Archer 2022 Annual Report
16 17
Board of Directors’ Report
Risk factors
Risks relating to cyber attacks
The Group relies heavily on technology and data systems in order
to conduct its operations. The Group’s software, technology, data,
websites or networks, as well as those of third parties, are vulnerable
to security breaches, including unauthorised access, computer
viruses or other cyber threats that could have a security impact.
Although the Group has implemented security systems, the Group
may not be able to prevent cyber-attacks, such as phishing and
hacking, or prevent breaches caused by employee error, in a timely
manner or at all. If such events occur, unauthorised persons may
access or manipulate confidential and proprietary information
of the Group, destroy or cause interruptions in the Group’s data
systems which in turn could adversely hamper the Group’s
ability to execute projects and otherwise conduct its business.
Consequently, cyber-attacks or breaches negatively affecting the
Group’s data systems could have a material adverse effect on the
Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks related to law, regulation and litigation
Risks related to the Group’s international operations.
The Group has operations in 40 countries in Asia, Oceania, Europe,
North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa. As such,
the Group’s operations are subject to various laws and regulations
in the countries in which it operates, whose political and compliance
regimes differ. Part of the Group’s strategy is to prudently and
opportunistically acquire businesses and assets that complement
the Group’s existing products and services and to expand the
Group’s geographic footprint. There can, however, be no assurance
that that Group will be able to successfully integrate businesses
or assets acquired in the future (domestic or abroad), and there is
a risk that substantial costs, delays, business disruptions or other
issues could arise in connection with such acquisitions, which in
turn could have a material adverse effect on the Group. Further, if
the Group makes acquisitions in other countries, the Group may
increase its exposure to various risks, such as unexpected changes
in regulatory requirements, foreign currency fluctuations and
devaluation, increased governmental ownership and regulation of
the economy in markets in which the Group operates, and other
forms of government regulations beyond the Group’s control.
Governments in some foreign countries have become increasingly
active in regulating and controlling the ownership of concessions
and companies holding concessions, the exploration for oil and
natural gas, and other aspects of their countries’ oil and natural gas
industries. In some areas of the world, this governmental activity
has adversely affected the amount of exploration and development
work done by major oil and natural gas companies and may
continue to do so. For instance, the Company has observed certain
foreign exchange restrictions in Argentina and Angola, an increase
of local content legislation in West Africa and more challenging
contracting practices by national oil companies (NOCs) in e.g.
Brazil, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.
The Group is subject to governmental laws and regulations,
some of which may impose significant liability on the Group.
Many aspects of the Group’s operations are subject to laws and
regulations that relate, directly or indirectly, to the oilfield services
industry, including laws requiring the Group to control the
discharge of oil and other contaminants into the environment,
requiring removal and clean-up of materials that may harm the
environment, controlling carbon dioxide emissions or otherwise
relating to environmental protection. The Group incurs, and
expects to continue to incur, capital and operating costs to comply
with environmental laws and regulations.
Although the Group actively works towards minimizing the risk of
damage to the environment as a result of its operations, there are
still risks of environmental damage and negative consequences for
the Group. For example, the Company reported two spills in 2020.
Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations may
result in the assessment of administrative, civil and even criminal
penalties, the imposition of remedial obligations, and the issuance
of injunctions that may limit or prohibit the Group’s operations.
The technical requirements of environmental laws and regulations
are becoming increasingly expensive, complex and stringent. The
application of these requirements, the modification of existing
laws or regulations or the adoption of new laws or regulations
curtailing exploration and production activity could materially limit
the Group’s future contract opportunities, limit the Group’s activities
or the activities and levels of capital spending by the Group’s
customers, or materially increase the Group’s costs.
The Group’s failure to comply with anti-bribery laws may have a
negative impact on its ongoing operations.
The Group operates in countries known to experience govern-
mental corruption, as indicated by Transparency International’s
Corruption Perception Index, such as Angola, Azerbaijan, Brazil,
Brunei, Congo, Indonesia, Mauritania and Nigeria. While the
Group is committed to conducting business in a legal and ethical
manner, there is a risk that its employees or agents or those of
its affiliates may take actions that violate legislation promulgated
by a number of countries pursuant to the 1997 OECD Convention
on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International
Business Transactions or other applicable anti-corruption laws
which generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries
from making improper payments for the purpose of obtaining or
retaining business. Any failure to comply with the anti-bribery laws
could subject the Group to fines, sanctions and other penalties
against it which could have a material adverse impact on the
Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Group is exposed to risk due to changes in tax laws or tax
practice of any jurisdiction in which the Group operates.
The Company is a Bermuda company and, as such, the Company
is not required to pay taxes in Bermuda on income or capital
gains pursuant to current Bermuda law. However, certain of the
Company’s subsidiaries operate in jurisdictions where taxes are
imposed, mainly Norway, the United States of America, Argentina,
Brazil and the United Kingdom. For legal entities operating in taxable
jurisdictions, the Company computes tax on income in accordance
with the tax rules and regulations of the taxing authority where
the income is earned. Tax laws and regulations are highly complex
and subject to interpretation and change, and the income tax rates
imposed by these authorities vary. Thus, the Company is exposed
to a material risk regarding the correct application of the tax
regulations as well as possible future changes in the tax legislation
of those relevant countries. Any incorrect application or changes in
tax regulations or customs duty, could adversely affect the Group’s
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Risks related to labour disruptions.
Union activity and general labour unrest may significantly affect
the Group’s operations in some jurisdictions. In Argentina and
Brazil, which are countries where the Group operates, labour
organizations have substantial support and considerable political
influence. The demands of labour organizations in Argentina
have increased in recent years as a result of the general labour
unrest and dissatisfaction resulting from the disparity between the
cost of living and salaries in Argentina due to the devaluation of
the Argentine Peso. Should the Group’s operations in Argentina,
or in other countries in which the Group operates, face labour
disruptions in the future, this could have a material adverse effect
on the Group’s financial condition and results of operations.
Risks related to financial matters
Risks relating to the new First Lien Loan and Second Lien Bonds.
The Group’s new financing arrangements (as described in note
27 Subsequent Event), impose, various restrictive covenants,
including change of control clauses, and undertakings that limit
the discretion of the Group’s management in operating the Group’s
business. In particular, these covenants limit the Group’s ability to,
among other things:
• make certain types of loans and investments;
• incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
• pay dividends, redeem or repurchase stock, prepay, redeem or
repurchase other debt or make other restricted payments;
• use proceeds from asset sales, new indebtedness or equity
issuances for general corporate purposes or investment into its
business;
• invest in joint ventures;
• create or incur liens;
• enter into transactions with affiliates;
• sell assets or consolidate or merge with or into other companies;
and
• enter into new lines of business.
The Group’s continued ability to incur additional debt and to
conduct business in general is subject to the Group’s compliance
with the above-mentioned covenants, which limit the discretion of
management in operating the Group’s business and that, in turn,
could impair the Group’s ability to meet its obligations. Breaches of
these covenants could result in defaults under the applicable debt
instruments and could trigger defaults under any of the Group’s
other indebtedness that is cross defaulted against such instruments,
even if the Group meets its payment obligations. In particular, the