Edgar Filing: ATWOOD OCEANICS INC

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S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2016

Registration No. 333-

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas

15011 Katy Freeway, Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77094

(281) 749-7800

74-1611874

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s

principal executive offices)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Walter A. Baker

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

and Corporate Secretary

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

15011 Katy Freeway, Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77094

(281) 749-7800

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

J. David Kirkland, Jr.

Tull R. Florey

Baker Botts L.L.P.

910 Louisiana Street

Houston, Texas 77002-4995

(713) 229-1234

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 to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

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, as amended (the “Securities Act”), other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

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. ¨

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. ¨

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. x

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. ¨

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 definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check One).

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered		Amount to be Registered/Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit/Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price/Amount of Registration Fee (1)(2)
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock, no par value
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
Warrants

(1)

There is being registered hereunder such indeterminate number or amount of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock and warrants as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder or other securities.

(2)	In reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act, the Registrant hereby defers payment of the registration fee required in connection with this Registration Statement.

Prospectus

LOGO

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Warrants

We may issue and sell from time to time securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus contains summaries of the general terms of the securities. At the time of each offering, we will provide the specific terms of the offering and the securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ATW.”

Investing in our securities involves risks. Please carefully review the information under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 3. In addition, risks associated with any investment in our securities may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as described in “Risk Factors.”

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is February 22, 2016.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page
About This Prospectus		2
About Atwood Oceanics, Inc.		3
Risk Factors		3
Forward-Looking Statements		3
Use of Proceeds		4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		5
Description of Debt Securities		5
Description of Capital Stock		14
Description of Warrants		18
Plan of Distribution		18
Legal Matters		20
Experts		20
Where You Can Find More Information		20

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell the offered securities. You should assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus and that the information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date the respective information was filed with the SEC. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

ABOUT ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

We are a global offshore drilling contractor engaged in the drilling and completion of exploratory and developmental offshore oil and gas wells. We were founded in 1968 and are headquartered in Houston, Texas with support offices in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Our executive offices are located at 15011 Katy Freeway, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77094, and our telephone number is (281) 749-7800.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the SEC referred to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus that are incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference.

If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be adversely affected. You could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to that offering in the prospectus supplement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements included in this prospectus, including the information we incorporate by reference, regarding future financial performance, capital sources and results of operations and other statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Such statements are those concerning strategic plans, expectations and objectives for future operations and performance. When used in this prospectus, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “could,” “should,” “may,” or similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements.

Such statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are beyond our ability to control, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” above and in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the following:

•

prices of oil and natural gas and industry expectations about future prices;

•

market conditions and level of activity in the drilling industry and the global economy in general;

•

the level of capital expenditures by our customers;

•

the termination, renegotiation or repudiation of contracts or payment delays by our customers;

•

the operational risks involved in drilling for oil and gas;

•

the highly competitive and volatile nature of our business;

•

our ability to enter into, and the terms of, future drilling contracts, including contracts for our newbuild units, for rigs currently idled and for rigs whose contracts are expiring;

•

the impact of governmental or industry regulation, both in the United States and internationally;

•

the risks of and disruptions to international operations, including political instability and the impact of terrorist acts, acts of piracy, embargoes, war or other military operations;

•

our ability to obtain and retain qualified personnel to operate our vessels;

•

unplanned downtime and repairs on our rigs;

•

timely access to spare parts, equipment and personnel to maintain and service our fleet;

•

customer requirements for drilling capacity and customer drilling plans;

•

the adequacy of sources of liquidity for us and for our customers;

•

changes in tax laws, treaties and regulations; and

•

the risks involved in the construction, upgrade, and repair of our drilling units.

Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are applicable only on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we inform you otherwise in an applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by us under this prospectus for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include:

•

capital expenditures;

•

acquisitions;

•

working capital; and

•

repayment, refinancing or redemption of indebtedness or other securities.

