Weatherford Reports Fourth Quarter Results of $0.76 Per Diluted Share Before Non-Recurring Items

30 Jan 2007
           Record Performance; 65 Percent Increase Over Prior Year

HOUSTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT) today reported fourth quarter 2006 net income of $263.7 million from continuing operations, or $0.76 per diluted share, before non-recurring items. Fourth quarter diluted earnings per share reflected an improvement of 65 percent over the fourth quarter of 2005 diluted earnings per share of $0.46, before non-recurring items. The non-recurring items in the fourth quarter of 2006 results include a one-time exit and restructuring charge of $18.1 million after tax, and an offsetting benefit of $26.4 million related to the favorable settlement of foreign tax exposures.

Fourth quarter revenues were $1.8 billion, or 24 percent higher than the same period last year, against a backdrop of a seven percent increase in rig activity. This is the highest level of quarterly revenues in the company's history.

Sequentially, the company's fourth quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations improved 15 percent over the third quarter 2006 diluted earnings per share of $0.66. The fourth quarter record performance reflected worldwide gains outside of Canada across the majority of the company's product and service offerings. North American revenues were essentially flat despite a contraction of the Canadian rig count. The U.S. made up for the decline in Canadian markets. Markets outside of North America accounted for essentially all of the sequential revenue growth. Combined Eastern Hemisphere and Latin America revenues increased 15 percent sequentially.

Annual revenues were $6.6 billion and represent the highest revenue levels in the history of the company. Income from continuing operations was $889.9 million, before non-recurring items, or $2.51 per diluted share. In 2005, the company reported annual revenues of $4.3 billion, and income from continuing operations of $462.7 million, or $1.46 per diluted share, before non-recurring items.

Evaluation, Drilling & Intervention Services

Revenues for the quarter were $1.2 billion, a 26 percent increase above the same quarter in the prior year and a six percent increase from the prior quarter. Geographically, all regions, with the exception of Canada, posted sequential revenue improvements. Latin America led with 16 percent sequential growth. The Eastern Hemisphere's revenues rose 10 percent sequentially. From a product line perspective, all product lines exceeded prior quarter revenue levels with the exception of wireline, which was negatively impacted by lower activity levels in Canada.

Operating income of $320.2 million was 53 percent higher than the same quarter in the prior year and nine percent higher than the preceding quarter.

Completion & Production Systems

Fourth quarter revenues of $645.4 million were 19 percent higher than the fourth quarter of 2005 and eight percent higher than the prior quarter. Geographically, all regions, with the exception of Canada, posted sequential revenue improvements. Of particular note, the Eastern Hemisphere grew 21 percent. This division's performance reflected improvements in electric submersible pumps, sand control systems and production optimization.

The current quarter's operating income of $140.6 million improved 57 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and seven percent as compared to the third quarter of 2006.

Non-GAAP

Non-GAAP performance measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the 2006 fourth quarter results on January 30, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. (CDT). The company invites investors to listen to a play back of the conference call at the company's website, http://www.weatherford.com in the "investor relations" section.

Weatherford is one of the largest global providers of innovative mechanical solutions, technology and services for the drilling and production sectors of the oil and gas industry. Weatherford operates in over 100 countries and employs approximately 33,000 people worldwide.


     Contact:    Andrew P. Becnel            (713) 693-4136
                 Chief Financial Officer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning, among other things, Weatherford's prospects for its operations which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties, which are more fully described in Weatherford International Ltd.'s reports and registration statements filed with the SEC, include the impact of oil and natural gas prices and worldwide economic conditions on drilling activity, the demand for and pricing of Weatherford's products and services, domestic and international economic and regulatory conditions and changes in tax and other laws affecting our business. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated.



