Valaris Ltd (VAL)

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in "Item 1. Financial Statements" and with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. The following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our annual report and elsewhere in this quarterly report. See “Forward-Looking Statements.”

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Our Business

We are a leading provider of offshore contract drilling services to the international oil and gas industry with operations in almost every major offshore market across six continents. Our fleet of offshore drilling rigs is among the largest in the world and includes one of the highest specification ultra-deepwater fleets, as well as a leading premium jackup fleet. As of August 6, 2026, we own 43 rigs, including 13 drillships, one semisubmersible rig, 29 jackup rigs and a 50% equity interest in ARO, our 50/50 unconsolidated joint venture with Saudi Aramco, which owns an additional nine rigs.

Pending Business Combination with Transocean

On February 9, 2026, Valaris and Transocean Ltd. ("Transocean"), entered into a Business Combination Agreement under which Transocean will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Valaris in exchange for shares of Transocean at an exchange ratio of 15.235 Transocean shares for each Valaris common share (the "Business Combination"). Upon completion and on a fully diluted basis assuming conversion to shares of Transocean’s exchangeable bonds due 2029, Transocean shareholders would own approximately 53% of the combined company, with Valaris shareholders owning the remaining 47%. The completion of the Business Combination is subject to customary closing conditions, including shareholder and regulatory approvals.

See "Note 1 - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Pending Business Combination with Transocean" to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in "Item 1. Financial Statements" for information regarding the Business Combination.

Our Industry

The offshore drilling industry is cyclical and primarily influenced by global energy demand, oil and gas supply dynamics, geopolitical factors and customer capital allocation decisions. Periods of oil oversupply generally place downward pressure on commodity prices, while periods of undersupply can result in higher and more volatile oil prices, influencing investment decisions across the upstream sector. While the oil market began the year in a period of oversupply, the on-going conflicts in the Middle East have reduced supply and increased uncertainty and volatility in global energy markets. The conflicts have also reinforced the strategic importance of energy security and market participants generally expect the global oil and gas market to tighten over the next few years, driven by past underinvestment in upstream development and slowing production growth from non-OPEC sources. Industry studies, including those published by the International Energy Agency and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, indicate that substantial upstream investment is required to offset natural field declines and maintain existing production levels.

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Against this backdrop, customers continue to emphasize the need for sustained investment in oil and gas to support secure, reliable and affordable energy supply, with increasing focus on offshore developments, particularly in deepwater. Compared to other sources of supply, deepwater projects typically offer large resource potential, competitive project economics and lower carbon intensity per barrel. Despite near-term commodity price uncertainty, customers are continuing to advance long-cycle offshore developments. Industry participants anticipate increased deepwater project sanctioning over the next five years across greenfield, brownfield and exploration opportunities. According to Rystad Energy estimates, approximately 65% of this expected activity is associated with projects with breakeven oil prices below $50 per barrel and approximately 80% is associated with projects with breakeven prices below $60 per barrel.

Operating results in the offshore drilling industry are directly related to the demand for and the available supply of drilling rigs, each of which affects rig utilization and day rates. While the balance of rig supply and demand can vary somewhat between regions, significant variations between most regions are generally short-term due to rig mobility. Rig attrition in the industry over the last decade, particularly for floaters, has resulted in a smaller global fleet of rigs that is available to meet customer demand.

Inflationary pressures impact our cost base, resulting in increased personnel costs as well as in the prices of goods and services required to operate our rigs or execute capital projects. Additionally, the weakening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies may increase costs in certain foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. We expect that our costs will continue to rise in the near term, particularly given the potential impact of increased tariffs on global trade, and although certain of our long-term contracts contain provisions for escalating costs, we cannot predict with certainty our ability to successfully claim recoveries of higher costs from our customers under these contractual stipulations.

