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Seadrill Limited (SDRL)
NYSE:SDRL
US Market
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Seadrill Limited (SDRL) Risk Analysis

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Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

Seadrill Limited disclosed 47 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Seadrill Limited reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q2, 2025

Risk Distribution
47Risks
26% Finance & Corporate
26% Legal & Regulatory
26% Production
13% Ability to Sell
6% Macro & Political
4% Tech & Innovation
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
Risks added
Risks changed
Seadrill Limited Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q2, 2025

Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 12 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 12 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
47
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
47
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2025
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2025
Number of Risk Changed
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
See the risk highlights of Seadrill Limited in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 47

Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 12/47 (26%)Above Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights3 | 6.4%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
Our Bye-Laws limit shareholders' ability to bring legal action against our officers and directors.
Our Bye-Laws contain a broad waiver by the shareholders of any claim or right of action, both individually and on behalf of the Company, against any of our officers or directors. The waiver applies to any action taken by an officer or director, or the failure of an officer or director to take any action, in the performance of his or her duties, except with respect to any matter involving any fraud or dishonesty on the part of the officer or director. This waiver limits the right of shareholders to assert claims against our officers and directors unless the act or failure to act involves fraud or dishonesty.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
Because we are a foreign corporation, you may not have the same rights that a shareholder in a U.S. corporation may have.
We are incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, the majority of our directors and officers generally are or will be non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect service of process on these individuals in the United States or to enforce in the United States judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or our directors and officers based on the civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. securities laws. In addition, you should not assume that courts in the countries in which we are incorporated or where our assets are located (1) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us based upon the civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. securities laws or (2) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us based on those laws.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
The issuance of share-based awards may dilute investors' holding of Shares, and substantial sales of or trading in Shares could occur, which could cause the price of Shares to be adversely affected.
The Board and our shareholders have adopted and approved the Management Incentive Plan (as defined herein) under which awards may be made to certain members of Seadrill's Board of Directors, management and other employees. As of December 31, 2024, there were a total of 857,350 non-vested restricted share units subject to service or external market conditions and 224,840 non-vested restricted share units subject to internal performance conditions under the Management Incentive Plan. Vested awards may be settled in cash or Shares at the election of the Joint Nomination and Remuneration Committee. As of the date of this filing, 2,783,814 Shares remain available for issuance, with respect to awards that have been or may be granted from time to time under the Management Incentive Plan. In addition, a limited number of shareholders own a substantial portion of Shares. Sales of a substantial number of Shares in the public markets, or even the perception that these sales might occur, could impair our ability to raise capital for our operations through a future sale of, or pay for acquisitions using, our equity securities. We may issue Shares or other securities from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. If any such acquisition or investment is significant, the number of Shares, or the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of other securities that we may issue may in turn be substantial. We may also grant registration rights covering those Shares or other securities in connection with any such acquisitions and investments. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of Shares will have on the price at which Shares trade or the size of future issuances of Shares or the effect, if any, that future issuances will have on the market price of Shares. Sales of substantial amounts of Shares, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect the trading price of the Shares.
Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 4.3%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
We may recognize impairments on long-lived assets and intangible assets or recognize impairments on equity method investments.
We regularly evaluate the value of our property and equipment, primarily our drilling units. If we determine that a drilling unit's book value is not recoverable over its remaining asset life, we would be required to record an impairment charge resulting in a loss being recorded in our financial statements. Impairments can have a significant negative impact on our financial statements and our overall financial performance. We may face financial losses in the future due to a range of factors such as a decline in demand for offshore drilling units. The offshore drilling industry has historically been cyclical, and we have experienced periods where rigs have been idle or underused for long periods where there has been a surplus of available drilling units. Additionally, during such periods, we have been required to reduce dayrates to remain competitive. Future decreases in demand for our drilling units, or other adverse events, could lead to impairment charges. In addition, the fair market value of our drilling units may decrease further if the offshore drilling industry suffers adverse developments in the future. The fair market value of the drilling units that we currently own, or may acquire in the future, may increase or decrease depending on a number of factors, including: - the general economic and market conditions affecting the offshore contract drilling industry, including competition from other offshore contract drilling companies;- the types, sizes and ages of drilling units;- the supply and demand for drilling units;- the costs of newbuild drilling units;- the prevailing level of drilling services contract dayrates;- governmental or other regulations; and - technological advances. If drilling unit values fall significantly, we may have to record an impairment adjustment in our Consolidated Financial Statements, which could adversely affect our financial results and condition.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
Because our Consolidated Financial Statements reflect fresh start accounting adjustments made upon emergence from bankruptcy in 2022, financial information in other periods of our financial statements are not comparable to Seadrill's financial information from the 2022 prior period.
Upon emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings, on February 22, 2022, we adopted fresh start accounting in accordance with the provisions set forth in ASC 852, Reorganizations ("ASC 852"). Adopting fresh start accounting results in a new financial reporting entity with no retained earnings or deficits brought forward. Upon the adoption of fresh start accounting, our assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair values which differ materially from the recorded values of our assets and liabilities as reflected in Seadrill's predecessor historical Consolidated Balance Sheets. Therefore, our financial statements that have been reported since emergence, as well as financial statements issued in the future, will not be directly comparable to those from periods prior to emergence from bankruptcy, and investors may find it difficult to compare our post-emergence financial information to that of prior periods. You will not be able to compare information reflecting our post-emergence Consolidated Financial Statements to information for periods prior to emergence from bankruptcy without adjusting for fresh start accounting. The lack of comparable historical information may discourage investors from purchasing Shares.
Debt & Financing4 | 8.5%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
We are a holding company, and we are dependent upon cash flow from subsidiaries and joint ventures to meet our obligations.
We currently conduct our operations through our subsidiaries and joint ventures, and our operating income and cash flow are generated by such entities. As a result, cash we obtain from our subsidiaries is and, to a lesser extent, our joint ventures are the principal source of funds necessary to meet our debt service obligations. Unless they are guarantors of our debt, such entities do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on our debt or to make funds available for that purpose. Contractual provisions or laws, as well as such entities' financial condition, and operating requirements, may also limit our ability to obtain the cash that we require to pay our debt service obligations. Applicable tax laws may also subject such payments to us by such entities to further taxation.
Debt & Financing - Risk 2
We may be unable to meet our capital allocation framework goal of returning at least 50% of Free Cash Flow to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, which could decrease expected returns on an investment in our Shares.
Our capital allocation framework includes a goal of returning at least 50% of Free Cash Flow (defined as cash flows from operating activities minus capital expenditures) to our shareholders in the form of share repurchases or dividends. In connection with our capital allocation framework, in August 2023, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program of $250 million, which was completed in December 2023. In November 2023 and May 2024, the Board of Directors authorized additional repurchases up to an additional $250 million and $500 million, respectively, taking the aggregate authorization to $1 billion. During 2024, the Company completed authorized additional repurchases of $527 million. Share repurchases and dividends are authorized and determined by our Board of Directors at its sole discretion and depend upon a number of factors, including market conditions, the Company's financial position and capital requirements, financial conditions, and competing uses for cash, statutory solvency requirements, the restrictions in the Company's debt agreements and other factors. The Company is under no obligation to purchase any Shares in respect of the share repurchase program, and we can provide no assurance that we will make share repurchases or pay dividends in accordance with our share repurchase program, capital allocation framework goal or at all. Any elimination of, or downward revision in, our share repurchase program, dividend payment plans or capital allocation framework could have an adverse effect on the market price of our Shares. Meeting our capital allocation framework goal requires us to generate consistent Free Cash Flow and have available capital in the years ahead in an amount sufficient to enable us to maintain a conservative capital structure and liquidity position, focus capital investment in our fleet, as well as to return a significant portion of the cash generated to shareholders in the form of share repurchases or dividends. The amount of Free Cash Flow returned in any quarter during the year may vary and may be more or less than 50% or none at all. We may not meet this goal if we use our available cash to satisfy other priorities, if we have insufficient funds available to repurchase Shares or pay dividends, or if our Board of Directors determines to change or discontinue share repurchases or dividend payments.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
The agreements governing our debt contain various covenants that impose restrictions on us and certain of our subsidiaries that may affect our ability to operate our business.
The agreements governing our debt contain covenants that, among other things, may limit or otherwise hinder our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: - incur additional debt and issue preferred stock;- incur or create liens;- redeem or prepay certain debt;- pay dividends on our Shares, repurchase Shares or make other types of restricted payments;- change the management or ownership of the drilling units;- make changes related to the operation and circumstances of our drilling units that have been pledged as collateral;- make certain investments or capital expenditures;- engage in certain asset sales;- enter into transactions with affiliates; and - engage in certain consolidations, mergers, acquisitions and similar transactions. In addition, the Credit Agreement (as defined herein) contains financial covenants requiring us to maintain a quarterly maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio and a quarterly minimum interest coverage ratio. Any future agreements governing debt may also require us to comply with similar or other financial covenants. These restrictions on our ability to operate our business could seriously harm our business by, among other things, limiting our ability to take advantage of financings, mergers, amalgamations, acquisitions and other corporate opportunities and affecting our ability to compete effectively with our competitors to the extent that they are subject to less onerous restrictions. The interests of our lenders and other debt holders may be different from the Company's and we may not be able to obtain their consent when beneficial for our business, which may impact our performance or our ability to obtain replacement or additional financing or make certain investments or acquisitions in the future. Breach of covenants may result in a default under the terms of these agreements, which could accelerate our repayment of funds that we have borrowed and allow lenders to foreclose upon any collateral securing the debt. Moreover, the agreements governing our debt include cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions, whereby, in certain circumstances, a default under one might result in defaults under one or more of the others. Under these circumstances, we might not have sufficient funds or other resources to satisfy all of our obligations thereunder. In addition, the limitations imposed by the agreements governing our debt on our ability to incur additional debt and to take other actions might impair our ability to obtain other financing. This could have serious consequences to our financial condition and results of operation and could cause us to become bankrupt or insolvent.
Debt & Financing - Risk 4
We have a significant amount of debt, and we may still be able to incur substantially more debt in the future. Such debt and debt service obligations may adversely affect us.
As of December 31, 2024, we had (i) $625 million aggregate principal amount of long-term debt and (ii) $225 million of committed availability for future borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined herein), of which $225 million was available. Although the terms of the agreements governing our debt restrict our and our restricted subsidiaries' ability to incur additional debt and liens, such restrictions are subject to exceptions and qualifications, and the debt or liens incurred in compliance with such restrictions may be substantial. Also, these restrictions do not prevent us or our restricted subsidiaries from incurring obligations that do not constitute debt. To meet our debt service obligations, we will require a significant amount of cash, which depends on many factors beyond our control. We may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or have future borrowings available under the Revolving Credit Facility, to enable us to repay our debt or other obligations or to fund our other liquidity needs. Specifically, our level of debt could have negative consequences to us, including: - limitations on our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing on favorable terms or at all;- any instances in which we are unable to comply with the covenants contained in the agreements governing our debt or to generate cash sufficient to make required debt payments, which circumstances have the potential of accelerating the maturity of some or all of our outstanding debt;- the allocation of a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our debt, thus reducing the amount of our cash flows available for other purposes, including capital expenditures and dividends that would otherwise improve our competitive position or results of operations;- requiring us to sell debt or equity securities or to sell some of our core assets, possibly on unfavorable terms, to meet payment obligations;- compromising our flexibility to plan for, or react to, competitive challenges in our business and industry or other general adverse economic and industry conditions;- exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates, to the extent we draw down on our Revolving Credit Facility, as borrowings thereunder would be subject to variable interest rates ; and - exposing us to a credit rating downgrade, making it more difficult to raise new capital or refinance on favorable terms. Any of these factors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations and our ability to meet the payment obligations under the agreements governing our debt. In addition, to the extent other new debt is added to our and our subsidiaries' current debt levels, the substantial leverage risks described above would increase.
