

0.68

��

�

1.07

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

0.49

��

�

1.10

��

�

2.39

��

�

2.37

��

�

Diluted:

��

�

Income from continuing operations

��

0.57

��

�

0.64

��

�

1.71

��

�

1.30

��

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

��

�

(0.08

)�

�

0.46

��

�

0.68

��

�

1.07

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

0.49

��

�

1.10

��

�

2.39

��

�

2.37

��

�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�

��

Three Months Ended
September�30,

�

Nine Months Ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

2013

�

Net income

��

147,646

��

�

300,459

��

�

678,350

��

�

661,498

��

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

��

�

Foreign currency translation adjustments

��

�

(1,577

)�

�

(1,135

)�

�

1,143

��

�

(658

)�

Foreign currency forward contracts

��

�

(6,925

)�

�

5,320

��

�

(273

)�

�

589

��

Net pension plan loss (net of tax benefit of $386 for both the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014)

��

�

(1,409

)�

�

��

�

(1,409

)�

�

��

Net pension plan curtailment and settlement expense (net of tax provision of $193 for both the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014)

��

�

358

��

�

��

�

358

��

�

��

Amortization of deferred pension plan amounts (net of tax provision of $253 and $732 for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $758 and $2,192 for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013, respectively)

��

�

571

��

�

1,661

��

�

2,099

��

�

4,935

��

�

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

��

�

(8,982

)�

�

5,846

��

�

1,918

��

�

4,866

��

Spin-off of Paragon Offshore

��

�

34,478

��

�

��

�

34,478

��

�

��

Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

��

�

(20,471

)�

�

(18,502

)�

�

(60,290

)�

�

(52,861

)�

��

�

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

152,671

��

�

287,803

��

�

654,456

��

�

613,503

��

�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�


�	��	Nine Months Ended September�30,						�
�	��	2014		�	�	2013		�
Cash flows from operating activities	��				�
Net income	��	$	678,350	��	�	$	661,498	��
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:	��				�
Depreciation and amortization	��	�	696,380	��	�	�	642,456	��
Loss on impairment	��	�	��	��	�	�	3,585	��
Gain on disposal of assets, net	��	�	��	��	�	�	(35,646	)�
Deferred income taxes	��	�	23,380	��	�	�	(41,400	)�
Amortization of share-based compensation	��	�	37,432	��	�	�	33,471	��
Net change in other assets and liabilities	��	�	(47,244	)�	�	�	(102,310	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net cash from operating activities	��	�	1,388,298	��	�	�	1,161,654	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Cash flows from investing activities	��				�
Capital expenditures	��	�	(1,747,495	)�	�	�	(1,724,727	)�
Change in accrued capital expenditures	��	�	(52,466	)�	�	�	(66,946	)�
Proceeds from disposal of assets	��	�	��	��	�	�	61,000	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net cash from investing activities	��	�	(1,799,961	)�	�	�	(1,730,673	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Cash flows from financing activities	��				�
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	��	�	(569,489	)�	�	�	973,055	��
Repayment of long-term debt	��	�	(250,000	)�	�	�	(300,000	)�
Long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore	��	�	1,726,750	��	�	�	��	��
Financing costs on long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore	��	�	(30,876	)�	�	�	��	��
Cash balances of Paragon Offshore in Spin-Off	��	�	(104,152	)�	�	�	��	��
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	��	�	(64,339	)�	�	�	(69,728	)�
Repurchases of shares	��	�	(52,701	)�	�	�	��	��
Financing costs on credit facilities	��	�	(386	)�	�	�	(2,432	)�
Dividend payments	��	�	(290,643	)�	�	�	(130,787	)�
Employee stock transactions	��	�	1,395	��	�	�	2,747	��
Repurchases of employee shares surrendered for taxes	��	�	��	��	�	�	(7,558	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net cash from financing activities	��	�	365,559	��	�	�	465,297	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	��	�	(46,104	)�	�	�	(103,722	)�
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	��	�	114,458	��	�	�	282,092	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	��	$	68,354	��	�	$	178,370	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�

��

�

Shares

�

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

�

Retained
Earnings

�

Treasury
Shares

�

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

�

Noncontrolling
Interests

�

Total
Equity

�

��

Balance

�

Par Value

�

Balance at December�31, 2012

��

�

253,348

��

�

710,130

��

�

83,531

��

�

7,066,023

��

�

(21,069

)�

�

(115,449

)�

�

765,124

��

�

8,488,290

��

Employee related equity activity

��

�

Amortization of share-based compensation

��

�

��

�

��

�

33,471

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

33,471

��

Issuance of share-based compensation shares

��

�

659

��

�

1,851

��

�

(1,834

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

Exercise of stock options

��

�

158

��

�

440

��

�

3,760

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

4,200

��

Tax benefit of stock options exercised

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1,470

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1,470

)�

Restricted shares forfeited or repurchased for taxes

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(7,558

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(7,558

)�

Net income

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

608,637

��

�

��

�

��

�

52,861

��

�

661,498

��

Dividends

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(256,770

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(256,770

)�

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(69,728

)�

�

(69,728

)�

Other comprehensive income, net

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

4,866

��

�

��

�

4,866

��

�

Balance at September�30, 2013

��

�

254,165

��

�

712,421

��

�

117,458

��

�

7,417,890

��

�

(28,627

)�

�

(110,583

)�

�

748,257

��

�

8,856,816

��

�

Balance at December�31, 2013

��

�

253,448

��

�

2,534

��

�

810,286

��

�

7,591,927

��

�

��

��

�

(82,164

)�

�

727,445

��

�

9,050,028

��

Employee related equity activity

��

�

Amortization of share-based compensation

��

�

��

�

��

�

37,432

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

37,432

��

Issuance of share-based compensation shares

��

�

689

��

�

��

�

(9,049

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(9,043

)�

Exercise of stock options

��

�

131

��

�

��

�

2,644

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

2,647

��

Tax benefit of stock options exercised

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1,258

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1,258

)�

Repurchases of shares

��

�

(2,010

)�

�

(20

)�

�

(52,681

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(52,701

)�

Net income

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

618,060

��

�

��

�

��

�

60,290

��

�

678,350

��

Dividends

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(162,294

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(162,294

)�

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(64,339

)�

�

(64,339

)�

Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1,413,499

)�

�

��

�

34,478

��

�

��

�

(1,379,021

)�

Other comprehensive income, net

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,918

��

�

��

�

1,918

��

�

Balance at September�30, 2014

��

�

252,258

��

�

2,523

��

�

787,374

��

�

6,634,194

��

�

��

��

�

(45,768

)�

�

723,396

��

�

8,101,719

��

�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�


�	��	September�30, 2014		�	�	December�31, 2013		�
ASSETS	��				�
Current assets	��				�
Cash and cash equivalents	��	$	65,948	��	�	$	110,382	��
Accounts receivable	��	�	610,134	��	�	�	949,069	��
Taxes receivable	��	�	126,161	��	�	�	140,029	��
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	��	�	179,638	��	�	�	184,348	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total current assets	��	�	981,881	��	�	�	1,383,828	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Property and equipment, at cost	��	�	15,266,206	��	�	�	19,160,350	��
Accumulated depreciation	��	�	(2,659,887	)�	�	�	(4,631,678	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Property and equipment, net	��	�	12,606,319	��	�	�	14,528,672	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Other assets	��	�	261,989	��	�	�	269,014	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total assets	��	$	13,850,189	��	�	$	16,181,514	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	��				�
Current liabilities	��				�
Accounts payable	��	$	235,823	��	�	$	345,910	��
Accrued payroll and related costs	��	�	94,385	��	�	�	143,346	��
Taxes payable	��	�	112,332	��	�	�	120,588	��
Other current liabilities	��	�	166,305	��	�	�	300,172	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total current liabilities	��	�	608,845	��	�	�	910,016	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Long-term debt	��	�	4,737,081	��	�	�	5,556,251	��
Deferred income taxes	��	�	165,750	��	�	�	225,455	��
Other liabilities	��	�	289,637	��	�	�	334,308	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total liabilities	��	�	5,801,313	��	�	�	7,026,030	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Commitments and contingencies	��				�

Shareholder equity	��				�
Ordinary shares; 261,246 shares outstanding	��	�	26,125	��	�	�	26,125	��
Capital in excess of par value	��	�	524,031	��	�	�	497,316	��
Retained earnings	��	�	6,821,092	��	�	�	7,986,762	��
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	��	�	(45,768	)�	�	�	(82,164	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total shareholder equity	��	�	7,325,480	��	�	�	8,428,039	��

Noncontrolling interests	��	�	723,396	��	�	�	727,445	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total equity	��	�	8,048,876	��	�	�	9,155,484	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Total liabilities and equity	��	$	13,850,189	��	�	$	16,181,514	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�

��

Three Months Ended
September�30,

�

Nine Months Ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

2013

�

Operating revenues

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

810,200

��

�

623,170

��

�

2,360,205

��

�

1,750,627

��

Reimbursables

��

�

18,595

��

�

17,318

��

�

67,558

��

�

45,416

��

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

17,000

��

Other

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

828,796

��

�

640,515

��

�

2,427,764

��

�

1,813,054

��

�

Operating costs and expenses

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

�

383,911

��

�

283,707

��

�

1,097,694

��

�

831,065

��

Reimbursables

��

�

13,641

��

�

14,812

��

�

52,877

��

�

36,686

��

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

��

�

2,084

��

�

��

�

10,966

��

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

160,255

��

�

129,309

��

�

458,100

��

�

369,105

��

General and administrative

��

�

13,057

��

�

7,251

��

�

36,478

��

�

37,682

��

Loss on impairment

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

Gain on disposal of assets, net

��

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net

��

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

��

�

��

�

570,864

��

�

374,484

��

�

1,645,149

��

�

1,222,825

��

�

Operating income

��

�

257,932

��

�

266,031

��

�

782,615

��

�

590,229

��

Other income (expense)

��

�

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

��

�

(37,751

)�

�

(23,149

)�

�

(114,494

)�

�

(75,115

)�

Interest income and other, net

��

�

3,785

��

�

880

��

�

1,142

��

�

1,827

��

�

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

��

�

223,966

��

�

243,762

��

�

669,263

��

�

516,941

��

Income tax provision

��

�

(40,674

)�

�

(33,508

)�

�

(110,207

)�

�

(72,567

)�

��

�

Net income from continuing operations

��

�

183,292

��

�

210,254

��

�

559,056

��

�

444,374

��

Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax

��

�

10,413

��

�

119,102

��

�

225,022

��

�

284,506

��

�

Net income

��

�

193,705

��

�

329,356

��

�

784,078

��

�

728,880

��

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

��

�

(20,471

)�

�

(18,502

)�

�

(60,290

)�

�

(52,861

)�

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

173,234

��

�

310,854

��

�

723,788

��

�

676,019

��

�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�

��

Three Months Ended
September�30,

�

Nine Months Ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

2013

�

Net income

��

193,705

��

�

329,356

��

�

784,078

��

�

728,880

��

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

��

�

Foreign currency translation adjustments

��

�

(1,577

)�

�

(1,135

)�

�

1,143

��

�

(658

)�

Foreign currency forward contracts

��

�

(6,925

)�

�

5,320

��

�

(273

)�

�

589

��

Net pension plan loss (net of tax benefit of $386 for both the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014)

��

�

(1,409

)�

�

��

�

(1,409

)�

�

��

Net pension plan curtailment and settlement expense (net of tax provision of $193 for both the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014)

��

�

358

��

�

��

�

358

��

�

��

�

571

��

�

1,661

��

�

2,099

��

�

4,935

��

�

Other comprehensive income (loss), net

��

�

(8,982

)�

�

5,846

��

�

1,918

��

�

4,866

��

Spin-off of Paragon Offshore

��

�

34,478

��

�

��

�

34,478

��

�

��

Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

��

�

(20,471

)�

�

(18,502

)�

�

(60,290

)�

�

(52,861

)�

��

�

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

198,730

��

�

316,700

��

�

760,184

��

�

680,885

��

�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�


�	��	Nine Months Ended September�30,						�
�	��	2014		�	�	2013		�
Cash flows from operating activities	��				�
Net income	��	$	784,078	��	�	$	728,880	��
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:	��				�
Depreciation and amortization	��	�	694,175	��	�	�	641,159	��
Loss on impairment	��	�	��	��	�	�	3,585	��
Gain on disposal of assets, net	��	�	��	��	�	�	(35,646	)�
Deferred income taxes	��	�	23,380	��	�	�	(41,400	)�
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation	��	�	26,715	��	�	�	18,604	��
Net change in other assets and liabilities	��	�	(58,662	)�	�	�	(102,238	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net cash from operating activities	��	�	1,469,686	��	�	�	1,212,944	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Cash flows from investing activities	��				�
Capital expenditures	��	�	(1,747,361	)�	�	�	(1,723,941	)�
Change in accrued capital expenditures	��	�	(52,466	)�	�	�	(66,946	)�
Proceeds from disposal of assets	��	�	��	��	�	�	61,000	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net cash from investing activities	��	�	(1,799,827	)�	�	�	(1,729,887	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Cash flows from financing activities	��				�
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	��	�	(569,489	)�	�	�	973,055	��
Repayment of long-term debt	��	�	(250,000	)�	�	�	(300,000	)�
Long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore	��	�	1,726,750	��	�	�	��	��
Financing costs on long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore	��	�	(30,876	)�	�	�	��	��
Cash balances of Paragon Offshore in Spin-Off	��	�	(104,152	)�	�	�	��	��
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	��	�	(64,339	)�	�	�	(69,728	)�
Financing costs on credit facilities	��	�	(386	)�	�	�	(2,432	)�
Distributions to parent company, net	��	�	(421,801	)�	�	�	(187,610	)�
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net cash from financing activities	��	�	285,707	��	�	�	413,285	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	��	�	(44,434	)�	�	�	(103,658	)�
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	��	�	110,382	��	�	�	277,375	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	��	$	65,948	��	�	$	173,717	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

�

��

�

Shares

�

��

Capital in
Excess of
Par Value

�

��

Retained
Earnings

�

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

�

Noncontrolling
Interests

�

Total
Equity

�

��

Balance

�

��

Par�Value

�

��

�

Balance at December�31, 2012

��

�

261,246

��

26,125

��

470,454

��

7,384,828

��

�

(115,449

)�

�

765,124

��

�

8,531,082

��

Net income

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

676,019

��

�

��

�

52,861

��

�

728,880

��

Capital contributions by parent - share-based compensation

��

�

��

�

��

�

18,604

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

18,604

��

Distributions to parent

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(187,610

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(187,610

)�

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(69,728

)�

�

(69,728

)�

Other comprehensive income, net

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

4,866

��

�

��

�

4,866

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Balance at September�30, 2013

��

�

261,246

��

26,125

��

489,058

��

7,873,237

��

�

(110,583

)�

�

748,257

��

�

9,026,094

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Balance at December�31, 2013

��

�

261,246

��

26,125

��

497,316

��

7,986,762

��

�

(82,164

)�

�

727,445

��

�

9,155,484

��

Net income

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

723,788

��

�

��

�

60,290

��

�

784,078

��

Capital contributions by parent - share-based compensation

��

�

��

�

��

�

26,715

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

26,715

��

Distributions to parent

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(421,801

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(421,801

)�

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(64,339

)�

�

(64,339

)�

Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1,467,657

)�

�

34,478

��

�

��

�

(1,433,179

)�

Other comprehensive income, net

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,918

��

�

��

�

1,918

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Balance at September�30, 2014

��

�

261,246

��

26,125

��

524,031

��

6,821,092

��

�

(45,768

)�

�

723,396

��

�

8,048,876

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

Note 1 � Organization and Basis of Presentation

Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (�Noble-UK�), is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. We perform contract drilling services with our fleet of 35 mobile offshore drilling units located worldwide. Our fleet consists of 15 jackups, 11 semisubmersibles and nine drillships. At September�30, 2014, we had two high-specification, harsh environment jackups under construction.

At September�30, 2014, our fleet was located in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.

Paragon Offshore plc Spin-Off Transaction

On August�1, 2014, Noble-UK completed the separation and spin-off of a majority of its standard specification offshore drilling business (the �Spin-Off�) through a pro rata distribution of all of the ordinary shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (�Paragon Offshore�), to the holders of Noble�s ordinary shares. The results of operations for Paragon Offshore have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 2 for additional information. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in our consolidated financial statements relates to our continuing operations after such classification.

Migration to the United Kingdom

On November�20, 2013, pursuant to the Merger Agreement dated as of June�30, 2013 between Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (�Noble-Swiss�), and Noble-UK, Noble-Swiss merged with and into Noble-UK, with Noble-UK as the surviving company (the �Transaction�). In the Transaction, all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Noble-Swiss were cancelled, and Noble-UK issued, through an exchange agent, one ordinary share of Noble-UK in exchange for each ordinary share of Noble-Swiss. The Transaction effectively changed the place of incorporation of our publicly traded parent holding company from Switzerland to the United Kingdom.

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (�Noble-Cayman�), is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-UK, our publicly-traded parent company. Noble-UK�s principal asset is all of the shares of Noble-Cayman. Noble-Cayman has no public equity outstanding. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-UK conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (�SEC�) as they pertain to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (�GAAP�) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited consolidated financial statements. All such adjustments are of a recurring nature. The December�31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheets presented herein are derived from the December�31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December�31, 2013, filed by both Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Note 2 � Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore plc

On August�1, 2014, we completed the Spin-Off through a pro rata distribution by us of all of the ordinary shares of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore, to the holders of Noble�s ordinary shares. Our shareholders received one share of Paragon Offshore for every three shares of Noble owned as of July�23, 2014, the record date for the distribution. At the time of the Spin-Off, Paragon Offshore�s assets and liabilities consisted of most of our standard specification drilling units and related assets, liabilities and business, including five drillships, three semisubmersibles, 34 jackups and one floating production storage and offloading unit (�FPSO�). At the Spin-Off, Paragon Offshore also became responsible for the Hibernia platform operations offshore Canada. Prior to the Spin-Off, Paragon Offshore issued approximately $1.7 billion of long-term debt. We used the proceeds from this debt to repay certain amounts outstanding under our commercial paper program.

Prior to the completion of the Spin-Off, Noble and Paragon Offshore entered into a series of agreements to effect the separation and Spin-Off and govern the relationship between the parties after the Spin-Off.

Master Separation Agreement (�MSA�)

The general terms and conditions relating to the separation and Spin-Off are set forth in the MSA. The MSA identifies the assets transferred, liabilities assumed and contracts assigned either to Paragon Offshore by us or by Paragon Offshore to us in the separation and describes when and how these transfers, assumptions and assignments would occur. The MSA provides for, among other things, Paragon Offshore�s responsibility for liabilities relating to its business and the responsibility of Noble for liabilities related to our, and in certain limited cases, Paragon Offshore�s business, in each case irrespective of when the liability arose. The MSA also contains indemnification obligations and ongoing commitments by us and Paragon Offshore.

Employee Matters Agreement (�EMA�)

The EMA allocates liabilities and responsibilities between us and Paragon Offshore relating to employment, compensation and benefits and other employment related matters.

Tax Sharing Agreement

The tax sharing agreement provides for the allocation of tax liabilities and benefits between us and Paragon Offshore and governs the parties� assistance with tax-related claims.

Transition Services Agreements

Under two transition services agreements, we agreed to continue, for a limited period of time, to provide various interim support services to Paragon Offshore, and Paragon Offshore agreed to provide various interim support services to us, including providing operational and administrative support for our remaining Brazilian operations.

Note 3 � Discontinued Operations

Paragon Offshore, which had been reflected as continuing operations in our consolidated financial statements prior to the Spin-Off, meets the criteria for being reported as discontinued operations and has been reclassified as such in our results of operations. The results of discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 include the historical results of Paragon Offshore through the Spin-Off date, including costs incurred by Noble to complete the Spin-Off. Non-recurring Spin-Off related costs totaled $31 million and $49 million for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014, respectively, and $2 million and $10 million for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2013, respectively.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Prior to the Spin-Off, Paragon Offshore issued approximately $1.7 billion of debt consisting of:

�

$1.08 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes in two separate tranches, comprising $500 million of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2022 and $580 million of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2024; and

�

$650 million of a senior secured term credit agreement, at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.75%, subject to a LIBOR floor of 1%, which has an initial term of seven years.

We allocated interest expense on this debt, which is directly related to Paragon Offshore, to discontinued operations. For both the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014, we allocated approximately $4 million of interest expense related to such debt. No interest was allocated to discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2013.

The following table provides the components of net income from discontinued operations, net of tax:

�

��

Three months ended
September�30,

�

Nine months ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

2013

�

Revenues

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

136,548

��

�

417,948

��

�

993,253

��

�

1,194,684

��

Reimbursables

��

�

2,398

��

�

11,923

��

�

21,899

��

�

33,260

��

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

2,946

��

�

8,467

��

�

19,304

��

�

26,150

��

Other

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Revenues from discontinued operations

��

141,893

��

�

438,366

��

�

1,034,458

��

�

1,254,188

��

�

(Loss) income from discontinued operations:

��

�

(Loss) income from discontinued operations before income taxes

��

(3,292

)�

�

138,669

��

�

229,482

��

�

326,731

��

Income tax expense

��

�

(16,922

)�

�

(21,979

)�

�

(53,950

)�

�

(52,666

)�

��

�

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

��

(20,214

)�

�

116,690

��

�

175,532

��

�

274,065

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

The carrying value of the major categories of assets and liabilities of Paragon Offshore immediately preceding the Spin-Off on August�1, 2014, which are excluded from our Consolidated Balance Sheet at September�30, 2014, were as follows:

�


ASSETS	��
Current assets	��
Cash and cash equivalents	��	$	104,152	��
Accounts receivable	��	�	362,100	��
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	��	�	90,089	��
	��	�	�	�
Total current assets of discontinued operations	��	�	556,341	��
	��	�	�	�
Property and equipment, at cost	��	�	5,615,831	��
Accumulated depreciation	��	�	(2,640,943	)�
	��	�	�	�
Property and equipment, net	��	�	2,974,888	��
	��	�	�	�
Other assets	��	�	84,894	��
	��	�	�	�
Total assets of discontinued operations	��	$	3,616,123	��
	��	�	�	�

LIABILITIES	��
Current liabilities	��
Accounts payable	��	$	132,446	��
Accrued payroll and related costs	��	�	64,580	��
Other current liabilities	��	�	103,769	��
	��	�	�	�
Total current liabilities of discontinued operations	��	�	300,795	��
	��	�	�	�
Long-term debt	��	�	1,726,750	��
Other liabilities	��	�	171,718	��
	��	�	�	�
Total liabilities of discontinued operations	��	$	2,199,263	��
	��	�	�	�

The above amounts do not include the impact of the agreements entered into as a result of the Spin-Off, which are discussed further in Note 2.

Note 4 � Consolidated Joint Ventures

We maintain a 50 percent interest in two joint ventures, each with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc (�Shell�), that own and operate the two Bully-class drillships. We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the joint ventures. Accordingly, we consolidate the entities in our consolidated financial statements after eliminating intercompany transactions. Shell�s equity interests are presented as noncontrolling interests on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

During the nine months ended September�30, 2014, the Bully joint ventures approved and paid dividends totaling $129 million, of which approximately $64 million was paid to our joint venture partner. During the nine months ended September�30, 2013, the Bully joint ventures approved and paid dividends totaling $139 million, of which approximately $70 million was paid to our joint venture partner.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

The combined carrying amount of the Bully-class drillships at both September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013 totaled $1.4 billion. These assets were primarily funded through partner equity contributions. Cash held by the Bully joint ventures totaled approximately $49 million at September�30, 2014 as compared to approximately $50 million at December�31, 2013. Operational results for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:

�

��

Three months ended
September�30,

�

��

Nine months ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

��

2013

�

��

2014

�

��

2013

�

Operating revenues

��

97,182

��

94,847

��

282,585

��

272,620

��

Net income

��

43,911

��

40,214

��

128,587

��

113,627

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Note 5 � Earnings per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for Noble-UK:

�

��

Three months ended
September�30,

�

Nine months ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

2013

�

Numerator:

��

�

Basic

��

�

Income from continuing operations

��

147,389

��

�

165,267

��

�

442,528

��

�

334,572

��

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

��

�

(2,286

)�

�

(1,989

)�

�

(7,053

)�

�

(3,953

)�

��

�

Income from continuing operations to common shareholders

��

�

145,103

��

�

163,278

��

�

435,475

��

�

330,619

��

�

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

��

�

(20,214

)�

�

116,690

��

�

175,532

��

�

274,065

��

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

��

�

314

��

�

(1,404

)�

�

(2,798

)�

�

(3,238

)�

��

�

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax to common shareholders

��

�

(19,900

)�

�

115,286

��

�

172,734

��

�

270,827

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

�

127,175

��

�

281,957

��

�

618,060

��

�

608,637

��

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

��

�

(1,972

)�

�

(3,393

)�

�

(9,851

)�

�

(7,191

)�

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation to common shareholders

��

125,203

��

�

278,564

��

�

608,209

��

�

601,446

��

�

Diluted

��

�

Income from continuing operations

��

�

147,389

��

�

165,267

��

�

442,528

��

�

334,572

��

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

��

�

(2,285

)�

�

(1,987

)�

�

(7,050

)�

�

(3,949

)�

��

�

Income from continuing operations to common shareholders

��

�

145,104

��

�

163,280

��

�

435,478

��

�

330,623

��

�

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

��

�

(20,214

)�

�

116,690

��

�

175,532

��

�

274,065

��

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

��

�

313

��

�

(1,403

)�

�

(2,796

)�

�

(3,235

)�

��

�

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax to common shareholders

��

�

(19,901

)�

�

115,287

��

�

172,736

��

�

270,830

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

�

127,175

��

�

281,957

��

�

618,060

��

�

608,637

��

Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards

��

�

(1,972

)�

�

(3,390

)�

�

(9,846

)�

�

(7,184

)�

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation to common shareholders

��

125,203

��

�

278,567

��

�

608,214

��

�

601,453

��

�

Denominator:

��

�

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

��

�

253,842

��

�

253,357

��

�

254,006

��

�

253,242

��

Incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options

��

�

107

��

�

261

��

�

114

��

�

265

��

�

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

��

�

253,949

��

�

253,618

��

�

254,120

��

�

253,507

��

�

Weighted average unvested share-based payment awards

��

�

3,999

��

�

3,086

��

�

4,114

��

�

3,028

��

�

Earnings per share

��

�

Basic

��

�

Continuing operations

��

0.57

��

�

0.64

��

�

1.71

��

�

1.30

��

Discontinued operations

��

�

(0.08

)�

�

0.46

��

�

0.68

��

�

1.07

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

0.49

��

�

1.10

��

�

2.39

��

�

2.37

��

�

Diluted

��

�

Continuing operations

��

0.57

��

�

0.64

��

�

1.71

��

�

1.30

��

Discontinued operations

��

�

(0.08

)�

�

0.46

��

�

0.68

��

�

1.07

��

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

��

0.49

��

�

1.10

��

�

2.39

��

�

2.37

��

�

Only those items having a dilutive impact on our basic earnings per share are included in diluted earnings per share. For the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013, approximately 1.3�million and 0.9�million shares underlying stock options, respectively, were excluded from the diluted earnings per share as such stock options were not dilutive.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Note 6 � Receivables from Customers

At September�30, 2014, we had a receivable of approximately $14 million related to the Noble Max Smith, which is being disputed by our customer, Petr�leos Mexicanos (�Pemex�). This receivable has been classified as long-term and is included in �Other assets� on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The disputed amount relates to lost revenues for downtime that occurred after our rig was damaged when one of Pemex�s supply boats collided with our rig in 2010. In January 2012, we filed a lawsuit against Pemex in Mexican court seeking recovery of this amount. This matter is currently proceeding through the Mexican judicial system. While we can make no assurances as to the outcome of this dispute, we believe we are entitled to the disputed amount.

Note 7 � Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, at cost, as of September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013 for Noble-UK consisted of the following:

�


�	��	September�30, 2014		�	��	December�31, 2013		�
Drilling equipment and facilities	��	$	13,606,398	��	��	$	17,130,986	��
Construction in progress	��	�	1,479,263	��	��	�	1,854,434	��
Other	��	�	219,097	��	��	�	213,347	��
	��	�	�	�	��	�	�	�
Property and equipment, at cost	��	$	15,304,758	��	��	$	19,198,767	��
	��	�	�	�	��	�	�	�

Capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, totaled $1.7 billion for both the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013. Capitalized interest was $11 million and $39 million for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014, respectively, as compared to $31 million and $92 million for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2013, respectively.

Capital expenditures related to Paragon Offshore for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014 totaled $15 million and $150 million, respectively. Additionally, a portion of our property and equipment at December�31, 2013 was related to Paragon Offshore.

Note 8 � Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following at September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013:

�


�	��	September�30, 2014		�	��	December�31, 2013		�
Senior unsecured notes:	��				��
7.375% Senior Notes due March 2014	��	$	��	��	��	$	249,964	��
3.45% Senior Notes due August 2015	��	�	350,000	��	��	�	350,000	��
3.05% Senior Notes due March 2016	��	�	299,978	��	��	�	299,967	��
2.50% Senior Notes due March 2017	��	�	299,912	��	��	�	299,886	��
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019	��	�	201,695	��	��	�	201,695	��
4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020	��	�	499,118	��	��	�	499,022	��
4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021	��	�	399,614	��	��	�	399,576	��
3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022	��	�	399,242	��	��	�	399,178	��
6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040	��	�	399,894	��	��	�	399,893	��
6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041	��	�	397,672	��	��	�	397,646	��
5.25% Senior Notes due March 2042	��	�	498,303	��	��	�	498,283	��
	��	�	�	�	��	�	�	�
Total senior unsecured notes	��	�	3,745,428	��	��	�	3,995,110	��

Commercial paper program	��	�	991,653	��	��	�	1,561,141	��
	��	�	�	�	��	�	�	�
Total long-term debt	��	$	4,737,081	��	��	$	5,556,251	��
	��	�	�	�	��	�	�	�

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper Program

We currently have three credit facilities with an aggregate maximum available capacity of $2.9 billion (together, the �Credit Facilities�). In August 2014, we extended the maturity date of our $600 million senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit facility for a six-month period to February 2015. In addition, we continue to maintain a $1.5 billion credit facility that matures in 2017 and an $800 million credit facility that matures in 2016. In February 2015, availability under the $800 million credit facility will be reduced by $36 million.

The Credit Facilities provide us with the ability to issue up to $375 million in letters of credit in the aggregate. The issuance of letters of credit under the Credit Facilities reduces the amount available for borrowing. At September�30, 2014, we had no letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities.

Senior Unsecured Notes

In March 2014, we repaid our $250 million 7.375% Senior Notes using issuances under our commercial paper program.

Our $350 million 3.45% Senior Notes mature during the third quarter of 2015. We anticipate using availability under our Credit Facilities or commercial paper issuances to repay the outstanding balance; therefore, we continue to report the balance as long-term at September�30, 2014.

Covenants

The Credit Facilities are guaranteed by our indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, Noble Holding International Limited (�NHIL�) and Noble Holding Corporation (�NHC�). The covenants and events of default under the Credit Facilities are substantially similar, and each facility contains a covenant that limits our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization, as defined in the Credit Facilities, to 0.60. At September�30, 2014, our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization was approximately 0.37. We were in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Facilities as of September�30, 2014.

In addition to the covenants from the Credit Facilities noted above, the indentures governing our outstanding senior unsecured notes contain covenants that place restrictions on certain merger and consolidation transactions, unless we are the surviving entity or the other party assumes the obligations under the indenture, and on the ability to sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, there are restrictions on incurring or assuming certain liens and sale and lease-back transactions. At September�30, 2014, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. We continually monitor compliance with the covenants under our notes and expect to remain in compliance during the remainder of 2014.

Fair Value of Debt

Fair value represents the amount at which an instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. The estimated fair value of our senior notes was based on the quoted market prices for similar issues or on the current rates offered to us for debt of similar remaining maturities (Level 2 measurement). All remaining fair value disclosures are presented in Note�13.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

The following table presents the estimated fair value of our long-term debt as of September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013, respectively:

�

��

September�30, 2014

�

��

December�31, 2013

�

��

Carrying
Value

�

��

Estimated
Fair Value

�

��

Carrying
Value

�

��

Estimated
Fair Value

�

Senior unsecured notes:

��

7.375% Senior Notes due March 2014

��

249,964

��

253,634

��

3.45% Senior Notes due August 2015

��

�

350,000

��

�

357,087

��

�

350,000

��

�

363,019

��

3.05% Senior Notes due March 2016

��

�

299,978

��

�

306,752

��

�

299,967

��

�

309,878

��

2.50% Senior Notes due March 2017

��

�

299,912

��

�

303,855

��

�

299,886

��

�

302,891

��

7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019

��

�

201,695

��

�

232,264

��

�

201,695

��

�

232,839

��

4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020

��

�

499,118

��

�

530,788

��

�

499,022

��

�

528,597

��

4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021

��

�

399,614

��

�

413,996

��

�

399,576

��

�

413,868

��

3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022

��

�

399,242

��

�

391,616

��

�

399,178

��

�

390,520

��

6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040

��

�

399,894

��

�

416,991

��

�

399,893

��

�

421,720

��

6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041

��

�

397,672

��

�

408,334

��

�

397,646

��

�

417,312

��

5.25% Senior Notes due March 2042

��

�

498,303

��

�

458,360

��

�

498,283

��

�

476,873

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Total senior unsecured notes

��

�

3,745,428

��

�

3,820,043

��

�

3,995,110

��

�

4,111,151

��

Commercial paper program

��

�

991,653

��

�

991,653

��

�

1,561,141

��

�

1,561,141

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Total long-term debt

��

4,737,081

��

4,811,696

��

5,556,251

��

5,672,292

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Note 9 � Equity

Share capital

As of September�30, 2014, Noble-UK had approximately 252.3�million shares outstanding and trading as compared to approximately 253.4�million shares outstanding and trading at December�31, 2013. Repurchased shares are recorded at cost, and include shares repurchased pursuant to our approved share repurchase program discussed below. Our Board of Directors may increase our share capital through the issuance of up to 53�million authorized shares (at current nominal value of $0.01 per share) without obtaining shareholder approval.

