ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — UCO, a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, a leading multiple listing service (MLS) in the U.S. and the fastest-growing in the world, has entered into a landmark agreement with the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) India as an advisor to successfully launch an MLS across India. This milestone signifies Stellar MLS’s commitment to enhance the real estate industry on a global scale, expanding UCO’s presence worldwide, and furthers NAR India’s journey to modernize and elevate the Indian real estate industry.

Founded in 2008, NAR India is a nonprofit organization that facilitates the professional development of its members and promotes the highest standards and accreditation in the national real estate industry. It is one of only two countries to hold the NAR designation; Canada is the other. UCO will consult with NAR India’s team to guide in areas including the establishment of an MLS, technology, business strategy, organizational setup, and vendor management.

“We are delighted to align with NAR India, a highly respected organization that shares our values of quality customer service, trust and data integrity to benefit the burgeoning real estate market in India,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of UCO and Stellar MLS. “This is a significant nationwide initiative, and we are proud to share our expertise in establishing the MLS concept across India and be a part of NAR India’s mission to utilize the power of collaboration, transparency and an efficient marketplace.”

Cowen also noted the alignment’s potential benefits to Stellar MLS’s Florida customers, such as through referral opportunities: Florida is home to many Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Current trends highlight the increasing influence of NRIs in shaping India’s real estate landscape, driven by both emotional connections to their homeland and the pursuit of investment opportunities. On the flipside, India is one of the largest foreign investors in Florida real estate, with $5.4 billion in investments in 2020.

“The partnership between UCO and NAR India marks a pivotal moment for the Indian real estate industry,” said Amit Chopra, President, NAR India. “It brings cutting-edge MLS expertise to India, fostering transparency, trust, and professionalism in our market.”

Tarun Bhatia, Vice Chairman and Chair-Global, NAR India, added: “It also creates exciting opportunities for Indian REALTORS^® to showcase properties to a global audience, particularly NRIs, fostering stronger international connections.”

Sumanth Reddy, Chairman, NAR India, concluded: “We are proud to embark on this journey with UCO and look forward to the transformative impact it will have on our members and the industry as a whole, opening up new avenues for growth and collaboration.”

Dr. Mathew Kallumadil, UCO Vice President of Global Markets and Stellar MLS Vice President of Technology and Innovation noted the shared synergies between UCO and NAR India. “India is a complex, diverse market with different languages and cultures within the country, and UCO’s experience in accommodating regional differences and helping build scalable MLS systems will be invaluable in developing a sustainable MLS framework,” Dr. Kallumadil said. “Indian society is very highly digitized, and that is critical to a successful MLS and the ecosystem around it.”

The partnership with NAR India expands UCO’s presence to South Asia, in addition to Europe and the Middle East. UCO recently entered into other strategic global consulting opportunities, including with MLS Leader (Romania) and Arab MLS (Middle East) to optimize real estate practices across their respective regions, and with Igluu, a Prague-based digital technology firm, to expand the MLS concept in Europe. Furthermore, UCO has been actively engaged in global forums to support a forward-thinking approach to transforming the industry and its presence is supported through its partnerships with CEPI, the European Association of Real Estate Professions, and FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation.

For information about UCO and Stellar MLS, visit stellarmls.com/global.

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Media Contact: Caryn McBride
Co-Communications
[email protected]

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SUGAR LAND, Texas, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Noble Corporation plc (“Noble“, the “Company“) (NYSE: NE, CSE: NOBLE) announces that today, Noble has submitted a request for the voluntary removal of its shares (in the form of share entitlements) (the “Danish Shares“) from trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S (“Nasdaq Copenhagen“) (the “Delisting“) pursuant to Rule 22(ii) of Supplement A of the Nordic Main Market Rulebook for Issuers of Shares. If Nasdaq Copenhagen accepts the request for voluntary delisting, Noble expects the Delisting to occur by mid-December 2024.

The request for the Delisting will not affect Noble’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange and Noble will remain traded on the New York Stock Exchange as Noble’s primary listing exchange.

Background for applying for the Delisting

As described in Noble’s company announcement of July 18, 2024, following a comprehensive review, Noble believes that the trading volume of its Danish Shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen no longer justifies the expense and administrative requirements associated with maintaining this dual listing. Noble’s primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange provides its shareholders with sufficient liquidity, as the New York Stock Exchange accounts for approximately 99% of its trading volume. The substantial savings in exchange fees, legal fees, and managerial time and effort to maintain a dual listing can be redirected to initiatives intended to generate shareholder value.