Corporate Activity and Growth3 | 6.4%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
We have suffered, and may continue to suffer, losses through our investments in other companies in the offshore drilling and oilfield services industry, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
From time to time, we may hold investments in other companies in our industry that operate offshore drilling units with similar characteristics to our fleet of rigs or deliver various other oilfield services. As of December 31, 2024, we held equity interests in Sonadrill, where we provide various services , including the provision of operating and technical support and management and administrative services agreements. As of December 31, 2024, the carrying value of this equity method investment was $68 million. The market value of such equity interests have been, and may continue to be, volatile and has fluctuated, and may continue to fluctuate, in response to changes in oil and gas prices and activity levels in the offshore oil and gas industry. If we sell our equity interests in an investment at a time when the value of such investment has fallen, we may incur a loss on the sale or an impairment loss being recognized, ultimately leading to a reduction in earnings. In current market conditions, we may consider entering into further joint venture arrangements.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
The integration of the businesses and the properties we have acquired or may in the future acquire could be difficult and may divert management's attention away from our existing operations.
The integration of the businesses and properties we have acquired, or may in the future acquire, could be difficult, and may divert management's attention and financial resources away from our existing operations. These difficulties include: - the challenge of integrating the acquired businesses and properties while carrying on the ongoing operations of our business;- the challenge of inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies of the acquired business;- potential unknown liabilities, unforeseen expenses or higher-than-expected integration costs;- attempts by third parties to terminate or alter their contracts with us, including as a result of change of control provisions;- an overall post-completion integration process that takes longer than originally anticipated;- potential lack of operating experience in a geographic market of the acquired properties; and - the possibility of faulty assumptions underlying our expectations. If management is not able to effectively manage the integration process, or if any significant business activities are interrupted as a result of the integration process, our ability to realize potential synergies could suffer and, as a result, our business and financial condition could be negatively impacted. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to manage our expanded business, which may pose substantial challenges for management. We may also face increased scrutiny from governmental authorities as a result of the increase in the size of our business. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in our integration efforts.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
We have experienced, and in the future may experience, risks associated with mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or assets or other strategic transactions.
As part of our business strategy, we have pursued and completed, and may continue to pursue, mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or assets or other strategic transactions that we believe will enable us to strengthen or broaden our business. We may be unable to implement these merger, acquisition and disposition elements of our strategy if we cannot identify suitable companies, businesses or assets, reach agreement on potential strategic transactions on acceptable terms, manage the impacts of such transactions on our business, obtain required consents under our debt agreements or for other reasons. Moreover, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions involve various risks, including, among other things, (i) difficulties relating to integrating or disposing of a business, including changes to our employee workforce and unanticipated changes in customer, vendor and other third-party relationships, (ii) failure to integrate operations and internal controls, including those related to financial reporting, disclosure and cybersecurity and data protection, (iii) the assumption of liabilities as a result of these transactions, (iv) diversion of management's attention from day-to-day operations, (v) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of such transactions, such as cost savings and revenue enhancements, (vi) potentially substantial transaction costs associated with such transactions, (vii) failure to identify significant losses at the target during the due diligence process, which could result in financial or legal exposure, (viii) potential impairment resulting from the overpayment for an acquisition and (ix) the risk that any such strategic transaction may not close on its expected timeframe or at all, in each case, the realization of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. While we generally seek to obtain indemnities for liabilities arising from events occurring before such transactions, we may be unable to do so, and any indemnities we do obtain, will be limited in amount and duration, may be held to be unenforceable or the seller may not be able to indemnify us. Such transactions may also affect the diversification of our drilling unit fleet, which may leave us vulnerable to risks related to lack of diversification. See "Our drilling unit fleet is largely concentrated to benign floaters, which leaves us vulnerable to risks related to lack of diversification." From time to time, we are also approached by, and may solicit bids from, potential buyers regarding the disposition by us of drilling units, or other assets or businesses that we determine are not core to our strategy, including with respect to assets acquired in a merger or acquisition. We may determine that such a disposition would be in our best interests and agree to sell any or all of such assets or businesses. Such a sale could have an impact on net income, and we may recognize a gain or loss on disposal depending on whether the fair value of the consideration received is higher or lower than the carrying value of the asset. Future mergers or acquisitions may require us to obtain additional equity or debt financing, which financing may not be available on attractive terms or at all. To the extent a transaction financed by non-equity consideration results in goodwill, it will reduce our tangible net worth, which might have an adverse effect on credit availability.
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 12/47 (26%)Above Sector Average
Regulation4 | 8.5%
Regulation - Risk 1
Legislation enacted in Bermuda as to Economic Substance may affect our operations.
Pursuant to the Economic Substance Act 2018 (as amended) and related regulations (the "ESA"), which came into force on January 1, 2019, a registered entity other than an entity which is resident for tax purposes in certain jurisdictions outside Bermuda ("non-resident entity") that carries on as a business any one or more of the "relevant activities" referred to in the ESA must comply with economic substance requirements. The ESA may require in-scope Bermuda entities which are engaged in such "relevant activities" to be directed and managed in Bermuda, have an adequate level of qualified employees in Bermuda, incur an adequate level of annual expenditure in Bermuda, maintain physical offices and premises in Bermuda or perform core income-generating activities in Bermuda. The list of "relevant activities" includes carrying on any one or more of the following activities: banking, insurance, fund management, financing and leasing, headquarters, shipping, distribution and service center, intellectual property and holding entities (as such terms are defined in the ESA). An in-scope Bermuda entity that carries on a relevant activity is obliged under the ESA to file a declaration with the Bermuda Registrar of Companies on an annual basis containing certain information. The ESA could affect the manner in which we (or any of our Bermuda subsidiaries) operate our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. If we were required to satisfy economic substance requirements in Bermuda but failed to do so, we could face automatic disclosure to competent authorities in the European Union of the information filed by the entity with the Bermuda Registrar of Companies in connection with the economic substance requirements and may also face financial penalties, restriction or regulation of its business activities and may be struck off as a registered entity in Bermuda.
Regulation - Risk 2
Any violation of anti-bribery, anti-corruption or ethical business practice laws and regulations could have a negative impact on us.
We operate in countries known to have a reputation for corruption. We are subject to the risk that we, our affiliated entities or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents may take action determined to be in violation of such anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the "US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act"), the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010 (the "UK Bribery Act"), the Bermuda Bribery Act 2016 or other applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws to which we may be subject (collectively, the "Legislation"). Any violation of the Legislation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil /or criminal penalties and, curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions and, in turn, might adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage our reputation and ability to do business. Further, detecting, investigating and resolving actual or alleged violations is expensive and can consume significant time and attention of our senior management. We are also subject to a number of modern slavery, human trafficking and forced labor reporting, training and due diligence laws, such as the U.K.'s Modern Slavery Act 2015 and similar legislation, in various jurisdictions and expect additional statutory regimes to combat these crimes to be enacted in the future. If we or our business partners fail to comply with applicable laws, regulations, safety codes, employment practices or human rights standards, our reputation and image could be harmed, and we could be exposed to litigation. Compliance with laws could increase costs of operations and reduce profits.
Regulation - Risk 3
Imposition of laws, executive actions or regulatory initiatives to restrict, delay or cancel leasing, permitting or drilling activities in deepwaters of the United States or foreign countries may reduce demand for our services and products and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are an offshore drilling contractor providing worldwide offshore drilling services to the oil and gas industry. In the United States, President Biden issued an executive order in January 2021 that commits to substantial action on climate change, calling for, among other things, the elimination of subsidies provided to the fossil fuel industry and an increased emphasis on climate-related risks across government agencies and economic sectors. In September 2023, the Biden Administration announced that federal agencies will be directed to consider the social cost of greenhouse gasses in agency budgeting, procurement and other agency decisions, including in environmental reviews conducted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, where appropriate. Additionally, regulatory agencies at the federal, state or local level may issue new or amended laws or rulemakings regarding deepwater leasing, permitting or drilling, including moratoriums on drilling, which could result in more stringent or costly restrictions, delays or cancellations in offshore oil and natural gas exploration and production activities. Additionally, decisions regarding federal offshore leasing have been subject to legal challenges that could delay or suspend offshore lease auctions, adversely affecting our customers' businesses and reducing demand for our services. In September 2023, the Biden Administration announced a new five-year offshore leasing plan for the US Gulf, which the Trump Administration sought to reverse via executive order in January 2025. The Biden Administration's plan, if and to the extent retained under the Trump Administration, calls for a maximum of three offshore lease sales, in 2025, 2027 and 2029, and no lease sales were held in 2024. The five-year lease plan would represent the smallest number of planned sales in the history of the offshore leasing program. On January 6, 2025, President Biden issued a Memorandum of Withdrawal pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of the entire U.S. East Coast, the eastern US Gulf, the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from oil and gas leasing, which the Trump Administration sought to reverse by executive order in January 2025. On January 26, 2024, the Biden Administration implemented a temporary pause on the U.S. Department of Energy's ("DOE") review of pending decisions for authorization to export liquified natural gas ("LNG") to non-Free Trade Agreement countries while the DOE reviews and updates the underlying analyses for such decisions using more current data to account for considerations like the environmental and climate change impacts of LNG. The temporary pause was then overturned by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in July 2024, and the Trump Administration restarted the review of new LNG export terminals via executive order in January 2025. On April 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior ("DOI") published a final rule to revise the Bureau of Land Management's oil and gas leasing regulations, which revises fiscal terms of the onshore federal oil and gas leasing program, including for bonding requirements, royalty rates and minimum bids. It is not possible to predict the impact of the Trump Administration on these climate and energy initiatives at this time. While the Trump Administration may seek to reverse some or all of these initiatives, it is unknown whether such reversals will ultimately be successful. Any new legislation, executive actions or regulatory initiatives, whether in the United States or in other countries, that impose increased costs or more stringent operational standards or result in significant delays, cancellations or disruptions in our customers' operations could increase the risk of losing leasing or permitting opportunities, result in expired leases due to the time required to develop new technology or increased supplemental bonding costs or cause our customers to incur penalties, fines or shut-in production at one or more of their facilities, any or all of which could reduce demand for our services. We cannot predict with any certainty the full impact of any new laws, regulations, executive actions or regulatory initiatives on our customers' drilling operations or the opportunity to pursue such operations, or on the cost or availability of insurance to cover the risks associated with such operations. The matters described above, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Regulation - Risk 4
Compliance with, and breach of, the complex laws and regulations governing international trade could be costly, expose us to liability and, together with policy changes affecting international trade, adversely affect our operations.
