UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________________
FORM 10‑Q
(Mark one)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015
 
OR

      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____

______________________________

Commission file number 000‑53533

TRANSOCEAN LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Zug, Switzerland
98‑0599916
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
10 Chemin de Blandonnet
Vernier, Switzerland
1214
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
   
+41 (22) 930‑9000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
   

______________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.Yes    No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S‑T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).Yes    No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non‑accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer     Accelerated filer     Non‑accelerated filer (do not check if a smaller reporting company)     Smaller reporting company 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes    No 

As of October 26, 2015, 363,735,543 shares were outstanding.
 



TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FORM 10‑Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

 
Page
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 



PART I.              FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended September 30,
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Operating revenues
               
Contract drilling revenues
 
$
1,569
   
$
2,215
   
$
5,346
   
$
6,785
 
Other revenues
   
39
     
55
     
189
     
152
 
     
1,608
     
2,270
     
5,535
     
6,937
 
Costs and expenses
                               
Operating and maintenance
   
880
     
1,318
     
2,161
     
3,800
 
Depreciation
   
210
     
288
     
750
     
849
 
General and administrative
   
45
     
52
     
135
     
172
 
     
1,135
     
1,658
     
3,046
     
4,821
 
Loss on impairment
   
(13
)
   
(2,768
)
   
(1,839
)
   
(2,833
)
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
(15
)
   
(12
)
   
(20
)
   
(14
)
Operating income (loss)
   
445
     
(2,168
)
   
630
     
(731
)
                                 
Other income (expense), net
                               
Interest income
   
5
     
6
     
17
     
31
 
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized
   
(109
)
   
(122
)
   
(345
)
   
(360
)
Other, net
   
3
     
6
     
45
     
12
 
     
(101
)
   
(110
)
   
(283
)
   
(317
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense
   
344
     
(2,278
)
   
347
     
(1,048
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
   
17
     
(16
)
   
140
     
136
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
   
327
     
(2,262
)
   
207
     
(1,184
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
   
3
     
(1
)
   
2
     
(16
)
                                 
Net income (loss)
   
330
     
(2,263
)
   
209
     
(1,200
)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
9
     
(46
)
   
29
     
(26
)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
 
$
321
   
$
(2,217
)
 
$
180
   
$
(1,174
)
                                 
Earnings (loss) per share‑basic
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
0.87
   
$
(6.12
)
 
$
0.48
   
$
(3.20
)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
   
0.01
     
     
0.01
     
(0.04
)
Earnings (loss) per share
 
$
0.88
   
$
(6.12
)
 
$
0.49
   
$
(3.24
)
                                 
Earnings (loss) per share‑diluted
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
0.87
   
$
(6.12
)
 
$
0.48
   
$
(3.20
)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
   
0.01
     
     
0.01
     
(0.04
)
Earnings (loss) per share
 
$
0.88
   
$
(6.12
)
 
$
0.49
   
$
(3.24
)
                                 
Weightedaverage shares outstanding
                               
Basic
   
364
     
362
     
363
     
362
 
Diluted
   
364
     
362
     
363
     
362
 
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
- 1 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended
September 30,
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Net income (loss)
 
$
330
   
$
(2,263
)
 
$
209
   
$
(1,200
)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
9
     
(46
)
   
29
     
(26
)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
   
321
     
(2,217
)
   
180
     
(1,174
)
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
                               
Components of net periodic benefit costs
   
33
     
(3
)
   
19
     
70
 
                                 
Reclassifications to net income
                               
Components of net periodic benefit costs
   
9
     
7
     
19
     
13
 
Gain on derivative instruments
   
     
     
     
(2
)
                                 
Other comprehensive income before income taxes
   
42
     
4
     
38
     
81
 
Income taxes related to other comprehensive income
   
     
(1
)
   
(2
)
   
(4
)
                                 
Other comprehensive income
   
42
     
3
     
36
     
77
 
Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
     
 
Other comprehensive income  attributable to controlling interest
   
42
     
3
     
36
     
77
 
                                 
Total comprehensive income (loss)
   
372
     
(2,260
)
   
245
     
(1,123
)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
9
     
(46
)
   
29
     
(26
)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
 
$
363
   
$
(2,214
)
 
$
216
   
$
(1,097
)
 

 
See accompanying notes.
 
- 2 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share data)
(Unaudited)

   
September 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
         
Assets
       
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
2,234
   
$
2,635
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
of $15 and $14 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
   
1,482
     
2,120
 
Materials and supplies, net of allowance for obsolescence
of $139 and $109 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
   
696
     
818
 
Assets held for sale
   
9
     
25
 
Deferred income taxes, net
   
99
     
161
 
Other current assets
   
386
     
242
 
Total current assets
   
4,906
     
6,001
 
                 
Property and equipment
   
25,612
     
28,516
 
Less accumulated depreciation
   
(5,260
)
   
(6,978
)
Property and equipment, net
   
20,352
     
21,538
 
Deferred income taxes, net
   
84
     
 
Other assets
   
493
     
874
 
Total assets
 
$
25,835
   
$
28,413
 
                 
Liabilities and equity
               
Accounts payable
 
$
432
   
$
784
 
Accrued income taxes
   
82
     
131
 
Debt due within one year
   
123
     
1,033
 
Other current liabilities
   
1,193
     
1,822
 
Total current liabilities
   
1,830
     
3,770
 
                 
Longterm debt
   
8,630
     
9,059
 
Deferred income taxes, net
   
172
     
237
 
Other longterm liabilities
   
1,162
     
1,354
 
Total longterm liabilities
   
9,964
     
10,650
 
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
15
     
11
 
                 
Shares, CHF 15.00 par value, 396,260,487 authorized, 167,617,649 conditionally authorized, 373,830,649 issued at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and 363,719,800 and 362,279,530 outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
   
5,189
     
5,169
 
Additional paidin capital
   
5,610
     
5,797
 
Treasury shares, at cost, 2,863,267 held at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
   
(240
)
   
(240
)
Retained earnings
   
3,529
     
3,349
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(368
)
   
(404
)
Total controlling interest shareholders' equity
   
13,720
     
13,671
 
Noncontrolling interest
   
306
     
311
 
Total equity
   
14,026
     
13,982
 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
25,835
   
$
28,413
 
 

 
See accompanying notes.
 
- 3 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

   
Nine months ended
September 30,
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
 
Shares
               
Balance, beginning of period
   
362
     
361
   
$
5,169
   
$
5,147
 
Issuance of shares under share‑based compensation plans
   
2
     
1
     
20
     
21
 
Balance, end of period
   
364
     
362
   
$
5,189
   
$
5,168
 
Additional paid‑in capital
                               
Balance, beginning of period
                 
$
5,797
   
$
6,784
 
Share‑based compensation
                   
47
     
75
 
Issuance of shares under share‑based compensation plans
                   
(20
)
   
(20
)
Reclassification of obligation for distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital
                   
(218
)
   
(1,088
)
Allocated capital for sale of noncontrolling interest
                   
9
     
33
 
Other, net
                   
(5
)
   
(9
)
Balance, end of period
                 
$
5,610
   
$
5,775
 
Treasury shares, at cost
                               
Balance, beginning of period
                 
$
(240
)
 
$
(240
)
Balance, end of period
                 
$
(240
)
 
$
(240
)
Retained earnings
                               
Balance, beginning of period
                 
$
3,349
   
$
5,262
 
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
                   
180
     
(1,174
)
Balance, end of period
                 
$
3,529
   
$
4,088
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
                               
Balance, beginning of period
                 
$
(404
)
 
$
(262
)
Other comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest
                   
36
     
77
 
Balance, end of period
                 
$
(368
)
 
$
(185
)
Total controlling interest shareholders' equity
                               
Balance, beginning of period
                 
$
13,671
   
$
16,691
 
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
                   
216
     
(1,097
)
Share‑based compensation
                   
47
     
75
 
Issuance of shares under share‑based compensation plans
                   
     
1
 
Reclassification of obligation for distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital
                   
(218
)
   
(1,088
)
Allocated capital for sale of noncontrolling interest
                   
9
     
33
 
Other, net
                   
(5
)
   
(9
)
Balance, end of period
                 
$
13,720
   
$
14,606
 
Noncontrolling interest
                               
Balance, beginning of period
                 
$
311
   
$
(6
)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
                   
25
     
(31
)
Sale of noncontrolling interest, net of issue costs
                   
     
416
 
Allocated capital for sale of noncontrolling interest
                   
(9
)
   
(33
)
Distributions to holders of noncontrolling interest
                   
(21
)
   
 
Balance, end of period
                 
$
306
   
$
346
 
Total equity
                               
Balance, beginning of period
                 
$
13,982
   
$
16,685
 
Total comprehensive income (loss)
                   
241
     
(1,128
)
Share‑based compensation
                   
47
     
75
 
Issuance of shares under share‑based compensation plans
                   
     
1
 
Reclassification of obligation for distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital
                   
(218
)
   
(1,088
)
Sale of noncontrolling interest, net of issue costs
                   
     
416
 
Distributions to holders of noncontrolling interest
                   
(21
)
   
 
Other, net
                   
(5
)
   
(9
)
Balance, end of period
                 
$
14,026
   
$
14,952
 
 
 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
- 4 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended
September 30,
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
                 
Cash flows from operating activities
               
Net income (loss)
 
$
330
   
$
(2,263
)
 
$
209
   
$
(1,200
)
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities
                               
Amortization of drilling contract intangibles
   
(4
)
   
(4
)
   
(11
)
   
(12
)
Depreciation
   
210
     
288
     
750
     
849
 
Share-based compensation expense
   
14
     
24
     
47
     
75
 
Loss on impairment
   
13
     
2,768
     
1,839
     
2,833
 
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
15
     
12
     
20
     
14
 
Loss on disposal of assets in discontinued operations, net
   
     
     
     
10
 
Deferred income taxes
   
(14
)
   
(94
)
   
(104
)
   
(134
)
Other, net
   
31
     
10
     
59
     
27
 
Changes in deferred revenues, net
   
(11
)
   
10
     
(118
)
   
80
 
Changes in deferred costs, net
   
26
     
(52
)
   
142
     
(32
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
   
38
     
183
     
(348
)
   
(856
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
648
     
882
     
2,485
     
1,654
 
                                 
Cash flows from investing activities
                               
Capital expenditures
   
(940
)
   
(365
)
   
(1,336
)
   
(1,847
)
Proceeds from disposal of assets, net
   
3
     
102
     
33
     
203
 
Proceeds from disposal of assets in discontinued operations, net
   
     
(1
)
   
3
     
35
 
Investment in loans receivable
   
     
     
     
(15
)
Proceeds from repayment of loans and notes receivable
   
     
     
15
     
101
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(937
)
   
(264
)
   
(1,285
)
   
(1,523
)
                                 
Cash flows from financing activities
                               
Repayments of debt
   
(1,237
)
   
(75
)
   
(1,306
)
   
(318
)
Proceeds from restricted cash investments
   
53
     
69
     
110
     
176
 
Deposits to restricted cash investments
   
     
     
     
(20
)
Proceeds from sale of noncontrolling interest
   
     
443
     
     
443
 
Distributions of qualifying additional paid‑in capital
   
(54
)
   
(272
)
   
(381
)
   
(746
)
Distributions to holders of noncontrolling interest
   
(7
)
   
     
(21
)
   
 
Other, net
   
(1
)
   
(27
)
   
(3
)
   
(36
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
(1,246
)
   
138
     
(1,601
)
   
(501
)
                                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
(1,535
)
   
756
     
(401
)
   
(370
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
3,769
     
2,117
     
2,635
     
3,243
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
2,234
   
$
2,873
   
$
2,234
   
$
2,873
 
 

 

See accompanying notes.
 
- 5 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Note 1—Business
Transocean Ltd. (together with its subsidiaries and predecessors, unless the context requires otherwise, "Transocean," "we," "us" or "our") is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells.  We specialize in technically demanding sectors of the offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services.  Our mobile offshore drilling fleet is considered one of the most versatile fleets in the world.  We contract our drilling rigs, related equipment and work crews predominantly on a dayrate basis to drill oil and gas wells.  At September 30, 2015, we owned or had partial ownership interests in and operated 62 mobile offshore drilling units, including 27 Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters, seven Harsh Environment Floaters, six Deepwater Floaters, 12 Midwater Floaters and 10 High‑Specification Jackups.  At September 30, 2015, we also had seven Ultra‑Deepwater drillships and five High‑Specification Jackups under construction or under contract to be constructed.  See Note 9—Drilling Fleet.
On August 5, 2014, we completed an initial public offering to sell a noncontrolling interest in Transocean Partners LLC ("Transocean Partners"), a Marshall Islands limited liability company, which was formed on February 6, 2014, by Transocean Partners Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands company and our wholly owned subsidiary, to own, operate and acquire modern, technologically advanced offshore drilling rigs.  See Note 15—Noncontrolling Interest.
Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies
Presentation—We have prepared our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S.") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10‑Q and Article 10 of Regulation S‑X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Pursuant to such rules and regulations, these financial statements do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. for complete financial statements.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods.  Such adjustments are considered to be of a normal recurring nature unless otherwise noted.  Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015 or for any future period.  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 included in our annual report on Form 10‑K filed on February 26, 2015.
Accounting estimates—To prepare financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to our allowance for doubtful accounts, materials and supplies obsolescence, assets held for sale, property and equipment, investments, income taxes, contingencies, share‑based compensation, defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefits.  We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Fair value measurements—We estimate fair value at a price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market for the asset or liability.  Our valuation techniques require inputs that we categorize using a three‑level hierarchy, from highest to lowest level of observable inputs, as follows: (1) significant observable inputs, including unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets ("Level 1"), (2) significant other observable inputs, including direct or indirect market data for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or identical assets or liabilities in less active markets ("Level 2") and (3) significant unobservable inputs, including those that require considerable judgment for which there is little or no market data ("Level 3").  When multiple input levels are required for a valuation, we categorize the entire fair value measurement according to the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement even though we may have also utilized significant inputs that are more readily observable.
Consolidation—We consolidate entities in which we have a majority voting interest and entities that meet the criteria for variable interest entities for which we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes.  We eliminate intercompany transactions and accounts in consolidation.  We apply the equity method of accounting for an investment in an entity if we have the ability to exercise significant influence over the entity that (a) does not meet the variable interest entity criteria or (b) meets the variable interest entity criteria, but for which we are not deemed to be the primary beneficiary.  We apply the cost method of accounting for an investment in an entity if we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the unconsolidated entity.  We separately present within equity on our condensed consolidated balance sheets the ownership interests attributable to parties with noncontrolling interests in our consolidated subsidiaries, and we separately present net income attributable to such parties on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.  See Note 4—Variable Interest Entities and Note 15—Noncontrolling Interest.
 
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TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Property and equipment—The carrying amounts of our property and equipment, consisting primarily of offshore drilling rigs and related equipment, are based on our estimates, assumptions and judgments relative to capitalized costs, useful lives and salvage values of our rigs.  These estimates, assumptions and judgments reflect both historical experience and expectations regarding future industry conditions and operations.  At September 30, 2015, the aggregate carrying amount of our property and equipment represented approximately 79 percent of our total assets.
We compute depreciation using the straight‑line method after allowing for salvage values.  In December 2014, we reduced the salvage values of certain drilling units due to existing market conditions.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, this change in estimate resulted in increased depreciation expense of $4 million ($4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, net of tax) and $48 million ($45 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, net of tax), respectively.  For the year ending December 31, 2015, we expect this change in estimate to result in increased depreciation expense of approximately $51 million ($48 million, net of tax).
Sharebased compensation—In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized share‑based compensation expense of $14 million and $47 million, respectively.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized share‑based compensation expense of $24 million and $75 million, respectively.
Capitalized interest—We capitalize interest costs for qualifying construction and upgrade projects.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we capitalized interest costs on construction work in progress of $36 million and $91 million, respectively.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we capitalized interest costs on construction work in progress of $33 million and $109 million, respectively.
Reclassifications—We have made certain reclassifications to prior period amounts to conform with the current period's presentation.  Such reclassifications did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Subsequent events—We evaluate subsequent events through the time of our filing on the date we issue our financial statements.  See Note 18—Subsequent Events.
Note 3—New Accounting Pronouncements
Recently adopted accounting standards
Presentation of financial statements—Effective January 1, 2015, we adopted the accounting standards update that changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations.  The update expands the disclosures for discontinued operations and requires new disclosures related to the disposal of individually significant components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations.  The update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and does not apply to components, such as our discontinued operations, that have been evaluated and reported as discontinued operations under previous guidance.  Our adoption did not have an effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements or the disclosures contained in our notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Recently issued accounting standards
Interest—Effective January 1, 2016, we will adopt the accounting standards update that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts.  The update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of the debt issue costs related to our recognized debt liabilities was $35 million and $42 million, respectively, recorded in other assets.  We do not expect that our adoption will have a material effect on our condensed consolidated balance sheets or the disclosures contained in our notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Presentation of financial statementsEffective with our annual report for the period ending December 31, 2016, we will adopt the accounting standards update that requires us to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.  The update is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016 and for interim and annual periods thereafter.  We do not expect that our adoption will have a material effect on the disclosures contained in our notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Revenue from contracts with customers—Effective January 1, 2018, we will adopt the accounting standards update that requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  The update was originally effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016, but has since been approved for a one‑year deferral, effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017, and permits adoption as early as the original effective date.  We are evaluating the requirements to determine the effect such requirements may have on our revenue recognition policies.
 
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TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Note 4—Variable Interest Entities
Consolidated variable interest entities— Angola Deepwater Drilling Company Limited ("ADDCL"), a consolidated Cayman Islands company, and Transocean Drilling Services Offshore Inc. ("TDSOI"), a consolidated British Virgin Islands company, are variable interest entities for which we are the primary beneficiary.  Accordingly, we consolidate the operating results, assets and liabilities of ADDCL and TDSOI.  The carrying amounts associated with our consolidated variable interest entities, after eliminating the effect of intercompany transactions, were as follows (in millions):
   
September 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
Assets
 
$
1,274
   
$
1,257
 
Liabilities
   
54
     
74
 
Net carrying amount
 
$
1,220
   
$
1,183
 

Note 5—Impairments
Assets held and used—During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we identified indicators that the asset groups in our contract drilling services reporting unit may not be recoverable.  Such indicators included a reduction in the number of new contract opportunities, recent low dayrate fixtures and contract terminations.  Our Deepwater Floater asset group, in particular, experienced further declines in projected dayrates and utilization partly caused by more technologically advanced drilling units aggressively competing with less capable drilling units.  During the three months ended June 30, 2015, we identified additional indicators that the asset groups in our contract drilling services reporting unit may not be recoverable.  Such indicators included additional customer suspensions of drilling programs and cancellations of contracts, further reduction in the number of new contract opportunities, resulting in reduced dayrate fixtures.  Our Midwater Floater asset group, specifically, experienced further declines in projected dayrates and utilization as drilling activity has sharply declined in the United Kingdom ("U.K.") and Norwegian North Sea, which has accelerated the marginalization of some of the less capable drilling units in this asset group.  As a result of our testing, we determined that the carrying amounts of the Deepwater Floater and the Midwater Floater asset groups were impaired.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a loss of $507 million ($481 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, net of tax) and $668 million ($654 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, net of tax), associated with the impairment of the Deepwater Floater asset group and the Midwater Floater asset group, respectively, including a loss of $52 million associated with construction in progress.  In each case, we measured the fair value of the asset group by applying a combination of income and cost approaches, using projected discounted cash flows and estimates of the exchange price that would be received for the assets in the principal or most advantageous market for the assets in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date.  Our estimates of fair value required us to use significant unobservable inputs, representative of a Level 3 fair value measurement, including assumptions related to the future performance of our contract drilling services reporting unit, such as future commodity prices, projected demand for our services, rig availability and dayrates.
During the three months ended September 30, 2014, we identified indicators that the asset groups in our contract drilling services reporting unit may be impaired as a result of market developments, including lower dayrate fixtures, partly caused by more technologically advanced drilling units competing with less capable drilling units, and projected declines in dayrates and utilization, particularly for the Deepwater Floater asset group.  We conducted testing for impairment, and as a result, we determined that the carrying amount of the Deepwater Floater asset group exceeded its fair value.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized a loss of $788 million ($693 million, or $1.91 per diluted share from continuing operations, net of tax) associated with the impairment of these held and used assets.  We measured the fair value of the asset group by applying a combination of income, market and cost approaches, using projected discounted cash flows and estimates of the exchange price that would be received for the assets in the principal or most advantageous market for the assets in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date.  Our estimate of fair value required us to use significant unobservable inputs, representative of a Level 3 fair value measurement, including assumptions related to the future performance of our contract drilling services reporting unit, such as future commodity prices, projected demand for our services, rig availability and dayrates.
If we experience increasingly unfavorable changes to actual or anticipated dayrates or other impairment indicators, or if we are unable to secure new or extended contracts for our active units or the reactivation of any of our stacked units, we may be required to recognize additional losses in future periods as a result of impairments of the carrying amount of one or more of our asset groups.
Assets held for sale—In the three months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized an aggregate loss of $13 million ($0.03 per diluted share), which had no tax effect, associated with the impairment of the Midwater Floater GSF Rig 135 along with related equipment, which was classified as held for sale at the time of impairment.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized an aggregate loss of $664 million ($550 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, net of tax), associated with the impairment of the Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters Deepwater Expedition and GSF Explorer, the Deepwater Floaters GSF Celtic Sea, Sedco 707 and Transocean Rather and the Midwater Floaters, GSF Aleutian Key, GSF Arctic III, GSF Rig 135, Transocean Amirante and Transocean Legend, along with related equipment, which were classified as assets held for sale at the time of impairment.  We measured the impairment of the drilling units and related equipment as the amount by which the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value less costs to sell.  We estimated the fair value of the assets using significant other observable inputs, representative of Level 2 fair value measurements, including indicative market values for the drilling units and related equipment to be sold for scrap value.
 
