sv3asr
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2008
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Weatherford International Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Bermuda
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98-0371344 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer |
Incorporation or Organization)
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Identification Number) |
515 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77027
(713) 693-4000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Burt M. Martin
Weatherford International, Inc.
515 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77027
(713) 693-4000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy to:
W. Mark Young
Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 220-4323
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the
effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities
offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, check the following box. þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities
Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a
post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following
box. þ
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to
General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of
securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check
the following box. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,
a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
See the definitions of large
accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer þ |
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Accelerated filer o |
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Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
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Smaller Reporting Company o |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed |
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Title of Each Class of |
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Securities to be |
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to be |
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Per Share |
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Common Shares, U.S. $1.00 par value |
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An indeterminate number of Common Shares to be offered at indeterminate prices is being
registered pursuant to this registration statement. The Registrant is deferring payment of
the registration fee pursuant to Rule 456(b) and is omitting this information in reference on
Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r). The shares of common stock set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee Table, and which may be
offered pursuant to this Registration Statement, includes, pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, such additional number of shares of the Registrants common stock that may
become issuable as a result of any stock splits, stock dividends or similar events.
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PROSPECTUS
Weatherford International Ltd.
Common Shares
Certain selling shareholders may offer and sell our common shares from time to time in
amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of any such offering. Each
time any common shares are offered pursuant to this prospectus, the selling shareholders will
provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will
contain more specific information about the offering, including the name of each selling
shareholder and the number of our common shares to be sold by such selling shareholder. The
prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell our common shares unless accompanied by a
prospectus supplement.
Our common shares may be sold at fixed prices, prevailing market prices at the times of sale,
prices related to the prevailing market prices, varying prices determined at the times of sale or
negotiated prices. Our common shares offered by this prospectus and the prospectus supplement may
be offered by the selling shareholders directly to investors or to or through underwriters, dealers
or other agents.
We do not know when or in what amounts a selling shareholder may offer our common shares for
sale. The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of our common shares offered by this
prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common shares sold by the
selling shareholders.
Our common shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
WFT.
Our principal executive offices are located at 515 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 600, Houston,
Texas 77027, and our telephone number at that address is (713) 693-4000. Our principal website is
located at www.weatherford.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this
prospectus.
Investing in our common shares involves risks. You should carefully consider the information
referred to under the heading Risk Factors on page 4.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is May 8, 2008.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus incorporates by reference important business and financial information about
us that is not included in or delivered with this document. This information, other than exhibits
to documents that are not specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus, is available
to you without charge upon written or oral request to: Weatherford International Ltd., 515 Post Oak
Boulevard, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77027, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (713) 693-4000.
This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule
405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act. Under
the automatic shelf process, one or more of the selling shareholders to be named in a prospectus
supplement may offer and sell, from time to time, our common shares. The selling shareholders will
also be required to provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the
selling shareholders and the terms on which they are offering and selling our common shares. We
may also add, update or change in a prospectus supplement information contained in this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as any
post-effective amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, before
you make any investment decision.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying
prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference herein as described
under Where You Can Find More Information, or any free writing prospectus that we prepare and
distribute. Neither we nor the selling shareholders have authorized anyone to provide you with
information different from that contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the
accompanying prospectus supplement or any such free writing prospectus.
The selling shareholders may only offer to sell, and seek offers to buy, our common shares in
jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted.
In this prospectus, unless otherwise expressly set forth or as the context otherwise
indicates, the terms Weatherford, the Company, we, our and us refer to Weatherford
International Ltd., a Bermuda exempted company, and its subsidiaries.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus includes, and any accompanying prospectus supplement may include,
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about us. All statements other than statements of
historical fact included in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements may be found in this document regarding the financial
position, business strategy, possible or assumed future results of operations, and other plans and
objectives for our future operations. Except for our obligation to disclose material information
under U.S. federal securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any
revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or circumstances after the date of
this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or
conditions, or that include words such as will, would, should, plans, likely, expects,
anticipates, intends, believes, estimates, thinks, may, and similar expressions, are
forward-looking statements. The following important factors, in addition to those discussed under
Risk Factors and elsewhere in this document, could affect the future results of our industry in
general, and us in particular, and could cause those results to differ materially from those
expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.