In July 2014, our Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly dividend to shareholders of $0.375 per share. The aggregate dividend paid in August 2014 was approximately $97 million.

Share repurchases

Under UK law, a company is only permitted to purchase its own shares by way of an �off-market purchase� in a plan approved by shareholders. Prior to our redomiciliation to the UK, a resolution was adopted by Noble-UK�s sole shareholder authorizing the repurchase of 6,769,891 shares during the five-year period commencing on the date of the redomiciliation.�This number of shares corresponds to the number of shares that Noble-Swiss had authority to repurchase at the time of the redomiciliation.�The company may only fund the purchase of its own shares out of distributable reserves or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made expressly for that purpose. The company currently has adequate distributable reserves to fund its currently approved repurchase plan. If any premium above the nominal value of the purchased shares is paid, it must be paid out of distributable reserves.�Any shares purchased by the company out of distributable reserves may be held as treasury shares or cancelled at the company�s election. During the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014, we repurchased and immediately cancelled approximately 2.0�million shares under this plan. At September�30, 2014, approximately 4.8�million shares remained available under this authorization.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Share-Based Compensation Plans

Stock Plans

The Noble Corporation 1991 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan, as amended (the �1991 Plan�), provides for the granting of options to purchase our shares, with or without stock appreciation rights, and the awarding of restricted shares or units to selected employees. In connection with the Spin-Off, the total number of shares subject to issue under existing awards under the 1991 Plan was increased from 50.1�million to 60.3 million. As of September�30, 2014, we had 6.5�million shares remaining available for grants to employees under the 1991 Plan.

Prior to October�25, 2007, the Noble Corporation 1992 Nonqualified Stock Option and Share Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the �1992 Plan�) provided for the granting of nonqualified stock options to our non-employee directors. On October�25, 2007, the 1992 Plan was amended and restated to, among other things, eliminate grants of stock options to non-employee directors and modify the annual award of restricted shares from a fixed number of restricted shares to an annually-determined variable number of restricted or unrestricted shares. In connection with the Spin-Off, the total number of shares subject to issue under existing awards under the 1992 Plan was increased from 2.0�million to 2.3 million. As of September�30, 2014, we had 0.6�million shares remaining available for award to non-employee directors under the 1992 Plan.

Stock Options

Pursuant to the EMA (see Note 2), we modified the outstanding stock options for our employees in connection with the Spin-Off. We made certain adjustments to the exercise price and number of our stock options to preserve the economic value of the grants immediately prior to the Spin-Off. Each outstanding stock option of Noble, whether or not exercisable, that was held by a current or former Noble employee was adjusted such that the holder received an additional number of stock options of Noble based on a price ratio. The exercise price was adjusted by a factor equal to exercise price of the option prior to the Spin-Off divided by the price ratio. The price ratio was calculated by dividing the average closing price of our stock during the 10 trading-day period prior to the Spin-Off by the average closing price of our stock during the 10 trading-day period subsequent to the Spin-Off. Each outstanding stock option of Noble, whether or not exercisable, that was held by an employee transferring to Paragon Offshore was vested at the Spin-Off date and the exercise price and number of awards were adjusted in the same manner as explained above for Noble employees. At the Spin-Off, we recognized the remaining expense for the accelerated vesting of stock options held by Paragon Offshore employees.

As a result of the Spin-Off, an additional 339,223 stock options were issued to preserve the economic value of the grants immediately prior to the Spin-Off, as discussed above. As no incremental fair value was awarded as a result of the issuance of these additional awards, the modification did not result in additional compensation expense.

The following table presenting a summary of stock option award activity for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 reflects the adjustments discussed above.

�


�	��	Number of Shares Underlying Options		�
Outstanding at December�31, 2013	��	�	1,808,987	��
Exercised	��	�	(131,706	)�
Forfeited	��	�	(17,175	)�
Spin-Off adjustment	��	�	339,223	��
	��	�	�	�
Outstanding at September�30, 2014	��	�	1,999,329	��
	��	�	�	�

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Restricted Stock Units (�RSUs�)

Pursuant to the EMA (see Note 2), we modified the outstanding RSU awards, both time-vested restricted stock units (�TVRSUs�) and market-based performance-vested restricted stock units (�PVRSUs�), for our employees in connection with the Spin-Off. We made certain adjustments to the number of our share-based compensation awards to preserve the economic value of the grants immediately prior to the Spin-Off. Each outstanding and unvested RSU of Noble that was held by a current or former Noble employee was adjusted such that the holder received an additional number of RSUs of Noble based on a price ratio, which was calculated as noted above in �Stock Options�. Each outstanding and unvested TVRSU of Noble that was held by an employee transferring to Paragon Offshore was cancelled and an equivalent award was granted by Paragon Offshore. Each outstanding and unvested PVRSU of Noble that was held by an employee transferring to Paragon Offshore was continued pro-rata at the time of Spin-Off, subject to the achievement of the performance condition at the end of the performance period. The remaining unvested PVRSUs were cancelled and an equivalent award was granted by Paragon Offshore, except for the 2012 PVRSU grants. For the 2012 PVRSU grants, a bonus will be paid by Paragon Offshore for the cancelled portion of the award should the performance factor be achieved.

As a result of the Spin-Off, an additional 326,853 TVRSUs and 329,937 PVRSUs were issued to preserve the economic value of the grants immediately prior to the Spin-Off, as discussed above. As no incremental fair value was awarded as a result of the issuance of these additional awards, the modification did not result in additional compensation expense.

The following table presenting a summary of RSU award activity for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 reflects the adjustments discussed above.

�


�	��	TVRSUs Outstanding		�	�	PVRSUs Outstanding		�
Non-vested RSUs at December�31, 2013	��	�	1,652,360	��	�	�	1,397,137	��
Awarded	��	�	1,608,613	��	�	�	740,364	��
Vested	��	�	(746,162	)�	�	�	(180,975	)�
Forfeited	��	�	(124,740	)�	�	�	(253,882	)�
Surrendered in connection with Spin-Off	��	�	(816,627	)�	�	�	(89,612	)�
Spin-Off adjustment	��	�	326,853	��	�	�	329,937	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�
Non-vested RSUs at September�30, 2014	��	�	1,900,297	��	�	�	1,942,969	��
	��	�	�	�	�	�	�	�

Note 10 � Income Taxes

At September�30, 2014, the reserves for uncertain tax positions totaled $101 million (net of related tax benefits of $1 million). If the September�30, 2014 reserves are not realized, the provision for income taxes would be reduced by $101 million. At December�31, 2013, the reserves for uncertain tax positions totaled $127 million (net of related tax benefits of $2 million).

It is reasonably possible that our existing liabilities related to our reserve for uncertain tax positions may increase or decrease in the next 12 months primarily due to the completion of open audits or the expiration of statutes of limitation. As a result, we cannot reasonably estimate a range of changes in our existing liabilities due to various uncertainties, such as the unresolved nature of various audits.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Note 11 � Employee Benefit Plans

Pension costs include the following components for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013:

�

��

Three Months Ended September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

��

Non-U.S.

�

U.S.

�

Non-U.S.

�

U.S.

�

Service cost

��

1,016

��

�

2,541

��

�

1,361

��

�

2,681

��

Interest cost

��

�

1,022

��

�

2,714

��

�

1,259

��

�

2,263

��

Return on plan assets

��

�

(1,397

)�

�

(3,846

)�

�

(1,443

)�

�

(3,275

)�

Amortization of prior service cost

��

�

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

Recognized net actuarial loss

��

�

119

��

�

651

��

�

426

��

�

1,910

��

Curtailment expense

��

�

��

�

241

��

�

��

�

��

Settlement expense

��

�

��

�

310

��

�

��

�

��

�

Net pension expense

��

758

��

�

2,667

��

�

1,603

��

�

3,636

��

�

Included in net pension expense for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $1 million and $2 million, respectively, related to Paragon Offshore that was classified as discontinued operations.

Pension costs include the following components for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013:

�

��

Nine Months Ended September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

��

Non-U.S.

�

U.S.

�

Non-U.S.

�

U.S.

�

Service cost

��

3,869

��

�

7,623

��

�

4,089

��

�

8,043

��

Interest cost

��

�

3,950

��

�

8,142

��

�

3,793

��

�

6,787

��

Return on plan assets

��

�

(5,088

)�

�

(11,538

)�

�

(4,351

)�

�

(9,827

)�

Amortization of prior service cost

��

�

(12

)�

�

168

��

�

��

�

171

��

Recognized net actuarial loss

��

�

748

��

�

1,953

��

�

1,226

��

�

5,730

��

Curtailment expense

��

�

��

�

241

��

�

��

�

��

Settlement expense

��

�

��

�

310

��

�

��

�

��

�

Net pension expense

��

3,467

��

�

6,899

��

�

4,757

��

�

10,904

��

�

Included in net pension expense for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $4 million and $6 million, respectively, related to Paragon Offshore that was classified as discontinued operations.

As a result of the Spin-Off, employees of Paragon Offshore no longer participated in benefit plans sponsored or maintained by Noble. At the time of the Spin-Off, Noble Enterprises Limited and Noble Drilling (Nederland) B.V. transferred all assets and obligations to Paragon Offshore.

Employees participating in the US Salaried and Hourly defined benefit pension plans that transferred to Paragon Offshore at the time of the Spin-Off terminated under these plans as of July�31, 2014. In connection with the termination of these employees, we recognized a curtailment expense of $0.2 million. These terminated employees may elect to receive their accumulated benefits as a lump sum distribution, which will trigger a settlement expense upon election. Terminated employees must make this election by December�15, 2014. As of September�30, 2014, we have not received any elections from these employees.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Additionally, we recognized a settlement expense of $0.3 million in respect of the US Restoration Plan related to the Spin-Off as of September�30, 2014.

During the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014, we made contributions to our pension plans totaling $0.1 million and $7 million, respectively.

Note 12 � Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We periodically enter into derivative instruments to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We have documented policies and procedures to monitor and control the use of derivative instruments. We do not engage in derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes, nor are we a party to leveraged derivatives.

For foreign currency forward contracts, hedge effectiveness is evaluated at inception based on the matching of critical terms between derivative contracts and the hedged item. Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in earnings.

Cash Flow Hedges

Our North Sea and Brazil operations have a significant amount of their cash operating expenses payable in local currencies. To limit the potential risk of currency fluctuations, we periodically enter into forward contracts, which settle monthly in the operations� respective local currencies. All of these contracts have a maturity of less than 12 months. The forward contract settlements in the remainder of 2014 represent approximately 60 percent of these forecasted local currency requirements. The notional amount of the forward contracts outstanding, expressed in U.S. Dollars, was approximately $13 million at September�30, 2014. Total unrealized losses related to these forward contracts were approximately $0.3 million as of September�30, 2014 and were recorded as part of �Accumulated other comprehensive loss� (�AOCL�).

Financial Statement Presentation

The following table, together with Note 13, summarizes the financial statement presentation and fair value of our derivative positions as of September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013:

�

��

�

��

Estimated fair value

�

��

Balance�sheet
classification

�

��

September�30,
2014

�

��

December�31,
2013

�

Asset derivatives

��

Cash flow hedges

��

Short-term foreign currency forward contracts

��

�

Other�current�assets

��

Liability derivatives

��

Cash flow hedges

��

Short-term foreign currency forward contracts

��

�

Other�current�liabilities

��

333

��

To supplement the fair value disclosures in Note 13, the following summarizes the recognized gains and losses of cash flow hedges and non-designated derivatives through AOCL or through �contract drilling services� expense for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013:

�

��

Gain/(loss)�recognized
through AOCL

�

��

Gain/(loss)�reclassified
from�AOCL�to��contract
drilling services�
expense

�

Gain/(loss) recognized
through �contract
drilling�services��expense

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

��

2014

�

��

2013

�

2014

�

��

2013

�

Cash flow hedges

��

�

��

�

��

Foreign currency forward contracts

��

(2,125

)�

�

2,022

��

1,852

��

(1,433

)�

�

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

��

Gain/(loss)�recognized
through AOCL

�

��

Gain/(loss)�reclassified
from�AOCL�to��contract
drilling services�
expense

�

Gain/(loss) recognized
through �contract
drilling�services��expense

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

��

2014

�

��

2013

�

2014

�

��

2013

�

Cash flow hedges

��

�

��

�

��

Foreign currency forward contracts

��

(4,904

)�

�

2,207

��

4,631

��

(1,618

)�

�

��

Note 13 � Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following tables present the carrying amount and estimated fair value of our financial instruments recognized at fair value on a recurring basis:

�

��

September�30, 2014

�

��

�

��

Estimated Fair Value Measurements

�

��

Carrying
Amount

�

��

Quoted
Prices�in
Active
Markets
(Level�1)

�

��

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

�

��

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level�3)

�

Assets -

��

Marketable securities

��

3,332

��

3,332

��

Foreign currency forward contracts

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

Liabilities -

��

Foreign currency forward contracts

��

333

��

333

��

�

��

December�31, 2013

�

��

�

��

Estimated Fair Value Measurements

�

��

Carrying
Amount

�

��

Quoted
Prices�in
Active
Markets
(Level�1)

�

��

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

�

��

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level�3)

�

Assets -

��

Marketable securities

��

7,230

��

7,230

��

The foreign currency forward contracts have been valued using actively quoted prices and quotes obtained from the counterparties to the contracts. Our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are by their nature short-term. As a result, the carrying values included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Note 14 � Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following tables set forth the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of AOCL, net of tax, for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013.

�

��

Gains /
(Losses)�on
Cash Flow
Hedges⁽¹⁾

�

Defined
Benefit
Pension
Items⁽²⁾

�

Foreign
Currency
Items

�

Total

�

Balance at December�31, 2012

��

��

��

�

(95,071

)�

�

(20,378

)�

�

(115,449

)�

��

�

Activity during period:

��

�

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

��

�

(1,029

)�

�

��

�

(658

)�

�

(1,687

)�

Amounts reclassified from AOCL

��

�

1,618

��

�

4,935

��

�

��

�

6,553

��

�

Net other comprehensive income (loss)

��

�

589

��

�

4,935

��

�

(658

)�

�

4,866

��

�

Balance at September�30, 2013

��

589

��

�

(90,136

)�

�

(21,036

)�

�

(110,583

)�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Balance at December�31, 2013

��

��

��

�

(58,598

)�

�

(23,566

)�

�

(82,164

)�

��

�

Activity during period:

��

�

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

��

�

4,358

��

�

��

�

1,143

��

�

5,501

��

Amounts reclassified from AOCL

��

�

(4,631

)�

�

1,048

��

�

��

�

(3,583

)�

��

�

Net other comprehensive income (loss)

��

�

(273

)�

�

1,048

��

�

1,143

��

�

1,918

��

Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore⁽³⁾

��

�

��

�

21,772

��

�

12,706

��

�

34,478

��

�

Balance at September�30, 2014

��

(273

)�

�

(35,778

)�

�

(9,717

)�

�

(45,768

)�

��

�

(1)	Gains on cash flow hedges are related to our foreign currency forward contracts. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized through �contract drilling services� expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 12 for additional information.

(2)

Defined benefit pension items relate to actuarial losses, the amortization of prior service costs and curtailment and settlement expenses. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized as expense on our Consolidated Statements of Income through either �contract drilling services� or �general and administrative�. See Note 11 for additional information.

(3)	Reclassifications for the Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore represent accumulated balances in AOCL that were transferred as part of the Spin-Off.

Note 15 � Commitments and Contingencies

The Noble Homer Ferrington was under contract with a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation (�ExxonMobil�), which entered into an assignment agreement with British Petroleum plc (�BP�) for a two-well farmout of the rig in Libya after successfully drilling two wells with the rig for ExxonMobil. In August 2010, BP attempted to terminate the assignment agreement claiming that the rig was not in the required condition, and ExxonMobil informed us that we must look to BP for payment of the dayrate during the assignment period. In August 2010, we initiated arbitration proceedings under the drilling contract against both BP and ExxonMobil. We do not believe BP had the right to terminate the assignment agreement and believe the rig was ready to operate under the drilling contract. The rig operated under farmout arrangements from March 2011 to the conclusion of the contract in the second quarter of 2012. We believe we are owed dayrate by either or both of these clients. The operating dayrate was approximately $538,000 per day for the work in Libya. The arbitration process is proceeding, and we intend to vigorously pursue these claims. As a result of the uncertainties noted above, we have not recognized any revenue during the assignment period and the matter could have a material positive effect on our results of operations or cash flows in the period the matter is resolved should the arbitration panel ultimately rule in our favor.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

In November 2012, the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska conducted an inspection of our drillship, the Noble Discoverer, and cited a number of deficiencies to be remediated, including issues relating to the main propulsion and safety management system. We initiated a comprehensive effort to address the deficiencies identified by the Coast Guard and worked with the agency to keep it apprised of our progress. We also conducted an internal investigation in conjunction with the Coast Guard inspection, and the Coast Guard conducted its own investigation. We reported certain potential violations of applicable law to the Coast Guard identified as a result of our internal investigation. These related to what we believe were certain unauthorized disposals of collected deck and sea water from the Noble Discoverer, collected, treated deck water from the Kulluk and potential record-keeping issues with the oil record books for the Noble Discoverer and Kulluk and other matters. The Coast Guard referred the Noble Discoverer and Kulluk matters to the U.S. Department of Justice (�DOJ�) for further investigation. We are cooperating with the DOJ in connection with their investigation, which relates to the items described above, hazardous condition allegations with respect to the Noble Discoverer and other matters. The DOJ is seeking criminal sanctions, including monetary penalties, against us, as well as some form of ongoing assurance of our operational compliance programs, and we are in settlement discussions with the DOJ. We believe it is probable that we will have to pay fines and penalties to resolve this matter and have reserved $12 million. We cannot provide any assurances regarding when the DOJ will conclude the investigation or what the final outcome will be.

We are from time to time a party to various lawsuits that are incidental to our operations in which the claimants seek an unspecified amount of monetary damages for personal injury, including injuries purportedly resulting from exposure to asbestos on drilling rigs and associated facilities. At September�30, 2014, there were 42 asbestos related lawsuits in which we are one of many defendants. These lawsuits have been filed in the United States in the states of Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We intend to vigorously defend against the litigation. We do not believe the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

We are a defendant in certain claims and litigation arising out of operations in the ordinary course of business, the resolution of which, in the opinion of management, will not be material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. There is inherent risk in any litigation or dispute and no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these claims.

We operate in a number of countries throughout the world and our tax returns filed in those jurisdictions are subject to review and examination by tax authorities within those jurisdictions. During 2013, the IRS completed its examination of our tax reporting for the taxable year ended December�31, 2008 and concluded that we were entitled to a refund. The congressional Joint Committee on Taxation took no exception to the conclusions reached by the IRS, and the refund, plus interest, was received in March 2014. The IRS also completed its examination of our tax reporting for the taxable year ended December�31, 2009, and informed us that it made no changes to our reported tax. During the first quarter of 2014, the IRS began its examination of our tax reporting for the taxable years ended December�31, 2010 and 2011. We believe that we have accurately reported all amounts in our 2010 and 2011 tax returns. Furthermore, we are currently contesting several non-U.S. tax assessments and may contest future assessments. We believe the ultimate resolution of the outstanding assessments, for which we have not made any accrual, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. We recognize uncertain tax positions that we believe have a greater than 50�percent likelihood of being sustained. We cannot predict or provide assurance as to the ultimate outcome of any existing or future assessments.

Audit claims of approximately $73 million attributable to income, customs and other business taxes have been assessed against us. We have contested, or intend to contest, these assessments, including through litigation if necessary, and we believe the ultimate resolution, for which we have not made any accrual, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. Tax authorities may issue additional assessments or pursue legal actions as a result of tax audits and we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the ultimate outcome of such assessments and legal actions.

We have been notified by Petr�leo Brasileiro S.A. (�Petrobras�) that it is currently challenging assessments by Brazilian tax authorities of withholding taxes associated with the provision of drilling rigs for its operations in

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Brazil during 2008 and 2009. Petrobras has also notified us that if Petrobras must ultimately pay such withholding taxes, it will seek reimbursement from us for the portion allocable to our drilling rigs. The amount of withholding tax that Petrobras indicates may be allocable to Noble drilling rigs is R$79 million (approximately $32 million). We believe that our contract with Petrobras requires Petrobras to indemnify us for these withholding taxes. We will, if necessary, vigorously defend our rights.

We maintain certain insurance coverage against specified marine perils, which includes physical damage and loss of hire. Damage caused by hurricanes has negatively impacted the energy insurance market, resulting in more restrictive and expensive coverage for U.S. named windstorm perils. Accordingly, we have elected to significantly reduce the named windstorm insurance on our rigs operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Presently, we insure the Noble Jim Thompson, Noble Amos Runner and Noble Driller for �total loss only� when caused by a named windstorm.�For the Noble Bully I, our customer assumes the risk of loss due to a named windstorm event, pursuant to the terms of the drilling contract, through the purchase of insurance coverage (provided that we are responsible for any deductible under such policy) or, at its option, the assumption of the risk of loss up to the insured value in lieu of the purchase of such insurance. The remaining rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico are self-insured for named windstorm perils.�In addition, we maintain a physical damage deductible on our rigs of $25 million per occurrence.�The loss of hire coverage applies only to our rigs operating under contract with a dayrate equal to or greater than $200,000 a day and is subject to a 45-day waiting period for each unit and each occurrence.

Although we maintain insurance in the geographic areas in which we operate, pollution, reservoir damage and environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. Our insurance policies and contractual rights to indemnity may not adequately cover our losses or may have exclusions of coverage for some losses. We do not have insurance coverage or rights to indemnity for all risks, including loss of hire insurance on most of the rigs in our fleet. Uninsured exposures may include expatriate activities prohibited by U.S. laws and regulations, radiation hazards, certain loss or damage to property on board our rigs and losses relating to shore-based terrorist acts or strikes. If a significant accident or other event occurs and is not fully covered by insurance or contractual indemnity, it could materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Additionally, there can be no assurance that those parties with contractual obligations to indemnify us will necessarily be financially able to indemnify us against all these risks.

We carry protection and indemnity insurance covering marine third party liability exposures, which also includes coverage for employer�s liability resulting from personal injury to our offshore drilling crews. Our protection and indemnity policy currently has a standard deductible of $10 million per occurrence, with maximum liability coverage of $750 million.

In connection with our capital expenditure program, we had outstanding commitments, including shipyard and purchase commitments of approximately $940 million at September�30, 2014.

We have entered into agreements with certain of our executive officers, as well as certain other employees. These agreements become effective upon a change of control of Noble-UK (within the meaning set forth in the agreements) or a termination of employment in connection with or in anticipation of a change of control, and remain effective for three years thereafter. These agreements provide for compensation and certain other benefits under such circumstances.

Note 16 � Segment and Related Information

We report our contract drilling operations as a single reportable segment, Contract Drilling Services, which reflects how we manage our business, and the fact that all of our drilling fleet is dependent upon the worldwide oil industry. The mobile offshore drilling units comprising our offshore rig fleet operate in a single, global market for contract drilling services and are often redeployed globally due to changing demands of our customers, which consist largely of major non-U.S. and government owned/controlled oil and gas companies throughout the world. As of September�30, 2014, our contract drilling services segment conducts contract drilling operations in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

We evaluate the performance of our operating segment based on revenues from external customers and segment profit. Summarized financial information of our reportable segment for continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 is shown in the following tables. The �Other� column includes results of labor contract drilling services in Alaska for 2013, as well as corporate related items for all periods. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-UK conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries. As a result, the summarized financial information for Noble-Cayman is substantially the same as Noble-UK.

�

��

�

��

Three Months Ended September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

��

Contract
Drilling
Services

�

Other

�

Total

�

Contract
Drilling
Services

�

Other

�

Total

�

Revenues from external customers

��

828,715

��

�

��

�

828,796

��

�

640,487

��

�

��

�

640,513

��

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

156,213

��

�

5,033

��

�

161,246

��

�

125,855

��

�

3,988

��

�

129,843

��

Segment operating income/ (loss)

��

�

249,297

��

�

(5,664

)�

�

243,633

��

�

245,726

��

�

(6,478

)�

�

239,248

��

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

��

�

)�

�

(37,746

)�

�

(37,751

)�

�

(318

)�

�

(22,831

)�

�

(23,149

)�

Income tax (provision)/ benefit

��

�

(49,437

)�

�

8,655

��

�

(40,782

)�

�

(33,957

)�

�

105

��

�

(33,852

)�

Segment profit/ (loss)

��

�

202,324

��

�

(75,149

)�

�

127,175

��

�

284,883

��

�

(2,926

)�

�

281,957

��

Total assets (at end of period)

��

�

12,231,090

��

�

1,719,107

��

�

13,950,197

��

�

15,058,076

��

�

671,255

��

�

15,729,331

��

�

��

�

��

Nine Months Ended September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

��

Contract
Drilling
Services

�

Other

�

Total

�

Contract
Drilling
Services

�

Other

�

Total

�

Revenues from external customers

��

2,425,513

��

�

2,251

��

�

2,427,764

��

�

1,796,054

��

�

17,000

��

�

1,813,054

��

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

446,425

��

�

13,881

��

�

460,306

��

�

359,405

��

�

10,997

��

�

370,402

��

Segment operating income/ (loss)

��

�

741,227

��

�

(13,421

)�

�

727,806

��

�

541,146

��

�

(6,488

)�

�

534,658

��

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

��

�

(162

)�

�

(114,332

)�

�

(114,494

)�

�

(539

)�

�

(74,576

)�

�

(75,115

)�

Income tax (provision)/ benefit

��

�

(134,310

)�

�

23,685

��

�

(110,625

)�

�

(69,581

)�

�

(4,760

)�

�

(74,341

)�

Segment profit/ (loss)

��

�

775,479

��

�

(157,419

)�

�

618,060

��

�

665,250

��

�

(56,613

)�

�

608,637

��

Total assets (at end of period)

��

�

12,231,090

��

�

1,719,107

��

�

13,950,197

��

�

15,058,076

��

�

671,255

��

�

15,729,331

��

Note 17 � Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (�ASU�) No.�2014-08, which amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification (�ASC�) Topic 205, �Presentation of Financial Statements� and ASC Topic 360, �Property, Plant, and Equipment.� This ASU alters the definition of a discontinued operation to cover only asset disposals that are a strategic shift with a major effect on an entity�s operations and finances, and calls for more extensive disclosures about a discontinued operation�s assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The guidance is effective for all disposals, or classifications as held-for-sale, of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December�15, 2014. This standard was not early adopted in connection with the Spin-Off. We are still evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No.�2014-09, which amends ASC Topic 606, �Revenue from Contracts with Customers.� The amendments in this ASU are intended to provide a more robust framework for

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

addressing revenue issues, improve comparability of revenue recognition practices and improve disclosure requirements. The amendments in this accounting standard update are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December�15, 2016. We are still evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No.�2014-12, which amends ASC Topic 718, �Compensation-Stock Compensation.� The guidance requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition and should not be reflected in the estimate of the grant-date fair value of the award. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December�15, 2015. The guidance can be applied prospectively for all awards granted or modified after the effective date or retrospectively to all awards with performance targets outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. We are still evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No.�2014-15, which amends ASC Subtopic 205-40, �Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity�s Ability to continue as a Going Concern.� The amendments in this ASU provide guidance related to management�s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity�s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The amendments are effective for the annual period ending after December�15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. We are still evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

Note 18 � Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities

The net effect of changes in other assets and liabilities on cash flows from operating activities is as follows. Amounts for 2014 are shown net of Paragon Offshore, which was distributed to shareholders.

�

��

Noble-UK

�

Noble-Cayman

�

��

Nine months ended
September�30,

�

Nine months ended
September�30,

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

2013

�

Accounts receivable

��

(15,968

)�

�

(92,073

)�

�

(15,968

)�

�

(92,073

)�

Other current assets

��

�

(65,075

)�

�

(50,738

)�

�

(71,784

)�

�

(49,791

)�

Other assets

��

�

(51,887

)�

�

(8,129

)�

�

(51,871

)�

�

(8,133

)�

Accounts payable

��

�

74,349

��

�

9,357

��

�

33,909

��

�

7,830

��

Other current liabilities

��

�

(23,882

)�

�

4,042

��

�

(4,294

)�

�

4,702

��

Other liabilities

��

�

35,219

��

�

35,231

��

�

51,346

��

�

35,227

��

�

��

(47,244

)�

�

(102,310

)�

�

(58,662

)�

�

(102,238

)�

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts in tables are in thousands, except per share data)

�

Note 19 � Information about Noble-Cayman

Guarantees of Registered Securities

In May 2014, as part of the separation of Paragon Offshore, NHC assumed all of the obligations of Noble Drilling Corporation (�NDC�) under the Senior Notes due 2019, and NDC was released from all obligations under the Senior Notes due 2019. As such, we are removing NDC from the guarantor financial statements and NHC will no longer be combined with Noble Drilling Holding, LLC (�NDH�), as they are now issuers and guarantors on separate debt instruments. We have recast prior periods presented to conform to the guarantor structure as it exists at September�30, 2014.

Noble-Cayman or one or more subsidiaries of Noble-Cayman are a co-issuer, guarantor or otherwise obligated as of September�30, 2014 with respect to the following securities as follows:

�


Notes	��	Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	��	Guarantor(s)
$350 million 3.45% Senior Notes due 2015	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$300 million 3.05% Senior Notes due 2016	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$300 million 2.50% Senior Notes due 2017	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$202 million 7.50% Senior Notes due 2019	��	NHC	��	Noble-Cayman;
	��	NDH	��
	��	Noble Drilling Services 6 LLC (�NDS6�)	��
$500 million 4.90% Senior Notes due 2020	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$400 million 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$400 million 3.95% Senior Notes due 2022	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$400 million 6.20% Senior Notes due 2040	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$400 million 6.05% Senior Notes due 2041	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman
$500 million 5.25% Senior Notes due 2042	��	NHIL	��	Noble-Cayman

The following condensed consolidating financial statements of Noble-Cayman, NHC, NDH, NHIL, NDS6 and all other subsidiaries present investments in both consolidated and unconsolidated affiliates using the equity method of accounting.

