As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2018

Registration No. 333-          

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

NOBLE CORPORATION

NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

(Exact name of each registrant as specified in its charter)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

PROSPECTUS

NOBLE CORPORATION

Guarantees of Debt Securities

NOBLE HOLDING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Debt Securities

This prospectus relates to debt securities of Noble Holding International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“NHIL”). Any of these securities may be sold from time to time in one or more offerings. The debt securities of NHIL will be guaranteed by Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Noble-Cayman”). The specific terms of any securities to be offered will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.

Each of Noble-Cayman and NHIL is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Noble-UK”), whose ordinary shares, nominal value $0.01 per share, are listed on The New York Stock Exchange. Noble-UK will not issue any securities under this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The securities will be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offerings.

Investing in these securities involves risks. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained on page 4 of this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus and under similar headings in the other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

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

The date of this prospectus is November 5, 2018.

Table of Contents

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About This Prospectus

As used in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement:

The issuer is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-UK. Noble-UK will not be an issuer under this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that the issuer and Noble-Cayman have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, the issuer and Noble-Cayman may offer and sell different types of the securities as described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time securities are sold, we will provide a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a free writing prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities offered in that offering. The prospectus supplement and, if applicable, any free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus, together with the additional information contained in the documents referred to under the “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” sections of this prospectus.

The prospectus supplement to be attached to the front of this prospectus may describe, as applicable: the terms of the securities offered, the initial public offering price, the price paid for the securities, net proceeds and the other specific terms related to the offering of these securities.

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. The issuer and Noble-Cayman are not making any offer of securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. The information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus provided in connection with an offering is accurate only as of the respective dates thereof or, in the case of information incorporated by reference, only as of the date of such information, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, an accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such dates.

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Where You Can Find More Information

Noble-Cayman is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith, Noble-Cayman files annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. These reports and other information filed by us with the SEC are available at the Internet website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov and are also available free of charge at Noble-UK’s website at www.noblecorp.com. The information contained on or linked to or from Noble-UK’s website is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

The issuer has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of Noble-Cayman or one of its subsidiaries, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website.

Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference

The SEC allows information to be “incorporated by reference” into this prospectus, which means that important information can be disclosed to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained herein or by information contained in documents filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that Noble-Cayman previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about Noble-Cayman and the issuer and our financial condition.

Also incorporated by reference into this prospectus are additional documents that Noble-Cayman may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, from the date of this prospectus to the completion of the offering of the securities. These documents may include Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 (or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit) in any past or future Current Report on Form 8-K that Noble-Cayman may file with the SEC is not being incorporated by reference, unless otherwise specified in such Current Report.

You may obtain copies of any of these filings as described below, through the SEC’s Internet website as described above or through Noble-UK’s website as described above. Documents incorporated by reference are available from Noble-Cayman without charge, excluding exhibits unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You may obtain without charge a copy of documents that are

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incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:

Alan R. Hay

Noble Corporation

Suite 3D, Landmark Square

64 Earth Close

P.O. Box 31327

George Town, Grand Cayman

Cayman Islands, KY1-1206

(345) 938-0293

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement include or incorporate by reference “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, including those regarding rig demand, the offshore drilling market, oil prices, contract backlog, fleet status, our future financial position, business strategy, impairments, repayment of debt, credit ratings, borrowings under our credit facilities or other instruments, sources of funds, future capital expenditures, contract commitments, dayrates, contract commencements, extension or renewals, contract tenders, the outcome of any dispute, litigation, audit or investigation, plans and objectives of management for future operations, foreign currency requirements, results of joint ventures, indemnity and other contract claims, reactivation, refurbishment, conversion and upgrade of rigs, shipyard risks and timing of shipyard deliveries, industry conditions, access to financing, impact of competition, governmental regulations and permitting, availability of labor, worldwide economic conditions, taxes and tax rates, indebtedness covenant compliance, dividends and distributable reserves, timing or results of acquisitions or dispositions, and timing for compliance with any new regulations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or in the documents incorporated by reference, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although the issuer and Noble-Cayman believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they cannot assure you that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they appear and the issuer and Noble-Cayman undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. The issuer and Noble-Cayman have identified factors that could cause actual plans or results to differ materially from those included in any forward-looking statements. These factors include those referenced or described under “Risk Factors” in Noble-Cayman’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q , and in its other filings with the SEC. The issuer and Noble-Cayman cannot control such risks and uncertainties, and in many cases, the issuer and Noble-Cayman cannot predict the risks and uncertainties that could cause their actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. You should consider these risks and uncertainties when you are evaluating the issuer and Noble-Cayman and deciding whether to invest in these securities.