- 8 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized an aggregate loss of $7 million ($0.02 per diluted share) and $72 million ($0.20 per diluted share), respectively, which had no tax effect, associated with the impairment of the Deepwater Floater Sedco 709, the Midwater Floaters C. Kirk Rhein, Jr., Sedco 703 and Sedneth 701 and the High‑Specification Jackups GSF Magellan and GSF Monitor, along with related equipment, which were classified as assets held for sale at the time of impairment.  We measured the impairments of the drilling units and related equipment as the amount by which the carrying amount exceeded the estimated fair value less costs to sell.  We estimated the fair value of the assets using significant other observable inputs, representative of Level 2 fair value measurements, including a binding sale and purchase agreement for the drilling unit and related equipment or indicative market values for the drilling unit and related equipment to be sold for scrap value.
If we commit to plans to sell additional rigs for values below the respective carrying amounts, we may be required to recognize additional losses in future periods associated with the impairment of such assets.
Goodwill—During the three months ended September 30, 2014, we noted rapid and significant declines in the market value of our stock, oil and natural gas prices and the actual and projected declines in dayrates and utilization.  We identified these as indicators that the fair value of our goodwill could have fallen below its carrying amount.  As a result, we performed a goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2014 and determined that the goodwill associated with our contract drilling services reporting unit was impaired.  In the three months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized a loss of $2.0 billion, representing our best estimate of the loss associated with the impairment of our goodwill, which had no tax effect.  We determined that, of the $2.0 billion estimated loss, $1.9 billion was attributable to controlling interest ($5.29 per diluted share) and $52 million was attributable to noncontrolling interest.  We estimated the implied fair value of the goodwill using a variety of valuation methods, including the income and market approaches.  Our estimate of fair value required us to use significant unobservable inputs, representative of a Level 3 fair value measurement, including assumptions related to the future performance of our contract drilling services reporting unit, such as future oil and natural gas prices, projected demand for our services, rig availability and dayrates.  Subsequent to September 30, 2014, we completed the measurement of our goodwill impairment and we identified additional indicators that the remaining goodwill associated with our contract drilling services reporting unit may have again fallen below its carrying amount.  In the three months ended December 31, 2014, we recognized an incremental loss of $1.0 billion, which had no tax effect, associated with the impairment of our then remaining goodwill.
Note 6—Income Taxes
Tax rate—Transocean Ltd., a holding company and Swiss resident, is exempt from cantonal and communal income tax in Switzerland, but is subject to Swiss federal income tax.  At the federal level, qualifying net dividend income and net capital gains on the sale of qualifying investments in subsidiaries are exempt from Swiss federal income tax.  Consequently, Transocean Ltd. expects dividends from its subsidiaries and capital gains from sales of investments in its subsidiaries to be exempt from Swiss federal income tax.
Our provision for income taxes is based on the tax laws and rates applicable in the jurisdictions in which we operate and earn income.  The relationship between our provision for or benefit from income taxes and our income or loss before income taxes can vary significantly from period to period considering, among other factors, (a) the overall level of income before income taxes, (b) changes in the blend of income that is taxed based on gross revenues rather than income before taxes, (c) rig movements between taxing jurisdictions and (d) our rig operating structures.  Generally, our annual marginal tax rate is lower than our annual effective tax rate.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our estimated annual effective tax rates were 18.0 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively, based on estimated annual income from continuing operations before income taxes, after excluding certain items, such as losses on impairment and gains and losses on certain asset disposals.  The tax effect, if any, of the excluded items as well as settlements of prior year tax liabilities and changes in prior year tax estimates are all treated as discrete period tax expenses or benefits.
In December 2014, the U.K. Treasury released a draft proposal that would impose tax on groups that use certain tax planning techniques that are perceived as diverting profits from the U.K.  The Diverted Profit Tax rule was included in the 2015 Finance Bill and on March 26, 2015, the legislation received Royal Assent with an effective date of April 1, 2015.  The change in the law did not affect our existing annual income tax rate or deferred tax balances.
Deferred taxes—The valuation allowance for our non‑current deferred tax assets was as follows (in millions):
   
September 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
Valuation allowance for non‑current deferred tax assets
 
$
393
   
$
340
 

The increase in the valuation allowance for our non‑current deferred tax assets was primarily related to the current net operating losses generated in Norway and the U.K. carryforward deductions related to charter payments.
 
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TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Unrecognized tax benefits—The liabilities related to our unrecognized tax benefits, including related interest and penalties that we recognize as a component of income tax expense, were as follows (in millions):
   
September 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties
 
$
273
   
$
265
 
Interest and penalties
   
118
     
120
 
Unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties
 
$
391
   
$
385
 

In the year ending December 31, 2015, it is reasonably possible that our existing liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease primarily due to the progression of open audits or the expiration of statutes of limitation.  However, we cannot reasonably estimate a range of potential changes in our existing liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits due to various uncertainties, such as the unresolved nature of various audits.
Tax returns—We file federal and local tax returns in several jurisdictions throughout the world.  With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to examinations of our U.S. and non‑U.S. tax matters for years prior to 2010.
Our tax returns in the major jurisdictions in which we operate, other than the U.S., Norway and Brazil, which are mentioned below, are generally subject to examination for periods ranging from three to six years.  We have agreed to extensions beyond the statute of limitations in two major jurisdictions for up to 20 years.  Tax authorities in certain jurisdictions are examining our tax returns and in some cases have issued assessments.  We are defending our tax positions in those jurisdictions.  While we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the timing or the outcome of these proceedings, we do not expect the ultimate liability to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position or results of operations, although it may have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of cash flows.
U.S. tax investigations—In January 2014, we received a draft assessment from the U.S. tax authorities related to our 2010 and 2011 U.S. federal income tax returns.  The significant issue raised in the assessment relates to transfer pricing for certain charters of drilling rigs between our subsidiaries.  This issue, if successfully challenged, would result in net adjustments of approximately $290 million of additional taxes, excluding interest and penalties.  We believe our U.S. federal income tax returns are materially correct as filed, and we intend to continue to vigorously defend against all such claims to the contrary.  An unfavorable outcome on these adjustments could result in a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  Furthermore, if the authorities were to continue to pursue these positions with respect to subsequent years and were successful in such assertions, our effective tax rate on worldwide earnings with respect to years following 2011 could increase substantially, and could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations or cash flows.
Norway tax investigations and trial—Norwegian civil tax and criminal authorities are investigating various transactions undertaken by our subsidiaries in 1999, 2001 and 2002 as well as the actions of certain employees of our former external tax advisors on these transactions.  Of three original tax assessments issued by the tax authorities, the following two remain outstanding:  (a) NOK 412 million, equivalent to approximately $48 million, plus interest, related to a 2001 dividend payment and (b) NOK 43 million, equivalent to approximately $5 million, plus interest, related to certain foreign exchange deductions and dividend withholding tax.  In November 2012, the Norwegian district court in Oslo heard the civil tax case regarding the disputed tax assessment of NOK 684 million related to the migration of our subsidiary.  On March 1, 2013, the Norwegian district court in Oslo overturned the initial civil tax assessment and ruled in our favor, and the tax authorities filed an appeal.  On June 26, 2014, the Norwegian district court in Oslo ruled that our subsidiary was liable for the civil tax assessment of NOK 412 million, equivalent to approximately $48 million, but waived all penalties and interest.  On September 12, 2014, we filed an appeal.  We intend to take all other appropriate action to continue to support our position that our Norwegian tax returns are materially correct as filed.
In June 2011, the Norwegian authorities issued criminal indictments against two of our subsidiaries alleging misleading or incomplete disclosures in Norwegian tax returns for the years 1999 through 2002, as well as inaccuracies in Norwegian statutory financial statements for the years ended December 31, 1996 through 2001.  Two employees of our former external tax advisors were also issued criminal indictments with respect to the disclosures in our tax returns, and our former external Norwegian tax attorney was issued criminal indictments related to certain of our restructuring transactions and the 2001 dividend payment.  In January 2012, the Norwegian authorities supplemented the previously issued criminal indictments by issuing a financial claim of NOK 1.8 billion, equivalent to approximately $211 million, jointly and severally, against our two subsidiaries, the two external tax advisors and the external tax attorney.  In February 2012, the authorities dropped the previously existing civil tax claim related to a certain restructuring transaction.  In April 2012, the Norwegian tax authorities supplemented the previously issued criminal indictments against our two subsidiaries by extending a criminal indictment against a third subsidiary, alleging misleading or incomplete disclosures in Norwegian tax returns for the years 2001 and 2002.  The criminal trial commenced in December 2012.  In May 2013, the Norwegian authorities dropped the financial claim of NOK 1.8 billion against one of our subsidiaries and the criminal case related to the migration case of another subsidiary.  The criminal trial proceedings ended in September 2013.  The Norwegian authorities subsequently suggested, if we were found guilty, that the court assess criminal penalties of NOK 230 million, equivalent to approximately $27 million, against three of our subsidiaries in addition to any civil tax penalties and the financial claim.
 
- 10 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
On July 2, 2014, the Norwegian district court in Oslo acquitted our three subsidiaries, two external tax attorneys and an external tax advisor of all criminal charges related to the disclosures in our Norwegian tax returns for the years 1999 through 2002 and statutory financial statements for the years ended December 31, 1996 through 2001.  On July 16, 2014, the Norwegian authorities dropped the financial claim of NOK 1.8 billion, equivalent to approximately $211 million, against two of our subsidiaries, fully closing this matter, and on the same date, filed an appeal with respect to the following charges: (a) disclosures in our Norwegian tax returns related to a dividend payment in 2001, (b) disclosures in our Norwegian tax returns related to an intercompany rig sale in 1999 and (c) certain inaccuracies in Norwegian statutory financial statements for the years ended December 31, 1996 through 2001.  We believe our Norwegian tax returns are materially correct as filed, and we intend to continue to vigorously contest any assertions to the contrary by the Norwegian civil and criminal authorities in connection with the various transactions being investigated.  An unfavorable outcome on the Norwegian civil or criminal tax matters could result in a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Brazil tax investigations—Certain of our Brazilian income tax returns for the years 2000 through 2004 are currently under examination.  In December 2005, the Brazilian tax authorities issued an aggregate tax assessment of BRL 751 million, equivalent to approximately $190 million, including a 75 percent penalty and interest.  On January 25, 2008, we filed a protest letter with the Brazilian tax authorities, and we are currently engaged in the appeals process.  On May 19, 2014, with respect to our Brazilian income tax returns for the years 2009 and 2010, the Brazilian tax authorities issued an aggregate tax assessment of BRL 130 million, equivalent to approximately $33 million, including a 75 percent penalty and interest.  On June 18, 2014, we filed a protest letter with the Brazilian tax authorities.  We believe our returns are materially correct as filed, and we are vigorously contesting these assessments.  An unfavorable outcome on these proposed assessments could result in a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Other tax matters—We conduct operations through our various subsidiaries in a number of countries throughout the world.  Each country has its own tax regimes with varying nominal rates, deductions, employee contribution requirements and tax attributes.  From time to time, we may identify changes to previously evaluated tax positions that could result in adjustments to our recorded assets and liabilities.  Although we are unable to predict the outcome of these changes, we do not expect the effect, if any, resulting from these adjustments to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 7—Discontinued Operations
Summarized results of discontinued operations
The summarized results of operations included in income from discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):
   
Three months ended
September 30,
   
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
Operating revenues
 
$
   
$
20
   
$
   
$
153
 
Operating and maintenance expense
   
2
     
(15
)
   
2
     
(146
)
Loss on disposal of assets in discontinued operations, net
   
     
     
     
(10
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income tax expense
   
2
     
5
     
2
     
(3
)
Income tax (expense) benefit
   
1
     
(6
)
   
     
(13
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
$
3
   
$
(1
)
 
$
2
   
$
(16
)

Standard jackup and swamp barge contract drilling services
Overview—In September 2012, in connection with our efforts to dispose of non-strategic assets and to reduce our exposure to low‑specification drilling units, we committed to a plan to discontinue operations associated with the standard jackup and swamp barge asset groups, components of our contract drilling services operating segment.
Sale transactions with Shelf Drilling—In November 2012, we completed the sale of 38 drilling units to Shelf Drilling Holdings, Ltd. ("Shelf Drilling").  For a transition period following the completion of the sale transactions, we agreed to continue to operate a substantial portion of the standard jackups under operating agreements with Shelf Drilling and to provide certain other transition services to Shelf Drilling.  Under the operating agreements, we agreed to remit the collections from our customers under the associated drilling contracts to Shelf Drilling, and Shelf Drilling agreed to reimburse us for our direct costs and expenses incurred while operating the standard jackups on behalf of Shelf Drilling with certain exceptions.  Amounts due to Shelf Drilling under the operating agreements and transition services agreement may be contractually offset against amounts due from Shelf Drilling.  The costs to us for providing such operating and transition services, including allocated indirect costs, exceeded the amounts we received from Shelf Drilling for providing such services.
 
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TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Under the operating agreements, we agreed to operate the standard jackups on behalf of Shelf Drilling for periods ranging from nine months to 27 months, until expiration or novation of the underlying drilling contracts by Shelf Drilling, the last of which was completed in January 2015.  Until the expiration or novation of such drilling contracts, we retained possession of the materials and supplies associated with the standard jackups that we operated under the operating agreements.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received cash proceeds of $3 million, associated with the sale of equipment and materials and supplies to Shelf Drilling upon expiration or novation of the drilling contracts.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we received cash proceeds of $25 million and recognized a net gain of $2 million, which had no tax effect, associated with the sale of equipment and materials and supplies to Shelf Drilling upon expiration or novation of the drilling contracts.
For a period through November 2015, we agreed to provide to Shelf Drilling up to $125 million of financial support by maintaining letters of credit, surety bonds and guarantees for various contract bidding and performance activities associated with the drilling units sold to Shelf Drilling and in effect at the closing of the sale transactions.  At the time of the sale transactions, we had $113 million of outstanding letters of credit, issued under our committed and uncommitted credit lines, in support of rigs sold to Shelf Drilling.  Included within the $125 million maximum amount, we agreed to provide up to $65 million of additional financial support in connection with any new drilling contracts related to such drilling units.  Shelf Drilling is required to reimburse us in the event that any of these instruments are called.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $66 million and $91 million, respectively, of outstanding letters of credit, issued under our committed and uncommitted credit lines, in support of drilling units sold to Shelf Drilling.  See Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies.
Drilling management services
Overview—In February 2014, in connection with our efforts to discontinue non‑strategic operations, we completed the sale of ADTI, which performs drilling management services in the North Sea.  As a result of the sale, we reclassified the results of operations of our drilling management services operating segment to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Disposition—In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we received net cash proceeds of $10 million and recognized a net loss of $12 million ($0.04 per diluted share), which had no tax effect, associated with the sale of the drilling management services business.  We also agreed to provide a $15 million working capital line of credit to the buyer through March 2016.  At December 31, 2014, ADTI owed to us borrowings of $15 million outstanding under the working capital line of credit, recorded in other assets.  In May 2015, ADTI repaid the borrowings and terminated the credit agreement.
Note 8—Earnings (Loss) Per Share
The numerator and denominator used for the computation of basic and diluted per share earnings (loss) from continuing operations were as follows (in millions, except per share data):
   
Three months ended September 30,
   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
   
2015
   
2014
 
   
Basic
   
Diluted
   
Basic
   
Diluted
   
Basic
   
Diluted
   
Basic
   
Diluted
 
Numerator for earnings (loss) per share
                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to controlling interest
 
$
318
   
$
318
   
$
(2,216
)
 
$
(2,216
)
 
$
178
   
$
178
   
$
(1,158
)
 
$
(1,158
)
Undistributed earnings allocable to participating securities
   
(1
)
   
(1
)
   
     
     
(2
)
   
(2
)
   
     
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations available to  shareholders
 
$
317
   
$
317
   
$
(2,216
)
 
$
(2,216
)
 
$
176
   
$
176
   
$
(1,158
)
 
$
(1,158
)
                                                                 
Denominator for earnings (loss) per share
                                                               
Weighted‑average shares outstanding
   
364
     
364
     
362
     
362
     
363
     
363
     
362
     
362
 
Effect of stock options and other share‑based awards
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Weighted‑average shares for per share calculation
   
364
     
364
     
362
     
362
     
363
     
363
     
362
     
362
 
                                                                 
Per share earnings (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
0.87
   
$
0.87
   
$
(6.12
)
 
$
(6.12
)
 
$
0.48
   
$
0.48
   
$
(3.20
)
 
$
(3.20
)

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we excluded from the calculation 5.5 million and 3.6 million share‑based awards, respectively, since the effect would have been anti-dilutive.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we excluded from the calculation 2.9 million and 2.3 million share‑based awards, respectively, since the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
 
- 12 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Note 9—Drilling Fleet
Construction work in progress—For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the changes in our construction work in progress, including capital expenditures and capitalized interest, were as follows (in millions):
   
Nine months ended September 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Construction work in progress, at beginning of period
 
$
2,451
   
$
2,710
 
                 
Newbuild construction program
               
Deepwater Invictus (a) (b)
   
     
492
 
Deepwater Asgard (a) (b)
   
     
291
 
Deepwater Thalassa (c)
   
423
     
69
 
Deepwater Proteus (c)
   
175
     
56
 
Deepwater Conqueror (d)
   
64
     
113
 
Deepwater Pontus (c)
   
36
     
148
 
Deepwater Poseidon (c)
   
47
     
84
 
Transocean Cassiopeia (e)
   
3
     
4
 
Transocean Centaurus (e)
   
3
     
3
 
Transocean Cepheus (e)
   
3
     
3
 
Ultra‑Deepwater drillship TBN1 (f)
   
168
     
30
 
Transocean Cetus (e)
   
3
     
3
 
Transocean Circinus (e)
   
3
     
3
 
Ultra‑Deepwater drillship TBN2 (f)
   
126
     
27
 
Other construction projects and capital additions
   
282
     
521
 
Total capital expenditures
   
1,336
     
1,847
 
Changes in accrued capital additions
   
(57
)
   
(36
)
Impairment of construction work in progress
   
(52
)
   
 
                 
Property and equipment placed into service
               
Deepwater Invictus (a) (b)
   
     
(736
)
Deepwater Asgard (a) (b)
   
     
(786
)
Other property and equipment
   
(398
)
   
(608
)
Construction work in progress, at end of period
 
$
3,280
   
$
2,391
 
______________________________
(a) The accumulated construction costs of this rig are no longer included in construction work in progress, as the construction project had been completed as of September 30, 2015.
(b) The Ultra‑Deepwater drillships Deepwater Invictus and Deepwater Asgard, commenced operations in July 2014 and August 2014, respectively.  The total carrying amount included capitalized costs of $272 million, representing the estimated fair value of construction in progress acquired in connection with our acquisition of Aker Drilling ASA in October 2011.
(c) Deepwater Thalassa, Deepwater Proteus, Deepwater Pontus and Deepwater Poseidon, four newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillships under construction at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. shipyard in Korea, are expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2015, the second quarter of 2016, the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, respectively.
(d) Deepwater Conqueror, a newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillship under construction at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. shipyard in Korea, is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2016.
(e) Transocean Cassiopeia, Transocean Centaurus, Transocean Cepheus, Transocean Cetus and Transocean Circinus, five Keppel FELS Super B 400 Bigfoot class design newbuild High‑Specification Jackups under construction at Keppel FELS' shipyard in Singapore do not yet have drilling contracts and are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018, the third quarter of 2018, the first quarter of 2019, the third quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, respectively.
 (f) Our two unnamed dynamically positioned Ultra‑Deepwater drillships under construction at the Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd. in Singapore do not yet have drilling contracts and are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, respectively.

Dispositions—During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, in connection with our efforts to dispose of non‑strategic assets, we completed the sale of the Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters Deepwater Expedition and GSF Explorer, the Deepwater Floaters Discoverer Seven Seas, Sedco 707, Sedco 710 and Sovereign Explorer and the Midwater Floaters C. Kirk Rhein, Jr., GSF Arctic I, GSF Arctic III, J.W. McLean, Sedco 601, Sedco 700 and Transocean Legend, along with related equipment.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received aggregate net cash proceeds of $1 million and $25 million, respectively, and recognized an aggregate net gain of $1 million and $7 million, respectively, associated with the disposal of these assets.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received cash proceeds of $2 million and $8 million, respectively, and recognized an aggregate net loss of $16 million and $27 million, respectively, associated with the disposal of assets unrelated to rig sales.
 
