Noble Corporation plc Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

LONDON, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation plc (NYSE:NE) today reported a fourth quarter 2015 net loss attributable to Noble Corporation of $152 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, on revenues of $858 million.

Results for the quarter included an after-tax charge of $418 million, or $1.73 per diluted share, relating to the impairment of two rigs and certain corporate assets. The Company has decided to retire the drillship Noble Discoverer and the jackup Noble Charles Copeland, reducing its fleet count to 30 units. Fourth quarter 2015 results also benefited from a lump sum payment to the Company, adjusted for certain other items, following the customer's decision to terminate its remaining contract commitment on the Noble Discoverer in accordance with the terms of the contract. The Company recognized a net gain of $140 million after-tax following the termination, or $0.58 per diluted share. Excluding the impact of the impairment charge and contract termination, fourth quarter 2015 net income attributable to Noble Corporation would have been $126 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, on revenues of $713 million. The results compared to net income attributable to Noble Corporation in the third quarter of 2015 of $326 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, on revenues of $897 million. Third quarter 2015 results included a net gain from an arbitration award totaling $148 million after-tax, or $0.60 per diluted share. Excluding the impact of the arbitration award, net income attributable to Noble Corporation in the third quarter of 2015 would have been $178 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, on revenues of $760 million.

For the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $595 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, on revenues of $805 million. Results for the fourth quarter included an after-tax charge of $713 million, or $2.85 per diluted share, relating to the impairment of three rigs and the Company's total goodwill balance. All three rigs were retired from service. Excluding the impairment charge, net income from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2014 would have been $119 million, or $0.47 per diluted share.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, net income attributable to Noble Corporation totaled $511 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, on revenues of $3.4 billion. Excluding the fourth quarter 2015 impairment charge and contract termination and the third quarter arbitration award, net income attributable to Noble Corporation would have been $642 million, or $2.59 per diluted share, on revenues of $3.1 billion. The full year 2015 results compared to a net loss from continuing operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 of $152 million, or $0.60 per diluted share on revenues of $3.2 billion. Adjusted for the fourth quarter 2014 impairment charge, net income from continuing operations would have been $561 million, or $2.22 per diluted share.

David W. Williams, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation plc, stated, "Strong, consistent operations execution was at the forefront of our accomplishments in 2015 and was influential in reinforcing our excellent industry position. Quarter-over-quarter contract drilling service costs, adjusted for the impact of a contract termination in the fourth quarter and favorable arbitration award in the third quarter, declined another 3 percent, resulting in an 18 percent reduction for the full year when compared to 2014. Ongoing cost control measures are likely to result in further reductions in 2016. Also, the performance of our fleet was another noteworthy achievement in the year. Although fourth quarter downtime was elevated relative to our experience over the first nine months of the year, we completed 2015 with downtime of 5 percent, again below our expectations for the year.

Continuing, Williams added, "We also ended the year with improved financial metrics that we believe will provide the foundation for continued success in managing our Company through another year of challenging industry fundamentals. With a year-end cash balance in excess of $500 million, our liquidity position grew to approximately $3.2 billion. Net debt to total capitalization declined to 35 percent in 2015 compared to 40 percent in 2014 and we continue to benefit from strong contract cover, especially in our jackup fleet."

Contract drilling services revenues in the fourth quarter of 2015 were $837 million, or $693 million after excluding approximately $145 million relating to the contract termination on the Noble Discoverer. The quarterly revenues compared to $874 million in the third quarter of 2015, or $737 million after adjusting for approximately $136 million relating to the arbitration award.  Although fleet utilization improved slightly in the fourth quarter to 83 percent compared to 82 percent in the previous quarter, average daily revenues, exclusive of the contract settlement and the arbitration award in the fourth and third quarters of 2015, respectively, declined 6 percent to $304,400 in the fourth quarter compared to $325,500 in the third quarter. The decline was due largely to unfavorable contractual dayrate changes across the fleet and an increase in fleet downtime, primarily on rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which were partially offset by the commencement of operations on the jackup rig Noble Tom Prosser. Contract drilling services operating costs totaled $299 million in the fourth quarter, up 2 percent when compared to the third quarter of 2015. Fourth quarter operating costs included $5 million of expenses relating to the demobilization of the Noble Discoverer following the early termination of the rig's contract, while operating costs in the previous quarter included $10 million of legal fees recognized as a reduction of contract drilling costs related to the arbitration award. Excluding these items, operating costs for the fourth quarter were $294 million, down 3 percent when compared to $303 million in the previous quarter. The results were due primarily to lower repair, maintenance and labor costs, partially offset by higher safety and environmental costs and an increase in mobilization costs relating to the relocation of the semisubmersible Noble Paul Romano to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.  

Net cash from operating activities totaled $510 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, and $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015.  Capital expenditures were $142 million in the fourth quarter, with capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2015 totaling $423 million.  Total debt at December 31, 2015 was $4.5 billion, with a debt to total capital ratio of 38 percent, and compared to total debt and debt to total capital of $4.9 billion and 40 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2014. Reflecting the Company's strong cash position at year end 2015, net debt to total capitalization fell to 35 percent compared to 40 percent at year end 2014. Liquidity, defined as cash, cash equivalents and availability under revolving credit facilities, improved to $3.2 billion at December 31, 2015 compared to $2.8 billion at the close of the third quarter. The Company has operated with two credit facilities with an aggregate capacity of $2.7 billion. One of these credit facilities, with capacity of $225 million matured, in late January 2016 and was not extended.

