Proposed | Proposed | |||||||||||||
maximum | maximum | Amount of | ||||||||||||
Title of each class of | Amount to be | offering price | aggregate | registration | ||||||||||
securities to be registered | registered (1) | per share | offering price(2) | fee | ||||||||||
Registered shares, par
value 1.16 Swiss francs per share |
1,623,680 | $19.58 | $31,791,654 | $3,691.01 | ||||||||||
(1) | The registered shares set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee Table, and which may be offered pursuant to this Registration Statement, include, pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), such additional number of the Registrants registered shares that may become issuable as a result of any share splits, subdivisions, share dividends, bonus shares or similar events. | |
(2) | Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act based upon the average of the high and low prices of our common shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on May 20, 2011. |
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT | Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) | |
(To Prospectus Dated May 25, 2011) | Registration No. 333-174485 |
Page | ||||
S-1 | ||||
S-1 | ||||
S-5 | ||||
S-6 | ||||
S-8 |
Page | ||||
About this Prospectus |
1 | |||
The Company |
1 | |||
Where You Can Find More Information |
1 | |||
Forward-Looking Statements |
2 | |||
Risk Factors |
6 | |||
Use of Proceeds |
6 | |||
Selling Shareholders |
7 | |||
Plan of Distribution |
7 | |||
Description of Share Capital |
9 | |||
Legal Matters |
9 | |||
Experts |
9 |
S-i
| Global political, economic and market conditions could affect projected results. Our operating results and the forward-looking information we provide are based on our current assumptions about oil and natural gas supply and demand, oil and natural gas prices, rig count and other market trends. Our assumptions on these matters are in turn based on currently available information, which is subject to change. The oil and natural gas industry is extremely volatile and subject to change based on political and economic factors outside our control. Worldwide drilling activity, as measured by average worldwide rig counts, increased in each year from 2002 to 2008. However, activity began declining in the fourth quarter of 2008, particularly in North America. The weakened global economic climate resulted in lower demand and lower prices for oil and natural gas, which reduced drilling and production activity, which in turn resulted in lower than expected revenues and income in 2009 and 2010 and may affect our future revenues and income. Worldwide drilling activity and global demand for oil and natural gas may also be affected by changes in governmental policies and debt loads, laws and regulations related to environmental or energy security matters, including |
S-1
those addressing alternative energy sources and the risks of global climate change. For 2011, worldwide demand may be significantly weaker than we have assumed. | |||
| We may be unable to recognize our expected revenues from current and future contracts. Our customers, many of whom are national oil companies, often have significant bargaining leverage over us and may elect to cancel or revoke contracts, not renew contracts, modify the scope of contracts or delay contracts, in some cases preventing us from realizing expected revenues and/or profits. Western governments recently have imposed trading sanctions on Libya that require approvals to collect outstanding accounts receivable from government-affiliated customers. This may slow, and could ultimately prevent, collection of certain accounts receivable generated in Libya before the sanctions were imposed. Our projections assume that our customers will honor the contracts we have been awarded and that those contracts and the business that we believe is otherwise substantially firm will result in anticipated revenues in the periods for which they are scheduled. | ||
| Currency fluctuations could have a material adverse financial impact on our business. A material change in currency rates in our markets, such as the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar experienced during the first quarter of 2010, could affect our future results as well as affect the carrying values of our assets. World currencies have been subject to much volatility. In addition, due to the volatility we may be unable to enter into foreign currency contracts at a reasonable cost. As we are not able to predict changes in currency valuations, our forward-looking statements assume no material impact from future changes in currency exchange rates. | ||
| Our ability to manage our workforce could affect our projected results. In a climate of decreasing demand, we are faced with managing our workforce levels to control costs without impairing our ability to provide service to our customers. Conversely, in a climate of increasing demand, we are faced with the challenge of hiring and maintaining a skilled workforce at a reasonable cost. Our forward-looking statements assume we will be able to do so. | ||
| Increases in the prices and availability of our raw materials could affect our results of operations. We use large amounts of raw materials for manufacturing our products and some of our fixed assets. The price of these raw materials has a significant impact on our cost of producing products for sale or producing fixed assets used in our business. We have assumed that the prices of our raw materials will remain within a manageable range and will be readily available. If we are unable to obtain necessary raw materials or if we are unable to minimize the impact of increased raw material costs or to realize the benefit of cost decreases in a timely fashion through our supply chain initiatives or pricing, our margins and results of operations could be adversely affected. | ||
| Our ability to manage our supply chain and business processes could affect our projected results. We have undertaken efforts to improve our supply chain, invoicing and collection processes and procedures. These undertakings include costs, which we expect will result in long-term benefits of our business processes. Our forward-looking statements assume we will realize the benefits of these efforts. | ||
