Oceaneering Announces Second Quarter 2011 Earnings

HOUSTON, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE: OII) today reported second quarter earnings for the period ended June 30, 2011.  On revenue of $546 million, Oceaneering generated net income of $56.7 million, or $0.52 per share.  During the corresponding period in 2010, Oceaneering reported revenue of $464 million and net income of $54.3 million, or $0.49 per share.  Historical per share figures have been adjusted to reflect the twoforone stock split effected in June 2011.

Year over year, quarterly earnings per share (EPS) improved as a result of lower interest expense and taxes.  Subsea Products operating income was substantially higher, but not enough to offset lower profit contributions from Subsea Projects and Advanced Technologies.  Sequentially, Oceaneering's quarterly EPS increase was attributable to record quarterly operating income from ROV, Subsea Products, and Inspection.

M. Kevin McEvoy, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased with our performance for the quarter.  EPS was slightly above the top end of our guidance range and we are on track to achieve record EPS for the year.  We achieved higher sequential quarterly operating results from our ROV, Subsea Products, and Inspection businesses.

"ROV operating income increased on the strength of higher worldwide demand to provide vessel-based construction and field maintenance services.  Our fleet utilization improved to 76% from 71%, largely due to seasonality and an improvement in permitting in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.  During the quarter, we put four new ROVs into service, retired one, and transferred one system to Advanced Technologies for non-oilfield use.  At the end of June, we had 262 vehicles in our fleet, compared to 249 one year ago.  We expect to add seven to twelve new ROVs to our fleet during the second half of 2011 to meet contracted demand.

"Subsea Products operating income rose on profit increases from all of our product lines.  This was led by tooling, which included the benefit of our acquisition of Norse Cutting & Abandonment AS at the end of last quarter.  Subsea Products backlog at quarter-end was $405 million, up from our March 31 backlog of $382 million and $347 million one year ago.

"Inspection operating income was higher on increased service sales in all of the major geographic areas we serve.

"Our outlook for the remainder of 2011 remains positive, and we are raising our 2011 EPS guidance range to $1.90 to $1.98, from $1.83 to $1.95.  Relative to the first half, we anticipate our ROV, Subsea Projects, Inspection, and Advanced Technologies business operations will achieve higher operating income results during the second half of 2011.  Compared to 2010, for 2011 we forecast increased operating income from ROV, Subsea Products, and Inspection.  

"For the third quarter of 2011, we expect sequential improvements in operating income for each of our business segments except Inspection, which we anticipate will remain about the same.  We are projecting EPS of $0.54 to $0.58.

"During the quarter we initiated a regular quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share, which we paid on June 29, 2011, and today we are announcing our second quarterly dividend.  We are pleased to return a portion of our earnings to shareholders and believe our quarterly dividend will not compromise our ability to pursue organic growth and acquisition opportunities.

"Our liquidity and projected cash flow provide us with ample resources to invest in Oceaneering's growth.  At the end of the quarter we had $151 million of cash and $300 million available under our revolving credit facility.  For 2011 we anticipate generating at least $450 million of EBITDA.

"Looking beyond 2011, our belief that the oil and gas industry will continue to invest in deepwater projects remains unchanged.  Deepwater remains one of the best frontiers for adding large hydrocarbon reserves with high production flow rates.  With our existing assets, we are well positioned to supply a wide range of the services and products required to support safe deepwater efforts of our customers."

Statements in this press release that express a belief, expectation, or intention are forward looking.  The forward-looking statements in this press release include the statements concerning Oceaneering's:  expectation of achieving record EPS for 2011; expectation of adding seven to twelve new ROVs to its fleet during the second half of 2011 to meet contracted demand; statements about backlog; positive outlook for the remainder of 2011; 2011 EPS guidance range of $1.90 to $1.98; anticipation that, relative to the first half, it will achieve higher operating income results during the second half of 2011 from ROV, Subsea Projects, Inspection, and Advanced Technologies; forecast that, compared to 2010, it will achieve increased operating income from ROV, Subsea Products, and Inspection during 2011; expectation of third quarter sequential improvements in operating income for each of its business segments except Inspection; anticipation that third quarter 2011 Inspection operating income will remain about the same as the second quarter of 2011; third quarter 2011 forecasted EPS range of $0.54 to $0.58; characterization of its dividends as regular; belief that its quarterly dividend will not compromise its ability to pursue organic growth and acquisition opportunities; expectation that its liquidity and projected cash flow will provide ample resources to invest in the company's growth; anticipation of generating, during 2011, at least $450 million of EBITDA; belief that the oil and gas industry will continue to invest in deepwater projects; and belief that deepwater remains one of the best frontiers for adding large hydrocarbon reserves with high production flow rates.  These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on current information and expectations of Oceaneering that involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions.  Among the factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties related to:  industry conditions; prices of crude oil and natural gas; the timing, pace, and level of floating drilling rig activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico during 2011; Oceaneering's ability to obtain, and the timing of, new projects; changes in customers' operational plans or schedules; contract cancellations or modifications; difficulties performing under contracts; and changes in competitive factors.  Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual outcomes could vary materially from those indicated.  For a more complete discussion of these and other risk factors, please see Oceaneering's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

Oceaneering is a global oilfield provider of engineered services and products, primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry, with a focus on deepwater applications.  Through the use of its applied technology expertise, Oceaneering also serves the defense and aerospace industries.

A live webcast of the company's earnings release conference call, scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, can be accessed at www.oceaneering.com/investor-relations/.

SOURCE Oceaneering International, Inc.