Pending any specific application, we may initially invest funds in short-term marketable securities or apply them to the reduction of short-term indebtedness.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The table below sets forth our ratios of earnings to fixed charges on a consolidated basis for each of the periods indicated:

Three
Months
Ended
December 31,
2015

Years Ended September 30,

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

2.9x

7.1x

6.1x

7.4x

4.4x

25.8x

For purposes of this table, “earnings” consists of income before income taxes plus fixed charges and less capitalized interest. “Fixed charges” consists of interest expense and capitalized interest. We had no preferred stock outstanding for any period presented, and accordingly, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our general unsecured obligations. We will issue senior debt securities under an indenture, dated as of January 18, 2012, between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the senior indenture. We will issue subordinated debt securities under an indenture to be entered into between us and a trustee we will name in the prospectus supplement relating to subordinated debt securities. We refer to this indenture as the subordinated indenture. We refer to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture collectively as the indentures. The indentures will be substantially identical, except for provisions relating to subordination.

We have summarized material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities below. This summary is not complete. We have filed the senior indenture and the form of subordinated indenture with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement, and you should read the indentures for provisions that may be important to you. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information.”

In this summary description of the debt securities, unless we state otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise, all references to “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Atwood Oceanics, Inc. only and not to any of its subsidiaries.

General

Neither indenture limits the amount of debt securities that may be issued under that indenture, and neither limits the amount of other unsecured debt or securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities under the indentures from time to time in one or more series, each in an amount authorized prior to issuance. Our 6.50% Senior Notes due 2020 are currently outstanding under the senior indenture, and no securities are outstanding under the subordinated indenture.

The senior debt securities will constitute our senior unsecured indebtedness and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt and senior in right of payment to all of our subordinated indebtedness. The senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated to, and thus have a junior position to, our secured indebtedness with respect to the assets securing that indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities will rank junior to all of our senior indebtedness and may rank equally with or senior to other subordinated indebtedness we may issue from time to time.

We currently conduct our operations through both U.S. and foreign subsidiaries, and our operating income and cash flow are generated by our subsidiaries. As a result, cash we obtain from our subsidiaries is the principal source of funds necessary to meet our debt service obligations. Contractual provisions or laws, as well as our subsidiaries’ financial condition and operating requirements, may limit our ability to obtain cash from our

subsidiaries that we require to pay our debt service obligations, including payments on the debt securities. In addition, holders of the debt securities will have a junior position to the claims of creditors, including trade creditors and tort claimants, of our subsidiaries on their assets and earnings.

Neither indenture contains any covenants or other provisions designed to protect holders of the debt securities in the event we participate in a highly leveraged transaction or upon a change of control. The indentures also do not contain provisions that give holders of the debt securities the right to require us to repurchase their securities in the event of a decline in our credit rating for any reason, including as a result of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or otherwise.

Terms

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

•

whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt securities;

•

the price at which we will issue the debt securities;

•

the title of the debt securities;

•

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

•

whether we will issue the debt securities in individual certificates to each holder or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of holders;

•

the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities will be payable;

•

any interest rate, the date from which interest will accrue, interest payment dates and record dates for interest payments;

•

whether and under what circumstances we will pay any additional amounts with respect to the debt securities;

•

the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable;

•

any provisions for optional redemption or early repayment;

•

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities;

•

the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities if other than $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;

•

whether payments on the debt securities will be payable in foreign currency or currency unit or another form and whether payments will be payable by reference to any index or formula;

•

the portion of the principal amount of debt securities that will be payable if the maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount;

•

any additional means of defeasance of the debt securities, any additional conditions or limitations to defeasance of the debt securities or any changes to those conditions or limitations;

•

any changes or additions to the events of default or covenants described in this prospectus;

•

any restrictions or other provisions relating to the transfer or exchange of debt securities;

•

any terms for the conversion or exchange of the debt securities for other securities;

•

with respect to the subordinated indenture, any changes to the subordination provisions for the subordinated debt securities; and

•

any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the applicable indenture.

We may sell the debt securities at a discount, which may be substantial, below their stated principal amount. These debt securities may bear no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates. If we sell these debt securities, we will describe in the prospectus supplement any material United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations.