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

September�30, 2014

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of�Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

ASSETS

�

Current assets

�

Cash and cash equivalents

�

��

�

��

�

358

��

�

��

�

��

�

65,585

��

�

��

�

65,948

��

Accounts receivable

�

��

�

��

�

46,320

��

�

��

�

��

�

563,814

��

�

��

�

610,134

��

Taxes receivable

�

��

�

72,332

��

�

513

��

�

��

�

��

�

53,316

��

�

��

�

126,161

��

Short-term notes receivable from affiliates

�

124,418

��

�

��

�

1,077,965

��

�

��

�

333,966

��

�

171,925

��

�

(1,708,274

)�

�

��

Accounts receivable from affiliates

�

2,092,898

��

�

364,033

��

�

189,512

��

�

169,979

��

�

123,742

��

�

4,017,720

��

�

(6,957,884

)�

�

��

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

�

18,187

��

�

��

�

2,064

��

�

��

�

��

�

159,368

��

�

��

�

179,638

��

�

Total current assets

�

2,235,508

��

�

436,365

��

�

1,316,732

��

�

169,998

��

�

457,708

��

�

5,031,728

��

�

(8,666,158

)�

�

981,881

��

�

Property and equipment, at cost

�

��

�

��

�

2,519,562

��

�

��

�

��

�

12,746,644

��

�

��

�

15,266,206

��

Accumulated depreciation

�

��

�

��

�

(263,035

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(2,396,852

)�

�

��

�

(2,659,887

)�

�

Property and equipment, net

�

��

�

��

�

2,256,527

��

�

��

�

��

�

10,349,792

��

�

��

�

12,606,319

��

�

Notes receivable from affiliates

�

3,304,653

��

�

��

�

879,154

��

�

1,980,391

��

�

5,000

��

�

2,096,075

��

�

(8,265,273

)�

�

��

Investments in affiliates

�

5,129,070

��

�

1,282,802

��

�

3,426,000

��

�

8,378,227

��

�

5,672,872

��

�

��

�

(23,888,971

)�

�

��

Other assets

�

3,312

��

�

��

�

6,664

��

�

20,539

��

�

546

��

�

230,928

��

�

��

�

261,989

��

�

Total assets

�

10,672,543

��

�

1,719,167

��

�

7,885,077

��

�

10,549,155

��

�

6,136,126

��

�

17,708,523

��

�

(40,820,402

)�

�

13,850,189

��

�

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

�

Current liabilities

�

Short-term notes payables from affiliates

�

��

�

171,925

��

�

��

�

��

�

371,720

��

�

1,164,629

��

�

(1,708,274

)�

�

��

Accounts payable

�

3,202

��

�

��

�

6,639

��

�

��

�

��

�

225,982

��

�

��

�

235,823

��

Accrued payroll and related costs

�

��

�

��

�

8,525

��

�

��

�

��

�

85,858

��

�

��

�

94,385

��

Accounts payable to affiliates

�

543,326

��

�

62,561

��

�

3,421,407

��

�

53,516

��

�

18,833

��

�

2,858,241

��

�

(6,957,884

)�

�

��

Taxes payable

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

112,332

��

�

��

�

112,332

��

Other current liabilities

�

14,346

��

�

��

�

21,625

��

�

16,359

��

�

630

��

�

113,345

��

�

��

�

166,305

��

�

Total current liabilities

�

560,876

��

�

234,486

��

�

3,458,196

��

�

69,875

��

�

391,183

��

�

4,560,387

��

�

(8,666,158

)�

�

608,845

��

�

Long-term debt

�

991,652

��

�

��

�

��

�

3,543,734

��

�

201,695

��

�

��

�

��

�

4,737,081

��

Notes payable to affiliates

�

1,769,064

��

�

��

�

1,113,363

��

�

1,169,180

��

�

834,449

��

�

3,379,217

��

�

(8,265,273

)�

�

��

Deferred income taxes

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

165,750

��

�

��

�

165,750

��

Other liabilities

�

25,471

��

�

��

�

30,045

��

�

��

�

��

�

234,121

��

�

��

�

289,637

��

�

Total liabilities

�

3,347,063

��

�

234,486

��

�

4,601,604

��

�

4,782,789

��

�

1,427,327

��

�

8,339,475

��

�

(16,931,431

)�

�

5,801,313

��

�

Commitments and contingencies

�

Total shareholder equity

�

7,325,480

��

�

1,484,681

��

�

3,283,473

��

�

5,766,366

��

�

4,708,799

��

�

8,231,247

��

�

(23,474,566

)�

�

7,325,480

��

Noncontrolling interests

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,137,801

��

�

(414,405

)�

�

723,396

��

�

Total equity

�

7,325,480

��

�

1,484,681

��

�

3,283,473

��

�

5,766,366

��

�

4,708,799

��

�

9,369,048

��

�

(23,888,971

)�

�

8,048,876

��

�

Total liabilities and equity

�

10,672,543

��

�

1,719,167

��

�

7,885,077

��

�

10,549,155

��

�

6,136,126

��

�

17,708,523

��

�

(40,820,402

)�

�

13,850,189

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

December�31, 2013

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of�Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

ASSETS

�

Current assets

�

Cash and cash equivalents

�

��

�

��

�

402

��

�

��

�

��

�

109,975

��

�

��

�

110,382

��

Accounts receivable

�

��

�

��

�

34,038

��

�

��

�

��

�

915,031

��

�

��

�

949,069

��

Taxes receivable

�

��

�

52,307

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

87,722

��

�

��

�

140,029

��

Short-term notes receivable from affiliates

�

��

�

��

�

1,456,245

��

�

139,195

��

�

19,500

��

�

52,611

��

�

(1,667,551

)�

�

��

Accounts receivable from affiliates

�

1,244,019

��

�

��

�

108,208

��

�

210,868

��

�

27,537

��

�

6,010,430

��

�

(7,601,062

)�

�

��

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

�

��

�

��

�

6,336

��

�

��

�

��

�

178,012

��

�

��

�

184,348

��

�

Total current assets

�

1,244,020

��

�

52,307

��

�

1,605,229

��

�

350,067

��

�

47,037

��

�

7,353,781

��

�

(9,268,613

)�

�

1,383,828

��

�

Property and equipment, at cost

�

��

�

��

�

2,340,216

��

�

��

�

��

�

16,820,134

��

�

��

�

19,160,350

��

Accumulated depreciation

�

��

�

��

�

(310,171

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(4,321,507

)�

�

��

�

(4,631,678

)�

�

Property and equipment, net

�

��

�

��

�

2,030,045

��

�

��

�

��

�

12,498,627

��

�

��

�

14,528,672

��

�

Notes receivable from affiliates

�

3,304,753

��

�

��

�

124,216

��

�

2,367,555

��

�

5,000

��

�

1,390,500

��

�

(7,192,024

)�

�

��

Investments in affiliates

�

8,601,712

��

�

2,907,379

��

�

6,595,591

��

�

9,456,735

��

�

5,440,004

��

�

��

�

(33,001,421

)�

�

��

Other assets

�

6,256

��

�

��

�

6,332

��

�

22,681

��

�

639

��

�

233,106

��

�

��

�

269,014

��

�

Total assets

�

13,156,741

��

�

2,959,686

��

�

10,361,413

��

�

12,197,038

��

�

5,492,680

��

�

21,476,014

��

�

(49,462,058

)�

�

16,181,514

��

�

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

�

Current liabilities

�

Short-term notes payables from affiliates

�

��

�

52,611

��

�

139,195

��

�

��

�

750,000

��

�

725,745

��

�

(1,667,551

)�

�

��

Accounts payable

�

��

�

��

�

5,310

��

�

��

�

��

�

340,600

��

�

��

�

345,910

��

Accrued payroll and related costs

�

��

�

��

�

8,582

��

�

��

�

��

�

134,764

��

�

��

�

143,346

��

Accounts payable to affiliates

�

1,104,410

��

�

653,049

��

�

4,032,776

��

�

216,866

��

�

21,173

��

�

1,572,788

��

�

(7,601,062

)�

�

��

Taxes payable

�

��

�

��

�

827

��

�

��

�

��

�

119,761

��

�

��

�

120,588

��

Other current liabilities

�

412

��

�

��

�

22,106

��

�

62,431

��

�

4,412

��

�

210,811

��

�

��

�

300,172

��

�

Total current liabilities

�

1,104,822

��

�

705,660

��

�

4,208,796

��

�

279,297

��

�

775,585

��

�

3,104,469

��

�

(9,268,613

)�

�

910,016

��

�

Long-term debt

�

1,561,141

��

�

��

�

��

�

3,793,414

��

�

201,696

��

�

��

�

��

�

5,556,251

��

Notes payable to affiliates

�

2,042,808

��

�

��

�

534,683

��

�

975,000

��

�

260,216

��

�

3,379,317

��

�

(7,192,024

)�

�

��

Deferred income taxes

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

225,455

��

�

��

�

225,455

��

Other liabilities

�

19,931

��

�

��

�

24,502

��

�

��

�

��

�

289,875

��

�

��

�

334,308

��

�

Total liabilities

�

4,728,702

��

�

705,660

��

�

4,767,981

��

�

5,047,711

��

�

1,237,497

��

�

6,999,116

��

�

(16,460,637

)�

�

7,026,030

��

�

Commitments and contingencies

�

Total shareholder equity

�

8,428,039

��

�

2,254,026

��

�

5,593,432

��

�

7,149,327

��

�

4,255,183

��

�

13,238,656

��

�

(32,490,624

)�

�

8,428,039

��

Noncontrolling interests

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,238,242

��

�

(510,797

)�

�

727,445

��

�

Total equity

�

8,428,039

��

�

2,254,026

��

�

5,593,432

��

�

7,149,327

��

�

4,255,183

��

�

14,476,898

��

�

(33,001,421

)�

�

9,155,484

��

�

Total liabilities and equity

�

13,156,741

��

�

2,959,686

��

�

10,361,413

��

�

12,197,038

��

�

5,492,680

��

�

21,476,014

��

�

(49,462,058

)�

�

16,181,514

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

Three Months Ended September�30, 2014

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of�Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

Operating revenues

�

Contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

81,834

��

�

��

�

��

�

866,699

��

�

(138,333

)�

�

810,200

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

1,495

��

�

��

�

��

�

17,100

��

�

��

�

18,595

��

Other

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Total operating revenues

�

��

�

��

�

83,329

��

�

��

�

��

�

883,800

��

�

(138,333

)�

�

828,796

��

�

Operating costs and expenses

�

Contract drilling services

�

3,571

��

�

9,239

��

�

27,593

��

�

25,489

��

�

��

�

456,352

��

�

(138,333

)�

�

383,911

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

1,112

��

�

��

�

��

�

12,529

��

�

��

�

13,641

��

Depreciation and amortization

�

��

�

��

�

16,922

��

�

��

�

��

�

143,333

��

�

��

�

160,255

��

General and administrative

�

397

��

�

2,348

��

�

��

�

6,530

��

�

��

�

3,782

��

�

��

�

13,057

��

�

Total operating costs and expenses

�

3,968

��

�

11,587

��

�

45,627

��

�

32,019

��

�

��

�

615,996

��

�

(138,333

)�

�

570,864

��

�

Operating income (loss)

�

(3,968

)�

�

(11,587

)�

�

37,702

��

�

(32,019

)�

�

��

�

267,804

��

�

��

�

257,932

��

Other income (expense)

�

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

(2,716,832

)�

�

(20,299

)�

�

(130,556

)�

�

283,190

��

�

182,350

��

�

��

�

2,402,147

��

�

��

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax

�

10,413

��

�

(3,921

)�

�

(10,045

)�

�

2,021

��

�

124

��

�

��

�

1,408

��

�

��

�

Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

(2,706,419

)�

�

(24,220

)�

�

(140,601

)�

�

285,211

��

�

182,474

��

�

��

�

2,403,555

��

�

��

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

�

(22,352

)�

�

(1,042

)�

�

(8,729

)�

�

(40,423

)�

�

(10,573

)�

�

(3,109,995

)�

�

3,155,363

��

�

(37,751

)�

Interest income and other, net

�

2,905,973

��

�

��

�

208,241

��

�

21,240

��

�

1,249

��

�

22,445

��

�

(3,155,363

)�

�

3,785

��

�

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

�

173,234

��

�

(36,849

)�

�

96,613

��

�

234,009

��

�

173,150

��

�

(2,819,746

)�

�

2,403,555

��

�

223,966

��

Income tax provision

�

��

�

(11,352

)�

�

(766

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(28,556

)�

�

��

�

(40,674

)�

�

Net income from continuing operations

�

173,234

��

�

(48,201

)�

�

95,847

��

�

234,009

��

�

173,150

��

�

(2,848,302

)�

�

2,403,555

��

�

183,292

��

Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

10,413

��

�

��

�

10,413

��

�

Net Income

�

173,234

��

�

(48,201

)�

�

95,847

��

�

234,009

��

�

173,150

��

�

(2,837,889

)�

�

2,403,555

��

�

193,705

��

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(31,612

)�

�

11,141

��

�

(20,471

)�

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

173,234

��

�

(48,201

)�

�

95,847

��

�

234,009

��

�

173,150

��

�

(2,869,501

)�

�

2,414,696

��

�

173,234

��

�

Other comprehensive loss, net

�

(8,982

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(8,982

)�

�

8,982

��

�

(8,982

)�

Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore

�

34,478

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

34,478

��

�

(34,478

)�

�

34,478

��

�

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

198,730

��

�

(48,201

)�

�

95,847

��

�

234,009

��

�

173,150

��

�

(2,844,005

)�

�

2,389,200

��

�

198,730

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

Nine Months Ended September�30, 2014

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of�Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

Operating revenues

�

Contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

244,451

��

�

��

�

��

�

2,328,611

��

�

(212,857

)�

�

2,360,205

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

4,748

��

�

��

�

��

�

62,810

��

�

��

�

67,558

��

Other

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Total operating revenues

�

��

�

��

�

249,199

��

�

��

�

��

�

2,391,422

��

�

(212,857

)�

�

2,427,764

��

�

Operating costs and expenses

�

Contract drilling services

�

16,257

��

�

29,725

��

�

88,683

��

�

86,819

��

�

��

�

1,089,067

��

�

(212,857

)�

�

1,097,694

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

3,605

��

�

��

�

��

�

49,272

��

�

��

�

52,877

��

Depreciation and amortization

�

��

�

��

�

47,267

��

�

��

�

��

�

410,833

��

�

��

�

458,100

��

General and administrative

�

1,304

��

�

7,351

��

�

��

�

21,754

��

�

��

�

6,068

��

�

��

�

36,478

��

�

Total operating costs and expenses

�

17,561

��

�

37,076

��

�

139,555

��

�

108,573

��

�

��

�

1,555,240

��

�

(212,857

)�

�

1,645,149

��

�

Operating income (loss)

�

(17,561

)�

�

(37,076

)�

�

109,644

��

�

(108,573

)�

�

)�

�

836,182

��

�

��

�

782,615

��

Other income (expense)

�

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

(2,325,832

)�

�

90,411

��

�

(9,789

)�

�

703,700

��

�

466,521

��

�

��

�

1,074,989

��

�

��

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax

�

225,022

��

�

49,146

��

�

94,515

��

�

183,347

��

�

6,249

��

�

��

�

(558,279

)�

�

��

�

Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

(2,100,810

)�

�

139,557

��

�

84,726

��

�

887,047

��

�

472,770

��

�

��

�

516,710

��

�

��

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

�

(70,702

)�

�

(2,005

)�

�

(21,703

)�

�

(126,914

)�

�

(26,477

)�

�

(3,134,741

)�

�

3,268,048

��

�

(114,494

)�

Interest income and other, net

�

2,912,861

��

�

��

�

234,990

��

�

68,208

��

�

1,879

��

�

51,252

��

�

(3,268,048

)�

�

1,142

��

�

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

�

723,788

��

�

100,476

��

�

407,657

��

�

719,768

��

�

448,171

��

�

(2,247,307

)�

�

516,710

��

�

669,263

��

Income tax provision

�

��

�

(49,945

)�

�

(2,972

)�

�

��

�

(1,547

)�

�

(55,743

)�

�

��

�

(110,207

)�

�

Net income from continuing operations

�

723,788

��

�

50,531

��

�

404,685

��

�

719,768

��

�

446,624

��

�

(2,303,050

)�

�

516,710

��

�

559,056

��

Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax

�

��

�

(18,655

)�

�

6,634

��

�

��

�

��

�

237,043

��

�

��

�

225,022

��

�

Net Income

�

723,788

��

�

31,876

��

�

411,319

��

�

719,768

��

�

446,624

��

�

(2,066,007

)�

�

516,710

��

�

784,078

��

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(95,253

)�

�

34,963

��

�

(60,290

)�

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

723,788

��

�

31,876

��

�

411,319

��

�

719,768

��

�

446,624

��

�

(2,161,260

)�

�

551,673

��

�

723,788

��

�

Other comprehensive income, net

�

1,918

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,918

��

�

(1,918

)�

�

1,918

��

Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore

�

34,478

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

34,478

��

�

(34,478

)�

�

34,478

��

�

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

760,184

��

�

31,876

��

�

411,319

��

�

719,768

��

�

446,624

��

�

(2,124,864

)�

�

515,277

��

�

760,184

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

Three Months Ended September�30, 2013

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

Operating revenues

�

Contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

49,887

��

�

��

�

��

�

596,343

��

�

(23,060

)�

�

623,170

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

1,662

��

�

��

�

��

�

15,656

��

�

��

�

17,318

��

Labor contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Total operating revenues

�

��

�

��

�

51,549

��

�

��

�

��

�

612,026

��

�

(23,060

)�

�

640,515

��

�

Operating costs and expenses

�

Contract drilling services

�

1,623

��

�

6,091

��

�

16,300

��

�

27,802

��

�

��

�

254,951

��

�

(23,060

)�

�

283,707

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

1,437

��

�

��

�

��

�

13,375

��

�

��

�

14,812

��

Labor contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

2,084

��

�

��

�

2,084

��

Depreciation and amortization

�

��

�

��

�

11,009

��

�

��

�

��

�

118,300

��

�

��

�

129,309

��

General and administrative

�

252

��

�

831

��

�

��

�

2,672

��

�

��

�

3,496

��

�

��

�

7,251

��

General and administrative

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

Gain on disposal of assets, net

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net

�

(45,000

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

14,382

��

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

�

Total operating costs and expenses

�

(43,125

)�

�

6,922

��

�

28,746

��

�

30,474

��

�

��

�

374,527

��

�

(23,060

)�

�

374,484

��

�

Operating income (loss)

�

43,125

��

�

(6,922

)�

�

22,803

��

�

(30,474

)�

�

��

�

237,499

��

�

��

�

266,031

��

Other income (expense)

�

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

181,946

��

�

34,079

��

�

55,577

��

�

197,443

��

�

(1,405,910

)�

�

��

�

936,865

��

�

��

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax

�

119,102

��

�

7,752

��

�

92,278

��

�

132,659

��

�

24,500

��

�

��

�

(376,291

)�

�

��

�

Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

301,048

��

�

41,831

��

�

147,855

��

�

330,102

��

�

(1,381,410

)�

�

��

�

560,574

��

�

��

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

�

(34,941

)�

�

(232

)�

�

(5,372

)�

�

(32,646

)�

�

(14,998

)�

�

(1,548,978

)�

�

1,614,018

��

�

(23,149

)�

Interest income and other, net

�

1,664

��

�

��

�

20,354

��

�

44,809

��

�

1,524,744

��

�

23,327

��

�

(1,614,018

)�

�

880

��

�

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

�

310,896

��

�

34,677

��

�

185,640

��

�

311,791

��

�

128,336

��

�

(1,288,152

)�

�

560,574

��

�

243,762

��

Income tax provision

�

��

�

(43,401

)�

�

(131

)�

�

��

�

��

�

10,024

��

�

��

�

(33,508

)�

�

Net income from continuing operations

�

310,896

��

�

(8,724

)�

�

185,509

��

�

311,791

��

�

128,336

��

�

(1,278,128

)�

�

560,574

��

�

210,254

��

Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax

�

(42

)�

�

(7,669

)�

�

10,873

��

�

(1,537

)�

�

��

�

117,477

��

�

��

�

119,102

��

�

Net Income

�

310,854

��

�

(16,393

)�

�

196,382

��

�

310,254

��

�

128,336

��

�

(1,160,651

)�

�

560,574

��

�

329,356

��

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(34,004

)�

�

15,502

��

�

(18,502

)�

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

310,854

��

�

(16,393

)�

�

196,382

��

�

310,254

��

�

128,336

��

�

(1,194,655

)�

�

576,076

��

�

310,854

��

�

Other comprehensive income, net

�

5,846

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

5,846

��

�

(5,846

)�

�

5,846

��

�

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

316,700

��

�

(16,393

)�

�

196,382

��

�

310,254

��

�

128,336

��

�

(1,188,809

)�

�

570,230

��

�

316,700

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME

Nine Months Ended September�30, 2013

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

Operating revenues

�

Contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

154,486

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,662,572

��

�

(66,431

)�

�

1,750,627

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

4,493

��

�

��

�

��

�

40,923

��

�

��

�

45,416

��

Labor contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

17,000

��

�

��

�

17,000

��

Other

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

Total operating revenues

�

��

�

��

�

158,979

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,720,506

��

�

(66,431

)�

�

1,813,054

��

�

Operating costs and expenses

�

Contract drilling services

�

3,351

��

�

16,272

��

�

36,956

��

�

72,830

��

�

��

�

768,087

��

�

(66,431

)�

�

831,065

��

Reimbursables

�

��

�

��

�

3,832

��

�

��

�

��

�

32,854

��

�

��

�

36,686

��

Labor contract drilling services

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

10,966

��

�

��

�

10,966

��

Depreciation and amortization

�

��

�

��

�

32,260

��

�

��

�

��

�

336,845

��

�

��

�

369,105

��

General and administrative

�

1,544

��

�

4,845

��

�

��

�

20,788

��

�

��

�

10,504

��

�

��

�

37,682

��

Loss on impairment

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

Gain on disposal of assets, net

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net

�

(45,000

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

14,382

��

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

�

Total operating costs and expenses

�

(40,105

)�

�

21,117

��

�

73,048

��

�

93,618

��

�

��

�

1,141,577

��

�

(66,431

)�

�

1,222,825

��

�

Operating income (loss)

�

40,105

��

�

(21,117

)�

�

85,931

��

�

(93,618

)�

�

)�

�

578,929

��

�

��

�

590,229

��

Other income (expense)

�

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

452,436

��

�

40,210

��

�

95,697

��

�

444,206

��

�

(1,245,962

)�

�

��

�

213,413

��

�

��

Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax

�

284,506

��

�

17,642

��

�

238,552

��

�

352,011

��

�

68,005

��

�

��

�

(960,716

)�

�

��

�

Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

�

736,942

��

�

57,852

��

�

334,249

��

�

796,217

��

�

(1,177,957

)�

�

��

�

(747,303

)�

�

��

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

�

(105,720

)�

�

(849

)�

�

(17,755

)�

�

(99,911

)�

�

(38,388

)�

�

(1,595,902

)�

�

1,783,410

��

�

(75,115

)�

Interest income and other, net

�

4,941

��

�

��

�

42,205

��

�

129,601

��

�

1,537,410

��

�

71,080

��

�

(1,783,410

)�

�

1,827

��

�

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

�

676,268

��

�

35,886

��

�

444,630

��

�

732,289

��

�

321,064

��

�

(945,893

)�

�

(747,303

)�

�

516,941

��

Income tax provision

�

��

�

(19,723

)�

�

(1,219

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(51,625

)�

�

��

�

(72,567

)�

�

Net income from continuing operations

�

676,268

��

�

16,163

��

�

443,411

��

�

732,289

��

�

321,064

��

�

(997,518

)�

�

(747,303

)�

�

444,374

��

Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax

�

(249

)�

�

(20,558

)�

�

25,250

��

�

(6,358

)�

�

��

�

286,421

��

�

��

�

284,506

��

�

Net Income

�

676,019

��

�

(4,395

)�

�

468,661

��

�

725,931

��

�

321,064

��

�

(711,097

)�

�

(747,303

)�

�

728,880

��

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(88,725

)�

�

35,864

��

�

(52,861

)�

�

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

676,019

��

�

(4,395

)�

�

468,661

��

�

725,931

��

�

321,064

��

�

(799,822

)�

�

(711,439

)�

�

676,019

��

�

Other comprehensive income, net

�

4,866

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

4,866

��

�

(4,866

)�

�

4,866

��

�

Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation

�

680,885

��

�

(4,395

)�

�

468,661

��

�

725,931

��

�

321,064

��

�

(794,956

)�

�

(716,305

)�

�

680,885

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months Ended September�30, 2014

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of�Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

Cash flows from operating activities

�

Net cash from operating activities

�

2,858,748

��

�

(127,706

)�

�

370,512

��

�

(211,228

)�

�

(29,835

)�

�

(1,390,805

)�

�

��

�

1,469,686

��

�

Cash flows from investing activities

�

New construction and capital expenditures

�

��

�

��

�

(1,245,121

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(554,706

)�

�

��

�

(1,799,827

)�

Notes receivable from affiliates

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

273,744

��

�

��

�

��

�

(273,794

)�

�

��

�

Net cash from investing activities

�

��

�

��

�

(1,245,121

)�

�

273,744

��

�

��

�

(554,706

)�

�

(273,794

)�

�

(1,799,827

)�

�

Cash flows from financing activities

�

Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities

�

(569,489

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(569,489

)�

Repayment of long-term debt

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(250,000

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(250,000

)�

Long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,726,750

��

�

��

�

1,726,750

��

Financing costs on long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(30,876

)�

�

��

�

(30,876

)�

Cash balances of Paragon Offshore in Spin-Off

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(104,152

)�

�

��

�

(104,152

)�

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(64,339

)�

�

��

�

(64,339

)�

Financing costs on credit facilities

�

(386

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(386

)�

Distributions to parent company, net

�

(421,801

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(421,801

)�

Advances (to) from affiliates

�

(1,593,374

)�

�

127,706

��

�

874,565

��

�

187,480

��

�

29,835

��

�

373,788

��

�

��

�

��

Notes payable to affiliates

�

(273,744

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(50

)�

�

273,794

��

�

��

�

Net cash from financing activities

�

(2,858,794

)�

�

127,706

��

�

874,565

��

�

(62,520

)�

�

29,835

��

�

1,901,121

��

�

273,794

��

�

285,707

��

�

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

�

��

�

��

�

(44

)�

�

)�

�

��

�

(44,390

)�

�

��

�

(44,434

)�

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

�

��

�

��

�

402

��

�

��

�

��

�

109,975

��

�

��

�

110,382

��

�

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

�

��

�

��

�

358

��

�

��

�

��

�

65,585

��

�

��

�

65,948

��

�

NOBLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months Ended September�30, 2013

(in thousands)

�

Noble-
Cayman

�

NHC

�

NDH

�

NHIL

�

NDS6

�

Other
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
of Noble

�

Consolidating
Adjustments

�

Total

�

Cash flows from operating activities

�

Net cash from operating activities

�

(79,174

)�

�

(107,694

)�

�

154,038

��

�

(113,088

)�

�

1,495,330

��

�

(136,468

)�

�

��

�

1,212,944

��

�

Cash flows from investing activities

�

New construction and capital expenditures

�

��

�

��

�

(1,070,669

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(720,218

)�

�

��

�

(1,790,887

)�

Proceeds from disposal of assets

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

61,000

��

�

��

�

61,000

��

Notes receivable from affiliates

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

294,798

��

�

(294,798

)�

�

��

�

Net cash from investing activities

�

��

�

��

�

(1,070,669

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(364,420

)�

�

(294,798

)�

�

(1,729,887

)�

�

Cash flows from financing activities

�

Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities

�

973,055

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

973,055

��

Repayment of long-term debt

�

(300,000

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(300,000

)�

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(69,728

)�

�

��

�

(69,728

)�

Financing costs on credit facilities

�

(2,432

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(2,432

)�

Distributions to parent company, net

�

(187,610

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(187,610

)�

Advances (to) from affiliates

�

(110,039

)�

�

107,694

��

�

915,850

��

�

113,094

��

�

(1,495,330

)�

�

468,731

��

�

��

�

��

Notes payable to affiliates

�

(294,798

)�

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

294,798

��

�

��

�

Net cash from financing activities

�

78,176

��

�

107,694

��

�

915,850

��

�

113,094

��

�

(1,495,330

)�

�

399,003

��

�

294,798

��

�

413,285

��

�

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

�

(998

)�

�

��

�

(781

)�

�

��

�

��

�

(101,885

)�

�

��

�

(103,658

)�

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

�

1,003

��

�

��

�

904

��

�

��

�

��

�

275,466

��

�

��

�

277,375

��

�

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

�

��

�

��

�

123

��

�

��

�

��

�

173,581

��

�

��

�

173,717

��

�

Item�2. Management�s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion is intended to assist you in understanding our financial position at September�30, 2014, and our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December�31, 2013 filed by Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (�Noble-UK�), and Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (�Noble-Cayman�).

As a result of the spin-off of Paragon Offshore plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (�Paragon Offshore�), on August�1, 2014, the operations of Paragon Offshore are reported as discontinued operations in this report. The terms �earnings� and �loss� as used in this �Management�s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations� refer to income/(loss) from continuing operations. Income/(loss) from continuing operations is representative of the Company�s current business operations and focus.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes �forward-looking statements� within the meaning of Section�27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section�21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report regarding contract backlog, fleet status, our financial position, business strategy, timing or results of acquisitions or dispositions, repayment of debt, formation of a master limited partnership, special meeting of shareholders, timing or number of share repurchases, borrowings under our credit facilities or other instruments, sources of funds, completion, delivery dates and acceptance of our newbuild rigs, future capital expenditures, contract commitments, dayrates, contract commencements, extension or renewals, contract tenders, the outcome of any dispute, litigation, audit or investigation, plans and objectives of management for future operations, foreign currency requirements, results of joint ventures, indemnity and other contract claims, construction and upgrade of rigs, industry conditions, access to financing, impact of competition, governmental regulations and permitting, availability of labor, worldwide economic conditions, taxes and tax rates, indebtedness covenant compliance, dividends and distributable reserves, and timing for compliance with any new regulations are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the words �anticipate,� �believe,� �estimate,� �expect,� �intend,� �may,� �plan,� �project,� �should� and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report on Form 10-Q and we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. We have identified factors including but not limited to operating hazards and delays, risks associated with operations outside the U.S., actions by regulatory authorities, customers, joint venture partners, contractors, lenders and other third parties, market conditions, legislation and regulations affecting drilling operations, costs and difficulties relating to the integration of businesses, 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 and the future price of oil and gas that could cause actual plans or results to differ materially from those included in any forward-looking statements. These factors include those referenced or described in Part I, Item�1A. �Risk Factors� of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December�31, 2013, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (�SEC�). We cannot control such risk factors and other uncertainties, and in many cases, we cannot predict the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. You should consider these risks and uncertainties when you are evaluating us.

Paragon Offshore plc Spin-Off Transaction

�

for the distribution. Through the Spin-Off, we disposed of most of our standard specification drilling units and related assets, liabilities and business and received approximately $1.7 billion in cash as settlement of intercompany notes. The results of operations for Paragon Offshore have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. For additional information, see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.

Executive Overview

We are a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. We perform contract drilling services with our fleet of 35 mobile offshore drilling units located worldwide. Our fleet consists of 15 jackups, 11 semisubmersibles and nine drillships. At September�30, 2014, we had two high-specification, harsh environment jackups under construction.

Outlook

The business environment for offshore drillers during the first nine months of 2014 has been challenging. The price of oil, a key factor in determining customer activity levels, began to decline during the third quarter. In addition, throughout 2014, there has been a significant decrease in contracting activity, particularly for ultra-deepwater and deepwater rigs, as operators reconsider their capital expenditure plans. Supply of offshore drilling rigs, from newbuilds and rigs completing current contracts, are expected to increase while demand for these same rigs is anticipated to remain flat or potentially decrease further. This environment has resulted in a reduction in dayrates for contract renewals. While we believe the short-term outlook will present challenges, we continue to have confidence in the long-term fundamentals for the industry, especially those contractors with preferred technologically advanced high-specification rigs. These fundamental factors include new discoveries, geographic expansion of offshore drilling activities, especially in harsh-environments and deepwater, a growing backlog of multi-year field development programs and greater access by our customers to promising offshore regions. This is evidenced by recent frontier discoveries, continued pre-salt success in Brazil and West Africa, and the progress of energy reform legislation in Mexico.

Consistent with our policy, we evaluate property and equipment and goodwill for impairment on an interim basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In connection with the Spin-Off of Paragon Offshore, we performed interim impairment tests, which did not result in an impairment. However, sustained declines in the offshore drilling market, or a lack of recovery in market conditions, to the extent actual results do not meet our estimated assumptions, may lead to potential impairment losses in the future.

In October 2014, we announced that our Board of Directors has authorized the development of a master limited partnership (�MLP�). The MLP would be comprised of interests in select drilling rigs from our existing fleet. We expect to file a registration statement with the SEC relating to the common units of the MLP during the second quarter of 2015. The anticipated offering would be subject to the final approval of our Board of Directors and market conditions. There can be no assurance as to the timing or consummation of any MLP transaction.

In October 2014, we announced that we will seek approval from our shareholders during the fourth quarter of 2014 to increase our authority to repurchase up to 37,000,000 ordinary shares, or approximately 15 percent of our outstanding ordinary shares. This authorization would be in addition to the existing share repurchase authorization, under which approximately 4.8�million shares remained available for purchase as of September�30, 2014. Any repurchases are expected to be funded using cash on hand, cash from operations or short-term borrowings under our credit facilities. There can be no assurance as to the timing or amount of any such repurchases. The authority to make such repurchases would expire on the later of 16 months after shareholder approval is obtained or the end of the Company�s 2016 annual general meeting of shareholders, at which time we could seek shareholder approval of any further repurchases.

�

Results and Strategy

Our goal is to be the preferred offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry based upon the following core principles:

�

operate in a manner that provides a safe working environment for our employees while protecting the environment and our assets;

�

provide an attractive investment vehicle for our shareholders; and

�

deliver superior customer service through a diverse and technically advanced fleet operated by proficient crews.

Our business strategy has also focused on reshaping our fleet to emphasize our deepwater and high-specification jackup capabilities and the deployment of our drilling assets in important oil and gas producing areas throughout the world.

We have actively expanded our offshore deepwater drilling and high-specification jackup capabilities in recent years through the construction and acquisition of rigs. As part of this technical and operational expansion, we plan to continue to evaluate opportunities to enhance our fleet to achieve greater technological capability, which we believe will lead to increased drilling efficiencies and the ability to complete the increasingly more complex programs required by our customers. During the first nine months of 2014, we continued to execute our newbuild program, completing the following milestones:

�

we commenced operations in the first quarter of 2014 on the Noble Houston Colbert, a high-specification, harsh environment jackup, under a 22-month contract in Argentina;

�

we commenced operations in the second quarter of 2014 on the Noble Regina Allen, a high-specification, harsh environment jackup, under an 18-month contract in the North Sea;

�

we commenced operations in the third quarter of 2014 on the Noble Sam Croft, a dynamically positioned, ultra-deepwater, harsh environment drillship, under a three-year contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico;

�

we commenced operations in the third quarter of 2014 on the Noble Sam Turner, a high-specification, harsh environment jackup, under a two-year contract in the North Sea;

�

we completed construction of the Noble Tom Prosser, a high-specification, harsh environment jackup, which was delivered from the shipyard during the second quarter of 2014. This unit is currently undergoing final commissioning and crew familiarization, and is scheduled to complete acceptance testing and begin operations under an 18-month contract in Australia in the first quarter of 2015;

�

we completed construction of the Noble Tom Madden, a dynamically positioned, ultra-deepwater, harsh environment drillship, which was delivered from the shipyard during the third quarter of 2014 and is scheduled to complete acceptance testing and begin operations under a three-year contract the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in the fourth quarter of 2014;

�

we continued construction of the Noble Sam Hartley, a high-specification, harsh environment jackup, which is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014. The rig will undergo rig modifications before exiting the shipyard, which is currently anticipated to be in the second quarter of 2015; and

�

we continued construction of the Noble Lloyd Noble, (formerly CJ70-Mariner), a high-specification, harsh environment jackup.

While we cannot predict the future level of demand or dayrates for our drilling services or future conditions in the offshore contract drilling industry, we continue to believe we are well positioned within the industry and that our newbuild activity will further strengthen our position.

