Noble Corporation Announces Anticipated Closing Of Change In Place Of Incorporation; Schedules Previously Approved Dividend Payment To Shareholders

ZUG, Switzerland, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation NE today announced that it expects to effect the previously announced change in the place of incorporation of its publicly traded parent company from Switzerland to the United Kingdom on November 20, 2013.  Noble's ordinary shares will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the current trading symbol "NE" after the change in place of incorporation occurs. 

The Company also reported that, subject to the effectiveness of the change in the place of incorporation, it has set the record and payment dates for the second installment of a dividend payment previously approved by shareholders.  This installment payment will be in the amount of USD $0.25 per share.  The ex-dividend date for this payment is expected to be November 21, 2013, with a record date of November 25, 2013 and a payment date of November 29, 2013. 

An aggregate dividend in the amount of USD $1.00 per share, to be paid in four quarterly installments of USD $0.25 per share, was previously approved by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2013. This payment is the second of these four installments.  The Company expects that this dividend will be treated as a qualified dividend for purposes of U.S. taxes.

About Noble
Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 79 offshore drilling units (including two ultra-deepwater drillships and five high-specification jackup drilling rigs currently under construction), located worldwide, including in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India, Malaysia and Australia. Noble's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NE." Additional information on Noble Corporation is available on the Company's Web site at http://www.noblecorp.com.

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" about the business, financial performance and prospects of the Company. Statements about the Company's or management's plans, intentions, expectations, beliefs, estimates, predictions, or similar expressions for the future, including any statements regarding the anticipated timing of the change in place of incorporation, the payment of any dividend, the timing or amount of such payment or the anticipated tax treatment of any such payment, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. No assurance can be given that the outcomes of these forward-looking statements will be realized, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed as a result of various factors. A discussion of these factors, including risks and uncertainties, is set forth from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Noble Corporation