NBR Nabors Industries Ltd

DESCRIPTION OF AUTHORIZED SHARE CAPITAL

        The following description of Nabors' share capital includes a summary of certain provisions of Nabors' Memorandum of Association and Amended and Restated Bye-laws (the "Bye-laws"). For a description of certain of the expected terms of the series A preferred shares, which will be a series of our preferred shares and will impact the rights of holders of our common shares, see "—Preferred Shares—Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares."

        Nabors' authorized share capital consists of 825,000,000 shares of which 800,000,000 are common shares, par value US$0.001 per share, and 25,000,000 are preferred shares, par value US$0.001 per share. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of Nabors' Memorandum of Association, dated December 10, 2001 and Nabors' Amended and Restated Bye-laws dated July 14, 2015 which are both publicly available and filed as exhibits to Nabors' reports to the Commission. See "Where You Can Find More Information." As of April 30, 2018, there were 317,422,062 Nabors common shares issued and outstanding, excluding 52,800,203 common shares held by our subsidiaries. Shares held by our subsidiaries have the same voting and other rights as other issued and outstanding shares. Concurrently with this offering, pursuant to a separate prospectus supplement, we are offering 5,000,000 of our        % series A preferred shares. While this offering and the preferred share offering are not contingent upon each other, we may decide to not proceed with either offering if one of the offerings cannot be completed. No other shares of Nabors of any class or series were issued and outstanding as of May 9, 2018.

Common Shares

        Holders of the common shares are entitled to one vote on any question to be decided on a show of hands and one vote per share on a poll on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of Nabors. Except as specifically provided in Nabors' Bye-laws or in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended (the "Companies Act"), any action to be taken by shareholders at any meeting at which a quorum is in attendance shall be decided by a majority of the issued shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote. There are no limitations imposed by Bermuda law or the Bye-laws on the right of shareholders who are not Bermuda residents to hold or to vote their Nabors common shares.

        The Bye-laws do not provide for cumulative voting. A special meeting of shareholders may be called by Nabors' board of directors or as otherwise provided by the Companies Act and applicable law. Any action, except the removal of auditors and directors, required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders may be taken by written consent if the consent is signed by each shareholder, or their proxy, entitled to vote on the matter. Holders of Nabors common shares do not have a preemptive or preferential right to purchase any other securities of Nabors. The common shares have no sinking fund provision.

Preemptive, Redemption, Conversion and Sinking Fund Rights

        Holders of Nabors common shares will have no preemptive or preferential right to purchase any securities of Nabors. Nabors common shares will not be convertible into shares of any other class or series or be subject to redemption either by Nabors or the holder of the common shares. Nabors common shares have no sinking fund provisions.

Changes to Rights of a Class or Series

        Subject to the Companies Act, the rights attached to any class or series of shares of Nabors, unless otherwise provided by the terms of that class or series, may be altered or abrogated by a resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class, voting in person or by proxy and representing at least a majority of the issued shares of that class entitled to vote. Every holder of shares of the relevant class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for each share held by such holder and any holder of shares of the relevant class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. Unless otherwise provided

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by the rights attaching to any class of shares, the rights attaching to any class of shares will not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of shares that rank in priority of payment of dividends or with respect to capital or which confer more favorable voting rights than those shares.

Quorum for General Meetings

        The holders of shares present in person or by proxy entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of Nabors shall constitute a quorum to hold a general meeting of the shareholders.

Rights Upon Liquidation

        Upon the liquidation of Nabors, after the full amounts that holders of any issued shares ranking senior to Nabors common shares as to distribution on liquidation or winding-up are entitled to receive have been paid or set aside for payment, the holders of Nabors common shares are entitled to receive, pro rata, any remaining assets of Nabors available for distribution to the holders of common shares. The liquidator may deduct from the amount payable in respect of those common shares any liabilities the holder has to or with Nabors. With the sanction of a resolution of shareholders, the assets received by the holders of Nabors common shares in a liquidation may consist in whole or in part of non-cash property which is not required to be of the same kind for all shareholders.

Repurchase Rights

        Nabors' board of directors may, at its discretion, authorize the purchase by Nabors of its own shares of any class, at any price (whether at par or above or below par), as long as such purchase is made in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.

Compulsory Acquisition of Shares Held by Minority Holders

        An acquiring party is generally able to acquire compulsorily the Nabors common shares of minority holders in one of the following ways:

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By a procedure under the Companies Act known as a "scheme of arrangement." A scheme of arrangement is made by obtaining the consent of Nabors and of holders of Nabors common shares, representing in the aggregate a majority in number and at least 75% in value of the common shareholders present and voting at a court ordered meeting held to consider the scheme of arrangement. The scheme of arrangement must then be sanctioned by the Bermuda Supreme Court. If a scheme of arrangement receives all necessary agreements and sanctions, upon the filing of the court order with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda, all holders of Nabors common shares could be compelled to sell their shares under the terms of the scheme of arrangement.



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If the acquiring party is a company, it may compulsorily acquire all of the shares of the target company by acquiring pursuant to a tender offer 90% of the shares or class of shares not already owned by the acquiring party (the "offeror") or any of its subsidiaries. If an offeror has, within four months after the making of an offer for all the shares or class of shares not owned by the offeror or any of its subsidiaries, obtained the approval of holders of 90% or more of all the shares to which the offer relates, the offeror may, at any time within two months beginning with the date on which such approval was obtained, require by a "Notice of Acquisition" any nontendering shareholder to transfer its shares on the same terms as the original offer. In those circumstances, nontendering shareholders will be compelled to sell their shares unless the Supreme Court of Bermuda (on application made within a one-month period from the date of the offeror's notice of its intention to acquire such shares) orders otherwise.



