HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2026-- Valaris Limited (NYSE: VAL) ("Valaris" or the "Company") today reported first quarter 2026 results.

President and Chief Executive Officer Anton Dibowitz said, “Thank you to the entire Valaris team for a strong start to the year. We delivered safe and reliable operations for our customers, achieving revenue efficiency of 98% in the first quarter. We expect a meaningful improvement in our financial results through 2026, supported by strong project delivery and operational execution, with the DS-12 having successfully returned to operations ahead of schedule and three additional drillships from our active fleet on track to restart later this year.”

Dibowitz added, “We continue to execute our commercial strategy, adding over $500 million of new contract backlog since reporting our fourth quarter results, including a multi-year extension for VALARIS DS-4 offshore Brazil that secures continuous work for the rig into 2030. As a result, total backlog now stands at approximately $4.9 billion, our highest level in nearly a decade, further supporting future earnings and cash flow.”

Dibowitz continued, “We remain positive on the outlook for offshore drilling, supported by improving market fundamentals. While the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have created near-term uncertainty, they reinforce the strategic importance of energy security and the need for sustained upstream investment to help ensure reliable and affordable energy supply.”

Dibowitz concluded, “During the quarter, we were pleased to announce an all-stock transaction with Transocean that will benefit our shareholders, customers and employees. The transaction is expected to deliver meaningful value to Valaris shareholders through anticipated synergies and the opportunity to participate in the future upside potential of a combined company that is capable of operating any rig at any water depth in any offshore environment around the world.”

Financial and Operational Highlights

• Total operating revenues of $465 million and a net loss of $18 million
• Revenue efficiency of 98%
• Adjusted EBITDA of $67 million
• Announced an all-stock transaction with Transocean that is expected to deliver meaningful value to Valaris shareholders
• Secured over $500 million of new contract backlog since reporting fourth quarter 2025 results, increasing total backlog to approximately $4.9 billion
• Entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Petronas Suriname and Halliburton to support development of Petronas Suriname's offshore assets
• VALARIS 248 received the Chairman's Award for Jackup Rigs at the 2026 IADC North Sea Chapter Annual Safety Awards in recognition of the rig's safety performance in 2025

First Quarter Review

Net loss of $18 million compared to net income of $717 million in the fourth quarter 2025. Net loss included a tax expense of $28 million compared to a tax benefit of $680 million in the fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA of $67 million compared to $97 million in the fourth quarter.

Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items decreased to $430 million from $502 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to fewer operating days across both the floater and jackup fleets.

Contract drilling expenses exclusive of reimbursable items decreased to $340 million from $380 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to fewer operating days for the floater fleet and the deferral of contract preparation costs for certain rigs. These items were partially offset by an $8 million increase in costs related to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, primarily the incremental cost to maintain insurance coverage for war-related risks for jackups that Valaris operates in the region.

General and administrative expenses decreased to $25 million from $27 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to lower professional fees.

First quarter 2026 included $14 million of merger and integration expenses, primarily related to professional fees incurred in connection with the pending business combination with Transocean.

Other expense increased to $10 million from $3 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to unfavorable movements in foreign currency exchange rates and lower interest income.

Tax expense of $28 million compared to a tax benefit of $680 million in the fourth quarter 2025. The first quarter tax provision included $2 million of discrete tax expense, primarily related to the resolution of prior period tax matters. The fourth quarter tax provision included $691 million of tax benefit related to changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances in certain operating jurisdictions and a $7 million discrete tax benefit primarily attributable to rig impairments. Adjusted for these items, tax expense increased to $26 million from $18 million in the fourth quarter due to a change in the jurisdictional mix of income.

Capital expenditures decreased to $101 million from $106 million in the fourth quarter 2025.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $578 million as of March 31, 2026, from $599 million as of December 31, 2025, primarily due to capital expenditures, partially offset by cash flow from operations.

First Quarter Segment Review

Floaters

Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items decreased to $193 million from $255 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to VALARIS DS-17, which underwent contract preparation activities for most of the first quarter prior to commencing a new contract in late March, as well as VALARIS DPS-1 and MS-1, which completed contracts mid-fourth quarter without follow-on work.

Contract drilling expenses exclusive of reimbursable items decreased to $151 million from $198 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to cost reductions associated with warm stacking VALARIS DPS-1 and MS-1, as well as the deferral of contract preparation costs for certain drillships that are restarting operations this year.

Jackups

Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items decreased to $196 million from $209 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to fewer operating days for VALARIS 106, which had an idle period after completing a contract early in the first quarter, and a lower day rate for VALARIS 123, which commenced a short-term accommodation services contract early in the first quarter.

Contract drilling expenses exclusive of reimbursable items increased to $129 million from $121 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to incremental cost to maintain insurance coverage for war-related risks for jackups that Valaris operates in the Middle East.

ARO Drilling

Revenues decreased to $127 million from $140 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to more out of service time related to planned shipyard projects for certain rigs, including VALARIS 116 and 250. This was partially offset by more operating days for VALARIS 76, which commenced a contract late in the fourth quarter. Contract drilling expenses decreased to $75 million from $87 million in the fourth quarter, primarily due to lower operating costs for rigs that were undergoing shipyard projects, partially offset by higher operating costs for VALARIS 76.