- 13 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, in connection with our efforts to dispose of non‑strategic assets, we completed the sale of the High‑Specification Jackups GSF Magellan and GSF Monitor along with related equipment.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we received aggregate net cash proceeds of $99 million and $182 million, respectively, and recognized an aggregate net loss of $2 million associated with the disposal of these assets.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we received cash proceeds of $3 million and $21 million, respectively, and recognized an aggregate net loss of $10 million and $12 million, respectively, associated with the disposal of assets unrelated to rig sales.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we committed to a plan to sell the Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters Deepwater Expedition and GSF Explorer, the Deepwater Floaters GSF Celtic Sea, Sedco 707 and Transocean Rather and the Midwater Floaters GSF Aleutian Key, GSF Arctic III, GSF Rig 135, Transocean Amirante and Transocean Legend along with related equipment.  At September 30, 2015, the aggregate carrying amount of our assets held for sale was $9 million, including the Deepwater Floaters GSF Celtic Sea and Transocean Rather and the Midwater Floaters Falcon 100, GSF Aleutian Key, GSF Rig 135, Sedneth 701 and Transocean Amirante, along with related equipment.  At December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of our assets held for sale was $25 million, including an aggregate carrying amount of $23 million for the Deepwater Floaters Discoverer Seven Seas, Sedco 710 and Sovereign Explorer and the Midwater Floaters C. Kirk Rhein, Jr., Falcon 100, GSF Arctic I, J.W. McLean, Sedco 601, Sedco 700 and Sedneth 701, along with related equipment, and an aggregate carrying amount of $2 million for the then remaining assets of our discontinued operations.
See Note 5—Impairments and Note 7—Discontinued Operations.
Note 10—Debt
Debt, net of unamortized discounts, premiums and fair value adjustments, was comprised of the following (in millions):
   
September 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
4.95% Senior Notes due November 2015 (a)
 
$
   
$
898
 
5.05% Senior Notes due December 2016 (a)
   
995
     
999
 
2.5% Senior Notes due October 2017 (a)
   
642
     
748
 
Eksportfinans Loans due January 2018
   
223
     
369
 
6.00% Senior Notes due March 2018 (a)
   
874
     
1,001
 
7.375% Senior Notes due April 2018 (a)
   
247
     
247
 
6.50% Senior Notes due November 2020 (a)
   
915
     
911
 
6.375% Senior Notes due December 2021 (a)
   
1,169
     
1,199
 
3.8% Senior Notes due October 2022 (a)
   
731
     
745
 
7.45% Notes due April 2027 (a)
   
97
     
97
 
8% Debentures due April 2027 (a)
   
57
     
57
 
7% Notes due June 2028
   
309
     
309
 
Capital lease contract due August 2029
   
597
     
615
 
7.5% Notes due April 2031 (a)
   
598
     
598
 
6.80% Senior Notes due March 2038 (a)
   
999
     
999
 
7.35% Senior Notes due December 2041 (a)
   
300
     
300
 
Total debt
   
8,753
     
10,092
 
Less debt due within one year
               
4.95% Senior Notes due November 2015 (a)
   
     
898
 
Eksportfinans Loans due January 2018
   
100
     
114
 
Capital lease contract due August 2029
   
23
     
21
 
Total debt due within one year
   
123
     
1,033
 
Total longterm debt
 
$
8,630
   
$
9,059
 
______________________________
(a) Transocean Inc., a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Transocean Ltd., is the issuer of the notes and debentures, which have been guaranteed by Transocean Ltd.  Transocean Ltd. has also guaranteed borrowings under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility.  Transocean Ltd. and Transocean Inc. are not subject to any significant restrictions on their ability to obtain funds from their consolidated subsidiaries by dividends, loans or return of capital distributions.  See Note 17—Condensed Consolidating Financial Information.
 
- 14 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Scheduled maturities—At September 30, 2015, the scheduled maturities of our debt were as follows (in millions):
   
Total
 
Twelve months ending September 30,
   
2016
 
$
116
 
2017
   
1,113
 
2018
   
1,826
 
2019
   
32
 
2020
   
34
 
Thereafter
   
5,612
 
Total debt, excluding unamortized discounts, premiums and fair value adjustments
   
8,733
 
Total unamortized discounts, premiums and fair value adjustments, net
   
20
 
Total debt
 
$
8,753
 

Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility—In June 2014, we entered into an amended and restated bank credit agreement, which established a $3.0 billion unsecured five‑year revolving credit facility, that is scheduled to expire on June 28, 2019 (the "Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility").  Among other things, the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility includes limitations on creating liens, incurring subsidiary debt, transactions with affiliates, sale/leaseback transactions, mergers and the sale of substantially all assets.  The Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility also includes a covenant imposing a maximum debt to tangible capitalization ratio of 0.6 to 1.0.  Borrowings under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility are subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an event of default, borrowings are guaranteed by Transocean Ltd. and may be prepaid in whole or in part without premium or penalty.
We may borrow under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility at either (1) the adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a margin (the "Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility Margin"), which ranges from 1.125 percent to 2.0 percent based on the credit rating of our non‑credit enhanced senior unsecured long‑term debt ("Debt Rating"), or (2) the base rate specified in the credit agreement plus the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility Margin, less one percent per annum.  Throughout the term of the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility, we pay a facility fee on the daily unused amount of the underlying commitment which ranges from 0.15 percent to 0.35 percent depending on our Debt Rating.  Effective March 19, 2015, as a result of a reduction of our Debt Rating, the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility Margin increased to 1.75 percent from 1.5 percent and the facility fee increased to 0.275 percent from 0.225 percent.  At September 30, 2015, we had no borrowings outstanding or letters of credit issued, and we had $3.0 billion of available borrowing capacity under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility.
4.95% Senior Notes—In September 2010, we issued $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.95% Senior Notes due November 2015 (the "4.95% Senior Notes").  At December 31, 2014, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 4.95% Senior Notes was $893 million.  On July 30, 2015, we redeemed the aggregate principal amount of $893 million of the outstanding 4.95% Senior Notes with an aggregate cash payment of $904 million for the full redemption of the outstanding notes.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a loss of $10 million associated with retirement of the debt.
5.05% Senior Notes, 6.375% Senior Notes and 7.35% Senior Notes—In December 2011, we issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.05% Senior Notes due December 2016 (the "5.05% Senior Notes"), $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due December 2021 (the "6.375% Senior Notes") and $300 million aggregate principal amount of 7.35% Senior Notes due December 2041 (the "7.35% Senior Notes").  The interest rates for the notes are subject to adjustment from time to time upon a change to our Debt Rating.  Effective June 15, 2015, as a result of a reduction of our Debt Rating, the interest rates on the 5.05% Senior Notes, the 6.375% Senior Notes and the 7.35% Senior Notes increased 0.5 percent from the stated rate to 5.55 percent, 6.875 percent and 7.85 percent, respectively.
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we repurchased an aggregate principal amount of $5 million of the 5.05% Senior Notes and $30 million of the 6.375% Senior Notes with aggregate cash payments of $5 million and $24 million, respectively, and recognized a loss of less than $1 million and a gain of $6 million, respectively, associated with the retirement of debt.  At September 30, 2015, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 5.05% Senior Notes, the 6.375% Senior Notes and the 7.35% Senior Notes was $995 million, $1.17 billion and $300 million, respectively.  At December 31, 2014, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 5.05% Senior Notes, the 6.375% Senior Notes and the 7.35% Senior Notes was $1.0 billion, $1.2 billion and $300 million, respectively.
2.5% Senior Notes and 3.8% Senior Notes—In September 2012, we issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of 2.5% Senior Notes due October 2017 (the "2.5% Senior Notes") and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 3.8% Senior Notes due October 2022 (the "3.8% Senior Notes").  The interest rates for the notes are subject to adjustment from time to time upon a change to our Debt Rating.  Effective April 15, 2015, as a result of a reduction of our Debt Rating, the interest rates on the 2.5% Senior Notes and the 3.8% Senior Notes increased 0.5 percent from the stated rate to 3.0 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively.
 
- 15 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we repurchased an aggregate principal amount of $107 million of the 2.5% Senior Notes and $16 million of the 3.8% Senior Notes with an aggregate cash payment of $103 million and $11 million, respectively, and recognized an aggregate gain of $4 million and $5 million, respectively, associated with the retirement of debt.  At September 30, 2015, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2.5% Senior Notes and the 3.8% Senior Notes was $643 million and $734 million, respectively.  At December 31, 2014, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2.5% Senior Notes and the 3.8% Senior Notes was $750 million each.
6.00% Senior Notes—In December 2007, we issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Notes due March 2018 (the "6.00% Senior Notes").  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we repurchased an aggregate principal amount of $134 million of the 6.00% Senior Notes with an aggregate cash payment of $131 million and recognized an aggregate gain of $2 million associated with the retirement of debt.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 6.00% Senior Notes was $866 million and $1.0 billion, respectively.
Eksportfinans Loans—We have borrowings under the Loan Agreement dated September 12, 2008 and the Loan Agreement dated November 18, 2008, between one of our subsidiaries and Eksportfinans ASA (together, the "Eksportfinans Loans").  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, aggregate borrowings of NOK 1.9 billion and NOK 2.8 billion, respectively, equivalent to approximately $224 million and $370 million, respectively, were outstanding under the Eksportfinans Loans.
The Eksportfinans Loans require collateral to be held by a financial institution through expiration (the "Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments").  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate principal amount of the Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments was NOK 1.9 billion and NOK 2.8 billion, respectively, equivalent to approximately $224 million and $370 million, respectively.
Note 11—Derivatives and Hedging
During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we entered into interest rate swaps, which qualified for and we designated as a fair value hedge to reduce our exposure to changes in the fair value of the 6.0% Senior Notes due March 2018 and the 6.5% Senior Notes due November 2020.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we terminated the interest rate swaps previously designated as a fair value hedge of the 6.5% Senior Notes, and in the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received an aggregate net cash payment of $24 million in connection with the settlement.
Our interest rate swaps have aggregate notional amounts equal to the corresponding face values of the hedged instruments and have stated maturities that coincide with those of the hedged instruments.  We determined that the hedging relationships qualify for and we have applied the shortcut method of accounting, under which the interest rate swaps are considered to have no ineffectiveness and no ongoing assessment of effectiveness is required.  Accordingly, changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps recognized in interest expense offset the changes in the fair value of the hedged fixed-rate notes.
 

At September 30, 2015, the aggregate notional amounts and the weighted average interest rates associated with our derivatives designated as hedging instruments were as follows (in millions, except weighted average interest rates):
 
 
Pay
 
Receive
 
 
Aggregate
notional
amount
 
Fixed or
variable
rate
 
   Weighted
average
rate
 
Aggregate
notional
amount
 
Fixed or
variable
rate
 
Weighted
average
rate
 
Interest rate swaps, fair value hedge
 
$
750
 
Variable
   
4.91
%
 
$
750
 
Fixed
   
6
%

 
The balance sheet classification and aggregate carrying amount of our derivatives designated as hedging instruments, measured at fair value, were as follows (in millions):
       September 30,  
December 31,
 
 
Balance sheet classification 
  2015  
2014
 
Interest rate swaps, fair value hedge
Other current assets
 
$
   
$
4
 
Interest rate swaps, fair value hedge
Other assets
   
9
     
11
 

 
 
 
 
- 16 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Note 12—Postemployment Benefit Plans
Effective January 1, 2015, we froze the benefits of our qualified defined benefit pension plan in the U.S., which covered substantially all U.S. employees, and one of our unfunded supplemental benefit plans.  Including these plans, we have several frozen defined benefit pension plans, both funded and unfunded, that cover certain current and former U.S. employees and certain former directors of our predecessors (the "U.S. Plans").  We also have various defined benefit plans in the U.K., Norway, Nigeria, Egypt and Indonesia that cover certain current and former employees in those areas (the "Non‑U.S. Plans").
On August 25, 2015, we announced an amendment to our other postretirement employee benefit plans covering substantially all of our U.S. employees (the "OPEB Plans") that provides for benefits to eligible participants during a ten‑year phase‑out period ending December 31, 2026.  In the three months ended September 30, 2015, as a result of this remeasurement event, we reduced the aggregate liability for the OPEB Plans by $33 million with a corresponding entry to accumulated other comprehensive loss.
The components of net periodic benefit costs, before tax, and funding contributions for these plans were as follows (in millions):
   
Three months ended September 30, 2015
   
Three months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
U.S.
Plans
   
Non-U.S.
Plans
   
OPEB
Plans
   
Total
   
U.S.
Plans
   
Non-U.S.
Plans
   
OPEB
Plans
   
Total
 
Net periodic benefit costs
                               
Service cost
 
$
1
   
$
7
   
$
1
   
$
9
   
$
9
   
$
8
   
$
   
$
17
 
Interest cost
   
17
     
4
     
1
     
22
     
15
     
6
     
1
     
22
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(22
)
   
(7
)
   
     
(29
)
   
(19
)
   
(7
)
   
     
(26
)
Settlements and curtailments
   
2
     
1
     
1
     
4
     
     
2
     
     
2
 
Actuarial losses, net
   
3
     
2
     
     
5
     
3
     
2
     
     
5
 
Prior service cost, net
   
     
     
(1
)
   
(1
)
   
     
     
     
 
Net periodic benefit costs
 
$
1
   
$
7
   
$
2
   
$
10
   
$
8
   
$
11
   
$
1
   
$
20
 
                                                                 
Funding contributions
 
$
9
   
$
2
   
$
3
   
$
14
   
$
   
$
4
   
$
   
$
4
 

   
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
U.S.
Plans
   
Non-U.S.
Plans
   
OPEB
Plans
   
Total
   
U.S.
Plans
   
Non-U.S.
Plans
   
OPEB
Plans
   
Total
 
Net periodic benefit costs
                               
Service cost
 
$
4
   
$
20
   
$
1
   
$
25
   
$
30
   
$
23
   
$
   
$
53
 
Interest cost
   
49
     
14
     
2
     
65
     
49
     
20
     
2
     
71
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(65
)
   
(21
)
   
     
(86
)
   
(56
)
   
(22
)
   
     
(78
)
Settlements and curtailments
   
2
     
1
     
1
     
4
     
(6
)
   
3
     
     
(3
)
Actuarial losses, net
   
8
     
7
     
     
15
     
13
     
4
     
     
17
 
Net transition obligation
   
     
1
     
     
1
     
     
     
     
 
Prior service cost, net
   
     
     
(1
)
   
(1
)
   
(1
)
   
     
     
(1
)
Net periodic benefit costs
 
$
(2
)
 
$
22
   
$
3
   
$
23
   
$
29
   
$
28
   
$
2
   
$
59
 
                                                                 
Funding contributions
 
$
10
   
$
14
   
$
6
   
$
30
   
$
42
   
$
28
   
$
   
$
70
 
 
 
- 17 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies
Macondo well incident settlement obligations
Overview—On April 22, 2010, the Ultra‑Deepwater Floater Deepwater Horizon sank after a blowout of the Macondo well caused a fire and explosion on the rig.  Eleven persons died in, and others were injured as a result of, the incident.  At the time of the explosion, Deepwater Horizon was located approximately 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana in Mississippi Canyon Block 252 and was contracted to an affiliate of BP plc (together with its affiliates, "BP").  Litigation commenced shortly after the incident, and most claims against us were consolidated by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (the "MDL Court").  A significant portion of the contingencies arising from the Macondo well incident has now been resolved as a result of settlements with the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ"), BP, and the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee (the "PSC").
U.S. Department of Justice settlement agreements—On January 3, 2013, we reached an agreement with the DOJ to resolve certain outstanding civil and potential criminal charges against us arising from the Macondo well incident.  As part of this resolution, we agreed to a guilty plea ("Plea Agreement") and a civil consent decree ("Consent Decree") by which, among other things, we agreed to pay $1.4 billion in fines, recoveries and civil penalties, excluding interest, in scheduled installments through February 2017.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we paid an aggregate installment of $264 million and $472 million, respectively, including interest, towards our obligations under the Plea Agreement and Consent Decree.  At September 30, 2015, we had satisfied our financial obligations under the Consent Decree and had $120 million outstanding under the Plea Agreement.  At December 31, 2014, our outstanding obligations under the Consent Decree and the Plea Agreement were $200 million and $180 million, respectively.
Macondo well incident contingencies
Overview—During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, in connection with the settlements, as further described below, we adjusted our assets and liabilities associated with contingencies resulting from the Macondo well incident.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized income of $788 million ($735 million, or $2.02 per diluted share, net of tax), recorded as a net reduction to operating and maintenance costs and expenses, including $538 million associated with recoveries from insurance for our previously incurred losses, $125 million associated with partial reimbursement from BP for our previously incurred legal costs, and $125 million associated with a net reduction to certain related contingent liabilities, primarily associated with contingencies that have either been settled or otherwise resolved as a result of settlements with BP and the PSC.  We made such adjustments with corresponding entries to increase accounts receivable by $663 million and decrease other current liabilities by $125 million.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received cash proceeds of $218 million and $663 million, respectively, associated with reimbursement for or recoveries of previously incurred losses, including $125 million from BP and $538 million from insurance.
We have recognized a liability for the remaining estimated loss contingencies associated with litigation resulting from the Macondo well incident that we believe are probable and for which a reasonable estimate can be made.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the liability for estimated loss contingencies that we believe are probable and for which a reasonable estimate can be made was $285 million and $426 million, respectively, recorded in other current liabilities.  The liability for estimated loss contingencies at September 30, 2015, included, among others, the amount we have agreed to pay as a result of our settlement with the PSC (see "—PSC Settlement Agreement" below), which is subject to approval by the MDL Court.  The remaining litigation could result in certain loss contingencies that we believe are either reasonably possible or probable but for which we do not believe a reasonable estimate can be made.  Although we have not recognized a liability for such loss contingencies, these contingencies could result in liabilities that we ultimately recognize.
We believe the remaining most notable claims against us arising from the Macondo well incident are the potential settlement class opt‑outs from the PSC Settlement Agreement.  See Note 18—Subsequent Events.
We recognize an asset associated with the portion of our estimated losses that we believe is probable of recovery from insurance and for which we had received from underwriters' confirmation of expected payment.  At December 31, 2014, the insurance recoverable asset was $10 million, recorded in other assets.  Although we have available policy limits that could result in additional amounts recoverable from insurance, recovery of such additional amounts is not probable and we are not currently able to estimate such amounts (see "—Insurance coverage").  Our estimates involve a significant amount of judgment.  As a result of new information or future developments, we may increase our estimated loss contingencies arising out of the Macondo well incident or reduce our estimated recoveries from insurance, and the resulting losses could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Consent Decree resolved the claim by the U.S. for civil penalties under the Clean Water Act.  The Consent Decree did not resolve United States' claim under the Oil Pollution Act ("OPA") for natural resource damages ("NRD") or for removal costs.  However, BP has agreed to indemnify us for NRD and most removal costs as further discussed under "—BP Settlement Agreement" and "—Pending Claims" below.
 
- 18 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

BP Settlement Agreement—On May 20, 2015, we entered into a settlement agreement with BP (the "BP Settlement Agreement").  We believe the BP Settlement Agreement resolves all Macondo well-related litigation between BP and us, and the indemnity BP has committed to provide will generally address claims by third parties, including claims for economic and property damages, economic loss and NRD.  However, the indemnity obligations do not extend to fines, penalties, or punitive damages.  The BP Settlement Agreement generally provides that:
§
BP agreed to pay and has paid us $125 million, as noted above, as partial reimbursement of the legal costs we have incurred in connection with the Macondo well incident;
§
BP will indemnify us for compensatory damages, including all natural resource damages and all cleanup and removal costs incurred before the date of the settlement and any future cleanup and removal costs for oil or pollutants originating from the Macondo well;
§
We will indemnify BP for personal and bodily injury claims of our employees and for any future costs for the cleanup or removal of pollutants stored on the Deepwater Horizon vessel;
§
BP will no longer attempt to recover as an "additional insured" under our excess liability insurance policies, and BP will be bound to the MDL Court's and Texas Supreme Court's insurance reimbursement rulings for the Macondo well litigation;
§
BP and we will each release and withdraw all claims we have against each other arising from the Macondo well litigation; and
§
Neither BP nor we will make statements asserting the other company's conduct was grossly negligent in the Macondo well incident.

BP settlement with U.S. and States—On July 2, 2015, BP announced it had reached an agreement in principle to settle certain claims with the U.S.; the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas (collectively, the "States") and local governments in the Gulf region.  Among other things, the announced agreement, if finalized and approved by the MDL Court, will resolve the claims of the U.S. and the States for NRD under OPA.  In the BP Settlement Agreement, BP has agreed to indemnify us for all NRD claims, and in the July 2, 2015 agreement, which is still subject to completion, the DOJ and the states that are party to the agreement, have agreed to release any such claims against us.  In light of these facts, we believe that our likelihood of loss resulting from any NRD claims is remote.
PSC Settlement Agreement—On May 29, 2015, together with the PSC, we filed a settlement agreement (the "PSC Settlement Agreement") with the MDL Court finalizing the terms as initially agreed to by us and the PSC in a Term Sheet Agreement on May 20, 2015.  The PSC Settlement Agreement is subject to approval by the MDL Court.  Through the PSC Settlement Agreement, we agreed to pay a total of $212 million, plus up to $25 million for partial reimbursement of attorneys' fees, to be allocated between two classes of plaintiffs as follows: (1) private plaintiffs, businesses, and local governments who could have asserted punitive damages claims against us under general maritime law (the "Punitive Damages Class"); and (2) private plaintiffs who previously settled economic damages claims against BP and were assigned certain claims BP had made against us.  A court‑appointed neutral representative will allocate the payment between the two classes.  In exchange for these payments, each of the classes agreed to release all respective claims it has against us.  Members of the Punitive Damages Class may opt out of the PSC Settlement Agreement and continue to pursue punitive damages claims against us, but we may terminate the PSC Settlement Agreement if the number of opt outs exceeds the specified threshold amount.  In August 2015, we made a cash deposit of $212 million into an escrow account pending approval of the settlement by the MDL Court.  At September 30, 2015, the balance of the escrow account was $212 million, recorded in other current assets.
Multidistrict litigation proceeding—Most Macondo well-related claims against us have been resolved under various settlements.  There are, however, still pending claims by potential opt‑outs from the settlement with the PSC and a number of other parties.  As of September 30, 2015, the MDL Court has completed two trials involving us, and additional litigation and appeals continue.
The Phase One trial in 2013 addressed fault for the Macondo blowout and resulting oil spill.  The MDL Court's September 2014 Phase One ruling concluded that BP was grossly negligent and reckless and 67 percent at fault for the blowout, explosion, and spill; that we were negligent and 30 percent at fault; and that Halliburton Company ("Halliburton") was negligent and three percent at fault.  The finding that we were negligent, but not grossly negligent, meant that, subject to a successful appeal, we would not be held liable for punitive damages and that BP was required to honor its contractual agreements to indemnify us for compensatory damages and release its claims against us.  Our settlements with BP and the PSC finally resolve the indemnity and release issues (see "—BP Settlement Agreement" and "—PSC Settlement Agreement") and largely eliminate our risk should these determinations be reversed through the appeal process.  The MDL Court also concluded that we were an "operator" of the Macondo well for purposes of 33 U.S.C. § 2704(c)(3), a provision of OPA that permits government entities to recover removal costs by owners and operators of a facility or vessel that caused a discharge.  The MDL Court, however, found that "Transocean's liability to government entities for removal costs is ultimately shifted to BP by virtue of contractual indemnity," and BP has agreed to indemnify removal costs through the BP Settlement Agreement (see "—BP Settlement Agreement").
The Phase One ruling did not quantify damages or result in a final monetary judgment.  However, because it is a determination of liability under maritime law, the Phase One ruling is appealable, and we, along with BP, the PSC, Halliburton and the State of Alabama have each appealed or cross-appealed aspects of the ruling.  These appeals have been stayed pending the finalization of BP's settlement with the U.S. and the States.  As a result of our settlements, we do not expect any party to challenge the ruling with respect to Transocean when the appeals resume, and we expect that any remaining issues in the appeal would be addressed to the other parties.
We can provide no assurances as to the outcome of these appeals, as to the timing of any further rulings, or that we will not enter into additional settlements as to some or all of the matters related to the Macondo well incident, including those to be determined at a trial, or the timing or terms of any such settlements.
 