If we sell any of the debt securities for any foreign currency or currency unit or if payments on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, we will describe in the prospectus supplement the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information relating to those debt securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.

Subordination

Under the subordinated indenture, payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt (as defined below). Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we may not make any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on the subordinated debt securities if:

•

we fail to pay the principal, interest, premium or any other amounts on any Senior Debt when due; or

•

we default in performing any other covenant (a “covenant default”) on any Senior Debt that we have designated if the covenant default allows the holders of that Senior Debt to accelerate the maturity of the Senior Debt they hold.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, a covenant default will prevent us from paying the subordinated debt securities only for up to 179 days after holders of the designated Senior Debt give the trustee for the subordinated debt securities notice of the covenant default.

The subordination does not affect our obligation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay, when due, the principal of and any premium and interest on the subordinated debt securities. In addition, the subordination does not prevent the occurrence of any default under the subordinated indenture.

The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Debt that we may incur. As a result of the subordination of the subordinated debt securities, if we become insolvent, holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less on a proportionate basis than other creditors.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, “Senior Debt” will mean all of our indebtedness, including guarantees, unless the indebtedness states that it is not senior to the subordinated debt securities or our other junior debt. Senior Debt with respect to a series of subordinated debt securities could include other series of debt securities issued under the subordinated indenture.

Consolidation, Merger and Sales of Assets

The indentures generally permit a consolidation or merger involving us. They also permit us to sell, lease, convey, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. We have agreed, however, that we will not consolidate with or merge into any entity or sell, lease, convey, assign, transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any entity unless:

(1)

either

•

we are the continuing entity, or

•

the resulting entity is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, any of the Channel Islands, any member of the European Union (as constituted on the date of the indenture) or any other member of the European Union that

becomes a member after that date, the Netherlands Antilles or any state, province or political subdivision of the foregoing, and assumes by a supplemental indenture the due and punctual payments on the debt securities and the performance of our covenants and obligations under the indentures,

(2)

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default under the indentures has occurred and is continuing or would result from the transaction,

(3)

in the case of the second bullet point under clause (1) above, in the event that the resulting entity is organized in a jurisdiction (other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia) that is different from the jurisdiction in which the obligor on the debt securities was organized immediately before giving effect to the transaction:

•

such resulting entity delivers to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that the obligations of the resulting entity under the applicable indenture are enforceable under the laws of the new jurisdiction of its formation subject to customary exceptions and

•

the resulting entity agrees in writing to submit to New York jurisdiction and appoints an agent for the service of process in New York, each under terms satisfactory to the trustee.

This covenant will not apply to any merger of another entity into us. Upon any transaction of the type described in and effected in accordance with this section, the resulting entity will succeed to and be substituted for us and may exercise all of our rights and powers under the applicable indenture and the debt securities with the same effect as if the resulting entity had been named as us in the indenture. In the case of any asset transfer or disposition other than a lease, when the resulting entity assumes all of our obligations and covenants under the applicable indenture and the debt securities, we will be relieved of all such obligations.

Events of Default

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default with respect to a series of debt securities:

•

our failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days when due;

•

our failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

•

our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for 30 days when due;

•

our failure to comply with any covenant or agreement in that series of debt securities or the applicable indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of other series of debt securities) for 90 days after written notice by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under that indenture that are affected by that failure;

•

specified events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us; and

•

any other event of default provided for that series of debt securities.

A default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default under any other series. If a default or event of default for any series of debt securities occurs, is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee will notify the holders of applicable debt securities within 90 days after it occurs. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any default or event of default, except in any payment on the debt securities, if the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders of those debt securities.

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the default (or, in

some cases, 25% in principal amount of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may declare the principal of and all accrued and unpaid interest on those debt securities to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the debt securities issued under the applicable indenture will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the trustee or any holder. At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the default (or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may in some cases rescind this accelerated payment requirement and its consequences.

A holder of a debt security of any series issued under an indenture may pursue any remedy under that indenture only if:

•

the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

•

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy;

•

the holders offer to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

•

the trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and offer of security or indemnity; and

•

during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

This provision does not, however, affect the right of a holder of a debt security to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment.