About Noble-Cayman and NHIL

Noble-Cayman is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-UK. Noble-UK, which is publicly traded and whose shares are listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NE,” is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. Noble-Cayman is a holding company and performs, through its subsidiaries, including NHIL, contract drilling services with a global fleet of mobile offshore drilling units. As of

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November 2, 2018, our fleet of 25 drilling rigs consisted of 12 drillships and semisubmersibles and 13 jackups strategically deployed worldwide. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-UK conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries. Noble-Cayman and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.

NHIL is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-Cayman. NHIL performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a global fleet of mobile offshore drilling units. NHIL was incorporated in the Cayman Islands in 2004.

Noble-Cayman’s and NHIL’s principal executive offices are located at Suite 3D, Landmark Square, 64 Earth Close, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-1206, and their telephone number is (345) 938-0293.

Risk Factors

Investing in these securities involves significant risks. Before you invest in the securities that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus, you should carefully consider the “Risk Factors” included in Noble-Cayman’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as those risk factors are amended or supplemented by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, other reports and documents Noble-Cayman files with the SEC after the date of this prospectus that are incorporated by reference herein and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as risks described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and cautionary notes regarding forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference.

If any of these risks were to materialize, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the issuer’s ability to pay interest on, or principal of, any debt securities issued by it may be reduced, the trading prices of any of the issuer’s publicly traded securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Use of Proceeds

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Description of Debt Securities

The following description of debt securities, together with the particular terms of the debt securities offered that will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities, sets forth the material terms and provisions of debt securities to be issued by the issuer. The term “issuer,” as used in this section, means NHIL.

The issuer may issue debt securities in one or more distinct series. The debt securities may be senior obligations issued in one or more series under an indenture dated as of March 16, 2015, as amended or supplemented from time to time, between the issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (which we refer to as the senior indenture), or subordinated obligations issued in one or more series under a subordinated indenture between the issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (which we refer to as a subordinated indenture). We refer to the senior indenture and any subordinated indentures collectively as the indentures.

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The debt securities of NHIL will be guaranteed by Noble-Cayman. The specific terms of these securities and related guarantees will be provided in supplements to this prospectus.

We have summarized material provisions of the indentures below. The senior indenture and the form of subordinated indenture have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus, and you should read the indentures for provisions that may be important to you. The following description is qualified in all respects by reference to the actual text of the indentures and the forms of the debt securities.

General

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

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None of the indentures limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued. Each indenture allows debt securities to be issued up to the principal amount that may be authorized by the issuer and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by the issuer.

The debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities bearing no interest (or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates) to be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount.

U.S. federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any of these discounted debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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Debt securities of a series may be issued in registered, bearer, coupon or global form.

In the future we or one or more of our subsidiaries may also issue debt securities other than the debt securities described in this prospectus. There is no requirement that any other debt securities that we or our subsidiaries issue be issued under the indentures described in this prospectus. Any other debt securities that we or our subsidiaries issue may be issued under other indentures or instruments containing provisions that differ from those included in the indentures or that are applicable to one or more issues of debt securities described in this prospectus.

Guarantee

The debt securities of NHIL will be guaranteed by Noble-Cayman. The specific terms and provisions of each guarantee will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subordination

Under each subordinated indenture, payment of the principal of and interest and any premium on the subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all the issuer’s senior indebtedness. Each subordinated indenture provides that no payment of principal, interest and any premium on subordinated debt securities may be made in the event:

The subordinated indentures will not limit the amount of senior indebtedness that the issuers may incur.

“Senior indebtedness” is defined with respect to an issuer to include (i) all notes or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness, including guarantees given by the issuer, for money borrowed by the issuer, not expressed to be subordinate or junior in right of payment to any other indebtedness of the issuer, and (ii) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in exchange for such indebtedness.

