Carl C. Icahn today delivered the
following open letter to shareholders of Transocean Ltd. RIG.
Dear Fellow Transocean Shareholders:
THE 2013 TRANSOCEAN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MAY 17, 2013. MY
AFFILIATES AND I OWN APPROXIMATELY 5.59% OF THE SHARES OF TRANSOCEAN.
WE URGE SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE AT THE 2013 TRANSOCEAN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR
THE ICAHN PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE DIVIDEND AT TRANSOCEAN TO $4.00 PER SHARE
AND FOR THE ICAHN PROPOSAL TO ELECT JOSE MARIA ALAPONT, JOHN J. LIPINSKI AND
SAMUEL MERKSAMER TO THE TRANSOCEAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The Transocean Board has responded to our recent letter to shareholders with
presentation materials that, as explained below, we believe are misleading and
inaccurate. We demand that the board clarify and support their claims
purporting that the Company has produced above average shareholder returns.
These dubious claims represent the backbone of their argument to support
existing directors, and as we have shown below, they are unsupportable. As a
result, we believe it is the fiduciary duty of all directors to reconsider
their voting recommendations to shareholders.
The board refuses to face facts. As explained in our prior letter, Mike
Talbert, Thomas Cason and Robert Sprague have overseen the destruction of at
least $11 billion of shareholder value in the last few years. In attempting to
convince shareholders to support the same directors who have been leading
Transocean for the last twenty years, the board is grasping at straws in an
attempt to highlight a positive track record where one does not exist. Rather
than taking a forward looking view, or to even review the recent past, the
board chose to focus on historical shareholder returns between 2005 and 2010.
We are concerned that the board has either misplaced or is unaware of the
performance data for the most recent three and five year periods – so we have
replicated it below for their benefit (as well as for the benefit of
shareholders). Even in the last year, during which Transocean stock has
benefited from the Department of Justice settlement and two competing dividend
proposals, as shown in the chart below, the stock has still been the worst
performing offshore driller. Given the data below, we believe that the board
should reconsider their statement that "our nominees have a record of
consistently generating value for our shareholders." The track record
highlighted below is one of failure, and it is frankly an insult to
shareholders to be told that the board is "generating value" since the numbers
speak for themselves.
Total Shareholder Returns for the Recent 1, 3 and 5 Year Periods
Company 1 Year Total 3 Year Total 5 Year Total
Return Return Return
SeaDrill 8.82% 108.83% 98.9%
Diamond Offshore 9.54% -8.19% -17.17%
Ensco 16.79% 46.29% 5.17%
Noble 3.24% -3.35% -16.81%
Atwood Oceanic 17.04% 51.72% 14.57%
Rowan 7.38% 21.47% -13.15%
Average 10.47% 36.13% 11.92%
Transocean -5.01% -36.13% -59.19%
Non-annualized Bloomberg TRA function for the period ending 3/31/2013, assumes
dividends are reinvested
It appears to us that the board would simply like shareholders to ignore the
last several years. In its letter to shareholders, the company has selected a
time period which includes the dividends paid as part of the Global Santa Fe
transaction while excluding the period in which Transocean has dealt with the
asset impairments, discounted asset sales, and reduced shareholder
distributions which were caused, in part, by the Global Santa Fe transaction.
In our opinion, providing selective and dated disclosure to shareholders in an
attempt to sugarcoat a track record of value destruction is both dishonest and
irresponsible.
The board claimed that in the periods leading up to the Macondo incident
"Transocean's total shareholder returns have exceeded those generated by a
representative composite of offshore driller peers." In fact, as reflected in
the chart below, the company has underperformed its peers in this time frame.
We have constructed a table of total shareholder returns (as calculated by the
Bloomberg Total Return Analysis function) of the relevant drillers during the
3 and 5 year periods prior to Macondo. We have excluded Pacific Drilling, as
it was not public during this time period, and Hercules, since it is a small
cap, Gulf of Mexico focused shallow water driller. From the table below it is
clear to us that Transocean noticeably underperformed its industry peers,
contrary to the board's claims. This underperformance is even more dramatic
when only the deepwater drillers are included; within that sub-sector
Transocean performed 5^th out of 6 companies during the 3 year period. We are
baffled as to how this board is interpreting these results as exceeding their
peers, or why they feel comfortable claiming that total shareholder returns
over this period are an example of "success." The board has represented the
total returns to shareholders in this period to be substantially larger. We
believe that it is their responsibility to present shareholders with accurate
and reliable information and reconcile their results to public information and
the Bloomberg Total Return Analysis function.