From time to time, we update the various factors we consider in making our forward-looking
statements and the assumptions we use in those statements. However, we undertake no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking events or circumstances that may arise after the date
of this prospectus. The following sets forth the various assumptions we use in our forward-looking
statements, as well as risks and uncertainties relating to those statements. Certain of the risks
and uncertainties may cause actual results to be materially different from projected results
contained in forward-looking statements in this prospectus and in our other disclosures. These
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
A downturn in market conditions could affect projected results. Any material changes
in oil and natural gas supply and demand, oil and natural gas prices, rig count or other market
trends would affect our results and would likely affect the forward-looking information we
provided. The oil and natural gas industry is extremely volatile and subject to change based on
political and economic factors outside our control. In recent years, worldwide drilling activity
increased; however, if an extended regional and/or worldwide recession were to occur, it would
result in lower demand and lower prices for oil and natural gas, which would adversely affect
drilling and production activity and therefore would affect our revenues and income. We have
assumed increases in worldwide demand will continue throughout 2008.
Availability of a skilled workforce could affect our projected results. Due to the
high activity in the exploration and production and oilfield service industries there is an
increasing shortage of available skilled labor, particularly in our high-growth regions. Our
forward-looking statements assume we will be able to recruit and maintain a sufficient skilled
workforce for activity levels.
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. 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 materials costs
through our supply chain initiatives or by passing through these increases to our customers, our
margins and results of operations could be adversely affected.
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 develop our products and services, 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 through leverage of 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.
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Nonrealization of expected benefits from our 2002 corporate reincorporation could
affect our projected results. We are incorporated in Bermuda and we operate through our various
subsidiaries in numerous countries throughout the world including the United States. Consequently,
we are subject to changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations or the interpretation or enforcement
thereof in the U.S., Bermuda or 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.
Nonrealization of expected benefits from our acquisitions 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 that. An inability to realize expected strategic advantages as a result of
the acquisition, would negatively affect the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.
The cyclical nature of or a prolonged downturn in our industry could affect the
carrying value of our goodwill. As of March 31, 2008, we had approximately $3.4 billion of
goodwill. Our estimates of the value of our goodwill could be reduced in the future as a result of
various factors, some of which are beyond our control. Any reduction in the value of our goodwill
may result in an impairment charge and therefore adversely affect our results.
Currency fluctuations could have a material adverse financial impact on our business.
A material change in currency rates in our markets could affect our future results as well as
affect the carrying values of our assets. World currencies have been subject to much volatility.
Our forward-looking statements assume no material impact from future fluctuations in currency
exchange rates.
Adverse weather conditions in certain regions could adversely affect our operations.
In the summer of 2005, the Gulf of Mexico suffered several significant hurricanes. These hurricanes
and associated hurricane threats reduced the number of days on which we and our customers could
operate, which resulted in lower revenues than we otherwise would have achieved. In parts of 2006,
and particularly in the second quarter of 2007, climatic conditions in Canada were not as favorable
to drilling as we anticipated, which limited our results in that region. Similarly, unfavorable
weather in Russia and in the North Sea could reduce our operations and revenues from those areas
during the relevant period. Our forward-looking statements assume weather patterns in our primary
areas of operations will be conducive to our operations.
Political disturbances, war, or terrorist attacks and changes in global trade policies
could adversely impact our operations. We have assumed there will be no material political
disturbances or terrorist attacks and there will be no material changes in global trade policies.
Any further military action undertaken by the U.S. or other countries could adversely affect our
results of 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. These investigations are ongoing, and we cannot anticipate the timing, outcome or
possible impact 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 trading sanctions 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 penalties were imposed, including in some cases multi-million dollar
fines and other penalties and sanctions. Under trading sanctions laws, the Department of Justice
(DOJ) may also seek to impose modifications to business practices, including immediate cessation
of all business activities in sanctioned countries, 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. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2008, we incurred $51 million for costs
incurred in connection with our exit from sanctioned countries and $8 million in connection with
complying with these on-going investigations. We will 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.
All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in
their entirety by such factors. Finally, our future results will depend upon various other risks
and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those detailed in our other filings with the SEC.
For additional information with respect to these factors, see Where You Can Find More Information
above.
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THE COMPANY
We are one of the worlds leading providers of equipment and services used for the drilling,
completion and production of oil and natural gas wells. We were originally incorporated in Delaware
in 1972, and as a result of our corporate reorganization in 2002, are now incorporated in Bermuda.