The shipment of goods, services and technology across international borders subjects our business to extensive trade laws and regulations. Import activities are governed by unique customs laws and regulations in each of the countries of operation. Moreover, many countries, including the United States, control the export, re-export and transfer (in country) of certain goods, services and technology and impose related export recordkeeping and reporting obligations. Governments also may impose trade and economic sanctions against certain countries, persons and other entities that restrict or prohibit transactions involving such countries, persons or entities. For example, the U.S. government has imposed sanctions that are designed to restrict or prohibit doing business in certain countries that are heavily involved in the petroleum and petrochemical industries, which includes drilling activities. The laws and regulations concerning import and export activity and economic sanctions are complex and constantly changing, and we cannot predict what changes will be made by the U.S. or other governments, nor can we predict the effects that any such changes would have on our business. Shipments can be delayed and denied export or entry for a variety of reasons, some of which are outside our control and some of which may result from the failure to comply with existing legal and regulatory regimes. Shipping delays or denials could cause unscheduled operational downtime. Any failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could also result in criminal and civil penalties and sanctions, such as fines, imprisonment, debarment from government contracts, the seizure of shipments, and the loss of import and export privileges. Changes in government policies on foreign trade and investment can also affect the demand for our services, impact the competitive position of our services or prevent us from being able to sell services in certain countries. Our business benefits from free trade agreements, and efforts to withdraw from or substantially modify such agreements, in addition to the implementation of more restrictive trade policies, such as more detailed inspections, higher tariffs, import or export licensing requirements, economic sanctions, anti-boycott laws, exchange controls or new barriers to entry, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, on February 1, 2025, the Trump Administration issued executive orders imposing tariffs on certain products imported from China, Canada and Mexico to the United States. These new tariffs may put upwards pressure on the prices of goods and services across the jurisdictions in which we operate, including those we source from third-party providers (as defined below), which could reduce our ability to offer competitive pricing to potential customers. We cannot predict what other changes to trade policy will be made by the Trump Administration, the U.S. Congress or other governments, including whether existing tariff policies will be maintained or modified or whether the entry into new bilateral or multilateral trade agreements will occur, nor can we predict the effects that any such changes would have on our business. Changes in U.S. trade policy have resulted and could again result in reactions from U.S. trading partners, including adopting responsive trade policies making it more difficult or costly for us to conduct business across the jurisdictions in which we operate or source goods and services from third-party providers. Such changes in trade policy or in laws and policies governing foreign trade, and any resulting negative sentiments towards the United States as a result of such changes, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, our results are directly affected by the applicability of certain customs duties and importation tax relief programs under customs regimes for the exportation and importation of goods and equipment, including rigs, related to the oil and gas sector. Among other incentives, such programs grant full suspension of certain import taxes, resulting in reduced tax burdens from operations. If unprecedented interpretations are applied by the customs and tax authorities governing such programs and regimes, including those that would deny us the use of such incentives granted historically in the ordinary course, and assuming we are unable to successfully challenge such interpretation or otherwise able to recover any amounts pursuant to the contractual provisions of the applicable drilling contract, then the amount of the applicable tariff, which would depend on many factors, could reasonably be expected to increase our operating costs.
Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 2.1%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
We may be subject to litigation, arbitration, other proceedings and regulatory investigations that could have an adverse effect on us.
We are currently involved in various litigation and arbitration matters, and we anticipate that we will be involved in dispute matters from time to time in the future. The operating and other hazards inherent in our business expose us to disputes, including claims for personal injury, worker health and safety matters, environmental and climate change litigation, contractual disputes with customers or lessors of rigs that we have leased, or may in the future lease, intellectual property and patent disputes, tax or securities disputes, regulatory investigations and maritime lawsuits, including the possible arrest of our drilling units. We cannot predict, with certainty, the outcome or effect of any claim or other dispute matters, or a combination of these. If we are involved in any future disputes, or if our positions concerning current disputes are found to be incorrect, there may be an adverse effect on our business, financial position, operating results and available cash, because of potential negative outcomes, the costs associated with asserting our claims or defending such lawsuits or proceedings, and the diversion of management's attention to these matters. For additional information on litigation matters that we are currently involved in, please see Part I, Item 3, "Legal Proceedings".
Taxation & Government Incentives2 | 4.3%
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1
A loss of a major tax dispute or a successful tax challenge to our operating structure, intercompany pricing policies or the taxable presence of our subsidiaries in certain countries could result in higher taxes on our worldwide earnings, which could result in a significant negative impact on our earnings and cash flows from operations.
Our tax returns are subject to review and examination. We do not recognize the benefit of income tax positions we believe are more likely than not to be disallowed upon challenge by a tax authority. If any tax authority successfully challenges our operational structure, intercompany pricing policies or the taxable presence of our subsidiaries in certain countries; or if the terms of certain double tax treaties are interpreted in a manner that is adverse to our structure; or if we lose a material tax dispute in any country, our taxes on our worldwide earnings could increase substantially and our earnings and cash flows from operations could be materially adversely affected. For additional information on tax assessments and claims issued, refer to Note 11 - "Taxation" to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 2
A change in tax laws in any country in which we operate could result in higher tax expense.
We conduct our operations through various subsidiaries in countries throughout the world. Tax laws, regulations and treaties are highly complex and subject to interpretation. Consequently, we are subject to changing tax laws, regulations and treaties in and between the countries in which we operate, including treaties between the United States and other countries. 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. A change in these tax laws, regulations or treaties, including those in and involving the United States, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's ("OECD") Base Erosion and Profit Shifting 2.0 initiative, Pillar 2, and rules introduced by countries in response to Pillar 2 (such as Bermuda corporate income tax), or in the valuation of our deferred tax assets, which is beyond our control, could result in a materially higher tax expense or a higher effective tax rate on our worldwide earnings. The United States enacted the Inflation Reduction Act on August 16, 2022. This law imposes, among other things, a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax on the adjusted financial statement income of certain corporations, and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases occurring after December 31, 2022. While we believe these tax law changes have no immediate effect on us and are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations going forward, it is unclear how they will be implemented by the U.S. Department of Treasury, and what actions, if any, the Trump Administration may take with respect thereto, and what, if any, impact the tax law changes or actions of the Trump Administration will have on our tax rate. We will continue to evaluate the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, and actions of the Trump Administration with respect thereto, as further information becomes available. Further, on December 27, 2023, Bermuda enacted the Corporate Income Tax Act 2023 (the "CIT Act"). Entities subject to tax under the CIT Act are the Bermuda constituent entities of multi-national groups. A multi-national group is defined under the CIT Act as a group with entities in more than one jurisdiction with consolidated revenues of at least EUR750 million for two of the four previous fiscal years. If Bermuda constituent entities of a multi-national group are subject to tax under the CIT Act, such tax is charged at a rate of 15% of the net taxable income of such constituent entities as determined in accordance with and subject to the adjustments set out in the CIT Act. Tax is chargeable under the CIT Act for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2025. In addition, the CIT Act includes transition rules including carryforward tax losses incurred in the five fiscal years preceding the effective date or increases in the tax basis of assets and liabilities. The CIT Act also provides relief from double taxation via foreign tax credit based on the adjusted amount of foreign taxes accrued by the group. The CIT Act is designed as a covered tax for the purposes of the OECD's Global Base Anti-Erosion Rules ("GloBE model rules"), meaning the CIT Act does not presently apply an income-inclusion rule or under taxed profits rule in the same way as the GloBE model rules do. While we expect that the Company would be treated as a Bermuda constituent entity for the purposes of the CIT Act and therefore subject to taxation in Bermuda, we do not currently expect the CIT Act to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations going forward but will continue to assess as additional clarification becomes available. Future developments and guidance under the GloBE model rules may impact Bermuda's implementation of its corporate tax regime, and any future changes to the Bermuda corporate income tax regime may negatively impact our tax liability, financial condition, and results of operations, and could increase our administrative expenses.
Environmental / Social5 | 10.6%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
The physical effects of, and regulations and disclosure requirements with respect to, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change could have a negative impact on our business.
The physical and regulatory effects of climate change and a global transition to a low carbon economy could have a negative impact on our operations and could require adapting our fleet and business to potential changes in governmental requirements, customer preferences and our customer base, and could also require engaging with existing and potential customers and suppliers to develop or implement solutions designed to reduce or to decarbonize oil and gas operations or to advance renewable and other alternative energy sources. Scientific studies have suggested that emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, may be contributing to warming of the earth's atmosphere and other climatic changes. In response to such studies, the issue of climate change and the effect of greenhouse gas emissions, in particular emissions from fossil fuels, is attracting increasing attention worldwide; and there are a number of political and technological initiatives aimed at reducing the use of hydrocarbons. We are aware of the increasing focus of local, state, regional, national and international regulatory bodies on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change issues. For example, legislation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and reporting obligations with respect thereto have periodically been introduced in the U.S. Congress or proposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and such legislation and reporting obligations may be proposed or adopted in the future. On March 6, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted final rules that will require a registrant to disclose, among other things: material climate-related risks; activities to mitigate or adapt to such risks; information about the registrant's board of directors' oversight of climate-related risks and management's role in managing material climate-related risks; and information on any climate-related targets or goals that are material to the registrant's business, results of operations, or financial condition. However, the SEC voluntarily stayed implementation of the final rules pending completion of judicial review; and we cannot predict whether the Trump Administration may seek to overturn the final rules. Additionally, the United States has been a member of the "Paris Agreement" that requires member countries to review and "represent a progression" in their intended nationally determined greenhouse gas contributions, which set many new goals, including greenhouse gas emission reduction goals every five years, with the next review occurring in 2025; however, on January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing (i) submittal of a formal notification of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and (ii) the U.S. to consider withdrawal from such agreement and obligations thereunder to be effective immediately. In December 2023, the international community, including over 190 governments, gathered in Dubai at COP28 and announced a new climate deal that calls on countries to ratchet up action on climate, including actions towards tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements at a global level, before 2030 and ultimately to reduce carbon emissions and transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve "net zero" by 2050. More recently, however, on January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order that initiated the process to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, mandated ending the United States' financial commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and revoked the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan. In addition to the executive order mentioned above, as of January 25, 2025, the Trump Administration had issued a series of executive orders that signal a shift in the United States' energy and climate change policies. Among other directives, such executive orders: (i) direct federal agencies to identify and exercise emergency authorities to facilitate conventional energy production, transportation and refining, and call for the use of emergency regulations to expedite energy infrastructure projects; (ii) promote energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters; (iii) mandate a review of existing regulations that may burden domestic energy development; and (iv) pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the "Inflation Reduction Act") and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It is not possible to predict the impact of the Trump Administration on these climate and energy initiatives at this time. While the Trump Administration may seek to reverse some or all of the initiatives advanced by the Biden Administration, it is unknown whether such reversals will ultimately be successful, and these or additional changes in the future could impact our business and operations, and those of our customers. With respect to the shipping and offshore drilling industries, in particular, governing bodies have, from time to time, put in place regulatory frameworks and measures, and may in the future propose and adopt others, that materially burden, limit or prohibit shipping or offshore drilling operations in certain areas. For example, a number of countries, the EU and the United Nations' International Maritime Organization (the "IMO") have adopted, or are considering the adoption of, regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry, such as requiring ships (including rigs and drillships) to comply with IMO and EU regulations relating to the collection and reporting of data relating to greenhouse gas emissions. In April 2018, the IMO adopted an initial strategy to, among other things, reduce the 2008 level of greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry by 50% by the year 2050. In July 2023, the IMO adopted a revised strategy that (i) includes as a goal attaining net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, (ii) promotes the uptake of alternative zero and near-zero greenhouse gas emissions technologies, fuels and/or energy sources by 2030, and (iii) identifies as indicative checkpoints a level of ambition at least a 20% reduction, compared to 2008, in total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 2030, and at least a 70% reduction by 2040, striving for reductions of 30% by 2030 and 80% by 2040. In furtherance of the IMO's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, in October 2024, the IMO announced proposed regulations scheduled for adoption in late 2025 focused on enhancing the energy efficiency of ships. The IMO also is discussing proposals to (i) set a global marine fuel standard providing for a phased reduction of the greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuel and (ii) establish a marine greenhouse gas pricing mechanism. In January 2025, the International Chamber of Shipping joined with 47 governments in the submission of proposed language to the IMO for a pricing mechanism that, commencing in 2028, would require shipping companies engaged in international voyages to make contributions to a new "IMO GHG Strategy Implementation Fund" based on annual greenhouse gas emission levels. It is not possible at this time to predict the timing and effect of climate change or the extent and contents of any additional greenhouse gas legislation, regulations or other measures, including with respect to the shipping or offshore drilling industries, specifically, or the oil and gas industry, generally, adopted at the international, national, regional, state or local levels. However, more aggressive efforts by governments and non-governmental organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have occurred and may continue based on long-term trends, the findings set forth in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's special report and the announcements made at COP28. Any passage of climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives by the IMO, the EU, the United States or other jurisdictions in which we operate, or any treaty or agreement adopted at the international level, such as the Kyoto Protocol or Glasgow Climate Pact, that restricts or imposes a fee on emissions of greenhouse gases or implements more robust greenhouse gas emission and climate-related reporting and disclosure obligations, could (i) require us to make significant financial expenditures, including the installation of new emission controls, the acquisition of allowances or payment of taxes related to our greenhouse gases, or the implementation and administration of a greenhouse gas emissions program, (ii) increase our costs to operate and maintain our assets, and (iii) negatively affect the demand for our customers' products and, accordingly, our services, none of which we are able to predict with certainty at this time. Any such legislation, regulations, reporting and disclosure obligations or other measures could have a significant adverse financial and operational impact on our business and operations. Moreover, certain government and regulatory authorities have enacted, and are expected to continue to enact, laws and regulations that mandate or provide economic incentives for the development of technologies and sources of energy other than oil and gas, such as wind and solar. Such legislation incentivizes the development, use and investment in these technologies and alternative energy sources and could accelerate the shift away from traditional oil and gas. The amendment or modification of existing laws and regulations or the adoption of new laws and regulations curtailing or further regulating exploratory or developmental drilling and production of oil and gas could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition if we are unable to recover or pass through a significant level of our costs or are required to change our practices related to complying with climate change regulatory requirements imposed on us. Future earnings may be negatively affected by compliance with any such new legislation or regulations. Further, to the extent financial markets view climate change and greenhouse gas emissions as a financial risk, this could negatively impact our cost of or access to capital. Parties concerned about the potential effects of climate change have directed, and may in the future direct, their attention at sources of funding for energy companies, which has resulted, and may in the future result, in certain financial institutions, funds and other sources of capital, restricting or eliminating their investment in or lending to oil and gas activities. Beyond regulatory and financial impacts, the projected severe effects of climate change, including severe weather, such as hurricanes, monsoons and other catastrophic storms, have the potential to directly affect our facilities, drilling units and operations and those of our customers and suppliers, which could result in more frequent and severe disruptions to our business and those of our customers and suppliers, increased costs to repair damaged facilities or drilling units or maintain or resume operations, and increased insurance costs. Additionally, the increasing attention to the risks of climate change has resulted in an increased possibility of litigation or investigations brought by public and private entities against oil and gas companies in connection with their greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, we or our customers may become subject to court orders compelling a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or requiring mitigation of the effects of climate change.