                        Weatherford International Ltd.
                 Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
                     (In 000's, Except Per Share Amounts)

                                    Three Months           Twelve Months
                                 Ended December 31,     Ended December 31,
                                   2006       2005        2006        2005

    Net Revenues:
      Evaluation, Drilling &
       Intervention Services    $1,162,195   $920,052  $4,234,024  $2,528,745
      Completion & Production
       Systems                     645,393    541,358   2,344,904   1,804,482
                                 1,807,588  1,461,410   6,578,928   4,333,227

    Operating Income (Expense):
      Evaluation, Drilling &
       Intervention Services       320,222    209,630   1,125,372     584,300
      Completion & Production
       Systems                     140,561     89,629     479,745     268,866
      Research and Development     (37,384)   (35,300)   (149,429)   (107,362)
      Equity in Earnings                93      3,313       5,830      10,427
      Corporate Expenses           (26,625)   (21,039)    (95,106)    (74,417)
      Exit Costs and
       Restructuring Charges       (23,433)   (16,977)    (26,203)   (116,972)
                                   373,434    229,256   1,340,209     564,842

    Other Income (Expense):
      Debt Redemption Expense          ---        ---         ---      (4,733)
      Debt Redemption Expense
       of Unconsolidated
       Affiliate                       ---        ---         ---      (4,025)
      Gain on Sale of Universal
       Common Stock                    ---    115,456         ---     115,456
      Other, Net                    (2,651)     6,753     (13,065)     23,787
      Interest Expense, Net        (32,627)   (23,301)   (102,921)    (69,135)
    Income from Continuing
     Operations Before Income
     Taxes and Minority
     Interest                      338,156    328,164   1,224,223     626,192

    Provision for Income Taxes:
     Provision for Operations      (94,349)   (65,491)   (349,207)   (172,968)
     Tax Benefit From Exit and
      Restructuring Charges          5,315      5,283       6,285      37,735
     Tax Settlements                26,398    (23,933)     26,398     (23,933)
                                   (62,636)   (84,141)   (316,524)   (159,166)

    Income from Continuing
     Operations Before Minority
     Interest                      275,520    244,023     907,699     467,026
    Minority Interest, Net of
     Taxes                          (3,518)      (273)    (11,330)       (817)
    Income from Continuing
     Operations                    272,002    243,750     896,369     466,209
    Income from Discontinued
     Operation, Net of Taxes           ---        ---         ---       1,211
    Net Income                    $272,002   $243,750    $896,369    $467,420

    Basic Earnings Per Share:
     Income from Continuing
      Operations                     $0.80      $0.70       $2.59       $1.55
     Income from Discontinued
      Operation                       0.00       0.00        0.00        0.01
     Net Income                      $0.80      $0.70       $2.59       $1.56

    Diluted Earnings Per Share:
     Income from Continuing
      Operations                     $0.78      $0.69       $2.53       $1.47
     Income from Discontinued
      Operation                       0.00       0.00        0.00        0.00
     Net Income                      $0.78      $0.69       $2.53       $1.47

    Weighted Average Shares
     Outstanding:
     Basic                         340,747    346,874     346,123     300,336
     Diluted                       348,617    355,630     354,832     322,286



                        Weatherford International Ltd.
                    Selected Income Statement Information
                                  (In 000's)

                                           Three Months
                                               Ended
                    12/31/2006  09/30/2006  06/30/2006  03/31/2006 12/31/2005

    Net Revenues:
     Evaluation,
      Drilling
      & Intervention
      Services      $1,162,195  $1,100,059    $965,504  $1,006,266   $920,052
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems          645,393     596,694     573,072     529,745    541,358
                    $1,807,588  $1,696,753  $1,538,576  $1,536,011 $1,461,410

    Operating Income
     (Expense):
     Evaluation,
      Drilling
      & Intervention
      Services        $320,222    $292,978    $240,959    $271,213   $209,630
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems          140,561     131,079     115,894      92,211     89,629
     Research and
      Development      (37,384)    (38,241)    (37,361)    (36,443)   (35,300)
     Equity in
      Earnings
      (Losses)              93        (190)      3,293       2,634      3,313
     Corporate
      Expenses         (26,625)    (24,718)    (21,507)    (22,256)   (21,039)
     Exit Costs and
      Restructuring
      Charges          (23,433)        ---      (2,770)        ---    (16,977)
                      $373,434    $360,908    $298,508    $307,359   $229,256



                           Supplemental Information
                                  (In 000's)

                                           Three Months
                                               Ended
                    12/31/2006  09/30/2006  06/30/2006  03/31/2006  12/31/2005

