e424b7
Calculation of Registration Fee
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Proposed |
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Proposed |
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Title of each class of |
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Amount |
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maximum |
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maximum |
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Amount of |
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securities to be |
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to be |
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offering price |
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aggregate |
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registration |
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registered |
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registered (1) |
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per share (2) |
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offering price (2) |
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fee |
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Common Shares,
US$1.00 par value |
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2,823,388 |
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$10.99 |
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$31,029,034.12 |
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$1,219.44 |
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(1) |
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The Common Shares 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 the Registrants Common Shares that may become issuable as a
result of any share splits, subdivisions, share dividends, bonus shares or similar events. |
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(2) |
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Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule
457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the high and low prices
of our common shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on November 25, 2008. |
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) |
(To Prospectus Dated May 8, 2008)
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Registration No. 333-150764 |
Weatherford International Ltd.
2,823,388 Common Shares
This prospectus supplement relates to up to 2,823,388 common shares of Weatherford
International Ltd., U.S. $1.00 par value, which we sometimes refer to as our common shares, which
may be offered for sale from time to time by the shareholders named under the heading Selling
Shareholders beginning on page S-1, whom we refer to as the selling shareholders. 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 supplement.
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. The closing price of our common shares on the New York Stock Exchange on November 25, 2008
was $10.96 per share.
Investing in our common shares involves risks. You should carefully consider the information
referred to under the heading Risk Factors on page 4 of the accompanying prospectus.
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 supplement is December 1, 2008.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Prospectus dated May 8, 2008
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Page |
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About this Prospectus |
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1 |
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Forward-Looking Statements |
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2 |
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The Company |
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4 |
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Risk Factors |
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4 |
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Use of Proceeds |
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4 |
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Selling Shareholders |
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4 |
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Plan of Distribution |
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5 |
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Description of Share Capital |
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6 |
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Legal Matters |
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6 |
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Experts |
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7 |
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Where You Can Find More Information |
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7 |
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which contains
specific information about the selling shareholders and the terms on which they are offering and
selling our common shares. The second part is the accompanying prospectus dated May 8, 2008, which
contains and incorporates by reference important business and financial information about us and
other information about the offering. You should read this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, as well as any post-effective amendments to the registration statement of
which the accompanying prospectus is a part, before you make any investment decision.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference therein 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
supplement, the accompanying prospectus 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 supplement, 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.
S-i
THE OFFERING
The selling shareholders may offer all, some or none of our common shares offered by this
prospectus supplement. Please see Plan of Distribution in the accompanying prospectus.
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Common shares offered by the selling shareholders
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Up to 2,823,388 shares. |
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Use of Proceeds
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We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering. |
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NYSE Symbol
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WFT |
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Determination of Offering Price
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The selling shareholders may sell all or any part of our
common shares offered hereby from time to time at those
prices as they may determine at the time of sale. |
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Risk Factors
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Before investing in our common shares you should carefully
read the information referred to under the heading Risk
Factors on page 5 of the accompanying prospectus. |
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The information contained herein with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by
each selling shareholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as indicated by footnote and subject to community
property laws where applicable, to our knowledge, the persons named in the table below have sole
voting and investment power with respect to all common shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
Our common shares registered hereby were acquired by the selling shareholders in connection
with our purchase of certain businesses from them. Unless set forth in this section, to our
knowledge, none of the selling shareholders has, or within the past three years has had, any
material relationship with us or with any of our predecessors or affiliates.
The number of shares and percentage of ownership indicated in the following table is based on
682,077,154 outstanding common shares as of November 25, 2008. The following table sets forth
information with respect to the selling shareholders and our common shares beneficially owned by
the selling shareholders that may be offered from time to time pursuant to this prospectus
supplement. The selling shareholders may offer all, some or none of their common shares. See Plan
of Distribution in the accompanying prospectus.
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Maximum |
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Percentage of |
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Number of |
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Common Shares |
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Number of |
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Common Shares |
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Beneficially Owned |
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Common Shares |
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That May Be |
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If Maximum |
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Beneficially |
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Offered By This |
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Before |
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Number of Shares |
Name of Selling Shareholder |
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Owned |
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Prospectus |
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Offering |
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Offered are Sold |
Paul James Hudson (a) |
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2,552,670 |
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1,276,335 |
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Hank B. Swartout (b) |
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2,552,669 |
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1,276,335 |
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Ben Lewis Moorhead (c) |
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214,023 |
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107,012 |
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* |
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Ramiro Alfredo Rodríguez Villareal (d) |
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168,680 |
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83,340 |
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* |
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Sonia Rodríguez (e) |
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89,293 |
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44,647 |
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* |
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Sonia Deyanira Rodríguez (f) |
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41,670 |
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20,835 |
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* |
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Alfredo Pablo Saenger Thomsen (g) |
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24,363 |
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12,182 |
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* |
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Meyer & Associates, Inc. (h) |
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5,396 |
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2,698 |
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* |
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Selene Marlen Ceja Zuñiga (i) |
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4 |
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S-1
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Represents less than 1% |
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(a) |
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The address of the selling shareholder is 101 SW Augusta Square, McAllen, Texas 78503. |
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The address of the selling shareholder is #1003, 200 La Caille Place S.W., Calgary, Alberta,
Canada, T2P5E2. |
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The address of the selling shareholder is 16611 Champagne Fall Ct., Spring, Texas 77380. |
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The address of the selling shareholder is 18 Player Green, The Woodlands, Texas 77382. |
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The address of the selling shareholder is 1708 Coffeeport Rd., Brownsville, Texas 78521. |
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The address of the selling shareholder is 1738 Coffeeport Rd., Brownsville, Texas 78521. |
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(g) |
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The address of the selling shareholder is Privada de la Providencia No. 53 Caba 4 Col. San
Jerónimo Lídice C.P. 10200 Magdalena Contreras, México, D.F., México. |
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(h) |
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The address of the selling shareholder is 2130 Freeport Road, Suite C, Natrona Heights, PA
15065. |
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(i) |
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The address of the selling shareholder is Ave. Independencia #515, departamento B, Modulo
Social Las Fuentes, Reynosa Tamaulipas, C.P. 88744, México. |
S-2
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
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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.
1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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
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