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Noble Corporation plc Reports Second Quarter 2018 Results

August 2, 2018 5:00 PM

LONDON, Aug. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation plc (NYSE: NE, the Company) today reported a net loss attributable to the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2018 of $628 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, on revenues of $258 million. The results included a non-cash charge totaling $793 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, ($507 million, net of tax and noncontrolling interests) relating to the impairment of three rigs and certain capital spares. Excluding the non-cash charge, the Company's net loss attributable to Noble Corporation for the three months ended June 30, 2018 would have been $121 million, or $0.49 per diluted share.

During the second quarter, the Company conducted a review of its fleet. The review included an assessment of certain assumptions, including future marketability of each unit in light of its current technical specifications. Following this review, the Company recognized partial impairments on the drillship Noble Bully I and semisubmersible Noble Paul Romano, while the semisubmersible Noble Dave Beard was fully impaired. The Noble Dave Beard has been retired from service, along with the semisubmersible Noble Amos Runner and the standard duty jackup Noble Alan Hay, which were previously fully impaired. Following these three retirements and the divestiture in May of the standard duty jackup Noble David Tinsley, the Company's fleet is now comprised of 24 rigs, including 12 floating and 12 jackup units.

Julie J. Robertson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation plc, stated, "Jackup fleet utilization grew to 70 percent in the quarter, well above the cyclical low experienced in the first quarter. We have seen a noticeable increase in jackup demand, particularly among customers in the North Sea and Middle East regions. Following several recent awards, all 10 of our high-specification jackups are now contracted, with no availability before late-2018."

A Non-GAAP supporting schedule is included with the statements and schedules attached to this press release and can also be found at www.noblecorp.com. It provides a reconciliation for net income (loss), income tax and diluted earnings per share for the second quarter 2018 and 2017 and first quarter 2018.

Contract drilling services revenues improved eight percent in the second quarter of 2018 to $248 million compared to revenues of $229 million in the first quarter of the year. The improvement was due largely to a 17 percent increase in total fleet operating days. The growth in fleet operating days improved total utilization in the second quarter to 54 percent, up from a cyclical low of 47 percent in the preceding quarter.

Contract drilling services costs in the second quarter were $151 million compared to $137 million in the preceding quarter, with the increase due primarily to the growth in fleet operating days and costs associated with rig reactivation projects, specifically the Noble Clyde Boudreaux and Noble Tom Madden. These items were partially offset by lower costs resulting from fleet retirements.

Fleet Overview

Utilization of the Company's floating rigs in the second quarter was 39 percent compared to 37 percent in the preceding quarter of the year. The improvement was due largely to modestly better utilization in the Company's drillship fleet, aided by a full quarter of operations for the Noble Bob Douglas offshore Guyana and partially offset by fewer operating days for the semisubmersible Noble Paul Romano following the completion of a contract in mid-May in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Average daily revenues improved to $268,600 in the second quarter compared to $259,300 in the previous quarter, due largely to increased revenues for the Noble Globetrotter I following the relocation of the rig to Egypt, and a dayrate adjustment on the Noble Bully II. Following the close of the second quarter, the drillship Noble Tom Madden was awarded a contract for work offshore Guyana, which includes two firm wells, plus three optional wells. Reactivation of the rig from its warm stacked status has begun, with the contract expected to commence in October 2018.

Utilization of the Company's jackup fleet improved to 70 percent in the second quarter compared to 56 percent in the preceding quarter of the year. A 23 percent rise in operating days was driven primarily by higher activity for the Noble Hans Deul, Noble Houston Colbert, Noble Tom Prosser and Noble Mick O'Brien. Also, utilization was further aided by the divestiture in May of the Noble David Tinsley. Average daily revenues were $130,300 in the second quarter compared to $153,700 in the preceding quarter. The decline was due in part to a reduction in demobilization revenues on the Noble Sam Hartley and downtime on the Noble Joe Beall, partially offset by the commencement of operations on the Noble Tom Prosser. Since the close of the second quarter, the Company secured a nine-month contract for the Noble Sam Hartley and an 18-month extension for the Noble Sam Turner. The contract and extension cover drilling assignments offshore the UK-sector of the North Sea.

At June 30, 2018, the Company's contract backlog totaled $2.6 billion, including $1.6 billion attributable to the floating fleet and $1.0 billion to the jackup fleet. Approximately 58 percent of the available rig operating days remaining in 2018 were committed to contracts, including 42 percent of the floating fleet and 76 percent of the jackup fleet. The total backlog and estimate of committed days exclude the previously noted contracts and extension that occurred after the close of the second quarter.