| Our long-term growth depends upon technological innovation and commercialization. Our ability to deliver our long-term growth strategy depends in part on the commercialization of new technology. A central aspect of our growth strategy is to improve our products and services through innovation, to obtain technologically advanced products through internal research and development and/or acquisitions, to protect proprietary technology from unauthorized use and to expand the markets for new technology by leveraging our worldwide infrastructure. The key to our success will be our ability to commercialize the technology that we have acquired and demonstrate the enhanced value our technology brings to our customers operations. Our major technological advances include, but are not limited to, those related to controlled pressure drilling and testing systems, expandable solid tubulars, expandable sand screens and intelligent well completion. Our forward-looking statements have assumed successful commercialization of, and above-average growth from, these new products and services, as well as legal protection of our intellectual property rights. |
S-2
| Nonrealization of expected benefits from our redomestication could affect our projected results. We operate through our various subsidiaries in numerous countries throughout the world including the United States. During the first quarter of 2009, we completed a transaction in which our former parent Bermuda company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weatherford International Ltd., a Swiss joint-stock corporation, and holders of common shares of the Bermuda company received one registered share of the Swiss company in exchange for each common share that they held. Consequently, we are or may become subject to changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof in the U.S., Bermuda, Switzerland or any other jurisdictions in which we or any of our subsidiaries operates or is resident. Our income tax expense is based upon our interpretation of the tax laws in effect in various countries at the time that the expense was incurred. If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authorities do not agree with our assessment of the effects of such laws, treaties and regulations, this could have a material adverse effect on us including the imposition of a higher effective tax rate on our worldwide earnings or a reclassification of the tax impact of our significant corporate restructuring transactions. In addition, our realization of expected tax benefits is based upon the assumption that we take successful planning steps and that we maintain and execute adequate processes to support our planning activities. If we fail to do so, we may not achieve the expected benefits. | ||
| Nonrealization of expected benefits from our acquisitions or business dispositions could affect our projected results. We expect to gain certain business, financial and strategic advantages as a result of business acquisitions we undertake, including synergies and operating efficiencies. Our forward-looking statements assume that we will successfully integrate our business acquisitions and realize the benefits of those acquisitions. Further, we may from time to time undertake to dispose of businesses or capital assets that are no longer core to our long-term growth strategy and the disposition of which may improve our capital structure. Our forward-looking statements assume that if we decide to dispose of a business or asset we will find a buyer willing to pay a price we deem favorable to Weatherford and that we will successfully dispose of the business or asset. Our inability to complete dispositions timely and at attractive prices may impair our ability to improve our capital structure as rapidly as our forward-looking statements may indicate. | ||
| The downturn in our industry could affect the carrying value of our goodwill. As of March 31, 2011, we had approximately $4.3 billion of goodwill. Our estimates of the value of our goodwill could be reduced in the future as a result of various factors, including market factors, some of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements do not assume any future goodwill impairment. Any reduction in the fair value of our businesses may result in an impairment charge and therefore adversely affect our results. | ||
| Adverse weather conditions in certain regions could adversely affect our operations. From time to time, hurricanes and severe weather impact our operations in the Gulf of Mexico. These hurricanes and associated hurricane threats reduce the number of days on which we and our customers operate, which results in lower revenues than we otherwise would have achieved. Our Canadian operations, particularly in the second quarter of each year, may vary greatly depending on the timing of break-up, or the spring thaw, which annually results in a period in which conditions are not conducive to operations. Similarly, unfavorable weather in Russia, China, Mexico, Australia and in the North Sea, as well as exceedingly cold winters in other areas of the world, could reduce our operations and revenues from these areas during the relevant period. Our forward-looking statements assume weather patterns in our primary areas of operations will be conducive to our operations. | ||
| U.S. Government and internal investigations could affect our results of operations. We are currently involved in government and internal investigations involving various of our operations. We have begun negotiations with the government agencies to resolve these matters, but we cannot yet anticipate the timing, outcome or possible impact of the ultimate resolution of these investigations, financial or otherwise. The governmental agencies involved in these investigations have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for violations of trade sanction laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other federal statutes including, but not limited to, injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties and modifications to business practices and compliance programs. In recent years, these agencies and authorities have entered into agreements with, and obtained a range of penalties against, several public corporations and individuals in similar investigations, under which civil and criminal |