Consequently, the board of directors of Noble has resolved to request Nasdaq Copenhagen for a Delisting of Noble.

Possible courses of action for holders of Noble’s Danish Shares

Provided that Noble’s request for Delisting is accommodated, holders of Danish Shares may:

• Dispose of their Danish Shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen before the Delisting is effective; or
• Convert their Danish Shares to an equivalent number of Noble shares tradeable on the New York Stock Exchange (“Noble NYSE Shares“).

Alternatively, holders of Danish Shares may do nothing but will hold an illiquid asset following the Delisting.

Disposal of Danish Shares before the Delisting is effective

Following receipt of the expected approval of Noble’s Delisting, the Danish Shares will remain tradeable on Nasdaq Copenhagen for a period of approximately 4 weeks. As such, it will be possible to dispose of the Danish Shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen within the trading period.

Conversion of Danish Shares to Noble NYSE Shares

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If holders of Danish Shares want to continue to own publicly tradeable Noble shares after the Delisting, the shareholder must convert its Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares either before or after the Delisting.

To convert Danish Shares to Noble NYSE Shares, the holder of Danish Shares must instruct its financial intermediary (bank or broker) to contact Euronext Securities Copenhagen (Noble’s Danish transfer agent). The procedure for converting Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares may take several trading days.

To receive Noble NYSE Shares, the shareholder must be able to take delivery of shares issued through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC“). This requires access to a U.S. securities account.

Furthermore, holders of Danish Shares should contact their financial intermediary (bank or broker) about handling fees for the conversion of Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares and costs associated with holding shares in DTC and trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Any such costs may be borne by the individual shareholder. Noble currently pays ‘safe keeping’ fees for holders who hold Danish Shares and will continue to do so only until the anticipated Delisting, at which time any holders of Danish Shares who have not converted their Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares or disposed of their Danish Shares shall be responsible for these fees on their unlisted Danish Shares.

Holders of Danish Shares should contact their financial intermediary (bank or broker) to assist with any conversion and to answer any questions on process or fees.

Retaining Danish Shares as unlisted securities

Following the Delisting, any Danish Shares not sold or converted will cease to be admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen (or any stock exchange). As such, shareholders holding Danish Shares will have an illiquid asset and will most likely need to convert their Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares (see above) if and when they wish to sell their shares. A shareholder holding Danish Shares will continue to be able to convert their Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares after the Delisting, subject to certain fees.

Certain financial intermediaries (banks or brokers) may have policies regarding shares that are delisted and may require conversion from Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares. Please contact your financial intermediary, bank, broker or financial adviser for assistance.

Changes for shareholders holding Danish Shares

Shareholder rights

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The ordinary shareholder rights associated with holding Danish Shares will remain unchanged following the Delisting. Consequently, if shareholders holding Danish Shares choose to retain their Danish Shares after the Delisting is effective, they will retain the same shareholder rights as prior to the Delisting, i.e., the right to vote at general meetings and receive dividends, etc. The Danish Shares will continue to be registered in Euronext Securities Copenhagen.

In addition, the shareholder rights, including entitlements to dividends and voting rights, associated with holding Noble NYSE Shares are the same as those associated with the holding Danish Shares. However, whereas the Danish Shares are eligible to receive dividends in DKK and while still admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen are traded in DKK, the Noble NYSE Shares are traded in USD and are eligible to receive dividends in USD.

Disclosure requirements

Shareholders holding Danish Shares should be advised that subsequent to the Delisting becoming effective, the shares of Noble will not be subject to the disclosure requirements applicable for companies with shares admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen. However, Noble will through its the primary listing of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange remain subject to the extensive disclosure requirements under U.S. securities laws and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange.

Tax consequences 

The shareholders holding Danish Shares are treated as owning listed shares for Danish tax purposes.

The Delisting should not have any adverse Danish tax impact on Danish tax residents who choose to convert their Danish Shares and thus after the Delisting will hold Noble NYSE Shares.

The shareholders holding Danish Shares who choose to dispose of their Danish Shares will be taxed as a sale of listed shares.

