As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2004 Registration No. 33-18966 ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 NOBLE CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) CAYMAN ISLANDS 98-0366361 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification Number) 13135 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 800 SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77478 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) NOBLE DRILLING CORPORATION 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN (Full Title of the Plan) ROBERT D. CAMPBELL VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL NOBLE DRILLING SERVICES INC. 13135 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 800 SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77478 (281) 276-6100 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) Copy to: David L. Emmons Baker Botts L.L.P. 2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 700 Dallas, Texas 75201-2980 ================================================================================ 1 DEREGISTRATION OF SECURITIES This Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-8 relates to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-18966) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on December 7, 1987 (the "Registration Statement"), as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 filed with the Commission on May 15, 2002, of Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares ("Noble"), as successor issuer to Noble Drilling Corporation, a Delaware corporation, covering ordinary shares, par value US$0.10 per share ("Ordinary Shares"), of Noble (and related preferred share purchase rights) and certain plan interests to be issued under the Noble Drilling Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan, formerly the Noble Drilling Corporation Thrift Plan (the "Plan"). Noble is filing this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-8 to deregister all securities, including all plan interests and Ordinary Shares (and related preferred share purchase rights), that were registered under the Registration Statement but remain unissued under the Plan as of the date this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-8 is filed with the Commission. 2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Noble Corporation certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Sugar Land, State of Texas, on June 22, 2004. NOBLE CORPORATION By: /s/ Mark A. Jackson -------------------------------------- Mark A. Jackson, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Controller and Assistant Secretary Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 22, 2004. SIGNATURE TITLE --------- ----- /s/ James C. Day Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -------------------------------------- and Director (Principal Executive James C. Day Officer and Authorized Representative in the United States) /s/ Mark A. Jackson Senior Vice President, Chief Financial -------------------------------------- Officer, Treasurer, Controller and Mark A. Jackson Assistant Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) * Director -------------------------------------- Michael A. Cawley * Director -------------------------------------- Lawrence J. Chazen * Director -------------------------------------- Luke R. Corbett * Director -------------------------------------- Marc E. Leland * Director -------------------------------------- Jack E. Little II-1 SIGNATURE TITLE --------- ----- -------------------------------------- Director Mary P. Ricciardello * Director -------------------------------------- William A. Sears *By: /s/ Robert D. Campbell --------------------------------- Robert D. Campbell, Attorney-in-Fact THE PLAN. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Noble Drilling Corporation Employee Benefits Committee has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Sugar Land, State of Texas, on June 22, 2004. NOBLE DRILLING CORPORATION 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN By: Noble Drilling Corporation Employee Benefits Committee By: /s/ Marsha L. Galvan -------------------------------------- Marsha L. Galvan Member of Employee Benefits Committee By: /s/ Michael N. Lamb -------------------------------------- Michael N. Lamb Member of Employee Benefits Committee By: /s/ Thomas M. Madden -------------------------------------- Thomas M. Madden Member of Employee Benefits Committee By: /s/ Thomas F. O'Rourke -------------------------------------- Thomas F. O'Rourke Member of Employee Benefits Committee II-2 By: /s/ Julie J. Robertson -------------------------------------- Julie J. Robertson Member of Employee Benefits Committee II-3 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description ------ ----------- 24.1+ Powers of Attorney. ---------- + Previously filed. II-4