Liquidity Position

Noble concluded the second quarter of 2018 with a total liquidity position of $2.2 billion, comprised of cash and equivalents of $411 million and availability under revolving credit facilities of $1.8 billion.

Capital expenditures for the second quarter totaled $47 million, of which $20 million was devoted to fleet maintenance and $27 million to projects and other expenditures. The projects included further progress on the Noble Clyde Boudreaux reactivation and upgrade program, which was completed in late-July. The rig is now expected to commence an estimated 220-day primary term contract offshore Myanmar by the end of August 2018. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, capital expenditures were $84 million, and the Company's expectation for full-year 2018 total capital expenditures of $150 million is unchanged.

Outlook

In closing, Ms. Robertson noted, "The offshore drilling industry is benefitting from certain dynamics that have traditionally supported an increase in customer spending. These include higher, sustained crude oil prices which lead to increased project sanctioning, geologic success, and greater access to promising basins. With these dynamics in place, expanding contract opportunities should be increasingly evident in our industry."

About Noble Corporation plc

Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 24 offshore drilling units, consisting of 12 drillships and semisubmersibles and 12 jackups, focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high-specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Noble is a public limited company registered in England and Wales with company number 08354954 and registered office at Devonshire House, 1 Mayfair Place, London, W1J 8AJ England. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com.

Forward-looking Disclosure Statement

Statements regarding contract backlog, future earnings, costs, expense management, revenue, rig demand, fleet condition, operational or financial performance, shareholder value, contract commitments, dayrates, contract commencements, contract extensions, renewals or renegotiations, letters of intent or award, industry fundamentals, customer relationships and requirements, strategic initiatives, future performance, growth opportunities, the offshore drilling market, market outlook, capital allocation strategies, our financial position, business strategy, taxes and tax rates, liquidity, competitive position, capital expenditures, financial flexibility, debt levels, debt repayment, the outcome of any dispute, litigation, audit or investigation, as well as any other statements that are not historical facts in this release, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These include but are not limited to operating hazards and delays, risks associated with operations outside of the U.S., actions or claims by regulatory authorities, customers and other third parties, legislation and regulations affecting drilling operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, factors affecting the level of activity in the oil and gas industry, supply and demand of drilling rigs, factors affecting the duration of contracts, the actual amount of downtime, factors that reduce applicable dayrates, violations of anti-corruption laws, hurricanes and other weather conditions, market conditions, the future price of oil and gas and other factors detailed in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q's and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated.

Conference Call

Noble also has scheduled a conference call and webcast related to its second quarter 2018 results on Friday, August 3, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time. Interested parties are invited to listen to the call by dialing 1-877-680-4232, or internationally 1-647-689-5432, using access code: 2865178, or by asking for the Noble Corporation plc conference call. Interested parties may also listen over the Internet through a link posted in the Investor Relations section of the Company's Website.

A replay of the conference call will be available on Friday, August 3, 2018, beginning at 11:00 a.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time, through Monday, September 3, 2018, ending at 11:00 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time. The phone number for the conference call replay is 1-800-585-8367 or, for calls from outside of the U.S., 1-416-621-4642, using access code: 2865178. The replay will also be available on the Company's Website following the end of the live call.

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Operating revenues

Contract drilling services

$ 247,689

$ 271,532

$ 476,795

$ 626,191

Reimbursables and other

10,680

6,610

16,731

14,927

258,369

278,142

493,526

641,118

Operating costs and expenses

Contract drilling services

151,437

162,781

288,286

323,550

Reimbursables

8,297

4,394

12,647

9,540

Depreciation and amortization

129,681

136,594

258,436

272,312

General and administrative

21,717

18,658

43,800

34,538

Loss on impairment

792,843

-

792,843

-

1,103,975

322,427

1,396,012

639,940

Operating income (loss)

(845,606)

(44,285)

(902,486)

1,178

Other income (expense)

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized

(74,130)

(73,209)

(150,145)

(146,656)

Loss on extinguishment of debt, net

-

-

(8,768)

-

Interest income and other, net

2,865

3,074

4,204

4,691

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

(916,871)

(114,420)

(1,057,195)

(140,787)

Income tax benefit (provision)

38,839

18,213

35,843

(239,194)

Net loss from continuing operations

(878,032)

(96,207)