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By acquiring, pursuant to a notice given to the remaining shareholders or class of shareholders, where the acquiring party holds not less than 95% of the shares or the class of shares of the

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company, the shares of such remaining shareholders or class of shareholders. When such a notice is given, the acquiring party is entitled and bound to acquire the shares of the remaining shareholders on the terms set out in such notice, unless a remaining shareholder, within one month

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of receiving such notice, applies to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an appraisal of the value of its shares. This provision only applies where the acquiring party offers the same terms to all holders of shares whose shares are being acquired.

Preferred Shares

        Nabors' board of directors is authorized, without further shareholder action, to issue from time to time up to 25,000,000 preferred shares in one or more classes or series, and fix for each such class or series such voting power, full or limited, or no voting power, and such designations, preferences, number of shares, special rights qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as are provided in the resolutions adopted by the board of directors providing for the issuance of such class or series. The Nabors board of directors in authorizing such class or series may provide that any such class or series may be:

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subject to redemption at the option of Nabors or the holders, or both, at such time or times and at such price or prices;



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entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series;



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entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, Nabors; or



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convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of shares, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares, of Nabors at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments;

in each case, as set forth in the resolutions authorizing the class or series of preferred shares.

Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares.

        Concurrently with this offering, pursuant to a separate prospectus supplement, we are offering 5,000,000 of our series A preferred shares, plus up to an additional 750,000 of such series A preferred shares that the underwriters of that offering have the option to purchase from us, solely to cover over-allotments. The terms of the series A preferred shares are described in greater detail in the prospectus supplement and related prospectus for the offering of such series A preferred shares.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

         The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to those debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, reference must be made to both the prospectus supplement relating thereto and to the following description.

        Nabors Delaware may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities of Nabors or Nabors Delaware. The debt securities may be:

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senior obligations issued in one or more series under a senior indenture to be entered into between Nabors Delaware, as issuer, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and Citibank, N.A., as securities administrator, and, if applicable, Nabors and/or any other guarantor, as guarantor; or



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subordinated obligations issued in one or more series under a subordinated indenture to be entered into between Nabors Delaware, as issuer, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and Citibank, N.A., as securities administrator, and, if applicable, Nabors and/or any other guarantor, as guarantor.

        The trustee and securities administrator for each series of debt securities will be Wilmington Trust, National Association and Citibank, N.A., respectively, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The following description only summarizes the terms of the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities. We urge you to read each of the indentures which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, the following description is qualified in all respects by reference to the actual text of the indentures and the forms of the debt securities.

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General

        The indentures relating to Nabors Delaware's senior and subordinated obligations (the "indentures") do not contain any restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that Nabors Delaware may issue or that Nabors may guarantee in the future.

        You should review the prospectus supplement for the terms of the debt securities being offered, including the following terms:

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the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the debt securities;



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the purchase price of the debt securities;



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the date or dates on which the debt securities will mature;



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the rate or rates per annum, if any (which may be fixed or variable), at which the debt securities will bear interest or the method by which such rate or rates will be determined;



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whether the interest, if any, is to be payable in cash or in payment in kind securities;



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the dates on which the interest will be payable and the record dates for payment of interest, if any;



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the coin or currency in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable;



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the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption (including any sinking fund) or any obligation of Nabors Delaware to repurchase the debt securities;



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whether the debt securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more temporary or permanent global debt securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary, if any, for such note or notes;



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whether the debt securities will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities;



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whether the debt securities will be secured;



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the terms, if any, upon which such debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other debt or equity securities;



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whether the debt securities will be guaranteed by Nabors and/or any other guarantor and the terms and provisions of any such guarantee as described under "—Guarantee" below;



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any special tax implications of the debt securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if effected;



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any additional covenants that are included for the benefit of the debt securities;



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any addition to or change or deletion of any event of default or any covenant specified in the applicable indenture; and



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any other additional provisions or specific terms which may be applicable to that series of debt securities.

        Neither of the indentures limits the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, Nabors Delaware may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series outstanding at the time of issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all outstanding debt securities of such series, will constitute a single series of securities under the applicable indenture. The debt securities may be authorized by Nabors Delaware and may be in any currency or currency units designated by such issuer.

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        The debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities (bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates) to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any of these discounted debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Ranking of debt securities

        The senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness of Nabors Delaware. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated obligations and will be subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness, including the senior debt securities. See "—Subordination of subordinated debt securities." Any series of debt securities that is not secured will be effectively subordinated to existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness.

        Nabors and Nabors Delaware currently conduct substantially all of their operations through their subsidiaries, and their subsidiaries generate substantially all of their operating income and cash flow. As a result, distributions and advances from their subsidiaries are the principal source of funds necessary to meet their debt service obligations. Contractual provisions or laws, as well as their subsidiaries' financial and operating requirements, may limit their respective ability to obtain cash from their subsidiaries that they require to pay their respective debt service obligations, including cash payments on the debt securities. In addition, because Nabors and Nabors Delaware are holding companies, holders of their debt securities and guarantees will have a junior position to the claims of creditors of their respective subsidiaries on their assets and earnings. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will state, as applicable, whether Nabors Delaware's debt securities will be guaranteed by Nabors and/or any other guarantor. For a description of that guarantee, if any, see "—Guarantee."

