ION reports first quarter 2017 results

HOUSTON, May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) today reported a first quarter 2017 net loss of $23.3 million, or $(1.98) per share, on revenues of $32.6 million, compared to a net loss of $35.0 million, or $(3.30) per share, on revenues of $22.7 million in first quarter 2016.  Adjusted net loss in the first quarter 2017 was $18.3 million, or $(1.55) per share, after excluding the special item resulting from a $5.0 million loss contingency related to the Company's patent litigation with WesternGeco.

The Company reported a break-even Adjusted EBITDA for first quarter 2017, compared to $(17.2) million in the same period last year.  A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the closest comparable GAAP numbers can be found in the financial tables of this press release. 

Net cash flows from operations were $2.0 million during the first quarter 2017, compared to $2.5 million in first quarter 2016.  Total net cash flows including investing and financing activities were $(3.0) million, compared to $(8.3) million in first quarter 2016.

Brian Hanson, ION's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "As indicated in our year-end earnings call, our first quarter revenues were up compared to one year ago, driven in part by our 3D multi-client Campeche reimaging program.  We continue to receive very positive feedback on the unprecedented turnaround time and significant imaging improvements we have made in both subsalt and above-salt imaging.  We are seeing a significant increase in the sales pipeline for this program, as customers are looking to evaluate the data to help them make informed decisions in advance of the upcoming bid rounds scheduled later this year.  We also experienced a significant increase in data library sales primarily associated with our offshore South America and our onshore North America data libraries.

"Regarding our patent litigation with WesternGeco, the District Court recently indicated in a ruling from the bench that we will be ordered to pay WesternGeco an additional $5 million, when a final order is issued by the District Court.  This amount is in addition to the $20.8 million award previously paid by ION in November of last year.

"We continue to believe that the E&P industry reached the bottom of this cycle during 2016 as we are now seeing leading indicators of recovery.  Ocean Bottom Seismic (OBS) tender activity continues to pick up and there is renewed customer interest in underwriting new venture programs for the first time in two years.  We recently sanctioned three programs, which met our conservative underwriting standards, to kick off in the next 90 days.  We continue to believe 2017 will deliver a modest improvement over 2016 as the market recovers.  We also believe we have positioned ourselves to take full advantage of what should be a more robust 2018."

The Company's cash balance, excluding borrowings under the revolving credit facility at March 31, 2017, was $39.6 million.  The Company had outstanding borrowings of $10.0 million and $9.5 million remained available under its maximum $40.0 million revolving credit facility at March 31, 2017.  The current available amount has been reduced due to a decline in eligible receivables that collateralize the facility.

FIRST QUARTER 2017

The Company's segment revenues for the first quarter were as follows (in thousands):

Within the E&P Technology & Services segment, data library revenues were $10.6 million, a 148% increase from first quarter 2016; new venture revenues were $6.9 million, a 110% increase; and Imaging Services revenues were $5.8 million, a 6% increase.  The increase in new venture revenues was the result of the Company's 3D multi-client Campeche reimaging program and the increase in data library sales was primarily related to the Company's offshore South America and onshore North America data libraries.  

Within the E&P Operations Optimization segment, Devices revenues were $5.0 million, a 7% decrease from first quarter 2016.  Devices continues to be impacted by reduced seismic contractor activity.  Optimization Software & Services revenues were $4.3 million, flat compared to the revenues from first quarter 2016.

The OBS Services segment contributed no revenues during the first quarter 2017 as its crew and vessels have been idle since completion of a survey offshore Nigeria in the third quarter 2016.  The crew and vessels have remained cold-stacked, significantly reducing costs, while OceanGeo actively pursues tenders for long-term work in 2017.

Consolidated gross margin was 19%, compared to (39)% in first quarter 2016.  Gross margin in E&P Technology & Services increased to 17%, up from (75)% one year ago.  This increase was the result of the increase in revenues associated with the Company's higher margin Campeche reimaging program and increase in data libraries sales.  E&P Operations Optimization gross margin increased to 52% during the first quarter 2017, up from 49% in first quarter 2016.

Consolidated operating expenses were $20.0 million, down 6% from $21.2 million in first quarter 2016.  Operating margin was (43)%, compared to (133)% in first quarter 2016.  The improvement in operating margin was the result of a higher margin revenue mix, together with the impact of the $95 million annualized cost reduction initiatives enacted during 2014 - 2016.

CONFERENCE CALL

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time that will include a slide presentation to be posted in the Investor Relations section of the ION website by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 407-0672 at least 10 minutes before the call begins and ask for the ION conference call.  A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the live broadcast ends and will be accessible until May 18, 2017.  To access the replay, dial (877) 660-6853 and use pass code 13660144#.

Investors, analysts and the general public will also have the opportunity to listen to the conference call live over the Internet by visiting www.iongeo.com.  An archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on the Company's website.

About ION

ION is a leading provider of technology-driven solutions to the global oil & gas industry.  ION's offerings are designed to help companies reduce risk and optimize assets throughout the E&P lifecycle. For more information, visit www.iongeo.com.

Contact
Steve Bate
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
+1.281.552.3011

The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These forward-looking statements may include future sales, earnings and market growth, timing of sales, future liquidity and cash levels, future estimated revenues and earnings, sales expected to result from backlog, benefits expected to result from OceanGeo, expected outcome of litigation and other statements that are not of historical fact.  Actual results may vary materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include risks associated with pending and future litigation, including the risk that any additional damages or adverse rulings in the WesternGeco litigation could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial results and liquidity; the timing and development of the Company's products and services and market acceptance of the Company's new and revised product offerings; the performance of OceanGeo; the Company's level and terms of indebtedness; competitors' product offerings and pricing pressures resulting therefrom; the relatively small number of customers that the Company currently relies upon; the fact that a significant portion of the Company's revenues is derived from foreign sales; that sources of capital may not prove adequate; the Company's inability to produce products to preserve and increase market share; collection of receivables; and technological and marketplace changes affecting the Company's product lines.  Additional risk factors, which could affect actual results, are disclosed by the Company from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during 2017.

Tables to follow

ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss
(Non-GAAP Measure)
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

The term Adjusted EBITDA represents net loss before interest expense, interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization charges, and other non-cash charges including an accrual for loss contingency related to legal proceedings.  Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for net income (loss) or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of profitability or liquidity. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The Company has included Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental disclosure because its management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information regarding our liquidity, ability to service debt and to fund capital expenditures and provides investors a helpful measure for comparing its operating performance with the performance of other companies that have different financing and capital structures or tax rates.

SOURCE ION Geophysical Corporation