�

Contract Drilling Services Backlog

We maintain a backlog (as defined below) of commitments for contract drilling services. The following table sets forth, as of September�30, 2014, the amount of our contract drilling services backlog and the percent of available operating days committed for the periods indicated:

�

��

�

��

Year Ending December�31,

�

��

Total

�

��

2014^�(1)

�

2015

�

2016

�

2017

�

2018-2023

�

��

(In millions)

�

Contract Drilling Services Backlog

��

�

Semisubmersibles/Drillships ^(2)�(5)

��

8,625

��

616

��

�

2,392

��

�

1,755

��

�

1,119

��

�

2,743

��

Jackups

��

�

1,944

��

�

175

��

�

695

��

�

409

��

�

228

��

�

437

��

�

��

�

Total ⁽³⁾

��

10,569

��

791

��

�

3,087

��

�

2,164

��

�

1,347

��

�

3,180

��

�

��

�

Percent of Available Days Committed ⁽⁴⁾

��

�

Semisubmersibles/Drillships

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

Jackups

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

��

�

Total

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

�

%�

��

�

(1)	Represents a three-month period beginning October�1, 2014.

(2)

Our drilling contract with Petr�leo Brasileiro S.A. (�Petrobras�) provides an opportunity for us to earn performance bonuses based on reaching targets for downtime experienced for our rig operating offshore Brazil. Our backlog includes an amount equal to 50 percent of potential performance bonuses for this rig, or $10 million.

The drilling contracts with Royal Dutch Shell, PLC (�Shell�) for the Noble Globetrotter I, Noble Globetrotter II, Noble Jim Thompson, Noble Clyde Boudreaux, Noble Don Taylor and the Noble Jim Day provide opportunities for us to earn performance bonuses based on key performance indicators as defined by the contracts. Our backlog includes an amount equal to 25 percent of potential performance bonuses for these rigs, or $150 million.

�

(3)	Some of our drilling contracts provide the customer with certain early termination rights; however, we have not received any notification of contract cancellations as of September�30, 2014.

(4)

Percent of available days committed is calculated by dividing the total number of days our rigs are operating under contract for such period, or committed days, by the product of the total number of our rigs, including cold stacked rigs, and the number of calendar days in such period. Committed days do not include the days that a rig is stacked or the days that a rig is expected to be out of service for significant overhaul, repairs or maintenance. Percentages take into account additional capacity from the estimated dates of deployment of our newbuild rigs that are scheduled to commence operations during 2014 through 2016.

(5)

Noble and a subsidiary of Shell are involved in joint ventures that own and operate both the Noble Bully I and the Noble Bully II. Under the terms of the joint venture agreements, each party has an equal 50 percent share in both vessels. As of September�30, 2014, the combined amount of backlog for these rigs totals approximately $1.8 billion, all of which is included in our backlog. Noble�s proportional interest in the backlog for these rigs totals $880 million.

Our contract drilling services backlog reflects estimated future revenues attributable to both signed drilling contracts and letters of intent that we expect to result in binding drilling contracts. A letter of intent is generally subject to customary conditions, including the execution of a definitive drilling contract. It is possible that some customers that have entered into letters of intent will not enter into signed drilling contracts. As of September 30, 2014, our contract drilling services backlog did not include any letters of intent.

We calculate backlog for any given unit and period by multiplying the full contractual operating dayrate for such unit by the number of days remaining in the period. The reported contract drilling services backlog does not include amounts representing revenues for mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation, which are not expected to be significant to our contract drilling services revenues, amounts constituting reimbursables from customers or amounts attributable to uncommitted option periods under drilling contracts or letters of intent.

�

The amount of actual revenues earned and the actual periods during which revenues are earned may be materially different than the backlog amounts and backlog periods set forth in the table above due to various factors, including, but not limited to, shipyard and maintenance projects, unplanned downtime, achievement of bonuses, weather conditions and other factors that result in applicable dayrates lower than the full contractual operating dayrate. In addition, amounts included in the backlog may change because drilling contracts may be varied or modified by mutual consent or customers may exercise early termination rights contained in some of our drilling contracts or decline to enter into a drilling contract after executing a letter of intent. As a result, our backlog as of any particular date may not be indicative of our actual operating results for the periods for which the backlog is calculated. See Part I, Item�1A, �Risk Factors � We can provide no assurance that our current backlog of contract drilling revenue will be ultimately realized� in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December�31, 2013.

As of September�30, 2014, we estimate Shell and Freeport-McMoRan Copper�& Gold represented approximately 61 percent and 12 percent of our backlog, respectively.

Results of Operations

For the Three Months Ended September�30, 2014 and 2013

Net income from continuing operations attributable to Noble-UK for the three months ended September�30, 2014 (the �Current Quarter�) was $147 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $829 million, compared to net income from continuing operations for the three months ended September�30, 2013 (the �Comparable Quarter�) of $165 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $641 million.

As a result of Noble-UK conducting all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries, the financial position and results of operations for Noble-Cayman, and the reasons for material changes in the amount of revenue and expense items between 2014 and 2013, would be the same as the information presented below regarding Noble-UK in all material respects, except operating income for Noble-Cayman for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 was $14 million and $27 million higher, respectively, than operating income for Noble-UK for the same periods. The operating income difference is primarily a result of executive costs directly attributable to Noble-UK for operations support and stewardship related services.

Rig Utilization, Operating Days and Average Dayrates

Operating results from continuing operations for our contract drilling services segment are dependent on three primary metrics: rig utilization, operating days and dayrates. The following table sets forth the average rig utilization, operating days and average dayrates for our rig fleet for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

�

��

Average Rig
Utilization (1)

�

Operating
Days (2)

�

Average
Dayrates

�

��

Three�Months�Ended
September�30,

�

Three�Months�Ended
September�30,

�

��

�

Three Months Ended
September�30,

�

��

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

��

2013

�

��

%�Change

�

2014

�

��

2013

�

��

%�Change

�

Jackups

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

951

��

�

723

��

�

%�

�

182,128

��

138,392

��

�

%�

Semisubmersibles

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

674

��

�

828

��

�

-19

%�

�

435,782

��

�

403,114

��

�

%�

Drillships

��

�

100

%�

�

100

%�

�

712

��

�

426

��

�

%�

�

482,053

��

�

444,445

��

�

%�

Other

��

�

N/A

��

�

%�

�

N/A

��

�

��

�

N/A

��

�

N/A

��

�

��

�

N/A

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

Total

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

2,337

��

�

1,977

��

�

%�

�

346,699

��

315,257

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1)

We define utilization for a specific period as the total number of days our rigs are operating under contract, divided by the product of the total number of our rigs, including cold stacked rigs, and the number of calendar days in such period. Information reflects our policy of reporting on the basis of the number of available rigs in our fleet, excluding newbuild rigs under construction.

(2)	Information reflects the number of days that our rigs were operating under contract.

�

Contract Drilling Services

The following table sets forth the operating results from continuing operations for our contract drilling services segment for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

�

��

Three Months Ended
September�30,

�

Change

�

��

2014

�

��

2013

�

Operating revenues:

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

810,200

��

623,168

��

�

187,032

��

�

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

18,514

��

�

17,319

��

�

1,195

��

�

%�

Other

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

**�

��

�

��

�

��

828,715

��

640,487

��

�

188,228

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

Operating costs and expenses:

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

385,674

��

283,429

��

�

102,245

��

�

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

12,979

��

�

14,812

��

�

(1,833

)�

�

-12

%�

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

156,213

��

�

125,855

��

�

30,358

��

�

%�

General and administrative

��

�

24,552

��

�

33,344

��

�

(8,792

)�

�

-26

%�

Loss on impairment

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

�

(3,585

)�

�

**�

Gain on disposal of assets, net

��

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

�

35,646

��

�

**�

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net

��

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

�

30,618

��

�

**�

��

�

��

�

��

�

579,418

��

�

394,761

��

�

184,657

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

Operating income

��

249,297

��

245,726

��

�

3,571

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

(1)	We record reimbursements from customers for out-of-pocket expenses as operating revenues and the related direct costs as operating expenses. Changes in the amount of these reimbursables generally do not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

**	Not a meaningful percentage.

Operating Revenues. Changes in contract drilling services revenues for the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter were driven by an increase in both average dayrates and operating days. The 18 percent increase in operating days increased revenues by $114 million, while the 10 percent increase in average dayrates increased revenues by approximately $73 million.

The increase in contract drilling services revenues relates to our drillships and jackups, which generated approximately $154 million and $73 million more revenue, respectively, in the Current Quarter. These amounts were offset by decreased revenues for our semisubmersibles, which declined $40 million from the Comparable Quarter.

The increase in drillship revenues was driven by a 67 percent increase in operating days and an 8 percent increase in average dayrates, resulting in a $127 million and a $27 million increase in revenues, respectively, from the Comparable Quarter. The increase in both average dayrates and operating days was the result of the Noble Don Taylor, Noble Globetrotter II, Noble Bob Douglas and Noble Sam Croft, which commenced their contracts in August 2013,�September 2013,�December 2013 and July 2014, respectively.

The 32 percent increase in jackup average dayrates resulted in a $42 million increase in revenues, and the 32 percent increase in jackup operating days resulted in a $31 million increase in revenues from the Comparable Quarter. The increase in both average dayrates and operating days was the result of the commencements of the following newbuilds: Noble Mick O�Brien, Noble Regina Allen, Noble Houston Colbert and Noble Sam Turner in November 2013,�January 2014,�March 2014 and August 2014, respectively. Additionally, the Noble Roger Lewis was fully operational during the Current Quarter after being in the shipyard for a portion of the Comparable Quarter. This was partially offset by the Noble David Tinsley, which was off contract during the Current Quarter but experienced full utilization during the Comparable Quarter.

The 8 percent increase in average dayrates on our semisubmersibles resulted in a $22 million increase in revenues from the Comparable Quarter. The increase in average dayrates is due to favorable dayrate changes on new

�

contracts across the semisubmersible fleet, as well as the Noble Paul Romano returning to work during the Current Quarter. The 19 percent decline in operating days resulted in a $62 million decrease in revenues driven by the Noble Paul Wolff, the Noble Max Smith and the Noble Danny Adkins, which completed their respective contracts during the Current Quarter but experienced full utilization during the Comparable Quarter, and the Noble Amos Runner which was in the shipyard undergoing regulatory inspections and maintenance during the Current Quarter but operated during the Comparable Quarter.

Operating Costs and Expenses. Contract drilling services operating costs and expenses increased $102 million for the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter. A significant portion of the increase was due to the crew-up and operating expenses for our newbuild rigs as they commenced operating under contracts, which added approximately $92 million in expense in the Current Quarter. The remaining change was primarily driven by a $12 million increase in mobilization expenses due to certain rig moves and the demobilization of certain rigs and a $5 million increase in repair and maintenance expense. These increases were partially offset by a $7 million decrease in operations support and other rig-related expenses.

The increase in depreciation and amortization in the Current Quarter from the Comparable Quarter was primarily attributable to assets placed in service, including the newbuilds noted above.

Loss on impairment during the Comparable Quarter was related to our two cold stacked submersible rigs. These rigs were subsequently sold to an unrelated third party in January 2014.

Gain on disposal of assets during the Comparable Quarter was attributable to the sale of the Noble Lewis Dugger to an unrelated third party in Mexico.

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments during the Comparable Quarter was attributable to the $45 million settlement of all claims against the former shareholders of FDR Holdings, Ltd., which we acquired in July 2010, relating to alleged breaches of various representations and warranties contained in the purchase agreement. A portion of the settlement, totaling approximately $14 million, was allocated to discontinued operations as it related to certain standard specification rigs.

Other

The following table sets forth the operating results from continuing operations for our other services for the three months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

�

��

Three Months Ended
September�30,

�

Change

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

Operating revenues:

��

�

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

��

�

(26

)�

�

-100

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

**�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

212

%�

��

�

Operating costs and expenses:

��

�

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

2,084

��

�

(2,084

)�

�

-100

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

662

��

�

��

�

662

��

�

**�

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

5,033

��

�

3,988

��

�

1,045

��

�

%�

General and administrative

��

�

��

�

432

��

�

(382

)�

�

-88

%�

��

�

��

�

5,745

��

�

6,504

��

�

(759

)�

�

-12

%�

��

�

Operating (loss)/income

��

(5,664

)�

�

(6,478

)�

�

814

��

�

-13

%�

��

�

(1)	We record reimbursements from customers for out-of-pocket expenses as operating revenues and the related direct costs as operating expenses. Changes in the amount of these reimbursables generally do not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

**	Not a meaningful percentage.

�

Operating Revenues and Costs and Expenses. The decrease in both revenues and expenses relates to the cancellation of a project with our customer, Shell, for one of its rigs that was operating under a labor contract in Alaska.

Other Income and Expenses

Interest Expense, net of amount capitalized. Interest expense, net of amount capitalized, increased $15 million in the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter. The increase is a result of a reduction in capitalized interest in the Current Quarter as compared to the Comparable Quarter due primarily to the completion of construction on four of our newbuild drillships and four of our newbuild jackups. During the Current Quarter, we capitalized approximately 23 percent of total interest charges versus approximately 57 percent during the Comparable Quarter.

Income Tax Provision. Our income tax provision increased $7 million in the Current Quarter driven by a higher worldwide effective tax rate. The 26 percent increase in the worldwide effective tax rate generated an $8 million increase in income tax expense. This was partially offset by a 4 percent decrease in pre-tax earnings during the Current Quarter, which decreased income tax expense by $1 million. The increase in the worldwide effective tax rate was the result of a change in the geographic mix of pre-tax earnings and the effect of the new UK tax law, which became effective retroactively to April�1, 2014.

Discontinued Operations. Net loss from discontinued operations for the Current Quarter was $20 million as compared to net income of $117 million for the Comparable Quarter. Revenues reported within discontinued operations were $142 million during the Current Quarter as compared to $438 million for the Comparable Quarter. Operating income included within discontinued operations was $1 million during the Current Quarter and $139 million for the Comparable Quarter. These changes are the result of three months of operations in the Comparable Quarter versus one month of operations in the Current Quarter, coupled with a $29 million increase in one-time Spin-Off costs during the Current Quarter.

For the Nine Months Ended September�30, 2014 and 2013

Net income from continuing operations attributable to Noble-UK for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 (the �Current Period�) was $443 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $2.4 billion, compared to net income for the nine months ended September�30, 2013 (the �Comparable Period�) of $335 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, on operating revenues of $1.8 billion.

As a result of Noble-UK conducting all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries, the financial position and results of operations for Noble-Cayman, and the reasons for material changes in the amount of revenue and expense items between 2014 and 2013, would be the same as the information presented below regarding Noble-UK in all material respects, except operating income for Noble-Cayman for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 was $55 million and $56 million higher, respectively, than operating income for Noble-UK for the same periods. The operating income difference is primarily a result of executive costs directly attributable to Noble-UK for operations support and stewardship related services.

�

Rig Utilization, Operating Days and Average Dayrates

Operating results from continuing operations for our contract drilling services segment are dependent on three primary metrics: rig utilization, operating days and dayrates. The following table sets forth the average rig utilization, operating days and average dayrates for our rig fleet for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

�

��

Average Rig

�

Operating

�

Average

�

��

Utilization (1)

�

Days (2)

�

Dayrates

�

��

Nine�Months�Ended
September�30,

�

Nine�Months�Ended
September�30,

�

��

�

Nine�Months�Ended
September�30,

�

��

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

2014

�

��

2013

�

��

%�Change

�

2014

�

��

2013

�

��

%�Change

�

Jackups

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

2,691

��

�

2,352

��

�

%�

�

174,718

��

142,779

��

�

%�

Semisubmersibles

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

2,230

��

�

2,556

��

�

-13

%�

�

425,645

��

�

369,836

��

�

%�

Drillships

��

�

100

%�

�

100

%�

�

1,979

��

�

1,150

��

�

%�

�

475,459

��

�

408,109

��

�

%�

Other

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

��

�

��

�

%�

�

��

�

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

Total

��

�

%�

�

%�

�

6,900

��

�

6,058

��

�

%�

�

342,059

��

288,968

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

(1)

(2)	Information reflects the number of days that our rigs were operating under contract.

Contract Drilling Services

The following table sets forth the operating results from continuing operations for our contract drilling services segment for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

�

��

Nine Months Ended
September�30,

�

Change

�

��

2014

�

��

2013

�

Operating revenues:

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

2,360,205

��

1,750,627

��

�

609,578

��

�

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

65,307

��

�

45,416

��

�

19,891

��

�

%�

Other

��

�

��

�

��

�

(10

)�

�

��

**�

��

�

��

�

��

2,425,513

��

1,796,054

��

�

629,459

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

Operating costs and expenses:

��

�

Contract drilling services

��

1,109,456

��

836,825

��

�

272,631

��

�

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

51,579

��

�

36,684

��

�

14,895

��

�

%�

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

446,425

��

�

359,405

��

�

87,020

��

�

%�

General and administrative

��

�

76,826

��

�

84,673

��

�

(7,847

)�

�

-9

%�

Loss on impairment

��

�

��

�

3,585

��

�

(3,585

)�

�

��

**�

Gain on disposal of assets, net

��

�

��

�

(35,646

)�

�

35,646

��

�

��

**�

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net

��

�

��

�

(30,618

)�

�

30,618

��

�

��

**�

��

�

��

�

��

�

1,684,286

��

�

1,254,908

��

�

429,378

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

Operating income

��

741,227

��

541,146

��

�

200,081

��

�

%�

��

�

��

�

(1)	We record reimbursements from customers for out-of-pocket expenses as operating revenues and the related direct costs as operating expenses. Changes in the amount of these reimbursables generally do not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

**	Not a meaningful percentage.

Operating Revenues. Changes in contract drilling services revenues for the Current Period as compared to the Comparable Period were driven by increases in both average dayrates and operating days. The 18 percent increase in average dayrates increased revenues by approximately $367 million, while the 14 percent increase in operating days increased revenues by $243 million.

�

The change in contract drilling services revenues relates to our drillships, jackups and semisubmersibles, which generated approximately $472 million, $134 million and $4 million more revenue, respectively, in the Current Period.

The increase in drillship revenues was driven by a 72 percent increase in operating days and a 17 percent increase in average dayrates, resulting in a $339 million and a $133 million increase in revenues, respectively, from the Comparable Period. The increase in both average dayrates and operating days was the result of the Noble Don Taylor, Noble Globetrotter II, Noble Bob Douglas and Noble Sam Croft, which commenced their contracts in August 2013,�September 2013,�December 2013 and July 2014, respectively.

The 22 percent increase in jackup average dayrates resulted in an $86 million increase in revenues from the Comparable Period, while the 14 percent increase in operating days resulted in a $48 million increase in revenues. The increase in average dayrates and operating days resulted from the contract commencements of the Noble Mick O�Brien, Noble Regina Allen, Noble Houston Colbert and Noble Sam Turner in November 2013,�January 2014,�March 2014, and August 2014, respectively. This was partially offset by the Noble David Tinsley, which was off contract for a portion of the Current Period but experienced full utilization during the Comparable Period and increased downtime on the Noble Scott Marks during the Current Period. Additionally, the Noble Lewis Dugger, which was sold in July 2013, was utilized during a portion of the Comparable Period.

The 15 percent increase in average dayrates on our semisubmersibles resulted in a $125 million increase in revenues from the Comparable Period. The increase in average dayrates is due to favorable dayrate changes on new contracts across the semisubmersible fleet, as well as the Noble Paul Romano returning to work during the Current Period. The 13 percent decline in operating days resulted in a $121 million decrease in revenues driven by the Noble Paul Wolff and Noble Homer Ferrington, which completed their respective contracts during the Current Period but experienced full utilization during the Comparable Period, and the Noble Amos Runner which was in the shipyard undergoing regulatory inspections and maintenance during the Current Period but operated during the Comparable Period.

Operating Costs and Expenses. Contract drilling services operating costs and expenses increased $273 million for the Current Period as compared to the Comparable Period. A significant portion of the increase was due to the crew-up and operating expenses for our newbuild rigs as they commenced operating under contracts, which added approximately $234 million in expenses during the Current Period. The remaining change was primarily driven by a $25 million increase in mobilization expense due to certain rig moves and the demobilization of certain rigs, an $8 million increase in operations support and rig-related expenses and a $6 million increase in labor, the majority of which is due to rigs returning to work during the Current Period.

The increase in depreciation and amortization in the Current Period from the Comparable Period was primarily attributable to assets placed in service, including the newbuilds discussed above.

Loss on impairment during the Comparable Period was related to our two cold stacked submersible rigs. These rigs were subsequently sold to an unrelated third party in January 2014.

Gain on disposal of assets during the Comparable Period was attributable to the sale of the Noble Lewis Dugger to an unrelated third party in Mexico.

Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments during the Comparable Period was attributable to the $45 million settlement of all claims against the former shareholders of FDR Holdings, Ltd., which we acquired in July 2010, relating to alleged breaches of various representations and warranties contained in the purchase agreement. A portion of the settlement, totaling approximately $14 million, was allocated to discontinued operations as it related to certain standard specification rigs.

�

Other

The following table sets forth the operating results from continuing operations for our other services for the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

�

��

Nine Months Ended
September�30,

�

Change

�

��

2014

�

2013

�

Operating revenues:

��

�

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

17,000

��

�

(17,000

)�

�

-100

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

2,251

��

�

��

�

2,251

��

�

��

**�

��

�

��

2,251

��

�

17,000

��

�

(14,749

)�

�

-87

%�

��

�

Operating costs and expenses:

��

�

Labor contract drilling services

��

�

10,966

��

�

(10,966

)�

�

-100

%�

Reimbursables (1)

��

�

1,298

��

�

��

�

1,296

��

�

��

**�

Depreciation and amortization

��

�

13,881

��

�

10,997

��

�

2,884

��

�

%�

General and administrative

��

�

493

��

�

1,523

��

�

(1,030

)�

�

-68

%�

��

�

��

�

15,672

��

�

23,488

��

�

(7,816

)�

�

-33

%�

��

�

Operating income

��

(13,421

)�

�

(6,488

)�

�

(6,933

)�

�

107

%�

��

�

(1)	We record reimbursements from customers for out-of-pocket expenses as operating revenues and the related direct costs as operating expenses. Changes in the amount of these reimbursables generally do not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

**	Not a meaningful percentage.

Operating Revenues and Costs and Expenses. The change in both revenues and expenses relates to the cancellation of a project with our customer, Shell, for one of its rigs operating under a labor contract in Alaska during 2013.

Other Income and Expenses

Interest Expense, net of amount capitalized. Interest expense, net of amount capitalized, increased $39 million in the Current Period as compared to the Comparable Period. The increase is a result of lower capitalized interest in the Current Period as compared to the Comparable Period due primarily to the completion of construction on four of our newbuild drillships and four of our newbuild jackups, partially offset by the repayment of our $300 million fixed rate senior note in June 2013 and our $250 million fixed rate senior note in March 2014 using availability under our commercial paper program at lower interest rates. During the Current Period, we capitalized approximately 25 percent of total interest charges versus approximately 55 percent during the Comparable Period.

Income Tax Provision. Our income tax provision increased $36 million in the Current Period driven by a higher worldwide effective tax rate and higher pre-tax income. A 33 percent increase in pre-tax earnings generated a $24 million increase in income tax expense. Additionally, a 12 percent increase in the worldwide effective tax rate during the Current Period increased income tax expense by $12 million. The increase in the worldwide effective tax rate was a result of a change in the geographic mix of pre-tax earnings and the effect of the new UK tax law, which became effective retroactively to April�1, 2014.

Discontinued Operations. Net income from discontinued operations for the Current Period was $176 million as compared to $274 million for the Comparable Period. Revenues reported within discontinued operations were $1.0 billion during the Current Period as compared to $1.3 billion for the Comparable Period. Operating income included within discontinued operations was $233 million during the Current Period and $327 million for the Comparable Period. The variance is attributable to seven months of operations in the Current Period versus nine months of operations in the Comparable Period, coupled with a $39 million increase in one-time Spin-Off costs during the Current Period.

�

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Net cash from operating activities was $1.4 billion in the Current Period and $1.2 billion in the Comparable Period. Cash flows from discontinued operations are combined with cash flows from continuing operations within each cash flow statement category on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The increase in net cash from operating activities in the Current Period was primarily attributable to favorable collections of accounts receivable. We had working capital of $375 million and $339 million at September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013, respectively. Our total debt as a percentage of total debt plus equity decreased to 36.9 percent at September�30, 2014 from 38.0 percent at December�31, 2013, primarily as a result of a decrease in commercial paper outstanding during the Current Period.

Our principal sources of capital in the Current Period were the proceeds from the indebtedness incurred by Paragon Offshore, the cash generated from operating activities noted above and borrowings under our commercial paper program. Cash generated during the Current Period was primarily used to fund our capital expenditure program.

Our currently anticipated cash flow needs, both in the short-term and long-term, may include the following:

�

committed capital expenditures, including expenditures for newbuild projects currently underway;

�

normal recurring operating expenses;

�

discretionary capital expenditures, including various capital upgrades;

�

payments of dividends;

�

repayment of maturing debt; and

�

repurchase of shares.

We currently expect to fund these cash flow needs with cash generated by our operations, cash on hand, borrowings under our existing or future credit facilities and commercial paper program, potential issuances of long-term debt, or asset sales. However, to adequately cover our expected cash flow needs, we may require capital in excess of the amount available from these sources, and we may seek additional sources of liquidity and/or delay or cancel certain discretionary capital expenditures as necessary.

At September�30, 2014, we had a total contract drilling services backlog of approximately $10.6 billion. Our backlog as of September�30, 2014 reflects a commitment of 79 percent of available days for the remainder of 2014 and 72 percent of available days for 2015. For additional information regarding our backlog, see �Contract Drilling Services Backlog.�

Capital Expenditures

Our primary use of available liquidity during 2014 is for capital expenditures. Capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, totaled $1.7 billion for both the nine months ended September�30, 2014 and September�30, 2013.

�

At September�30, 2014, we had two rigs under construction, and capital expenditures, excluding capitalized interest, for new construction during the first nine months of 2014 totaled $1.2 billion, as follows (in millions):

�


Rig type/name				�
Currently under construction	��	�		�
Jackups	��
Noble Sam Hartley	��	$	20.7	��
Noble Lloyd Noble (formerly CJ70-Mariner)	��	�	5.6	��

Recently completed construction projects	��	�		�
Noble Tom Madden	��	$	372.0	��
Noble Sam Croft	��	�	355.0	��
Noble Tom Prosser	��	�	147.4	��
Noble Sam Turner	��	�	142.6	��
Noble Houston Colbert	��	�	134.7	��
Noble Globetrotter II	��	�	10.9	��
Noble Bob Douglas	��	�	10.0	��
Noble Don Taylor	��	�	3.4	��
Noble Regina Allen	��	�	1.3	��
Noble Mick O�Brien	��	�	0.5	��
Other	��	�	0.2	��
	��	�	�	�
Total Newbuild Capital Expenditures	��	$	1,204.3	��
	��	�	�	�

In addition to the newbuild expenditures noted above, capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2014, including expenditures related to Paragon Offshore through the date of the Spin-Off, consisted of the following:

�

$355 million for Noble-related major projects, subsea related expenditures and upgrades and replacements to drilling equipment;

�

$150 million for Paragon-related major projects, subsea related expenditures and upgrades and replacements to drilling equipment; and

�

$39 million in capitalized interest.

Our total capital expenditure estimate for 2014 is approximately $2.1 billion, which includes expenditures related to Paragon Offshore through the date of the Spin-Off. In addition, we anticipate incurring capitalized interest, which may fluctuate as a result of the timing of completion of ongoing projects.

In connection with our capital expenditure program, as of September�30, 2014, we had outstanding commitments, including shipyard and purchase commitments, for approximately $940 million, of which we expect to spend approximately $500 million within the next twelve months.

From time to time we consider possible projects that would require expenditures that are not included in our capital budget, and such unbudgeted expenditures could be significant. In addition, we will continue to evaluate acquisitions of drilling units from time to time. Other factors that could cause actual capital expenditures to materially exceed plan include delays and cost overruns in shipyards (including costs attributable to labor shortages), shortages of equipment, latent damage or deterioration to hull, equipment and machinery in excess of engineering estimates and assumptions, changes in governmental regulations and requirements and changes in design criteria or specifications during repair or construction.

Dividends

Our most recent quarterly dividend payment to shareholders, totaling approximately $97 million (or $0.375 per share), was declared on July�25, 2014 and paid on August�22, 2014 to holders of record on August�12, 2014.

�

On October�24, 2014, our Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly dividend to shareholders of $0.375 per share. The payment is expected to total approximately $96 million, based on the number of shares currently outstanding.

The declaration and payment of dividends require authorization of the Board of Directors of Noble-UK and such dividends on issued share capital may be paid only out of Noble-UK�s �distributable reserves� on its statutory balance sheet. Noble-UK is not permitted to pay dividends out of share capital, which includes share premiums. The amount of future dividends will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future business prospects, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

Credit Facilities and Senior Unsecured Notes

Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper Program

We have a commercial paper program, which allows us to issue up to $2.7 billion in unsecured commercial paper notes.�Amounts issued under the commercial paper program are supported by the unused capacity under our Credit Facilities and, therefore, are classified as long-term on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Outstanding commercial paper reduces availability under our Credit Facilities. Our total debt related to the Credit Facilities and commercial paper program was $992 million at September�30, 2014 as compared to $1.6 billion at December�31, 2013. At September�30, 2014, we had approximately $1.9 billion of available capacity under the Credit Facilities.

Senior Unsecured Notes

Our total debt related to senior unsecured notes was $3.7 billion at September�30, 2014 as compared to $4.0 billion at December�31, 2013. The decrease in senior unsecured notes outstanding is a result of the maturity of our $250 million 7.375% Senior Notes during March 2014, which was repaid using issuances under our commercial paper program.

Covenants

The Credit Facilities and commercial paper program are guaranteed by our indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, Noble Holding International Limited (�NHIL�) and Noble Holding Corporation (�NHC�). The covenants and events of default under the Credit Facilities are substantially similar, and each facility contains a covenant that limits our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization, as defined in the Credit Facilities, to 0.60. At September�30, 2014, our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization was approximately 0.37. We were in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Facilities as of September�30, 2014.

�

assuming certain liens and sale and lease-back transactions. At September�30, 2014, we were in compliance with all our debt covenants. We continually monitor compliance with the covenants under our notes and expect to remain in compliance during the remainder of 2014.

Other

At September�30, 2014, we had letters of credit of $168 million, including bonds covering the temporary importation of equipment, performance bonds and expatriate visa guarantees. Certain of our subsidiaries issue guarantees to local tax authorities in certain countries where we operate to cover the temporary import status of rigs or equipment. These guarantees are issued in-lieu of payment of custom, value added or similar taxes in those countries.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No.�2014-09, which amends ASC Topic 606, �Revenue from Contracts with Customers.� The amendments in this ASU are intended to provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues, improve comparability of revenue recognition practices and improve disclosure requirements. The amendments in this accounting standard update are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December�15, 2016. We are still evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

Item�3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk is the potential for loss from a change in the value of a financial instrument as a result of fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or equity prices, as further described below.

�

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to market risk exposure related to changes in interest rates on borrowings under the Credit Facilities and commercial paper program. Interest on borrowings under the Credit Facilities is at an agreed upon percentage point spread over LIBOR, or a base rate stated in the agreements. At September�30, 2014, we had $992 million in borrowings outstanding under our commercial paper program, which is supported by the Credit Facilities. Assuming our current level of debt, a change in LIBOR rates of 1 percent would increase our interest charges by approximately $10 million per year.

Access to our commercial paper program is dependent upon our credit ratings. A decline in our credit ratings below investment grade would prohibit us from accessing the commercial paper market. If we were unable to access the commercial paper market, we would likely transfer our outstanding borrowings to our revolving credit facilities. Our revolving credit facilities have interest rates that are generally higher than those found in the commercial paper market, which would result in increased interest expense in the future.

In addition, our revolving credit facilities have provisions which vary the applicable interest rates based upon the Company�s credit ratings. If our credit ratings were to decline, the interest expense under our revolving credit facilities would increase.

We maintain certain debt instruments at a fixed rate whose fair value will fluctuate based on changes in interest rates and market perceptions of our credit risk. The fair value of our total debt was $4.8 billion and $5.7 billion at September�30, 2014 and December�31, 2013, respectively. The decrease in fair value was primarily a result of decreased indebtedness outstanding under our commercial paper program and the repayment of our $250 million fixed rate senior note coupled with a decrease in the value of our debt related to market conditions.

Foreign Currency Risk

Although we are a UK company, we define foreign currency as any non-U.S. denominated currency. Our functional currency is primarily the U.S.�Dollar, which is consistent with the oil and gas industry. However, outside the United States, a portion of our expenses are incurred in local currencies. Therefore, when the U.S.�Dollar weakens (strengthens) in relation to the currencies of the countries in which we operate, our expenses reported in U.S. Dollars will increase (decrease).

We are exposed to risks on future cash flows to the extent that local currency expenses exceed revenues denominated in local currency that are other than the functional currency. To help manage this potential risk, we periodically enter into derivative instruments to manage our exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and we may conduct hedging activities in future periods to mitigate such exposure. These contracts are primarily accounted for as cash flow hedges, with the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the hedge recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and in �Accumulated other comprehensive loss� (�AOCL�). Amounts recorded in AOCL are reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods that the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the hedged item is recorded directly to earnings. We have documented policies and procedures to monitor and control the use of derivative instruments. We do not engage in derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes, nor are we a party to leveraged derivatives.