Conflicts in the Middle East

Our operations and assets located in the Middle East have recently been subject to elevated geopolitical risk due to ongoing conflicts and military activity in the region. As a result, our operating income was negatively impacted by approximately $30.0 million and $38.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively, primarily associated with incremental costs to maintain insurance coverage for war-related risks for jackups that we operate in the region (approximately $11.0 million and $19.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively) and incremental costs and lower revenues associated with project delays for VALARIS 250 and VALARIS 116 (approximately $14.0 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2026), which were undergoing planned maintenance and contract preparation projects in shipyards located in the region during the first half of 2026. Based on information currently available, we expect these adverse impacts to moderate in the second half of 2026 as VALARIS 250 recommenced its bareboat charter contract in July and VALARIS 116 is expected to recommence its bareboat charter in the third quarter. In addition, insurance costs to maintain war-related coverage are expected to be lower than those incurred in the first half of the year primarily due to the sale of VALARIS 104 and lower premiums from securing longer term coverage.

The geopolitical environment in the Middle East remains volatile, and if the ongoing conflicts persist or escalate, including an expansion of hostilities, the negative impact on our operating income could be significantly higher than amounts incurred to date and could also adversely affect the operating performance of ARO. An escalation of conflict could result in additional military actions, economic sanctions or other governmental measures, including disruptions to regional ports or further restrictions on maritime traffic through key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz. Continued disruptions or closures affecting the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the region’s maritime traffic and energy‑related logistics transit, could materially affect our ability, and that of ARO, to mobilize assets, transport personnel and supplies, or perform drilling and related services in a timely and cost‑effective manner.

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In addition, any such escalation could lead to further increases in insurance premiums, reductions in coverage limits or scope or the unavailability of coverage, as well as limitations on vessel access or port services, delays in customs and regulatory approvals, supply chain disruptions and increased security‑related expenditures. These risks could result in prolonged rig downtime, including for rigs operated by ARO, contract suspensions or terminations, delayed commencement of contracted operations, loss of revenue, impairment of assets or additional force majeure claims by us or our customers. Ongoing or future instability in the region, including actions taken in response to geopolitical developments, could materially and adversely affect our operating costs, financial condition, and results of operations.

Backlog

Our contract drilling backlog reflects commitments represented by signed drilling contracts and is calculated by multiplying the contracted operating day rate by the contract period. The contracted day rate excludes certain types of lump sum fees for rig mobilization, demobilization, contract preparation, as well as customer reimbursables and bonus opportunities. Our backlog excludes ARO's backlog but includes backlog from our rigs leased to ARO at the contractual lease rates, which are subject to adjustment under the terms of the shareholder agreement governing the joint venture (the "Shareholder Agreement").

The ARO backlog presented below is 100% of ARO's backlog and is inclusive of backlog on both ARO owned rigs and rigs leased from us. As an unconsolidated 50/50 joint venture, when ARO realizes revenue from its backlog, 50% of the earnings thereon would be reflected in our results in Equity in earnings of ARO in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The earnings from ARO backlog with respect to rigs leased from us will be net of, among other things, payments to us under bareboat charters for those rigs. See "Note 3 - Equity Method Investment in ARO" to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in "Item 1. Financial Statements" for additional information.

The following table summarizes our and 100% of ARO's contract backlog of business as of August 5, 2026 and February 17, 2026 (in millions):

(1)The decrease for Floaters is primarily due to revenues realized, partially offset by a contract extension for VALARIS DS-4, which resulted in incremental aggregate backlog of approximately $426.0 million.

(2)The increase for Jackups is primarily due to a 41-well contract for VALARIS 248, with an estimated duration of approximately three years, and a two-year contract extension for VALARIS 115, which resulted in incremental aggregate backlog of approximately $140.0 million and $78.0 million, respectively, partially offset by revenues realized.

(3)Other includes the backlog for our managed rig services and the bareboat charter backlog for the jackup rigs leased to ARO in order for ARO to fulfill certain of its drilling contracts with Saudi Aramco.