Operating Highlights

Utilization of the Company's 17 floating rigs, comprised of nine drillships and eight semisubmersibles, was 84 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to 81 percent in the previous quarter.  The improvement in utilization was driven largely by a full quarter of operations on the semisubmersible Noble Paul Romano, partially offset by a modest increase in fleet downtime. Average daily revenues, exclusive of the contract termination on the Noble Discoverer and arbitration award for the Noble Homer Ferrington during the fourth and third quarters, respectively, declined 7 percent to $424,500 in the fourth quarter compared to third quarter average daily revenues of $457,900. The negative variance was attributable to a reduced dayrate for the semisubmersible Noble Amos Runner and modest downtime in the fleet. Following its decision to retire the Noble Discoverer, the Company closed 2015 with all eight of its remaining drillships under long-term contracts. In the semisubmersible fleet, the Noble Homer Ferrington remains cold stacked while the Noble Max Smith is idle. The Company has commenced plans to "warm stack" the ultra-deepwater semisubmersibles Noble Jim Day and Noble Danny Adkins. The Noble Jim Day concluded a contract in late-January 2016 and the Noble Danny Adkins is expected to conclude its current drilling assignment by late-February 2016. 

Utilization of the Company's jackup rig fleet, comprised of 15 units, including one unit under construction, was 82 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 84 percent in the previous quarter, with the decline driven largely by fewer operating days on the Noble Charles Copeland, Noble David Tinsley and Noble Regina Allen, partially offset by the commencement of operations on the Noble Tom Prosser. Average daily revenues declined 9 percent to $145,300 in the fourth quarter from $159,700 in the previous quarter. The unfavorable variance was due primarily to lower average dayrates in the Middle East region, partially offset by the Noble Tom Prosser contract commencement in early-October. As noted earlier, the Company will retire the Noble Charles Copeland, reducing its jackup fleet to 14 units, including one unit under construction. Of these 14 units, two rigs, the Noble Regina Allen and Noble Mick O'Brien, were idle at the close of 2015, although the Mick O'Brien is expected to commence its next contract as early as March 2016. Since the close of 2015, the Noble Sam Hartley has commenced a three-year contract offshore Brunei and the Noble Sam Turner was awarded a two-year contract extension, placing the rig under contract through late-August 2018. As part of the extension, the rig's dayrate was reduced to $197,000 effective December 3, 2015, from a previous dayrate of $218,000 and the two-year extension will begin in late-June 2016 at a dayrate of $96,500.

At December 31, 2015, Noble's total contract backlog was $6.9 billion compared to $8.1 billion at September 30, 2015. The Company entered 2016 with an estimated 68 percent of available rig operating days committed to contracts, consisting of 57 percent of its floating rig days and 81 percent of the jackup rig days. In 2017, 44 percent of the available fleet operating days are committed to contracts, including 37 percent and 52 percent of floater and jackup rig days, respectively.

Outlook

"We face a challenging offshore fundamental outlook in 2016," said David Williams, "But Noble has successfully adapted to difficult cycles over its 95-year history and 2016 will be no different. We recognize that the components for success include strong contract cover, excellent and consistent operational performance, solid customer relationships, robust liquidity, manageable debt levels, and efficient use of capital. These important attributes are embedded in the culture at Noble, and we expect to make appropriate use of each to successfully manage this period of reduced customer demand.

"Our focus in 2016 will continue to center around operating our fleet in a safe and efficient manner, while capitalizing on contract opportunities that develop across our regions of operation. We have already registered success in this area, with over 1,800 days of contract time awarded to our jackup fleet from the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2015. Although we are focused on maintaining utilization across the fleet, we plan to manage periods of inactivity, especially as it pertains to our premium rigs, efficiently, with cost management in mind, and strategically, to allow each rig the benefit of a quick response to emerging opportunities."

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

A description of all non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release and a reconciliation to the most comparative GAAP measure is set forth on the Company's website at www.noblecorp.com in the Investor Relations section.

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 30 offshore drilling units, consisting of 16 semisubmersibles and drillships and 14 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, shipyard projects, 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, market outlook, dividend levels, sustainability of dividend levels, capital allocation strategies, liquidity, competitive position, capital expenditures, financial flexibility, debt levels, debt repayment, 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 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 fourth quarter and full year 2015 results on Thursday, February 4, 2016, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Central Standard Time. Interested parties are invited to listen to the call by dialing 1-877-201-0168, or internationally 1-647-788-4901, using access code: 19374563, 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 Web site. 

A replay of the conference call will be available on Thursday, February 4, 2016, beginning at 11:00 a.m. U.S. Central Standard Time, through Friday, March 4, 2016, ending at 11:00 p.m. U.S. Central Standard Time. The phone number for the conference call replay is 1-855-859-2056 or, for calls from outside of the U.S., 1-404-537-3406, using access code: 19374563. The replay will also be available on the Company's Web site following the end of the live call.

SOURCE Noble Corporation