Environmental / Social - Risk 2
Failure to adequately protect our sensitive information, operational technology systems and critical data, or our service providers' failure to protect their systems and data could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our day-to-day operations increasingly depend on information and operational technology systems that we manage, and other systems that certain third parties relevant to our operations manage, including critical systems on our drilling units. Potential unauthorized occurrences on or through our information and operational technology systems, including as a result of cybersecurity incidents, that may result in adverse effects on the confidentiality, integrity and availability of these systems and data residing therein continue to grow. The risks associated with cyberattacks and cyber incidents include, but may not be limited to, human error, power outages, computer and telecommunication failures, natural disasters, fraud or malice, or cybersecurity threats such as social engineering or phishing attacks, viruses or malware, and other cyberattacks, such as denial-of-service or ransomware attacks. Reports indicate that entities or groups, including cybercriminals, competitors, and nation state actors, have mounted cyber-attacks on businesses and other organizations solely to disable or disrupt computer systems, disrupt operations and, in some cases, steal data. In addition, the US government has issued public warnings that indicate energy assets and companies engaging in significant transactions, such as acquisitions, might be specific targets of cybersecurity threats. Geopolitical tensions or conflicts, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the advancement of technologies like artificial intelligence, which malicious third parties are using to create new, sophisticated and more frequent attacks, may further heighten the risk of cybersecurity threats. Also, many of our non-operational employees travel and spend a significant amount of their time working remotely to support our operations, which has created or otherwise heightened certain operational risks, such as an increased risk of security breaches, cyberattacks or other cyber incidents, loss of data, fraud and other disruptions. Remote connectivity outside of Seadrill offices has resulted in an increased demand for technological barriers and training and exposes us to different threat vectors of cyberattacks or other cyber incidents, security breaches, loss of data, fraud and other disruptions as a consequence of more employees accessing sensitive and critical information remotely. Due to the nature of cyber-attacks, breaches to our systems or our service or equipment providers' systems could go undetected for a prolonged period of time. A breach could also compromise or originate from our customers', vendors', or other third-party systems or networks outside of our control. A security breach may result in legal claims or proceedings against us by our shareholders, employees, customers, vendors and governmental authorities, both in the U.S. and internationally. While we maintain a cybersecurity program, which includes administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards, a significant cyberattack or other cyber incident (whether involving our systems, those of a critical third-party, or both) could disrupt our operations and result in downtime, loss of revenue, harm to the Company's reputation, or the loss, theft, corruption or unauthorized or unlawful release of critical data of us or those with whom we do business, as well as result in higher costs to correct and remedy the effects of such incidents, including potential extortion payments associated with ransomware or ransom demands. If our, or our service or equipment providers', safeguards maintained for protecting against cyber incidents or attacks prove to be insufficient, and an incident were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, reputation, and results of operations. Even though we carry cyber insurance that may provide insurance coverage under certain circumstances, we might suffer losses as a result of a security breach or cyber incident that exceeds the coverage available under our policy or for which we do not have coverage, and we cannot be certain that cyber insurance will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. See Part I, Item 1C, "Cybersecurity" of this annual report for a description of our cybersecurity policies and procedures. In addition, a patchwork of laws and regulations governing, or proposing to govern, cybersecurity, data privacy and protection, and the unauthorized disclosure of confidential or protected information, including the U.K. Data Protection Act, the General Data Protection Regulations (EU) 2016/679, Bermuda Personal Information Protection Act 2016, the California Consumer Privacy Act, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act, and other similar legislation in domestic and international jurisdictions pose increasingly complex compliance challenges and potentially elevate costs, and any failure to comply with these laws and regulations could result in significant penalties and legal liability. Additionally, new regulations or legislation may affect our current uses of protected information and require us to modify how we collect, protect, process or disclose such information.
Environmental / Social - Risk 3
We are subject to complex environmental laws and regulations that can adversely affect us.
Our operations are subject to numerous international, national, state and local laws and regulations, treaties and conventions in force in international waters and the jurisdictions in which our drilling units operate or are registered, which can significantly affect the ownership and operation of our drilling units. Such laws, regulations, treaties and conventions govern a wide range of environmental issues, including: - physical, chemical and toxic releases, including the release of oil, drilling fluids, natural gas or other materials into the environment;- climate impact and air emissions from our drilling units or our facilities;- handling, cleanup and remediation of solid and hazardous wastes and contaminated media at our drilling units or our facilities or at locations to which we have sent wastes for disposal;- restrictions on chemicals and other hazardous substances; and - biodiversity and ecosystem impact, including regulations that ensure our activities do not jeopardize endangered or threatened animals, fish or plant species, nor destroy or modify the critical habitat of such species. Compliance with such laws, regulations and standards, where applicable, may require installation of costly equipment or implementation of operational changes and may affect the resale value or useful life of our drilling units. These costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. A failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions or the suspension or termination of our operations. Because such laws, regulations and standards are often revised, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with them or the impact thereof on the resale prices or useful lives of our rigs. Additional laws, regulations and standards may be adopted which could limit our ability to do business or increase the cost of our, or our customers, doing business and which may materially adversely affect our operations. For example, in April 2024, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management published a final rule, which took effect June 29, 2024, that updates requirements for the posting of bonds and other financial assurance for oil, gas and sulfur lessees and certain other parties operating in the offshore Outer Continental Shelf, which could increase bonding requirements and other financial assurance for some of our customers. Certain environmental laws impose strict, joint and several liability in relation to the remediation of and damages attributable to spills and releases of oil and hazardous substances. Such laws could subject us to liability without regard to whether we were deemed negligent or otherwise at fault. Under the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ("OPA"), for example, owners, operators and bareboat charterers are jointly and severally strictly liable as responsible parties for the discharge of oil within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone around the United States. An oil or chemical spill, for which we are deemed a responsible party, could result in us incurring significant liability, including fines, penalties, criminal liability and remediation or cleanup costs and natural resource damages under applicable international, national, state and local laws, as well as third-party damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows. Future increased regulation of the shipping industry or modifications to statutory liability schemes could expose us to further potential financial risk in the event of any such oil or chemical spill. Our customers, and in certain circumstances, we, are required by various governmental and quasi-governmental agencies to obtain certain permits, licenses and certificates with respect to our operations and to satisfy insurance and financial responsibility requirements for potential oil spills (including marine oil) and other pollution incidents. Although we have arranged for insurance to cover certain environmental risks, such insurance is subject to exclusions and other monetary limits. There can be no guarantee that such insurance will be sufficient to cover all potential risks or that any related claims will not have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. Moreover, the insurance coverage we currently hold may not be available, or we may elect to forgo certain insurance coverage, in the future. Even if insurance is available and we have obtained the coverage, it may not be adequate to cover our liabilities, may not be available on satisfactory terms or may be subject to high premiums, or our insurance underwriters may be unable to pay compensation if a significant claim should occur. Any of these scenarios could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Although our drilling units are separately owned by our subsidiaries, under certain circumstances the parent company and its affiliates in a group or joint venture could be held liable for damages or debts owed by one of the affiliates, including liabilities for oil spills under OPA or other environmental laws. Therefore, it is possible that we could be subject to liability upon a judgment against us or any one of our subsidiaries. Our drilling units could cause the release of oil or hazardous substances. Releases may be large in quantity, above our permitted limits or occur in protected or sensitive areas where the public, environmental groups or governmental authorities have heightened or special interests. Any releases of oil or hazardous substances could result in fines and other costs to us, such as costs to upgrade our drilling units, clean up the releases and comply with more stringent requirements in our discharge permits, as well as subject us to third party claims for damages, including natural resource damages. Moreover, these releases may result in our customers or governmental authorities suspending or terminating our operations in the affected area, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. If we are able to obtain some degree of indemnification against pollution and environmental damages in our contracts, such indemnification may not be enforceable in all instances or the customer may not be financially able to comply with its indemnity obligations in all cases, and we may not be able to obtain such indemnification agreements in the future. In addition, a court may decide that certain indemnities in our current or future contracts are not enforceable.
Environmental / Social - Risk 4
Our aspirations, goals and initiatives related to sustainability, including emissions reduction and our public statements and disclosures regarding the same, expose us to numerous risks.