In most cases, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless those holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it. Subject to this provision for security or indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series (or of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) generally may direct the time, method and place of:

•

conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or

•

exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee relating to or arising as a result of an event of default.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of his own affairs.

The indentures require us to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to our performance of certain of our obligations under the indentures and as to any default in performance.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may supplement or amend each indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under that indenture that are affected by the amendment or supplement (voting as one class). Without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected, however, no modification may:

•

reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

•

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the debt security;

•

reduce the principal of the debt security or change its stated maturity;

•

reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the debt security or change the time at which the debt security may or must be redeemed;

•

change any obligation to pay additional amounts on the debt security;

•

make payments on the debt security payable in currency other than as originally stated in the debt security;

•

impair the holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the debt security;

•

make any change in the percentage of principal amount of debt securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to make any change in the provision related to modification;

•

with respect to the subordinated indenture, modify the provisions relating to the subordination of any subordinated debt security in a manner adverse to the holder of that security;

•

waive a continuing default or event of default regarding any payment on the debt securities; or

•

if applicable, make any change that materially and adversely affects the right to convert any debt security.

We and the trustee may supplement or amend each indenture or waive any provision of that indenture without the consent of any holders of debt securities issued under that indenture in certain circumstances, including:

•

to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

•

to provide for the assumption of our obligations under the indenture by a successor upon any merger, consolidation or asset transfer permitted under the indenture;

•

to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities or to provide for bearer debt securities;

•

to provide any security for, or to add any guarantees of or obligors on, any series of debt securities;

•

to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of that indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939;

•

to add covenants that would benefit the holders of any debt securities or to surrender any rights we have under the indenture;

•

to add events of default with respect to any series of debt securities;

•

to make any change that does not adversely affect any outstanding debt securities of any series issued under that indenture in any material respect; and

•

to establish the form or terms of any debt securities and to accept the appointment of a successor trustee, each as permitted under the indenture.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may waive any existing or past default or event of default with respect to those debt securities. Those holders may not, however, waive any default or event of default in any payment on any debt security or compliance with a provision that cannot be amended or supplemented without the consent of each holder affected.

Defeasance and Discharge

Defeasance. When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under an indenture. If we deposit with the trustee under an indenture any combination of money or government securities sufficient to make payments on the debt securities of a series issued under that indenture on the dates those payments are due, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:

•

we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series (“legal defeasance”); or

•

we will no longer have any obligation to comply with specified restrictive covenants with respect to the debt securities of that series, the covenant described under “—Consolidation, Merger and Sales of Assets” and other specified covenants under the applicable indenture, and the related events of default will no longer apply (“covenant defeasance”).

If a series of debt securities is defeased, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not be entitled to the benefits of the applicable indenture, except for obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities or maintain paying agencies and hold money for payment in trust. In the case of covenant defeasance, our obligation to pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities will also survive.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that the holders would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related defeasance had not occurred. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.

Under current U.S. federal income tax law, legal defeasance would likely be treated as a taxable exchange of debt securities to be defeased for interests in the defeasance trust. As a consequence, a U.S. holder would recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder’s cost or other tax basis for the debt securities and the value of the holder’s interest in the defeasance trust, and thereafter would be required to include in income a share of the income, gain or loss of the defeasance trust. Under current U.S. federal income tax law, covenant defeasance would not be treated as a taxable exchange of such debt securities.

Satisfaction and Discharge. In addition, an indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of a series issued under that indenture, subject to exceptions relating to compensation and indemnity of the trustee under that indenture and repayment to us of excess money or government securities, when:

•

either

•

all outstanding debt securities of that series have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

•

all outstanding debt securities of that series not delivered to the trustee for cancellation either:

•

have become due and payable,

•

will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or

•

are to be called for redemption within one year; and

•

we have deposited with the trustee any combination of money or government securities in trust sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series when due; and

•

we have paid all other sums payable by us with respect to the debt securities of that series.