S-3
penalties were imposed, including in some cases fines and other penalties and sanctions in the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. These agencies likely will seek to impose penalties of some amount against us for past conduct, but the ultimate amount of any penalties we may pay currently cannot be reasonably estimated. Under trade sanction laws, the U.S. Department of Justice may also seek to impose modifications to business practices, including immediate cessation of all business activities in specific countries or other limitations that decrease our business, and modifications to compliance programs, which may increase compliance costs. Any injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties, sanctions or imposed modifications to business practices resulting from these investigations could adversely affect our results of operations. Through March 31, 2011, we have incurred $49 million for costs in connection with our exit from certain sanctioned countries and incurred $114 million for legal and professional fees in connection with complying with and conducting these on-going investigations. This amount excludes the costs we have incurred to augment and improve our compliance function. We may have additional charges related to these matters in future periods, which costs may include labor claims, contractual claims, penalties assessed by customers, and costs, fines, taxes and penalties assessed by the local governments, but we cannot quantify those charges or be certain of the timing of them. In addition, the SEC is investigating the circumstances surrounding the material weakness in the Companys internal controls over financial reporting for income taxes that was disclosed on Forms 12b-25 and 8-K on March 1, 2011 and the related restatement of historical financial statements. We are cooperating with the investigation. | |||
| Failure in the future to ensure ongoing compliance with certain laws could affect our results of operations. In 2009, we substantially augmented our compliance infrastructure with increased staff and more rigorous policies, procedures and training of our employees regarding compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws, trade sanctions laws and import/export laws. As part of this effort, we now undertake audits of our compliance performance in various countries. Our forward-looking statements assume that our compliance efforts will be successful and that we will comply with our internal policies and applicable laws regarding these issues. Our failure to do so could result in additional enforcement action in the future, the results of which could be material and adverse to us. | ||
| Political disturbances, war, or terrorist attacks and changes in global trade policies could adversely impact our operations. We operate in over 100 countries, and as such are at risk of various types of political activities, including acts of insurrections, war, terrorism, nationalization of assets and changes in trade policies. We have assumed there will be no material political disturbances or terrorist attacks and there will be no material changes in global trade policies that affect our business. In early 2011, our operations in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya were disrupted by political revolutions and uprisings in these countries. Political disturbances in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa regions, including to a lesser extent Yemen and Bahrain, are ongoing, and our operations in Libya have not resumed. During 2010, these five countries accounted for approximately 3% of our global revenue. We have taken steps to secure our personnel and assets in affected areas and to resume or continue operations where it is safe for us to do so, and our forward-looking statements assume we will do so successfully. In Libya, we have evacuated all of our non-Libyan employees and their families. At March 31, 2011, we had in Libya inventory, property, plant and equipment (net) with a carrying value of approximately $144 million, $52 million of accounts receivable that currently are subject to sanctions recently imposed by western governments as well as cash and other current assets of approximately $31 million. In cases where we must evacuate personnel, it may be difficult, if not impossible, for us to safeguard and recover our operating assets, and our ability to do so will depend on the local turn of events. In these areas we also may not be able to perform the work we are contracted to perform, which could lead to forfeiture of performance bonds. We currently have outstanding approximately $19 million of performance bonds related to contracts in Libya. Based on information available to us and our current assessment of the situation in Libya, we believe that we will recover our assets there, and we have not impaired these assets. Our forward-looking statements assume that we will not incur a substantial loss with respect to our assets or under performance bonds located in or related to affected areas. We have assumed our operations in Libya will not resume in 2011. We have assumed that cessation of business activities in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa regions due to political turmoil will be short-lived, that the negative impact on our business will not be material, and that the region will not experience further disruptive political revolution in the near term. However, if political violence were to curtail our activities in other countries in the region from which we derive greater business, such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Algeria, and particularly |
S-4
if political activities were to result in prolonged violence or civil war, we may fail to achieve the results reflected in our forward-looking statements. | |||