- 19 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Pending claims—As of September 30, 2015, approximately 1,398 actions or claims are pending against us, along with other unaffiliated defendants arising from individual complaints as well as putative class-action complaints that were filed in the federal and state courts in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and other courts.  These claims were originally filed in various state and federal courts, and most have been consolidated in the MDL Court.  We believe our settlement with the PSC, if approved by the MDL Court, will resolve many of these pending actions.  As for any actions not resolved by these settlements, including any remaining personal injury claims, any claims by individuals who opt‑out of the PSC Settlement Agreement, claims by State governments, claims by private environmental groups, and securities actions, we are vigorously defending those claims and pursuing any and all defenses available.
Wrongful death and personal injury claims—As of September 30, 2015, all personal injury claims have been settled.
State and other government claims—Claims have been filed against us by over 200 state, local and foreign governments, including the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas; the Mexican States of Veracruz, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas and Yucatan; the federal government of Mexico and other local governments by and on behalf of multiple towns and parishes.  See Note 18—Subsequent Events.
The remaining government claims include claims under OPA for economic damages, natural resource damages and removal costs.  As noted above, BP has agreed to indemnify us for these damages (see "—Macondo well incident settlement obligations").  The OPA claims of the Mexican States of Veracruz, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas and Yucatan were dismissed for failure to demonstrate that recovery under OPA was authorized by treaty or executive agreement.  The MDL Court subsequently granted summary judgment and the Fifth Circuit upheld the decision on the Mexican States' general maritime law claims on the ground that the federal government of Mexico, rather than the Mexican States, had the proprietary interest in the claims.  The Mexican States have sought review in the U.S. Supreme Court, which has not yet acted on the petition.
Citizen suits under environmental statutes—The Center for Biological Diversity (the "Center"), a private environmental group, sued BP and us under multiple federal environmental statutes seeking monetary penalties and injunctive relief.  The MDL Court dismissed all of the claims, and in January 2013, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal with one exception:  the Fifth Circuit remanded to the MDL Court the Center's claim for injunctive relief, but not for penalties, based on BP and our alleged failure to make certain reports about the constituents of oil spilled into the U.S. Gulf of Mexico as required by the Emergency Planning and Community Right–to–Know Act of 1986.  In September 2015, the MDL Court granted summary judgment in favor of us and BP on the one remaining claim.
Federal securities claims—On September 30, 2010, a proposed federal securities class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, naming us, former chief executive officers of Transocean Ltd. and one of our acquired companies as defendants.  In the action, a former shareholder of the acquired company alleged that the joint proxy statement relating to our shareholder meeting in connection with the merger with the acquired company violated Section 14(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), Rule 14a‑9 promulgated thereunder and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act.  The plaintiff claimed that the acquired company's shareholders received inadequate consideration for their shares as a result of the alleged violations and sought compensatory and rescissory damages and attorneys' fees on behalf of the plaintiff and the proposed class members.  In connection with this action, we are obligated to pay the defense fees and costs for the individual defendants, which may be covered by our directors' and officers' liability insurance, subject to a deductible.  On March 11, 2014, the District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the claims as time-barred.  Plaintiffs appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which heard oral argument on August 18, 2015.  The court has not yet issued a ruling.
Wreck removal—By letter dated December 6, 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard requested that we formulate and submit a comprehensive oil removal plan to remove any diesel fuel that can be recovered from Deepwater Horizon. We have conducted a survey of the rig wreckage and have confirmed that no diesel fuel remains on the rig.  The U.S. Coast Guard has not requested that we remove the rig wreckage from the sea floor.  In February 2013, the U.S. Coast Guard submitted a request seeking analysis and recommendations as to the potential life of the rig's riser and cofferdam, which are resting on the seafloor, and potential remediation or removal options.  We have insurance coverage for wreck removal for up to 25 percent of Deepwater Horizon's insured value, or $140 million, with any excess wreck removal liability generally covered to the extent of our remaining excess liability limits.  Under the BP Settlement Agreement, we have agreed to indemnify BP for any costs associated with wreck removal.
Insurance coverage—At the time of the Macondo well incident, our excess liability insurance program offered aggregate insurance coverage of $950 million, excluding a $15 million deductible and a $50 million self-insured layer through our wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary.  This excess liability insurance coverage consisted of a first and a second layer of $150 million each, a third and fourth layer of $200 million each and a fifth layer of $250 million.  We have recovered costs under the first four excess layers, the limits of which are now fully exhausted.  We have submitted claims to the $250 million fifth layer, which is comprised of Bermuda market insurers (the "Bermuda Insurers").  The Bermuda Insurers have asserted various coverage defenses to our claims and we have issued arbitration notices to the Bermuda Insurers.
 
- 20 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Other legal proceedings
Asbestos litigation—In 2004, several of our subsidiaries were named, along with numerous other unaffiliated defendants, in 21 complaints filed on behalf of 769 plaintiffs in the Circuit Courts of the State of Mississippi and which claimed injuries arising out of exposure to asbestos allegedly contained in drilling mud during these plaintiffs' employment in drilling activities between 1965 and 1986.  The complaints generally allege that the defendants used or manufactured asbestos containing drilling mud additives for use in connection with drilling operations and have included allegations of negligence, products liability, strict liability and claims allowed under the Jones Act and general maritime law.  In each of these cases, the complaints have named other unaffiliated defendant companies, including companies that allegedly manufactured the drilling-related products that contained asbestos.  The plaintiffs generally seek awards of unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, but the court-appointed special master has ruled that a Jones Act employer defendant, such as us, cannot be sued for punitive damages.  After ten years of litigation, this group of cases has been winnowed to the point where now only 15 plaintiffs' individual claims remain pending in Mississippi in which we have or may have an interest.
During the year ended December 31, 2014, a group of lawsuits premised on the same allegations as those in Mississippi were filed in Louisiana.  As of September 30, 2015, eight plaintiffs have claims pending against one or more of our subsidiaries in four different lawsuits filed in Louisiana.  We intend to defend these lawsuits vigorously, although we can provide no assurance as to the outcome.  We historically have maintained broad liability insurance, although we are not certain whether insurance will cover the liabilities, if any, arising out of these claims.  Based on our evaluation of the exposure to date, we do not expect the liability, if any, resulting from these claims to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
One of our subsidiaries was involved in lawsuits arising out of the subsidiary's involvement in the design, construction and refurbishment of major industrial complexes.  The operating assets of the subsidiary were sold and its operations were discontinued in 1989, and the subsidiary has no remaining assets other than the insurance policies involved in its litigation, with its insurers and, either directly or indirectly through a qualified settlement fund.  The subsidiary has been named as a defendant, along with numerous other companies, in lawsuits alleging bodily injury or personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos.  As of September 30, 2015, the subsidiary was a defendant in approximately 247 lawsuits, some of which include multiple plaintiffs, and we estimate that there are approximately 286 plaintiffs in these lawsuits.  For many of these lawsuits, we have not been provided with sufficient information from the plaintiffs to determine whether all or some of the plaintiffs have claims against the subsidiary, the basis of any such claims, or the nature of their alleged injuries.  The first of the asbestos‑related lawsuits was filed against the subsidiary in 1990.  Through September 30, 2015, the costs incurred to resolve claims, including both defense fees and expenses and settlement costs, have not been material, all known deductibles have been satisfied or are inapplicable, and the subsidiary's defense fees and expenses and settlement costs have been met by insurance made available to the subsidiary.  The subsidiary continues to be named as a defendant in additional lawsuits, and we cannot predict the number of additional cases in which it may be named a defendant nor can we predict the potential costs to resolve such additional cases or to resolve the pending cases.  However, the subsidiary has in excess of $1.0 billion in insurance limits potentially available to the subsidiary.  Although not all of the policies may be fully available due to the insolvency of certain insurers, we believe that the subsidiary will have sufficient funding directly or indirectly from settlements and claims payments from insurers, assigned rights from insurers and coverage‑in‑place settlement agreements with insurers to respond to these claims.  While we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the outcome of these matters, we do not believe that the ultimate liability, if any, arising from these claims will have a material impact on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Rio de Janeiro tax assessment—In the third quarter of 2006, we received tax assessments of BRL 443 million, equivalent to approximately $112 million, including interest and penalties, from the state tax authorities of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil against one of our Brazilian subsidiaries for taxes on equipment imported into the state in connection with our operations.  The assessments resulted from a preliminary finding by these authorities that our record keeping practices were deficient.  We currently believe that the substantial majority of these assessments are without merit.  We filed an initial response with the Rio de Janeiro tax authorities on September 9, 2006 refuting these additional tax assessments.  In September 2007, we received confirmation from the state tax authorities that they believe the additional tax assessments are valid, and as a result, we filed an appeal on September 27, 2007 to the state Taxpayer's Council contesting these assessments.  While we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the final outcome of these proceedings, we do not expect it to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Brazilian import license assessment—In the fourth quarter of 2010, we received an assessment from the Brazilian federal tax authorities in Rio de Janeiro of BRL 563 million, equivalent to approximately $143 million, including interest and penalties, based upon the alleged failure to timely apply for import licenses for certain equipment and for allegedly providing improper information on import license applications.  We believe that a substantial majority of the assessment is without merit and are vigorously pursuing legal remedies.  The case was decided partially in favor of our Brazilian subsidiary in the lower administrative court level.  The decision cancelled the majority of the assessment, reducing the total assessment to BRL 37 million, equivalent to approximately $9 million.  On July 14, 2011, we filed an appeal to eliminate the assessment.  On May 23, 2013, a ruling was issued that eliminated all assessment amounts.  A further appeal by the taxing authorities was filed in November 2014 and accepted for review in April 2015.  While we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the outcome of these proceedings, we do not expect it to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
- 21 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Nigerian Cabotage Act litigation—In October 2007, three of our subsidiaries were each served a Notice and Demand from the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, imposing a two percent surcharge on the value of all contracts performed by us in Nigeria pursuant to the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 (the "Cabotage Act").  Our subsidiaries each filed an originating summons in the Federal High Court in Lagos challenging the imposition of this surcharge on the basis that the Cabotage Act and associated levy is not applicable to drilling rigs.  The respondents challenged the competence of the suits on several procedural grounds.  The court upheld the objections and dismissed the suits.  In December 2010, our subsidiaries filed a new joint Cabotage Act suit.  While we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the outcome of these proceedings, we do not expect it to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Other matters—We are involved in various tax matters, various regulatory matters, and a number of claims and lawsuits, asserted and unasserted, all of which have arisen in the ordinary course of our business.  Such matters include a certain claim asserted by Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. that it will seek to recover from its contractors, including us, any taxes, penalties, interest and fees, if any, that it must pay to the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service for withholding taxes related to its charter agreements with its contractors.  We do not expect the liability, if any, resulting from these other matters to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  We cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any of the litigation matters specifically described above or of any such other pending, threatened, or possible litigation or liability.  We can provide no assurance that our beliefs or expectations as to the outcome or effect of any tax, regulatory, lawsuit or other litigation matter will prove correct and the eventual outcome of these matters could materially differ from management's current estimates.
Other environmental matters
Hazardous waste disposal sites—We have certain potential liabilities under the Comprehensive Environment Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") and similar state acts regulating cleanup of various hazardous waste disposal sites, including those described below.  CERCLA is intended to expedite the remediation of hazardous substances without regard to fault.  Potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") for each site include present and former owners and operators of, transporters to and generators of the substances at the site.  Liability is strict and can be joint and several.
We have been named as a PRP in connection with a site located in Santa Fe Springs, California, known as the Waste Disposal, Inc. site.  We and other PRPs have agreed with the Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") and the DOJ to settle our potential liabilities for this site by agreeing to perform the remaining remediation required by the EPA.  The form of the agreement is a consent decree, which has been entered by the court.  The parties to the settlement have entered into a participation agreement, which makes us liable for approximately eight percent of the remediation and related costs.  The remediation is complete, and we believe our share of the future operation and maintenance costs of the site is not material.  There are additional potential liabilities related to the site, but these cannot be quantified, and we have no reason at this time to believe that they will be material.
One of our subsidiaries has been ordered by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board ("CRWQCB") to develop a testing plan for a site known as Campus 1000 Fremont in Alhambra, California.  This site was formerly owned and operated by certain of our subsidiaries.  It is presently owned by an unrelated party, which has received an order to test the property.  We have also been advised that one or more of our subsidiaries is likely to be named by the EPA as a PRP for the San Gabriel Valley, Area 3, Superfund site, which includes this property.  Testing has been completed at the property, but no contaminants of concern were detected.  In discussions with CRWQCB staff, we were advised of their intent to issue us a "no further action" letter, but it has not yet been received.  Based on the test results, we would contest any potential liability.  We have no knowledge at this time of the potential cost of any remediation, who else will be named as PRPs, and whether in fact any of our subsidiaries is a responsible party.  The subsidiaries in question do not own any operating assets and have limited ability to respond to any liabilities.
Resolutions of other claims by the EPA, the involved state agency or PRPs are at various stages of investigation.  These investigations involve determinations of (a) the actual responsibility attributed to us and the other PRPs at the site, (b) appropriate investigatory or remedial actions and (c) allocation of the costs of such activities among the PRPs and other site users.  Our ultimate financial responsibility in connection with those sites may depend on many factors, including (i) the volume and nature of material, if any, contributed to the site for which we are responsible, (ii) the number of other PRPs and their financial viability and (iii) the remediation methods and technology to be used.
It is difficult to quantify with certainty the potential cost of these environmental matters, particularly in respect of remediation obligations.  Nevertheless, based upon the information currently available, we believe that our ultimate liability arising from all environmental matters, including the liability for all other related pending legal proceedings, asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are likely to be asserted, is adequately accrued and should not have a material effect on our consolidated statement of financial position or results of operations.
 
- 22 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Retained risk
Overview—Our hull and machinery and excess liability insurance program is comprised of commercial market and captive insurance policies that we renew annually on May 1.  We periodically evaluate our insurance limits and self‑insured retentions.  At September 30, 2015, the insured value of our drilling rig fleet was approximately $25.7 billion, excluding our rigs under construction.  We generally do not carry commercial market insurance coverage for loss of revenues or for losses resulting from physical damage to our fleet caused by named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, including liability for wreck removal costs.
Hull and machinery coverage—At September 30, 2015, under the hull and machinery program, we generally maintained a $125 million per occurrence deductible, limited to a maximum of $200 million per policy period.  Subject to the same shared deductible, we also had coverage for an amount equal to 50 percent of a rig's insured value for combined costs incurred to mitigate rig damage, wreck or debris removal and collision liability.  Any excess wreck or debris removal costs and excess collision liability costs are generally covered to the extent of our remaining excess liability coverage.
Excess liability coverage—At September 30, 2015, we carried excess liability coverage of $700 million in the commercial market excluding the deductibles and self‑insured retention noted below, which generally covers offshore risks such as personal injury, third‑party property claims, and third‑party non‑crew claims, including wreck removal and pollution.  Our excess liability coverage had separate $10 million per occurrence deductibles on collision liability claims and $5 million per occurrence deductibles on crew personal injury claims and on other third‑party non‑crew claims.  Through our wholly owned captive insurance company, we retained the risk of the primary $50 million excess liability coverage.  In addition, we generally retained the risk for any liability losses in excess of $750 million.
Other insurance coverage—At September 30, 2015, we also carried $100 million of additional insurance that generally covers expenses that would otherwise be assumed by the well owner, such as costs to control the well, redrill expenses and pollution from the well.  This additional insurance provides coverage for such expenses in circumstances in which we have legal or contractual liability arising from our gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Letters of credit and surety bonds
At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $244 million and $338 million, respectively, issued under various committed and uncommitted credit lines provided by several banks to guarantee various contract bidding, performance activities and customs obligations, including letters of credit totaling $66 million and $91 million, respectively, that we agreed to maintain in support of the operations for Shelf Drilling (see Note 7—Discontinued Operations).
As is customary in the contract drilling business, we also have various surety bonds in place that secure customs obligations relating to the importation of our rigs and certain performance and other obligations.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had outstanding surety bonds totaling $30 million and $6 million, respectively.
Note 14—Shareholders' Equity
Par value reduction—In August 2015, our board of directors recommended that shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting, scheduled to be held on October 29, 2015, (the "extraordinary general meeting") approve the reduction of the par value of each of our shares to CHF 0.10 from the original par value of CHF 15.00.  See Note 18—Subsequent Events.
Distributions of qualifying additional paid‑in capital—In May 2015, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $0.60 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.15 per outstanding share, subject to certain limitations.  We do not pay the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital with respect to our shares held in treasury or held by our subsidiary.  In May 2015, we recognized a liability of $218 million for the distribution payable, recorded in other current liabilities, with a corresponding entry to additional paid‑in capital.  On June 17 and September 23, 2015, we paid the first two installments in the aggregate amount of $109 million to shareholders of record as of May 29 and August 25, 2015.  In August 2015, our board of directors recommended that shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting approve the cancellation of the third and fourth installments of the dividend.  At September 30, 2015, the aggregate carrying amount of the distribution payable was $109 million.  See Note 18—Subsequent Events.
In May 2014, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $3.00 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.75 per outstanding share, subject to certain limitations.  In May 2014, we recognized a liability of $1.1 billion for the distribution payable with a corresponding entry to additional paid‑in capital.  On June 18 and September 17, 2014 we paid the first two installments in the aggregate amount of $544 million to shareholders of record as of May 30 and August 22, 2014.  At December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of the distribution payable was $272 million.  On March 18, 2015, we paid the final installment in the aggregate amount of $272 million to shareholders of record as of February 20, 2015.
In May 2013, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $2.24 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.56 per outstanding share, subject to certain limitations.  On March 19, 2014, we paid the final installment in the aggregate amount of $202 million to shareholders of record as of February 21, 2014.
 
- 23 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
Shares held in treasury—At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we held 2.9 million shares in treasury, recorded at cost.  In August 2015, our board of directors recommended that shareholders at our extraordinary general meeting approve the cancellation of all shares held in treasury.  See Note 18—Subsequent Events.
Shares held by subsidiary—One of our subsidiaries holds our shares for future use to satisfy our obligations to deliver shares in connection with awards granted under our incentive plans or other rights to acquire our shares.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our subsidiary held 7.2 million shares and 8.7 million shares, respectively.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss—The changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, presented net of tax, were as follows (in millions):
   
Three months ended September 30, 2015
   
Three months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
Defined benefit pension plans
   
Derivative instruments
   
Total
   
Defined benefit pension plans
   
Derivative instruments
   
Total
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
(410
)
 
$
   
$
(410
)
 
$
(188
)
 
$
   
$
(188
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
   
33
     
     
33
     
(3
)
   
     
(3
)
Reclassifications to net income
   
9
     
     
9
     
6
     
     
6
 
Other comprehensive income, net
   
42
     
     
42
     
3
     
     
3
 
Balance, end of period
 
$
(368
)
 
$
   
$
(368
)
 
$
(185
)
 
$
   
$
(185
)

   
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
Defined benefit pension plans
   
Derivative instruments
   
Total
   
Defined benefit pension plans
   
Derivative instruments
   
Total
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
(404
)
 
$
   
$
(404
)
 
$
(264
)
 
$
2
   
$
(262
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
   
22
     
     
22
     
70
     
     
70
 
Reclassifications to net income
   
14
     
     
14
     
9
     
(2
)
   
7
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net
   
36
     
     
36
     
79
     
(2
)
   
77
 
Balance, end of period
 
$
(368
)
 
$
   
$
(368
)
 
$
(185
)
 
$
   
$
(185
)

Note 15—Noncontrolling interest
Transocean Partners—On August 5, 2014, we completed an initial public offering of Transocean Partners.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, in connection with the transaction, we received cash proceeds of $416 million, net of $27 million for underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering costs, and we recorded an allocation of capital, which resulted in a decrease of $44 million to noncontrolling interest with a corresponding increase to additional paid‑in capital.
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Transocean Partners declared and paid an aggregate distribution of $25 million and $75 million, respectively, to its unitholders, of which $7 million and $21 million, respectively, was paid to the holders of noncontrolling interest and $18 million and $54 million, respectively, was paid to us and was eliminated in consolidation.
Other subsidiaries—During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, as a result of transactions with holders of noncontrolling interest in other subsidiaries, we recorded an allocation of capital, which resulted in a decrease of $9 million and an increase of $11 million, respectively, to noncontrolling interest with corresponding adjustments to additional paid‑in capital.  See Note 5—Impairments.
 