Governing Law

New York law will govern the indentures and the debt securities.

The Trustees

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the trustee under the senior indenture. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its affiliates may perform certain commercial banking services for us from time to time for which they receive customary fees. We will name the trustee under the subordinated indenture in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Each indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, if it or any of its affiliates is then our creditor, to obtain payment of claims or to realize on certain property received for any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates are permitted to engage in other transactions with us. If, however, the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate that conflict or resign within 90 days after ascertaining that it has a conflicting interest and after the occurrence of a default under the applicable indenture, unless the default has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated within the 90-day period.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we will make payments on the debt securities in U.S. dollars at the office of the trustee and any paying agent. At our option, however, payments may be made by wire transfer for global debt securities or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the security register. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment.

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the trustee under the applicable indenture will be designated as the paying agent for payments on debt securities issued under that indenture. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.

If the principal of or any premium or interest on debt securities of a series is payable on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the following business day. For these purposes, unless we inform you

otherwise in a prospectus supplement, a “business day” is any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in any of New York, New York, Houston, Texas or a place of payment on the debt securities of that series is authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying agent will pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt securities that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment. In that case, all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.

Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities in registered form, without interest coupons. Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations in accordance with the applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent designated by us. The security registrar or transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange if its requirements and the requirements of the applicable indenture are met. We will not charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities. We may, however, require payment of any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable for that registration.

We will appoint the trustee as security registrar for the debt securities. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents we initially designate, we may at any time rescind that designation or approve a change in the

location through which any transfer agent acts. We are required to maintain an office or agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.

In the case of any redemption of debt securities of a series or any repurchase of debt securities of a series required under the terms of the series, we will not be required to register the transfer or exchange of:

•

any debt security of that series during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or repurchase and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of such notice; or

•

any debt security of that series that has been called for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.

Book-Entry Debt Securities

We may issue the debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global debt securities that would be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the prospectus supplement. We may issue global debt securities in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe in the prospectus supplement the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global debt security.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Our authorized capital stock consists of 180 million shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and one million shares of preferred stock, no par value. The following describes our common stock, preferred stock, amended and restated certificate of formation and bylaws. This description is a summary only. We encourage you to read the complete text of our certificate of formation and bylaws, which we have filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. References to “shareholders” in this section refer to holders of our common stock, unless the context otherwise requires.

Common Stock

Our shareholders are entitled to one vote per share with respect to each matter submitted to a vote of our shareholders, subject to voting rights of shares of our preferred stock, if any.

Our shareholders have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors if the shareholder gives notice in writing to our secretary on or before the day preceding the election at which the shareholder intends to cumulate votes. In such case, the shareholder has the right to cumulate votes and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected, multiplied by the number of votes to which the shareholder is entitled, or to distribute votes on the same principle among as many candidates for directors as the shareholder thinks fit.

Our common stock carries no preemptive or other subscription rights to purchase shares of our stock and is not convertible, redeemable or assessable or entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund. Our shareholders are entitled to dividends in the amounts and at the times declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends.

If we are liquidated, dissolved or wound up, our shareholders will share pro rata in our assets after satisfaction of all of our liabilities and the prior rights of any outstanding class of preferred stock.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without shareholder approval, to issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series and to fix the number of shares and terms of each series. The board may determine the designation and other terms of each series, including, among others:

•

dividend rights;

•

conversion rights;

•

rights and terms of redemption, including sinking fund provisions;

•

redemption price or prices;

•

liquidation preferences;

•

conversion privileges; and

•

voting rights.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering and the name of any transfer agent for that series. We will file the form of the preferred stock with the SEC before we issue any of it, and you should read it for provisions that may be important to you. The prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following terms:

•

the title of the preferred stock;

•

the maximum number of shares of the series;

•

the dividend rate or the method of calculating the dividend, the date from which dividends will accrue and whether dividends will be cumulative;

•

any terms for the conversion or exchange of the preferred stock for other securities of us or any other entity;

•

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem or purchase the preferred stock;

•

any redemption provisions;

•

any liquidation preference;

•

any voting rights; and

•

any other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights or any qualifications, limitations or restrictions on the rights of the shares.