Guarantee

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, Nabors will guarantee each series of debt securities of Nabors Delaware.

        The specific terms and provisions of each guarantee, including any provisions relating to the subordination of any guarantee, and the identity of each guarantor will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The obligations of each guarantor under its guarantee will be limited as necessary to seek to prevent that guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

Conversion and exchange

        The terms, if any, on which debt securities of any series are convertible into or exchangeable for common shares or preferred shares of Nabors or other equity or debt securities of Nabors and/or Nabors Delaware will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement. The terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holders or at our option.

Payment, paying agent and registrar

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Nabors Delaware will pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities at the office or agency designated by the issuer in the City of New York, except that Nabors Delaware, at its option, may pay interest on any debt securities in physical, certificated form either at the corporate trust office of the securities administrator or by check mailed to holders of the debt securities at their registered addresses as they appear in the registrar's books. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable

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prospectus supplement, Nabors Delaware initially shall designate the corporate trust office of Citibank, N.A. in the City of New York to act as its paying agent and registrar. Nabors Delaware may, however, change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the debt securities, and we or any of our subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Nabors Delaware will pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any debt security in global form registered in the name of or held by a depositary located in the United States identified in the prospectus supplement or its nominee in immediately available funds to such depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such global note.

Registration of transfer and exchange

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a holder of debt securities may transfer or exchange the debt securities at the office of the registrar in accordance with the applicable indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder to, among other things, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, no service charge will be imposed by the issuer, the trustee or the registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but Nabors Delaware may require a holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law or permitted by the indenture. Nabors Delaware is not required to transfer or exchange any debt security selected for redemption. Also, Nabors Delaware is not required to transfer or exchange any debt security for a period of 15 days before a mailing of notice of redemption.

        The registered holder of a debt security will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

Book-entry delivery and form

        Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will initially be issued only in registered, book-entry form, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Global notes

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series will be issued in the form of one or more global notes that will be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary located in the United States. Unless otherwise identified in the prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company will be appointed as depositary with respect to each series.

        The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

        Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities which are to be represented by a global note to be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary will be represented by a global note registered in the name of such depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a global note in registered form, the depositary for the global note will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global note to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee ("participants"). The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the underwriters or agents of the debt securities or by Nabors Delaware, if the debt securities are offered and sold directly by Nabors or any of its affiliates. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global notes will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in the global notes will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records

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maintained by the depositary or its nominee for the global notes. Ownership of beneficial interests in global notes by persons that hold the beneficial interests through participants will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest within such participant will be effected only through, records maintained by the participant.

        So long as the depositary for a global note in registered form, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the global note, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global note for all purposes under the applicable indenture governing the debt securities. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in the global notes will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by the global notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of the series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture.

        Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities registered in the name of or held by a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or the holder of the global note representing the debt securities. Nabors Delaware will not (nor will the trustee, the securities administrator, any paying agent or the registrar for the debt securities) have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global note for the debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

        We expect that the depositary for debt securities of a series, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, premium or interest in respect of a permanent global note, will credit immediately participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global note as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global note held through the participants will be governed by customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of the participants.

        A global note may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for the global note to a nominee of the depositary, by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or to another nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any nominee to a successor depositary or a nominee of the successor. If a depositary for debt securities of a series is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, Nabors Delaware will issue debt securities in definitive registered form in exchange for the global note or notes representing the debt securities.

Certain covenants of the debt securities

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will include those covenants which may be set forth in the prospectus supplement to which such debt securities relate, including the following:

        Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger, Conveyance of Assets.     The indentures relating to the debt securities provide, in general, that neither Nabors nor Nabors Delaware, as appropriate, will consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease our or its assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

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the entity formed by the consolidation or amalgamation or into which Nabors or Nabors Delaware is merged, or the person who acquires the assets, shall, in the case of Nabors Delaware, be organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of

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Columbia, the European Union or Bermuda, and in either case shall expressly assume Nabors' or Nabors Delaware's obligations under the indenture, the debt securities and any guarantee;

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immediately after giving effect to that type of transaction, no event of default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have happened and be continuing; and



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we shall have delivered to the trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such merger, consolidation, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture, if any, complies with the indenture, and such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that such supplemental indenture, if any, constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such successor.

        We will describe any additional restrictive covenants for any series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Events of default

        In general, and unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the indentures define an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities as being:

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a default for 10 days in payment of any principal or premium, if any, on the debt securities of that series, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise;



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a default for 30 days in payment of any interest or additional amounts on the debt securities of that series;



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a default for 90 days after written notice from the trustee or Nabors or Nabors Delaware and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series in the observance or performance of any covenant regarding that series of debt securities or the indenture;



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certain events of Nabors' or Nabors Delaware's bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization; or



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the failure to keep any applicable full and unconditional guarantee of the debt securities of that series in place.

        An event of default with respect to any series of debt securities may not be an event of default with respect to any other series.