We have developed, and we will continue to develop, goals, and other objectives related to sustainability matters, including those discussed in our annual sustainability reports. Statements related to these goals and objectives are made using various underlying assumptions and reflect our current intentions, and do not constitute a guarantee that they will be achieved. Our ability to achieve any stated goal or objective is subject to numerous factors and conditions, many of which are outside of our control, including the availability of technologies and processes to reduce fuel use and improve energy efficiency on our rigs. Due to the interaction of numerous factors beyond our control we cannot predict the ultimate impact of achieving sustainability goals, or the various implementation aspects, on our financial condition and results of operations. Our business may face increased scrutiny from investors and other stakeholders related to our sustainability activities, including the goals and other objectives that we announce, and our methodologies and timelines for pursuing them. If our sustainability assumptions or practices do not meet investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards, which continue to evolve, our reputation, our ability to attract or retain employees and our attractiveness as an investment or business partner could be negatively affected. Similarly, our failure or perceived failure to pursue or fulfill our sustainability focused goals and objectives, to comply with ethical, environmental or other standards, regulations or expectations, or to satisfy various reporting standards with respect to these matters, within the timelines dictated by regulations, timelines we voluntarily announce, or at all, could adversely affect our business or reputation, as well as expose us to government enforcement actions and private litigation.
Environmental / Social - Risk 5
Increasing attention to environmental, social and governance matters and climate change may impact us.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny relating to their ESG policies, including those related to climate change, sustainability, diversity and inclusion initiatives and heightened governance standards. Investor advocacy groups, certain institutional investors, investment funds, lenders and other market participants are increasingly focused on ESG practices and in recent years have placed growing importance on the implications and social cost of their investments. The increased focus and activism related to ESG and similar matters may hinder access to capital as investors and lenders may decide to reallocate capital or not to commit capital as a result of their assessment of a company's ESG practices. Companies that do not adapt to or comply with investor, lender or other industry shareholder expectations and standards, which are evolving, or which are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, may suffer from reputational damage and the business, financial condition or share price of such a company could be materially and adversely affected. We may face increasing pressures from investors, lenders and other market participants, who are increasingly focused on climate change, to prioritize sustainable energy practices, reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability. As a result, we may be required to implement more stringent ESG procedures or standards, or reduce or offset our greenhouse gas emissions, so that our existing and future investors and lenders remain invested in us and make further investments in us. We may also be subject in the future to additional reporting requirements that are developing in response to such increased focus. If we do not take these measures or comply with the additional reporting requirements, our business or our ability to access capital could be harmed. Additionally, certain investors and lenders may divest their shares of companies engaged in the fossil fuel industry, such as us, or exclude such companies from their investing portfolios altogether due to ESG factors. These limitations in both the debt and equity capital markets may affect our ability to grow as our plans for growth may include accessing those markets. If those markets are unavailable, or if we are unable to access alternative means of financing on acceptable terms, or at all, we may be unable to implement our business strategy, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to service our debt. Further, it is likely that we will incur additional costs and require additional resources to monitor, report and comply with wide-ranging ESG and climate change-related requirements and goals, targets or objectives we may be required to set. Similarly, these policies may negatively impact the ability of other businesses in our supply chain to access debt and capital markets. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Production
Total Risks: 12/47 (26%)Above Sector Average
Manufacturing7 | 14.9%
Manufacturing - Risk 1
Upgrades, refurbishment, repair and surveying of rigs are subject to risks, including delays and cost overruns, that could have an adverse impact on our available cash resources and results of operations.
We will continue to make upgrades, refurbishment and repair expenditures to our fleet from time to time, some of which may be unplanned. In addition: (i) we may reactivate rigs that have been cold or warm stacked and make selective acquisitions of rigs; (ii) our customers may require certain upgrade projects for our rigs; and (iii) compliance with vessel flag rules mandating periodic surveys of our rigs requires us to periodically take each of our rigs out of operation in order to conduct surveys and inspections, including in drydock. Generally, these projects become more time consuming and expensive the older the fleet becomes and are subject to risks of cost overruns or delays as a result of numerous factors, including the following: - shortages of equipment, materials or skilled labor;- work stoppages and labor disputes;- unscheduled delays in the delivery of ordered materials and equipment;- local customs strikes or related work slowdowns that could delay importation of equipment or materials;- weather interferences;- difficulties in obtaining necessary permits or approvals or in meeting permit or approval conditions;- design and engineering problems;- inadequate regulatory support infrastructure in the local jurisdiction;- latent damages or deterioration to hull, equipment and machinery in excess of engineering estimates and assumptions;- unforeseen increases in the cost of equipment, labor and raw materials, particularly steel due to inflation or other factors;- unanticipated actual or purported change orders;- customer acceptance delays;- disputes with shipyards and suppliers;- delays in, or inability to obtain, access to funding;- shipyard availability, failures and difficulties, including as a result of financial problems of shipyards or their subcontractors; and - failure or delay of third-party equipment vendors or service providers. The failure to complete a rig upgrade, refurbishment, repair or survey on time, or at all, may result in related loss of revenues, liquidated damages, penalties, or delay renegotiation or cancellation of a drilling contract or the recognition of an asset impairment. Additionally, capital expenditures could materially exceed our planned capital expenditures. When our rigs are undergoing upgrade, refurbishment, repair or surveys, they may not earn a dayrate during the period they are out of service; and the cost of moving a rig, conducting the survey and remedying any deficiencies or defects discovered can result in additional down-time and cost. If we experience substantial delays and cost overruns in these projects, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We currently have no new rigs under construction.
Manufacturing - Risk 2
Our fleet is largely concentrated to benign floaters and drillships, which leaves us vulnerable to risks related to lack of diversification.
The offshore contract drilling industry is generally divided into two broad markets: deepwater and shallow water drilling. These broad markets are generally divided into smaller sub-markets based upon various factors, including the type of drilling unit and drilling environment. The primary types of drilling units include jackup rigs, semisubmersible rigs, drillships, platform rigs, barge rigs and submersible rigs. While all drilling units are affected by general economic and industry conditions, each type of drilling unit can be affected differently by changes in demand. As of December 31, 2024, we owned 12 floaters (comprising seven 7th-generation drillships, three 6th-generation drillships and two benign environment semi-submersible units) and three harsh environment rigs. Our drilling unit fleet is concentrated in drillships and semisubmersible rigs. If the market for drillships and semisubmersible rigs should decline relative to the markets for other drilling unit types, such as jack-ups, our operating results could be more adversely affected relative to our competitors with drilling fleets that are less concentrated in drillships and semisubmersible rigs.
Manufacturing - Risk 3
Our contract backlog for our fleet of drilling units may not be realized.
As of December 31, 2024, our contract backlog was approximately $3 billion. The contract backlog described herein and in our other public disclosures is only an estimate. The actual amount of revenues and the periods during which they are earned will be different from the contract backlog projections due to various factors, including shipyard and maintenance projects, special periodic surveys, upgrades, regulatory work, downtime and other events, some of which may be beyond our control.
Manufacturing - Risk 4
We may not be able to renew or obtain new and favorable contracts for our drilling units.
The offshore drilling markets in which we compete experience fluctuations in the demand for drilling services. Our ability to renew expiring drilling contracts or obtain new drilling contracts depends on the prevailing or expected market conditions. As of December 31, 2024, we owned a total of 15 drilling units, of which 11 were operating (inclusive of one leased to the Sonadrill joint venture), one 6th generation drillship was undergoing contract preparations for a contract that commenced during February 2025, and three were cold stacked. The 11 operating units include 10 benign floaters (comprising seven 7th generation drillships, two 6th generation drillships and one benign environment semi-submersible) and one harsh environment unit (comprising of one jackup). In addition to our owned assets, as of December 31, 2024, we managed two drilling units owned by Sonangol. Of the 12 owned rigs either currently or future contracted, we expect four will become available before the end of 2025. We may be unable to obtain drilling contracts for our rigs that are currently operating upon the expiration or termination of such contracts, and there may be a gap in the operation of the rigs between the current contracts and subsequent contracts. When oil and natural gas prices are low or it is expected that such prices will decrease in the future, we may be unable to obtain drilling contracts at attractive dayrates or at all. We may not be able to obtain new drilling contracts with the terms or dayrates sufficient to support a reactivation of a cold-stacked rig. Likewise, we may not be able to obtain new drilling contracts in direct continuation with existing contracts, or depending on prevailing market conditions, we may enter into drilling contracts at dayrates substantially below the existing dayrates or on terms otherwise less favorable compared to existing contract terms, which may have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Manufacturing - Risk 5
If our drilling units are located in or connected to countries that are subject to, or targeted by, economic sanctions, export restrictions, or other operating restrictions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union or other governments, our reputation and the market for our debt and our common shares could be adversely affected.
The U.S., the U.K., the EU and other governments may impose economic sanctions against certain countries, persons and other entities that restrict or prohibit transactions involving such countries, persons and entities. U.S. sanctions in particular are targeted against countries or certain economic sectors of such countries (such as Russia, Venezuela, Iran and others) that are heavily involved in the petroleum and petrochemical industries, which includes drilling activities. U.S., U.K., EU and other economic sanctions change frequently and enforcement of economic sanctions worldwide is increasing. For example: (i) in 2010, the U.S. enacted the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act, which expanded the scope of the former Iran Sanctions Act by applying sanctions to non-U.S. companies such as ours and introducing limits on such companies and persons that do business with Iran when such activities relate to the investment, supply or export of refined petroleum or petroleum products; (ii) in 2017, the U.S. passed the "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act" (Public Law 115-44), which authorizes imposition of new sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea and created heightened sanctions risks for companies operating in the oil and gas sector, including companies that are based outside of the U.S.; (iii) in recent years, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control acted several times to add Russian and Iranian individuals and entities to its list of Specially Designated Nationals whose assets are blocked and with whom U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing; and (iv) in recent years, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security designated a number of Chinese parties on the Entity List, including parties involved in the offshore drilling and maritime industries. Certain parties with whom we have entered into contracts may be, or may be affiliated with, persons or entities that could become the subject of sanctions, including, without limitations, sanctions targeting malicious cyber-enabled activities. If we determine that such sanctions require us to terminate existing contracts or if we are found to be in violation of such applicable sanctions, our operating results may be adversely affected, or we may suffer reputational harm. We may also lose business opportunities to companies that are not required to comply with these sanctions. From time to time, we may enter into drilling contracts with countries or government-controlled entities that are subject to sanctions, export restrictions and embargoes imposed by the U.S. government or identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism, provided entering into such contracts would not violate U.S. law. We may also enter into drilling contracts involving operations in countries or with government-controlled entities that are subject to sanctions and embargoes imposed by the U.S. government or identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism, provided that entering into such contracts would not violate U.S. law. However, this could negatively affect our ability to obtain investors. In some cases, U.S. investors would be prohibited from investing in an arrangement in which the proceeds could directly or indirectly be transferred to or may benefit a sanctioned entity. Moreover, even in cases where the investment would not violate U.S. law, potential investors could view such drilling contracts negatively, which could adversely affect our reputation and the market for Shares. We do not currently have any drilling contracts involving operations in countries or with government-controlled entities that are subject to sanctions and embargoes imposed by the U.S. government or identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism nor do we have any plans to initiate such contracts. As stated above, we believe that we are in compliance with all applicable economic sanctions and embargo laws and regulations and intend to maintain such compliance. However, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Rapid changes in the scope of global sanctions may also make it more difficult for us to remain in compliance. Any violation of applicable economic sanctions could result in civil or criminal penalties, fines, enforcement actions, legal costs, reputational damage, or other penalties and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in Shares or debt. Additionally, some investors may decide to divest their interest, or not to invest, in Shares or debt simply because we may do business with companies that do business in sanctioned countries. Moreover, our drilling contracts may indirectly involve persons subject to sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us, or our drilling units, and even if those dealings are lawful, it could in turn negatively affect our reputation. Investor perception of the value of Shares or debt may also be adversely affected by the consequences of war, the effects of terrorism, civil unrest and governmental actions in these and surrounding countries.