- 24 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Note 16—Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts and fair values of our financial instruments were as follows (in millions):
   
September 30, 2015
   
December 31, 2014
 
   
Carrying
amount
   
Fair
value
   
Carrying
amount
   
Fair
value
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
2,234
   
$
2,234
   
$
2,635
   
$
2,635
 
Notes and other loans receivable
   
     
     
15
     
15
 
Restricted cash investments
   
443
     
485
     
377
     
394
 
Long‑term debt, including current maturities
   
8,753
     
7,099
     
10,092
     
9,778
 
Derivative instruments, assets
   
9
     
9
     
15
     
15
 

We estimated the fair value of each class of financial instruments, for which estimating fair value is practicable, by applying the following methods and assumptions:
Cash and cash equivalents—The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents represents the historical cost, plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value because of the short maturities of those instruments.  We measured the estimated fair value of our cash equivalents using significant other observable inputs, representative of a Level 2 fair value measurement, including the net asset values of the investments.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of our cash equivalents was $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively.
Loans receivable—We held certain loans receivable, which originated in connection with certain asset dispositions.  The carrying amount represents the amortized cost of our investments.  We measured the estimated fair value using significant unobservable inputs, representative of a Level 3 fair value measurement, including the credit ratings of the borrowers.  At December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of our loans receivable was $15 million, recorded in other assets.
Restricted cash investments—The carrying amount of the Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments represents the amortized cost of our investment.  We measured the estimated fair value of the Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments using significant other observable inputs, representative of a Level 2 fair value measurement, including the terms and credit spreads of the instruments.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of the Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments was $223 million and $369 million, respectively.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the estimated fair value of the Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments was $265 million and $386 million, respectively.
The carrying amount of the restricted cash investments for our settlement with PSC pending court approval and certain contingent obligations approximates fair value due to the short‑term nature of the instruments in which the restricted cash investments are held.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of the restricted cash investments for these contingent obligations was $220 million and $8 million, respectively, recorded in other current assets.
Debt—We measured the estimated fair value of our fixed‑rate debt using significant other observable inputs, representative of a Level 2 fair value measurement, including the terms and credit spreads for the instruments.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate carrying amount of our fixed‑rate debt was $8.8 billion and $10.1 billion, respectively.  At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate estimated fair value of our fixed‑rate debt was $7.1 billion and $9.8 billion, respectively.
Derivative instruments—The carrying amount of our derivative instruments represents the estimated fair value.  We measured the estimated fair value using significant other observable inputs, representative of a Level 2 fair value measurement, including the interest rates and terms of the instruments.
Note 17—Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Transocean Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Transocean Ltd., is the issuer of certain notes and debentures, which have been guaranteed by Transocean Ltd.  Transocean Ltd.'s guarantee of debt securities of Transocean Inc. is full and unconditional.  Transocean Ltd. is not subject to any significant restrictions on its ability to obtain funds by dividends, loans or return of capital distributions from its consolidated subsidiaries.
The following tables present condensed consolidating financial information for (a) Transocean Ltd. (the "Parent Guarantor"), (b) Transocean Inc. (the "Subsidiary Issuer"), and (c) the other direct and indirect wholly owned and partially owned subsidiaries of the Parent Guarantor, none of which guarantee any indebtedness of the Subsidiary Issuer (the "Other Subsidiaries").  The condensed consolidating financial information may not be indicative of the results of operations, financial position or cash flows had the subsidiaries operated as independent entities.
 
- 25 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

The following tables include the consolidating adjustments necessary to present the condensed financial statements on a consolidated basis (in millions):
   
Three months ended September 30, 2015
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
Operating revenues
 
$
   
$
   
$
1,608
   
$
   
$
1,608
 
Cost and expenses
   
4
     
1
     
1,130
     
     
1,135
 
Loss on impairment
   
     
     
(13
)
   
     
(13
)
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
     
     
(15
)
   
     
(15
)
Operating income (loss)
   
(4
)
   
(1
)
   
450
     
     
445
 
                                         
Other income (expense), net
                                       
Interest income (expense), net
   
(2
)
   
(189
)
   
87
     
     
(104
)
Equity in earnings
   
327
     
512
     
     
(839
)
   
 
Other, net
   
     
6
     
(3
)
   
     
3
 
     
325
     
329
     
84
     
(839
)
   
(101
)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense
   
321
     
328
     
534
     
(839
)
   
344
 
Income tax expense
   
     
     
17
     
     
17
 
Income from continuing operations
   
321
     
328
     
517
     
(839
)
   
327
 
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
   
     
1
     
2
     
     
3
 
                                         
Net income
   
321
     
329
     
519
     
(839
)
   
330
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
9
     
     
9
 
Net income attributable to controlling interest
   
321
     
329
     
510
     
(839
)
   
321
 
                                         
Other comprehensive income before income taxes
   
2
     
36
     
4
     
     
42
 
Income taxes related to other comprehensive income
   
     
     
     
     
 
Other comprehensive income
   
2
     
36
     
4
     
     
42
 
                                         
Total comprehensive income
   
323
     
365
     
523
     
(839
)
   
372
 
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
9
     
     
9
 
Total comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest
 
$
323
   
$
365
   
$
514
   
$
(839
)
 
$
363
 
 
   
Three months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
Operating revenues
 
$
   
$
   
$
2,273
   
$
(3
)
 
$
2,270
 
Cost and expenses
   
7
     
     
1,654
     
(3
)
   
1,658
 
Loss on impairment
   
     
     
(2,768
)
   
     
(2,768
)
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
     
     
(12
)
   
     
(12
)
Operating loss
   
(7
)
   
     
(2,161
)
   
     
(2,168
)
                                         
Other income (expense), net
                                       
Interest income (expense), net
   
     
(145
)
   
29
     
     
(116
)
Equity in earnings
   
(2,210
)
   
(1,995
)
   
     
4,205
     
 
Other, net
   
     
     
6
     
     
6
 
     
(2,210
)
   
(2,140
)
   
35
     
4,205
     
(110
)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense
   
(2,217
)
   
(2,140
)
   
(2,126
)
   
4,205
     
(2,278
)
Income tax expense
   
     
     
(16
)
   
     
(16
)
Loss from continuing operations
   
(2,217
)
   
(2,140
)
   
(2,110
)
   
4,205
     
(2,262
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
   
     
(16
)
   
15
     
     
(1
)
                                         
Net loss
   
(2,217
)
   
(2,156
)
   
(2,095
)
   
4,205
     
(2,263
)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
(46
)
   
     
(46
)
Net loss attributable to controlling interest
   
(2,217
)
   
(2,156
)
   
(2,049
)
   
4,205
     
(2,217
)
                                         
Other comprehensive income before income taxes
   
     
2
     
2
     
     
4
 
Income taxes related to other comprehensive income
   
     
     
(1
)
   
     
(1
)
Other comprehensive income
   
     
2
     
1
     
     
3
 
                                         
Total comprehensive loss
   
(2,217
)
   
(2,154
)
   
(2,094
)
   
4,205
     
(2,260
)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
(46
)
   
     
(46
)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to controlling interest
 
$
(2,217
)
 
$
(2,154
)
 
$
(2,048
)
 
$
4,205
   
$
(2,214
)
 
 
- 26 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

 
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
Operating revenues
 
$
   
$
   
$
5,539
   
$
(4
)
 
$
5,535
 
Cost and expenses
   
16
     
5
     
3,029
     
(4
)
   
3,046
 
Loss on impairment
   
     
     
(1,839
)
   
     
(1,839
)
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
     
     
(20
)
   
     
(20
)
Operating income (loss)
   
(16
)
   
(5
)
   
651
     
     
630
 
                                         
Other income (expense), net
                                       
Interest income (expense), net
   
(4
)
   
(548
)
   
224
     
     
(328
)
Equity in earnings (loss)
   
200
     
686
     
     
(886
)
   
 
Other, net
   
     
34
     
11
     
     
45
 
     
196
     
172
     
235
     
(886
)
   
(283
)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense
   
180
     
167
     
886
     
(886
)
   
347
 
Income tax expense
   
     
     
140
     
     
140
 
Income from continuing operations
   
180
     
167
     
746
     
(886
)
   
207
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
   
     
5
     
(3
)
   
     
2
 
                                         
Net income
   
180
     
172
     
743
     
(886
)
   
209
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
29
     
     
29
 
Net income attributable to controlling interest
   
180
     
172
     
714
     
(886
)
   
180
 
                                         
Other comprehensive income before income taxes
   
     
28
     
10
     
     
38
 
Income taxes related to other comprehensive income
   
     
     
(2
)
   
     
(2
)
Other comprehensive income
   
     
28
     
8
     
     
36
 
                                         
Total comprehensive income
   
180
     
200
     
751
     
(886
)
   
245
 
Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
29
     
     
29
 
Total comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest
 
$
180
   
$
200
   
$
722
   
$
(886
)
 
$
216
 
 
 
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
Operating revenues
 
$
   
$
   
$
6,949
   
$
(12
)
 
$
6,937
 
Cost and expenses
   
25
     
2
     
4,806
     
(12
)
   
4,821
 
Loss on impairment
   
     
     
(2,833
)
   
     
(2,833
)
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
     
     
(14
)
   
     
(14
)
Operating loss
   
(25
)
   
(2
)
   
(704
)
   
     
(731
)
                                         
Other income (expense), net
                                       
Interest income (expense), net
   
(10
)
   
(423
)
   
104
     
     
(329
)
Equity in loss
   
(1,139
)
   
(689
)
   
     
1,828
     
 
Other, net
   
     
1
     
11
     
     
12
 
     
(1,149
)
   
(1,111
)
   
115
     
1,828
     
(317
)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense
   
(1,174
)
   
(1,113
)
   
(589
)
   
1,828
     
(1,048
)
Income tax expense
   
     
     
136
     
     
136
 
Loss from continuing operations
   
(1,174
)
   
(1,113
)
   
(725
)
   
1,828
     
(1,184
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
   
     
(13
)
   
(3
)
   
     
(16
)
                                         
Net loss
   
(1,174
)
   
(1,126
)
   
(728
)
   
1,828
     
(1,200
)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
(26
)
   
     
(26
)
Net loss attributable to controlling interest
   
(1,174
)
   
(1,126
)
   
(702
)
   
1,828
     
(1,174
)
                                         
Other comprehensive income before income taxes
   
12
     
59
     
10
     
     
81
 
Income taxes related to other comprehensive income
   
     
     
(4
)
   
     
(4
)
Other comprehensive income
   
12
     
59
     
6
     
     
77
 
                                         
Total comprehensive loss
   
(1,162
)
   
(1,067
)
   
(722
)
   
1,828
     
(1,123
)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
(26
)
   
     
(26
)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to controlling interest
 
$
(1,162
)
 
$
(1,067
)
 
$
(696
)
 
$
1,828
   
$
(1,097
)
 
 
- 27 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

 
   
September 30, 2015
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
Assets
                   
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
8
   
$
618
   
$
1,608
   
$
   
$
2,234
 
Other current assets
   
5
     
711
     
4,592
     
(2,636
)
   
2,672
 
Total current assets
   
13
     
1,329
     
6,200
     
(2,636
)
   
4,906
 
                                         
Property and equipment, net
   
     
     
20,352
     
     
20,352
 
Investment in affiliates
   
13,851
     
31,609
     
     
(45,460
)
   
 
Other assets
   
     
4,790
     
29,367
     
(33,580
)
   
577
 
Total assets
   
13,864
     
37,728
     
55,919
     
(81,676
)
   
25,835
 
                                         
Liabilities and equity
                                       
Debt due within one year
   
     
     
123
     
     
123
 
Other current liabilities
   
127
     
356
     
3,860
     
(2,636
)
   
1,707
 
Total current liabilities
   
127
     
356
     
3,983
     
(2,636
)
   
1,830
 
                                         
Long-term debt
   
     
23,951
     
18,259
     
(33,580
)
   
8,630
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
17
     
266
     
1,051
     
     
1,334
 
Total long-term liabilities
   
17
     
24,217
     
19,310
     
(33,580
)
   
9,964
 
                                         
Commitments and contingencies
                                       
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
15
     
     
15
 
                                         
Total equity
   
13,720
     
13,155
     
32,611
     
(45,460
)
   
14,026
 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
13,864
   
$
37,728
   
$
55,919
   
$
(81,676
)
 
$
25,835
 


   
December 31, 2014
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
Assets
                   
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
16
   
$
842
   
$
1,777
   
$
   
$
2,635
 
Other current assets
   
12
     
757
     
5,228
     
(2,631
)
   
3,366
 
Total current assets
   
28
     
1,599
     
7,005
     
(2,631
)
   
6,001
 
                                         
Property and equipment, net
   
     
     
21,538
     
     
21,538
 
Investment in affiliates
   
13,952
     
30,925
     
     
(44,877
)
   
 
Other assets
   
     
3,899
     
25,883
     
(28,908
)
   
874
 
Total assets
   
13,980
     
36,423
     
54,426
     
(76,416
)
   
28,413
 
                                         
Liabilities and equity
                                       
Debt due within one year
   
     
898
     
135
     
     
1,033
 
Other current liabilities
   
287
     
473
     
4,608
     
(2,631
)
   
2,737
 
Total current liabilities
   
287
     
1,371
     
4,743
     
(2,631
)
   
3,770
 
                                         
Long-term debt
   
     
21,486
     
16,481
     
(28,908
)
   
9,059
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
22
     
280
     
1,289
     
     
1,591
 
Total long-term liabilities
   
22
     
21,766
     
17,770
     
(28,908
)
   
10,650
 
                                         
Commitments and contingencies
                                       
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
11
     
     
11
 
                                         
Total equity
   
13,671
     
13,286
     
31,902
     
(44,877
)
   
13,982
 
Total liabilities and equity
 
$
13,980
   
$
36,423
   
$
54,426
   
$
(76,416
)
 
$
28,413
 
 
- 28 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)
 
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2015
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
                     
Cash flows from operating activities
 
$
(11
)
 
$
(413
)
 
$
2,909
   
$
   
$
2,485
 
                                         
Cash flows from investing activities
                                       
Capital expenditures
   
     
     
(1,336
)
   
     
(1,336
)
Proceeds from disposal of assets, net
   
     
     
33
     
     
33
 
Proceeds from disposal of assets in discontinued operations, net
   
     
     
3
     
     
3
 
Proceeds from repayment of notes receivable
   
     
     
15
     
     
15
 
Investing activities with affiliates, net
   
     
(1,394
)
   
(2,744
)
   
4,138
     
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
     
(1,394
)
   
(4,029
)
   
4,138
     
(1,285
)
                                         
Cash flows from financing activities
                                       
Repayments of debt
   
     
(1,178
)
   
(128
)
   
     
(1,306
)
Proceeds from restricted cash investments
   
     
     
110
     
     
110
 
Distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital
   
(381
)
   
     
     
     
(381
)
Distribution to holders of noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
(21
)
   
     
(21
)
Financing activities with affiliates, net
   
387
     
2,761
     
990
     
(4,138
)
   
 
Other, net
   
(3
)
   
     
     
     
(3
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
3
     
1,583
     
951
     
(4,138
)
   
(1,601
)
                                         
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
   
(8
)
   
(224
)
   
(169
)
   
     
(401
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
16
     
842
     
1,777
     
     
2,635
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
8
   
$
618
   
$
1,608
   
$
   
$
2,234
 
 
 
   
Nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
   
Parent
Guarantor
   
Subsidiary
Issuer
   
Other
Subsidiaries
   
Consolidating
adjustments
   
Consolidated
 
                     
Cash flows from operating activities
 
$
534
   
$
(1,019
)
 
$
2,139
   
$
   
$
1,654
 
                                         
Cash flows from investing activities
                                       
Capital expenditures
   
     
     
(1,847
)
   
     
(1,847
)
Proceeds from disposal of assets, net
   
     
     
203
     
     
203
 
Proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations, net
   
     
     
35
     
     
35
 
Investment in loans receivable
   
     
     
(15
)
   
     
(15
)
Proceeds from repayment of notes receivable
   
     
     
101
     
     
101
 
Investing activities with affiliates, net
   
19
     
1,188
     
497
     
(1,704
)
   
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
19
     
1,188
     
(1,026
)
   
(1,704
)
   
(1,523
)
                                         
Cash flows from financing activities
                                       
Repayments of debt
   
     
     
(318
)
   
     
(318
)
Proceeds from restricted cash investments
   
     
     
176
     
     
176
 
Deposits to restricted cash investments
   
     
     
(20
)
   
     
(20
)
Proceeds from sale of noncontrolling interest
   
     
     
443
     
     
443
 
Distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital
   
(746
)
   
     
     
     
(746
)
Financing activities with affiliates, net
   
217
     
(506
)
   
(1,415
)
   
1,704
     
 
Other, net
   
(3
)
   
(6
)
   
(27
)
   
     
(36
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(532
)
   
(512
)
   
(1,161
)
   
1,704
     
(501
)
                                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
21
     
(343
)
   
(48
)
   
     
(370
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
4
     
1,617
     
1,622
     
     
3,243
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
25
   
$
1,274
   
$
1,574
   
$
   
$
2,873
 
 
 
- 29 -

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—continued
(Unaudited)

Note 18—Subsequent Events
States settlement agreement—Effective October 13, 2015, we finalized a settlement agreement with the States, pursuant to which the States agreed to release all of their claims against us arising from the Macondo well incident.  At September 30, 2015, in connection with the settlement, we had a liability of $35 million, recorded in other current liabilities, and on October 22, 2015, we made an aggregate cash payment of $35 million to the States.
Extraordinary general meeting—In August 2015, we announced that we would convene an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders for approval of certain proposed items.  On October 29, 2015, shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting approved the following items: (a) the election of Jeremy D. Thigpen, our President and Chief Executive Officer, as a member of our board of directors for a term extending until completion of the 2016 annual general meeting, (b) the cancellation of the third and fourth installments of the dividend approved at the annual general meeting held on May 15, 2015, (c) the reduction of the par value of each of our shares to CHF 0.10 from the original par value of CHF 15.00 and (d) the cancellation of all shares that have been repurchased to date under our share repurchase program, which was approved by shareholders at the annual general meeting held on May 15, 2009.

- 30 -

 
Item 2.                Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward‑Looking Information
The statements included in this quarterly report regarding future financial performance and results of operations and other statements that are not historical facts are forward‑looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States ("U.S.") Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").  Forward‑looking statements in this quarterly report include, but are not limited to, statements about the following subjects:
§
our results of operations and cash flow from operations, including revenues, revenue efficiency, costs and expenses,
§
the offshore drilling market, including the impact of enhanced regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate, supply and demand, utilization rates, dayrates, customer drilling programs, commodity prices, stacking of rigs, reactivation of rigs, effects of new rigs on the market and effects of declines in commodity prices and a downturn in the global economy or market outlook for our various geographical operating sectors and classes of rigs,
§
customer drilling contracts, including contract backlog, force majeure provisions, contract commencements, contract extensions, contract terminations, contract option exercises, contract revenues, indemnity provisions, contract awards and rig mobilizations,
§
liquidity and adequacy of cash flows for our obligations,
§
debt levels, including impacts of a financial and economic downturn,
§
uses of excess cash, including the payment of dividends and other distributions, share repurchases and debt retirement, including the amounts, timing and, as applicable shareholder proposals or approvals associated with uses of excess cash,
§
newbuild, upgrade, shipyard and other capital projects, including completion, delivery and commencement of operation dates, expected downtime and lost revenue, the level of expected capital expenditures and the timing and cost of completion of capital projects,
§
the cost and timing of acquisitions and the proceeds and timing of dispositions,
§
the optimization of rig‑based spending,
§
the impact of the Macondo well incident, claims, settlement and related matters,
§
tax matters, including our effective tax rate, changes in tax laws, treaties and regulations, tax assessments and liabilities for tax issues, including those associated with our activities in Brazil, Norway, the United Kingdom ("U.K.") and the U.S.,
§
legal and regulatory matters, including results and effects of legal proceedings and governmental audits and assessments, outcomes and effects of internal and governmental investigations, customs and environmental matters,
§
insurance matters, including adequacy of insurance, renewal of insurance, insurance proceeds and cash investments of our wholly owned captive insurance company,
§
effects of accounting changes and adoption of accounting policies, and
§
investments in recruitment, retention and personnel development initiatives, pension plan and other postretirement benefit plan contributions, the timing of severance payments and benefit payments.
Forward‑looking statements in this quarterly report are identifiable by use of the following words and other similar expressions:
§"anticipates"
§"could"
§"forecasts"
§"might"
§"projects"
§"believes"
§"estimates"
§"intends"
§"plans"
§"scheduled"
§"budgets"
§"expects"
§"may"
§"predicts"
§"should"
Such statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to:
     
§
those described under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" included in Part I of our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014,
§
the adequacy of and access to sources of liquidity,
§
our inability to obtain drilling contracts for our rigs that do not have contracts,
§
our inability to renew drilling contracts at comparable dayrates,
§
operational performance,
§
the impact of regulatory changes,
§
the cancellation of drilling contracts currently included in our reported contract backlog,
§
losses on impairment of long‑lived assets,
§
shipyard, construction and other delays,
§
the results of meetings of our shareholders,
§
changes in political, social and economic conditions,
§
the effect and results of litigation, regulatory matters, settlements, audits, assessments and contingencies, and
§
other factors discussed in this quarterly report and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available free of charge on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
The foregoing risks and uncertainties are beyond our ability to control, and in many cases, we cannot predict the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward‑looking statements.  Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated.  All subsequent written and oral forward‑looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties.  You should not place undue reliance on forward‑looking statements.  Each forward‑looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement.  We expressly disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward‑looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs with regard to the statement or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward‑looking statement is based, except as required by law.
 