Total Shareholder Return for the 3 and 5 Year Periods Prior to Macondo
Company 3 Year Total Return 5 Year Total Return
SeaDrill 77.84% 278.66%
Diamond Offshore 34.79% 149.8%
Ensco -8.85% 38.00%
Noble 7.02% 58.56%
Atwood Oceanic 26.17% 141.46%
Rowan -5.95% 14.54%
Average 21.84% 113.49%
Transocean 4.70% 73.10%
Transocean Claimed by Board 54% 171%
Non-annualized Bloomberg TRA function between 4/21/05-4/20/10 and
4/20/07-4/20/10, assumes dividends are reinvested
A "History of Achievement"
The recent board letter refers to the current board slate's "history of
achievement". We are, however, unsure of what they have actually achieved for
shareholders. In contrast, we believe the Icahn entities' achievements,
particularly in the energy sector, are substantial and indisputable. As
minority holders and members of the board we have repeatedly partnered with
independent directors to drive performance and create value for shareholders
in the energy sector.
o Texaco – In November 1987 with the stock trading in the mid 20's we
acquired a large stake in Texaco after they lost a $10 billion lawsuit
against Pennzoil. We played a key role in settling the lawsuit with the
plaintiff attorneys and ultimately sold shares at $49, reflecting the
creation of approximately $5.5 billion of value for all shareholders. [1]
o National Energy – From 1995-2001 Icahn acquired stakes in several
distressed and bankrupt oil and gas companies. After consolidating under a
single management team, Icahn streamlined operations, cut costs, and
received dividends and ultimately sold the assets in 2006 receiving over
$1.5 billion, thereby creating $1.25 billion of value.
o Kerr-McGee – Icahn purchased a substantial stake in Kerr-McGee at an
average cost of under $37 per share in early 2005 and pushed for changes
in the operating strategy and board composition. Partly as a result of
this pressure the company was sold to Anadarko Petroleum approximately one
year later for $70.47 per share thereby creating approximately $7.5
billion of value for all shareholders.[2]
o Chesapeake Energy – Icahn purchased a substantial stake in Chesapeake
Energy in 2010 at $22.79 per share and pushed the company to scale back
land acquisitions and drilling capital expenditures and pursue assets
sales. After announcing the sale of the Fayetteville shale, and promising
to reduce capital expenditures and land acquisitions, the shares traded up
into the mid 30's. After refusing to grant Icahn board seats, and when
concerned about the existing board's willingness to hold management
accountable, Icahn sold shares at $33.78. The change in strategy created
approximately $7.0 billion in value for all shareholders.[3]
o Chesapeake Energy (2^nd Time) – After refusing to grant Icahn board seats,
the weak board failed to deliver on promises made in 2010, Icahn purchased
shares in Chesapeake Energy at $15.93 per share and achieved the
replacement of a majority of the board and of management. While
shareholder representatives are still on the board, through the end of the
first quarter almost $3.0 billion of value was created for all
shareholders.[4]
o CVI Energy – Icahn purchased shares of CVI energy in 2012 at an average
price of $20.15. Icahn ultimately tendered for the company at $30 per
share, while allowing any shareholder who wished to ride along on the
investment. After executing a $690 million IPO of a variable refining MLP
(CVR Refining LP), CVI paid a $5.50 special dividend and instituted a
regular dividend of almost 6% per year. Through the first quarter over
$3.0 billion of value was created for all shareholders.[5]
Over 25 years of investing in the energy sector, Icahn has been involved in
the creation of billions of dollars of value. The reason why we have been
successful in the past is because all of these investments were made with a
similar investment philosophy: find companies with valuable assets, and, if
necessary, convince the board to act in a manner to maximize shareholder value
and hold management teams accountable. While this may seem obvious to some, we
believe that the facts set forth in this letter demonstrate that the board of
Transocean cannot claim to have achieved these simple goals. We have provided
shareholders with the ability to dictate the future of this company by
increasing cash distributions to shareholders, and by appointing directors who
are willing to take value maximizing actions and hold management accountable
for lack of performance.
We urge shareholders to replace directors responsible for poor performance
with shareholder friendly directors and to approve a substantial dividend of
$4.00 per share.
VOTE FOR Mr. Alapont, Mr. Lipinski and Mr. Merksamer.
VOTE FOR A $4.00 PER SHARE DIVIDEND.
Very truly yours,
Carl C. Icahn
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