Consolidation, Amalgamation, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to any series of debt securities, each indenture will provide that the issuer will not, in any transaction or series of transactions, consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any person, or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any person, other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, unless:

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Modification of Indentures

Under each indenture, the rights and obligations of the issuer and the rights of the holders may be modified with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms, and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, will be effective against any holder without its consent.

The issuer under an indenture generally may amend the indenture or the debt securities issued under the indenture with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities affected by the amendment. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of (i) any series may also waive the issuer’s compliance in a particular instance with any provision of the applicable indenture with respect to such series of debt securities and (ii) all series may waive the issuer’s compliance in a particular instance with any provision of the applicable indenture with respect to all series of debt securities issued thereunder. The issuer under an indenture must obtain the consent of each holder of debt securities affected by a particular amendment or waiver, however, if such amendment or waiver, among other things:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuer under an indenture may amend either the indenture or any series of debt securities issued under the indenture without the consent of any holder thereof, among other things:

Events of Default

“Event of Default” when used in an indenture will mean any of the following:

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An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities issued under an indenture does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

If an Event of Default for any series of debt securities issued under an indenture occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series affected by such Event of Default, or of all series of debt securities if the Event of Default is a result of failure to perform any covenant in the indenture, may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default occurs that is a result of certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, as the case may be, the principal amount of the outstanding securities of all series issued under an indenture ipso facto shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder. If any of the above happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series can void the declaration.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series issued under an indenture may waive any past default with respect to such debt securities under the indenture and its consequences, except:

Other than its duties in case of a default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under any indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it. If they provide this indemnity or security, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of debt securities issued under an indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for such series of debt securities.

Covenants

Under each indenture, the issuer will, among other things:

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Payment and Transfer

Principal of and interest and any premium on fully registered securities will be paid at designated places. Payment will be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities issued under an indenture are registered on days specified in the indenture or any prospectus supplement. Debt securities payments in other forms will be paid at a place designated by the issuer and specified in a prospectus supplement.

Fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate trust office of the trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by us for such purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge.

Book-Entry Procedures

We will issue the debt securities in the form of one or more global securities in fully registered form initially in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (or DTC), or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The global securities will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC and may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any nominee to a successor of DTC or a nominee of such successor.

DTC has advised us as follows:

Purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of debt securities is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of the debt securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the debt securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an

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authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by, direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the global securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date (identified in the listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

All payments on the global securities will be made to Cede & Co., as holder of record, or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the trustee on payment dates in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, us or the trustee, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) shall be the responsibility of us or the trustee. Disbursement of such payments to direct participants shall be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners shall be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its service as securities depositary with respect to the debt securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to the issuer or the trustee. In addition, we may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary). Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, note certificates in fully registered form are required to be printed and delivered to beneficial owners of the global securities representing such debt securities.

None of the issuer, the trustee or any underwriter of any debt securities will have any responsibility or obligation to direct or indirect participants, or the persons for whom they act as nominees, with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC, its nominee or any participant with respect to any ownership interest in the debt securities, or payments to, or the providing of notice to participants or beneficial owners.

So long as the debt securities are in DTC’s book-entry system, secondary market trading activity in the debt securities will settle in immediately available funds. All payments on the debt securities issued as global securities will be made by us in immediately available funds.

Defeasance

The issuer under an indenture will be discharged from its obligations on the debt securities of any series issued under the indenture at any time if sufficient cash or government securities are deposited with the trustee under the indenture to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date

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or a redemption date of the debt securities of the series. If this happens, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities.

The debt securities of any series may also provide for legal defeasance. Legal defeasance is permitted only if the issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that legal defeasance will not cause holders of the debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Under U.S. federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, a discharge may be treated as an exchange of the related debt securities. Each holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder’s cost or other tax basis for the debt securities and the value of the holder’s interest in the trust. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount than would be includable without the discharge. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers as to the consequences of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the U.S. federal income tax law.

The Trustee

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. will act as the initial trustee, conversion agent, paying agent, transfer agent and registrar with respect to debt securities under each indenture. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. also performs certain other services for, and transacts other banking business with us in the normal course of business. The address of the trustee is 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 4300, Dallas, Texas 75202.