- 31 -

 
Business
Transocean Ltd. (together with its subsidiaries and predecessors, unless the context requires otherwise, "Transocean," "we," "us" or "our") is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells.  As of October 26, 2015, we owned or had partial ownership interests in and operated 62 mobile offshore drilling units, including 27 Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters, seven Harsh Environment Floaters, six Deepwater Floaters, 12 Midwater Floaters and 10 High‑Specification Jackups.  At October 26, 2015, we also had seven Ultra-Deepwater drillships and five High‑Specification Jackups under construction or under contract to be constructed.
We provide contract drilling services, in a single, global operating segment, which involves contracting our mobile offshore drilling fleet, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and gas wells.  We specialize in technically demanding regions of the offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services.  We believe our drilling fleet is one of the most versatile fleets in the world, consisting of floaters and high‑specification jackups used in support of offshore drilling activities and offshore support services on a worldwide basis.
Our contract drilling services operations are geographically dispersed in oil and gas exploration and development areas throughout the world.  Although rigs can be moved from one region to another, the cost of moving rigs and the availability of rig‑moving vessels may cause the supply and demand balance to fluctuate somewhat between regions.  Still, significant variations between regions do not tend to persist long term because of rig mobility.  Our fleet operates in a single, global market for the provision of contract drilling services.  The location of our rigs and the allocation of resources to build or upgrade rigs are determined by the activities and needs of our customers.
On August 5, 2014, we completed an initial public offering to sell a noncontrolling interest in Transocean Partners LLC ("Transocean Partners"), a Marshall Islands limited liability company, which was formed on February 6, 2014, by Transocean Partners Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands company and our wholly owned subsidiary, to own, operate and acquire modern, technologically advanced offshore drilling rigs.  See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 15—Noncontrolling Interest.
Significant Events
Macondo well incident litigation and settlements and insurance recoveries—On May 20, 2015, we entered into a confidential settlement agreement with BP to settle various disputes remaining between the parties with respect to the Macondo well incident (the "BP Settlement Agreement").  On May 29, 2015, together with the Plaintiff's Steering Committee (the "PSC"), we filed a settlement agreement (the "PSC Settlement Agreement") with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (the "MDL Court") through which we have agreed to pay, subject to the MDL Court approval, a total of $212 million, plus up to $25 million for partial reimbursement of attorneys' fees.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, in connection with the settlements, we adjusted our assets and liabilities associated with contingencies resulting from the Macondo well incident.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized income of $788 million ($735 million, net of tax), recorded as a net reduction to operating and maintenance costs and expenses, including $538 million associated with recoveries from insurance for our previously incurred losses, $125 million associated with partial reimbursement from BP for our previously incurred legal costs, and $125 million associated with a net reduction to certain related contingent liabilities, either settled, otherwise resolved or increased as a result of such settlements.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received cash proceeds of $93 million and $538 million, respectively, associated with recoveries from insurance.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received cash proceeds of $125 million associated with the partial reimbursement from BP for previously incurred legal costs, and we made a cash deposit of $212 million into an escrow account associated with the pending court approval of our settlement with the PSC.
Effective October 13, 2015, we finalized a settlement agreement with the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas (collectively, the "States"), pursuant to which the States agreed to release all of their claims against us arising from the Macondo well incident.  At September 30, 2015, in connection with the settlement, we had a liability of $35 million, recorded in other current liabilities, and on October 22, 2015, we made an aggregate cash payment of $35 million to the States.
See '"—Operating Results," "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Sources and uses of liquidity" and "—Contingencies—Macondo well incident."
Debt redemption—On July 30, 2015, we redeemed the aggregate principal amount of $893 million of the outstanding 4.95% Senior Notes with an aggregate cash payment of $904 million for the full redemption of the notes.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a loss of $10 million associated with the retirement of the debt.  See "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Sources and uses of liquidity."
Debt repurchases—In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we made an aggregate cash payment of $274 million and recognized an aggregate gain of $17 million associated with the open market repurchases of an aggregate principal amount of $292 million of certain of our publicly traded debt securities.  See "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Sources and uses of liquidity."
 
- 32 -


Distributions of qualifying additional paid-in capital—In May 2015, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $0.60 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.15 per outstanding share, subject to certain limitations.  On June 17 and September 23, 2015, we paid the first two installments in the aggregate amount of $109 million to shareholders of record as of May 29 and August 25, 2015.  On October 29, 2015, shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting approved the cancellation of the third and fourth installments of the dividend.
In May 2014, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $3.00 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.75 per outstanding share, subject to certain limitations.  On June 18 and September 17, 2014, we paid the first two installments in the aggregate amount of $544 million to shareholders of record as of May 30 and August 22, 2014.  On March 18, 2015, we paid the final installment in the aggregate amount of $272 million to shareholders of record as of February 20, 2015.
In May 2013, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $2.24 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments, subject to certain limitations.  On March 19, 2014, we paid the final installment in the aggregate amount of $202 million to shareholders of record as of February 21, 2014.
See "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Sources and uses of liquidity."
Impairments of long‑lived assets—During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we identified indicators that our Deepwater Floater and Midwater Floater asset groups may not be recoverable.  As a result of our impairment testing, in the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a loss of $1.2 billion ($1.1 billion, net of tax) associated with the impairment of these held and used assets.  See "—Operating Results" and Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5—Impairments.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we committed to a plan to sell for scrap value the Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters Deepwater Expedition and GSF Explorer, the Deepwater Floaters GSF Celtic Sea, Sedco 707 and Transocean Rather and the Midwater Floaters GSF Aleutian Key, GSF Arctic III, GSF Rig 135, Transocean Amirante and Transocean Legend along with related equipment.  As a result, we recognized an aggregate loss of $664 million ($550 million, net of tax) associated with the impairment of these held for sale assets.  See "—Operating Results", "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Drilling fleet" and Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5—Impairments.
Dispositions—During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we completed the sale of the Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters Deepwater Expedition and GSF Explorer, the Deepwater Floaters Discoverer Seven Seas, Sedco 707, Sedco 710 and Sovereign Explorer and the Midwater Floaters C. Kirk Rhein, Jr., GSF Arctic I, GSF Arctic III, J.W. McLean, Sedco 601, Sedco 700 and Transocean Legend along with related equipment and we received net cash proceeds of $25 million.  See "—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Drilling fleet."
Outlook
Drilling market—Although our long-term view of the offshore drilling market remains positive, particularly for high‑specification assets, we expect the near to medium term to be especially challenging given the sustained weak commodity pricing, coupled with our customers' focus on reducing costs, spending within their cash flow and maintaining capital allocation policies resulting in delays of many exploration and development programs.  Oil and natural gas prices do not currently support sustained demand for drilling rigs across all asset classes and regions.  As a result of this reduced demand, we have seen a sharp decline in the execution of drilling contracts for the global offshore drilling fleet.  We do not currently expect the number of drilling contract awards to increase in 2016, exacerbating the current excess rig capacity, leading to lower utilization and dayrates.  In this environment, older and less capable assets are more likely to be permanently retired, ultimately reducing the available supply of drilling rigs.  As of October 26, 2015, our contract backlog was $16.9 billion compared to $18.6 billion as of July 15, 2015.
 
- 33 -


Fleet status—As of October 26, 2015, uncommitted fleet rates for the remainder of 2015 and for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were as follows:
   
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
Uncommitted fleet rate (a) (b)
                   
Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters
 
37
%
 
50
%
 
64
%
 
73
%
 
76
%
Harsh‑Environment Floaters
 
43
%
 
54
%
 
72
%
 
86
%
 
92
%
Deepwater Floaters
 
33
%
 
82
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
Midwater Floaters
 
42
%
 
79
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
High‑Specification Jackups
 
30
%
 
43
%
 
72
%
 
90
%
 
100
%
______________________________
(a)
The uncommitted fleet rate is defined as the number of uncommitted days divided by the total number of rig calendar days in the measurement period, expressed as a percentage.  An uncommitted day is defined as a calendar day during which a rig is idle or stacked, is not contracted to a customer and is not committed to a shipyard.
(b)
Uncommitted fleet rates exclude the effect of priced options.

Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters—During the third quarter of 2015, four contracts and extensions for Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters were entered into worldwide, including our contract extension for Dhirubhai Deepwater KG2.  As of October 26, 2015, we had 17 of our 27 Ultra-Deepwater Floaters contracted through the end of 2015.
Harsh Environment Floaters—In the third quarter of 2015, we had one extension for Transocean Barents.  As of October 26, 2015, we had four of our seven Harsh Environment Floaters contracted through the end of 2015.
Deepwater Floaters—As of October 26, 2015, we had four of our six Deepwater Floaters contracted through the end of 2015.
Midwater Floaters—As of October 26, 2015, we had seven of our 12 Midwater Floaters contracted through the end of 2015.
High‑Specification Jackups—As of October 26, 2015, we had seven of our 10 High‑Specification Jackups contracted through the end of 2015.
Performance and Other Key Indicators
Contract backlog—Contract backlog is defined as the maximum contractual operating dayrate multiplied by the number of days remaining in the firm contract period, excluding revenues for mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation or other incentive provisions, which are not expected to be significant to our contract drilling revenues.  The contract backlog represents the maximum contract drilling revenues that can be earned considering the contractual operating dayrate in effect during the firm contract period and represents the basis for the maximum revenues in our revenue efficiency measurement.  To determine maximum revenues for purposes of calculating revenue efficiency, however, we include the revenues earned for mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation, which are excluded from the amounts presented for contract backlog.
The contract backlog for our contract drilling services was as follows:
   
October 26,
2015
   
July 15,
2015
   
February 17,
2015
 
Contract backlog
 
(In millions)
 
Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters
 
$
14,444
   
$
15,346
   
$
16,529
 
Harsh Environment Floaters
   
1,146
     
1,241
     
1,591
 
Deepwater Floaters
   
222
     
402
     
673
 
Midwater Floaters
   
530
     
870
     
1,613
 
High‑Specification Jackups
   
595
     
698
     
834
 
Total
 
$
16,937
   
$
18,557
   
$
21,240
 

Our contract backlog includes only firm commitments, which are represented by signed drilling contracts or, in some cases, by other definitive agreements awaiting contract execution.  Our contract backlog includes amounts associated with our newbuild units that are currently under construction.  The contractual operating dayrate may be higher than the actual dayrate we ultimately receive or an alternative contractual dayrate, such as a waiting‑on‑weather rate, repair rate, standby rate or force majeure rate, may apply under certain circumstances.  The contractual operating dayrate may also be higher than the actual dayrate we ultimately receive because of a number of factors, including rig downtime or suspension of operations.  In certain contracts, the dayrate may be reduced to zero if, for example, repairs extend beyond a stated period of time.
 
- 34 -


Average daily revenue—Average daily revenue is defined as contract drilling revenues earned per operating day.  An operating day is defined as a calendar day during which a rig is contracted to earn a dayrate during the firm contract period after commencement of operations.  The average daily revenue for our contract drilling services was as follows:
   
Three months ended
 
   
September 30,
2015
   
June 30,
2015
   
September 30,
2014
 
Average daily revenue
           
UltraDeepwater Floaters
 
$
475,800
   
$
531,400
   
$
524,100
 
Harsh Environment Floaters
   
493,400
     
513,300
     
493,800
 
Deepwater Floaters
   
368,600
     
364,000
     
357,700
 
Midwater Floaters
   
350,000
     
338,800
     
353,000
 
HighSpecification Jackups
   
172,700
     
172,100
     
167,800
 
Total fleet average daily revenue
   
385,300
     
399,700
     
403,100
 

Our average daily revenue fluctuates relative to market conditions and our revenue efficiency.  Our total fleet average daily revenue is also affected by the mix of rig classes being operated, as Midwater Floaters and High‑Specification Jackups are typically contracted at lower dayrates compared to Ultra-Deepwater Floaters, Harsh Environment Floaters and Deepwater Floaters.  We include newbuilds in the calculation when the rigs commence operations upon acceptance by the customer.  We remove rigs from the calculation upon disposal, classification as held for sale or classification as discontinued operations.
Revenue efficiency—Revenue efficiency is defined as actual contract drilling revenues for the measurement period divided by the maximum revenue calculated for the measurement period, expressed as a percentage.  Maximum revenue is defined as the greatest amount of contract drilling revenues the drilling unit could earn for the measurement period, excluding amounts related to incentive provisions.  The revenue efficiency rates for our contract drilling services were as follows:
   
Three months ended
 
   
September 30,
2015
   
June 30,
2015
   
September 30,
2014
 
Revenue efficiency
                 
UltraDeepwater Floaters
   
92
%
   
97
%
   
92
%
Harsh Environment Floaters
   
99
%
   
98
%
   
95
%
Deepwater Floaters
   
99
%
   
100
%
   
93
%
Midwater Floaters
   
98
%
   
95
%
   
92
%
HighSpecification Jackups
   
99
%
   
99
%
   
97
%
Total fleet revenue efficiency
   
95
%
   
97
%
   
93
%

Our revenue efficiency rate varies due to revenues earned under alternative contractual dayrates, such as a waiting‑on‑weather rate, repair rate, standby rate, force majeure rate or zero rate, that may apply under certain circumstances.  We include newbuilds in the calculation when the rigs commence operations upon acceptance by the customer.  We exclude rigs that are not operating under contract, such as those that are stacked.
Rig utilization—Rig utilization is defined as the total number of operating days divided by the total number of rig calendar days in the measurement period, expressed as a percentage.  The rig utilization rates for our fleet were as follows:
   
Three months ended
 
   
September 30,
2015
   
June 30,
2015
   
September 30,
2014
 
Rig utilization
                 
UltraDeepwater Floaters
   
65
%
   
65
%
   
84
%
Harsh Environment Floaters
   
66
%
   
74
%
   
77
%
Deepwater Floaters
   
67
%
   
71
%
   
59
%
Midwater Floaters
   
78
%
   
89
%
   
65
%
HighSpecification Jackups
   
78
%
   
87
%
   
99
%
Total fleet rig utilization
   
70
%
   
75
%
   
76
%

Our rig utilization rate declines as a result of idle and stacked rigs and during shipyard and mobilization periods to the extent these rigs are not earning revenues.  We include newbuilds in the calculation when the rigs commence operations upon acceptance by the customer.  We remove rigs from the calculation upon disposal, classification as held for sale or classification as discontinued operations.  Accordingly, our rig utilization can increase when idle or stacked units are removed from our drilling fleet.
 
- 35 -

 
Operating Results
Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to three months ended September 30, 2014
The following is an analysis of our operating results.  See "—Performance and Other Key Indicators" for definitions of operating days, average daily revenue, revenue efficiency and rig utilization.
   
Three months ended
September 30,
         
   
2015
   
2014
   
Change
   
% Change
 
   
(In millions, except day amounts and percentages)
 
                 
Operating days
   
4,063
     
5,484
     
(1,421
)
   
(26)
%
Average daily revenue
 
$
385,300
   
$
403,100
   
$
(17,800
)
   
(4)
%
Revenue efficiency
   
95
%
   
93
%
               
Rig utilization
   
70
%
   
76
%
               
                                 
Contract drilling revenues
 
$
1,569
   
$
2,215
   
$
(646
)
   
(29)
%
Other revenues
   
39
     
55
     
(16
)
   
(29)
%
Total revenues
   
1,608
     
2,270
     
(662
)
   
(29)
%
Operating and maintenance expense
   
(880
)
   
(1,318
)
   
438
     
33
%
Depreciation expense
   
(210
)
   
(288
)
   
78
     
27
%
General and administrative expense
   
(45
)
   
(52
)
   
7
     
13
%
Loss on impairment
   
(13
)
   
(2,768
)
   
2,755
     
100
%
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
(15
)
   
(12
)
   
(3
)
   
(25)
%
Operating income (loss)
   
445
     
(2,168
)
   
2,613
     
n/m
 
Other income (expense), net
                               
Interest income
   
5
     
6
     
(1
)
   
(17)
%
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized
   
(109
)
   
(122
)
   
13
     
11
%
Other, net
   
3
     
6
     
(3
)
   
(50)
%
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense
   
344
     
(2,278
)
   
2,622
     
n/m
 
Income tax (expense) benefit
   
(17
)
   
16
     
(33
)
   
n/m
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
327
   
$
(2,262
)
 
$
2,589
     
n/m
 
______________________________
"n/m" means not meaningful.

Operating revenues—Contract drilling revenues decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $555 million of decreased revenues resulting from additional rigs idle or stacked, (b) approximately $260 million of decreased revenues resulting from rigs sold or classified as held for sale and (c) approximately $95 million of decreased revenues resulting from lower dayrates.  These decreases were partially offset by increased revenues due to the following: (a) approximately $170 million of increased revenues resulting from fewer shipyard and mobilization days for the active fleet, (b) approximately $50 million of increased revenues associated with our two newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillships that commenced operations subsequent to September 30, 2014, and (c) approximately $40 million of increased revenues resulting from improved efficiency.
Costs and expenses—Operating and maintenance costs and expenses decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $150 million of decreased costs and expenses resulting from fewer shipyards and mobilizations, (b) approximately $140 million of decreased costs and expenses resulting from rigs sold or classified as held for sale, (c) approximately $130 million of decreased costs and expenses resulting from cost reductions for our idle or stacked rigs and (d) approximately $45 million of other decreased costs and expenses, primarily personnel related, both offshore and onshore.  Partially offsetting these decreases was approximately $30 million of increased costs associated with adjustments to the allowance for obsolescence on our excess materials and supplies, both onshore and offshore, as a result of reduced opportunities to utilize such assets.
Depreciation expense decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $56 million of decreased depreciation resulting from rigs sold or classified as held for sale and (b) approximately $43 million of decreased depreciation resulting from the impairment of our Deepwater Floater and Midwater Floater asset groups.  This decrease was partially offset by the following: (a) approximately $6 million of increased depreciation associated with our two newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillships that commenced operations in the three months ended September 30, 2014 and (b) approximately $4 million of increased depreciation resulting from the reduction of the salvage values for certain drilling units.
 
- 36 -

 
General and administrative expense decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $3 million of reduced costs associated with professional fees and (b) approximately $3 million of reduced personnel costs primarily related to compensation.
Losses on impairments and disposals—In the three months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a loss associated with the impairment of certain assets classified as held for sale.  In the three months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized a loss on impairment due to the following: (a) a loss of $2.0 billion associated with the impairment of our goodwill, (b) a loss of $788 million associated with the impairment of the Deepwater Floater asset group and (c) an aggregate loss of $7 million associated with the impairment of certain assets classified as held for sale.
In the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we recognized net losses primarily associated with the disposal of assets unrelated to rig sales.
Income tax expense—We operate internationally and provide for income taxes based on the tax laws and rates in the countries in which we operate and earn income.  At September 30, 2015 and 2014, our annual effective tax rates were 7.5 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively, based on income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, after excluding certain items, such as losses on impairment and gains and losses on certain asset disposals.  During the three months ended September 30, 2015, our annual effective tax rate decreased due to changes in income from continuing operations and changes in the jurisdictional and operating structure for certain rigs, which had an effect on our deferred tax assets.  This decrease was partially offset by an increase from changes in currency exchange rates.  The tax effect, if any, of the excluded items as well as settlements of prior year tax liabilities and changes in prior year tax estimates are all treated as discrete period tax expenses or benefits.  For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the effect of the various discrete period tax items was a net tax benefit of $9 million and $45 million, respectively.  For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, these discrete tax items, coupled with the excluded income and expense items noted above, resulted in effective tax rates of 4.9 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively, based on income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes.
The relationship between our provision for or benefit from income taxes and our income before income taxes can vary significantly from period to period considering, among other factors, (a) the overall level of income before income taxes, (b) changes in the blend of income that is taxed based on gross revenues versus income before taxes, (c) rig movements between taxing jurisdictions and (d) our rig operating structures.  Generally, our annual marginal tax rate is lower than our annual effective tax rate.  Consequently, our income tax expense does not change proportionally with our income before income taxes.  Significant decreases in our income before income taxes typically lead to higher effective tax rates, while significant increases in income before income taxes can lead to lower effective tax rates, subject to the other factors impacting income tax expense noted above.  With respect to the annual effective tax rate calculation for the three months ended September 30, 2015, a significant portion of our income tax expense was generated in countries in which income taxes are imposed on gross revenues, with the most significant of these countries being Angola, India, Nigeria, Indonesia and the Republic of Congo.  Conversely, the countries in which we incurred the most significant income taxes during this period that were based on income before income tax include Norway, the U.K., Switzerland, Brazil and the U.S.
Our rig operating structures further complicate our tax calculations, especially in instances where we have more than one operating structure for the particular taxing jurisdiction and, thus, more than one method of calculating taxes depending on the operating structure utilized by the rig under the contract.  For example, two rigs operating in the same country could generate significantly different provisions for income taxes if they are owned by two different subsidiaries that are subject to differing tax laws and regulations in the respective country of incorporation.
 
- 37 -


Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2014
The following is an analysis of our operating results.  See "—Performance and Other Key Indicators" for definitions of operating days, average daily revenue, revenue efficiency and rig utilization.
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
         
   
2015
   
2014
   
Change
   
% Change
 
   
(In millions, except day amounts and percentages)
 
                 
Operating days
   
13,515
     
16,690
     
(3,175
)
   
(19)
%
Average daily revenue
 
$
394,800
   
$
405,800
   
$
(11,000
)
   
(3)
%
Revenue efficiency
   
96
%
   
95
%
               
Rig utilization
   
75
%
   
78
%
               
                                 
Contract drilling revenues
 
$
5,346
   
$
6,785
   
$
(1,439
)
   
(21)
%
Other revenues
   
189
     
152
     
37
     
24
%
Total revenues
   
5,535
     
6,937
     
(1,402
)
   
(20)
%
Operating and maintenance expense
   
(2,161
)
   
(3,800
)
   
1,639
     
43
%
Depreciation expense
   
(750
)
   
(849
)
   
99
     
12
%
General and administrative expense
   
(135
)
   
(172
)
   
37
     
22
%
Loss on impairment
   
(1,839
)
   
(2,833
)
   
994
     
35
%
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
(20
)
   
(14
)
   
(6
)
   
(43)
%
Operating income (loss)
   
630
     
(731
)
   
1,361
     
n/m
 
Other income (expense), net
                               
Interest income
   
17
     
31
     
(14
)
   
(45)
%
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized
   
(345
)
   
(360
)
   
15
     
4
%
Other, net
   
45
     
12
     
33
     
n/m
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense
   
347
     
(1,048
)
   
1,395
     
n/m
 
Income tax expense
   
(140
)
   
(136
)
   
(4
)
   
(3)
%
Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
207
   
$
(1,184
)
 
$
1,391
     
n/m
 
______________________________
"n/m" means not meaningful

Operating revenues—Contract drilling revenues decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $1.2 billion of decreased revenues resulting from additional rigs idle or stacked, (b) approximately $750 million of decreased revenues resulting from rigs sold or classified as held for sale and (c) approximately $140 million of decreased revenues resulting from lower dayrates.  These decreases were partially offset by the following: (a) approximately $315 million of increased revenues resulting from fewer shipyard and mobilization days for the active fleet, (b) approximately $285 million of increased revenues associated with our two newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillships that commenced operations subsequent to September 30, 2014 and (c) approximately $90 million of increased revenues resulting from improved revenue efficiency.
Other revenues increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to approximately $69 million of fees earned in connection with drilling contracts terminated by our customers during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
Costs and expenses—Excluding the favorable effect of $788 million resulting from cost reimbursements from settlements, recoveries from insurance and net adjustments to contingent liabilities associated with the Macondo well incident, operating and maintenance costs and expenses decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $310 million of decreased costs and expenses resulting from rigs sold or classified as held for sale, (b) approximately $290 million of decreased costs and expenses resulting from fewer shipyards and mobilizations, (c) approximately $200 million of decreased costs and expenses resulting from cost reductions for our idle or stacked rigs and (d) approximately $140 million of decreased costs and expenses resulting from other costs, primarily personnel related, both offshore and onshore.  These decreases were partially offset by approximately $70 million of increased costs and expenses associated with our two newbuild Ultra-Deepwater drillships that commenced operations subsequent to September 30, 2014.
 