| The material weakness in accounting for income taxes could have an adverse effect on our share price. If we are unable to effectively remediate this material weakness in a timely manner, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could have an adverse effect on our share price and could subject us to additional potentially costly shareholder litigation or government inquiries. Our forward-looking statements assume we will be able to remediate the material weakness in a timely manner and will maintain an effective internal control environment in the future. | ||
| Recent turmoil in the credit markets may reduce our access to capital or reduce the availability of financial risk-mitigation tools. The worldwide credit markets experienced turmoil and uncertainty from mid-2008 through most of 2009, and certain markets remained challenging in parts of 2010. Our forward-looking statements assume that the financial institutions that have committed to extend us credit will honor their commitments under our credit facilities. If one or more of those institutions becomes unwilling or unable to honor its commitments, our access to liquidity could be impaired and our cost of capital to fund growth could increase. We use interest-rate and foreign-exchange swap transactions with financial institutions to mitigate certain interest-rate and foreign-exchange risks associated with our capital structure and our business. Our forward-looking statements assume that those tools will continue to be available to us at prices we deem reasonable. However, the failure of any counter party to honor a swap agreement could reduce the availability of these financial risk-mitigation tools or could result in the loss of expected financial benefits. |
Registered Shares Offered by the Selling Shareholders
|
Up to 1,623,680 registered shares. | |
Use of Proceeds
|
We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering. | |
Symbol for New York Stock
Exchange, Professional Segment
of the NYSE Euronext Paris and
SIX Swiss Exchange
|
WFT | |
Determination of Offering Price
|
The selling shareholders may sell all or any part of our registered shares offered hereby from time to time at those prices as they may determine at the time of sale. | |
Risk Factors
|
Before investing in our registered shares you should carefully read the information referred to under the headings Forward-Looking Statements beginning on page S-1 of this prospectus supplement and Risk Factors on page 6 of the accompanying prospectus, as well as risk factors included from time to time in our other SEC filings. |
S-5
Maximum | Percentage of | |||||||||||||||
Number of | Registered Shares | |||||||||||||||
Number of | Registered Shares That | Beneficially Owned | ||||||||||||||
Registered Shares | May Be | If Maximum | ||||||||||||||
Beneficially | Offered By This | Before | Number of Shares | |||||||||||||
Name of Selling Shareholder | Owned | Prospectus | Offering | Offered are Sold | ||||||||||||
DKT Investments L.P. (1) |
492,217 | 492,217 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Brady Investments L.P. (2) |
492,217 | 492,217 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Robert M. Eckardt (3) |
205,885 | 205,885 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Patrick C.Bell (4) |
79,610 | 79,610 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Danielsen Consulting, Inc. (5) |
61,501 | 61,501 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Lawrence R. Floryan (6) |
46,933 | 46,933 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Stephen Robb (7) |
36,764 | 36,764 | * | * | ||||||||||||
David and Shannon Presson (8) |
31,298 | 31,298 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Deborah J. Peterson (9) |
28,933 | 28,933 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Thomas Black (10) |
27,554 | 27,554 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Peter B. and Polly D. Pitsker
Revocable Living Trust (11) |
22,794 | 22,794 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Joseph D. Cusimano (12) |
19,705 | 19,705 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Annette Denise Ausseresses (13) |
14,705 | 14,705 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Alex Lindsay (14) |
12,966 | 12,966 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Christopher D. Smith (15) |
12,384 | 12,384 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Donald Sadlon (16) |
7,400 | 7,400 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Vineta Madrigal (17) |
5,412 | 5,412 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Renee L. Punzi (18) |
4,730 | 4,730 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Sherlynn E. Klein (19) |
4,411 | 4,411 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Jimmy G. Tyler (20) |
4,411 | 4,411 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Randall Garacci (21) |
2,941 | 2,941 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Ronald F. Patson (22) |
2,297 | 2,297 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Jason Frankel (23) |
1,470 | 1,470 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Christopher Mullins (24) |
1,470 | 1,470 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Shawn McNabb (25) |
735 | 735 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Daniel Snyder (26) |
735 | 735 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Michael James Borland (27) |
514 | 514 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Kevin G. Jackson (28) |
514 | 514 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Walter Goodwater (29) |
471 | 471 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Jennifer N. Taylor (30) |
344 | 344 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Todd Johnson (31) |
294 | 294 | * | * | ||||||||||||
Brandon Fields (32) |
65 | 65 | * | * |
S-6
* | Represents less than 1%. | |
(1) | The address of this selling shareholder is 2608 El Cerrito, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Thomas Black may be considered the beneficial owner of the registered shares owned by this selling shareholder identified in this table for certain purposes under U.S. securities laws. | |