Our North Sea and Brazil operations have a significant amount of their cash operating expenses payable in local currencies. To limit the potential risk of currency fluctuations, we periodically enter into forward contracts, which settle monthly in the operations� respective local currencies. All of these contracts have a maturity of less than 12 months. The forward contract settlements in the remainder of 2014 represent approximately 60 percent of these forecasted local currency requirements. The notional amount of the forward contracts outstanding, expressed in U.S. dollars, was approximately $13 million at September�30, 2014. Total unrealized losses related to these forward contracts were approximately $0.3 million as of September�30, 2014 and were recorded as part of AOCL. A 10 percent change in the exchange rate for the local currencies would change the fair value of these forward contracts by approximately $1 million.

Market Risk

We have a U.S. noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers certain salaried employees and a U.S. noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that covers certain hourly employees, whose initial date of employment is prior to August�1, 2004 (collectively referred to as our �qualified U.S. plans�). These plans are governed by the Noble Drilling Services Inc. Retirement Trust. The benefits from these plans are based primarily on years of service and, for the salaried plan, employees� compensation near retirement. These plans are designed to qualify under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (�ERISA�), and our funding policy is consistent with funding requirements of ERISA and other applicable laws and regulations. We make cash contributions, or utilize credits available to us, for the qualified U.S. plans when required. The benefit amount that can be covered by the qualified U.S. plans is limited under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code (�IRC�) of 1986. Therefore, we maintain an unfunded, nonqualified excess benefit plan designed to maintain benefits for specified employees at the formula level in the qualified salary U.S. plan. We refer to the qualified U.S. plans and the excess benefit plan collectively as the �U.S. plans�.

�

In addition to the U.S. plans, each of Noble Drilling (Land Support) Limited and Noble Resources Limited, all indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Noble-UK, maintains a pension plan that covers all of its salaried, non-union employees (collectively referred to as our �non-U.S. plans�). Benefits are based on credited service and employees� compensation, as defined by the plans.

Changes in market asset values related to the pension plans noted above could have a material impact upon our Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and could result in material cash expenditures in future periods.

Item�4. Controls and Procedures

David W. Williams, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble-UK, and James A. MacLennan, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Noble-UK, have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures of Noble-UK as of the end of the period covered by this report. On the basis of this evaluation, Mr.�Williams and Mr.�MacLennan have concluded that Noble-UK�s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September�30, 2014. Noble-UK�s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Noble-UK in the reports that it files with or submits to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC�s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

David W. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble-Cayman, and Dennis J. Lubojacky, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Noble-Cayman, have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures of Noble-Cayman as of the end of the period covered by this report. On the basis of this evaluation, Mr.�Williams and Mr.�Lubojacky have concluded that Noble-Cayman�s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September�30, 2014. Noble-Cayman�s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Noble-Cayman in the reports that it files with or submits to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC�s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There was no change in either Noble-UK�s or Noble-Cayman�s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September�30, 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of each of Noble-UK or Noble-Cayman, respectively.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item�1. Legal Proceedings

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Notes 6 and 15 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item�1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item�1A. Risk Factors

Risk Factors Relating to Our Business

The risk factor below updates and supplements the risks described under �Risk Factors Relating to Our Business� in Part I, Item�1A, �Risk Factors,� of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December�31, 2013, and should be considered together with the risk factors described in that report.

Recent changes in tax laws will, and possible future changes in tax laws or interpretations may, increase our tax rate.

We operate through various subsidiaries in numerous countries throughout the world. Consequently, we are subject to changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof in the United

�

Kingdom, the U.S. or jurisdictions in which we or any of our subsidiaries operate or are incorporated. For example, in July 2014, the UK government issued legislation that restricts deductions on certain related party transactions, such as those relating to the bareboat charter agreements used in connection with our UK continental shelf operations. The legislation, which became effective retroactively to April�1, 2014, resulted in an increase in the effective tax rate reducing our net income on our consolidated operations and is shown in our statement of operations beginning in the third quarter of 2014.

Tax laws and regulations are highly complex and subject to interpretation. Our income tax expense is based upon our interpretation of the tax laws in effect in various countries at the time that the expense was incurred. If these laws, treaties or regulations change or other taxing authorities do not agree with our assessment of the effects of such laws, treaties and regulations, this could have a material adverse effect on us, resulting in a higher effective tax rate on our worldwide earnings or a reclassification of the tax impact of our significant corporate restructuring transactions.

In addition, the manner in which our shareholders are taxed on distributions on, and dispositions of, our shares could be affected by changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof in the United Kingdom, the U.S. or other jurisdictions in which our shareholders are resident. Any such changes could result in increased taxes for our shareholders and affect the trading price of our shares.

Item�2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Under UK law, the company is only permitted to purchase its own shares by way of an �off-market purchase� in a plan approved by shareholders. Prior to our redomiciliation to the UK, a resolution was adopted by Noble-UK�s sole shareholder authorizing the repurchase of 6,769,891 shares during the five-year period commencing on the date of the redomiciliation.�This number of shares corresponds to the number of shares that Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation, had authority to repurchase at the time of the redomiciliation.�The company may only fund the purchase of its own shares out of distributable reserves or the proceeds of a new issue of shares made expressly for that purpose. The company currently has adequate distributable reserves to fund its currently approved repurchase plan. If any premium above the nominal value of the purchased shares is paid, it must be paid out of distributable reserves.�Any shares purchased by the company out of distributable reserves may be held as treasury shares or cancelled at the company�s election. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated certain information with respect to purchases of shares by Noble-UK:

�

Period

��

Total�Number
of Shares
Purchased�⁽²⁾

�

��

Average
Price�Paid
per Share

�

��

Total�Number�of
Shares�Purchased
as�Part�of�Publicly
Announced�Plans
or Programs

�

��

Maximum�Number
of�Shares�that�May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs ⁽¹⁾

�

July 2014

��

�

��

�

��

�

6,769,891

��

August 2014

��

�

��

�

��

�

6,769,891

��

September 2014

��

�

2,010,000

��

26.22

��

�

2,010,000

��

�

4,759,891

��

�

(1)	All share purchases were made in the open market and were pursuant to the share repurchase program which our sole shareholder approved. Our repurchase program has a five-year authorization period, which commenced on November�20, 2013.

(2)	All repurchased shares were immediately cancelled.

Item�6. Exhibits

The information required by this Item�6 is set forth in the Index to Exhibits accompanying this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.

�

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales

�


/s/ David W. Williams	�	�	November�7, 2014
David W. Williams	�	�	Date
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer	�	�
(Principal Executive Officer)	�	�

/s/ James A. MacLennan	�	�
James A. MacLennan	�	�
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	�	�
(Principal Financial Officer)	�	�

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company	�	�

/s/ David W. Williams	�	�	November 7, 2014
David W. Williams	�	�	Date
President and Chief Executive Officer	�	�
(Principal Executive Officer)	�	�

/s/ Dennis J. Lubojacky	�	�
Dennis J. Lubojacky	�	�
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	�	�
(Principal Financial Officer)	�	�

�

Index to Exhibits

�


Exhibit Number	��	Exhibit

��2.1	��	Merger Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2013, between Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (�Noble-Swiss�) and Noble Corporation Limited (�Noble-UK�) (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Noble-Swiss� Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 1, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference).

��2.2	��	Agreement and Plan of Merger, Reorganization and Consolidation, dated as of December 19, 2008, among Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (�Noble-Swiss�), Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (�Noble-Cayman�), and Noble Cayman Acquisition Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 1.1 to Noble-Cayman�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 22, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

��2.3	��	Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, Reorganization and Consolidation, dated as of February 4, 2009, among Noble-Swiss, Noble-Cayman and Noble Cayman Acquisition Ltd. (filed as Exhibit 2.2 to Noble-Cayman�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

��2.4	��	Master Separation Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-Cayman and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��3.1	��	Composite Copy of Articles of Association of Noble-UK, as of June 10, 2014.

��3.2	��	Memorandum and Articles of Association of Noble-Cayman (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Noble-Cayman�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

��4.1	��	Second Amendment to 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 18, 2014, by and among Noble-Cayman, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, and consented and agreed to by Noble Holding (U.S.) Corporation and Noble Holding International Limited, as guarantors (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��10.1	��	Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-UK and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��10.2	��	Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-Cayman and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��10.3	��	Transition Services Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, between Noble-Cayman and Paragon Offshore plc. (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��10.4	��	Transition Services Agreement (Brazil), dated as of July 31, 2014, among Paragon Offshore do Brasil Limitada, Paragon Offshore (Nederland) B.V., Paragon Offshore plc, Noble-Cayman, Noble Dave Beard Limited and Noble Drilling (Nederland) II B.V. (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��10.5*	��	Noble Corporation 2014 Short Term Incentive Plan.

��10.6*	��	Amended and Restated Form of Noble-UK 2013 Performance-Vested Restricted Stock Unit Award under the Noble-UK 1991 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��10.7*	��	Amended and Restated Form of Noble-UK 2014 Performance-Vested Restricted Stock Unit Award under the Noble-UK 1991 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Noble-UK�s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

��31.1	��	Certification of David W. Williams pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), for Noble-UK and for Noble-Cayman.

��31.2	��	Certification of James A. MacLennan pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 13a- 14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), for Noble-UK.

��31.3	��	Certification of Dennis J. Lubojacky pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Rule 13a- 14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), for Noble-Cayman.

��32.1+	��	Certification of David W. Williams pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, for Noble-UK and for Noble-Cayman.

��32.2+	��	Certification of James A. MacLennan pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, for Noble-UK.

��32.3+	��	Certification of Dennis J. Lubojacky pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, for Noble-Cayman.

101	��	Interactive Data File

�

*	Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

+	Furnished in accordance with Item�601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

�

Exhibit 3.1

�

COMPANY NUMBER: 08354954

THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

- OF -

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC

CONTENTS

�


Heading	��	Articles		�

Exclusion of Other Regulations	��	�	1	��
Definitions and Interpretation	��	�	2	��
Registered office	��	�	3	��
Limited liability	��	�	4	��
Change of name	��	�	5	��
Share Capital	��	�	6-11	��
Variation of Rights	��	�	12-15	��
Shares in Uncertificated Form	��	�	16	��
Share Certificates	��	�	17-24	��
Lien	��	�	25-28	��
Calls on Shares	��	�	29-36	��
Forfeiture	��	�	37-44	��
Transfer of Shares	��	�	45-52	��
Transmission of Shares	��	�	53-55	��
Alteration of Share Capital	��	�	56-57	��
Purchase of Own Shares	��	�	58	��
General Meetings	��	�	59-60	��
Notice of General Meetings	��	�	61-66	��
Proceedings at General Meetings	��	�	67-82	��
Votes of Members	��	�	83-98	��
Powers of the Board	��	�	99-102	��
Number and Qualification of Directors	��	�	103-106	��
Election, Appointment and Retirement of Directors	��	�	107-113	��
Resignation and Removal of Directors	��	�	114-115	��
Vacation of office	��	�	116-117	��
Remuneration of Directors	��	�	118-119	��
Executive and Managing Directors	��	�	120-122	��
Chief Executive Officer, President, Vice President and Treasurer	��	�	123-127	��
Directors� Gratuities and Pensions	��	�	128	��
Proceedings of the Board	��	�	129-134	��
Directors� Interests	��	�	135-144	��
Fair Price Provisions	��	�	145-147	��
Transactions with Interested Shareholders	��	�	148-149	��
Secretary	��	�	150-151	��
Minutes	��	�	152-154	��
The Seal	��	�	155-157	��
Accounting Records, Books and Registers	��	�	158-161	��
Audit	��	�	162-163	��
Authentication of Documents	��	�	164-165	��


Record Dates	��	�	166	��
Dividends	��	�	167-182	��
Reserves	��	�	183	��
Capitalisation of Profits	��	�	184-188	��
Notices	��	�	189-197	��
Untraced Members	��	�	198-202	��
Destruction of Documents	��	�	203-204	��
Winding-up	��	�	205-206	��
Provision for Employees	��	�	207	��
Indemnity	��	�	208	��
Insurance	��	�	209	��
Dispute Resolution	��	�	210-212	��

THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

- of -

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC

�

EXCLUSION OF OTHER REGULATIONS

�

1.	This document comprises the Articles of Association of the Company and no regulations set out in any statute or statutory instrument concerning companies shall apply as Articles of Association of the Company.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

�

2.1

In these Articles the following expressions have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:

�


Act	��	the Companies Act 2006.

address	��	in relation to electronic communications, includes any number or address (including, in the case of any Uncertificated Proxy Instruction permitted in accordance with these Articles, an identification number of a participant in the relevant system concerned) used for the purposes of such communications.

Articles	��	these Articles of Association as altered from time to time.

auditors	��	the auditors for the time being of the Company.

Board	��	the board of directors of the Company or the Directors present at a duly convened meeting of the Directors at which a quorum is present.

Capitalization Share	��	a share in the capital of the Company with the rights described in Article 6.3.



certificated share	��	a share in the capital of the Company which is held in physical certificated form.

clear days	��	in relation to the period of a notice, that period calculated in accordance with section 360 of the Act.

communication	��	has the same meaning as in section 15 of the Electronic Communications Act.

Company	��	Noble Corporation plc.

Company�s website	��	any websites, operated or controlled by the Company, which contain information about the Company in accordance with the Statutes.

Corporate Governance Guidelines	��	the corporate governance guidelines adopted by resolution of the Board from time to time.

Deferred Sterling Share	��	a share in the capital of the Company with the rights described in Article 6.2.

Directors	��	the directors of the Company for the time being.

elected	��	elected or re-elected.

electronic communication	��	has the same meaning as in section 15 of the Electronic Communications Act.

Electronic Communications Act	��	the Electronic Communications Act 2000 (as amended from time to time).

FSMA	��	the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended from time to time).

group	��	the Company and its subsidiary undertakings for the time being.

holder	��	in relation to shares, the member whose name is entered in the register as the holder of the shares.

in electronic form	��	in a form specified by section 1168(3) of the Act and otherwise complying with the provisions of that section.

�



member	��	a member of the Company.

month	��	calendar month.

Ordinary Share	��	a share in the capital of the Company with the rights described in Article 6.1

paid up	��	paid up or credited as paid up.

recognised person	��	a recognised clearing house acting in relation to a recognised investment exchange, or a nominee of a recognised clearing house acting in that way, or a nominee of a recognised investment exchange.

register	��	the register of members of the Company.

secretary	��	the secretary of the Company or any other person appointed to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company including a joint, temporary, assistant or deputy secretary.

share	��	any share in the capital of the Company from time to time and �shares� shall be construed accordingly.

Shareholder Information	��	notices, documents or information which the Company wishes or is required to communicate to shareholders including, without limitation, annual reports and accounts, interim financial statements, summary financial statements, notices of meetings and proxy forms.

Statutes	��	the Act and every other statute (including any orders, regulations or other subordinate legislation made under them) for the time being in force concerning companies and affecting the Company (including, without limitation, the Electronic Communications Act).

Subscriber Share	��	a share in the capital of the Company with the rights described in Article 6.4

Uncertificated Proxy Instruction	��	a properly authenticated dematerialised instruction, and/or other instruction or notification, which is sent by means of the relevant system concerned and

�


	��	received by such participant in that system acting on behalf of the Company as the Directors may prescribe, in such form and subject to such terms and conditions as may from time to time be prescribed by the Directors (subject always to the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned).

uncertificated share	��	a share in the capital of the Company which is not held in physical certificated form.

United Kingdom	��	Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

website communication	��	the publication of a notice or other Shareholder Information on the Company�s website in accordance with Part 4 of Schedule 5 to the Act.

year	��	calendar year.

�

2.2

References to �writing� include references to printing, typewriting, lithography, photography and any other mode or modes of presenting or reproducing words in a visible and non-transitory form.

�

2.3

Words importing one gender shall (where appropriate) include any other gender and words importing the singular shall (where appropriate) include the plural and vice versa.

�

2.4

Any words or expressions defined in the Act or the Electronic Communications Act shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context and unless otherwise expressly defined in these Articles, bear the same meaning in these Articles save that the word �company� shall include any body corporate.

�

2.5

References to:

�

2.5.1

�mental disorder� mean mental disorder as defined in section 1 of the Mental Health Act 1983 or the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (as the case may be);

�

2.5.2

any statute, regulation or any section or provision of any statute or regulation, if consistent with the subject or context, shall include any corresponding or substituted statute, regulation or section or provision of any amending, consolidating or replacement statute or regulation;

�

2.5.3

�executed� include any mode of execution;

�

2.5.4

an Article by number are to a particular Article of these Articles;

�

2.5.5

a �meeting� shall be taken as not requiring more than one person to be present if any quorum requirement can be satisfied by one person;

�

2.5.6

a �person� include references to a body corporate and to an unincorporated body of persons;

�

2.5.7

a share (or to a holding of shares) being in uncertificated form or in certificated form are references respectively to that share being an uncertificated unit of a security or a certificated unit of a security.

REGISTERED OFFICE

�

3.	The registered office is to be situated in England and Wales.

LIMITED LIABILITY

�

4.	The liability of the members is limited.

CHANGE OF NAME

�

5.	The Company may change its registered name in accordance with the Statutes or by majority decision of the Board.

SHARE CAPITAL

�

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and without prejudice to the rights attaching to any existing shares or class of shares, any share may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or such restrictions as the Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution determine or, if the Company has not so determined, as the Directors may determine. Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Company may issue the following shares in the capital of the Company with rights attaching to them and denominated, in each case, as follows:

�

6.1

Ordinary Shares: Ordinary Shares shall be denominated in US Dollars with a nominal value of US$0.01 each. Ordinary Shares shall be issued with voting rights attached to them and each Ordinary Share shall rank equally with all other shares in the capital of the Company that have voting rights for voting purposes. Each Ordinary Share shall rank equally with all other shares in the capital of the Company for any dividend declared. Each Ordinary Share shall rank equally with all other shares in the capital of the Company for any distribution made on a winding up of the Company.

�

6.2

Deferred Sterling Shares: Deferred Sterling Shares shall be denominated in British Pounds Sterling with a nominal value of GBP�1. Deferred Sterling Shares shall be issued without

�

voting rights attached to them. Deferred Sterling Shares shall have no entitlement to dividends. Deferred Sterling Shares do not have any right to participate in any distribution on a winding up of the Company save that after the return of the nominal value paid up or credited as paid up on every ordinary share in the capital of the Company and the distribution of �100,000,000 to each holder thereof, each Deferred Sterling Shares shall be entitled to �1. The Deferred Sterling Shares may be issued as redeemable shares.

�

6.3

Capitalization Shares: Capitalization Shares shall be denominated in US Dollars with a nominal value of US$1 each. Capitalization Shares shall be issued without voting rights attached to them. Capitalization Shares shall have no entitlement to dividends. Capitalization Shares do not have any right to participate in any distribution on a winding up of the Company save that after the return of the nominal value paid up or credited as paid up on every other class of share in the capital of the Company and the distribution of �100,000,000 to each holder thereof, each Capitalization Share shall be entitled to �1. The Capitalization Shares may be issued as redeemable shares.

�

6.4

Subscriber Shares: Subscriber Shares shall be denominated in British Pounds Sterling with a nominal value of GBP�1. Subscriber Shares shall be issued with voting rights attached to them and each Subscriber Share shall rank equally with all other shares in the capital of the Company that have voting rights for voting purposes. Each Subscriber Share shall rank equally with all other shares in the capital of the Company for any dividend declared. Each Subscriber Share shall rank equally with all other shares in the capital of the Company for any distribution made on a winding up of the Company. Subscriber Shares may be issued as redeemable shares, at the option of the Board.

�

Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to the Statutes and without prejudice to the rights attaching to any existing shares or class of shares, the Board may offer, allot (with or without a right of renunciation), issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with or dispose of shares to such persons, at such time and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the Board may determine.

�

The Company may exercise the powers of paying commissions conferred by the Statutes. Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, any such commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or by the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also on any issue of shares pay such brokerage commission as may be lawful.

�

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and to any rights conferred on the holders of any other shares, shares may be issued on terms that they are, at the option of the Company or a member, liable to be redeemed on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by the Board (such terms to be determined before the shares are allotted).

�

10.

Except as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon any trust, and (except as otherwise provided by these Articles or by law) the Company shall not be bound by or compelled in any way to recognise any interest in any share, except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.

�

11.

The Company may give financial assistance for the acquisition of shares in the Company to the extent that it is not restricted by the Statutes.

�

VARIATION OF RIGHTS

�

12.

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and to the rights of any class of shares, whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class may (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) be varied or abrogated, whether or not the Company is being wound up, either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three-quarters in nominal amount of the issued shares of the affected class, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class (but not otherwise).

�

13.

All the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to every such separate general meeting, and for the avoidance of doubt:

�

13.1

the necessary quorum at any such meeting other than an adjourned meeting shall be members of that class who together represent at least the majority of the voting rights of all the members of that class entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, at the relevant meeting;

�

13.2

all votes shall be taken on a poll; and

�

13.3

the holder of shares of the class in question shall have one vote in respect of every share of such class held by him.

�

14.

Subject to the terms on which any shares may be issued, the rights or privileges attached to any class of shares in the capital of the Company shall be deemed not to be varied or abrogated by the creation or issue of any new shares ranking pari passu in all respects (save as to the date from which such new shares shall rank for dividend) with or subsequent to those already issued or by any purchase by the Company of its own shares.

�

15.

The provisions of Articles 12 to 14 shall apply to the variation or abrogation of the special rights attached to some only of the shares of any class as if such group of shares of the class differently treated formed a separate class.

SHARES IN UNCERTIFICATED FORM

�

16.

�

16.1

The Board may permit the holding of shares of any class in uncertificated form.

�

16.2

The Company shall be entitled to assume that the entries on any record of securities maintained by it and regularly reconciled with the register of securities held by a third party for the purposes of facilitating the trading of shares in the Company in uncertificated form are a complete and accurate reproduction of the particulars entered in the register of securities held by such third party and shall accordingly not be liable in respect of any act or thing done or omitted to be done by or on behalf of the Company in reliance upon such assumption; in particular, any provision of these Articles which requires or envisages that action will be taken in reliance on information contained in the register shall be construed to permit that action to be taken in reliance on information contained in any relevant record of securities (as so maintained and reconciled).

�

16.3

Where the Company is entitled under any provision of the Companies Acts or these Articles to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, forfeit, re-allot, accept the surrender of, or otherwise enforce a lien over, a share held in uncertificated form, the Company shall be entitled, subject to the provisions of the Statutes and these Articles:

�

16.3.1

to require the holder of that uncertificated share by notice to change that share into certificated form within the period specified in the notice and to hold that share in certificated form so long as required by the Company; and

�

16.3.2

to take any action that the board considers appropriate to achieve the sale, transfer, disposal, forfeiture, re-allotment or surrender of that share, or otherwise to enforce a lien in respect of that share.

SHARE CERTIFICATES

�

17.

A person (except a person in respect of whom the Company is not by law required to complete and have ready for delivery a certificate) whose name is entered as a holder of any share in the register shall be entitled without payment to receive one certificate in respect of each class of shares held by him or, with the consent of the Board and upon payment of such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for every certificate after the first as the Board shall determine, several certificates, each for one or more of his shares. Shares of different classes may not be included in the same certificate.

�

18.

Where a holder of any share (except a recognised person) has transferred a part of the shares comprised in his holding, he shall be entitled to a certificate for the balance without charge.

�

19.

Any two or more certificates representing shares of any one class held by any member may at his request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such shares issued in lieu without charge.

�

20.

The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate to the joint holder who is named first in the register shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.

�

21.

In the case of shares held jointly by several persons, any such request mentioned in Articles 17 , 18 or 19 may only be made by the joint holder who is named first in the register.

�

22.

Every certificate shall be executed by the Company in such manner as the Board, having regard to the Statutes and any other applicable legal or regulatory requirements, may authorise. Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing number (if any) of the shares to which it relates and the nominal value of and the amount paid up on each share.

�

23.

The Board may by resolution decide, either generally or in any particular case or cases, that any signatures on any certificates for shares or any other form of security at any time issued by the Company need not be autographic but may be applied to the certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed on them or that the certificates need not be signed by any person.

�

24.

If a share certificate is worn out, defaced, lost or destroyed, it may be replaced without charge (other than exceptional out-of-pocket expenses) and otherwise on such terms (if any) as to evidence and/or indemnity (with or without security) as the Board may require. In the case where the certificate is worn out or defaced, it may be renewed only upon delivery of the certificate to the Company.

LIEN

�

25.

The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all money (whether presently due or not) payable in respect of that share. The Company�s lien over a share extends to any dividend and (if the lien is enforced and the share is sold by the Company) the proceeds of sale of that share. The Board may at any time declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article.

�

26.

The Company may sell, in such manner as the Board decides, any shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable and is not paid within 14 clear days after notice in writing has been served on the holder of the shares in question or the person entitled to such shares by reason of death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise by operation of law, demanding payment of the sum presently payable and stating that if the notice is not complied with the shares may be sold.

�

27.

To give effect to any such sale, the Board may authorise such person as it directs to execute any instrument of transfer of the shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. If the share is an uncertificated share, the board may exercise any of the powers of the Company under Article 16.3 to effect the sale of the share. The title of the transferee to the shares shall not be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings relating to the sale, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money.

�

28.

The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs of such sale, shall be applied in or towards satisfaction of the liability in respect of which the lien exists so far as the same is presently payable, and any residue shall (upon surrender to the Company for cancellation of the certificate for the shares sold (where applicable) and subject to a like lien for any monies not presently payable or any liability or engagement not likely to be presently fulfilled or discharged as existed upon the shares before the sale) be paid to the holder of (or person entitled by transmission to) the shares immediately before the sale.

CALLS ON SHARES

�

29.

Subject to the terms of allotment of any shares, the Board may send a notice and make calls upon the members in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares (whether in respect of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium) provided that (subject as aforesaid) no call on any share shall be payable within one month from the date fixed for the payment of the last preceding call and that at least 14 clear days� notice from the date the notice is sent shall be given of every call specifying the time or times, place of payment and the amount called on the members� shares. A call may be revoked in whole or in part or the time fixed for its payment postponed in whole or in part by the Board at any time before receipt by the Company of the sum due thereunder.

�

30.

A call may be made payable by instalments.

�

31.

The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share.

�

32.

Each member shall pay to the Company, at the time and place of payment specified in the notice of the call, the amount called on his shares. A person on whom a call is made will remain liable for calls made upon him, notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made.

�

33.

If a sum called in respect of a share shall not be paid before or on the day appointed for payment, the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the sum from the day fixed for payment to the time of actual payment at such rate, not exceeding 5�per cent. above the base lending rate per annum most recently set by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, as the Board may decide, together with all expenses that may have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment, but the Board may waive payment of interest and such expenses wholly or in part. No dividend or other payment or distribution in respect of any such share shall be paid or distributed and no other rights which would otherwise normally be exercisable in accordance with these Articles may be exercised by a holder of any such share so long as any such sum or any interest or expenses payable in accordance with this Article in relation thereto remains due.

�

34.

Any sum which becomes payable by the terms of allotment of a share, whether on allotment or on any other fixed date or as an instalment of a call and whether on account of the

�

nominal value of the share or by way of premium, shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made, notified and payable on the date on which, by the terms of allotment or in the notice of the call, it becomes payable. In the case of non-payment, all the provisions of these Articles relating to payment of interest and expenses, forfeiture and otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

�

35.

The Board may, if it thinks fit, receive from any member willing to advance it all or any part of the money (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium) uncalled and unpaid upon any shares held by him, and may pay upon all or any part of the money so advanced (until it would but for the advance become presently payable) interest at such rate (if any) not exceeding 5�per cent. above the base lending rate per annum most recently set by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, as the Board may decide. No sum paid in advance of calls shall entitle the holder of a share to any portion of a dividend or other payment or distribution subsequently declared in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such sum would, but for such payment, become presently payable.

�

36.

The Board may on the allotment of shares differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.

FORFEITURE

�

37.

If a member fails to pay the whole or any part of any call or instalment of a call on the day fixed for payment, the Board may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or instalment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any accrued interest and any costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Company by reason of the non-payment.

�

38.

The notice shall fix a further day (not being less than seven clear days from the date of the notice) on or before which, and the place where, the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that, in the event of non-payment at or before the time and at the place specified, the shares on which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited. The Board may accept the surrender of any share liable to be forfeited upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed and, subject to any such terms and conditions, a surrendered share shall be treated as if it had been forfeited.

�

39.

If the requirements of the notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which the notice has been given may, at any time before the payments required by the notice have been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board to that effect. Every forfeiture shall include all dividends and other payments or distributions declared in respect of the forfeited shares and not paid or distributed before forfeiture. Forfeiture shall be deemed to occur at the time of the passing of the said resolution of the Board.

�

40.

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, a forfeited share shall be deemed to be the property of the Company and may be sold, reallotted or otherwise disposed of upon such terms and in such manner as the Board decides, either to the person who was before the forfeiture the holder or to any other person, and at any time before sale, reallotment or other disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Board decides. The Company shall not exercise any voting rights in respect of such a share. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited share is to be transferred to any person, the Board may authorise a person to execute an instrument of transfer of the share.

�

41.

When any share has been forfeited, notice of the forfeiture shall be served upon the person who was before forfeiture the holder, or the person entitled to the share by transmission, and an entry of the forfeiture, with the date of the forfeiture, shall be entered in the register, but no forfeiture shall be invalidated by any failure to give such notice or make such entry.

�

42.

A person, any of whose shares have been forfeited, shall cease to be a member in respect of the forfeited shares and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the shares forfeited, but shall, notwithstanding the forfeiture, remain liable to pay to the Company all money which at the date of forfeiture was then payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares, with interest on such money at such rate not exceeding 5�per cent. above the base lending rate per annum most recently set by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, as the Board may decide, from the date of forfeiture until payment. The Board may, if it thinks fit, waive the payment of all or part of such money and/or the interest payable thereon.

�

43.

A statutory declaration by a Director or the secretary that a share has been duly forfeited or surrendered on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The statutory declaration shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary) constitute a good title to the share and the person to whom the share is disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration (if any) nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, surrender, sale, reallotment or disposal of the share.

�

44.

If the Company sells a forfeited share, the person who held it prior to its forfeiture is entitled to receive from the Company the proceeds of such sale, net of any commission, and excluding any amount which was, or would have become, payable and had not, when that share was forfeited, been paid by that person in respect of that share, but no interest is payable to such person in respect of such proceeds and the Company is not required to account for any money earned on them.

TRANSFER OF SHARES

�

45.

The instrument of transfer of a share may be in any usual form or in any other form which the Board may approve.

�

46.

The instrument of transfer of a share shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and (in the case of a partly paid share) by or on behalf of the transferee. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder until the name of the transferee is entered in the register.

�

47.

The Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register the transfer of a share which is not fully paid, provided that the refusal does not prevent dealings in shares in the Company from taking place on an open and proper basis.

�

48.

The Board may also refuse to register any transfer of shares, unless:

�

48.1

the instrument of transfer is lodged (duly stamped if the Statutes so require) at the registered office or at such other place as the Board may appoint, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and such other evidence (if any) as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and, if the instrument of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person to do so) provided that, in the case of a transfer by a recognised person where a certificate has not been issued in respect of the share, the lodgment of share certificates shall not be necessary;

�

48.2

the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share; and

�

48.3

in the case of a transfer to joint holders, they do not exceed four in number.

�

49.

The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered, but any instrument of transfer which the Board refuses to register (except in the case of fraud) shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given.

�

50.

If the Board refuses to register a transfer, it shall within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with the Company send to the transferee notice of, together with the reasons for, the refusal.

�

51.

No fee shall be payable to the Company for the registration of any transfer or any other document relating to or affecting the title to any share or for making any entry in the register affecting the title to any share.

�

52.

Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the Directors from recognising a renunciation of the allotment of any share by the allottee in favour of some other person.

TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

�

53.

If a member dies, the survivor or survivors where he was a joint holder and his personal representatives where he was a sole holder or the only survivor of joint holders shall be the only person(s) recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares, but nothing contained in these Articles shall release the estate of a deceased member from any liability in respect of any share held by him solely or jointly with other persons.

�

54.

Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or by operation of law may, upon such evidence as to his title being produced as may be reasonably required by the Board and subject to these Articles, elect either to be registered as the holder of the share or to have a person nominated by him registered as the holder. If the person elects to become the holder, he shall give notice in writing to that effect. If the person elects to have another person registered, he shall execute an instrument of transfer of the share to that person. All the provisions of these Articles relating to the transfer of shares shall apply to the notice or instrument of transfer as if the death or bankruptcy of the member or other event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred and the notice or instrument of transfer were an instrument of transfer executed by the member.

�

55.

Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or by operation of law shall, subject to the requirements of these Articles and to the provisions of this Article, be entitled to receive, and may give a good discharge for, all dividends and other money payable in respect of the share, but he shall not be entitled to receive notice of or to attend or vote at meetings of the Company or at any separate meetings of the holders of any class of shares or to any of the rights or privileges of a member until he shall have become a holder in respect of the share in question. The Board may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered or to transfer the share, and if the notice is not complied with within 60 days, the Board may withhold payment of all dividends and other distributions and payments declared in respect of the share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL

�

56.

The Company may by ordinary resolution alter its share capital in accordance with the Act.

�

57.

A resolution to sub-divide shares may determine that, as between the holders of such shares resulting from the sub-division, any of them may have any preference or advantage or be subject to any restriction as compared with the others.

PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

�

58.

On any purchase by the Company of its own shares, neither the Company nor the Board shall be required to select the shares to be purchased rateably or in any manner as between the holders of shares of the same class or as between them and the holders of shares of any other class or in accordance with the rights as to dividends or capital conferred by any class of shares.