Many of our businesses have been operating for more than 50 years.
We operate in approximately 100 countries through approximately 800 service, sales and
manufacturing locations, which are located in nearly all of the oil and natural gas producing
regions in the world.
RISK FACTORS
There
are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity or
performance to differ materially from our past results of operations or from the results, level of
activity or performance implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or
in any prospectus supplement. In particular, you should carefully consider the risk factors
described under the caption Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008,
which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Other sections of this
prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference may include
additional factors which could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover,
we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from
time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the
impact of all risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of
factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statements.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The selling shareholders will receive all of the proceeds from the sale of our common shares
offered by this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common
shares offered hereby.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The selling shareholders will be named in the accompanying prospectus supplement, along with
information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common shares by such selling shareholders as
of the date of the prospectus supplement, the number of shares being offered by such selling
shareholders and the number of shares beneficially owned by such selling shareholders after the
applicable offering. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common shares by the
selling shareholders.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling shareholders, or their pledgees, donees, transferees, or any of their
successors-in-interest selling shares received from a named selling shareholder as a gift,
partnership distribution or other non-sale-related transfer after the date of this prospectus (all
of whom may be selling shareholders), may sell some or all of the securities covered by this
prospectus from time to time on any stock exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on
which the securities are listed, in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated
transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the
time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated. The
selling shareholders may sell the securities by one or more of the following methods, without
limitation:
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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; |
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purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its
own account pursuant to this prospectus; |
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an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of any stock exchange on which the
securities are listed; |
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchases; |
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privately negotiated transactions; |
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short sales, either directly or with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof; |
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through the writing of options on the securities, whether or not the options are listed
on an options exchange; |
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through loans or pledges of the securities to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof; |
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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 common shares; |
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through the distribution of the securities by any selling shareholder to its partners,
members or shareholders; |
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one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best efforts basis; and |
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any combination of any of these methods of sale. |
For example, the selling shareholders may engage brokers and dealers, and any broker or dealer
may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate in effecting sales of the securities.
These brokers, dealers or underwriters may act as principals, or as an agent of a selling
shareholder. Broker-dealers may agree with a selling shareholder to sell a specified number of the
securities at a stipulated price per security. If the broker-dealer is unable to sell securities
acting as agent for a selling shareholder, it may purchase as principal any unsold securities at
the stipulated price. Broker-dealers who acquire securities as principals may thereafter resell
the securities from time to time in transactions on any stock exchange or automated interdealer
quotation system on which the securities are then listed, at prices and on terms then prevailing at
the time of sale, at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions.
Broker-dealers may use block transactions and sales to and through broker-dealers, including
transactions of the nature described above.
From time to time, one or more of the selling shareholders may charge, pledge, hypothecate or
grant a security interest in some or all of the securities owned by them. The chargees, pledgees,
secured parties or persons to whom the securities have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in
the event of default, be deemed to be selling shareholders. As and when a selling shareholder
takes such actions, the number of securities offered under this prospectus on behalf of such
selling shareholder will decrease. The plan of distribution for that selling shareholders
securities will otherwise remain unchanged.
A selling shareholder may, from time to time, sell the securities short, and, in those
instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with the short sales, and the securities
offered under this prospectus may be used to cover short sales. A selling shareholder may enter
into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of
the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with that selling shareholder,
including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the securities by those broker-
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dealers. A selling shareholder may enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the securities offered hereby to the broker-dealers,
who may then resell or otherwise transfer those securities. A selling shareholder may also loan
the securities offered hereby to a broker-dealer, and the broker-dealer may sell the loaned
securities pursuant to this prospectus.
A selling shareholder may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell
securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions.
If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third
parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement,
including in short sale transactions. If so, the third-party may use securities pledged by the
selling shareholder or borrowed from the selling shareholder or others to settle those sales or to
close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from the selling
shareholder in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock.
The third-party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this
prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part).
To the extent required under the Securities Act, the aggregate amount of selling shareholders
securities being offered and the terms of the offering, the names of any agents, brokers, dealers
or underwriters and any applicable commission with respect to a particular offer will be set forth
in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents
participating in the distribution of the securities may receive compensation in the form of
underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions or fees from a selling shareholder and/or
purchasers of selling shareholders securities for whom they may act (which compensation as to a
particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions).