(2) | The address of this selling shareholder is 4561 Wavertree St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Jeff Brady may be considered the beneficial owner of the registered shares owned by this selling shareholder identified in this table for certain purposes under U.S. securities laws. | |
(3) | The address of this selling shareholder is 21152 W. Laurel Ln., Kildeer, IL 60047. | |
(4) | The address of this selling shareholder is 80 Oak Shade Ln., Novato, CA 94945. | |
(5) | The address of this selling shareholder is 10 Kerr Ave., Kensington, CA. 94707. John C. Danielson may be considered the beneficial owner of the registered shares owned by this selling shareholder identified in this table for certain purposes under U.S. securities laws. | |
(6) | The address of this selling shareholder is 191 Sterling Rd., Jefferson, MA 01522. | |
(7) | The address of this selling shareholder is 8007-10th Street SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 1M7, Canada. | |
(8) | The address of these selling shareholders is 1471 Wellington St., Oakland, CA 94602. | |
(9) | The address of this selling shareholder is 4420 Sunflower Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. | |
(10) | The address of this selling shareholder is 2608 El Cerrito, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. | |
(11) | The address of this selling shareholder is 170 Summit Ridge Way, Gardnerville, NV 89410. Peter D. Pitsker and Polly D. Pitsker may be considered the beneficial owners of the registered shares owned by this selling shareholder identified in this table for certain purposes under U.S. securities laws. | |
(12) | The address of this selling shareholder is 4270 Wilson Creek Trail, P.O. Box 1226, Prosper, TX 75078. | |
(13) | The address of this selling shareholder is 863 Newport Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433. | |
(14) | The address of this selling shareholder is 22 Scatterwood Ct., The Woodlands, TX 77381. | |
(15) | The address of this selling shareholder is 4866 Caballeros, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. | |
(16) | The address of this selling shareholder is 45589 Via Puebla, Temecula, CA 92592. | |
(17) | The address of this selling shareholder is 1744 Baden Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433. | |
(18) | The address of this selling shareholder is 380 Castillo Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. | |
(19) | The address of this selling shareholder is 1752 Southwood Dr., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. | |
(20) | The address of this selling shareholder is 1752 Southwood Dr., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. | |
(21) | The address of this selling shareholder is 1613 Brighton Ave., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. | |
(22) | The address of this selling shareholder is 9498 Jamaica Beach, Jamaica Beach, TX 77554. | |
(23) | The address of this selling shareholder is 1168 Kensington Ln., Lincoln, CA 95648. | |
(24) | The address of this selling shareholder is 17938 151st Way NE, Woodinville, WA 98072. | |
(25) | The address of this selling shareholder is 2438 Cumbre Ct., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. | |
(26) | The address of this selling shareholder is 2038 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. | |
(27) | The address of this selling shareholder is 4320 Cayucos Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422. | |
(28) | The address of this selling shareholder is 248 Alosta Dr., Camarillo, CA 93010. | |
(29) | The address of this selling shareholder is 804 Rimes Ct., Santa Maria, CA 93458. | |
(30) | The address of this selling shareholder is 21313 Hillside Dr., Topanga, CA 90290. | |
(31) | The address of this selling shareholder is 1228 Courtney Ln., Lewisville, TX 75017. | |
(32) | The address of this selling shareholder is 436 Laurel St., San Carlos, CA 94070. |
S-7
S-8
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1
| our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as amended; | ||
| our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011; | ||
| our current reports on Form 8-K filed (other than information furnished rather than filed) with the SEC on January 25, 2011, February 22, 2011, March 1, 2011, March 15, 2011, March 24, 2011 and April 21, 2011; and | ||
| the description of our registered shares, par value 1.16 Swiss francs per share, contained in Item 8.01 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2009, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
| Global political, economic and market conditions could affect projected results. Our operating results and the forward-looking information we provide are based on our current assumptions about oil and natural gas supply and demand, oil and natural gas prices, rig count and other market trends. Our assumptions on these matters are in turn based on currently available information, which is subject to change. The oil and natural gas industry is extremely volatile and subject to change based on political and economic factors outside our control. Worldwide drilling activity, as measured by average worldwide rig counts, increased in each year from 2002 to 2008. However, activity began declining in the fourth quarter of 2008, particularly in North America. The weakened global economic climate resulted in lower demand and lower prices for oil and |
2
natural gas, which reduced drilling and production activity, which in turn resulted in lower than expected revenues and income in 2009 and 2010 and may affect our future revenues and income. Worldwide drilling activity and global demand for oil and natural gas may also be affected by changes in governmental policies and debt loads, laws and regulations related to environmental or energy security matters, including those addressing alternative energy sources and the risks of global climate change. For 2011, worldwide demand may be significantly weaker than we have assumed. | |||