�

GENERAL MEETINGS

�

59.

The Company shall hold an annual general meeting which shall be convened by the Board in accordance with the Statutes and giving due consideration to the governance framework set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company.

�

60.

The Board may call a general meeting whenever it thinks fit and, on the requisition of members in accordance with the Act, it shall proceed to convene a general meeting for a date not more than 28 days after the date of the notice convening the meeting.

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

�

61.

An annual general meeting shall be called by at least 21 clear days� notice in writing. All other general meetings shall be called by at least 21 clear days� notice in writing. The notice shall specify:

�

61.1

if the meeting is an annual general meeting, that the meeting is an annual general meeting;

�

61.2

the day, time and place of the meeting (including without limitation any satellite meeting place arranged for the purposes of Article 73, which shall be identified as such in the notice);

�

61.3

the general nature of the business to be transacted;

�

61.4

if the meeting is convened to consider a special resolution, the intention to propose the resolution as such; and

�

61.5

with reasonable prominence, that a member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend, to speak and to vote instead of him and that a proxy need not also be a member.

�

62.

Subject to the provisions of these Articles, to the rights attaching to any class of shares and to any restriction imposed on any holder, notice of any general meeting shall be given to all members, the Directors and (in the case of an annual general meeting) the auditors.

�

63.

The accidental omission to send a notice of any meeting, or notice of a resolution to be moved at a meeting or (where forms of proxy are sent out with notices) to send a form of proxy with a notice to any person entitled to receive the same, or the non-receipt of a notice of any meeting or a form of proxy by such a person, shall not invalidate the proceedings at the meeting.

�

64.

The Board may postpone a general meeting if they deem it necessary to do so. Notice of such postponement shall be given in accordance with these Articles.

�

65.

In relation to any proposal to appoint a Director pursuant to Article 112 a nomination may (i)�be made by the Board or (ii)�any shareholder or shareholders may, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, request the Company to call a general meeting or give notice of a resolution to be proposed at an annual general meeting for the purposes of electing a person as a Director (a �Nominee�). Where any such request relates to the proposal of a resolution for the election of a director at an annual general meeting of shareholders, such request must be delivered, either by personal delivery or by prepaid mail to the Company Secretary 90 days in advance of such meeting.

�

65.1

Any notice given in accordance with Article 65 must set out:

�

65.1.1

the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make the nomination;

�

65.1.2

the name and address of the Nominee or Nominees to be nominated;

�

65.1.3

a representation that the shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the Nominee or Nominees specified in the notice and be accompanied by evidence of the shareholding required to make such request by the relevant shareholder or shareholders;

�

65.1.4

a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each Nominee and any other person or persons (giving their names) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the shareholder;

�

65.1.5

such other information regarding each Nominee as would have been required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC; and

�

65.1.6

the consent of each Nominee to serve as a Director if so elected.

�

65.2

If the notice of nomination is not received in accordance with this Article 65, the Chairman may, so far as permitted by the Statutes, refuse to acknowledge such proposed nomination and may determine that the shareholder who has nominated a person to be elected as a Director at a general meeting or annual general meeting shall not be permitted to vote any shares entitled to vote at that meeting on the matter of election of Directors.

�

66.

Other than a request to which Article 65 applies, where a shareholder or shareholders, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, request the Company to call a general meeting or give notice of a resolution to be proposed at an annual general meeting, such request must, in each case and in addition to the requirements of the Act:

�

66.1

set out the name and address of the shareholder or shareholders making the request;

�

66.2

set out a clear and concise statement of the agenda items to be put before the general meeting or annual general meeting as the case may be; and

�

66.3

be accompanied by evidence of the shareholding required to make such request by the relevant shareholder or shareholders.

Without prejudice to the rights of any member under the Act, a member who makes a request to which this Article relates, must deliver any such request in writing to the company secretary no less than 60 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the relevant meeting. If a request made in accordance with this Article does not include the information specified above or if a request made in accordance with this Article is not received in the time and manner indicated, in respect of the shares which the relevant member(s) making the request hold, such member(s) shall not be entitled to vote such shares, either personally or by proxy at a general meeting or at a separate meeting of the holders of that class of shares (or at an adjournment of any such meeting), with respect to the matters detailed in the request made pursuant to this Article.

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

�

67.

No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the choice or appointment of a Chairman in accordance with these Articles (which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting). Subject to Article 68 a quorum shall be members who, present in person (which, in the case of a corporate member shall include being present by a representative) or by proxy, together represent at least the majority of the total voting rights of all the members entitled to vote in relation to the meeting.

�

68.

The matters set forth below require the presence of at least two thirds of the total voting rights of all the members entitled to vote in relation to the meeting:

�

68.1

the adoption by the Company of a resolution to remove a serving member of the Board;

�

68.2

the adoption by the Company of a resolution to amend, vary, suspend the operation of, disapply or cancel:

�

68.2.1

Article 67;

�

68.2.2

this Article 68;

�

68.2.3

Article 78;

�

68.2.4

any of Articles 103 to 117 inclusive;

�

68.2.5

any of Articles 145 to 147 inclusive; and

�

68.2.6

any of Articles 148 to 149 inclusive.

�

69.

If within 30 minutes from the time fixed for a meeting a quorum is not present or if during a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, shall be dissolved and in any other case it shall stand adjourned to such day and to such time and place as may, subject to the Act, be fixed by the Chairman of the meeting. At such adjourned meeting, if within 30 minutes from the time fixed for holding the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present or if during an adjourned meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the adjourned meeting shall be dissolved. The Company shall give at least 10 clear days� notice (in any manner in which notice of a meeting may lawfully be given from time to time) of any meeting adjourned through lack of a quorum and such notice shall state the quorum requirement.

�

70.

The Chairman of the Board or in his absence the Deputy Chairman shall preside as Chairman at every general meeting of the Company. If there is no such Chairman or Deputy Chairman or if at any meeting neither the Chairman nor the Deputy Chairman is present within 30 minutes from the time fixed for holding the meeting or if neither is willing to act as Chairman of the meeting, the Directors present shall choose one of their number, or if no Director is present or if all the Directors present decline to take the chair, the members present in person or by proxy or by corporate representative and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting.

�

71.

The Board may implement at general meetings of the Company, such security arrangements as it shall think appropriate to which members, representatives (in the case of corporate members) and their proxies shall be subject. The Board shall be entitled to refuse entry to the meeting to any such member, representative or proxy who fails to comply with such security arrangements.

�

71.1

The Chairman of each general meeting of the Company may take such action as he considers appropriate to permit the orderly conduct of the business of the meeting as set out in the notice of the meeting.

�

72.

The Chairman of a meeting at which a quorum is present may, without prejudice to any other power of adjournment which he may have under these Articles or at common law, with the consent of the meeting (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and from place to place (or, in the case of a meeting held at a principal meeting place and a satellite meeting place, from places to places). No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. Where a meeting is adjourned for an indefinite period, the time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Board. Whenever a meeting is adjourned for 14 days or more or for an

�

indefinite period, at least seven clear days� notice, specifying the place, the day and the time of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted, shall be given (in any manner in which notice of a meeting may lawfully be given from time to time). Save as provided in these Articles, it shall not otherwise be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

�

73.

The Board may resolve to enable persons entitled to attend a general meeting to do so by simultaneous attendance and participation at a satellite meeting place anywhere in the world. The members present in person or by proxy at satellite meeting places shall be counted in the quorum for, and entitled to vote at, the general meeting in question, and that meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the Chairman of the general meeting is satisfied that adequate facilities are available throughout the general meeting to ensure that members attending at all the meeting places are able to:

�

73.1

participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened;

�

73.2

hear and see all persons who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loudspeakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise) in the principal meeting place and any satellite meeting place; and

�

73.3

be heard and seen by all other persons so present in the same manner.

�

74.

The Chairman of the general meeting shall be present at, and the meeting shall be deemed to take place at, the principal meeting place.

�

75.

If it appears to the Chairman that the principal meeting place specified in the notice convening the meeting is inadequate to accommodate all members entitled and wishing to attend, the meeting shall nevertheless be duly constituted and its proceedings valid provided that the Chairman is satisfied that adequate facilities are available to ensure that any member who is unable to be accommodated is nonetheless able to:

�

75.1

participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened;

�

75.2

hear and see all persons present who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loudspeakers, audiovisual communication equipment or otherwise), in the principal meeting place and any satellite meeting place; and

�

75.3

to be heard and seen by all other persons so present in the same manner.

If it appears to the Chairman that such facilities at the principal meeting place or any satellite meeting place have become inadequate for the purposes referred in Article 73 or this Article 75 respectively then the Chairman may, without the consent of the meeting, interrupt or adjourn the general meeting. All business conducted at that general meeting up to the time of that adjournment shall be valid.

�

76.

The Board may make arrangements for persons entitled to attend a general meeting or an adjourned general meeting to be able to view and hear the proceedings of the general meeting or adjourned general meeting and to speak at the meeting (whether by the use of microphones, loudspeakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise) by attending at a venue anywhere in the world not being a satellite meeting place. Those attending at any such venue shall not be regarded as present at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting and shall not be entitled to vote at the meeting at or from that venue. The inability for any reason of any member present in person or by proxy at such a venue to view or hear all or any of the proceedings of the meeting or to speak at the meeting shall not in any way affect the validity of the proceedings of the meeting.

�

77.

The Board may from time to time make any arrangements for controlling the level of attendance at any venue for which arrangements have been made pursuant to Article 76 (including without limitation the issue of tickets or the imposition of some other means of selection) which it in its absolute discretion considers appropriate, and may from time to time change those arrangements. If a member, pursuant to those arrangements, is not entitled to attend in person or by proxy at a particular venue, he shall be entitled to attend in person or by proxy at any other venue for which arrangements have been made pursuant to Article 76. The entitlement of any member to be present at such venue in person or by proxy shall be subject to any such arrangement then in force and stated by the notice of meeting or adjourned meeting to apply to the meeting.

�

78.

At any general meeting, any resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll. A poll shall be taken as the Chairman directs and he may appoint scrutineers (who need not be members) in connection with such poll and fix a time and place for declaring the result of the poll. The result of the poll shall be the decision of the meeting at which it was taken.

�

79.

Any poll conducted on the election of the Chairman or on any question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting and without adjournment. A poll conducted on another question shall be taken at such time and place as the Chairman decides, either at once or after an interval or adjournment.

�

80.

The date and time of the opening and the closing of a poll for each matter upon which the shareholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the scrutineers or inspectors after the closing of the poll unless a court with relevant jurisdiction upon application by a shareholder shall determine otherwise.

�

81.

The conduct of a poll (other than on the election of a Chairman or on a question of adjournment) does not prevent the meeting continuing for the transaction of business other than the question on which a poll is to be conducted.

�

82.

A Director shall, notwithstanding that he is not a member, be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company.

VOTES OF MEMBERS

�

83.

Subject to any terms as to voting upon which any shares may be issued or may for the time being be held every member present at a general meeting in person or by proxy or by representative (in the case of a corporate member) shall have one vote for each share of which he is the holder, proxy or representative. A member entitled to more than one vote need not, if he votes, use all his votes or cast all the votes in the same way.

�

84.

In the case of joint holders of a share the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register in respect of the joint holding.

�

85.

A member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court or official having jurisdiction (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) that he is or may be suffering from mental disorder or is otherwise incapable of running his affairs may vote by his guardian, receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised for that purpose and appointed by the court (and that person may vote by proxy) provided that evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote shall be deposited at the registered office, or at such other place as is specified in accordance with these Articles for the deposit of instruments of proxy, not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the right to vote is to be exercised, and in default the right to vote shall not be exercisable.

�

86.

No member shall, unless the Board otherwise determines, be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid.

�

87.

Where, in respect of any shares of the Company, any holder or any other person appearing to be interested in such shares held by a member has been issued with a notice pursuant to section 793 of the Act (a �statutory notice�) and has failed in relation to any shares (the �default shares�) to comply with the statutory notice and to give the Company the information required by such notice within the prescribed period as defined in Article 92.4 from the date of the statutory notice, then the Board may serve on the holder of such default shares a notice (a �disenfranchisement notice�) whereupon the following sanctions shall apply:

�

87.1

such holder shall not with effect from the service of the disenfranchisement notice be entitled in respect of the default shares to be present or to vote (either in person or by

�

�	representative or by proxy) either at any general meeting or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to any such meeting; and

�

87.2

where such shares represent not less than 0.25�per cent. in nominal value of the issued shares of their class:

�

87.2.1

any dividend or other monies payable in respect of the default shares shall be withheld by the Company which shall not be under any obligation to pay interest on it and the holder shall not be entitled under Article 182 to elect to receive shares instead of that dividend; and

�

87.2.2

no transfer, other than an excepted transfer (as defined in Article 92.5), of any shares in certificated form held by the holder shall be registered unless:

�

(a)

the holder is not himself in default as regards supplying the information required; and

�

(b)

the holder proves to the satisfaction of the Board that no person in default as regards supplying such information is interested in any of the shares the subject of the transfer.

�

88.

Any new shares in the Company issued in right of default shares shall be subject to the same sanctions as apply to the default shares provided that any sanctions applying to, or to a right to, new shares by virtue of this Article shall cease to have effect when the sanctions applying to the related default shares cease to have effect (and shall be suspended or cancelled if and to the extent that the sanctions applying to the related default shares are suspended or cancelled) and provided further that Article 87 shall apply to the exclusion of this Article if the Company gives a separate notice under section 793 of the Act in relation to the new shares.

�

89.

The Company may at any time withdraw a disenfranchisement notice by serving on the holder of the default shares a notice in writing to that effect (a �withdrawal notice�), and a disenfranchisement notice shall be deemed to have been withdrawn at the end of the period of seven days (or such shorter period as the Directors may determine) following receipt by the Company of the information required by the statutory notice in respect of all the shares to which the disenfranchisement notice related.

�

90.

Unless and until a withdrawal notice is duly served in relation thereto or a disenfranchisement notice in relation thereto is deemed to have been withdrawn or the shares to which a disenfranchisement notice relates are transferred by means of an excepted transfer, the sanctions referred to in Articles 87 and 88 shall continue to apply.

�

91.

Where, on the basis of information obtained from a holder in respect of any share held by him, the Company issues a notice pursuant to section 793 of the Act to any other person and such person fails to give the Company the information thereby required within the prescribed period and the Board serves a disenfranchisement notice upon such person, it shall at the same time send a copy of the disenfranchisement notice to the holder of such share, but the accidental omission to do so, or the non-receipt by the holder of the copy, shall not invalidate or otherwise affect the application of Articles 87 and 88.

�

92.

For the purposes of these Articles:

�

92.1

a person other than the holder of a share shall be treated as appearing to be interested in that share if the holder has informed the Company that the person is or may be so interested or if (after taking into account the said notification and any other relevant notification pursuant to section 793 of the Act) the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person in question is or may be interested in the share;

�

92.2

�interested� shall be construed as it is for the purpose of section 793 of the Act;

�

92.3

reference to a person having failed to give the Company the information required by a notice, or being in default as regards supplying such information, includes:

�

92.3.1

reference to his having failed or refused to give all or any part of it; and

�

92.3.2

reference to his having given information which he knows to be false in a material particular or having recklessly given information which is false in a material particular;

�

92.4

the �prescribed period� means:

�

92.4.1

in a case where the default shares represent at least 0.25�per cent. of their class, 14 days; and

�

92.4.2

in any other case, 28 days; and

�

92.5

an �excepted transfer� means, in relation to any share held by a holder:

�

92.5.1

a transfer pursuant to acceptance of an offer made to all the holders (or all the holders other than the person making the offer and his nominees) of the shares in the Company to acquire those shares or a specified proportion of them, or to all the holders (or all the holders other than the person making the offer and his nominees) of a particular class of those shares to acquire the shares of that class or a specified proportion of them; or

�

92.5.2

a transfer in consequence of a sale made through a recognised investment exchange (as defined in the FSMA) or any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the Company�s shares are normally traded; or

�

92.5.3

a transfer which is shown to the satisfaction of the Board to be made in consequence of a bona fide sale of the whole of the beneficial interest in the share to a person who is unconnected with the holder and with any other person appearing to be interested in the share.

�

93.

Nothing contained in these Articles shall prejudice or affect the right of the Company to apply to the court for an order under section 794 of the Act and in connection with such an application or intended application or otherwise to require information on shorter notice than the prescribed period.

�

94.

No objections may be raised to the qualification of any person voting at a general meeting except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is tendered, and every vote not disallowed at the meeting is valid. Any such objection must be referred to the Chairman of the meeting whose decision is final.

�

95.

If an amendment shall be proposed to any resolution under consideration but shall in good faith be ruled out of order by the Chairman of the meeting, the proceedings on the substantive resolution shall not be invalidated by any error in such ruling. In the case of a resolution proposed as a special resolution, no amendment to it (other than a mere clerical amendment to correct a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted upon.

�

95.1

Invitations to appoint a proxy (whether made by instrument in writing, in electronic form or by website communication) shall be in any usual form or in such other form as the Board may approve. Invitations to appoint a proxy shall be sent or made available by the Company to all persons entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at any meeting, and shall provide for voting both for and against all resolutions to be proposed at that meeting other than resolutions relating to the procedure of the meeting. The accidental omission to send or make available an invitation to appoint a proxy or the non-receipt thereof by any member entitled to attend and vote at a meeting shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting. The appointment of a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to vote on any amendment of a resolution put to the meeting for which it is given or any procedural resolution as the proxy thinks fit. A proxy need not be a member of the Company.

�

95.2

The appointment of a proxy shall, if made by instrument in writing, be signed in the case of an individual, by the appointer or his attorney who is authorised in writing to do so. In the case of a body corporate, the proxy appointment must be executed under seal or otherwise executed by it in accordance with the Act or signed on its behalf by an officer, attorney or duly authorised signatory.

�

95.3

If the Directors from time to time so permit, a proxy may be appointed by electronic communication to such address as may be notified by or on behalf of the Company for that purpose, or by any other lawful means from time to time authorised by the Directors. Any means of appointing a proxy which is authorised by or under this Article shall be subject to any terms, limitations, conditions or restrictions that the Directors may from time to time prescribe. Without limiting the foregoing, in relation to any shares which are held in uncertificated form, the Directors may from time to time permit appointments of a proxy to be made by means of an electronic communication in the form of an Uncertificated Proxy Instruction, and received by such participant in the relevant system concerned acting on behalf of the Company as the Directors may prescribe, in such form and subject to such terms and conditions as may from time to time be prescribed by the Directors (subject always to the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned), and may in a similar manner permit supplements to, or amendments or revocations of, any such Uncertificated Proxy Instruction to be made by like means. The Directors may in addition prescribe the method of determining the time at which any such properly authenticated dematerialised instruction (and/or other instruction or notification) is to be treated as received by the Company or such participant. The Directors may treat any such Uncertificated Proxy Instruction which purports to be or is expressed to be sent on behalf of a holder of a share as sufficient evidence of the authority of the person sending that instruction to send it on behalf of that holder.

�

96.

Any corporation which is a member of the Company may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of members of the Company, and (except as otherwise provided in these Articles) the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual member of the Company. A certified copy of such a resolution shall be delivered at the meeting to the Chairman of the meeting or secretary or any person appointed by the Company to receive such authorisation, and unless such certified copy of such resolution is so delivered the authority granted by such resolution shall not be treated as valid. Where certified copies of two or more valid but differing resolutions authorising any person or persons to act as the representative of any corporation pursuant to this Article at the same meeting in respect of the same share are delivered, the resolution, a certified copy of which is delivered to the Company (in accordance with the provisions of this Article) last in time (regardless of the date of such certified copy or of the date upon which the resolution set out therein was passed), shall be treated as revoking and replacing all other such authorities as regards that share, but if the Company is unable to determine which of any such two or more valid but differing resolutions was so deposited last in time, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share. The authority granted by any such resolution shall, unless the contrary is stated in the certified copy thereof delivered to the Company pursuant to this Article, be treated as valid for any adjournment of any meeting at which such authority may be used as well as at such meeting.

�

97.

A corporation which is a member of the Company may authorise more than one person to act as its representative pursuant to this Article in respect of any meeting or meetings, and such a member who holds different classes of shares may so authorise one or more different persons for each class of shares held.

�

97.1

The appointment of proxy and the power of attorney or other written authority (if any) under which it is signed, or a copy of any such power or written authority certified notarially or in any other manner approved by the Directors, shall:

�

(a)

in the case of an appointment otherwise than by electronic communication, be deposited at the registered office (or at such other place as shall be specified in the notice of meeting or in any instrument of proxy or other document accompanying the same) by the time specified by the Board (as the board may determine, in compliance with the Act) in any such instrument or other document accompanying the same.

�

(b)

in the case of an appointment by electronic communication where an address has been specified for the purpose of receiving appointments by electronic communication (i)�in the notice convening the meeting, (ii)�in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting or (iii)�in any invitation contained in an electronic communication to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting, be received at such address by the time specified by the Board (as the Board may determine, in compliance with the Act) in any such notice, instrument of proxy or invitation.

The board may specify, when determining the dates by which proxies are to be lodged, that no account need be taken of any part of a day that is not a working day.

�

97.2

The deposit, delivery or receipt of an appointment of proxy shall not preclude a member from attending and voting at the meeting or at any adjourned meeting. When two or more valid but differing appointments of proxy are deposited, delivered or received in respect of the same share for use at the same meeting, the one which is deposited with, delivered to or received by the Company (in accordance with the provisions of this Article) last in time (regardless of the date of its making or transmission) shall be treated as revoking and replacing any others as regards that share, but if the Company is unable to determine which of any such two or more valid but differing instruments of proxy was so deposited, delivered or received last in time, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share.

�

97.3

No appointment of proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 12 months from the date stated in it as the date of its making or transmission. The appointment of proxy shall, unless the contrary is stated, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates.

�

97.4

Any vote cast by a proxy who does not vote in accordance with any instructions given by the member by whom he is appointed shall be treated as being valid and the Company shall not be bound to enquire whether a proxy has complied with the instructions he has been given.

�

98.

A vote given by proxy or by the duly authorised representative of a corporation shall be valid, notwithstanding the previous determination of the authority of the person voting, unless notice of the determination shall have been received by the Company at the registered office (or other place at which the appointment of proxy was duly deposited, delivered or received in accordance with Article 97) before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the appointment of proxy is used.

POWERS OF THE BOARD

�

99.

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, these Articles and any directions given by special resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Board which may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of these Articles and no directions given by special resolution shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such alteration had not been made or such direction had not been given. The general powers given by this Article shall not be limited or restricted by any special authority or power given to the Board by any other Article.

�

100.

The Board may from time to time make such arrangements as it thinks fit for the management and transaction of the Company�s affairs in the United Kingdom or elsewhere and may for that purpose appoint managers, inspectors and agents and delegate to them any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in the Board (other than the power to borrow and make calls) with power to sub-delegate and may authorise the members of any local board or any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding such vacancies. Any such appointment or delegation may be made upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board thinks fit. The Board may at any time remove any person so appointed and may vary or annul such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such removal, variation or annulment shall be affected by it.

�

101.

The Board may from time to time by power of attorney appoint any company, firm or person, or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Board, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Board under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit. Any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection or convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Board may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him. The Board may revoke or vary any such appointment, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected by it.

�

102.

The Board may delegate any of its powers to any committee consisting of one or more Directors. It may also delegate to any Director holding any executive office or any other Director such of its powers as it considers desirable to be exercised by him. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Board may impose and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of its own powers and may be revoked or altered, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of such revocation or variation shall be affected by it. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee with two or more members shall be governed by these Articles regulating the proceedings of the Board so far as they are capable of applying. If any such committee determines to co-opt persons other than Directors onto such committee, the number of such co-opted persons shall be less than one-half of the total number of members of the committee and no resolution of the committee shall be effective unless a majority of the members of the committee present at the meeting concerned are Directors.

NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

�

103.

The number of Directors shall be not less than three nor more than eight in number.

�

104.

A Director shall not be required to hold any shares of the Company by way of qualification.

�

105.

If the number of Directors is reduced below the minimum number fixed in accordance with these Articles, the Directors for the time being may act for the purpose of filling up vacancies in their number or of calling a general meeting of the Company, but not for any other purpose. If there are no Directors able or willing to act, then any two members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors.

�

106.

No person other than a Director retiring (or, if appointed by the Board, vacating office) at the meeting shall, unless recommended by the Board, be eligible for election to the office of a Director at any general meeting, unless the provisions of Article 65 have been complied with.

ELECTION, APPOINTMENT AND RETIREMENT OF DIRECTORS

�

107.

The Directors of the Company shall for an initial period be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes (�Class I�, �Class II� and �Class III�), such classes being as nearly equal in number as possible. The initial term of:

�

107.1

Class I and Class II shall expire at the annual general meeting to be held in 2015; and

�

107.2

Class III shall expire at the annual general meeting to be held in 2016;

with each class to hold office until its successors are duly elected.

�

108.

At each annual general meeting to be held in and after 2014, the number of Directors equal to the number of the Class or Classes whose term expires at such meeting shall be appointed

�

to hold office until the next succeeding annual general meeting. At each annual general meeting to be held in and after 2016, the Directors of the Company shall cease to be classified and all Directors shall stand for election at each successive annual general meeting. Except as provided in Article 109, Directors of the Class whose term is expiring at an annual general meeting shall be appointed at such meeting, and each Director elected shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed or until his or her death, retirement, resignation or removal.

�

109.

In the event of any change in the authorised number of Directors and if the Board then remains classified, the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board (pursuant to the power contained in Article 110.1) among the Classes of Directors so as to maintain such Classes as nearly equal as possible.

�

110.

��

�

110.1

Except as provided in Article 110.2, should a vacancy on the Board occur or be created, whether arising through death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a Director, or through an increase in the number of Directors, such vacancy shall be filled by the majority vote of all of the remaining Directors, giving due consideration to the governance framework set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company, whether or not the Board remains classified and whether or not a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director. Subject to the provisions hereof, any Director appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the then present term of office of the Class to which he or she was appointed (if the Board remains classified) or until the next annual general meeting for which a notice has not been sent at the time of appointment (if the Board is no longer classified). Where the Board remains classified, in the event such term extends beyond the next annual general meeting for which a notice of the meeting has not been sent at the time of the appointment, the Director or Directors so appointed shall be named and described in the notice of the next annual general meeting and shall stand for election for the remaining portion of the term of office at such annual general meeting.

�

110.2

If at any annual general meeting all the resolutions for the appointment of Directors are put to the meeting and lost (if the Board is no longer classified) or if by reason of persons failing to be appointed as Directors the number of Directors falls below the minimum number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles or below the number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles as the quorum, all Directors retiring at the meeting and standing for re-appointment (the �Dismissed Directors�) shall continue to be Directors for a maximum period of 60 days (and are treated as continuing in office without interruption). During such period, Directors shall be appointed generally or to the appropriate Class (if the Board remains classified) in accordance with Article 110.1, either at a further general meeting and/or by the remaining Directors (but in this latter case, none of those appointed may be Dismissed Directors). Once a sufficient number of Directors has been so appointed, the Dismissed Directors shall cease to be Directors.

�

111.

Except as otherwise authorised by the Act, a motion for the appointment of two or more persons as Directors by a single resolution shall not be made unless a resolution that it should be so made has first been agreed to by the meeting without any vote being given against it.

�

112.

Save to the extent Article 113 applies, the Company may by ordinary resolution elect a person who is willing to act to be a Director either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director at any general meeting at which it is proposed to vote upon a resolution for the appointment of a person as a Director; but so that the total number of Directors shall not at any time exceed the maximum number fixed by these Articles.

�

113.

In the event that at a general meeting of the Company it is proposed to vote upon a number of resolutions for the appointment of a person as a Director (each a �Director Resolution�) that exceeds the total number of Directors that are to be appointed to the Board at that meeting (the �Board Number�), the persons that shall be appointed shall: first be the person who receives the greatest number of ��for�� votes (whether or not a majority of those votes cast in respect of that Director Resolution), and then shall second be the person who receives the second greatest number of ��for�� votes (whether or not a majority of those votes cast in respect of that Director Resolution), and so on, until the number of Directors so appointed equals the Board Number.

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

�

114.

A Director may resign his office either by notice in writing submitted to the Board or, if he shall in writing offer to resign, if the other Directors resolve to accept such offer.

�

115.

The Company may, by ordinary resolution at a meeting of which special notice has been given, in accordance with section�312 of the Act, remove any Director before the expiration of his period of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director. Such removal shall be without prejudice to any claim which such Director may have for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company. The quorum requirement set out in Article 68 shall apply to any such resolution. An executive Director (as defined in Article�121) may also be removed from office in accordance with Article�121.

VACATION OF OFFICE

�

116.

Without prejudice to the other provisions of these Articles, the office of a Director shall be vacated if:

�

116.1

the Director becomes bankrupt or the subject of an interim receiving order or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally or applies to the court for an interim order under section 253 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (as amended) in connection with a voluntary arrangement under that Act; or

�

116.2

a registered medical practitioner who is treating that person gives a written opinion to the Company stating that that person has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a Director and may remain so for more than three months; or

�

116.3

the Director is absent from meetings of the Board for six consecutive months without permission of the Board and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or

�

116.4

ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Statutes or becomes prohibited by law from being a Director.

�

117.

A resolution of the Board declaring a Director to have vacated or have been removed from office under the terms of Articles�115 to 116 shall be conclusive as to the fact and grounds of vacation or removal stated in the resolution.

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS

�

118.

Subject to the Statutes, the Directors shall be paid such remuneration (by way of fee) for their services as may be determined by the Board. Such remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day, shall be divided between the Directors as they shall agree or, failing agreement, equally and shall be distinct from and additional to any remuneration or other benefits which may be paid or provided to any Director pursuant to any other provision of these Articles. The Directors shall also be entitled to be repaid all travelling, hotel and other expenses of attending Board meetings, committee meetings, general meetings, or otherwise incurred while engaged on the business of the Company.

�

119.

Any Director who by request of the Board performs special services or goes or resides abroad for any purposes of the Company may, subject to the Statutes, be paid such extra remuneration by way of salary, commission, percentage of profits or otherwise as the Board may decide.

EXECUTIVE AND MANAGING DIRECTORS

�

120.

The Board may from time to time (giving due consideration to the governance framework set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company):

�

120.1

appoint one or more of its body to any executive or other office (except that of auditor) or employment in the Company, for such period (subject to the Statutes and these Articles) and on such terms as it thinks fit, and may revoke such appointment (but so that such revocation shall be without prejudice to any rights or claims which the person whose appointment is revoked may have against the Company by reason of such revocation); and

�

120.2

permit any person elected or appointed to be a Director to continue in any other office or employment held by that person before he was so elected or appointed.

�

121.

A Director holding any such office or employment with a member of the group is referred to in these Articles as an �executive Director�. Subject to the Statutes, the remuneration of any executive Director (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) shall be decided by the Board and may be either in addition to or in lieu of any remuneration as a Director.

�

122.

The Board may entrust to and confer upon any executive Director any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable by it upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as it thinks fit, either collaterally with or to the exclusion of its own powers, authorities and discretions and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of them, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variation shall be affected by it.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER

�

123.

The Directors may from time to time, and at any time, pursuant to this Article appoint any other persons to any post (other than the office of Director) with such descriptive title, including that of Chief Executive Officer, President, Vice President and/or Treasurer as the Directors may determine and may define, limit, vary and restrict the powers, authorities and discretions of persons so appointed and, subject to the Statutes, may fix and determine their remuneration and duties and, subject to any contract between him and the Company, may remove from such post any person so appointed. Unless expressly agreed by the Board to the contrary (in which case Articles 107 to 122 shall also apply to the role of such person as a Director), a person so appointed shall not be a Director for any of the purposes of these Articles or of the Statutes, and accordingly shall not be a member of the Board or (subject to Article 102) of any committee hereof, nor shall he be entitled to be present at any meeting of the Board or of any such committee except at the request of the Board or of such committee, and if present at such request he shall not be entitled to vote thereat.

�

124.

Subject always to the direction and control of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the general control and management of the business and affairs of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect, and shall exercise or perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chief Executive Officer by the Board or any committee empowered by the Board to authorize the same. Subject to the Act, the Chief Executive Officer may sign and execute on behalf of the Company such contracts as may be authorised by the Board or any Board Committee empowered to authorise the same in accordance with these Articles.

�

125.

Any person appointed President shall exercise or perform such powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to the President by the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman or the Board. Subject to the Act, the President may sign and execute on behalf of the Company such contracts as may be authorised by the Board or any Board Committee empowered to authorise the same in accordance with these Articles.

�

126.

Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chairman or the Board. Subject to the Act, any Vice President may sign and execute on behalf of the Company such contracts as may be authorised by the Board or any Board Committee empowered to authorise the same in accordance with these Articles.

�

127.

The Treasurer shall perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Treasurer by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chairman or the Board.

DIRECTORS� GRATUITIES AND PENSIONS

�

128.

The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to provide benefits, whether by the payment of gratuities or pensions or by insurance or otherwise, for any Director who has held but no longer holds any executive office or employment with the Company or with any body corporate which is or has been a subsidiary undertaking of the Company or a predecessor in business of the Company or of any such subsidiary undertaking, and for any member of his family (including a spouse and a former spouse) or any person who is or was dependent on him, and may (as well before as after he ceases to hold such office or employment) contribute to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such benefit.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD

�

129.