The selling shareholders and any underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents that participate in
the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and any discounts, concessions, commissions or fees received by them and any profit
on the resale of the securities sold by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions.
The selling shareholders and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the
securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including
Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities
by the selling shareholders and any other person. The anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange
Act may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the selling
shareholders and their affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any
person engaged in the distribution of the securities to engage in market-making activities with
respect to the particular securities being distributed for a period of up to five business days
before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the securities and the
ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the
securities.
We have agreed to indemnify in certain circumstances certain of the selling shareholders
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Certain of the
selling shareholders have agreed to indemnify us in certain circumstances against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Certain of the securities offered hereby were originally issued to the selling shareholders
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We agreed to
register the securities under the Securities Act, and to keep the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part effective for a specified period of time.
We will not receive any proceeds from sales of any securities by the selling shareholders. We
cannot assure you that the selling shareholders will sell all or any portion of the securities
offered hereby.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
For a full description of our common shares please see the documents identified in the section
Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the common shares offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by our
special Bermuda counsel, Conyers Dill & Pearman.
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EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Weatherford International Ltd. appearing in
Weatherford International Ltd.s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2007
(including the financial statement schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of
Weatherford International Ltd.s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007,
have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth
in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on
the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with
respect to the common shares offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the
registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration
statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to
us and the common shares offered by this prospectus, please see the registration statement and the
exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the
SEC (File No. 001-31339). Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the
SECs website at http://www.sec.gov and at our web site at http://www.weatherford.com. Information
on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You may also read and copy at
prescribed rates any document we file at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SECs public reference
room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WFT. Our
reports, proxy statements and other information may be read and copied at the New York Stock
Exchange at 20 Broad Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10005.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information that we file with it, which
means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. The
information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that
we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate by reference the following documents and all documents that we subsequently file with
the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than information
furnished rather than filed), and any amendments thereto:
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our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007; |
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our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008; |
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our current reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed),
filed with the SEC on February 8, 2008, March 6, 2008, March 18, 2008, March 25, 2008 and
April 21, 2008; and |
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the description of our common shares, $1.00 par value, contained in our Registration
Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 24, 2002 (File No. 001-31339), including
any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit
is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing), at no cost, by writing to us at the
following address or calling the following number:
Weatherford International Ltd.
Attention: Investor Relations
515 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77027
(713) 693-4000
7
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
Expenses payable by the Company in connection with the sale of the common shares being
registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, are estimated as follows:
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SEC Registration Fee |
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$ |
(1 |
) |
Legal Fees and Expenses |
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10,000 |
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Accounting Fees and Expenses |
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5,000 |
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Miscellaneous |
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10,000 |
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Total |
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$ |
(1 |
) |
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(1) |
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Deferred in reference upon Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r). |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Weatherford International Ltd. is a Bermuda exempted company. Section 98 of the Companies Act
1981 of Bermuda, as amended (the Companies Act), provides generally that a Bermuda company may
indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability which by virtue of any rule of
law otherwise would be imposed on them in respect to any negligence, default, breach of duty or
breach of trust, except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such
director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to the company. Section 98 further provides
that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability
incurred by them in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is
awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of
Bermuda pursuant to Section 281 of the Companies Act. A company may advance monies to a director,
officer or auditor for the costs, charges and expenses incurred by them in defending any civil or
criminal proceedings against them, on condition that the director, officer or auditor shall repay
the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them.
We have adopted provisions in our bye-laws that provide that we shall indemnify our officers
and directors in respect of their actions and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or
dishonesty. Our bye-laws provide that the shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that
they might have, individually or in right of the company, against any of the companys directors or
officers for any act or failure to act in the performance of such directors or officers duties,
except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer.
Furthermore, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and
executive officers. The indemnification agreements require us to indemnify our officers and
directors, except for liability in respect of their fraud or dishonesty, against expenses
(including attorneys fees and disbursements), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit, arbitration,
alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other
proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal.