        If an event of default occurs and is continuing as a result of certain events of Nabors' or Nabors Delaware's bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization then the principal amount of the applicable series of debt securities shall be due and payable immediately. If an event of default occurs and is continuing (other than a default under the fourth bullet paragraph above) either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare the principal amount of such series of debt securities to be due and payable immediately. However, any time after an acceleration with respect to the debt securities has occurred, but before a judgment or decree based on such acceleration has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities may, under some circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration. The majority holders, however, may not annul or waive a continuing default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, additional amounts, if any, or interest on the debt securities.

        The indentures provide that the holders of the debt securities will indemnify the trustee before the trustee exercises any of its rights or powers under the indentures. This indemnification is subject to the trustee's duty, as trustee, to act with the required standard of care during a default.

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        The holders of a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities may direct the time, method and place of:

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the conduct of any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; or



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the exercise of any trust or power conferred on the trustee.

        This right of the holders of the debt securities is, however, subject to the provisions in the indentures providing for the indemnification of the trustee and other specified limitations.

        In general, the indentures provide that holders of any series of debt securities may institute an action against any of Nabors, Nabors Delaware or any other obligor under such series of debt securities only if the following four conditions are fulfilled:

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the holder previously has given to the trustee written notice of default and the default continues;



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the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the applicable series of debt securities then outstanding have both requested the trustee to institute such action and offered the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it;



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the trustee has not instituted this action within 60 days of receipt of such request; and



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during such 60-day periods, the trustee has not received a direction inconsistent with such written request by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of debt securities then outstanding.

        The indentures contain a covenant that Nabors and Nabors Delaware will file annually with the trustee a certificate of no default or a certificate specifying any default that exists. If a default or an event of default is actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee must notify the holders, subject to certain conditions.

Discharge, legal defeasance and covenant defeasance

        Nabors Delaware may discharge or defease its obligations under the applicable indenture as set forth below.

        Under terms satisfactory to the trustee, Nabors Delaware may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the securities administrator for cancellation. The debt securities of that series must also:

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have become due and payable;



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be due and payable by their terms within one year; or



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be scheduled for redemption by their terms within one year.

        Nabors Delaware may discharge the debt securities of that series by irrevocably depositing an amount certified to be sufficient to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of that series. Nabors Delaware may make the deposit in cash or United States Government Obligations, as defined in the applicable indenture.

        Nabors Delaware and Nabors, if it is a guarantor of a series of debt securities, may terminate all of their respective obligations under the debt securities of that series and the applicable indenture as it relates to that series at any time, except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of that series, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen securities and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the debt securities of that series. This is referred to as "legal defeasance." If Nabors Delaware and Nabors, as applicable, exercise their legal defeasance option, each guarantee in effect at such time, if any, will terminate.

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        Under terms specified in the indentures, Nabors Delaware and Nabors, if it is a guarantor of a series of debt securities, may be released with respect to any outstanding debt securities of that series from their respective obligations imposed by the sections of the applicable indenture that contain restrictive covenants including mergers and conveyances of assets. In that case, Nabors and Nabors Delaware, if applicable, may no longer be required to comply with these sections without the creation of an event of default. This is typically referred to as "covenant defeasance." If Nabors and Nabors Delaware, as applicable, exercise their covenant defeasance option, the guarantees in effect at such time, if any, will terminate. Nabors and Nabors Delaware may exercise their legal defeasance option notwithstanding their prior exercise of their covenant defeasance option.

        Legal defeasance or covenant defeasance may be effected by Nabors Delaware only if, among other things, as applicable:

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Nabors Delaware irrevocably deposits with the trustee or the paying agent cash or United States Government Obligations as trust funds in an amount certified by a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants to be sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all applicable series of outstanding debt securities;



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Nabors Delaware delivers to the trustee opinions of counsel to the effect that the holders of the applicable series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of legal defeasance or covenant defeasance. This opinion must further state that these holders will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if legal defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. In the case of a legal defeasance, this opinion must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable indenture, since this result would not occur under current United States tax law; and



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Nabors Delaware shall have delivered to the trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the defeasance have been complied with.

Event risk

        Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, none of the indentures, the guarantees or the debt securities will afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving Nabors or Nabors Delaware or will contain any restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that Nabors or Nabors Delaware may incur.

Mandatory redemption; sinking fund

        Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, neither Nabors nor Nabors Delaware is required to make either mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the debt securities.

Modification of the indenture

        Amendments, through supplemental indentures, of the applicable indenture may be made by Nabors Delaware and Nabors, as applicable, the trustee and the securities administrator with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities; provided, however, that no such amendment may, among other things, without the consent of each holder of each applicable series of outstanding debt securities affected thereby:

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extend the final maturity of the principal of, or any installment interest on, any debt security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable

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upon the redemption thereof, or change the coin or currency in which any debt security or any premium, or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment;

•

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series; and



•

modify the provisions in the applicable indentures regarding waiver of past defaults and amendments with the consent of holders except under certain limited circumstances.