The Board may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings as it thinks fit. Questions arising at any such meetings shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman of the meeting shall not have a casting vote. A Director may, and the secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Board and notice of such meeting shall be deemed to be duly given to each Director if it is given to him personally or by word of mouth or sent in writing to him at his last-known address or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose or sent by way of electronic communication to an address for the time being notified by him to the Company for this purpose.

�

130.

The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board shall be a majority of the Board.

�

131.

Any Director may validly participate in a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board through the medium of conference telephone or similar form of communication equipment provided that all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout such meeting. A person so participating shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall accordingly be counted in a quorum and be entitled to vote. Subject

�

to the Statutes, all business transacted in such a manner by the Board or a committee of the Board shall, for the purposes of these Articles, be deemed to be validly and effectively transacted at a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board, notwithstanding that fewer than two Directors are physically present at the same place. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled or, if there is no such group, where the Chairman of the meeting then is.

�

132.

The Board may appoint from its number, and remove, a Chairman and, if it thinks fit, a Deputy Chairman of its meetings and determine the period for which they are respectively to hold office. If no such Chairman or Deputy Chairman is appointed, or neither is present within five minutes after the time fixed for holding any meeting, or neither of them is willing to act as Chairman, the Directors present may choose one of their number to act as Chairman of such meeting.

�

133.

A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors for the time being entitled to vote on the resolution at a meeting of the Board (not being less than the number of Directors required to form a quorum of the Board at such meeting) or by all the members of a committee of the Board for the time being shall be as valid and effective as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Board or committee duly convened and held. The resolution may consist of one document or several documents in like form (and in hard copy or electronic form) each signed by one or more Directors and such documents may be exact copies of the signed resolution.

�

134.

All acts done by any meeting of the Board, or of a committee of the Board, or by any person acting as a Director, shall as regards all persons dealing in good faith with the Company, notwithstanding it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment or continuance in office of any Director or person so acting, or that they or any of them were disqualified, or had vacated office or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed or had duly continued in office and was qualified and had continued to be a Director and had been entitled to vote.

DIRECTORS� INTERESTS

Declarations of interest relating to transactions or arrangements

�

135.

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, and provided that he has made the disclosures required by this Article, a Director notwithstanding his office may be a party to or otherwise directly or indirectly interested in:

�

135.1

any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested; or

�

135.2

a proposed transaction or arrangement with the Company.

�

136.

A Director shall, subject to sub-section 177(6) of the Act, be required to disclose all interests whether or not material in any transaction or arrangement referred to in Article 135 and the declaration of interest must (in the case of a transaction or arrangement referred to in Article 135.1) and may (in the case of a transaction or arrangement referred to in Article 135.2), but need not, be made:

�

136.1

at a meeting of the Directors; or

�

136.2

by notice to the Directors in accordance with:

�

(a)

Section�184 of the Act (notice in writing); or

�

(b)

Section�185 of the Act (general notice).

�

137.

The Directors may resolve that any situation referred to in Article 135 and disclosed to them thereunder shall also be subject to such terms as they may determine including, without limitation, the terms referred to in paragraphs (a)�to (d)�of Article 138.3.

Directors� interests other than in relation to transactions or arrangements with the Company

�

138.

For the purposes of Section�175 of the Act, the Directors shall have the power to authorise any matter which would or might otherwise constitute or give rise to a breach of the duty of a Director under that Section to avoid a situation in which he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company. For these purposes references to a conflict of interest include a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties. This Article does not apply to a conflict of interest arising in relation to a transaction or arrangement with the Company which are governed by Articles 135 to 137 inclusive.

�

138.1

Authorisation of a matter under this Article shall be effective only if:

�

(a)

the matter in question shall have been proposed in writing (giving full particulars of the relevant situation) for consideration at a meeting of the Directors, in accordance with the Board�s normal procedures or in such other manner as the Directors may approve;

�

(b)

any requirement as to the quorum at the meeting of the Directors at which the matter is considered is met without counting the Director in question and any other interested Director (together the �Interested Directors�); and

�

(c)

the matter was agreed to without the Interested Directors voting or would have been agreed to if the votes of the Interested Directors had not been counted.

�

138.2

Any authorisation of a matter pursuant to this Article shall extend to any actual or potential conflict of interest which may reasonably be expected to arise out of the matter so authorised.

�

138.3

Any authorisation of a matter under this Article shall be subject to such terms as the Directors may determine, whether at the time such authorisation is given or subsequently, and may be terminated by the Directors at any time. Such terms may include, without limitation, terms that the relevant Directors:

�

(a)

will not be obliged to disclose to the Company or use for the benefit of the Company any confidential information received by him otherwise than by virtue of his position as a Director, if to do so would breach any duty of confidentiality to a third party;

�

(b)

may be required by the Company to maintain in the strictest confidence any confidential information relating to the Company which also relates to the situation as a result of which the conflict arises (�the conflict situation�);

�

(c)

may be required by the Company not to attend any part of a meeting of the Directors at which any matter which may be relevant to the conflict situation is to be discussed, and not to view any board papers relating to such matters; and

�

(d)

shall not be obliged to account to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him in consequence of the conflict situation.

A Director shall comply with any obligation imposed on him by the Directors pursuant to any such authorisation.

�

138.4

A Director shall not, save as otherwise agreed by him, be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he (or a person connected with him) derives from any matter authorised by the Directors under this Article and any contract, transaction or arrangement relating thereto shall not be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such benefit.

�

139.

Save as otherwise provided by these Articles, a Director shall not vote at a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board on any resolution concerning a matter in which he has, directly or indirectly, an interest (other than by virtue of his interest in shares, debentures or other securities of or in or otherwise through the Company) which is material, or a duty which conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the Company, unless:

�

139.1

the resolution relates to the giving to him or any other person of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent to, or an obligation incurred by him or by any other person at the request of or for the benefit of, the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings;

�

139.2

the resolution relates to the giving to a third party of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of an obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings for which the Director has assumed responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly with others under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

�

139.3

his interest arises by virtue of his being, or intending to become, a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of an offer of any shares, debentures or other securities by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings for subscription, purchase or exchange;

�

139.4

the resolution relates to any proposal concerning any other company in which he is interested, directly or indirectly, and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise howsoever provided that he does not hold an interest in shares (as that term is used in Part 22 of the Act) representing 1�per cent. or more of either any class of the equity share capital of such company or of the voting rights available to members of such company (any such interest being deemed for the purpose of this Article to be a material interest in all circumstances);

�

139.5

the resolution relates to any arrangement for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings, which does not award him any privilege or benefit not generally awarded to the employees to whom such arrangement relates; or

�

139.6

the resolution relates to any proposal concerning any insurance which the Company is empowered to purchase and/or maintain for or for the benefit of any of the Directors or for persons who include Directors provided that, for the purposes of this Article, �insurance� means only insurance against liability incurred by a Director in respect of any act or omission by him as is referred to in Article 209 or any other insurance which the Company is empowered to purchase and/or maintain for or for the benefit of any groups of persons consisting of or including Directors.

�

140.

For the purposes of Articles 135 to 139 inclusive:

�

140.1

an interest of a person who is, for any purpose of the Act (excluding any such modification thereof not in force when these Articles became binding on the Company), connected with a Director shall be treated as an interest of the Director; and

�

140.2

an interest of which a Director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his.

�

141.

The Board may exercise the voting power conferred by the shares in any company held or owned by the Company in such manner and in all respects as it thinks fit (including the exercise thereof in favour of any resolution appointing the Directors or any of them directors of such company, or voting or providing for the payment of remuneration to the directors of such company).

�

142.

A Director shall not be counted in the quorum present at a meeting in relation to a resolution on which he is not entitled to vote.

�

143.

Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment (including the fixing or varying of terms of appointment) of two or more Directors to offices or employments with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each Director separately and (provided he is not caught by the proviso to Article 139.4 or for another reason precluded from voting) each of the Directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning his own appointment.

�

144.

If a question arises at a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board as to the right of a Director to vote, the question may, before the conclusion of the meeting, be referred to the Chairman of the meeting (or if the Director concerned is the Chairman, to the other Directors at the meeting) and his ruling in relation to any Director (or, as the case may be, the ruling of the majority of the other Directors in relation to the Chairman) shall be final and conclusive.

FAIR PRICE PROVISIONS

�

145.

The Directors shall not, to the extent it is within their power, take or permit to be taken any of the following actions:

�

145.1

any merger or consolidation of the Company with (i)�any Interested Member or (ii)�any other company (whether or not itself an Interested Member) that is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate or Associate of an Interested Member; or

�

145.2

any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, dividend or distribution (other than on a pro rata basis to all members) or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Member or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Member of any assets of the Company or of any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value of US$1,000,000 or more; or

�

145.3

any merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary of the Company having assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value of US$1,000,000 or more with (i)�any Interested Member; or (ii)�any other company (whether or not itself an Interested Member) that is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate or Associate of an Interested Member; or

�

145.4

the issuance or transfer by the Company or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to any Interested Member or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Member of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of US$1,000,000 or more, other than the issuance of securities upon the conversion of convertible securities of the Company or any Subsidiary; or

�

145.5

the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company proposed by or on behalf of any Interested Member or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Member; or

�

145.6

any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalisation of the Company, or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries, or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving any Interested Member), that in any such case has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class or series of shares or securities convertible into shares of the Company or any Subsidiary that is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any Interested Member or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Member; or

�

145.7

any series or combination of transactions directly or indirectly having the same effect as any of the foregoing; or

�

145.8

any agreement, contract or other arrangement providing directly or indirectly for any of the foregoing;

without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80�per cent. of the combined voting power of the entire issued share capital of the Company entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company (�Voting Shares�). Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by these Articles or by any resolution or resolutions of the Board or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.

For the purposes of this Article 145, the term �Business Combination� shall mean any transaction that is referred to in any one or more of Articles 145.1 to 145.8.

�

146.

The provisions of Article 145 shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, if all of the conditions specified in either Article 146.1 or 146.2 are met:

�

146.1

such Business Combination shall have been approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors; or

�

146.2

all six of the conditions set out in Articles 146.2.1 to 146.2.6 have been met:

�

146.2.1

the transaction constituting the Business Combination provides for consideration to be received by holders of Ordinary Shares in exchange for all their Ordinary Shares, and the aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value (as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination) of any consideration other than cash to

�

�	be received per share by holders of Ordinary Shares in such Business Combination shall be at least equal to the higher of the following:

�

(a)

(if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers� fees) paid in order to acquire any Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by the Interested Member that were acquired (i)�within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or (ii)�in the transaction in which it became an Interested Member, whichever is higher; and

�

(b)

the Fair Market Value per share of Ordinary Shares on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher; and

�

146.2.2

the transaction constituting the Business Combination shall provide for consideration to be received by holders of any class of issued Voting Shares other than Ordinary Shares in exchange for all their Voting Shares, and the aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value (as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination) of any consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of such Voting Shares in such Business Combination shall be at least equal to the highest of the following (it being intended that the requirements of this Article 146.2.2 shall be required to be met with respect to every class of outstanding Voting Shares, whether or not the Interested Member beneficially owns any shares of a particular class of Voting Shares):

�

(a)

(if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers� fees) paid in order to acquire any shares of such class of Voting Shares beneficially owned by the Interested Member that were acquired (i)�within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or (ii)�in the transaction in which it became an Interested Member, whichever is higher;

�

(b)

(if applicable) the highest preferential amount per share to which the holders of shares of such class of Voting Shares are entitled in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; and

�

(c)

the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Shares on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher; and

�

146.2.3

the consideration to be received by holders of a particular class of issued Voting Shares (including Ordinary Shares) shall be in cash or in the same form as was previously paid in order to acquire the shares of such class of Voting Shares that are beneficially owned by the Interested Member, and if the Interested Member beneficially owns shares of any class of Voting Shares that were acquired with varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration to be received by holders of such class of Voting Shares shall be either cash or the form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such class of Voting Shares beneficially owned by it; and

�

146.2.4

after such Interested Member has become an Interested Member and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination:

�

(a)

except as approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors, there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the regular dates therefor the full amount of any dividends (whether or not cumulative) payable on any class of shares having a preference over the Ordinary Shares as to dividends or upon liquidation;

�

(b)

there shall have been (i)�no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the Ordinary Shares (except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the Ordinary Shares), except as approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors, and (ii)�an increase in such annual rate of dividends (as necessary to prevent any such reduction) in the event of any reclassification (including any reverse stock split), recapitalisation, reorganisation or any similar transaction that has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, unless the failure so to increase such annual rate is approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors; and

�

(c)

such Interested Member shall not have become the beneficial owner of any additional Voting Shares except as part of the transaction that resulted in such Interested Member becoming an Interested Member; and

�

146.2.5

after such Interested Member has become an Interested Member, such Interested Member shall not have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a member), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the Company, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise; and

�

146.2.6

a proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the U.S.

�

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such act, rules or regulations) shall be mailed to members of the Company at least 30 days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent provisions).

�

147.

For purposes of Article 145 and Article 146:

�

147.1.1

�Affiliate� and �Associate� shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on January�1 2013.

�

147.1.2

�Announcement Date� means the date of first public announcement of the proposal of the Business Combination.

�

147.1.3

A person shall be a �beneficial owner� of any Voting Shares:

�

(a)

that such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or

�

(b)

that such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i)�the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii)�the right to vote or to direct the vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or

�

(c)

that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any Voting Shares.

�

147.1.4

For the purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested Member pursuant to paragraph 139.1.8 the number of Voting Shares deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed owned by such person through application of paragraph 139.1.3 but shall not include any other Voting Shares that may be issuable to other persons pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

�

147.1.5

�Determination Date� means the date on which the Interested Member became an Interested Member.

�

147.1.6

�Disinterested Director� means any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who is unaffiliated with, and not a nominee of, the Interested Member and was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that the Interested Member became an Interested Member, and any successor of a Disinterested Director who is unaffiliated with, and not a nominee of, the Interested Member and is recommended to succeed a Disinterested Director by a majority of Disinterested Directors then on the Board of Directors.

�

147.1.7

�Fair Market Value� means:

�

(a)

in the case of shares or stock, the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question of such share or stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape, or, if such share or stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such share or stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on which such share or stock is listed, or, if such share or stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing sale price or bid quotation with respect to such share or stock during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or, if no such prices or quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of such share or stock as determined by a majority of the Disinterested Directors in good faith; and

�

(b)

in the case of property other than cash or shares or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by a majority of the Disinterested Directors in good faith.

�

147.1.8

�Interested Member� shall mean any person (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) who or that:

�

(a)

is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Shares then in issue; or

�

(b)

is an Affiliate of the Company and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Shares then in issue; or

�

(c)

is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to the beneficial ownership of any Voting Shares that were at any time within the two-year period

�

�	immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by an Interested Member, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

�

147.1.9

a �person� shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, company, partnership, trust or other entity.

�

147.1.10

�Subsidiary� shall mean any company a majority of whose outstanding shares or stock having ordinary voting power in the election of Directors is owned by the Company, by a Subsidiary or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested Member set forth in paragraph (b)�of this Article 147.1.10, the term �Subsidiary� shall mean only a company of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned by the Company, by a Subsidiary or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries.

�

147.2

A majority of the Disinterested Directors of the Company shall have the power and duty to determine, on the basis of information known to them after reasonable inquiry, all facts necessary to determine compliance with this Article 147, including, without limitation, (a)�whether a person is an Interested Member, (b)�the number of Voting Shares beneficially owned by any person, (c)�whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another person, (d)�whether the requirements of Article 146.2 have been met with respect to any Business Combination, and (e)�whether the assets that are the subject of any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Company or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination has, an aggregate Fair Market Value of US$1,000,000 or more; and the good faith determination of a majority of the Disinterested Directors on such matters shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of Articles 146 and 147.

TRANSACTIONS WITH INTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS

�

148.

The Company shall not engage in any Business Combination with any Interested Member for a period of 3 years following the date that such member became an Interested Member, unless:

�

148.1.1

prior to such date the Board approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in the member becoming an Interested Member, or

�

148.1.2

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the member becoming an Interested Member, the Interested Member owned at least

�

85�per cent. of the Voting Shares of the Company issued at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for these purposes, shares owned by (i)�persons who are Directors and also executive officers of the Company and (ii)�employee share plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or

�

148.1.3

on or subsequent to such date the Business Combination is approved by the Board and authorised at a general meeting of members, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 (2/3)�per cent. of the issued Voting Shares which are not owned by the Interested Member.

�

148.2

The restrictions contained in Article 148.1 shall not apply if:

�

148.2.1

a member becomes an Interested Member inadvertently and (i)�as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the member ceases to be an Interested Member and (ii)�would not, at any time within the 3 year period immediately prior to a Business Combination between the Company and such member, have been an interested member but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

�

148.2.2

the Business Combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or any notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which:

�

(a)

constitutes one of the transactions described in Article 148.3;

�

(b)

is with or by a person who either was not an Interested Member during the previous 3 years or who became an Interested Member with the approval of the Board of Directors; and

�

(c)

is approved or not opposed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office (but not less than 1) who were Directors prior to any person becoming an Interested Member during the previous 3 years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such Directors by a majority of such Directors.

�

148.3

The proposed transactions referred to in Article 148.2.2 are limited to:

�

148.3.1

a merger or consolidation of the Company (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to Section�251(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, U.S., no vote of the members would be required if the Company were incorporated under the law of such State);

�

148.3.2

a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Company) having an aggregate market value equal to 50�per cent. or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the Company; or

�

148.3.3

a proposed tender or exchange offer for 50�per cent. or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company.

�

148.4

The Company shall give not less than 20 days notice to all Interested Members prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in Article 148.3.1 and Article 148.3.2.

�

148.5

As used in this Article 148, the term:

�

148.5.1

�affiliate� means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

�

148.5.2

�associate� when used to indicate a relationship with any person means:

�

(a)

any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or which is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20�per cent. or more of any class of Voting Shares;

�

(b)

any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20�per cent. beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and

�

(c)

any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

�

148.5.3

�Business Combination�, when used in reference to the Company and any Interested Member of the Company, means:

�

(a)

any merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company with (i)�the Interested Member, or (ii)�with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Member and as a result of such merger or consolidation Article 148 is not applicable to the surviving entity;

�

(b)

any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or series of transactions), except proportionately as a member of the Company, to or with the Interested Member, of assets of the Company or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10�per cent. or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the Voting Shares of the Company;

�

(c)

any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Company or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company of any shares of the Company or of such subsidiary to the Interested Member, except (i)�pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of the Company or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the Interested Member became such, (ii)�pursuant to a merger which could be accomplished under Section�251(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, U.S. if the Company were incorporated under the laws of such State, (iii)�pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into shares of such Company or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of shares of such Company subsequent to the time the Interested Shares became such, (iv)�pursuant to an exchange offer by the Company to purchase shares made on the same terms to all holders of said shares, or (v)�any issuance or transfer of shares by the Company, provided however, that in no case under (iii)-(v)�above shall there be an increase in the Interested Member�s proportionate share of the shares of any class or series of the Company or of the voting shares of the Company;

�

(d)

any transaction involving the Company or any direct or indirect majority owned subsidiary of the Company which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the shares of any class or securities convertible into the shares of any class of the Company or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the Interested Member, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares not caused, directly or indirectly, by the Interested Member; or

�

(e)

any receipt by the Interested Member of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a member of the Company) of any loans,

�

�	advance, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subparagraphs (a)-(d)�above) provided by or through the Company or any direct or indirect majority owned subsidiary.

�

148.5.4

�control,� including the term �controlling�, �controlled by� and �under common control with� means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and polices of a person whether through the ownership of Voting Shares, by contract or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20�per cent. or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds Voting Shares, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

�

148.5.5

�Interested Member� means any person (other than the Company and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company) that:

�

(a)

is the owner of 15�per cent. or more of the issued Voting Shares of the Company, or

�

(b)

is an affiliate or associate of the Company and was the owner of 15�per cent. or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company at any time within the 3 year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an Interested Member; and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however, that the term �Interested Member� shall not include any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15�per cent. limitation set forth herein is the result of action taken solely by the Company provided that such person shall be an Interested Member if thereafter such person acquires additional Voting Shares of the Company, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an Interested Member, the Voting Shares of the Company deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed to be owned by the person through application of Article 148.5.7 but shall not include any other unissued shares of the Company which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

�

148.5.6

�owner� including the terms �own� and �owned� when used with respect to any shares means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

�

(a)

beneficially owns such shares directly or indirectly; or

�

(b)

has (i)�the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of shares tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person�s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (ii)�the right to vote such shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any shares because of such person�s right to vote such shares if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such shares arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more persons; or

�

(c)

has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (ii)�of clause (b)�of this Article 148.5.6) disposing of such shares with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such shares.

�

148.5.7

�person� means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

�

148.5.8

�Voting Shares� means with respect to any company or corporation, shares of any class entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a company or corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity.

�

149.

In addition to any approval of members required pursuant to the terms of any class of shares other than the Ordinary Shares, the approval of the holders of a majority of the issued shares generally entitled to vote at a meeting called for such purpose, following approval by the Board of Directors, shall be required in order for the Company to �sell, lease, or exchange all or substantially all of its property and assets� (as that phrase is interpreted for the

�

purposes of Section�271 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, U.S., as amended or re-enacted from time to time), provided that the foregoing approval by members shall not be required in the case of any transaction between the Company and any entity the Company �directly or indirectly controls� (as that phrase is defined in Rule 405 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended or re-enacted from time to time).

SECRETARY

�

150.

Subject to the Statutes, the secretary shall be appointed by the Board for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as it may think fit, and any secretary appointed by the Board may at any time be removed by it.

�

151.

Any provision of the Statutes or these Articles requiring or authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the secretary shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person acting both as Director and as, or in place of, the secretary.

MINUTES

�

152.

The Board shall cause minutes to be kept:

�

152.1

of all appointments of officers made by the Board;

�

152.2

of proceedings at meetings of the Board and of any committee of the Board and the names of the Directors present at each such meeting; and

�

152.3

of all resolutions of the Company, proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of shares in the Company.

�

153.

Any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the Chairman of the meeting to which they relate or of the meeting at which they are read, shall be sufficient evidence without any further proof of the facts therein stated.

�

154.

Any such minutes must be kept for the period specified by the Act.

THE SEAL

�

155.

In addition to its powers under section 44 of the Act, the Company may have a seal and the Board shall provide for the safe custody of such seal. The seal shall only be used by the authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board authorised by the Board. The Board shall determine who may sign any instrument to which the seal is affixed and, unless otherwise so determined, it shall also be signed by at least one authorised person in the presence of a witness who attests the signature. For the purpose of this Article an authorised person is any director of the Company, secretary of the Company or any person authorised by the Directors for the purpose of signing documents to which the common seal is applied.

�

156.

All forms of certificates for shares or debentures or representing any other form of security (other than letters of allotment or scrip certificates) shall be issued executed by the Company but the Board may by resolution determine, either generally or in any particular case, that any signatures may be affixed to such certificates by some mechanical or other means or may be printed on them or that such certificates need not bear any signature.

�

157.

If the Company has:

�

(a)

an official seal for use abroad, it may only be affixed to a document if its use on that document, or documents of a class to which it belongs, had been authorised by a decision of the Directors; and

�

(b)

a security seal, it may only be affixed to securities by the Company Secretary or a person authorised to apply it to securities by the Company Secretary.

ACCOUNTING RECORDS, BOOKS AND REGISTERS

�

158.

The Directors shall cause accounting records to be kept and such other books and registers as are necessary to comply with the provisions of the Statutes and, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Directors may cause the Company to keep an overseas or local or other register in any place, and the Directors may make and vary such directions as they may think fit respecting the keeping of the registers.

�

159.

The accounting records shall be kept at the registered office or (subject to the provisions of the Statutes) at such other place in Great Britain as the Board thinks fit, and shall always be open to inspection by the Directors. No member of the Company (other than a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any accounting record or book or document except as conferred by law or authorised by the Board or by the Company in general meeting.

�

160.

The Board shall, in accordance with the Statutes, cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting such profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and reports as are required by the Statutes. The Board shall in its report state the amount which it recommends to be paid by way of dividend.

�

161.

A printed copy of every balance sheet (including every document required by law to be annexed thereto) which is to be laid before the Company in general meeting and of the Directors� and auditors� reports shall, at least 21 clear days before the meeting, be delivered or sent by post to every member and to every debenture holder of the Company of whose address the Company is aware or, in the case of joint holders of any share or debenture, to the joint holder who is named first in the register and to the auditors provided that, if and to the extent that the Statutes so permit and without prejudice to Article 163, the Company need not send copies of the documents referred to above to members but may send such members summary financial statements or other documents authorised by the Statutes.

�

AUDIT

�

162.

Auditors of the Company shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with the Statutes.

�

163.

The auditors� report to the members made pursuant to the statutory provisions as to audit shall be laid before the Company in general meeting and shall be open to inspection by any member; and in accordance with the Statutes every member shall be entitled to be furnished with a copy of the balance sheet (including every document required by law to be annexed thereto) and auditors� report.

AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS

�

164.

Any Director or the secretary or any person appointed by the Board for the purpose shall have power to authenticate any documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolutions passed by the Company or the Board and any books, records, documents and accounts relating to the business of the Company, and to certify copies thereof or extracts therefrom as true copies or extracts; and where any books, records, documents or accounts are elsewhere than at the registered office, the officer of the Company having the custody thereof shall be deemed to be a person appointed by the Board, as aforesaid.

�

165.

A document purporting to be a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Company or of the Board or of any committee of the Board which is certified as such in accordance with Article 164 shall be conclusive evidence in favour of all persons dealing with the Company on the faith thereof that such resolution has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that such extract is a true and accurate record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting.

RECORD DATES

�

166.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, and subject to the Act, the Company or the Board may:

�

166.1

fix any date as the record date for any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue, which may be on or at any time before or after any date on which the dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made;

�

166.2

for the purpose of determining which persons are entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company, or a separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the capital of the Company, specify in the notice of meeting a time by which a person must be entered on the register in order to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting; changes to the register after the time specified by virtue of this Article 166 shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting; and

�

166.3

for the purpose of sending notices of general meetings of the Company, or separate general meetings of the holders of any class of shares in the capital of the Company, under these Articles, determine that persons entitled to receive such notices are those persons entered on the register at the close of business on a day determined by the Company or the Board, which day may not be more than 21 days before the day that notices of the meeting are sent.

DIVIDENDS

�

167.

Subject to the Statutes, the Company may by ordinary resolution declare that out of profits available for distribution there be paid dividends to members in accordance with their respective rights and priorities but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board. Unless the rights attached to any shares, the terms of any shares or the Articles provide otherwise, a dividend or any other money payable in respect of a share can be declared and paid in any currency the Board decides using an exchange rate selected by the Board for any currency conversions required. The board can also decide how any costs relating to the choice of currency will be met.

�

168.

Except as otherwise provided by these Articles or the rights attached to any shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid on the shares in respect of which the dividend is paid; but no amount paid on a share in advance of the date upon which a call is payable shall be treated for the purposes of this Article or Article 171 as paid on the share.

�

169.

All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid; but if any share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date or be entitled to dividends declared after a particular date, such share shall rank for or be entitled to dividends accordingly.

�

170.

Any general meeting declaring a dividend may, upon the recommendation of the Board, by ordinary resolution direct that it shall be paid or satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets, and in particular by paid-up shares or debentures of any other company, and the Board shall give effect to such direction. If the shares in respect of which such a non-cash distribution is paid are uncertificated, any shares in the Company which are issued as a non-cash distribution in respect of them must be uncertificated. Where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Board may settle it as it thinks expedient, and in particular may issue fractional certificates or authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may ignore fractions altogether, and may fix the value for distribution purposes of such assets (or any part thereof) and may determine that cash shall be paid to any members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to secure equality of distribution, and may vest any such assets in trustees, upon trust for the members entitled to the dividend, as may seem expedient to the Board.

�

171.

Subject to the Statutes, the Board may from time to time pay to the members such interim dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the profits of the Company available for distribution and the position of the Company, and the Board may also pay the fixed dividend payable on any shares of the Company with preferential rights half-yearly or otherwise on fixed dates whenever such profits, in the opinion of the Board, justify that course. In particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing), if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes, the Board may pay interim dividends on shares in the capital of the Company which confer deferred or non-preferential rights as well as in respect of shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividend, but no interim dividend shall be paid on shares carrying deferred or non-preferential rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrear. Provided the Board acts in good faith, the Board shall not incur any liability to the holders of shares conferring any preferential rights for any loss that they may suffer by reason of the lawful payment of an interim dividend on any shares having deferred or non-preferential rights. Notwithstanding Article 170, the Board shall be entitled (but be under no obligation) to declare and pay, by way of an interim dividend in accordance with this Article 171, one or more dividends in specie of some number of or all Spinout Shares to the holders of Ordinary Shares on the register of members of the Company at such time as the Board may determine in accordance with Article 166, such dividend in specie, if declared, to be satisfied (subject to the exercise of the Board�s discretion in relation to the settlement of any such dividend as described below) by the transfer of such Spinout Shares (at such time as the Board may determine) to the holders of Ordinary Shares pro rata to their holdings of Ordinary Shares on the register of members of the Company at such time or times as the Board of Directors may determine. The Board may settle any legal, regulatory or other difficulty arising in relation to such distribution as it thinks expedient, and in particular may authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions (or ignore fractions), and may fix the value for distribution purposes of the Spinout Shares and may determine that cash shall be paid to any members in lieu of fractional entitlements to that value in order to secure equality of distribution, and may vest any Spinout Shares in trustees, upon trust for the members entitled to the dividend, as may seem expedient to the Board. For the purposes of this Article 171, �Spinout Shares� shall mean shares in Paragon Offshore Limited (company number 8814042) or its successor or any subsidiary of the Company which, at the relevant time, holds any portion of the Standard Specification Drilling Business (as determined by the Board) and �Standard Specification Drilling Business� shall mean the standard specification drilling business of the Company substantially as described in the Noble Corporation plc Proxy Statement for Annual General Meeting held on June�10, 2014.

�

172.

The Board may deduct from any dividend payable to any member on or in respect of a share all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in relation to shares in the Company.

�

173.

All dividends and interest shall belong and be paid (subject to any lien of the Company) to those members whose names shall be on the register at the date at which such dividend shall

�

�	be declared or at the date at which such interest shall be payable respectively, or at such other date as the Company by ordinary resolution or the Board may determine, notwithstanding any subsequent transfer or transmission of shares.

�

174.

The Board may pay the dividends or interest payable on shares in respect of which any person is by transmission entitled to be registered as holder to such person upon production of such certificate and evidence as would be required if such person desired to be registered as a member in respect of such shares.

�

175.

No dividend or other monies payable in respect of a share shall bear interest against the Company unless otherwise expressly provided by the rights attached to the share. All dividends, interest and other sums payable which are unclaimed for one year after having been declared may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company until such time as they are claimed. The payment of any unclaimed dividend, interest or other sum payable by the Company on or in respect of any share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee of the same. All dividends unclaimed for a period of 12 years after having been declared shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

�

176.

Where a dividend or other sum which is a distribution is payable in respect of a share, it may, subject to Article 177, be paid by one or more of the following means:

�

176.1

transfer to a bank or building society account specified by the distribution recipient either in writing or as the Board may otherwise decide;

�

176.2

sending a cheque made payable to the distribution recipient by post to the distribution recipient at the distribution recipient�s registered address (if the distribution recipient is a holder of the share), or (in any other case) to an address specified by the distribution recipient either in writing or as the Board may otherwise decide;

�

176.3

sending a cheque made payable to such person by post to such person at such address as the distribution recipient has specified either in writing or as the Board may otherwise decide;

�

176.4

by means of a system facilitating the trading of shares in the Company in uncertificated form in such manner as may be consistent with the facilities and requirements of the relevant system or as the Board may otherwise decide; or

�

176.5

by any electronic or other means as the Board may decide, to an account, or in accordance with the details, specified by the distribution recipient either in writing or as the Board may otherwise decide.

�

177.

In respect of the payment of any dividend or other sum which is a distribution, the Board may decide, and notify distribution recipients, that:

�

177.1

one or more of the means described in Article 176 will be used for payment and a distribution recipient may elect to receive the payment by one of the means so notified in the manner prescribed by the Board;

�

177.2

one or more of such means will be used for the payment unless a distribution recipient elects otherwise in the manner prescribed by the Board; or

�

177.3

one or more of such means will be used for the payment and that distribution recipients will not be able to elect otherwise.

�

178.

The Board may decide that different methods of payment may apply to different distribution recipients or groups of distribution recipients.

�

178.1

Payment of any dividend or other sum which is a distribution is made at the risk of the distribution recipient. The Company is not responsible for a payment which is lost or delayed. Payment, in accordance with these Articles, of any cheque by the bank upon which it is drawn, or the transfer of funds by any means, or (in respect of shares in uncertificated form) the making of payment by means of a system facilitating the trading of shares in the Company in uncertificated form, shall be a good discharge to the Company.

�

179.

In the event that:

�

179.1

a distribution recipient does not specify an address, or does not specify an account of a type prescribed by the Board, or

�

179.2

other details necessary in order to make a payment of a dividend or other distribution by the means by which the Board have decided in accordance with this Article that a payment is to be made, or by which the distribution recipient has elected to receive payment, and such address or details are necessary in order for the Company to make the relevant payment in accordance with such decision or election; or

�

179.3

if payment cannot be made by the Company using the details provided by the distribution recipient, then the dividend or other distribution shall be treated as unclaimed for the purposes of these Articles.

�

180.