| We may be unable to recognize our expected revenues from current and future contracts. Our customers, many of whom are national oil companies, often have significant bargaining leverage over us and may elect to cancel or revoke contracts, not renew contracts, modify the scope of contracts or delay contracts, in some cases preventing us from realizing expected revenues and/or profits. Western governments recently have imposed trading sanctions on Libya that require approvals to collect outstanding accounts receivable from government-affiliated customers. This may slow, and could ultimately prevent, collection of certain accounts receivable generated in Libya before the sanctions were imposed. Our projections assume that our customers will honor the contracts we have been awarded and that those contracts and the business that we believe is otherwise substantially firm will result in anticipated revenues in the periods for which they are scheduled. | ||
| Currency fluctuations could have a material adverse financial impact on our business. A material change in currency rates in our markets, such as the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar experienced during the first quarter of 2010, could affect our future results as well as affect the carrying values of our assets. World currencies have been subject to much volatility. In addition, due to the volatility we may be unable to enter into foreign currency contracts at a reasonable cost. As we are not able to predict changes in currency valuations, our forward-looking statements assume no material impact from future changes in currency exchange rates. | ||
| Our ability to manage our workforce could affect our projected results. In a climate of decreasing demand, we are faced with managing our workforce levels to control costs without impairing our ability to provide service to our customers. Conversely, in a climate of increasing demand, we are faced with the challenge of hiring and maintaining a skilled workforce at a reasonable cost. Our forward-looking statements assume we will be able to do so. | ||
| Increases in the prices and availability of our raw materials could affect our results of operations. We use large amounts of raw materials for manufacturing our products and some of our fixed assets. The price of these raw materials has a significant impact on our cost of producing products for sale or producing fixed assets used in our business. We have assumed that the prices of our raw materials will remain within a manageable range and will be readily available. If we are unable to obtain necessary raw materials or if we are unable to minimize the impact of increased raw material costs or to realize the benefit of cost decreases in a timely fashion through our supply chain initiatives or pricing, our margins and results of operations could be adversely affected. | ||
| Our ability to manage our supply chain and business processes could affect our projected results. We have undertaken efforts to improve our supply chain, invoicing and collection processes and procedures. These undertakings include costs, which we expect will result in long-term benefits of our business processes. Our forward-looking statements assume we will realize the benefits of these efforts. | ||
| Our long-term growth depends upon technological innovation and commercialization. Our ability to deliver our long-term growth strategy depends in part on the commercialization of new technology. A central aspect of our growth strategy is to improve our products and services through innovation, to obtain technologically advanced products through internal research and development and/or acquisitions, to protect proprietary technology from unauthorized use and to expand the markets for new technology by leveraging our worldwide infrastructure. The key to our success will be our ability to commercialize the technology that we have acquired and demonstrate the enhanced value our technology brings to our customers operations. Our major technological advances include, but are not limited to, those related to controlled pressure drilling and testing systems, expandable solid tubulars, expandable sand screens and |
3
intelligent well completion. Our forward-looking statements have assumed successful commercialization of, and above-average growth from, these new products and services, as well as legal protection of our intellectual property rights. | |||
| Nonrealization of expected benefits from our redomestication could affect our projected results. We operate through our various subsidiaries in numerous countries throughout the world including the United States. During the first quarter of 2009, we completed a transaction in which our former parent Bermuda company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weatherford International Ltd., a Swiss joint-stock corporation, and holders of common shares of the Bermuda company received one registered share of the Swiss company in exchange for each common share that they held. Consequently, we are or may become subject to changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof in the U.S., Bermuda, Switzerland or any other jurisdictions in which we or any of our subsidiaries operates or is resident. Our income tax expense is based upon our interpretation of the tax laws in effect in various countries at the time that the expense was incurred. If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authorities do not agree with our assessment of the effects of such laws, treaties and regulations, this could have a material adverse effect on us including the imposition of a higher effective tax rate on our worldwide earnings or a reclassification of the tax impact of our significant corporate restructuring transactions. In addition, our realization of expected tax benefits is based upon the assumption that we take successful planning steps and that we maintain and execute adequate processes to support our planning activities. If we fail to do so, we may not achieve the expected benefits. | ||