The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could reduce the relative voting power of holders of common stock. It also could affect the likelihood that holders of common stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.

Anti-Takeover Provisions of Our Certificate of Formation and Bylaws

Our certificate of formation and bylaws contain provisions that could delay or make more difficult the acquisition of control of our company through a hostile tender offer, open market purchases, proxy contest, merger or other takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider to be in his or her best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our common stock.

Authorized but Unissued Stock

We have 180 million authorized shares of common stock and one million authorized shares of preferred stock. One of the consequences of our authorized but unissued common stock and undesignated preferred stock may be to enable the board of directors to make more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company. If, in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors determined that a takeover proposal was not in our best interest, the board could authorize the issuance of some or all of those shares without shareholder approval. The shares could be issued in one or more transactions that might prevent or make the completion of a proposed change of control transaction more difficult or costly by:

•

diluting the voting or other rights of the proposed acquiror or insurgent shareholder group;

•

creating a substantial voting block in institutional or other hands that might undertake to support the position of the incumbent board; or

•

effecting an acquisition using shares as consideration that might complicate or preclude the takeover.

In this regard, our certificate of formation grants our board of directors broad power to establish the rights and preferences of any authorized and unissued series of preferred stock. Our board could establish one or more series of preferred stock that entitle holders to, among other things:

•

vote separately as a class on any proposed merger or consolidation;

•

cast a proportionately larger vote together with the common stock on any transaction or for all purposes;

•

elect directors having terms of office or voting rights greater than those of other directors;

•

convert preferred stock into a greater number of shares of the common stock or other securities;

•

demand redemption at a specified price under prescribed circumstances related to a change of control of us; or

•

exercise other rights designed to impede a takeover.

In addition, the number of authorized shares of preferred stock or common stock may be increased by the approval of our board of directors and the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such action.

Shareholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Shareholders

Our bylaws provides that action that is required or permitted to be taken by our shareholders at any annual or special meeting may be taken by unanimous written consent of shareholders in lieu of a meeting and that special meetings of shareholders may be called only by the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the president or the holders of not less than 10% of all the shares of our capital stock entitled to vote at the meeting.

Amendment of the Bylaws

Under Texas law and pursuant to our certificate of formation and bylaws, the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws is conferred upon both our shareholders and our board of directors.

Election and Removal of Directors

Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a two-thirds majority of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock entitled to vote in the election of directors. A vacancy on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even though such directors may represent less than a quorum of the board of directors. A director elected to fill a vacancy is elected for the unexpired term of this predecessor in office and until his successor is elected and qualified. The number of directors on the board generally will be fixed exclusively by, and may be increased or decreased exclusively by, the board of directors. Our bylaws provide that the number of directors will not be more than nine or less than six.

Shareholder Proposals and Directors Nominations

Our bylaws set forth the procedures for presenting a shareholder proposal, other than the nomination of directors, at an annual meeting of the shareholders. For shareholder proposals to be properly brought before an annual meeting, (i) the shareholder bringing such proposal must be a shareholder of record at the time of giving notice of such proposal and be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (ii) the proposal must comply with the advance notice procedures set forth in the bylaws. To be timely, such shareholder’s notice generally must be delivered to the our secretary at our principal executive offices not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary of the previous annual meeting.

Our bylaws also set forth the procedures for shareholder nominations in director elections. For shareholder nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting or a special meeting at which directors are to be elected, the shareholder making such nomination must be a shareholder of record at the time of giving notice of such nomination and be entitled to vote at the meeting and the proposal must comply with the advance notice procedures set forth in the bylaws. To be timely with respect to an annual meeting, such shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, our principal executive offices not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the annual meeting date of the immediately preceding annual meeting. To be timely with respect to a special

meeting, such shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, our principal executive offices not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the scheduled special meeting date; provided, however, that if less than 100 days’ prior notice or public disclosure of the scheduled meeting date is given or made, notice by such shareholder, to be timely, must be so delivered or received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which the notice of such meeting was mailed to shareholders or the day on which such public disclosure was made.