Governing Law

Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, each indenture and the debt securities of each series will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Notices

Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register.

Plan of Distribution

Noble-Cayman and NHIL may sell the securities offered in this prospectus in and outside the United States (a) through agents; (b) to or through underwriters or dealers; (c) directly to one or more purchasers; or (d) through a combination of any of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the following information:

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By Agents

Offered securities may be sold through agents designated by the issuer. In the prospectus supplement, the issuer will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable by the issuer to the agent. Unless the issuer informs you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the agents will agree to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. The issuer may sell securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to those securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

By Underwriters or Dealers

If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The underwriter may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as an underwriter. Unless the issuer informs you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

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

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

Direct Sales

Offered securities may also be sold directly by the issuer. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If the prospectus supplement so indicates, the issuer may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts.

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These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

General Information

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions received by them from the issuer or guarantor and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Noble-Cayman or NHIL may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, Noble-Cayman, NHIL or other subsidiaries of Noble-UK in the ordinary course of their businesses.

Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any securities will be conditioned on customary closing conditions and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities if any are purchased.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered.

Legal Matters

Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the debt securities under U.S. laws will be passed upon for Noble-Cayman or NHIL, as applicable, by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas, and the validity of the debt securities under Cayman Islands law will be passed upon for Noble-Cayman or NHIL, as applicable, by Maples and Calder, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, and Maples and Calder is not passing on any matters other than those governed by Cayman Islands law.

Experts

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to Noble Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

The following is a statement of the expenses (other than underwriting compensation) to be incurred by us in connection with a distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement.

Noble Corporation

Noble Corporation is a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Noble-Cayman”). Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for the indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and agents except to the extent that such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy.

Noble-Cayman’s articles of association provide the following:

Article 44.1 of Noble-Cayman’s articles of association provides that no Noble-Cayman director will be personally liable to Noble-Cayman or its members for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Noble-Cayman or to its members, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or (c) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Article 44.2 of Noble-Cayman’s articles of association provides that Noble-Cayman will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of Noble-Cayman), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Noble-Cayman, or is or was serving at the request of Noble-Cayman as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Noble-Cayman, and, with respect to

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any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Noble-Cayman, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

Article 44.3 of Noble-Cayman’s articles of association provides that Noble-Cayman shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of Noble-Cayman to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Noble-Cayman, or is or was serving at the request of Noble-Cayman as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Noble-Cayman, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to Noble-Cayman unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the such court shall deem proper.

Any indemnification under Article 44.2 or Article 44.3 of Noble-Cayman’s articles of association (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by Noble-Cayman only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Article 44.2 or Article 44.3 of Noble-Cayman’s articles of association. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (a) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (b) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (c) if there are not such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d) by Noble-Cayman’s members.

To the extent that a present or former director or officer of Noble-Cayman has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in either of Articles 44.2 or 44.3 or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a present or former officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by Noble-Cayman in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by Noble-Cayman of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer or director to repay all such amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by Noble-Cayman under its articles of association or otherwise. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by present or former employees or agents of Noble-Cayman other than officers or directors may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as Noble-Cayman deems appropriate.

The indemnification and advancement of expenses shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of members or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. Any repeal or modification of the rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for in Noble-Cayman’s articles of association shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing.

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Noble-Cayman has entered into an indemnity agreement with each of its directors and officers to supplement the indemnification protection available under Noble-Cayman’s articles of association referred to above. These indemnity agreements generally provide that Noble-Cayman will indemnify the parties thereto to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Noble-Cayman also maintains insurance to protect itself and its directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses, liabilities and losses incurred by such persons in connection with their services in the foregoing capacities.

Noble Holding International Limited

The articles of association of Noble Holding International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“NHIL”), provide that every director, agent or officer of NHIL shall be indemnified out of the assets of NHIL against any liability incurred by such director, agent or officer as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out his functions other than such liability (if any) that he may incur by his own willful neglect or default. No such director, agent or officer shall be liable to NHIL for any loss or damage in carrying out his functions unless that liability arises through the willful neglect or default of such director, agent or officer.

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provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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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-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, on the 5th day of November, 2018.

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

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 5th day of November, 2018.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Noble Holding International Limited certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, on the 5th day of November, 2018.

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

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 5th day of November, 2018.