The indemnification agreements also provide that we must pay all reasonable expenses incurred in
advance of a final disposition. David J. Butters and Robert B. Millard, employees of Lehman
Brothers Inc., constitute two of the eight members of the Board of Directors of Weatherford. Under
the restated certificates of incorporation, as amended to date, of Lehman Brothers and its parent,
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., both Delaware corporations, Messrs. Butters and Millard, in their
capacity as directors of Weatherford, are to be indemnified by Lehman Brothers and Lehman Brothers
Holdings to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Messrs. Butters and Millard are serving
as directors of Weatherford at the request of Lehman Brothers and Lehman Brothers Holdings.
Section 98A of the Companies Act permits us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit
of any of our officers or directors in respect of any loss or liability attaching to him in respect
of any negligence, default, breach of duty, or breach of trust, whether or not we may otherwise
indemnify such officer or director. We have purchased and maintain a directors and officers
liability policy for such purposes. Messrs. Butters and Millard are insured against certain
liabilities, which they may incur in their capacity as directors pursuant to insurance maintained
by Lehman Brothers Holdings.
II-1
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
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Exhibit Number |
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Description |
4.1
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Memorandum of Association of Weatherford International Ltd. (incorporated by reference
to Annex II to the proxy statement/prospectus included in Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-85644) filed May 22, 2002). |
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4.2
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Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital of Weatherford International Ltd. (incorporated
by reference to Annex II to the proxy statement/prospectus included in Amendment No. 1
to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-85644) filed May 22,
2002). |
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4.3
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Certificate of Assistant Secretary as to the adoption of a resolution increasing
authorized share capital (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Current Report on
Form 8-K (File No. 1-31339) filed May 15, 2006). |
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4.4
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Bye-Laws of Weatherford International Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Annex III to
the proxy statement/prospectus included in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-85644) filed May 22, 2002). |
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5.1
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Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman. |
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5.2
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Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman. |
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23.1
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Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto). |
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23.2
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Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. |
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23.3
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Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.2
hereto). |
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24.1
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Powers of Attorney (set forth on the signature pages hereof). |
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered
would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement;
Provided, however, That:
Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, or is contained in a form prospectus filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
II-2
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any
purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement
relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than
prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the
registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however,
that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the
registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference
into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will,
as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify
any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of such Registrants annual report pursuant
to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on May 8, 2008.
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WEATHERFORD INTERNATIONAL LTD.
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By: |
/s/ Bernard J. Duroc-Danner
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Bernard J. Duroc-Danner |
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President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
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POWERS OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers and directors of the
Registrant, who have not previously done so, hereby constitutes and appoints Bernard J.
Duroc-Danner and Burt M. Martin his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution, for him or her and on his or her behalf and in his or her name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file this registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any or all amendments (including, without limitation,
post-effective amendments), with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with
respect thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority, granting
unto such attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order to effectuate the
same, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she himself or herself might or could do, if
personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or
his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done. Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement on Form S-3 has been signed
by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on
May 8, 2008.
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Signature |
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Title |
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/s/ Bernard J. Duroc-Danner
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President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Director |
Bernard J. Duroc-Danner |
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(Principal Executive Officer) |
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Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) |
Andrew P. Becnel |
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Vice President Accounting and Chief Accounting
Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
Jessica Abarca |
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Director |
Nicholas F. Brady |
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Director |
David J. Butters |
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Director |
Sheldon B. Lubar |
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Director |
William E. Macaulay |
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Director |
Robert B. Millard |
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Director |
Robert K. Moses, Jr. |
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Director |
Robert A. Rayne |
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II-4
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Exhibit Number |
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Description |
4.1
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Memorandum of Association of Weatherford International Ltd. (incorporated by reference
to Annex II to the proxy statement/prospectus included in Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-85644) filed May 22, 2002). |
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4.2
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Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital of Weatherford International Ltd. (incorporated
by reference to Annex II to the proxy statement/prospectus included in Amendment No. 1
to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-85644) filed May 22,
2002). |
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4.3
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Certificate of Assistant Secretary as to the adoption of a resolution increasing
authorized share capital (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Current Report on
Form 8-K (File No. 1-31339) filed May 15, 2006). |
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4.4
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Bye-Laws of Weatherford International Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Annex III to
the proxy statement/prospectus included in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-85644) filed May 22, 2002). |
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5.1
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Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman. |
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5.2
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Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman. |
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23.1
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Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto). |
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23.2
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Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. |
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23.3
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Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.2
hereto). |
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24.1
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Powers of Attorney (set forth on the signature pages hereof). |