        Without the consent of any holder of applicable series of outstanding debt securities, Nabors Delaware and Nabors, as applicable, may amend the applicable indenture and the debt securities to:

•

evidence the succession of another person to Nabors or Nabors Delaware and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of Nabors Delaware and Nabors, as applicable, and in the debt securities;



•

add to the covenants of Nabors Delaware and Nabors, as applicable, for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of the applicable debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred in the indentures upon Nabors Delaware and Nabors, as applicable;



•

add any additional events of default or amend certain events of default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of the applicable debt securities;



•

add to or change any of the provisions of the applicable indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities of any series denominated in one or more foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies;



•

add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture in respect of one or more series of debt securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (i) shall neither (A) apply to any debt security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (B) modify the rights of the holder of any such debt security with respect to such provision or (ii) shall become effective only when there is no such debt security outstanding;



•

secure the debt securities of any series;



•

establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted by the applicable indenture;



•

evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the applicable indenture by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indentures as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements in the applicable indenture;



•

cure any ambiguity or omission, correct or supplement any inconsistent provisions; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series;



•

effect or maintain, or otherwise comply with the requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the indentures under the Trust Indenture Act; or



•

make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of the applicable outstanding debt securities.

        We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments (with the debt securities of each series voting as a class). The holders of a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of outstanding debt securities may, on behalf of the holders of

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such applicable series of debt securities, waive any past default under the indenture, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any such debt security.

Subordination of subordinated debt securities

        The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the subordinated indenture, and as may be further described in the applicable prospectus supplement, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness which may at any time and from time to time be outstanding. If the subordinated debt securities are guaranteed by Nabors, the guarantees of the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in the manner set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to an issue of subordinated debt securities, in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relating to Nabors Delaware's assets, or any liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up, or any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of Nabors Delaware's assets or liabilities, all senior indebtedness must be paid in full or such payment must be provided for before any payment or distribution is made on account of the principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any subordinated debt securities.

        In addition, the applicable prospectus supplement may provide that no payment on account of the subordinated debt securities offered thereby shall be made during the continuance of certain defaults with respect to Nabors Delaware's senior indebtedness or certain of Nabors Delaware's designated senior indebtedness.

        In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of Nabors Delaware's assets is received by the subordinated trustee or the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities, under the circumstances described above and before all senior indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution will be paid over to the holders of such senior indebtedness or on their behalf for application to the payment of all such senior indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such senior indebtedness has been paid in full or such payment provided for, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such senior indebtedness.

        By reason of this subordination, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, certain general creditors of Nabors Delaware and Nabors, as the case may be, may recover more, ratably, than holders of the subordinated debt securities.

        If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference will set forth the definitions of senior indebtedness and designated senior indebtedness applicable to that series, any payment blockage provisions and the approximate amount of such senior indebtedness with respect to Nabors or Nabors Delaware, outstanding as of a recent date, and if the subordinated debt securities are guaranteed by Nabors or Nabors Delaware.

Concerning the trustee

        Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the trustee shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association, which is one of a number of banks with which we maintain ordinary banking relationships. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, Nabors Delaware shall appoint Citibank, N.A., the securities administrator, as registrar and paying agent under the applicable indenture.

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        If the trustee has or acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), the trustee will either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable indenture.

        At any time, the trustee under either of the indentures may resign or be removed with respect to the securities of any series under such indenture by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of such series. If the trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting as trustee, or if a vacancy occurs in the office of the trustee for any reason, a successor trustee will be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the respective indentures.

Governing law

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

DESCRIPTION OF AUTHORIZED SHARE CAPITAL

         The following description of Nabors' share capital includes a summary of certain provisions of Nabors' Memorandum of Association and Amended and Restated Bye-laws. The following description of the terms of the common or preferred shares Nabors may issue sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any series of common or preferred shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Particular terms of the common or preferred shares offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions shall apply to any series of common or preferred shares so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable shares. The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth in this description are inapplicable to such series of common or preferred shares. This description of Nabors' share capital does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable Bermuda law and the provisions of Nabors' Memorandum of Association and Amended and Restated Bye-laws, which have been or will be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

        Nabors' authorized share capital consists of 825,000,000 shares of which 800,000,000 are common shares, par value $0.001 per common share, and 25,000,000 are preferred shares, par value $0.001 per share. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of Nabors' Memorandum of Association, dated December 10, 2001 and Nabors' Amended and Restated Bye-laws (the "Bye-laws"), which are both publicly available and incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See "Where You Can Find More Information." As of September 30, 2017, there were 335,550,000 Nabors common shares issued and outstanding, including 49,672,636 common shares held by our subsidiaries. Shares held by our subsidiaries have the same voting and other rights as other issued and outstanding shares. No other shares of Nabors of any class or series were issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2017.

Common shares

        Holders of our common shares, including any shares held by our subsidiaries, are entitled to one vote on any question to be decided on a show of hands and one vote per share on a poll on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of Nabors. Except as specifically provided in the Bye-laws or in the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended (the "Companies Act"), any action to be taken by shareholders at any meeting at which a quorum is in attendance shall be decided by a majority of the issued shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote. There are no limitations imposed by Bermuda law or the Bye-laws on the right of shareholders who are not Bermuda residents to hold or to vote their Nabors common shares.

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        The Bye-laws do not provide for cumulative voting. A special general meeting of shareholders may be called by Nabors' board of directors or as otherwise provided by the Companies Act and applicable law. Any action, except the removal of auditors and directors, required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special general meeting of shareholders may be taken by written consent if the consent is signed by each shareholder, or their proxy, entitled to vote on the matter. Holders of Nabors common shares do not have a preemptive or preferential right to purchase any other securities of Nabors. Nabors' common shares have no sinking fund provision.