| Nonrealization of expected benefits from our acquisitions or business dispositions could affect our projected results. We expect to gain certain business, financial and strategic advantages as a result of business acquisitions we undertake, including synergies and operating efficiencies. Our forward-looking statements assume that we will successfully integrate our business acquisitions and realize the benefits of those acquisitions. Further, we may from time to time undertake to dispose of businesses or capital assets that are no longer core to our long-term growth strategy and the disposition of which may improve our capital structure. Our forward-looking statements assume that if we decide to dispose of a business or asset we will find a buyer willing to pay a price we deem favorable to Weatherford and that we will successfully dispose of the business or asset. Our inability to complete dispositions timely and at attractive prices may impair our ability to improve our capital structure as rapidly as our forward-looking statements may indicate. | ||
| The downturn in our industry could affect the carrying value of our goodwill. As of March 31, 2011, we had approximately $4.3 billion of goodwill. Our estimates of the value of our goodwill could be reduced in the future as a result of various factors, including market factors, some of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements do not assume any future goodwill impairment. Any reduction in the fair value of our businesses may result in an impairment charge and therefore adversely affect our results. | ||
| Adverse weather conditions in certain regions could adversely affect our operations. From time to time, hurricanes and severe weather impact our operations in the Gulf of Mexico. These hurricanes and associated hurricane threats reduce the number of days on which we and our customers operate, which results in lower revenues than we otherwise would have achieved. Our Canadian operations, particularly in the second quarter of each year, may vary greatly depending on the timing of break-up, or the spring thaw, which annually results in a period in which conditions are not conducive to operations. Similarly, unfavorable weather in Russia, China, Mexico, Australia and in the North Sea, as well as exceedingly cold winters in other areas of the world, could reduce our operations and revenues from these areas during the relevant period. Our forward-looking statements assume weather patterns in our primary areas of operations will be conducive to our operations. | ||
| U.S. Government and internal investigations could affect our results of operations. We are currently involved in government and internal investigations involving various of our operations. We have begun negotiations with the government agencies to resolve these matters, but we cannot yet anticipate the timing, outcome or possible impact of the ultimate resolution of these investigations, financial or otherwise. The governmental agencies involved in these investigations have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for violations of trade sanction laws, the |
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Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other federal statutes including, but not limited to, injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties and modifications to business practices and compliance programs. In recent years, these agencies and authorities have entered into agreements with, and obtained a range of penalties against, several public corporations and individuals in similar investigations, under which civil and criminal penalties were imposed, including in some cases fines and other penalties and sanctions in the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. These agencies likely will seek to impose penalties of some amount against us for past conduct, but the ultimate amount of any penalties we may pay currently cannot be reasonably estimated. Under trade sanction laws, the U.S. Department of Justice may also seek to impose modifications to business practices, including immediate cessation of all business activities in specific countries or other limitations that decrease our business, and modifications to compliance programs, which may increase compliance costs. Any injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties, sanctions or imposed modifications to business practices resulting from these investigations could adversely affect our results of operations. Through March 31, 2011, we have incurred $49 million for costs in connection with our exit from certain sanctioned countries and incurred $114 million for legal and professional fees in connection with complying with and conducting these on-going investigations. This amount excludes the costs we have incurred to augment and improve our compliance function. We may have additional charges related to these matters in future periods, which costs may include labor claims, contractual claims, penalties assessed by customers, and costs, fines, taxes and penalties assessed by the local governments, but we cannot quantify those charges or be certain of the timing of them. In addition, the SEC is investigating the circumstances surrounding the material weakness in the Companys internal controls over financial reporting for income taxes that was disclosed on Forms 12b-25 and 8-K on March 1, 2011 and the related restatement of historical financial statements. We are cooperating with the investigation. | |||
| Failure in the future to ensure ongoing compliance with certain laws could affect our results of operations. In 2009, we substantially augmented our compliance infrastructure with increased staff and more rigorous policies, procedures and training of our employees regarding compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws, trade sanctions laws and import/export laws. As part of this effort, we now undertake audits of our compliance performance in various countries. Our forward-looking statements assume that our compliance efforts will be successful and that we will comply with our internal policies and applicable laws regarding these issues. Our failure to do so could result in additional enforcement action in the future, the results of which could be material and adverse to us. | ||