(1,021,352)

(379,981)

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

-

(1,486)

-

(1,486)

Net loss

(878,032)

(97,693)

(1,021,352)

(381,467)

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

249,969

4,343

250,955

(13,577)

Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (628,063)

$ (93,350)

$ (770,397)

$ (395,044)

Per share data

Basic:

Loss from continuing operations

$ (2.55)

$ (0.37)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.61)

Loss from discontinued operations

-

(0.01)

-

(0.01)

Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (2.55)

$ (0.38)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.62)

Diluted:

Loss from continuing operations

$ (2.55)

$ (0.37)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.61)

Loss from discontinued operations

-

(0.01)

-

(0.01)

Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (2.55)

$ (0.38)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.62)

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

June 30

December 31,

2018

2017

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 411,492

$ 662,829

Accounts receivable, net

212,229

204,696

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

73,532

171,450

Total current assets

697,253

1,038,975

Property and equipment, at cost

10,924,509

12,034,331

Accumulated depreciation

(2,403,099)

(2,545,091)

Property and equipment, net

8,521,410

9,489,240

Other assets

175,024

266,444

Total assets

$ 9,393,687

$ 10,794,659

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities

Current maturities of long-term debt

$ -

$ 249,843

Accounts payable

93,612

84,032

Accrued payroll and related costs

41,852

54,904

Other current liabilities

201,772

204,245

Total current liabilities

337,236

593,024

Long-term debt

3,842,617

3,795,867

Other liabilities

440,784

455,140

Total liabilities

4,620,637

4,844,031

Commitments and contingencies

Equity

Total shareholders' equity

4,362,232

5,276,161

Noncontrolling interests

410,818

674,467

Total equity

4,773,050

5,950,628

Total liabilities and equity

$ 9,393,687

$ 10,794,659

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Six Months Ended

June 30,

2018

2017

Cash flows from operating activities

Net loss

$ (1,021,352)

$ (381,467)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flow from operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

258,436

272,312

Loss on impairment

792,843

-

Deferred income tax provision

(51,724)

303,084

Loss on extinguishment of debt, net

8,768

-

Other long-term asset write-off

-

14,419

Changes in components of working capital:

Change in taxes receivable

84,486

-

Net changes in other operating assets and liabilities

(17,563)

45,937

Net cash provided by operating activities

53,894

254,285

Cash flows from investing activities

Capital expenditures

(75,874)

(67,608)

Proceeds from disposal of assets, net

3,755

314

Net cash used in investing activities

(72,119)

(67,294)

Cash flows from financing activities

Issuance of senior notes

750,000

-

Repayments of debt

(952,209)

(300,000)

Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facilities

(14,802)

(42)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests

(12,694)

(5,393)

Other financing activities

(3,407)

(4,301)

Net cash used in financing activities

(233,112)

(309,736)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(251,337)

(122,745)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

662,829

725,722

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$ 411,492

$ 602,977

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT

(In thousands, except operating statistics)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Three Months Ended March 31,

2018

2017

2018

Contract

Contract

Contract

Drilling

Drilling

Drilling

Services

Other

Total

Services

Other

Total

Services

Other

Total

Operating revenues

Contract drilling services

$ 247,689

$ -

$ 247,689

$ 271,532

$ -

$ 271,532

$ 229,106

$ -

$ 229,106

Reimbursables and other

10,680

-

10,680

6,610

-

6,610

6,051

-

6,051

$ 258,369

$ -

$ 258,369

$ 278,142

$ -

$ 278,142

$ 235,157

$ -

$ 235,157

Operating costs and expenses

Contract drilling services

$ 151,437

$ -

$ 151,437

$ 162,781

$ -

$ 162,781

$ 136,849

$ -

$ 136,849

Reimbursables

8,297

-

8,297

4,394

-

4,394

4,350

-

4,350

Depreciation and amortization

124,223

5,458

129,681

130,763

5,831

136,594

123,215

5,540

128,755

General and administrative

21,717

-

21,717

18,658

-

18,658

22,083

-

22,083

Loss on impairment

792,843

-

792,843

-

-

-

-

-

-

$ 1,098,517

$ 5,458

$ 1,103,975

$ 316,596

$ 5,831

$ 322,427

$ 286,497

$ 5,540

$ 292,037

Operating income (loss)

$ (840,148)

$ (5,458)

$ (845,606)

$ (38,454)

$ (5,831)

$ (44,285)

$ (51,340)