Price range of common shares

        Nabors common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NBR." The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale price per share of Nabors common shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

        On January 31, 2018, the closing sale price reported on the New York Stock Exchange for Nabors common shares was $7.84 per share. As of December 31, 2017, there were 1,935 recordholders of Nabors common shares.

Dividend policy

        Subject to any rights and restrictions of any other class or series of shares, our board of directors may, from time to time, declare dividends and other distributions on the issued Nabors common shares and authorize payment of such dividends and other distributions. Such dividends or other distributions may be in cash, shares or property of Nabors out of assets or funds legally available therefor.

        The declaration and payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend, among other things, on future earnings, general financial condition and liquidity, success in business activities, capital requirements and general business conditions in addition to legal requirements.

Preemptive, redemption, conversion and sinking fund rights

        Holders of Nabors common shares will have no preemptive or preferential right to purchase any securities of Nabors. Nabors common shares will not be convertible into shares of any other class or

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series or be subject to redemption either by Nabors or the holder of our common shares. Nabors common shares have no sinking fund provisions.

Changes to rights of a class or series

        Subject to the Companies Act, the rights attached to any class or series of shares of Nabors, unless otherwise provided by the terms of that class or series, may be altered or abrogated by a resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of that class, voting in person or by proxy and representing at least a majority of the issued shares of that class entitled to vote. Every holder of shares of the relevant class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for each share held by such holder and any holder of shares of the relevant class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll. Unless otherwise provided by the rights attaching to any class of shares, the rights attaching to any class of shares will not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of shares that rank in priority of payment of dividends or with respect to capital or which confer more favorable voting rights than those shares.

Quorum for general meetings

        The holders of shares present in person or by proxy entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of Nabors on the relevant record date shall constitute a quorum to hold a general meeting of the shareholders.

Rights upon liquidation

        Upon the liquidation of Nabors, after the full amounts that holders of any issued shares ranking senior to Nabors common shares as to distribution on liquidation or winding-up are entitled to receive have been paid or set aside for payment, the holders of Nabors common shares are entitled to receive, pro rata, any remaining assets of Nabors available for distribution to the holders of common shares. The liquidator may deduct from the amount payable in respect of those common shares any liabilities the holder has to or with Nabors. With the sanction of a resolution of shareholders, the assets received by the holders of Nabors common shares in a liquidation may consist in whole or in part of non-cash property which is not required to be of the same kind for all shareholders.

Repurchase rights

        Nabors' board of directors may, at its discretion, authorize the purchase by Nabors of its own shares of any class, at any price (but at least at par), as long as such purchase is made in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.

        In August 2015, Nabors' board of directors authorized a share repurchase program under which we may repurchase, from time to time, up to $400 million of Nabors' common shares by various means, including in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. This authorization does not have an expiration date and does not obligate Nabors to repurchase any of its common shares. Through September 30, 2017, we repurchased 10.9 million of our common shares for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $101.3 million under this program. As of September 30, 2017, the remaining amount authorized under the program that may be used to purchase shares was $298.7 million. The repurchased shares, which are held by our subsidiaries, are registered and tradable subject to applicable securities law limitations and have the same voting and other rights as other outstanding shares. As of September 30, 2017, our subsidiaries held 49.7 million of our common shares.

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Compulsory acquisition of shares held by minority holders

        An acquiring party is generally able to acquire compulsorily the Nabors common shares of minority holders in one of the following ways:

•

By a procedure under the Companies Act known as a "scheme of arrangement." A scheme of arrangement is made by obtaining the consent of Nabors and of holders of Nabors common shares, representing in the aggregate a majority in number and at least 75% in value of the common shareholders present and voting at a court ordered meeting held to consider the arrangement. The scheme of arrangement must then be sanctioned by the Bermuda Supreme Court. If a scheme of arrangement receives all necessary agreements and sanctions, upon the filing of the court order with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda, all holders of Nabors common shares could be compelled to sell their shares under the terms of the scheme of arrangement.



•

If the acquiring party is a company, it may compulsorily acquire all of the shares of the target company by acquiring pursuant to a tender offer 90% of the shares or class of shares not already owned by the acquiring party (the "offeror"). If an offeror has, within four months after the making of an offer for all the shares or class of shares not owned by the offeror or any of its subsidiaries, obtained the approval of holders of 90% or more of all the shares to which the offer relates, the offeror may, at any time within two months beginning with the date on which such approval was obtained, require by a "Notice of Acquisition" any nontendering shareholder to transfer its shares on the same terms as the original offer. In those circumstances, nontendering shareholders will be compelled to sell their shares unless the Supreme Court of Bermuda (on application made within a one-month period from the date of the offeror's notice of its intention to acquire such shares) orders otherwise.



•

By acquiring, pursuant to a notice given to the remaining shareholders or class of shareholders, where the acquiring party holds not less than 95% of the shares or the class of shares of the company, the shares of such remaining shareholders or class of shareholders. When such a notice is given, the acquiring party is entitled and bound to acquire the shares of the remaining shareholders on the terms set out in such notice, unless a remaining shareholder, within one month of receiving such notice, applies to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an appraisal of the value of its shares. This provision only applies where the acquiring party offers the same terms to all holders of shares whose shares are being acquired.