Manufacturing - Risk 6
Control of oil and natural gas reserves by national oil companies may affect the demand for our services and products and create additional risks in our operations.
Much of the world's oil and natural gas reserves are controlled by national oil companies, which may suggest or require their contractors to meet local content requirements or other local standards, such as conducting our operations through joint ventures with local partners that could be difficult or undesirable for us to meet. These difficulties may be compounded by the effects of local law, unpredictable contract interpretation by local courts and the exercise of extra-contractual rights by national oil companies or their affiliates. The failure to meet the local content requirements and other local standards may adversely affect our operations in those countries. In addition, our ability to work with national oil companies is subject to our ability to negotiate and agree upon acceptable contract terms.
Manufacturing - Risk 7
Our drilling contracts with national oil companies may expose us to greater risks than with non-governmental customers.
We currently own and operate rigs that are contracted with national oil companies. The terms of these contracts are often non-negotiable and may expose us to greater commercial, political and operational risks than we assume in other contracts, such as exposure to materially greater environmental liability, personal injury and other claims for damages (including consequential damages), or the risk that the contract may be terminated by our customer without cause on short-term notice, contractually or by governmental action, under certain conditions that may not provide us with an early termination payment. We can provide no assurance that the increased risk exposure will not have an adverse impact on our future operations or that we will not increase the number of rigs contracted to national oil companies with commensurate additional contractual risks.
Employment / Personnel2 | 4.3%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
Labor costs restrictions could increase following collective bargaining negotiations and changes in labor laws and regulations.
Some of our employees are represented by CBAs. The majority of these employees work in Brazil and Norway. In addition, some of our contracted labor works under CBAs. As part of the legal obligations in some of these agreements, we are required to contribute certain amounts to retirement funds and pension plans and are restricted in our ability to dismiss employees. In addition, many of these represented individuals are working under agreements that are subject to salary negotiation. These negotiations could result in higher personnel costs, other increased costs or increased operating restrictions that could adversely affect our financial performance.
Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
Failure to obtain or retain highly skilled personnel, and to ensure they have the correct visas and permits to work in the locations in which they are required, could adversely affect our operations.
We require highly skilled personnel in the right locations to operate and provide technical services and support for our business. Competition for skilled and other labor required for our drilling operations has increased in recent years as the number of rigs activated or added to worldwide fleets has increased, and this may continue to rise. In some regions, such as Brazil and West Africa, the limited availability of qualified personnel in combination with local regulations focusing on crew composition, are expected to further increase the demand for qualified offshore drilling crews, which may increase our costs. These factors could further create and intensify upward pressure on wages and make it more difficult for us to staff and service our rigs. Additionally, many of our drilling contracts specify a minimum number of crew ("Minimum POB") required to be on board the rig at all times while the rig is under contract. Although our rigs can safely operate with staffing below the contracted Minimum POB, the drilling contracts often provide for us to incur a financial penalty for failure to maintain the Minimum POB. Such developments could adversely affect our financial results and cash flows. Furthermore, as a result of any increased competition for qualified personnel, we may experience a reduction in the experience level of our personnel, which could lead to higher downtime and more operating incidents. Our ability to operate worldwide depends on our ability to obtain the necessary visas and work permits for our personnel to travel in and out of, and to work in, the jurisdictions in which we operate. Governmental actions in some of these jurisdictions may make it difficult for us to move our personnel in and out of these jurisdictions by delaying or withholding the approval of these permits. If we are not able to obtain visas and work permits for the employees we need for operating our rigs on a timely basis, or for third-party technicians needed for maintenance or repairs, we might not be able to perform our obligations under our drilling contracts, which could allow our customers to cancel the contracts. The market for highly skilled workers and leaders in our industry is extremely competitive, and we may need to invest significant amounts of cash and equity to attract and retain employees. We may never realize returns on these investments. To help attract, retain, and motivate qualified employees, we use equity-based awards and performance-based cash incentive awards. Sustained declines in our stock price, or lower stock price performance relative to competitors, can reduce the retention value of our equity-based awards, which can impact the competitiveness of our compensation.
Supply Chain1 | 2.1%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
We rely on third-party suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers, including subcontractors ("third-party providers"), to provide or maintain parts, crew and equipment, as applicable, for our projects and our operations may be adversely affected by the sub-standard performance or non-performance of those third-party providers due to production disruptions, quality and sourcing issues, labor availability, price increases or consolidation of those third-party providers as well as equipment breakdowns.
Our reliance on third-party providers to secure equipment and crew used in our drilling operations exposes us to volatility in the quality, price and availability of such items. In recent years, there has been a reduction in the number of available third-party providers in certain sectors, resulting in fewer alternatives for sourcing key supplies and services. Such consolidation may limit our ability to obtain supplies and services when needed at an acceptable cost, or at all, or otherwise result in a shortage of supplies and services, thereby increasing the cost of supplies or potentially inhibiting the ability of third-party providers to deliver on time. These cost increases or delays could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and result in rig downtime, and delays in the repair and maintenance of our drilling units. Further, certain specialized parts, crew and equipment used in our operations may be available only from a single or a small number of third-party providers. A disruption in the deliveries from such third-party providers, capacity constraints, production disruptions, price increases, defects or quality-control issues, recalls or other reductions in the availability of parts, labor and equipment could adversely affect our ability to meet our commitments towards our customers, adversely impact operations resulting in uncompensated downtime, reduced dayrates under the relevant drilling contracts, cancellation or termination of contracts, or increased operating costs. During periods of reduced demand, many of these third-party providers reduced their inventories of parts and equipment and, in some cases, reduced their production capacity, and may do so in the future. Moreover, the global supply chain has been disrupted by various global economic and financial issues, resulting in shortages of, shipping delays and increased pricing pressures on, among other things, certain raw materials and labor. If the market for our services continues to improve and we seek to reactivate idled rigs, upgrade our working rigs or purchase additional rigs, these reductions and global supply chain constraints could make it more difficult for us to find equipment and parts for our rigs. In addition, equipment deficiencies or breakdowns, whether due to faulty parts, quality control issues or inadequate installation, may result in increased maintenance costs, resulting in rig downtime or suspension of operations. Such issues could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We engage third-party subcontractors to perform some parts of our projects and, in certain circumstances, a majority of the services under a project may be subcontracted. Subcontractors are used to perform certain services and to provide certain input in areas where we do not have requisite expertise. The subcontracting of work exposes us to risks associated with planning interface non-performance, and delayed or substandard performance by our subcontractors. Any inability to hire qualified subcontractors could hinder successful completion of a project. Further, our employees may not have the requisite skills to be able to monitor or control the performance of these subcontractors. We may suffer losses on contracts if the amounts we are required to pay for subcontractor services exceed original estimates. Remedial or mitigating actions, such as imposing contractual obligations on subcontractors that are similar to those we have with our customers and requesting parent guarantees to cover nonperformance, may not be available or sufficient to mitigate the risks associated with subcontractors. Such issues could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Costs2 | 4.3%
Costs - Risk 1
Operating and maintenance costs of our rigs may be significant and may not correspond to revenue earned.
Our operating expenses and maintenance costs depend on a variety of factors including, without limitation, crew costs, costs of provisions, equipment, insurance, maintenance and repairs, shipyard costs, supply chain disruptions and inflation, many of which are beyond our control. Our total operating costs are generally related to the number of drilling units in operation and the cost level in each country or region where such drilling units are located. Equipment maintenance costs fluctuate depending upon the type of activity that the drilling unit is performing and the age and condition of the equipment. Operating and maintenance costs will not necessarily fluctuate in proportion to changes in operating revenues. While operating revenues may fluctuate as a function of changes in dayrate, costs for operating a rig may not be proportional to the dayrate received and may vary based on a variety of factors, including the scope and length of required rig preparations and the duration of the contractual period over which such expenditures are amortized. Any investments in our rigs may not result in an increased dayrate for or income from such rigs. A disproportionate change in the amount of operating and maintenance costs in comparison to dayrates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Costs - Risk 2
The loss of our status as a "foreign private issuer" could result in additional cost.
Effective January 1, 2025, we no longer qualify as a "foreign private issuer" (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act). As a foreign private issuer, we were exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose certain disclosure obligations and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, (i) our officers, directors and principal shareholders were exempt from the reporting and "short-swing" profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules under the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of our Shares, and (ii) we were not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. domestic issuers. We were also permitted to follow certain home country practices in relation to our corporate governance instead of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. As a result of no longer qualifying as a foreign private issuer, we may incur significant additional costs related to the increased regulatory and compliance requirements of applicable U.S. securities laws and the NYSE corporate governance listing standards as a U.S. domestic issuer.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 6/47 (13%)Above Sector Average
Competition1 | 2.1%
Competition - Risk 1
The success and growth of our business depend on the level of activity in the offshore oil and gas industry generally, and the drilling industry specifically, which are both highly competitive and cyclical, with intense price competition and volatility.
The offshore drilling industry is highly competitive, cyclical and fragmented and includes several large companies that compete in many of the markets we serve, as well as numerous small companies that compete with us on a local basis. The industry is characterized by high capital and operating costs and evolving capability of new rigs. Offshore drilling contracts are generally awarded on a competitive bid basis or through privately negotiated transactions. In determining which qualified drilling contractor is awarded a contract, the key factors are pricing, rig availability, rig location, the suitability, condition and integrity of equipment, the rig's or the drilling contractor's record of operating efficiency, including high operating uptime, technical specifications, safety performance record, crew experience, reputation, industry standing and customer relations. Our future success and profitability will depend, in part, upon our ability to keep pace with our customers' demands with respect to these factors. Our operations may be adversely affected if our current competitors or new market entrants introduce new drilling units with better features, performance, prices or other characteristics compared to our drilling units, or expand into service areas where we operate. Competitive pressures, including to develop, implement or acquire certain new technologies, which may require us to incur substantial costs, and other factors may result in significant price competition, particularly during industry downturns, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. The cyclical nature of our industry also may adversely impact our operations and future business success. Periods of low demand or excess rig supply may intensify the competition in the industry and have resulted in, and may continue to result in, many of our rigs earning substantially lower dayrates or being idle for long periods of time. Although the industry has experienced a rationalization and correction of the global offshore rig supply, we continue to experience competition from newbuild and reactivated rigs, including rigs that have been stranded in shipyards, that have either already entered the market or are available to enter the market. The entry of these rigs into the market has resulted in, and may in the future result in, lower dayrates for newbuilds, reactivated rigs and existing rigs rolling off their current contracts. In addition, our competitors may relocate rigs to geographic markets in which we operate, which could exacerbate any excess rig supply, or depress the current rationalization and correction of offshore rig supply, and result in lower dayrates and utilization in those regions.