- 38 -

 
Depreciation expense decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $140 million of decreased depreciation resulting from rigs sold or classified as held for sale and (b) approximately $66 million of decreased depreciation resulting from the impairment of our Deepwater Floater and Midwater Floater asset groups.  These decreases were partially offset by the following: (a) approximately $48 million of increased depreciation resulting from the reduction of the salvage values for certain drilling units and (b) approximately $29 million of increased depreciation resulting from the introduction of our two newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillships that commenced operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and (c) approximately $25 million of increased depreciation resulting from our completion of other construction projects.
General and administrative expense decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the following: (a) approximately $19 million of reduced personnel costs primarily related to compensation and (b) approximately $17 million of reduced costs primarily associated with legal and professional fees.
Losses on impairments and disposals—In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a loss on impairment related to the following: (a) a loss of $507 million associated with the impairment of our Deepwater Floater asset group, (b) a loss of $668 million associated with the impairment of our Midwater Floater asset group and (c) an aggregate loss of $664 million associated with the impairment of certain assets classified as held for sale.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized a loss on impairment related to the following: (a) a loss of $2.0 billion associated with the impairment of our goodwill, (b) a loss of $788 million associated with the impairment of our Deepwater Floater asset group and (c) an aggregate loss of $72 million associated with the impairment of certain assets classified as held for sale.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we completed the sale of two Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters, four Deepwater Floaters and seven Midwater Floaters, along with related equipment, and recognized an aggregate net gain of $7 million.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we completed the sale of two High‑Specification Jackups along with related equipment and recognized an aggregate net loss of $2 million.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we recognized an aggregate net loss of $27 million and $12 million, respectively, associated with the disposal of assets unrelated to rig sales.
Other income and expense—In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized other income, net, primarily related to the following: (a) a gain of $34 million associated with income from license fees and royalties for our dual‑activity patent, (b) a gain of $7 million associated with the retirement of debt and (c) a gain of $2 million associated with currency exchange.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recognized other income, net primarily related to the following: (a) a gain of $7 million associated with the prepayment of certain notes receivable and (b) a gain of $7 million associated with settlement of litigation related to our dual‑activity patent partially offset by (c) a loss of $4 million primarily associated with the early termination of our former three‑year secured revolving credit facility.
Income tax expense—We operate internationally and provide for income taxes based on the tax laws and rates in the countries in which we operate and earn income.  At September 30, 2015 and 2014, the annual effective tax rates were 18.0 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively, based on income from continuing operations before income taxes, after excluding certain items, such as losses on impairment, and gains and losses on certain asset disposals.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, our annual effective tax rate increased due to changes in income from continuing operations and changes in currency exchange rates.  This increase was partially offset by a decrease from changes in the jurisdictional and operating structure for certain rigs, which had an effect on our deferred tax assets.  The tax effect, if any, of the excluded items as well as settlements of prior year tax liabilities and changes in prior year tax estimates are all treated as discrete period tax expenses or benefits.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, the effect of the various discrete period tax items was a net tax benefit of $9 million and $72 million, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, these discrete tax items, coupled with the excluded income and expense items noted above, resulted in effective tax rates of 40.3 percent and (13.0) percent, respectively, based on income from continuing operations before income taxes.
The relationship between our provision for or benefit from income taxes and our income before income taxes can vary significantly from period to period considering, among other factors, (a) the overall level of income before income taxes, (b) changes in the blend of income that is taxed based on gross revenues versus income before taxes, (c) rig movements between taxing jurisdictions and (d) our rig operating structures.  Generally, our annual marginal tax rate is lower than our annual effective tax rate.  Consequently, our income tax expense does not change proportionally with our income before income taxes.  Significant decreases in our income before income taxes typically lead to higher effective tax rates, while significant increases in income before income taxes can lead to lower effective tax rates, subject to the other factors impacting income tax expense noted above.  With respect to the annual effective tax rate calculation for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, a significant portion of our income tax expense was generated in countries in which income taxes are imposed on gross revenues, with the most significant of these countries being Angola, India, Nigeria, Indonesia and the Republic of Congo.  Conversely, the countries in which we incurred the most significant income taxes during this period that were based on income before income tax include Norway, the U.K., Switzerland, Brazil and the U.S.
Our rig operating structures further complicate our tax calculations, especially in instances where we have more than one operating structure for the particular taxing jurisdiction and, thus, more than one method of calculating taxes depending on the operating structure utilized by the rig under the contract.  For example, two rigs operating in the same country could generate significantly different provisions for income taxes if they are owned by two different subsidiaries that are subject to differing tax laws and regulations in the respective country of incorporation.
 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources and uses of cash
At September 30, 2015, we had $2.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents.  At any given time, we may require a significant portion of our cash and cash equivalents for working capital and other needs related to the operation of our business.  At September 30, 2015, we estimate the amount of cash required for these purposes, which is not generally available to us for other uses, was approximately $1.3 billion.  We expect to reduce this required amount to approximately $800 million as an outcome of our ongoing organizational efficiency initiatives and in a more stabilized market.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, our primary sources of cash were our cash flows from operating activities, proceeds from insurance recoveries and litigation settlements, net proceeds from restricted cash investments, and proceeds from asset disposals.  Our primary uses of cash were capital expenditures, primarily associated with our newbuild construction projects, repayments of debt, payments to our shareholders installments of distributions of qualifying paid‑in capital and payment of our Macondo well incident settlement obligations.

   
Nine months ended
September 30,
     
   
2015
   
2014
   
Change
 
   
(In millions)
 
Cash flows from operating activities
           
Net income (loss)
 
$
209
   
$
(1,200
)
 
$
1,409
 
Depreciation
   
750
     
849
     
(99
)
Loss on impairment
   
1,839
     
2,833
     
(994
)
Loss on disposal of assets, net
   
20
     
24
     
(4
)
Other noncash items, net
   
15
     
4
     
11
 
Changes in Macondo well incident assets and liabilities, net
   
(391
)
   
(517
)
   
126
 
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net
   
43
     
(339
)
   
382
 
   
$
2,485
   
$
1,654
   
$
831
 

Net cash provided by operating activities increased primarily due to changes in working capital, including (a) an increase of $663 million associated with cash proceeds from insurance recoveries, (b) a decrease of $208 million associated with cash payments of scheduled installments for our Macondo well incident settlement obligations partially offset by (c) a cash deposit of $212 million into an escrow account pending court approval of our settlement with the PSC with no comparable activity in the prior year period.

 
Nine months ended
September 30,
   
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
 
 
(In millions)
 
Cash flows from investing activities
     
Capital expenditures
 
$
(1,336
)
 
$
(1,847
)
 
$
511
 
Proceeds from disposal of assets, net
   
36
     
238
     
(202
)
Proceeds from repayments of loans and notes receivable
   
15
     
101
     
(86
)
Other, net
   
     
(15
)
   
15
 
   
$
(1,285
)
 
$
(1,523
)
 
$
238
 

Net cash used in investing activities decreased primarily due to the decrease in capital expenditures associated with the timing of milestone payments for our major construction projects and other shipyard projects.  Partially offsetting the decreased use of cash was reduced proceeds from disposal of assets and from repayments of loans and notes receivable.
 
- 40 -


 
Nine months ended
September 30,
   
 
2015
 
2014
 
Change
 
 
(In millions)
 
Cash flows from financing activities
     
Repayments of debt
 
$
(1,306
)
 
$
(318
)
 
$
(988
)
Proceeds from restricted cash investments, net
   
110
     
156
     
(46
)
Distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital
   
(381
)
   
(746
)
   
365
 
Proceeds from sale of noncontrolling interest
   
     
443
     
(443
)
Other, net
   
(24
)
   
(36
)
   
12
 
   
$
(1,601
)
 
$
(501
)
 
$
(1,100
)

Net cash used in financing activities increased primarily due to (a) increased cash used to redeem or repurchase debt and (b) cash proceeds from the sale of noncontrolling interest in Transocean Partners with no comparable activity in the current year period.  Partially offsetting these items was a reduction in cash used to pay to our shareholders installments of distributions of qualifying additional paid‑in capital.
Drilling fleet
Expansion—From time to time, we review possible acquisitions of businesses and drilling rigs and may make significant future capital commitments for such purposes.  We may also consider investments related to major rig upgrades or new rig construction, including new rigs the construction of which we may begin without first obtaining customer contracts.  At October 26, 2015, we held an option with Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd. in Singapore to order an additional newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillship, which must be exercised by February 2016.  We previously allowed two of the original three drillship options to expire unexercised.  Any acquisition, upgrade or new rig construction could involve the payment by us of a substantial amount of cash or the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares or other securities.  Our failure to secure drilling contracts for rigs under construction could have an adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we made capital expenditures of $1.3 billion, including capitalized interest of $91 million.  The following table presents the historical and projected capital expenditures and capitalized interest, for our ongoing major construction projects:
   
Total costs
through
December 31,
2014
   
Total costs
for the nine months ended
September 30,
2015
   
Expected costs
for the remainder of
2015
   
Estimated
costs
thereafter
   
Total estimated
costs
at completion
 
   
(In millions)
 
Deepwater Thalassa (a)
 
$
375
   
$
423
   
$
73
   
$
49
   
$
920
 
Deepwater Proteus (a)
   
338
     
175
     
267
     
60
     
840
 
Deepwater Conqueror (b)
   
226
     
64
     
24
     
526
     
840
 
Deepwater Pontus (a)
   
310
     
36
     
128
     
401
     
875
 
Deepwater Poseidon (a)
   
282
     
47
     
122
     
434
     
885
 
Transocean Cassiopeia (c)
   
49
     
3
     
1
     
212
     
265
 
Transocean Centaurus (c)
   
48
     
3
     
1
     
218
     
270
 
Transocean Cepheus (c)
   
48
     
3
     
1
     
223
     
275
 
Ultra‑Deepwater drillship TBN1 (d)
   
32
     
168
     
4
     
596
     
800
 
Transocean Cetus (c)
   
48
     
3
     
1
     
228
     
280
 
Transocean Circinus (c)
   
48
     
3
     
1
     
238
     
290
 
Ultra‑Deepwater drillship TBN2 (d)
   
27
     
126
     
4
     
633
     
790
 
Total
 
$
1,831
   
$
1,054
   
$
627
   
$
3,818
   
$
7,330
 
______________________________
(a) Deepwater Thalassa, Deepwater Proteus, Deepwater Pontus and Deepwater Poseidon, four newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillships under construction at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. shipyard in Korea, are expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2015, the second quarter of 2016, the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, respectively.
(b) Deepwater Conqueror, a newbuild Ultra‑Deepwater drillship under construction at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. shipyard in Korea, is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2016.
(c) Transocean Cassiopeia, Transocean Centaurus, Transocean Cepheus, Transocean Cetus and Transocean Circinus, five Keppel FELS Super B 400 Bigfoot class design newbuild High‑Specification Jackups under construction at Keppel FELS' shipyard in Singapore do not yet have drilling contracts and are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018, the third quarter of 2018, the first quarter of 2019, the third quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, respectively.
(d) Our two unnamed dynamically positioned Ultra‑Deepwater drillships under construction at the Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd. in Singapore do not yet have drilling contracts and are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, respectively.
 
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For the year ending December 31, 2015, we expect total capital expenditures to be approximately $2.0 billion, approximately $1.7 billion of which is associated with our major construction projects.  The ultimate amount of our capital expenditures is partly dependent upon financial market conditions, the actual level of operational and contracting activity, the costs associated with the new regulatory environment and customer requested capital improvements and equipment for which the customer agrees to reimburse us.  As with any major shipyard project that takes place over an extended period of time, the actual costs, the timing of expenditures and the project completion date may vary from estimates based on numerous factors, including actual contract terms, weather, exchange rates, shipyard labor conditions, availability of suppliers to recertify equipment and the market demand for components and resources required for drilling unit construction.  We intend to fund the cash requirements relating to our capital expenditures through available cash balances, cash generated from operations and asset sales.  We also have available credit under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility, as described below, and may utilize other commercial bank or capital market financings.  Economic conditions could impact the availability of these sources of funding.
Dispositions—From time to time, we may also review the possible disposition of non‑strategic drilling units.  Considering recent market conditions, we have committed to plans to sell certain lower‑specification drilling units for scrap value.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we identified 10 such drilling units that we intend to sell or have sold for scrap value, including the Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters Deepwater Expedition and GSF Explorer, the Deepwater Floaters GSF Celtic Sea, Sedco 707 and Transocean Rather and the Midwater Floaters GSF Aleutian Key, GSF Arctic III, GSF Rig 135, Transocean Amirante and Transocean Legend.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, in connection with our efforts to dispose of non‑strategic assets, we completed the sale of the Ultra‑Deepwater Floaters Deepwater Expedition and GSF Explorer, the Deepwater Floaters Discoverer Seven Seas, Sedco 707, Sedco 710 and Sovereign Explorer and the Midwater Floaters C. Kirk Rhein, Jr., GSF Arctic I, GSF Arctic III, J.W. McLean, Sedco 601, Sedco 700 and Transocean Legend along with related equipment.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received aggregate net cash proceeds of $1 million and $25 million, respectively.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we completed the sale of the High‑Specification Jackups GSF Magellan and GSF Monitor along with related equipment.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, in connection with the disposal of these assets, we received aggregate net cash proceeds of $99 million and $182 million, respectively.
Sources and uses of liquidity
Overview—We expect to use existing cash balances, internally generated cash flows, borrowings under our bank credit agreement, proceeds from the disposal of assets or proceeds from the issuance of debt to fulfill anticipated obligations, such as capital expenditures, scheduled debt maturities or other payments, repayment of debt due within one year, payments of our Macondo well incident settlement obligations, working capital and other needs in our operations.  We may also consider using proceeds from the sale of additional noncontrolling interest in or issuance of debt of Transocean Partners, although current market conditions may make such offerings challenging.  Subject in each case to then existing market conditions and to our then expected liquidity needs, among other factors, we may continue to use a portion of our internally generated cash flows and proceeds from asset sales to reduce debt prior to scheduled maturities through debt repurchases, either in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, or through debt redemptions or tender offers.
At any given time, we may require a significant portion of our cash on hand for working capital and other needs related to the operation of our business.  We currently estimate this amount to be approximately $1.3 billion.  We expect to reduce this required amount to approximately $800 million as an outcome of our ongoing organizational efficiency initiatives and in a more stabilized market.  As a result, this portion of cash is not generally available to us for other uses.  From time to time, we may also use borrowings under our bank credit agreement to maintain liquidity for short‑term cash needs.
Our access to debt and equity markets may be limited due to a variety of events, including, among others, credit rating agency downgrades of our debt ratings, industry conditions, general economic conditions, market conditions and market perceptions of us and our industry.  As of October 26, 2015, three credit rating agencies have downgraded their credit ratings of our non‑credit enhanced senior unsecured long‑term debt ("Debt Rating") to Debt Ratings that are below investment grade.  Such downgrades have caused, and any further downgrades may cause, us to experience increased fees under our credit facility and interest rates under agreements governing certain of our senior notes and may limit our ability to access debt markets.  Our ability to access such markets may be severely restricted at a time when we would like, or need, to access such markets, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions.  An economic downturn could have an impact on the lenders participating in our credit facilities or on our customers, causing them to fail to meet their obligations to us.
Our internally generated cash flow is directly related to our business and the market sectors in which we operate.  Should the drilling market deteriorate, or should we experience poor results in our operations, cash flow from operations may be reduced.  We have, however, continued to generate positive cash flow from operating activities over recent years and expect that such cash flow will continue to be positive over the next year.
Distributions of qualifying additional paid-in capital—In May 2015, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $0.60 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments of $0.15 per outstanding share, subject to certain limitations.  In May 2015, we recognized a liability of $218 million for the distribution payable, recorded in other current liabilities, with a corresponding entry to additional paid‑in capital.  On June 17 and September 23, 2015, we paid the first two installments in the aggregate amount of $109 million to shareholders of record as of May 29, and August 25, 2015.  On October 29, 2015, shareholders at our extraordinary general meeting approved the cancellation of the third and fourth installments of the dividend.
 
- 42 -

 
In May 2014, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $3.00 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments, subject to certain limitations.  On June 18, September 17 and December 17, 2014, we paid the first three installments in the aggregate amount of $816 million to shareholders of record as of May 30, August 22 and November 14, 2014, respectively.  On March 18, 2015, we paid the final installment in the aggregate amount of $272 million to shareholders of record as of February 20, 2015.
In May 2013, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital in the form of a U.S. dollar denominated dividend of $2.24 per outstanding share, payable in four quarterly installments, subject to certain limitations.  On March 19, 2014, we paid the final installment in the aggregate amount of $202 million to shareholders of record as of February 21, 2014.
We do not pay the distribution of qualifying additional paid‑in capital with respect to our shares held in treasury or held by our subsidiary.
Litigation settlements and insurance recoveries—On May 20, 2015, we entered into a confidential settlement agreement with BP to settle various disputes remaining between the parties with respect to the Macondo well incident.  Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, among other things, BP agreed to make a cash payment of $125 million to partially reimburse us for legal fees incurred by us.  On July 3, 2015, we received the cash payment from BP.
Additionally, in connection with the settlement, BP agreed to discontinue its attempts to recover as an additional insured under our liability insurance program.  As a result, we submitted claims to our insurers and recognized income of $538 million, recorded as a reduction of operating and maintenance costs and expenses, associated with insurance proceeds for recovery of previously incurred losses.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we received cash proceeds of $93 million and $538 million, respectively, associated with such insurance recoveries.
On May 29, 2015, together with the PSC, we filed a settlement agreement in which we agreed to pay a total of $212 million, plus up to $25 million for partial reimbursement of attorneys' fees, to resolve (1) punitive damages claims of private plaintiffs, businesses, and local governments and (2) certain claims that BP had made against us and had assigned to private plaintiffs who previously settled economic damages claims against BP.  This PSC settlement is subject to approval by the MDL Court and acceptance by a minimum number of plaintiffs.
Effective October 13, 2015, we finalized a settlement agreement with the States, pursuant to which the States agreed to release all of their claims against us arising from the Macondo well incident.  At September 30, 2015, in connection with the settlement, we had a liability of $35 million, recorded in other current liabilities, and on October 22, 2015, we made an aggregate cash payment of $35 million to the States.
Pursuant to a cooperation guilty plea agreement by and among the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") and certain of our affiliates (the "Plea Agreement"), which was accepted by the court on February 14, 2013, we agreed to pay a criminal fine of $100 million and to consent to the entry of an order requiring us to pay $150 million to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and $150 million to the National Academy of Sciences.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we paid scheduled installments of $60 million in each year.  At October 26, 2015, the remaining balance of our Plea Agreement obligations was $120 million, payable to the National Academy of Sciences in two scheduled installments of $60 million, which are due on or before February 12, 2016 and February 14, 2017.
Pursuant to a civil consent decree by and among the DOJ and certain of our affiliates ("the Consent Decree"), which was approved by the court on February 19, 2013, we agreed to pay a civil penalty totaling $1.0 billion, plus interest at a fixed rate of 2.15 percent.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we paid the final installment of $204 million, including interest, in satisfaction of our settlement obligations due under the Consent Decree.
Noncontrolling interest in Transocean Partners—On July 31, 2014, we announced the pricing of an initial public offering of common units representing limited liability company interests in Transocean Partners, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "RIGP," for $22.00 per unit.  On August 5, 2014, we completed the initial public offering of 20.1 million common units, which represents a 29.2 percent limited liability company interest in Transocean Partners.  Through Transocean Partners Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands company and our wholly owned subsidiary, we hold the remaining 21.3 million common units and 27.6 million subordinated units, which collectively represent a 70.8 percent limited liability company interest.  As a result of the offering, we received net cash proceeds of approximately $417 million, after deducting approximately $26 million for underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses.  We may consider selling additional noncontrolling interests in or debt securities of Transocean Partners to provide additional sources of liquidity.
In November 2014, Transocean Partners declared and paid an aggregate distribution of $15 million to its unitholders, of which $4 million was paid to the holders of noncontrolling interest and $11 million was paid to us and was eliminated in consolidation.  In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Transocean Partners declared and paid an aggregate distribution of $25 million and $75 million, respectively, to its unitholders, of which $7 million and $21 million, respectively, was paid to the holders of noncontrolling interest and $18 million and $54 million, respectively, was paid to us and was eliminated in consolidation.
 
