Oceaneering Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results

HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oceaneering International, Inc. ("Oceaneering") (NYSE:OII) today reported net income of $173.6 million, or $1.76 per share, on revenue of $484 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017.  Adjusted net loss was $8.0 million, or $(0.08) per share, reflecting the impact of $181.6 million of adjustments, primarily a $189.1 million noncash tax benefit due to recent United States tax reform.  During the prior quarter ended September 30, 2017, Oceaneering reported a net loss of $1.8 million, or $(0.02) per share, on revenue of $476 million, and adjusted net income of $3.2 million, or $0.03 per share.

For the full year 2017, Oceaneering reported net income of $166.4 million, or $1.68 per share, on revenue of $1.9 billion.  Adjusted net loss was $6.8 million, or $(0.07) per share, reflecting the impact of $173.2 million of adjustments, primarily a $189.1 million noncash tax benefit due to recent United States tax reform.  This compared to 2016 net income of $24.6 million, or $0.25 per share, on revenue of $2.3 billion, and adjusted net income of $73.2 million, or $0.74 per share.

Adjusted operating income, operating margin, net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (as well as EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins and forecasted 2018 EBITDA) and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures that exclude the impacts of certain identified items.  Reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP measures are shown in the tables Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share (EPS), EBITDA and EBITDA Margins, 2018 EBITDA Estimates, Free Cash Flow, Adjusted Operating Income and Margins by Segment, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and Margins by Segment.  These tables are included below under the caption Reconciliations of Non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Information.

Roderick A. Larson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oceaneering, stated, "While 2017 was certainly a challenging year, we are pleased that each of our operating segments remained profitable, and overall, we generated adjusted EBITDA of $222 million.  We accomplished this by winning significant new business and protecting market share, executing well for our customers, and maintaining an impressive safety record.   

"On an adjusted basis for the fourth quarter, operating income was $20.4 million lower than that of the immediately preceding quarter, due to reduced profit contributions from each of Oceaneering's segments.  The anticipated impacts from seasonality and the continued lower levels of activity and pricing in our oilfield segments were, overall, in line with our expectations.  However, results for Advanced Technologies disappointed, with a decline in profitability instead of the improvement we had anticipated.  Overall, our operating results and EBITDA were slightly less than our expectations, and each of our operating segments remained profitable.

"Compared to the third quarter, adjusted ROV operating income for the fourth quarter was down, resulting from approximately a 12% reduction of revenue and 15% fewer days utilized.  The fourth quarter results included $7.3 million of revenue associated with the sale of ROV accessory equipment that was integrated into a customer's rigs.  This equipment sale increased our calculated ROV average revenue per day-on-hire and our profitability.

"At the end of December 2017, our ROV fleet size of 279 vehicles remained unchanged from September 30, 2017.  Our fleet utilization for the fourth quarter was 42%, down from 50% in the third quarter.  Our fleet use mix during this period was 66% in drill support and 34% for vessel-based activity, compared to 61% and 39%, respectively, in the prior quarter.  The quarterly decline in the utilization percentage of our ROV fleet was primarily attributable to seasonality associated with the global vessel market.

"On an adjusted basis, compared to the third quarter, Subsea Products operating income was slightly lower during the fourth quarter.  As we anticipated, Subsea Products revenue was higher, due to increased activity and profitability in our service and rental business unit, but that improvement was offset by decreased margins in manufactured products.  Our Subsea Products backlog at December 31, 2017 was $276 million, compared to our September 30, 2017 backlog of $284 million.  Our book-to-bill ratio was 0.95 and 0.75 for the fourth quarter and full year of 2017, respectively.

"Sequentially, Subsea Projects operating income was down during the fourth quarter.  The decline was principally driven by the seasonal decrease in vessel and diving activities, and the completion of the Island Pride contract offshore India during the fourth quarter.  Asset Integrity operating income modestly decreased as projected, on increased revenue at lower market pricing.

"Advanced Technologies operating income declined, on increased revenue, due to execution issues and additional costs incurred for commercial programs.  Unallocated Expenses were higher than expected, due to an unanticipated adverse judgment in an uninsured liability claim.

"A $189.1 million benefit related to recent United States tax reform is included in our tax provision.  Excluding the impact of United States tax reform, our tax provision was the result of geographical mix of earnings and losses that resulted in taxes in certain jurisdictions that exceeded the tax benefit from the losses in other jurisdictions, which could not be realized in the quarter due to valuation allowances provided.

"For 2018, overall, we project our consolidated revenue to be down slightly, with decreases in three of our energy segments, offset by increases in Asset Integrity and Advanced Technologies.  We continue to project our 2018 results to be lower than our 2017 results, due to reduced pricing for our service and product offerings and lower absorption of our manufacturing fixed costs resulting from lower expected throughput.  For the year, we anticipate generating $140 million to $180 million of EBITDA, with positive EBITDA contributions from each of our operating segments.

"At the midpoint of this range, our EBITDA for 2018 would represent a decline of about 28% from 2017 adjusted EBITDA.  This decline should not be misconstrued as a further deterioration of our markets.  With the exception of seasonality, we view the current market to be relatively stable.