Preferred shares

        The board of directors of Nabors is authorized, without further shareholder action, to issue from time to time up to 25,000,000 preferred shares in one or more classes or series, and fix for each such class or series such voting power, full or limited, or no voting power, and such designations, preferences, number of shares, special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as are provided in the resolutions adopted by the board of directors providing for the issuance of such class or series. The Nabors board of directors in authorizing such class or series may provide that any such class or series may be:

•

subject to redemption at the option of Nabors or the holders, or both, at such time or times and at such price or prices;



•

entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series;



•

entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, Nabors; or

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•

convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of shares, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares, of Nabors at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments;

in each case, as set forth in the resolutions authorizing the class or series of preferred shares.

Transfer agent and registrar

        Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the transfer agent and registrar for Nabors' common shares is Computershare.

Anti-takeover effects of provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bye-laws

        The Bye-laws have provisions that could have an anti-takeover effect. In addition, the Bye-laws include an "advance notice" provision which places time limitations on shareholders' nominations of directors and submission of proposals for consideration at an annual general meeting. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and in the policies formulated by the board of directors and to encourage negotiations with the board of directors in transactions that may involve an actual or potential change of control of Nabors.

        Directors can be removed from office prior to the expiration of their term, only for cause and after proper notice, at a special general meeting called for that purpose and by the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at such meeting. Any vacancy created by the removal of a director may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the same meeting by the election of another director in his or her place or, in the absence of any such election, by the board of directors. Any general meeting may authorize the board of directors to fill any vacancy left unfilled at a general meeting. As long as a quorum of directors remains and is present, during the existence of a vacancy on the board of directors, the remaining directors shall have full power to act during the existence of a vacancy.

        The Bye-laws also provide that the board of directors will consist of not less than five nor more than 18 directors, the exact number to be set from time to time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office. Accordingly, the board of directors, and not the shareholders, has the authority to determine the number of directors and could delay any shareholder from obtaining majority representation on the board of directors by enlarging the board of directors and filling the new vacancies with its own nominees.

        The Bye-laws of Nabors provide that, at any annual general meeting, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, by any shareholder who complies with certain procedures set forth in the Bye-laws or by any shareholder pursuant to the valid exercise of the power granted under the Companies Act.

        For business to be properly brought before an annual general meeting by a shareholder in accordance with the terms of the Bye-laws the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of Nabors. To be timely for consideration at the annual general meeting, a shareholder's notice must be received by the Secretary at Nabors' principal executive offices and its registered office in Bermuda not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual general meeting, or, in the event that the annual general meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, not later than the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual general meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual general meeting was made, whichever occurs first. In order for a shareholder to nominate directors in connection with an annual general meeting of shareholders, a shareholder's notice of his intention to make such nominations must be received in proper written form as specified in the Bye-laws of Nabors by the Secretary of Nabors within the time limits described above.

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        In addition, the Companies Act provides for a mechanism by which 100 shareholders acting together or shareholders holding at least 5% of the voting power of a Bermuda company may propose a resolution which may properly be moved at an annual general meeting of the company.

        Subject to the terms of any other class of shares in issue, any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Nabors' common shares must be taken at a duly called annual or special general meeting of shareholders unless taken by written consent of all holders of common shares. Under the Bye-laws, special general meetings may be called at any time by the board of directors or when requisitioned by shareholders or otherwise required pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act. The Companies Act currently permits shareholders holding 10% of the paid up capital shares of a company entitled to vote at general meeting to requisition a special general meeting.

        The board of directors of Nabors is authorized, without obtaining any vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of shares unless expressly provided by the terms of issue of a class or series, to from time to time issue any authorized and unissued shares on such terms and conditions as it may determine. For example, the board of directors could authorize the issuance of common or preferred shares with terms and conditions that could discourage a takeover or other transaction that holders of some or a majority of the Nabors common shares might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders might receive a premium for their shares over the then market price of the shares.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WARRANTS

         The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the warrant agreement that will be filed with the Commission in connection with the offering of such warrants.

General

        Nabors may issue warrants to purchase its securities or rights (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies or indices) or securities of other issuers or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between Nabors and a warrant agent we select. In addition to this summary, you should refer to the warrant agreement, including the forms of warrant certificate representing the warrants, relating to the specific warrants being offered for the complete terms of the warrant agreement and the warrants. The warrant agreement, together with the terms of warrant certificate and warrants, will be filed with the Commission in connection with the offering of the specific warrants.

        You should review the applicable prospectus supplement for the specific terms of any warrants that may be offered, including, where applicable:

•

the title of the warrants;



•

the aggregate number of the warrants;



•

the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;



•

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of the warrants may be payable;



•

Nabors' securities or rights (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies or indices) or securities of other issuers or any combination of the foregoing purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;

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•

the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;



•

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which that right will expire;



•

the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;



•

the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security;



•

the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;



•

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;



•

a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations; and



•

any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

         The description set forth below and in any prospectus supplement of certain provisions of any deposit agreement and any related depositary shares and depositary receipts summarizes the material terms of that deposit agreement and of the depositary shares and depositary receipts. The following summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the form of deposit agreement and form of depositary receipts relating to each series of the preferred shares, which will be filed with the Commission in connection with the offering of that series of preferred shares, represented by depositary shares.

General

        Nabors may elect to have preferred shares represented by depositary shares. The preferred shares of any series underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between Nabors and a bank or trust company we select. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will set forth the name and address of this preferred share depositary. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the preferred share represented by such depositary share (including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, exchange and liquidation rights).

