Seadrill Limited
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Other related party transactions
Seabras Sapura guarantees -In November 2012, a subsidiary of Seabras Sapura Participações S.A. entered into a $179 million senior secured credit facility agreement in order to part fund the acquisition of the Sapura Esmeralda pipe-laying support vessel, with a maturity in 2032. During 2013 an additional facility of $36 million was entered into, with a maturity in 2020. As a condition to the lenders making the loan available, a subsidiary of Seadrill has provided a sponsor guarantee, on a joint and several basis with the joint venture partner, Sapura Energy, in respect of the obligations of the borrower. The total amount guaranteed by the joint venture partners as at March 31, 2020 was $139 million (December 31, 2019: $146 million).
We have not recognized a liability for any of the above guarantees as we did not consider it to be probable that the guarantees would be called.
Other guarantees - In addition, we have made certain guarantees over the performance of Seadrill Partners and SeaMex on behalf of customers.
Omnibus agreement - In 2012 we entered into an Omnibus Agreement with Seadrill Partners. The agreement outlines the following provisions: (i) anon-competition agreement with Seadrill Partners for any drilling rig operating under a contract for five or more years; (ii) rights of first offer on any proposed sale, transfer or other disposition of drilling rigs; (iii) rights of first offer on any proposed transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any equity interest in Seadrill Operating LP, Seadrill Capricorn Holdings LLC and Seadrill Partners Operating LLC (the “OPCO”); and (iv) indemnification – Old Seadrill Limited agreed to indemnify Seadrill Partners against certain environmental and toxic tort liabilities with respect to the assets contributed or sold to Seadrill Partners, and also certain tax liabilities.
Note 27 – Commitments and contingencies
Legal Proceedings
From time to time we are a party, as plaintiff or defendant, to lawsuits in various jurisdictions for demurrage, damages,off-hire and other claims and commercial disputes arising from the construction or operation of our drilling units, in the ordinary course of business or in connection with our acquisition or disposal activities. We believe that the resolution of such claims will not have a material impact, individually or in the aggregate, on our operations or financial condition. Our best estimate of the outcome of the various disputes has been reflected in our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements as at March 31, 2020.
Seabras Sapura joint venture
The Sapura Esmeralda operates under a Brazilian flag. The right to operate under such Brazilian flag is being challenged in the Brazilian courts. An adverse decision in the Brazilian courts could affect the operations of the Sapura Esmeralda and potentially impact its commercial agreements and related financing. Due to the backlog of cases we estimate a decision within approximately 3 years.
Dalian Newbuilds
At March 31, 2020, all eight of the newbuilding contracts with Dalian had been terminated by both parties. Accordingly, the Seadrill contracting entities had no contractual obligation to take delivery of the rigs. Contracts for six of the rigs (West Titan,West Proteus,West Rhea,West Hyperion,West TethysandWest Umbriel) were terminated as of December 31, 2018, and we had total contractual obligations as at December 31, 2018 of $0.4 billion.
In February 2019, the Seadrill contracting party terminated the newbuilding contract for thejack-up rigWest Dione due to: (i) delays to delivery of the rig, and (ii) Dalian being subject to bankruptcy proceedings. In March 2019, Dalian disputed the Seadrill contracting party’s termination and purported to terminate the newbuilding contract itself for the alleged wrongful termination.
In March 2019, Dalian purported to terminate the eighth newbuilding contract for theWest Mimas. In April 2019, the Seadrill contracting party rejected Dalian’s termination of the contract as wrongful and reserved all its rights. The Seadrill contracting party terminated the contract for theWest Mimas for: (i) delays to delivery of the rig, (ii) Dalian being subject to bankruptcy proceedings, and (iii) Dalian’s wrongful purported termination in March 2019.
In March 2019, the Seadrill contracting parties commenced arbitration proceedings in London for all eight rigs and will claim for the return of the paid installments plus interest and further damages for losses.
In January 2019, Dalian appointed an administrator to restructure its liabilities. The Seadrill contracting parties have filed their claims against Dalian in the Dalian insolvency and the insolvency administrator is currently considering whether to accept or reject the claims in the insolvency. The arbitrations are currently not being progressed by agreement of the parties, pending the insolvency administrator’s decision whether to accept or reject the Seadrill contracting parties’ claims. Dalian has stated that it has claims for damages in respect of each of the rigs, but it has not quantified those damages. The administrator has submitted a draft reorganization plan to the insolvency court which has stated that it will convene a creditor’s meeting 30 days from when it receives the same for a vote on the draft plan. This has not yet been received. The contracts are all with limited liability subsidiaries of Seadrill. There are no parent company guarantees.
Nigerian Cabotage Act litigation
Seadrill Mobile Units Nigeria Ltd (“SMUNL”) commenced proceedings in May 2016 against the Honourable Minister for Transportation, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency with respect to interpretation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 (the “Act”). On June 28 2019, the Federal High Court of Nigeria delivered a judgement finding that: (1) Drilling operations fall within the definition of “Coastal Trade” or “Cabotage” under the Act and (2) Drilling Rigs fall within
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