| Political disturbances, war, or terrorist attacks and changes in global trade policies could adversely impact our operations. We operate in over 100 countries, and as such are at risk of various types of political activities, including acts of insurrections, war, terrorism, nationalization of assets and changes in trade policies. We have assumed there will be no material political disturbances or terrorist attacks and there will be no material changes in global trade policies that affect our business. In early 2011, our operations in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya were disrupted by political revolutions and uprisings in these countries. Political disturbances in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa regions, including to a lesser extent Yemen and Bahrain, are ongoing, and our operations in Libya have not resumed. During 2010, these five countries accounted for approximately 3% of our global revenue. We have taken steps to secure our personnel and assets in affected areas and to resume or continue operations where it is safe for us to do so, and our forward-looking statements assume we will do so successfully. In Libya, we have evacuated all of our non-Libyan employees and their families. At March 31, 2011, we had in Libya inventory, property, plant and equipment (net) with a carrying value of approximately $144 million, $52 million of accounts receivable that currently are subject to sanctions recently imposed by western governments as well as cash and other current assets of approximately $31 million. In cases where we must evacuate personnel, it may be difficult, if not impossible, for us to safeguard and recover our operating assets, and our ability to do so will depend on the local turn of events. In these areas we also may not be able to perform the work we are contracted to perform, which could lead to forfeiture of performance bonds. We currently have outstanding approximately $19 million of performance bonds related to contracts in Libya. Based on information available to us and our current assessment of the situation in Libya, we believe that we will recover our assets there, and we have not impaired these assets. Our forward-looking statements assume that we will not incur a substantial loss with respect to our assets or under performance bonds located in or related to affected areas. We have assumed our operations in Libya will not resume in 2011. We have assumed that cessation of business activities in other parts of the |
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Middle East and North Africa regions due to political turmoil will be short-lived, that the negative impact on our business will not be material, and that the region will not experience further disruptive political revolution in the near term. However, if political violence were to curtail our activities in other countries in the region from which we derive greater business, such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Algeria, and particularly if political activities were to result in prolonged violence or civil war, we may fail to achieve the results reflected in our forward-looking statements. | |||
| The material weakness in accounting for income taxes could have an adverse effect on our share price. If we are unable to effectively remediate this material weakness in a timely manner, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could have an adverse effect on our share price and could subject us to additional potentially costly shareholder litigation or government inquiries. Our forward-looking statements assume we will be able to remediate the material weakness in a timely manner and will maintain an effective internal control environment in the future. | ||
| Recent turmoil in the credit markets may reduce our access to capital or reduce the availability of financial risk-mitigation tools. The worldwide credit markets experienced turmoil and uncertainty from mid-2008 through most of 2009, and certain markets remained challenging in parts of 2010. Our forward-looking statements assume that the financial institutions that have committed to extend us credit will honor their commitments under our credit facilities. If one or more of those institutions becomes unwilling or unable to honor its commitments, our access to liquidity could be impaired and our cost of capital to fund growth could increase. We use interest-rate and foreign-exchange swap transactions with financial institutions to mitigate certain interest-rate and foreign-exchange risks associated with our capital structure and our business. Our forward-looking statements assume that those tools will continue to be available to us at prices we deem reasonable. However, the failure of any counter party to honor a swap agreement could reduce the availability of these financial risk-mitigation tools or could result in the loss of expected financial benefits. |
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| block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; | ||
| purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus; | ||
| an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of any stock exchange on which the securities are listed; | ||
| ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchases; | ||
| privately negotiated transactions; | ||
| short sales, either directly or with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof; | ||
| through the writing of options on the securities, whether or not the options are listed on an options exchange; | ||
| through loans or pledges of the securities to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof; | ||
| by entering into transactions with third parties who may (or may cause others to) issue securities convertible or exchangeable into, or the return of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of, our registered shares; | ||
| through the distribution of the securities by any selling shareholder to its partners, members or shareholders; | ||
| one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best efforts basis; and | ||
| any combination of any of these methods of sale. |
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