- 43 -

 
Debt redemption—In September 2010, we issued $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.95% Senior Notes due November 2015 (the "4.95% Senior Notes").  On November 17, 2014, we made an aggregate cash payment of $216 million to redeem an aggregate principal amount of $207 million of the outstanding senior notes.  On July 30, 2015, we made an aggregate cash payment of $904 million to redeem the remaining aggregate principal amount of $893 million of the senior notes.
Debt repurchases—In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we made an aggregate cash payment of $274 million for open market repurchases of an aggregate principal amount of $292 million of certain of our publicly traded debt securities.
Revolving credit facility—In June 2014, we entered into an amended and restated bank credit agreement, which established a $3.0 billion unsecured five‑year revolving credit facility, that is scheduled to expire on June 28, 2019 (the "Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility").  Among other things, the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility includes limitations on creating liens, incurring subsidiary debt, transactions with affiliates, sale/leaseback transactions, mergers and the sale of substantially all assets.  The Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility also includes a covenant imposing a maximum debt to tangible capitalization ratio of 0.6 to 1.0.  As of September 30, 2015, our debt to tangible capitalization ratio, as defined, was 0.4 to 1.0.  In order to borrow or have letters of credit issued under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility, we must, at the time of the borrowing request, not be in default under the bank credit agreements and make certain representations and warranties, including with respect to compliance with laws and solvency, to the lenders, but we are not required to make any representation to the lenders as to the absence of a material adverse effect.  Repayment of borrowings under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility is subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an event of default.  We are also subject to various covenants under the indentures pursuant to which our public debt was issued, including restrictions on creating liens, engaging in sale/leaseback transactions and engaging in certain merger, consolidation or reorganization transactions.  A default under our public debt indentures, our capital lease contract or any other debt owed to unaffiliated entities that exceeds $125 million could trigger a default under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility and, if not waived by the lenders, could cause us to lose access to the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility.
We may borrow under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility at either (1) the adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a margin (the "Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility Margin"), which ranges from 1.125 percent to 2.0 percent based on the Debt Rating, or (2) the base rate specified in the credit agreement plus the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility Margin, less one percent per annum.  Throughout the term of the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility, we pay a facility fee on the daily unused amount of the underlying commitment which ranges from 0.15 percent to 0.35 percent depending on our Debt Rating.  At October 26, 2015, based on our Debt Rating on that date, the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility Margin was 1.75 percent and the facility fee was 0.275 percent.  At October 26, 2015, we had no borrowings outstanding, no letters of credit issued, and $3.0 billion of available borrowing capacity under the Five‑Year Revolving Credit Facility.
Eksportfinans Loans—We have outstanding borrowings under the Loan Agreement dated September 12, 2008 ("Eksportfinans Loan A") and outstanding borrowings under the Loan Agreement dated November 18, 2008 ("Eksportfinans Loan B," and together with Eksportfinans Loan A, the "Eksportfinans Loans"), between one of our subsidiaries and Eksportfinans ASA, which were established to finance the construction and delivery of the Harsh Environment Ultra‑Deepwater semisubmersibles Transocean Spitsbergen and Transocean Barents.  Eksportfinans Loan A and Eksportfinans Loan B bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.15 percent and require semi‑annual installments of principal and interest through September 2017 and January 2018, respectively.  At October 26, 2015, borrowings of approximately $100 million and $124 million were outstanding under Eksportfinans Loan A and Eksportfinans Loan B, respectively.
The Eksportfinans Loans require restricted cash investments to be held at a certain financial institution through expiration (the "Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments").  The Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.15 percent with semi‑annual installments that correspond with those of the Eksportfinans Loans.  At October 26, 2015, the aggregate principal amount of the Eksportfinans Restricted Cash Investments was $224 million.
Capital lease contractPetrobras 10000 is held by one of our subsidiaries under a capital lease contract that requires scheduled monthly payments of $6 million through its stated maturity on August 4, 2029, at which time our subsidiary will have the right and obligation to acquire Petrobras 10000 from the lessor for one dollar.  Upon the occurrence of certain termination events, our subsidiary is also required to purchase Petrobras 10000 and pay a termination amount determined by a formula based upon the total cost of the drillship.  The capital lease contract includes limitations on creating liens on Petrobras 10000 and requires our subsidiary to make certain representations in connection with each monthly payment, including with respect to the absence of pending or threatened litigation or other proceedings against our subsidiary or any of its affiliates, which, if determined adversely, could have a material adverse effect on our subsidiary's ability to perform its obligations under the capital lease contract.  Additionally, Transocean Inc. has guaranteed the obligations under the capital lease contract, and Transocean Inc. is required to maintain an adjusted net worth, as defined, of at least $5.0 billion as of the end of each fiscal quarter.  In the event Transocean Inc. does not satisfy this covenant at the end of any fiscal quarter, it is required to deposit the deficit amount, determined as the difference between $5.0 billion and the adjusted net worth for such fiscal quarter, into an escrow account for the benefit of the lessor.  At October 26, 2015, $597 million was outstanding under the capital lease contract.
 
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Share repurchase program—In May 2009, at our annual general meeting, our shareholders approved and authorized our board of directors, at its discretion, to repurchase an amount of our shares for cancellation with an aggregate purchase price of up to CHF 3.5 billion, which is equivalent to approximately $3.6 billion at an exchange rate as of the close of trading on October 26, 2015 of $1.00 to CHF 0.98.  On February 12, 2010, our board of directors authorized our management to implement the share repurchase program.  We intend to fund any repurchases using available cash balances and cash from operating activities.  On May 24, 2013, we received approval from the Swiss authorities for the continuation of the share repurchase program for an additional three‑year repurchase period through May 23, 2016.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we did not purchase shares under our share repurchase program.
We may decide, based upon our ongoing capital requirements, our program of distributions to our shareholders, the price of our shares, regulatory and tax considerations, cash flow generation, the amount and duration of our contract backlog, general market conditions, debt ratings considerations and other factors, that we should retain cash, reduce debt, make capital investments or acquisitions or otherwise use cash for general corporate purposes, and consequently, repurchase fewer or no additional shares under this program.  Decisions regarding the amount, if any, and timing of any share repurchases will be made from time to time based upon these factors.
Any shares repurchased under this program are expected to be purchased from time to time either, with respect to the U.S. market, from market participants that have acquired those shares on the open market and that can fully recover Swiss withholding tax resulting from the share repurchase or, with respect to the Swiss market, on the second trading line for our shares on the SIX.  Repurchases could also be made by tender offer, in privately negotiated transactions or by any other share repurchase method.  The share repurchase program could be suspended or discontinued by our board of directors or company management, as applicable, at any time.  Any repurchased shares would be held by us for cancellation by the shareholders at a future annual general meeting.  On October 29, 2015, shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting approved the cancellation of all shares that have been repurchased to date under our share repurchase program.  See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 18—Subsequent Events.
Under Swiss corporate law, the right of a company and its subsidiaries to repurchase and hold its own shares is limited.  A company may repurchase its shares to the extent it has freely distributable reserves as shown on its Swiss statutory balance sheet in the amount of the purchase price and the aggregate par value of all shares held by the company as treasury shares does not exceed 10 percent of the company's share capital recorded in the Swiss Commercial Register, whereby for purposes of determining whether the 10 percent threshold has been reached, shares repurchased under a share repurchase program for cancellation purposes authorized by the company's shareholders are disregarded.  As of October 26, 2015, Transocean Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, held as treasury shares approximately two percent of our issued shares.  At the annual general meeting in May 2009, the shareholders approved the release of CHF 3.5 billion of additional paid‑in capital to other reserves, or freely available reserves as presented on our Swiss statutory balance sheet, to create the freely available reserve necessary for the CHF 3.5 billion share repurchase program for the purpose of the cancellation of shares (the "Currently Approved Program").  At the May 2011 annual general meeting, our shareholders approved the reallocation of CHF 3.2 billion, which is the remaining amount authorized under the share repurchase program, from free reserve to legal reserve, reserve from capital contributions.  This amount will continue to be available for Swiss federal withholding tax‑free share repurchases.  We may only repurchase shares to the extent freely distributable reserves are available.  Our board of directors could, to the extent freely distributable reserves are available, authorize the repurchase of additional shares for purposes other than cancellation, such as to retain treasury shares for use in satisfying our obligations in connection with incentive plans or other rights to acquire our shares.  Based on the current amount of shares held as treasury shares, approximately eight percent of our issued shares could be repurchased for purposes of retention as additional treasury shares.  Although our board of directors has not approved such a share repurchase program for the purpose of retaining repurchased shares as treasury shares, if it did so, any such shares repurchased would be in addition to any shares repurchased under the Currently Approved Program.
Contractual obligationsAs of September 30, 2015, there have been no material changes to the contractual obligations as previously disclosed in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014, except as noted below.
 
For the twelve months ending September 30,
 
 
Total
   
2016
     
2017-2018
     
2019-2020
   
Thereafter
 
 
(in millions)
 
Contractual obligations
                           
Debt
 
$
8,135
   
$
91
   
$
2,882
   
$
   
$
5,162
 
Interest on debt
   
4,569
     
494
     
826
     
680
     
2,569
 
 
Other commercial commitments—As of September 30, 2015, there have been no material changes to the commercial commitments as previously disclosed in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
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Derivative instruments
Our board of directors has approved policies and procedures for derivative instruments that require the approval of our Chief Financial Officer prior to entering into any derivative instruments.  From time to time, we may enter into a variety of derivative instruments in connection with the management of our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.  We do not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes; however, we may enter into certain transactions that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting.  See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11—Derivatives and Hedging.
Contingencies
Except as noted in this report, including in our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 6—Income Taxes, Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies and Note 18—Subsequent Events, there have been no material changes to those actions, claims and other matters pending as discussed in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 15—Commitments and Contingencies, Note 27—Subsequent Events and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contingencies—Macondo well incident" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  As of September 30, 2015, we were also involved in a number of lawsuits which have arisen in the ordinary course of our business and for which we do not expect the liability, if any, resulting from these lawsuits to have a material adverse effect on our current consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  We can provide no assurance that our expectations as to the outcome or effect of any lawsuit or other matters will prove correct and the eventual outcome of these matters could materially differ from management's current estimates.
Macondo well incident
Overview—On April 22, 2010, the Ultra‑Deepwater Floater Deepwater Horizon sank after a blowout of the Macondo well caused a fire and explosion on the rig.  Eleven persons died in, and others were injured as a result of, the incident.  At the time of the explosion, Deepwater Horizon was located approximately 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana in Mississippi Canyon Block 252 and was contracted to an affiliate of BP plc (together with its affiliates, "BP").  Litigation commenced shortly after the incident, and most claims against us were consolidated by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation and transferred to the MDL Court.  A significant portion of the contingencies arising from the Macondo well incident has now been resolved as a result of settlements with the DOJ, BP, the PSC and the States.  We believe the remaining most notable claims against us arising from the Macondo well incident are the potential settlement class opt‑outs from the PSC Settlement Agreement.  Although we are unable to estimate the full direct and indirect effect that the Macondo well incident will have on our business, the incident has had and could continue to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
We can provide no assurance as to the outcome of the remaining claims arising from the Macondo well incident the timing of any upcoming appeal or further rulings, or that we will not enter into additional settlements as to some or all of the remaining matters related to the Macondo well incident.
Multidistrict litigation proceeding—As of October 26, 2015, the MDL Court completed two trials involving us, and additional litigation and appeals continue.  The Phase One trial in 2013 addressed fault for the Macondo well blowout and resulting oil spill.  The MDL Court's September 2014 Phase One ruling concluded (a) that BP was grossly negligent and reckless and 67 percent at fault for the blowout, explosion, and spill; (b) that we were negligent and 30 percent at fault and (c) that Halliburton Company ("Halliburton") was negligent and three percent at fault.  The finding that we were negligent, but not grossly negligent, meant that, subject to a successful appeal, we would not be held liable for punitive damages and that BP was required to honor its contractual agreements to indemnify us for compensatory damages and release its claims against us.  Our settlements with BP and the PSC finally resolve the indemnity and release issues and largely eliminate our risk should these determinations be reversed through the appeal process.
The Phase One ruling is subject to appeal, and we, along with BP, the PSC, Halliburton and the State of Alabama have each appealed or cross-appealed aspects of the ruling. These appeals have been stayed pending the finalization of BP's settlement with the U.S. and the States.  As a result of our settlements, we do not expect any party to challenge the ruling with respect to Transocean when the appeals resume, and we expect that any remaining issues in the appeal would be addressed to the other parties.
We can provide no assurances as to the outcome of these appeals, as to the timing of any further rulings, or that we will not enter into additional settlements as to some or all of the matters related to the Macondo well incident, including those to be determined at a trial, or the timing or terms of any such settlements.
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies and Note 18—Subsequent Events.
Insurance matters
Our hull and machinery and excess liability insurance program is comprised of commercial market and captive insurance policies that we renew annually on May 1.  We periodically evaluate our insurance limits and self‑insured retentions.  At October 26, 2015, the insured value of our drilling rig fleet was approximately $25.7 billion, excluding our rigs under construction.  We generally do not carry commercial market insurance coverage for loss of revenues or for losses resulting from physical damage to our fleet caused by named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, including liability for wreck removal costs.  See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 13—Commitments and Contingencies.
 
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Tax matters
We are a Swiss corporation, and we operate through our various subsidiaries in a number of countries throughout the world.  Our provision for income taxes is based on the tax laws and rates applicable in the jurisdictions in which we operate and earn income.  The relationship between our provision for or benefit from income taxes and our income or loss before income taxes can vary significantly from period to period considering, among other factors, (a) the overall level of income before income taxes, (b) changes in the blend of income that is taxed based on gross revenues rather than income before taxes, (c) rig movements between taxing jurisdictions and (d) our rig operating structures.  Generally, our annual marginal tax rate is lower than our annual effective tax rate.
We conduct operations through our various subsidiaries in a number of countries throughout the world.  Each country has its own tax regimes with varying nominal rates, deductions and tax attributes.  From time to time, we may identify changes to previously evaluated tax positions that could result in adjustments to our recorded assets and liabilities.  Although we are unable to predict the outcome of these changes, we do not expect the effect, if any, resulting from these adjustments to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
We file federal and local tax returns in several jurisdictions throughout the world.  Tax authorities in certain jurisdictions are examining our tax returns and in some cases have issued assessments.  We are defending our tax positions in those jurisdictions.  We are also defending against tax‑related claims in courts, including our ongoing criminal trial in Norway.  While we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the final outcome of these proceedings, we do not expect the ultimate liability to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated statement of financial position or results of operations, although it may have a material adverse effect on our consolidated cash flows.
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 6—Income Taxes.
Regulatory matters
For a description of regulatory and environmental matters relating to the Macondo well incident, please see "—Macondo well incident."
Other matters
In addition, from time to time, we receive inquiries from governmental regulatory agencies regarding our operations around the world, including inquiries with respect to various tax, environmental, regulatory and compliance matters.  To the extent appropriate under the circumstances, we investigate such matters, respond to such inquiries and cooperate with the regulatory agencies.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements.  This discussion should be read in conjunction with disclosures included in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements related to estimates, contingencies and other accounting policies.  Significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report on Form 10‑Q and in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
To prepare financial statements, we are required to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to our allowance for doubtful accounts, materials and supplies obsolescence, investments, property and equipment, income taxes, defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement employee benefits, contingent liabilities and share‑based compensation.  These estimates require significant judgments, assumptions and estimates.  We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.
For a discussion of the critical accounting policies and estimates that we use in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  We have discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these critical accounting policies and estimates with the audit committee of our board of directors.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, there have been no material changes to the types of judgments, assumptions and estimates upon which our critical accounting estimates are based.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of the new accounting pronouncements that have had or are expected to have an effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements, see Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3—New Accounting Pronouncements in this quarterly report on Form 10‑Q and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
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Item 3.                 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Overview—We are exposed to interest rate risk, primarily associated with our restricted cash investments, our long‑term and short‑term debt and our derivative instruments.  For our restricted cash investments and debt instruments, the following table presents the principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by contractual maturity date.  For our derivative instruments, the following table presents the notional amounts and weighted‑average interest rates by contractual maturity dates.  The information is stated in U.S. dollar equivalents.  The instruments are denominated in either U.S. dollars or Norwegian kroner, as indicated.  The following table presents information for the twelve‑month periods ending September 30 (in millions, except interest rate percentages):
   
Scheduled Maturity Date (a)
     
   
2016
   
2017
   
2018
   
2019
   
2020
   
Thereafter
   
Total
   
Fair Value
 
Restricted cash investments
                             
Fixed rate (NOK)
 
$
91
   
$
91
   
$
42
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
224
   
$
265
 
Average interest rate
   
4.15
%
   
4.15
%
   
4.15
%
   
%
   
%
   
%
               
                                                                 
Debt
                                                               
Fixed rate (USD)
 
$
25
   
$
1,022
   
$
1,784
   
$
32
   
$
34
   
$
5,612
   
$
8,509
   
$
6,833
 
Average interest rate
   
7.76
%
   
5.61
%
   
5.14
%
   
7.76
%
   
7.76
%
   
6.68
%
               
Fixed rate (NOK)
 
$
91
   
$
91
   
$
42
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
224
   
$
265
 
Average interest rate
   
4.15
%
   
4.15
%
   
4.15
%
   
%
   
%
   
%
               
                                                                 
Interest rate swaps
                                                 
Fixed to variable (USD)
 
$
   
$
   
$
750
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
750
   
$
6
 
Average receive rate
   
%
   
%
   
6.00
%
   
%
   
%
   
%
               
Average pay rate
   
%
   
%
   
4.91
%
   
%
   
%
   
%
               
______________________________
(a)
Expected maturity amounts are based on the face value of debt.
We have engaged in certain hedging activities designed to reduce our exposure to interest rate risk and currency exchange rate risk.  See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11—Derivatives and Hedging.

Interest rate risk—At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the face value of our variable‑rate debt was approximately $750 million and $1.5 billion, which represented nine percent and 15 percent of the aggregate principal amount of our total debt, respectively, after the effect of our hedging activities.  At September 30, 2015, we were exposed to the variable interest rates associated with our interest rate swaps.  Based upon variable‑rate debt amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, a hypothetical one percentage point change in annual interest rates would result in a corresponding change in annual interest expense of approximately $8 million and $15 million, respectively.
Currency exchange rate risk—We are exposed to currency exchange rate risk associated with our international operations.  For a discussion of our currency exchange rate risk, see "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  There have been no material changes to these previously reported matters during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures—We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in the Exchange Act, Rules 13a‑15 and 15d‑15, were effective as of September 30, 2015 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is (1) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and (2) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.
Internal control over financial reporting—There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
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PART II.            OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We have certain actions, claims and other matters pending as discussed and reported in "Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 15—Commitments and Contingencies" and "Part II. Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contingencies—Macondo well incident" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  We are also involved in various tax matters as described in "Part II. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 6—Income Taxes" and in "Part II. Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contingencies— Tax matters" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  All such actions, claims, tax and other matters are incorporated herein by reference.
As of September 30, 2015, we were also involved in a number of other lawsuits, claims and disputes, which have arisen in the ordinary course of our business and for which we do not expect the liability, if any, to have a material adverse effect on our current consolidated statement of financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  We cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any of the matters referred to above or of any such other pending or threatened litigation or legal proceedings.  There can be no assurance that our beliefs or expectations as to the outcome or effect of any lawsuit or claim or dispute will prove correct and the eventual outcome of these matters could materially differ from management's current estimates.
In addition to the legal proceedings described above, we may from time to time identify other matters that we monitor through our compliance program and in response to events arising generally within our industry and in the markets where we do business.  For example, we are currently investigating allegations made by a former Petrobras employee relating to the award of a drilling services contract to us.  These allegations were made public through an investigation being conducted by Brazilian authorities in response to allegations of corrupt practices involving Petrobras business.  To date, we have not identified any wrongdoing by any of our employees or agents in connection with our business in Brazil.  We will continue to investigate these types of allegations and, if contacted, will cooperate with governmental authorities.  Through the process of monitoring and proactive investigation, we strive to ensure no violation of our policies, code of integrity or law has, or will, occur; however, there can be no assurance as to the outcome of these matters.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors as previously disclosed in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our quarterly reports on Form 10‑Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015.
 
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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)
   
Average
Price Paid
Per Share
   
Total
Number of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs (2)
   
Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar Value)
of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs (2)
(in millions)
 
July 2015
   
   
$
     
   
$
3.368
 
August 2015
   
437
     
14.23
     
     
3.368
 
September 2015
   
771
     
14.47
     
     
3.368
 
Total
   
1,208
   
$
14.38
     
   
$
3.368
 
______________________________
(1) Total number of shares purchased in the third quarter of 2015 consists of 1,208 shares withheld by us through a broker arrangement and limited to statutory tax in satisfaction of withholding taxes due upon the vesting of restricted shares granted to our employees under our Long‑Term Incentive Plan.
(2) In May 2009, at the annual general meeting of Transocean Ltd., our shareholders approved and authorized our board of directors, at its discretion, to repurchase an amount of our shares for cancellation with an aggregate purchase price of up to CHF 3.5 billion, which is equivalent to approximately $3.6 billion at an exchange rate as of September 30, 2015 of USD 1.00 to CHF 0.97.  On February 12, 2010, our board of directors authorized our management to implement the share repurchase program.  On May 24, 2013, we received approval from the Swiss authorities for the continuation of the share repurchase program for a further three‑year repurchase period through May 23, 2016.  We may decide, based upon our ongoing capital requirements, our program of distributions to our shareholders, the price of our shares, matters relating to the Macondo well incident, regulatory and tax considerations, cash flow generation, the amount and duration of our contract backlog, general market conditions, debt rating considerations and other factors, that we should retain cash, reduce debt, make capital investments or acquisitions or otherwise use cash for general corporate purposes, and consequently, repurchase fewer or no additional shares under this program.  Decisions regarding the amount, if any, and timing of any share repurchases would be made from time to time based upon these factors.  Through September 30, 2015, we have repurchased a total of 2,863,267 of our shares under this share repurchase program at a total cost of $240 million, equivalent to an average cost of $83.74 per share.  On October 29, 2015, shareholders at our extraordinary general meeting approved the cancellation of all of the shares previously repurchased under this repurchase program and held in treasury.  See "—Sources and uses of liquidity."
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits
(a)     Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed in connection with this Report:
Number Description
3.1 Articles of Association of Transocean Ltd (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Transocean Ltd.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q (Commission File No. 000‑53533) for the quarter ended September 30, 2014)
3.2 Organizational Regulations of Transocean Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Transocean Ltd.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q (Commission File No. 000‑53533) for the quarter ended September 30, 2014)
    *     10.1             Letter Agreement by and between Transocean Management Ltd. and Esa Ikäheimonen dated July 21, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Transocean Ltd.'s Current Report on Form 8‑K (Commission File No. 000‑53533) filed on July 23, 2015)
     31.1             CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002
     31.2             CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002
     32.1             CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002
     32.2             CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the SarbanesOxley Act of 2002
   101.ins XBRL Instance Document
   101.sch XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
   101.cal XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
   101.def XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
   101.lab XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
   101.pre XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
                                                            
            Filed herewith.
    *            Compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, on November 4, 2015.

TRANSOCEAN LTD.



By:    /s/ Mark L. Mey                                                                                    
Mark L. Mey
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)



By:    /s/ David Tonnel                                                                                    
David Tonnel
Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
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