The above assessments should apply to all Danish shareholders holding Danish Shares, regardless of whether they are individuals or corporate entities. Non-Danish shareholders are generally not taxable on a sale of Danish listed shares.

The shareholders holding Danish Shares that do not sell or convert their Danish Shares, and thus retain their Danish Shares after the Delisting, are expected to continue to own listed shares for Danish tax purposes. A binding ruling has been sought to confirm this expectation, but at the time of this announcement, no final ruling has yet been issued by the Danish tax authorities. If the Danish Shares are deemed to be unlisted for Danish tax purposes after the Delisting, the Delisting itself may trigger taxation for certain Danish tax resident individuals.   

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Noble does not provide tax or legal advice and the above information is informational only. Please note that as each holder of Danish Shares’ circumstances may differ, Noble encourages each holder of Danish Shares to consult with their own tax and/or financial adviser.

About Noble Corporation
Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. For further information visit www.noblecorp.com or email [email protected].

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or contain any invitation, solicitation, recommendation, offer or advice to any person to subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of Noble.

Certain statements in this announcement, including any attachments hereto, may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements (other than statements of historical fact) relating to future events and Noble and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Noble Group“). The words “targets”, “believes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “will”, “may”, “might”, “anticipates”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “estimates”, “projects”, “potentially” or similar expressions or the negatives thereof, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Other forward-looking statements can be identified in the context in which the statements are made.

Although Noble believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this announcement, such forward-looking statements are based on Noble’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, assumptions and projections about the particular events in question.

Any forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including any attachment hereto, speak only as of today. Noble does not intend, and does not assume, any obligations to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as may be required by law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Copenhagen. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Noble or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referred to above and contained in this announcement, including any attachment hereto.

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NINGBO, China, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On November 13, the 2024 United Nations International Procurement Seminar (IPS) commenced in Ningbo, marking the first time this authoritative, high-profile and professional conference has been held in Asia. The event brought together 50 senior procurement officials and representatives from 16 UN agencies, alongside over 200 supplier representatives from both domestic and international markets.

The selection of Ningbo as the venue prompts the question of why the UN chose Asia, and specifically China, for this significant event. A representative from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) office in China encapsulated the sentiment with the phrase “mutual engagement.”

In recent years, the total value of UN procurement has steadily climbed, reaching as high as $29.6 billion. Traditionally, the IPS has been held primarily in Europe three times a year. As the UN seeks to innovate its procurement methods and achieve sustainable development goals, it has increasingly turned its attention to China.

“China has a diverse industrial landscape, offering high-quality products and services at competitive prices. By increasing its procurement of Chinese goods, the UN can enhance the efficiency of its funding use, allowing more developing countries to benefit from UN development aid projects. This aligns with our mutual interests,” noted an official from the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of International Trade and Economic Relations.

Ningbo has consistently emphasized the importance of UN procurement, organizing various initiatives for local enterprises to engage in UN procurement activities in recent years. In September last year, the city hosted the China (Ningbo) UN Procurement Promotion Conference, helping nearly 110 companies successfully register on the official United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) website.

Following this event, the UNDP office in China expressed gratitude, recognizing Ningbo’s thriving manufacturing and foreign trade service sectors as having substantial potential to provide innovative solutions for UN procurement. “Ningbo serves as both a catalyst and a bridge, linking China with the world and the UN,” stated Neris M. Baez, Director of the UN Secretariat Procurement Division.

The UN procurement system offers several advantages, including duty exemptions, low exchange rate risks, market stability, and avoidance of trade barriers. These factors can assist in opening markets in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, generating potential benefits and spillover effects.

“China possesses a comprehensive and robust industrial and supply chain and is a globally influential logistics hub. However, we currently lack the necessary channels to connect with international high standards. The key to expanding institutional openness lies in mastering international high-standard trade regulations,” emphasized a representative from the Ningbo Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

If this seminar enables participants to become familiar with international high-standard trade regulations, it could establish a robust support system for engaging in UN procurement. This would create new opportunities in the international public procurement sector, empowering enterprises to secure more international orders through the UNGM website. From this perspective, the seminar represents an important “icebreaking journey.”

Contact: Sun Jiali
Tel.: 0086-18069269225
E-mail: [email protected]

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