For the purposes of these Articles, �distribution recipient� means, in respect of a share in respect of which a dividend or other sum is payable�

�

180.1

the holder of the share; or

�

180.2

if the share has two or more joint holders, whichever of them is named first in the register of members; or

�

180.3

if the holder is no longer entitled to the share by reason of death or bankruptcy, or otherwise by operation of law, the transmittee.

�

181.

Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other monies payable in respect of the share held by him as joint holder.

�

182.

The Board may, if authorised by an ordinary resolution of the Company, offer the holders of ordinary shares the right to elect to receive additional ordinary shares, credited as fully paid, instead of cash in respect of any dividend or any part (to be determined by the Board) of any dividend specified by the ordinary resolution. The following provisions shall apply:

�

182.1

an ordinary resolution may specify a particular dividend or dividends, or may specify all or any dividends declared within a specified period, but such period may not end later than the conclusion of the fifth annual general meeting following the date of the meeting at which the ordinary resolution is passed;

�

182.2

the entitlement of each holder of ordinary shares to new ordinary shares shall be such that the relevant value of such new ordinary shares shall in aggregate be as nearly as possible equal to (but not greater than) the cash amount (disregarding any tax credit) that such holder would have received by way of dividend. For this purpose �relevant value� shall be calculated by reference to the average of the high and low sale price for the Company�s Ordinary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange as derived from such source as the Board may deem appropriate on the day on which the ordinary shares are first quoted �ex� the relevant dividend and the four subsequent dealing days, or in such other manner as may be determined by or in accordance with the ordinary resolution, but shall never be less than the par value of the new ordinary share. A certificate or report by the Company Secretary or a Director as to the amount of the relevant value in respect of any dividend shall be conclusive evidence of that amount;

�

182.3

the Board may, after determining the basis of allotment, notify the holders of ordinary shares in writing of the right of election offered to them, and specify the procedure to be followed and place at which, and the latest time by which, elections must be lodged in order to be effective. The basis of allotment shall be such that no shareholder may receive a fraction of a share;

�

182.4

the Board may exclude from any offer any holders of ordinary shares where the Board believes that the making of the offer to them would or might involve the contravention of the laws of any territory or that for any other reason the offer should not be made to them;

�

182.5

the dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been offered) shall not be payable on ordinary shares in respect of which an election has been made (the �elected ordinary shares�) and instead additional ordinary shares shall be allotted to the holders of the elected ordinary shares on the basis of allotment calculated as stated. For such purpose the Board shall capitalise, out of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including any share premium account, any

�

capital reserve and the profit and loss account) or otherwise available for distribution as the Board may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the additional ordinary shares to be allotted on that basis and apply it in paying up in full the appropriate number of unissued ordinary shares for allotment and distribution to the holders of the elected ordinary shares on that basis;

�

182.6

the additional ordinary shares when allotted shall rank pari passu in all respects with fully paid ordinary shares then in issue except that they will not be entitled to participate in the relevant dividend (including the share election in lieu of such dividend); and

�

182.7

the Board may do such acts and things which it considers necessary or expedient to give effect to any such capitalisation and may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation, and any incidental matters and any agreement so made shall be binding on all concerned.

RESERVES

�

183.

The Board may, before recommending any dividend (whether preferential or otherwise), set aside out of the profits of the Company such sums as it thinks fit as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may be properly applied, and pending such application may, also at such discretion, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments as the Board may think fit, and so that it shall not be necessary to keep any investments constituting the reserve or reserves separate or distinct from any other investments of the Company. The Board may also, without placing the same to reserve, carry forward any profits which it may think prudent not to distribute.

CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS

�

184.

The Company may, upon the recommendation of the Board, resolve by ordinary resolution that it be desirable to capitalise all or any part of the profits of the Company specified in Article 188 and accordingly that the Board be authorised and directed to appropriate the profits so resolved to be capitalised to any member or members in such proportions and to such extent as may be specified in the relevant resolution or determined by the Board.

�

185.

Subject to any direction given by the Company, the Board shall appropriate the profits resolved to be capitalised by any such resolution, and apply such profits on behalf of the members entitled thereto either:

�

185.1

in or towards paying up the amounts, if any, for the time being unpaid on any shares held by such members respectively and such premium thereon (if any) as the Board may determine; or

�

185.2

in paying up in full unissued shares and such premium thereon (if any) as the Board may determine, debentures or obligations of the Company, of a nominal amount equal to such profits, for allotment and distribution, credited as fully paid, to and amongst such members in the proportions referred to above or as they may direct,

or partly in one way and partly in the other provided that no unrealised profit shall be applied in paying up amounts unpaid on any issued shares and the only purpose to which sums standing to capital redemption reserve or share premium account shall be applied pursuant to this Article shall be the payment up in full of unissued shares to be allotted and distributed to members credited as fully paid.

�

186.

The Board shall have power after the passing of any such resolution:

�

186.1

to make such provision (by the issue of fractional certificates or by payment in cash or otherwise) as it thinks fit for the case of shares, debentures or obligations becoming distributable in fractions, such power to include the right for the Company to retain small amounts the cost of distribution of which would be disproportionate to the amounts involved;

�

186.2

to authorise any person to enter, on behalf of all the members entitled thereto, into an agreement with the Company providing (as the case may require) either:

�

186.2.1

for the payment up by the Company on behalf of such members (by the application thereto of their respective proportions of the profits resolved to be capitalised) of the amounts, or any part of the amounts, remaining unpaid on their existing shares; or

�

186.2.2

for the allotment to such members respectively, credited as fully paid, of any further shares, debentures or obligations to which they may be entitled upon such capitalisation,

and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such members.

�

187.

The Company in general meeting may resolve that any shares allotted pursuant to Articles 184 to 186 (inclusive) to holders of any partly paid ordinary shares shall, so long as such ordinary shares remain partly paid, rank for dividends only to the extent that such partly paid ordinary shares rank for dividends.

�

188.

The profits of the Company to which Articles 184 to 186 (inclusive) apply shall be any undivided profits of the Company not required for paying the fixed dividends on any preference shares or other shares issued on special conditions and shall also be deemed to include:

�

188.1

any profits arising from appreciation in capital assets (whether realised by sale or ascertained by valuation); and

�

188.2

any amounts for the time being standing to any reserve or reserves or to the capital redemption reserve or to the share premium or other special account.

NOTICES

�

189.

Subject to the specific terms of any Article, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be in writing (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be deemed to include a notice given in electronic form or by website communication), save that a notice convening a meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board need not be in writing.

�

190.

Subject to Article 189 and unless otherwise provided by these Articles, the Company shall send or supply a document or information that is required or authorised to be sent or supplied to a member or any other person by the Company by the Statutes or pursuant to these Articles or to any other rules or regulations to which the Company may be subject in such form and by such means as it may in its absolute discretion determine provided that the provisions of the Statutes which apply to sending or supplying a document or information required or authorised to be sent or supplied by the Statutes shall, the necessary changes having been made, also apply to sending or supplying any document or information required or authorised to be sent by these Articles or any other rules or regulations to which the Company may be subject. In the case of joint holders of a share all notices or other Shareholder Information shall be given or supplied to the joint holder who is named first in the register, and notice so given or other Shareholder Information so supplied shall be sufficient notice or supply to all the joint holders. Any notice to be given to a person may be given by reference to the register as it stands at any time within the period of 21 days before the notice is given and no change in the register after that time shall invalidate the giving of the notice.

�

191.

In the case of notices or other Shareholder Information sent by post, proof that an envelope containing the communication was properly addressed, prepaid and posted shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given or other Shareholder Information sent. If the communication is made by post, it shall be deemed to be given or received at the expiration of 48 hours after the envelope containing it was posted. In calculating the period of hours for the purposes of this Article no account shall be taken of Sundays or Bank Holidays.

�

192.

�

192.1

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, any notice or other Shareholder Information (excluding a share certificate) will be validly sent or supplied if sent or supplied by the Company to any member or person nominated by a member to receive Shareholder Information in electronic form if that person has agreed (generally or specifically) (or, if the member is a company and it is deemed by the Statutes to have agreed) that the communication may be sent or supplied in that form and:

�

192.1.1

the notice or other Shareholder Information is sent using electronic means (as that term is used in section 1168 of the Act) to such address (or to one of such addresses if more than one) as may for the time being be notified by the member to the Company (generally or specifically) for that purpose or, if the intended recipient is a company, to such address as may be deemed by a provision of the Statutes to have been so specified;

�

192.1.2

the notice or other Shareholder Information is sent or supplied in electronic form by hand, handed to the recipient or sent or supplied to an address to which it could validly be sent if it were in hard copy form; and

�

192.1.3

in each case that person has not revoked the agreement.

�

192.2

Subject to the provisions of the Statutes any notice or other Shareholder Information (excluding a share certificate) will be validly sent or supplied by the Company if it is made available by means of a website communication where that person has agreed, or is deemed by the Statutes to have agreed (generally or specifically) that the communication may be sent or supplied to him in that manner and:

�

192.2.1

that person has not revoked the agreement;

�

192.2.2

that person is notified in a manner for the time being agreed for the purpose between that person and the Company of:

�

(a)

the publication of the notice or other Shareholder Information on a website;

�

(b)

the address of that website; and

�

(c)

the place on that website where the notice or other Shareholder Information may be accessed and how it may be accessed;

�

192.2.3

the notice or other Shareholder Information continues to be published on the website throughout the period specified in the Act; and

�

192.2.4

the notice or other Shareholder Information is published on the website throughout the period referred to in Article 192.2.3 provided that if the notice or other Shareholder Information is published on that website for a part but not all of such period, the notice or other Shareholder Information will be treated as published throughout that period if the failure to publish the notice or other Shareholder Information throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the Company to prevent or avoid.

�

192.3

When any notice or other Shareholder Information is given or sent by the Company by electronic means (as that term is used in section 1168 of the Act), it shall be deemed to have been given on the same day as it was sent to an address supplied by the member or person nominated by the member to receive Shareholder Information, and in the case of the publication of a notice or other Shareholder Information by website communication, it shall be deemed to have been received by the intended recipient when the material was first made available on the website or, if later, when the recipient received (or is deemed to have received) notice of the fact that the material was available on the website pursuant to Article 192.2.2. Proof that a notice contained in an electronic communication was sent in accordance with guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given.

�

192.4

Any provision of this Article 192 which refers to anything agreed, notified or specified by a member shall be deemed to have been validly agreed, notified or specified, notwithstanding any provisions of the Statutes, if agreed, notified or specified by only one and not all of the joint holders of any shares held in joint names.

�

193.

Where in accordance with these Articles a member is entitled or required to give or send to the Company a notice in writing, the Company may, if it in its absolute discretion so decides, (and shall, if it is registered to do so or is deemed to have so agreed by any provision of the Statutes) permit such notices (or specified classes thereof) to be sent to the Company by such means of electronic communication as may from time to time be specified (or be deemed by the Statutes to be agreed) by the Company, so as to be received at such address as may for the time being be specified (or deemed by the Statutes to be specified) by the Company (generally or specifically) for the purpose. Any means of so giving or sending such notices by electronic communication shall be subject to any terms, limitations, conditions or restrictions that the Directors may from time to time prescribe.

�

194.

A member or person nominated by the member to receive Shareholder Information who (having no registered address within the United Kingdom) has not supplied to the Company either a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices or an address for the service of notices in electronic form, subject always to the terms of Article 192.1 shall not be entitled to receive notices from the Company. If, on three consecutive occasions, a notice to a member or person nominated by the member to receive Shareholder Information has been returned undelivered or the Company receives notice that it is undelivered, such member shall not thereafter be entitled to receive notices from the Company until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing to the registered office a new postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices or shall have informed the Company, in such manner as may be specified by the Company, of an address for the service of notices in electronic form, subject always to the terms of Article 192.1. For these purposes, a notice sent by post shall be treated as returned undelivered if the notice is sent back to the Company (or its agents) and a notice sent by electronic communication shall be treated as returned undelivered if the Company (or its agents) receive(s) notification that the notice was not delivered to the address to which it was sent.

�

195.

Every person who becomes entitled to a share:

�

195.1

except as mentioned in Article 195.2, shall be bound by any notice in respect of that share which, before his name is entered in the register, has been duly given to a person from whom he derives his title; but

�

195.2

shall not be bound by any such notice given by the Company under section 793 of the Act or under Article 87.

�

196.

A person entitled to a share in consequence of the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy of a member on supply to the Company of such evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show his title to that share, and upon supplying also a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices and documents and, if he wishes, an address for the service and delivery of electronic communications, shall be entitled (subject always to the terms of Article 192) to have served on or delivered to him at such address any notice or document to which the member but for his death, mental disorder or bankruptcy would have been entitled, and such service or delivery shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the share. Until such address or addresses have been so supplied, any notice or other Shareholder Information may be sent or supplied in any manner in which it might have been sent or supplied if the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy had not occurred and if so sent or supplied shall be deemed to have been duly sent or supplied in respect of any share registered in the name of such member as sole or first-named joint holder.

�

197.

Any member present, either personally or by proxy or (in the case of a corporate member) by representative, at any general meeting of the Company or of the holders of any class of shares in the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where required, of the purposes for which such meeting was called.

UNTRACED MEMBERS

�

198.

The Company shall be entitled to sell at the best price reasonably obtainable the shares of a member or the shares to which a person is entitled by virtue of transmission on death or bankruptcy if and provided that:

�

198.1

during the period of 12 years prior to the date of the publication of the advertisements referred to in Article 198.2 (or, if published on different dates, the earlier or earliest thereof), at least three dividends in respect of the shares have become payable and no dividend has been claimed during that period in respect of such shares;

�

198.2

the Company shall, on or after the expiry of the said 12 years, have inserted advertisements, both in a national newspaper and in a newspaper circulating in the area of the last-known postal address of such member or other person (or the postal address at which service of notices may be effected in accordance with these Articles), giving notice of its intention to sell the said shares;

�

198.3

the said advertisements, if not published on the same day, shall be published within 30 days of each other; and

�

198.4

during the said period of 12 years and the period of three months following the date of publication of the said advertisements (or, if published on different dates, the later or latest thereof) and prior to the exercise of the power of sale, the Company shall not have received an indication either of the whereabouts or of the existence of such member or person.

�

199.

If, during the period referred to in Article 198.1, any additional shares have been issued by way of rights in respect of shares held at the commencement of such period or in respect of shares so issued previously during such period, the Company may, if the requirement of Articles 198.1 to 198.4 have been satisfied, also sell such additional shares.

�

200.

�

200.1

To give effect to any such sale the Company may:

�

200.1.1

if the shares concerned are held in uncertificated form, do all acts and things it considers necessary and expedient to effect such; and

�

200.1.2

appoint any person to execute as transferor an instrument of transfer of the said shares and such instrument of transfer shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, such shares.

�

200.2

The title of the transferee shall not be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings relating thereto.

�

201.

The net proceeds of sale shall belong to the Company which shall:

�

201.1

be obliged to account to the former member or other person previously entitled as aforesaid for an amount equal to such proceeds; and

�

201.2

(until the Company has so accounted) enter the name of such former member or other person in the books of the Company as a creditor for such amount.

�

202.

No trust shall be created in respect of the debt, no interest shall be payable in respect of the same and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on the net proceeds which may be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments (other than shares of the Company or its holding company (if any)) as the Board may think fit.

�

DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

�

203.

The Company shall be entitled to destroy:

�

203.1

at any time after the expiration of six years from the date of registration thereof or on which an entry in respect thereof shall have been made (as the case may be), all instruments of transfer of shares of the Company which shall have been registered and all letters of request, renounced allotment letters, renounceable share certificates, forms of acceptance and transfers and applications for allotment in respect of which an entry in the register shall have been made;

�

203.2

at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of cancellation thereof, all registered certificates for shares of the Company (being certificates for shares in the name of a transferor and in respect whereof the Company has registered a transfer) and all mandates and other written directions as to the payment of dividends (being mandates or directions which have been cancelled); and

�

203.3

at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of the recording thereof, all notifications of change of name or address (including addresses for the purpose of receipt of communications in electronic form and any Nomination Notices).

�

204.

It shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that every entry in the register purporting to have been made on the basis of an instrument of transfer or other document so destroyed was duly and properly made, and every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered, and every share certificate so destroyed was a valid and effective certificate duly and properly cancelled, and every other document hereinbefore mentioned was in accordance with the recorded particulars thereof in the books or records of the Company provided always that:

�

204.1

the foregoing provisions shall apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without notice of any claim (regardless of the parties thereto) to which the document might be relevant;

�

204.2

nothing contained in this Article 204 or Article 203 shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any such document earlier than as aforesaid or in any other circumstances which would not attach to the Company in the absence of this Article 204 or Article 203;

�

204.3

references herein to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner; and

�

204.4

any document referred to in Articles 203.1, 203.2 and 203.3 may be destroyed at a date earlier than that authorised by Article 197 provided that a permanent copy of such document shall have been made which shall not be destroyed before the expiration of the period

�

�	applicable to the destruction of the original of such document and in respect of which the Board shall take adequate precautions for guarding against falsification and shall provide adequate means for its reproduction.

WINDING-UP

�

205.

The power of sale of a liquidator shall include a power to sell wholly or partially shares or debentures, or other obligations of another company, either then already constituted, or about to be constituted, for the purpose of carrying out the sale.

�

206.

On any voluntary winding-up of the Company, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Act or the Insolvency Act 1986 (as amended) or the rights of any other class of shares, divide among the members in specie the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and may, for that purpose, value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members. Any such division shall be in accordance with the existing rights of the members. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of the assets of the Company in trustees on such trusts for the benefit of the members as he, with the like sanction, shall determine, but no member shall be compelled to accept any assets on which there is a liability.

PROVISION FOR EMPLOYEES

�

207.

The Company may, pursuant to a resolution of the Board and in accordance with the Act, make provision for the benefit of persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or that subsidiary.

INDEMNITY

�

208.

�

208.1

Subject to the Act the Company may indemnify, out of the assets of the Company, any Director or other officer of the Company or of any associated company against all losses and liabilities which he may sustain or incur in the execution of the duties of his office or otherwise in relation thereto, provided that this Article 208.1 shall only have effect insofar as its provisions are not void under sections 232 or 234 of the Act.

�

208.2

The Company may also indemnify, out of the assets of the Company, any Director or other officer of either the Company or any associated company where the Company or such associated company acts as trustee of a pension scheme, against liability incurred by him in connection with the relevant company�s activities as trustee of such scheme, provided that this Article 208.2 shall only have effect in so far as its provisions are not void under sections 232 or 235 of the Act.

�

208.3

Subject to sections 205(2) to (4)�of the Act, the Company may provide a Director or officer with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending (or seeking relief in respect of) any civil or criminal proceedings brought or threatened against him in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to the Company or an associated company, and the Company shall be permitted to take or omit to take any action or enter into any arrangement which would otherwise be prohibited under sections 197 to 203 of the Act to enable a Director or officer to avoid incurring such expenditure.

�

208.4

Subject to section 206 of the Act, the Company may also provide a Director or officer with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him in defending himself in an investigation by a regulatory authority or against action proposed to be taken by a regulatory authority in connection with any alleged negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by him in relation to the Company or any associated company and the Company shall be permitted to take or omit to take any action or enter into any arrangement which would otherwise be prohibited under section 197 of the Act to enable a Director of officer to avoid incurring such expenditure.

�

208.5

For the purpose of Articles 208.1, 208.2 and 208.4 the expression �associated company� shall mean a company which is either a subsidiary or a holding company of the Company or a subsidiary of such holding company as such terms are defined in the Act.

INSURANCE

�

209.

Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Board shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any persons who are or were at any time Directors, officers or employees of the Company, or of any company or body which is its holding company or in which the Company or such holding company has an interest whether direct or indirect or which is in any way allied to or associated with the Company or who were at any time trustees of any pension fund in which any employees of the Company or of any other such company or body are interested including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) insurance against any liability incurred by such persons in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution and/or discharge of their duties and/or in the exercise or purported exercise of their powers and/or otherwise in relation to their duties, powers or offices in relation to the Company and/or any such other company, body or pension fund.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

�

210.

The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any and all disputes brought by a member in that member�s capacity as such against the Company and/or the Board and/or any of the Directors individually or collectively, arising out of or in connection with these Articles or any obligations arising out of or in connection with these Articles.

�

211.

The governing law of these Articles is the law of England and Wales and these Articles shall be interpreted in accordance with English law.

�

212.

For the purposes of Articles 210 and 211 �Director� shall be read so as to include each and any Director of the Company from time to time in his capacity as such or as an employee of the Company and shall include any former Director of the Company.

�

Exhibit 10.5

NOBLE CORPORATION

2014 Short-Term Incentive Plan (�STIP�)

Plan Overview, Terms and Conditions

Plan Purpose

The success of Noble Corporation (�Noble�) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the �Company�) is a result of the efforts of all key employees. In order to focus each employee�s efforts on optimizing the Company�s overall operational and financial results, the Company maintains this Short Term Incentive Plan (the �Plan�) to reward employees for successful achievement of specific goals.

An effective incentive plan should both align employee interests with those of shareholders and motivate and influence employee behavior. Key positions within the Company have the ability to make a positive contribution to key factors that increase shareholder value. These factors can be quantified and measured through achievement of various financial and operational targets, such as EBITDA, safety and cash operating margin. The objectives of using such targets in the formulation of the specific Company goals are to link an employee�s annual incentive award more closely to the metrics that lead to the creation of shareholder wealth and to promote a culture of high performance and an environment of teamwork.

Eligibility and Participation

All full-time shore-based employees and select offshore employees (Rig Managers, Assistant Rig Managers and Captains) are eligible to receive a bonus under the Plan, based upon performance, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee (the �Committee�) of the Board of Directors (the �Board�) of Noble. Each such employee will be considered either a �Corporate� employee or a �Division� employee for purposes of determining the employee�s actual target bonus, as described later.

To be eligible to receive a bonus payment with respect to a Plan year, an employee must be actively employed by the Company on the last day of such Plan year and must continue to be employed through the date on which bonus payments for such Plan Year are made. An employee shall not be eligible to receive any bonus payment if the employee�s employment with the Company terminates for any reason, either voluntarily or involuntarily (except as noted below), before that date on which bonus payments for a Plan year are made. The Plan year is also the calendar year unless otherwise specified.

However, in the event of death, disability or retirement, the employee or estate of the former employee may receive a pro-rated payment from the Plan, at the discretion of the Committee and the Chief Executive Officer (the �CEO�). For purposes of the Plan, �disability� means any termination of employment with the Company or an affiliate of the Company because of a long-term or total disability, as determined by the Company�s disability insurance programs. �Retirement� means a termination of employment with the Company on a voluntary basis by a person if, immediately prior to such termination of employment, the sum of the age and the number of years of continuous service of such person with the Company is equal to or greater than 60.

�

Plan Funding

The Award Pool for 2014 will primarily be a function of the Company�s performance on two key metrics.

�

Company EBITDA versus budget (weighted 65%)

�

Company Safety results versus the IADC average (weighted 35%)

EBITDA will be defined as the Company�s earnings before the deduction of interest, tax, depreciation and amortization expenses, subject to adjustment to exclude extraordinary gains or losses.

The Company�s performance will be determined in each of these two measures according to the following scales:

�

Company EBITDA (65%)

�

Level of Achievement

��

Threshold

�

Target

�

Maximum

�

% of Target

��

�

%�

�

100

%�

�

115

%�

Bonus Pool Multiple

��

�

0.50

��

�

1.00

��

�

2.00

��

�


Company Safety (35%)
Level of Achievement	�	Minimum	�	Target	�	Maximum

Performance	�	Company�LTIR 15%�higher�than IADC Industry Average	�	Company�LTIR same as IADC Industry Average	�	Company�LTIR 10%�lower�than IADC Industry Average

Bonus Pool Multiple	�	0.50	�	1.00	�	2.00

Achievement at levels between the points shown above will be determined via linear interpolation. Performance below Threshold for EBITDA or Minimum for Safety will yield no pool funding for that portion of the Award Pool. Safety is measured by Lost Time Incident Rate (�LTIR�) as compared to the International Association of Drilling Contractors (�IADC�) industry average. Note that the IADC Industry Average will be based on the twelve-month period ending September�30, 2014.

The Award Pool available will be determined first by multiplying the sum of the target bonuses for all eligible employees at the end of the year (�Aggregate Target Bonuses�) by the Company�s weighted performance as measured by EBITDA and Safety results, based on the scales above. This calculated result will be increased by 10% to establish a CEO Merit Performance Pool, thus yielding the Total Plan Award Pool for the year. The following illustrates the calculation of the Total Plan Award Pool, assuming Aggregate Target Bonuses of $30 million, EBITDA performance at target (or 1.00 multiple) and Safety performance at halfway between target and maximum (or 1.50 multiple):

�


Total Plan Award Pool Calculation
Step 1: Company Performance Calculation (�Award Pool�)

EBITDA	�	�	��	Safety	�	�	��	Company Performance Multiple
(1.00 x .65)	�	+	��	(1.50 x .35)	�	=	��	1.18

Step 2: Total Plan Award Pool					�		��

Initial Pool	�	�	��	+10% (CEO Merit Performance Pool)	�	�	��	Total Plan Award Pool
(1.18 x $30 million)	�	=	��	$35.40 million x 1.10	�	=	��	$38.94 million

�

The Total Plan Award Pool will be allocated as described in the next sections.

Individual Target Bonus

The target bonus for an employee is an amount equal to the employee�s salary at the end of the Plan year multiplied by the assigned target bonus percentage. Target bonuses range from 4% to 110% of salary. The assigned targets are based on competitive market data and internal equity considerations and are reviewed each year. Note that, for purposes of calculating the Aggregate Target Bonuses, a target bonus percentage of up to 6% will be used for those employees covered under the Plan that do not have a formal target bonus percentage.

The determination of an individual�s actual award will be based 50% on the achievement of the stated Financial and Operating goals under the Plan pursuant to the terms outlined in sections below, and 50% will be based on merit, individual and team performance and/or additional selected criteria, including regulatory compliance.

Financial and Operating Goals

Goals for the following categories will be approved by the Committee for each Plan year. The performance for the 50% of the bonus tied to Financial and Operating results will be based on the goals and weights as shown below, and are different for Corporate and Division employees:

�


Corporate Employees	��	Assigned�Weight		�
Company EBITDA	��	�	65.0	%�

Company Safety	��	�	35.0	%�

�


Division Employees	��	Assigned�Weight		�
Division Cash Operating Margin	��	�	65.0	%�

Division Safety	��	�	17.5	%�

Company Safety	��	�	17.5	%�

Cash operating margin is defined as contract drilling revenues less contract drilling cost including reimbursables. The specific goals for the Company and each Division will be communicated after these are set by the Committee in the first quarter each year. The performance scales for 2014 for these metrics are provided in Exhibit 1.

�

Determination of Individual Awards

Each target bonus will be adjusted by the overall Corporate and/or Division Financial and Operating results depending on the employee (see Exhibit 1). This will be the Adjusted Target Bonus.

Next, an individual bonus multiplier ranging from 0 to a maximum of 2.0 may be applied to half of the Adjusted Target Bonus to reflect merit, individual and team performance and/or additional selected criteria, including regulatory compliance, subject to the approval of the Committee and CEO.

For example, if an individual�s bonus target at a Division is $10,000, and the Division performance multiple for Financial and Operating goals is 1.2, the Adjusted Target Bonus would be $12,000 ($10,000 x 1.2); $6,000 for Financial and Operating performance, $6,000 for individual achievement. If the manager�s recommendation for individual achievement is 0.8 (or 80%), the final bonus adjusts to $10,800 ($6,000 x 0.8 = $4,800 for individual achievement + $6,000 for Financial and Operating results). The aggregate total of these awards will be the �Aggregate Calculated Pool�.

Amounts may be adjusted for employees hired or promoted during the Plan year considering length of service or time in position. Note that if on a cumulative basis the sum of the awards in the Aggregate Calculated Pool is greater than the Total Plan Award Pool, bonuses will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis to remain within the constraints of the Total Plan Award Pool.

Review and Approval

The Board will approve the Company�s budget for the year in terms of EBITDA and Cash Operating Margin no later than March�31st of the year. The specific goals for EBITDA (Corporate employees) and Division Cash Operating Margin (Division employees) will be communicated shortly thereafter.

If, after the establishment of goals for a Plan year, the budget changes substantially due to subsequent events, such as the acquisition, spin-off or sale of assets, any unusual or non-recurring item or any unforeseen event that impacts the Company, a Division or the industry as a whole, then the Committee may make adjustments to the respective goals in order that the affected participants may not be adversely impacted by such an event or item. Any such revised goals shall be applicable to the Plan year from and after the time of their approval.

After the end of each Plan year, the Committee, in its best business judgment, will make the final determination on the size of the Total Plan Award Pool for such Plan year. All bonus calculations, allocations and recommendations are subject to review and approval by the Committee.

Separately, managers having responsibility for recommending the allocation of bonuses to eligible employees shall submit their recommended bonus for each employee to the Executive Vice President and the CEO for review and approval. Notwithstanding anything otherwise contained in this Plan, the Committee and the CEO (and any delegated designee of the CEO) shall have the authority to adjust individual bonus amounts as deemed to be appropriate for any reason, including, but not limited to, Company or Division performance, individual employee performance, employee conduct, etc.

�

At-Will Employment

Nothing in the Plan guarantees or constitutes a contract for any specific term of employment or otherwise limits the Company�s or an employee�s right to terminate the employment relationship for any reason at any time.

�

Exhibit 1

2014 Financial and Operating Goals

STIP

Corporate Employees

�

Company EBITDA (65%)

�

Level of Achievement

��

Threshold

�

Target

�

Maximum

�

% of Target

��

�

%�

�

100

%�

�

115

%�

Bonus Pool Multiple

��

�

0.50

��

�

1.00

��

�

2.00

��

�


Company Safety (35%)
Level of Achievement	�	Minimum	�	Target	�	Maximum

Performance	�	Company�LTIR 15%�higher�than IADC Industry Average	�	Company�LTIR same as IADC Industry Average	�	Company�LTIR 10%�lower�than IADC Industry Average

Bonus Pool Multiple	�	0.50	�	1.00	�	2.00

Division Employees

�

Division Cash Operating Margin (65%)

�

Level of Achievement

��

Threshold

�

Target

�

Maximum

�

% of Target

��

�

%�

�

100

%�

�

115

%�

Bonus Pool Multiple

��

�

0.50

��

�

1.00

��

�

2.00

��

�


Division Safety (17.5%)
Level of Achievement	�	Minimum	�	Target	�	Maximum

Performance	�	Division�LTIR 15%�higher�than IADC Industry Average	�	Division�LTIR same as IADC�Industry Average	�	Division�LTIR 10%�lower�than IADC Industry Average

Bonus Pool Multiple	�	0.50	�	1.00	�	2.00

�


Company Safety (17.5%)
Level of Achievement	�	Minimum	�	Target	�	Maximum

Performance	�	Company�LTIR 15%�higher�than IADC Industry Average	�	Company�LTIR same as IADC Industry Average	�	Company�LTIR 10%�lower�than IADC Industry Average

Bonus Pool Multiple	�	0.50	�	1.00	�	2.00

Notes:

�

⁽¹⁾	Achievement at levels between the points shown will be determined via linear interpolation

⁽²⁾�	Safety is measured by Lost Time Incident Rate (�LTIR�) as compared to the International Association of Drilling Contractors (�IADC�) industry average. The IADC Industry Average will be based on the twelve-month period ending September�30, 2014

⁽³⁾�	Cash operating margin is defined as contract drilling revenues less contract drilling cost including reimbursables

�

EXHIBIT 31.1

Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

I, David W. Williams, certify that:

�

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Noble Corporation;

�

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

�

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

�

The registrant�s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

�

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

�

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

�

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant�s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

�

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant�s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant�s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant�s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant�s internal control over financial reporting; and

�

The registrant�s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant�s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant�s board of directors:

�

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant�s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

�

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant�s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November�7, 2014

�

/s/ David W. Williams

David W. Williams

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

of Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales, and

President and Chief Executive Officer

of Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

EXHIBIT 31.2

Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales

I, James A. MacLennan, certify that:

�

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Noble Corporation;

�

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant�s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November�7, 2014

�

/s/ James A. MacLennan

James A. MacLennan

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

of Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales

EXHIBIT 31.3

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

I, Dennis J. Lubojacky, certify that:

�

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Noble Corporation;

�

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant�s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November�7, 2014

�

/s/ Dennis J. Lubojacky

Dennis J. Lubojacky

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

of Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

EXHIBIT 32.1

Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales (�Noble-UK�), and Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (�Noble-Cayman�) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September�30, 2014, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the �Report�), I, David�W. Williams, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble-UK and President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble-Cayman, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section�1350, as adopted pursuant to Section�906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

�

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

�

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

�


November�7, 2014	�	�	/s/ David W. Williams
	�	�	David W. Williams
	�	�	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

EXHIBIT 32.2

Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Noble Corporation plc (the �Company�) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September�30, 2014, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the �Report�), I, James�A. MacLennan, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section�1350, as adopted pursuant to Section�906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

�

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

�

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

�


November�7, 2014	�	�	/s/ James A. MacLennan
	�	�	James A. MacLennan
	�	�	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	�	�	of Noble Corporation plc, a company registered under the laws of England and Wales

EXHIBIT 32.3

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Noble Corporation (the �Company�) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September�30, 2014, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the �Report�), I, Dennis�J. Lubojacky, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section�1350, as adopted pursuant to Section�906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

�

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

�

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

�


November�7, 2014	�	�	/s/ Dennis J. Lubojacky
	�	�	Dennis J. Lubojacky
	�	�	Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company

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