Demand3 | 6.4%
Demand - Risk 1
Our business depends on the level of activity in the oil and gas industry. Adverse developments affecting the industry, including a decline in the price of oil or gas, reduced demand for oil and gas products and increased regulation of drilling and production, have in the past had and may in the future have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business depends on the level of oil and gas exploration, development and production in offshore areas worldwide that is influenced by oil and gas prices and market expectations of potential changes in these prices. Oil and gas prices and the level of activity in offshore oil and gas exploration and development are extremely volatile and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the following: - worldwide production of, and demand for, oil and gas, geographical dislocations in supply and demand, and our customers' views of future demand for oil and gas, which are impacted by changes in the rate of economic growth in the global economy;- the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil and gas;- expectations regarding future energy prices and production;- advances in exploration, development and production technology either onshore or offshore, and the relative cost of offshore oil and gas exploration versus onshore oil and gas production;- the availability of, and access to, suitable locations from which our customers can produce hydrocarbons and the rate of decline of reserves;- the ability of oil and gas companies to raise capital, and the allocation of capital to exploration and production operations within customers' broader portfolios;- the development and exploitation of alternative fuels and unconventional hydrocarbon production, including shale;- potential acceleration in the investment in, and the development, price and availability of, alternative energy sources;- technical advances affecting energy consumption, including the displacement of hydrocarbons;- inventory levels, and the cost and availability of storage and transportation of oil, gas and their related products;- oil refining capacity;- the ability or willingness of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ("OPEC"), and other non-member nations, including Russia, to set and maintain levels of production and pricing, and the level of production in non-OPEC countries;- international sanctions on oil-producing countries, or the lifting of such sanctions, and export licensing requirements;- government regulations, including restrictions on offshore transportation of oil and natural gas;- local and international political, economic and weather conditions;- domestic and foreign tax policies;- merger, acquisition and divestiture activity among oil and gas industry participants;- worldwide economic and financial problems, including, for example, inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions, the resulting fears of recession and the corresponding decline in the demand for oil and gas and, consequently, our services;- the occurrence or threat of a major natural disaster, catastrophic event, epidemic or pandemic, as well as any governmental response to such occurrence or threat;- changes in and compliance with environmental laws, regulations and other initiatives, including those involving alternative energy sources, the phase-out of fossil fuel consuming vehicles, and the risks of global climate change; and - the worldwide political and military environment, including uncertainty or instability resulting from civil disorder, geopolitical instability, border disputes or an escalation or additional outbreak of armed hostilities or other crises in the Middle East, Eastern Europe or other geographic areas or acts of terrorism in the United States, Europe or elsewhere, including, for example, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and the Guyana-Venezuela dispute, and their respective regional and global ramifications. As an example of the volatility in oil prices, Brent fell to $9 a barrel in April 2020 before a recovery in oil and gas prices toward the end of 2020 through part of 2022. As of December 31, 2024, Brent closed at a price of $74.64 a barrel. Although prices have partially recovered, they remain volatile; and there is no guarantee such recovery will be sustained. Even so, higher prices do not necessarily translate into increased drilling activity because our customers take into account a number of considerations when they decide to invest in offshore oil and gas resources. Adverse developments affecting the industry as a result of one or more of the above factors, including a decline in the price of oil and gas from their current levels or the failure of the price of oil and gas to remain consistently at a level that encourages our customers to maintain or expand their capital spending, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. However, increases in near-term commodity prices do not necessarily translate into increased offshore drilling activity because customers' expectations of longer-term future commodity prices and expectations regarding future demand for hydrocarbons typically have a greater impact on demand for our rigs. The level of oil and gas prices has had, and may in the future have, a material adverse effect on demand for our services, and we expect that future declines in prices would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Demand - Risk 2
Consolidation in our industry may impact our results of operations.
In the past several years, the pace of consolidation in our industry has increased, and may continue to increase, leading to the creation of a number of larger and financially stronger competitors. If we are unable, or our customers believe that we are unable, to compete with the scale and financial strength of certain of our competitors, it could harm our ability to maintain existing drilling contracts and secure new ones. Moreover, business consolidations within the oil and gas industry in recent years have resulted in exploration and production companies combining and using their size and purchasing power to seek economies of scale and pricing concessions. Continuing consolidation within the oil and gas industry may result in reduced capital spending by some of our customers or the acquisition of one or more of our primary customers, which may lead to decreased demand for our services. There is no assurance that we will be able to maintain our level of activity with a customer after its consolidation with another company or replace that revenue with increased business activity with other customers. As a result, such consolidation in our industry, and the oil and gas industry may have a significant adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. We are unable to predict what effect consolidations in these industries may have on prices, capital spending by our customers, our competitive position, our ability to retain customers or our ability to negotiate favorable agreements with our customers.
Demand - Risk 3
A substantial portion of our business is dependent on several of our customers as well as dependent on several geographic areas, and the disruption of business with any of these customers or disruption of business within these geographic areas could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.
Our contract drilling business is subject to the risks associated with having a limited number of customers for our services. For the year ended December 31, 2024, our largest customers, which individually contributed more than 10% of our total revenues, were Sonadrill and Petrobras, and accounted for approximately 40% of our total revenues in aggregate. In addition, mergers and acquisitions, or other forms of consolidation among oil and gas exploration and production companies will further reduce the number of available customers, which would increase the ability of potential customers to achieve pricing terms favorable to them. Our operating results could be materially adversely affected if any of our major customers fail to compensate us for our services or take actions outlined above. Please see "Our customers may seek to cancel or renegotiate their contracts to include unfavorable terms such as unprofitable rates, particularly in the circumstance that operations are suspended or interrupted" and "Consolidation in our industry may impact our results of operations" above for more information. We are subject to risks of loss resulting from non-payment, non-performance or offset by our customers and certain other third parties (including third parties providing services under various services agreements). Please see "Note 27 – Commitments and contingencies" to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this annual report for a discussion of the Sete Brazil matter. Some of these customers and other parties may be highly leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks. If any key customers or other parties default on their obligations to us, our financial results and condition could be adversely affected. Any material non-payment or non-performance by these entities, other key customers or certain other third parties could adversely affect our financial position, operating results and cash flows. Additionally, the concentration of operations in specific geographies increases the risks associated with terrorism, piracy, political or social unrest, changes in local laws and regulations, as well as severe weather events within those regions, should they occur. If we were forced to cease drilling operations in any of these regions for any reason and we were not able to redeploy to other regions promptly, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. For the year ended December 31, 2024, operations in the United States, Brazil and Angola accounted for approximately 26%, 25% and 24%, respectively, of our revenues in the aggregate.
Sales & Marketing2 | 4.3%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
Our business and operations involve numerous operating hazards, and in the current market we are increasingly required to take additional contractual risk in our customer contracts, which may not be adequately covered by our insurance.
Our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the drilling industry, such as blowouts, reservoir damage, loss of well control, lost or stuck drill strings, equipment defects, punch-throughs, cratering, fires, explosions and pollution, among others. Contract drilling and well servicing requires the use of heavy equipment and exposure to hazardous conditions, which may subject us to liability claims by employees, customers or third parties. These hazards can cause personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, or pollution, environmental or natural resource damage, resulting in claims by third parties or customers, investigations and other proceedings by regulatory authorities, which may involve fines and other sanctions, and suspension of operations. Our offshore fleet is also subject to hazards inherent in marine operations, such as capsizing, sinking, grounding, collision, damage from severe weather (which may be more acute in certain areas where we operate and which some experts believe may increase in frequency and severity due to climate change ) and marine life infestations. Operations may also be suspended because of machinery breakdowns, abnormal drilling conditions, failure of subcontractors to perform or supply goods or services or personnel shortages. We customarily provide contract indemnification to our customers for claims relating to damage to or loss of our equipment, including rigs and claims relating to personal injury or loss of life. Damage to the environment or natural resources could also result from our operations, particularly through spillage of fuel, lubricants or other chemicals and substances used in drilling operations or uncontrolled fires. We may also be subject to property, environmental, natural resource, personal injury, and other legal claims or injunctions by third parties, including oil and gas companies, as well as administrative, civil, or criminal penalties or injunctions imposed by government authorities. Our insurance policies and contractual rights to indemnification may not adequately cover losses, and we do not have insurance coverage or rights to indemnity for all risks. Consistent with standard industry practice, our customers generally assume, and indemnify us against, certain risks, for example, well control and subsurface risks, and we generally assume, and indemnify against, above surface risks (including spills and other events occurring on our rigs). Subsurface risks indemnified by our customers generally include risks associated with the loss of control of a well, such as blowout, cratering or uncontrolled well-flow, the cost to regain control of or re-drill the well and associated pollution. However, there can be no assurances that these customers will honor indemnification obligations to us regardless of the agreed contractual position. The terms of our drilling contracts vary based on negotiation, applicable local laws and regulations and other factors, and in some cases, customers may seek to cap indemnities or narrow the scope of their coverage, reducing our level of contractual protection and in turn exposing us to additional risks against which we may not be adequately insured. In addition, a court, arbitrator, or other dispute resolution body may determine that certain indemnities or other terms in our current or future contracts are not enforceable. Further, pollution and environmental risks generally are not totally insurable. If a significant accident or other event occurs that is not fully covered by our insurance or an enforceable or recoverable indemnity from a customer, the occurrence could adversely affect our performance. The amount recoverable under insurance, if any, may also be less than the related impact on enterprise value after a loss and may not cover all potential consequences of an incident. Furthermore, the amount recoverable may be limited by annual aggregate policy limits. As a result, we are liable for any losses in excess of these limits. Any such lack of reimbursement or suffering of loss in excess of such limits may cause us to incur substantial costs. We may decide to retain more risk through self-insurance in the future. This self-insurance results in a higher risk associated with losses (which could be material) that are not covered by third-party insurance contracts. As in the past, we currently self-insure for physical damage to rigs and equipment caused by named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of America ("US Gulf"). We have elected to self-insure in such context due to the high cost associated with this coverage, and in consideration of the ability of our rigs to mobilize in time to avoid these windstorms. If we continue to elect to self-insure such risks, and such risks are realized and we incur resultant damage, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, operating results and cash flows. No assurance can be made that we will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates that we consider reasonable, or that we will be able to obtain insurance against certain risks.
Sales & Marketing - Risk 2
Our customers may seek to cancel or renegotiate their contracts to include unfavorable terms such as unprofitable rates, particularly in the circumstance that operations are suspended or interrupted.
During volatile market conditions or expected downturns, some of our customers may also seek to terminate or renegotiate their agreements with us for various reasons, including adverse conditions, resulting in lower revenue. Our inability, or the inability of our customers to perform, under our or their contractual obligations may have a material adverse effect on our financial position, operating results and cash flows. In addition, some of our customers have the right to terminate their drilling contracts without cause upon the payment of an early termination fee. While this early termination fee is intended to compensate us for lost revenues (less operating expenses) for the remaining contract period, in some cases, such payments may not fully compensate us for the loss of the drilling contract. Under certain circumstances our contracts may permit customers to terminate contracts early without the payment of any termination fees, as a result of, for example, non-performance, periods of downtime or impaired performance caused by equipment or operational issues, or sustained periods of downtime due to events beyond our control. In addition, national oil company customers may have special termination rights by law. During periods of challenging market conditions, we may be subject to an increased risk of our customers seeking to repudiate their contracts, including through claims of non-performance. Our customers may seek to renegotiate their contracts with us using various techniques, including threatening breaches of contract and applying commercial pressure, resulting in lower revenue or the cancellation of contracts with or without any applicable early termination payments. Reduced dayrates in our customer contracts and cancellation of drilling contracts (with or without early termination payments) may adversely affect our financial performance and lead to reduced revenues from operations. In addition, our customers continue to seek more favorable terms with respect to allocation of risk under offshore drilling contracts. Our drilling contracts provide for varying levels of risk allocation and indemnification from our customers. Our customers have historically assumed most of the responsibility for and indemnified us from loss, damage or other potential liabilities. However, we regularly are required to assume liability for pollution damage caused by our negligence, which liability generally has caps; though in the event the damage is caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct, our liability may not be limited. We still face resistance from some customers when attempting to reduce our contractual risk allocation, including when we seek to mitigate our liability exposure in relation to potential damages resulting from pollution or contamination and negotiating lower caps for damage caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct. Our contracts may also be subject to court assessment whereby a court could decide that certain contractual indemnities in current or future contracts are not enforceable. Going forward, we could decide or be required to accept more contractual risk in the future, resulting in higher risk of losses, which could be material.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 3/47 (6%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 2.1%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Inflation has adversely affected, and in the future may adversely affect, our operating results.