$ (5,540)

$ (56,880)

Operating statistics

Jackups:

Average Rig Utilization

70%

93%

56%

Operating Days

872

1,183

706

Average Dayrate

$ 130,332

$ 121,284

$ 153,662

Semisubmersibles:

Average Rig Utilization

8%

17%

17%

Operating Days

44

91

90

Average Dayrate

$ 126,278

$ 126,106

$ 98,766

Drillships:

Average Rig Utilization

63%

52%

52%

Operating Days

455

377

375

Average Dayrate

$ 282,412

$ 309,313

$ 297,833

Total:

Average Rig Utilization

54%

65%

47%

Operating Days

1,371

1,651

1,171

Average Dayrate

$ 180,689

$ 164,475

$ 195,633

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CALCULATION OF BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net income per share:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Numerator:

Basic

Net loss from continuing operations

$ (628,063)

$ (91,864)

$ (770,397)

$ (393,558)

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

-

(1,486)

-

(1,486)

Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (628,063)

$ (93,350)

$ (770,397)

$ (395,044)

Diluted

Net loss from continuing operations

$ (628,063)

$ (91,864)

$ (770,397)

$ (393,558)

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

-

(1,486)

-

(1,486)

Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (628,063)

$ (93,350)

$ (770,397)

$ (395,044)

Denominator:

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

246,740

244,828

246,438

244,527

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

246,740

244,828

246,438

244,527

Loss per share

Basic:

Loss from Continuing operations

$ (2.55)

$ (0.37)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.61)

Loss from Discontinued operations

-

(0.01)

-

(0.01)

Net loss to Noble Corporation plc

$ (2.55)

$ (0.38)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.62)

Diluted:

Loss from Continuing operations

$ (2.55)

$ (0.37)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.61)

Loss from Discontinued operations

-

(0.01)

-

(0.01)

Net loss to Noble Corporation plc

$ (2.55)

$ (0.38)

$ (3.13)

$ (1.62)

For the quarters and years ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, we experienced net losses from continuing operations, as such, unvested share-based payment awards were excluded from the loss per share calculation, as the awards were anti-dilutive.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

Certain non-GAAP performance measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the Company have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and prior operating periods. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In order to fully assess the financial operating results, management believes that the results of operations, adjusted to exclude the following items, which are included in the Company's press release issued on August 2, 2018, and discussed in the related conference call on August 3, 2018, are appropriate measures of the continuing and normal operations of the Company:

(i)

In the second quarter of 2018, an impairment of three of our rigs and certain capital spare equipment;

(ii)

In the first quarter of 2018, a loss on debt extinguishment; and

(iii)

In the second quarter of 2017, a discrete tax item and the Noble Max Smithwrite-off of receivables.

These non-GAAP adjusted measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, contract drilling revenue, contract drilling cost, contract drilling margin, average daily revenue, operating income, cash flows from operations, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Please see the following Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations for a complete description of the adjustments.

NOBLE CORPORATION PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NON-GAAP MEASURES

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Income tax provision

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

2018

2017

2018

Income tax benefit (provision)

$ 38,839

$ 18,213

$ (2,996)

Adjustments

Loss on impairment

(35,613)

-

-

Loss on debt extinguishment

-

-

(1,841)

Total Adjustments

(35,613)

-

(1,841)

Adjusted income tax benefit (provision)

$ 3,226

$ 18,213

$ (4,837)

Reconciliation of net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

2018

2017

2018

Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (628,063)

$ (93,350)

$ (142,334)

Adjustments

Loss on impairment, net of tax

757,230

-

-

Noble Max Smith-write-off of receivables

-

14,419

-

Loss on extinguishment of debt, net

-

-

6,927

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

(250,348)

-

-

Total Adjustments

506,882

14,419

6,927

Adjusted net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (121,181)

$ (78,931)

$ (135,407)

Reconciliation of diluted EPS attributable to Noble Corporation plc

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

June 30,

March 31

2018

2017

2018

Unadjusted diluted EPS attributable to Noble Corporation plc

$ (2.55)

$ (0.38)

$ (0.58)

Adjustments

Loss on impairment, net of tax

2.06

-

-

Noble Max Smith-write-off of receivables

-

0.06

-

Loss on extinguishment of debt, net of tax

-

-

0.03

Total Adjustments

2.06

0.06

0.03

Adjusted diluted EPS

$ (0.49)

$ (0.32)

$ (0.55)

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SOURCE Noble Corporation

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