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BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Floaters

Within the floater segment, utilization for the global marketed drillship fleet was approximately 88% as of June 30, 2026 and included 11 drillships across the industry which were not working at quarter-end due to gaps between contracts. Market conditions are expected to improve as these rigs commence new contracts during 2026 or in early 2027, including

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Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following information should be read in conjunction with "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report.

The discussion of our results of operations and liquidity in this section includes comparisons for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. For a similar discussion, including comparisons for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, see “Part II. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2025.

INTRODUCTION

Our Business

We are a leading provider of offshore contract drilling services to the international oil and gas industry with operations in almost every major offshore market across six continents. Our fleet of offshore drilling rigs is among the largest in the world and includes one of the highest specification ultra-deepwater fleets, as well as a leading premium jackup fleet. As of February 20, 2026, we own 46 rigs, including 13 drillships, two semisubmersible rigs, 31 jackup rigs and a 50% equity interest in ARO, our 50/50 unconsolidated joint venture with Saudi Aramco, which owns an additional nine rigs.

Our customers include many of the leading international and government-owned oil and gas companies, in addition to many independent operators. We are among the most geographically diverse offshore drilling companies with global operations. The markets in which we operate include the Gulf of America, South America, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

We provide drilling services on a day rate contract basis. Under day rate contracts, we provide an integrated drilling service that includes the provision of a drilling rig and rig crews for which we receive a daily rate that may vary between the full rate and zero rate throughout the duration of the contractual term, depending on the operations of the rig. We also may receive lump-sum fees or similar compensation for the mobilization, demobilization and capital upgrades of our rigs. Our customers bear substantially all of the costs of constructing the well and supporting drilling operations as well as the economic risk relative to the success of the well.

Our Industry

The offshore drilling industry is cyclical and primarily influenced by global energy demand, oil and gas supply dynamics and customer capital allocation decisions. Periods of oil oversupply generally place downward pressure on commodity prices, while periods of undersupply can result in higher and more volatile oil prices, influencing investment decisions across the upstream sector. While the oil market is currently in a period of oversupply, industry fundamentals are generally viewed as constructive over the medium to long term. Market participants generally expect the current oil supply imbalance to shift to a structurally tighter market over the next few years, driven by past underinvestment in upstream development and slowing production growth from non-OPEC sources. Industry studies, including those published by the International Energy Agency and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, indicate that substantial upstream investment is required to offset natural field declines and maintain existing production levels.

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Against this backdrop, customers continue to emphasize the need for sustained investment in oil and gas to support secure, reliable and affordable energy supply, with increasing focus on offshore developments, particularly in deepwater. Compared to other sources of supply, deepwater projects typically offer large resource potential, competitive project economics and lower carbon intensity per barrel. Despite near-term commodity price uncertainty, customers are continuing to advance long-cycle offshore developments. Industry participants anticipate increased deepwater project sanctioning over the next five years across greenfield, brownfield and exploration opportunities. According to Rystad Energy estimates, approximately 70% of this expected activity is associated with projects with breakeven oil prices below $50 per barrel and over 80% is associated with projects with breakeven prices below $60 per barrel.

Operating results in the offshore drilling industry are directly related to the demand for and the available supply of drilling rigs, each of which affects rig utilization and day rates. While the balance of rig supply and demand can vary somewhat between regions, significant variations between most regions are generally short-term due to rig mobility. Rig attrition in the industry over the last decade, particularly for floaters, has resulted in a smaller global fleet of rigs that is available to meet customer demand.

Inflationary pressures impact our cost base, resulting in increased personnel costs as well as in the prices of goods and services required to operate our rigs or execute capital projects. Additionally, the weakening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies may increase costs in certain foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. We expect that our costs will continue to rise in the near term, particularly given the potential impact of increased tariffs on global trade, and although certain of our long-term contracts contain provisions for escalating costs, we cannot predict with certainty our ability to successfully claim recoveries of higher costs from our customers under these contractual stipulations.