        The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement, each of which will represent the applicable interest in a number of shares of a particular series of the preferred shares described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        A holder of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the preferred shares (but only in whole preferred shares) underlying those depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the whole number of preferred shares to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt for the excess number of depositary shares.

Dividends and other distributions

        The preferred share depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect of the preferred shares to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders.

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        If there is a distribution other than in cash in respect of the preferred shares, the preferred share depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders, unless the preferred share depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. In that case, the preferred share depositary may, with our approval, adopt any method that it deems equitable and practicable to effect the distribution, including a public or private sale of the property and distribution of the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

        The amount distributed in any of the above cases will be reduced by any amount we or the preferred share depositary are required to withhold on account of taxes.

Conversion and exchange

        If any preferred share underlying the depositary shares is subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange as set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, each record holder of depositary shares will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange those depositary shares pursuant to those provisions.

Redemption of depositary shares

        Whenever we redeem a preferred share held by the preferred share depositary, the preferred share depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date a proportionate number of depositary shares representing the preferred shares that were redeemed. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the aggregate redemption price payable with respect to the number of preferred shares underlying the depositary shares. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or proportionately as we may determine.

        After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price.

Voting

        Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any preferred shares underlying the depositary shares are entitled to vote, the preferred share depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary receipts. Each record holder of the depositary receipts on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred shares) may then instruct the preferred share depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of preferred shares underlying that holder's depositary shares. The preferred share depositary will take all reasonable action to vote the number of preferred shares underlying the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which the preferred share depositary deems necessary to enable the preferred share depositary to do so. The preferred share depositary will abstain from voting the preferred shares to the extent that it does not receive specific written instructions from holders of depositary receipts representing the preferred share.

Record date

        A record date will be set, whenever:

•

any cash dividend or other cash distribution becomes payable, any distribution other than cash is made, or any rights, preferences or privileges are offered with respect to the preferred shares;



•

the preferred share depositary receives notice of any meeting at which holders of preferred shares are entitled to vote or of which holders of preferred shares are entitled to notice, or of

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the mandatory conversion of or any election by us to call for the redemption of any preferred share, the preferred share depositary will in each instance fix a record date (which will be the same as the record date for the preferred shares) for the determination of the holders of depositary receipts;

•

who will be entitled to receive dividends, distributions, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of any sale; or



•

who will be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or to receive notice of the meeting or the redemption or conversion, subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement.

Amendment and termination of the deposit agreement

        We and the preferred share depositary may at any time agree to amend the form of depositary receipt and any provision of the deposit agreement. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or by the preferred share depositary only if all outstanding shares have been redeemed or if a final distribution in respect of the underlying preferred shares has been made to the holders of the depositary shares in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Nabors.

Charges of preferred share depositary

        We will pay all charges of the preferred share depositary including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred shares, the initial issuance of the depositary receipts, the distribution of information to the holders of depositary receipts with respect to matters on which the preferred share is entitled to vote, withdrawals of the preferred share by the holders of depositary receipts or redemption or conversion of the preferred share, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any) and other governmental charges and any other charges expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be at the expense of holders of depositary receipts or persons depositing preferred shares.

Miscellaneous

        Neither we nor the preferred share depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing any obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the preferred share depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performing its duties under the agreement without negligence or bad faith. Our obligations under the deposit agreement will be limited to performing our duties in good faith. Neither we nor the preferred share depositary is obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred share depositary may rely on advice of or information from counsel, accountants or other persons that they believe to be competent and on documents that they believe to be genuine.

        The preferred share depositary may resign at any time or be removed by us, effective upon the acceptance by its successor of its appointment. If we have not appointed a successor preferred share depositary or the successor depositary has not accepted its appointment within 60 days after the preferred share depositary delivered a resignation notice to us, the preferred share depositary may terminate the deposit agreement. See "—Amendment and termination of the deposit agreement" above.

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS

         The following summary of certain provisions of the share purchase contracts and share purchase units does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the share purchase contract or share purchase unit, as applicable, that will be filed with the Commission in connection with the offering of such securities.

        Nabors may issue share purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from Nabors and Nabors to sell to the holders a specified number of Nabors common shares or Nabors preferred shares at a future date or dates. The price per common share or preferred share may be fixed at the time the share purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the share purchase contracts.

        The share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units, often known as share purchase units, consisting of a share purchase contract and either:

•

Nabors or Nabors Delaware senior debt securities or senior debt securities of another subsidiary issuer;



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Nabors or Nabors Delaware subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities of another subsidiary issuer;



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Nabors preferred shares; or



•

debt obligations of third parties, including United States Treasury securities,

securing the holder's obligations to purchase Nabors common shares or Nabors preferred shares under the share purchase contracts. The share purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the share purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The share purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver newly issued prepaid share purchase contracts, often known as prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral securing each holder's obligations under the original share purchase contract.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any share purchase contracts or share purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities. The description in the prospectus supplement will not contain all of the information that you may find useful. For more information, you should review the share purchase contracts, the collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable, relating to such share purchase contracts or share purchase units and, if applicable, the prepaid securities and the documents pursuant to which the prepaid securities will be issued, which will be filed with the Commission in connection with the offering of such share purchase contracts or share purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid securities.