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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): OCTOBER 8, 2003
NOBLE CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
CAYMAN ISLANDS 0-13857 98-0366361
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission file number) (I.R.S. employer identification number)
incorporation or organization)
13135 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 800
SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77478
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (281) 276-6100
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 Noble Corporation and Subsidiaries Fleet Status
Update as of October 8, 2003.
ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Item 9 the
Noble Corporation and Subsidiaries Fleet Status Update as of October 8, 2003 of
the Registrant, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and will be published on the
Registrant's web site at http://www.noblecorp.com. The report provides certain
summary information about the operations of the drilling units of the
Registrant. The report is being furnished in accordance with Rule 101 (e) (1)
under Regulation FD and shall not be deemed to be filed.
The Noble Corporation and Subsidiaries Fleet Status Update as of October
8, 2003 contains forward-looking statements about the Registrant's business,
financial condition and prospects. The Registrant's actual results could differ
materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements because of
various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, changes in
United States tax laws, or the enactment of new United States tax laws, that may
result in the Registrant being subject to taxation in the United States on its
worldwide earnings, other material changes in the tax laws, tax treaties or tax
regulations, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, in the United States
or other countries in which the Registrant operates which could increase its
effective tax rate; volatility in crude oil and natural gas prices; changes in
customers' drilling programs or budgets due to their own internal corporate
events, changes in the markets and prices for oil and gas, or shifts in the
relative strengths of various geographic drilling markets brought on by things
such as a general economic slowdown, or regional or worldwide recession, any of
which could result in deterioration in demand for the Registrant's drilling
services; the Registrant's inability to execute any of its business strategies;
the cancellation by customers of drilling contracts or letter agreements or
letters of intent for drilling contracts or their exercise of early termination
provisions generally found in the Registrant's drilling contracts; intense
competition in the drilling industry; changes in the rate of economic growth in
the U.S. or in other major international economics, political and economic
conditions in the United States and in international markets where the
Registrant operates; adverse weather (such as hurricanes or monsoons) and seas;
operational risks (such as blowouts, fires and loss of production); changes in
oil and gas drilling technology or in competitors' drilling fleets that could
make the Registrant's drilling rigs less competitive or require major capital
investment to keep them competitive; cost overruns or delays on shipyard repair,
maintenance, conversion or upgrade projects; costs and effects of unanticipated
legal and administrative proceedings; limitations on the Registrant's insurance
coverage or its inability to obtain or maintain insurance coverage at
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rates and with deductible amounts that it believes are commercially reasonable;
the discovery of significant additional oil and/or gas reserves or the
construction of significant oil and/or gas delivery or storage systems that
impact regional or worldwide energy markets; potential deterioration in the
demand for the Registrant's drilling services and resulting declining dayrates;
requirements and potential liability imposed by governmental regulation of the
drilling industry (including environmental regulation); acts of war or
terrorism; significant changes in trade, monetary or fiscal policies worldwide,
including changes in interest rates; and currency fluctuations between the U.S.
dollar and other currencies.
All of the foregoing risks and uncertainties are beyond the Registrant's
ability to control, and in many cases, the Registrant cannot predict the risks
and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from
those indicated by the forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the
words "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions as
they relate to the Registrant or its management are intended to identify
forward-looking statements.
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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
Date: October 8, 2003 By: /s/ MARK A. JACKSON
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Mark A. Jackson,
Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer,
Controller and Assistant Secretary
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
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Exhibit 99.1 Noble Corporation and Subsidiaries Fleet Status
Update as of October 8, 2003.