Pending Business Combination with Transocean

On February 9, 2026, Valaris and Transocean (Valaris and Transocean, collectively, the “Parties” and each, a “Party”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement under which Transocean will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Valaris in exchange for shares of Transocean at an exchange ratio of 15.235 Transocean shares for each Valaris share. The Business Combination will be effected by way of a court-approved scheme of arrangement between Valaris and the holders of the Valaris shares pursuant to section 99 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended. The Transocean shares are expected to be issued in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof and pursuant to exemptions from registration under any applicable state securities laws. Following the consummation of the Business Combination, Transocean’s existing shareholders and Valaris’ existing shareholders will own approximately 53% and 47%, respectively, of the combined company on a fully diluted basis assuming conversion to shares of Transocean’s exchangeable bonds due 2029.

Completion of the Business Combination is subject to customary closing conditions, including (1) the receipt of the requisite approvals of the Valaris shareholders and the Transocean shareholders, (2) the granting of the sanction order on terms consistent with the Business Combination Agreement, (3) the Transocean shares issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement having been approved for listing on the NYSE, (4) certain regulatory approvals having been obtained or any applicable waiting period having expired or been terminated, (5) no governmental authority within applicable jurisdictions having enacted or issued any law or order preventing or prohibiting the consummation of the Business Combination and (6) the absence of a Transocean Material Adverse Effect or a Valaris Material Adverse Effect. Therefore, the Business Combination Agreement may not be completed or may not be completed as timely as expected.

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In addition, the Business Combination Agreement also contains certain customary termination rights in favor of each Party, including for the failure to receive the requisite approvals of the Valaris shareholders and Transocean shareholders. In addition, a Party may terminate the Business Combination Agreement, prior to the receipt of the requisite approval of the other Party’s shareholders, if the other Party shall have made an Adverse Recommendation Change (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement). In addition, either Valaris or Transocean may terminate the Business Combination Agreement if the effective time shall not have occurred on or prior to February 9, 2027 (as such date may be extended in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement). If the Business Combination Agreement is terminated under specified circumstances, including if the Business Combination Agreement is terminated by Valaris for Transocean having made an Adverse Recommendation Change (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), or for certain other triggering events, Valaris will be required to pay to Transocean a termination fee of $173.0 million.

The foregoing description of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 with the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 10, 2026.

See “Part I. Item 1A - Risk Factors” for further discussion about the risks related to the Business Combination.

Backlog

Our contract drilling backlog reflects commitments represented by signed drilling contracts and is calculated by multiplying the contracted operating day rate by the contract period. The contracted day rate excludes certain types of lump sum fees for rig mobilization, demobilization, contract preparation, as well as customer reimbursables and bonus opportunities. Our backlog excludes ARO's backlog but includes backlog from our rigs leased to ARO at the contractual lease rates, which are subject to adjustment under the terms of the shareholder agreement governing the joint venture (the "Shareholder Agreement").

The ARO backlog presented below is 100% of ARO's backlog and is inclusive of backlog on both ARO owned rigs and rigs leased from us. As an unconsolidated 50/50 joint venture, when ARO realizes revenue from its backlog, 50% of the earnings thereon would be reflected in our results in equity in earnings of ARO in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The earnings from ARO backlog with respect to rigs leased from us will be net of, among other things, payments to us under bareboat charters for those rigs. See "Note 3 - Equity Method Investment in ARO" to our consolidated financial statements included in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information.

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The following table summarizes our and 100% of ARO's contract backlog of business as of February 17, 2026 and February 18, 2025 (in millions):

(1)The increase for Floaters is primarily due to contract awards and extensions executed for various drillships, which resulted in incremental aggregate backlog of approximately $2.1 billion, partially offset by revenues realized.

(2)The decrease for Jackups is primarily due to revenues realized and the removal of approximately $120.0 million of backlog from VALARIS 120, which completed a drilling program in December 2025 at which time the contract was suspended. We no longer expect future revenues to be realized under that contract, which was previously scheduled through mid-2028. This decrease was partially offset by various contract awards and extensions executed, which resulted in incremental aggregate b

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