These provisions may limit the ability of shareholders to bring business before a shareholders’ meeting, including the nomination of directors and the consideration of any transaction that could result in a change of control and a premium to our shareholders.

Limitation of Liability of Directors

Our directors will not be liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for an act or omission in the director’s capacity as director, except for liability for:

•

a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders;

•

an act or omission not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

•

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the director’s office; or

•

an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly provided for by Texas law.

If Texas law is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of directors’ liability, then the liability of our directors will automatically be limited to the fullest extent provided by law. Our bylaws also contain provisions to indemnify directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers.

These provisions and agreements may have the practical effect in certain cases of eliminating the ability of shareholders to collect monetary damages from directors and officers.

Texas Anti-Takeover Law

We are subject to Section 21.606 of the Texas Business Organizations Code. That section prohibits Texas corporations from engaging in a wide range of specified transactions with any affiliated shareholder during the three-year period immediately following the affiliated shareholder’s acquisition of shares in the absence of certain board of director or shareholder approvals. An affiliated shareholder of a corporation is any person, other than the corporation and any of its wholly owned subsidiaries, that is or was within the preceding three-year period the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Section 21.606 may make it more difficult for a person who would be an affiliated shareholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

Market Information

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ATW.”

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase any combination of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities of our company or any other entity. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we are offering will include specific terms relating to the offering. We will file the form of any warrant agreement with the SEC, and you should read the warrant agreement for provisions that may be important to you. The prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following terms:

•

the title of the warrants;

•

the aggregate number of warrants offered;

•

the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

•

the exercise price of the warrants;

•

the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

•

the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued;

•

if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

•

if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

•

any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; and

•

any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities on a delayed or continuous basis in and outside the United States through underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time, directly to purchasers, through agents or through a combination of these methods.

Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers

If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.

If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The dealers participating in any sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents

We may sell the securities directly. In that event, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time. In the prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable by us to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Remarketing

We may offer and sell any of the securities in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment by their terms or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms acting as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. We will identify any remarketing firm, the terms of any remarketing agreement and the compensation to be paid to the remarketing firm in the prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act.

Derivative Transactions

We 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 parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in these sale transactions will be underwriters and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

General Information

We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Any underwriters will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a Web site that contains information we file electronically with the SEC, which you can access over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. You can obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities we may offer. As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we file with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement, the exhibits and the schedules for more information about us and our securities. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC’s public reference room or through its Web site.

We are incorporating by reference information we file with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC automatically will update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until the termination of the offering:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on November 12, 2015;

•

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 3, 2016; and

•

the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on July 2, 1997, as that description may be updated from time to time.

You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to these filings unless we have specifically incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

15011 Katy Freeway, Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77094

Attention: Investor Relations Department

Telephone: (281) 749-7800

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses payable by Atwood Oceanics, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offering described in this Registration Statement.


Registration fee		*
Printing expenses		†
Accounting fees and expenses		†
Legal fees and expenses		†
Trustee fees and expenses		†
Rating agency fees		†
Miscellaneous		†

Total		†

*	Applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) registration fees have been deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and are not estimable at this time.

†

Estimated expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that the Company anticipates it will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this Registration Statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 4.3 of the By-laws (the “By-laws”) of the Company provides that the Company shall indemnify and advance expenses to directors and officers of the Company to the maximum extent permissible under the Texas Business Organization Code (the “TBOC”).

Article VII of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation of the Company dated as of February 14, 2013 (the “Certificate of Formation”) precludes any personal liability by a director to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for an act or omission in the director’s capacity as a director, except for liability for (i) a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its shareholders, (ii) an act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, (iii) a transaction from which the director received an improper benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the director’s office, or (iv) an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly provided for by statute. Article VII also provides that, if the TBOC is later amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting personal liability of directors, the liability of directors shall be further eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by TBOC.