Other

Revenues exclusive of reimbursable items increased to $42 million from $38 million in the fourth quarter 2025, primarily due to higher bareboat charter revenues from rigs leased to ARO, resulting from more operating days for VALARIS 76, partially offset by fewer operating days for VALARIS 116 and 250. Contract drilling expenses exclusive of reimbursable items increased to $23 million from $21 million in the fourth quarter, primarily due to incremental cost to maintain insurance coverage for war-related risks for VALARIS 116 and 250, which are undergoing shipyard projects in the Middle East prior to recommencing long-term bareboat charters with ARO.

Conference Call

In connection with the pending business combination with Transocean Ltd., announced on February 9, 2026, Valaris does not intend to hold future earnings conference calls or provide updates to forward-looking guidance.

About Valaris Limited

Valaris Limited (NYSE: VAL) is an industry leader in offshore drilling services across all water depths and geographies. Operating a high-quality rig fleet of ultra-deepwater drillships, versatile semisubmersibles, and modern shallow-water jackups, Valaris has experience operating in nearly every major offshore basin. Valaris maintains an unwavering commitment to safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction, with a focus on technology and innovation. Valaris Limited is a Bermuda exempted company limited by shares (Bermuda No. 56245). To learn more, visit the Valaris website at www.valaris.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "likely," "outlook," "plan," "project," "could," "may," "might," "should," "will" and similar words and specifically include statements regarding expected financial performance; expected utilization, day rates, revenues, operating expenses, cash flows, contract status, terms and duration, contract backlog, capital expenditures, insurance, financing and funding; the offshore drilling market, including supply and demand, customer drilling programs and the attainment of requisite permits for such programs, stacking of rigs, effects of new rigs on the market and effect of the volatility of commodity prices; expected work commitments, awards, contracts and letters of intent; scheduled delivery dates for rigs; performance and expected benefits of our joint ventures, including our joint venture with Saudi Aramco; timing of the delivery of the Saudi Aramco Rowan Offshore Drilling Company ("ARO") newbuild rigs and the timing of additional ARO newbuild orders; the availability, delivery, mobilization, contract commencement, availability, relocation or other movement of rigs and the timing thereof; rig reactivations; suitability of rigs for future contracts; divestitures of assets; general economic, market, business and industry conditions, trends and outlook; general political conditions, including political tensions, conflicts and war; cybersecurity attacks and threats; uncertainty around the use and impacts of artificial intelligence applications; impacts and effects of public health crises, pandemics and epidemics; future operations; ability to renew expiring contracts or obtain new contracts; increasing regulatory complexity; targets, progress, plans and goals related to sustainability matters; the outcome of tax disputes; assessments and settlements; and expense management. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated, including risks associated with the pending transaction with Transocean Ltd., including, among others, the completion of the pending transaction on the anticipated terms and timing, or at all, the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm our business, including current plans and operations, the diversion of management's time and attention from ordinary course operations to completion of the pending transaction and certain restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact our business; cancellation, suspension, renegotiation or termination of drilling contracts and programs; our ability to obtain financing, service our debt, fund capital expenditures and pursue other business opportunities; adequacy of sources of liquidity for us and our customers; future share repurchases; actions by regulatory authorities, or other third parties; actions by our security holders; internal control risk; commodity price fluctuations and volatility, customer demand, loss of a significant customer or customer contract, downtime and other risks associated with offshore rig operations; adverse weather, including hurricanes; changes in worldwide rig supply; and demand, competition and technology; supply chain and logistics challenges; consumer preferences for alternative fuels and forecasts or expectations regarding the global energy transition; increased scrutiny of our sustainability targets, initiatives and reporting and our ability to achieve such targets or initiatives; changes in customer strategy; future levels of offshore drilling activity; governmental action, civil unrest and political and economic uncertainties, including recessions, inflation, volatility affecting financial markets and the banking system, changing tariff policies, trade disputes, and adverse changes in the level of international trade activity; terrorism, piracy and military action (including conflicts in the Middle East and potential disruptions to key shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz); risks inherent to shipyard upgrade, repair, maintenance, enhancement or rig reactivation; our ability to enter into, and the terms of, future drilling contracts; suitability of rigs for future contracts; the cancellation of letters of intent or letters of award or any failure to execute definitive contracts following announcements of letters of intent, letters of award or other expected work commitments; the outcome of litigation, legal proceedings, investigations or other claims or contract disputes; governmental regulatory, legislative and permitting requirements affecting drilling operations; our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel on commercially reasonable terms; the use of artificial intelligence by us, third-party service providers or our competitors; environmental or other liabilities, risks or losses; compliance with our debt agreements and debt restrictions that may limit our liquidity and flexibility, including in any return of capital plans; cybersecurity risks and threats; and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In addition to the numerous factors described above, you should also carefully read and consider "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part I and "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II of our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, which is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov or on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.valaris.com. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.