"Operationally, we anticipate ROVs, Subsea Products and Subsea Projects results to be lower, with the largest declines in profitability occurring in Subsea Products and Subsea Projects.  For ROVs, we project increased days on hire, however, with lower operating results, due to a shift in geographic mix and continued competitive pricing that we expect to drive our average revenue per day lower.  We expect Subsea Products segment results to decline due to anticipated lower pricing and manufacturing throughput, as we enter the year with less backlog compared to 2017, and the natural lag effect between our customer's financial investment decisions and order awards.  Until we see an increase in Subsea Products backlog and throughput, our outlook is that margins will weaken further into the low- to mid-single digit range.

"Our Subsea Projects segment is expected to have a more challenging year with reduced international vessel and diving activity, and continued competitive pressures on vessel dayrates in the spot call out market in the Gulf of Mexico, and the regulatory drydocking of the Ocean Intervention.  Unlike 2017, we are entering 2018 with no meaningful fixed-term vessel contracts with our customers.  For Asset Integrity, results are expected to increase slightly year-over-year.  Our Advanced Technologies results are projected to be higher, due to increased activity within our entertainment group, supporting the theme park arena.  We anticipate Unallocated Expenses to increase $12 million to $18 million in 2018, interest expense to be notably higher, and our effective tax benefit rate to be approximately 5% before discrete items.

"We believe our first quarter 2018 operating results will be lower than our fourth quarter results, due to a continuation of low levels of offshore activity.  The decline will be lead by operating losses in our Subsea Products, Subsea Projects, and ROV segments.  We expect near breakeven operating levels in our Asset Integrity segment.  For Advanced Technologies, we project our operating results to improve, and we expect our Unallocated Expenses to be higher.

"For 2018, we expect our organic capital expenditures to total between $80 million and $120 million.  This  includes approximately $40 million to $50 million of maintenance capital expenditures and $40 million to $70 million of growth capital expenditures, including the final payments to complete the Jones Act vessel Ocean Evolution and well intervention equipment.  We believe our liquidity (including $430 million in cash at year end and a $500 million revolving credit facility) provides us ample resources to manage our business through the cycle, and to position ourselves for the eventual upturn in offshore activity.

"To increase our liquidity runway, in early February 2018 we issued $300 million of ten-year senior notes through a public offering.  We used the net proceeds to repay our outstanding $300 million term loan due October 2019.  We also amended our Credit Agreement to extend the maturities of our $500 million undrawn unsecured revolving credit facility, such that the total commitments for the revolving credit facility will be $500 million until October 2021 and thereafter $450 million until January 2023.  As a result, our next scheduled debt principal maturity is in November 2024.

"Beyond 2018, with stable and improving long-term oil prices, we foresee an increase in offshore expenditures and improving demand for our energy-related services and products.  Meanwhile, we continue to look for opportunities to grow organically and via acquisitions."

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements as to the expectations, beliefs and future expected business, financial performance and prospects of the Company. More specifically, the forward-looking statements in this press release include the statements concerning Oceaneering's: statements about backlog, to the extent backlog may be an indicator of future revenue or profitability; outlook for the full year and first quarter of 2018, anticipated EBITDA, EBITDA contributions from each of its segments, and belief that the 2018 decline in EBITDA compared to 2017 should not be misconstrued as a further deterioration of its markets; expected contributions of its segments to the operating results and the associated explanations; overall view of the markets; expectation about Subsea Products margins; our expectation that Advanced Technologies operating income should improve due to increased activity within the commercial theme park arena; expectations about interest expense; anticipated effective tax benefit rate before discrete items; expectations about capital expenditures; belief that its liquidity, including cash at year end and credit facility provide it with ample resources to manage its business through the cycle, and to position itself for the eventual upturn in offshore activity; characterization of an upturn in offshore activity as eventual; expectations about stable and improving long-term oil prices, offshore expenditures and improving demand for its energy-related services and products; and intention to look for opportunities to resume growth organically and via acquisitions. The forward-looking statements included in this release are based on our current expectations and are subject to certain risks, assumptions, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include backlog, costs, capital expenditures, future earnings, capital allocation strategies, dividend levels, sustainability of dividend levels, liquidity, competitive position, financial flexibility, debt levels, forecasts or expectations regarding business outlook; growth for Oceaneering as a whole and for each of its segments (and for specific products or geographic areas within each segment); factors affecting the level of activity in the oil and gas industry; supply and demand of drilling rigs; oil and natural gas demand and production growth; oil and natural gas prices; fluctuations in currency markets worldwide; the loss of major contracts or alliances; future global economic conditions; and future results of operations. For a more complete discussion of these risk factors, please see Oceaneering's latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Oceaneering is a global provider of engineered services and products, primarily to the offshore energy industry.  Through the use of its applied technology expertise, Oceaneering also serves the defense, entertainment, and aerospace industries.

For more information on Oceaneering, please visit www.oceaneering.com.

Contact:
Suzanne Spera
Director, Investor Relations
Oceaneering International, Inc.
713-329-4707
[email protected]