While Article VII of the Certificate of Formation provides directors with protection from awards of monetary damages for breaches of the duty of care, it does not eliminate each director’s duty of care. Accordingly, Article VII has no effect on the availability of an equitable remedy such as an injunction or rescission based upon a director’s breach of the duty of care. In addition, Article VII applies only to claims against the director arising out of his or her role as a director, and does not apply to the director’s role as an officer or in any capacity other than that of a director or to the director’s responsibilities under other law, such as the federal securities laws. Article VII relates only to liabilities of directors to the Company and its shareholders, and does not affect liability to third parties.

II-1

Title 1, Chapter 8 of the TBOC and Section 4.7 of the By-laws provide the Company with broad powers and authority to indemnify its directors and officers and to purchase and maintain insurance for such purposes. Pursuant to such provisions, the Company has purchased insurance against certain costs of indemnification that may be incurred by the Company and by its officers and directors.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain of its officers. The indemnification agreements provide that the Company will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify an indemnitee that, by reason of the fact that the indemnitee is or was a director or officer or serving in another specified capacity at the Company’s request, is or is threatened to be made a party to or a participant in any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceeding (other than proceedings by or in the right of the Company) against all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in connection with any such proceeding. The indemnification agreements also provide that the Company will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, advance to an indemnitee reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding to which he is a party and is successful on the merits or otherwise. The rights provided by the indemnification agreement are in addition to any other rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses to which the indemnitee may be entitled under applicable law or the By-laws.

Item 16.

Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index.

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;

(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) of the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

(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) 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 of 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, 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 to any purchaser:

(A)

Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the Registration Statement; and

(B)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the securities in the Registration Statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. 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 effective date, 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 effective date.

(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to the Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

(b)

The undersigned Registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s

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annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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 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 Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the Subordinated Trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

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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 February 22, 2016.


ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

By:		/s/ Robert J. Saltiel
		Robert J. Saltiel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below appoints Robert J. Saltiel, Mark W. Smith and Walter A. Baker, and each of them severally, each of whom may act without the joinder of the others, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully and for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on February 22, 2016.


/s/ Robert J. Saltiel Robert J. Saltiel		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Mark W. Smith Mark W. Smith		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Deborah A. Beck Deborah A. Beck		Director

/s/ George S. Dotson George S. Dotson		Director

/s/ Jack E. Golden Jack E. Golden		Director

/s/ Hans Helmerich Hans Helmerich		Director

/s/ Jeffrey A. Miller Jeffrey A. Miller		Director

/s/ James R. Montague James R. Montague		Director

/s/ Phil D. Wedemeyer Phil D. Wedemeyer		Director

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS†


Exhibit No.		Description of Exhibit

*3.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation effective as of February 14, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Atwood Oceanics, Inc.’s Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2013).

*3.2		Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation dated February 19, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Atwood Oceanics, Inc.’s Form 8-K filed on February 21, 2014).

*3.3		By-laws of Atwood Oceanics, Inc. effective as of March 7, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Atwood Oceanics, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2013).

*4.1		Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2012, between Atwood Oceanics, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Senior Trustee”), relating to senior debt securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Atwood Oceanics, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011).

*4.2		Form of Indenture between Atwood Oceanics, Inc. and the trustee thereunder (the “Subordinated Trustee”), relating to subordinated debt securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Atwood Oceanics, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-187112).

*4.3		Form of Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to Atwood Oceanics, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 33-39993).

5.1		Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities.

12.1		Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

23.1		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.2		Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1		Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page herein).

25.1		Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Senior Trustee on Form T-1.

†

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. will file as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K (i) any underwriting, remarketing or agency agreement relating to securities offered hereby, (ii) the instruments setting forth the terms of any debt securities, preferred stock or warrants, (iii) any additional required opinions of counsel with respect to legality of the securities offered hereby, (iv) any required opinion of counsel to Atwood Oceanics, Inc. as to certain tax matters relative to securities offered hereby and (v) the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Subordinated Trustee on Form T-1.

*	Incorporated by reference as indicated.

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Smaller reporting company