Inflationary factors such as increases in labor costs, material costs and overhead costs have adversely affected, and may in the future adversely affect, our operating results. Inflationary pressures may also increase other costs to operate or reactivate our drilling units. Our contracts for our drilling units generally provide for the payment of an agreed dayrate per rig operating day. As a result, we may not be able to fully recover increased costs due to inflation from our customers. Continuing or worsening inflation could significantly increase our operating expenses and capital expenditures, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Our customers may also be affected by inflation and the rising costs of goods and services used in their businesses, which could negatively impact their ability to purchase our services, which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, changing and future monetary policies and actions of the U.S. and other governments (such as raises to the target federal funds rate) could adversely affect our ability to obtain financing and raise our (or our customers') cost of capital.
International Operations1 | 2.1%
International Operations - Risk 1
The international nature of our operations involves additional risks, including the mobilization and demobilization of our rigs to and from such locations and the potential that sabotage or political and social unrest could negatively impact our operations or the market for our drilling services.
We operate in various regions throughout the world. As a result of our international operations, we have been and may be exposed to political or governmental risks and other uncertainties, particularly in less developed jurisdictions, including risks of: - terrorist acts, armed hostilities, war and civil disturbances, including, for example, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and the Guyana-Venezuela dispute, and their respective regional and global ramifications;- acts of piracy, which have historically affected ocean-going vessels;- abduction, kidnapping and hostage situations;- significant governmental influence over many aspects of local economies;- the seizure, nationalization or expropriation of property or equipment;- uncertainty of outcome in foreign court proceedings, including Brazil;- the repudiation, nullification, modification or renegotiation of contracts;- limitations on insurance coverage, such as war risk coverage, in certain areas;- foreign and U.S. monetary policy, capital controls and foreign currency fluctuations and devaluations;- the inability to repatriate income or capital;- complications associated with repairing and replacing equipment in remote locations;- public health threats, including pandemics and epidemics;- import-export quotas, wage and price controls, and the imposition of sanctions or other trade restrictions;- U.S., the United Kingdom (the "U.K."), the European Union (the "EU") and other foreign sanctions;- customs delays or disputes;- receiving a request to participate in a foreign boycott unsanctioned by U.S. law;- compliance with and changes in regulatory or financial requirements, including local ownership, presence or labor requirements;- compliance with and changes to taxation, including any resulting tax disputes;- interacting and contracting with government-controlled organizations;- other forms of government regulation and economic conditions that are beyond our control;- legal and economic systems that are not as mature or predictable as those in more developed countries, which may lead to greater uncertainty in legal and economic matters; and - corruption, payment of bribes to government officials, money laundering, or kleptocracy (i.e., political corruption in which the government seeks personal gain and status at the expense of the governed). Acts of terrorism, piracy, and political and social unrest, brought about by world political events or otherwise, have caused instability in the world's financial and insurance markets in the past and may occur in the future. Such acts could be directed against companies such as ours. Our drilling operations could also be targeted by acts of sabotage carried out by environmental activist groups. We rely on information technology systems, networks, and data in our operations and administration of our business. Our drilling operations or other business operations could be targeted by individuals or groups seeking to sabotage or disrupt our information technology systems and networks, including those of our service providers and business partners, or to steal data. A successful cyberattack could materially disrupt our operations, including the safety of our operations, or lead to an unauthorized release or alteration of information on our systems. Any such cyberattack or other breach of our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. Our drilling contracts do not generally provide indemnification against loss of capital assets or loss of revenues resulting from acts of terrorism, piracy, cyberattacks or political or social unrest. Although we carry insurances that may provide coverage under certain circumstances, in the event we suffer such losses of capital assets or revenue, those losses may exceed the coverage available under our policies or be those for which we do not have coverage. Acts of terrorism and social unrest could lead to increased volatility in prices for crude oil and natural gas and could affect the markets for drilling services and result in lower dayrates. Insurance premiums could also increase and coverage may be unavailable in the future. Increased insurance costs or increased costs of compliance with applicable regulations may have a material adverse effect on our operating results. In addition, international contract drilling operations are subject to various laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate, including laws and regulations relating to: - the equipping and operation of drilling units;- exchange rates or exchange controls;- the repatriation of foreign earnings;- oil and gas exploration and development;- the taxation of offshore earnings and the earnings of expatriate personnel; and - the use and compensation of local employees and suppliers by foreign contractors. For example, we operate in Brazil; the Brazilian government frequently intervenes in the country's economy and occasionally makes significant changes in policy and regulations, including, for example, (i) the changes in Brazilian laws related to the importation of rigs and equipment that may impose bonding, insurance or duty-payment requirements and (ii) its actions to control inflation and other policies and regulations which have often involved, among other measures, changes in interest rates, changes in tax policies, changes in legislation, wage controls, price controls, currency devaluations, capital controls and limits on imports of goods and services. The drilling industry in Brazil is also subject to the regulations of the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels ("ANP"), which is the regulatory body for the activities within the oil, natural gas and biofuels industries in Brazil. ANP has the ability to suspend operations in Brazil when deviations from regulations or safety procedures are identified as imposing a grave and imminent risk to people, the environment or installations. For the year ended December 31, 2024, 25% of our revenues were derived from our Brazilian operations. These and other developments in political, economic, regulatory and governmental conditions may, directly or indirectly, adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. The operation of our drilling units will require certain governmental approvals, the number and prerequisites of which cannot be determined until we identify the jurisdictions in which we will operate once contracts for the drilling units are secured. Some foreign governments favor or effectively require (i) the awarding of drilling contracts to local contractors or to drilling units owned by their own citizens, (ii) the use of a local agent or (iii) foreign contractors to employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction. These practices may adversely affect our ability to compete in those regions. Depending on the jurisdiction, these governmental approvals may also involve public hearings and costly undertakings on our part. We may not obtain such approvals, or such approvals may not be obtained in a timely manner. If we fail to secure the necessary approvals or permits in a timely manner, our customers may have the right to terminate or seek to renegotiate their drilling contracts to our detriment. It is difficult to predict what government regulations may be enacted and their potential adverse effects on the international drilling industry. The actions of foreign governments and other organizations, including initiatives by OPEC, may adversely affect our ability to compete. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including those relating to sanctions and export restrictions, may subject us to criminal or civil proceedings and related liability, including fines and penalties, the denial of export privileges, injunctions or seizures of assets, and may affect the availability of our existing financing arrangements and our ability to secure financing in the future. In addition, every offshore drilling unit is a registered marine vessel and must be "classed" by a classification society to fly a flag. The classification society certifies that the drilling unit is "in-class," signifying that such drilling unit has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of the classification society and complies with applicable rules and regulations of the drilling unit's country of registry and the international conventions of which that country is a member. In addition, where surveys are required by international conventions and corresponding laws and ordinances of a flag state, the classification society will undertake them on application or by official order, acting on behalf of the authorities concerned. Our drilling units are certified as being "in class" by the American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas and Germanisher Lloyd, and the relevant national authorities in the countries in which our drilling units operate. If any drilling unit loses its flag status, does not maintain its class, fails any periodical survey or special survey or fails to satisfy any laws of the country of operation, the drilling unit will be unable to carry on operations. This will render the drilling unit unemployable and uninsurable, which could cause us to be in violation of certain covenants in the agreements governing our debt. Any such inability to carry on operations or be employed could have a material adverse impact on the operating results. The offshore drilling industry is a global market requiring flexibility for rigs, depending on their technical capability, to relocate and operate in various environments, moving from one area to another. The mobilization of rigs is expensive and time-consuming and can be impacted by several factors including, but not limited to, governmental regulation and customs practices, availability of tugs and tow vessels, weather, currents, political instability, civil unrest, and military actions, such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and rigs may become stranded as a result. Some jurisdictions enforce strict technical requirements that necessitate substantial physical modifications to the rigs before they can be utilized. Such modifications may require significant capital expenditures, and as a result, may limit the use of the rigs in those jurisdictions in the future. In addition, mobilization carries the risk of damage to the rig. Failure to mobilize a rig in accordance with the deadlines set by a specific customer contract could result in a loss of compensation, liquidated damages or the cancellation or termination of the contract. In some cases, we may not be paid for the time that a rig is out of service during mobilization. In addition, in the hope of securing future contracts, we may choose to mobilize a rig to another geographic market without a customer contract in place. If customer contracts were not obtained, we would be required to absorb these costs. Mobilization and relocation activities could therefore potentially have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Capital Markets1 | 2.1%
Capital Markets - Risk 1
Fluctuations in exchange rates and the non-convertibility of currencies could result in losses to us.
As a result of our international operations, we are exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates due to certain revenues being received and certain operating expenses paid in currencies other than U.S. dollars. Accordingly, we may experience currency exchange losses if we have not adequately hedged our exposure to a foreign currency, or if revenues are received in currencies that are not readily convertible (e.g., Brazilian real, Angola Kwanza). There is no guarantee that our future operating results will not be adversely impacted by fluctuations in currency exchange rates. We may also be unable to repatriate revenues because of a shortage of convertible currency available in the country of operation, controls over currency exchange or controls over the repatriation of income or capital.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 2/47 (4%)Above Sector Average
Trade Secrets1 | 2.1%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
There can be no assurance that the use of our drilling units will not infringe the intellectual property rights of others.
The majority of the intellectual property rights relating to our drilling units and related equipment are owned by our suppliers. In the event that one of our suppliers becomes involved in a dispute over an infringement of intellectual property rights relating to equipment owned by us, we may lose access to repair services or replacement parts or could be required to cease using some equipment. In addition, our competitors may assert claims for infringement of intellectual property rights related to certain equipment on our drilling units and we may be required to stop using such equipment or pay damages and royalties for the use of such equipment. Regardless of the merits, any such claims generally result in significant legal and other costs, including reputational harm, and may distract management from running our business. The consequences of these technology disputes involving our suppliers or competitors could adversely affect our financial results and operations. We have indemnity provisions in some of our supply contracts to give us some protection from the supplier against intellectual property lawsuits. However, we cannot make any assurances that these suppliers will have sufficient financial standing to honor their indemnity obligations or guarantee that the indemnities will fully protect us from the adverse consequences of such technology disputes. We also have provisions in some of our customer contracts to require the customer to share some of these risks on a limited basis, but we cannot provide assurance that these provisions will fully protect us from the adverse consequences of such technology disputes.
Technology1 | 2.1%
Technology - Risk 1
We are incorporating artificial intelligence technologies into our processes and these technologies may present business, compliance, and reputational risks.
Our business increasingly utilizes artificial intelligence ("AI"), machine learning, and automated decision making to improve our processes. Issues in the development and use of AI, combined with an uncertain regulatory environment, may result in new or enhanced governmental or regulatory scrutiny, litigation, confidentiality or security risks, reputational harm, liability or other adverse consequences to our business operations, all of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
      They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
        It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
          How do companies disclose their risk factors?
          Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
            Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
              Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
                According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
                  How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
                  Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
                    You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
                      Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
                        A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
                          What are all the risk factor categories?
                          TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
                          1. Financial & Corporate
                          • Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
                          • Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
                          • Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
                          • Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
                          2. Legal & Regulatory
                          • Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
                          • Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
                          • Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
                          • Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
                          3. Production
                          • Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
                          • Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
                          • Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
                          • Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
                          4. Technology & Innovation
                          • Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
                          • Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
                          • Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
                          • Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
                          5. Ability to Sell
                          • Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
                          • Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
                          • Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
                          • Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
                          6. Macro & Political
                          • Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
                          • Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
                          • International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
                          • Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.
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