    Geographic Revenues:
     Eastern
      Hemisphere      $639,640    $568,793    $520,186    $451,482    $478,796
     United States     689,991     659,711     620,335     542,803     508,517
     Canada            266,445     294,296     219,418     379,631     316,985
     Latin America     211,512     173,953     178,637     162,095     157,112
                    $1,807,588  $1,696,753  $1,538,576  $1,536,011  $1,461,410

    Depreciation and
     Amortization:
     Evaluation,
      Drilling &
      Intervention
      Services         $99,036     $95,963     $89,613     $90,112     $88,243
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems           26,600      25,136      22,839      22,712      21,189
     Research and
      Development        1,819       1,813       1,867       1,896       1,744
     Corporate           1,576         596         700         783         773
                      $129,031    $123,508    $115,019    $115,503    $111,949

    Research and Development:
     Evaluation,
      Drilling &
      Intervention
      Services         $26,290     $25,036     $23,064     $21,963     $21,612
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems           11,094      13,205      14,297      14,480      13,688
                       $37,384     $38,241     $37,361     $36,443     $35,300


We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Weatherford's management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. One such non-GAAP financial measure we may present from time to time is operating income or income from continuing operations excluding certain charges or amounts. This adjusted income amount is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Accordingly, it should not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income or other income data prepared in accordance with GAAP. See the table below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three months and years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.


                        Weatherford International Ltd.
            Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                                 (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except per share data)


                           Three Months Ended             Year Ended
                        December 31, December 31,  December 31,  December 31,
                            2006         2005         2006          2005

    Operating Income:
      GAAP Operating
       Income             $373,434     $229,256    $1,340,209     $564,842
       Exit costs and
        restructuring
        charges             23,433 [a]   16,977 [b]    26,203 [c]  116,972 [d]
      Non-GAAP
       Operating Income   $396,867     $246,233    $1,366,412     $681,814

    Other Income
     (Expense), net:
      GAAP Other Income
       (Expense), net     $(35,278)     $98,908     $(115,986)     $61,350
       Gain on sale of
        Universal common
        stock                  ---     (115,456) [b]      ---     (115,456)[d]
       Other charges           ---          ---           ---        8,758 [d]
      Non-GAAP Other Income
       (Expense), net     $(35,278)    $(16,548)    $(115,986)    $(45,348)

    Provision for Income
     Taxes:
      GAAP Provision for
       Income Taxes       $(62,636)    $(84,141)    $(316,524)   $(159,166)
       Tax impact of
        charges             (5,315) [a]  (5,283) [b]   (6,285) [c] (37,735)[d]
       Other charges
        (benefit)          (26,398) [a]  23,933  [b]  (26,398) [c]  23,933 [d]
      Non-GAAP
       Provision for
       Income Taxes       $(94,349)    $(65,491)    $(349,207)   $(172,968)

    Income from Continuing
     Operations:
      GAAP Income from
       Continuing
       Operations         $272,002     $243,750      $896,369     $466,209
       Total charges
        (gains), net of
        tax                 (8,280) [a] (79,829) [b]   (6,480) [c]  (3,528)[d]
      Non-GAAP Income
       from Continuing
       Operations         $263,722     $163,921      $889,889     $462,681

    Diluted Earnings
     Per Share from
     Continuing Operations:
      GAAP Diluted Earnings
       per Share from
       Continuing Operations $0.78        $0.69         $2.53        $1.47
       Total charges
        (gains)              (0.02) [a]   (0.23) [b]    (0.02) [c]   (0.01)[d]
      Non-GAAP Diluted
       Earnings per Share
       from Continuing
       Operations            $0.76        $0.46         $2.51        $1.46

    Note [a]: This amount represents severance and other charges associated
    with the Company's current quarter exit and restructuring activities.  On
    an after tax basis, these charges approximated $18.1 million during the
    three months ended December 31, 2006.  In addition, the Company realized a
    tax benefit of $26.4 million related to the favorable settlement of
    certain foreign tax exposures.  On an after tax basis, these items
    resulted in an effect of two cents per diluted share.

    Note [b]: Represents a gain recognized on the sale of shares of Universal
    Compression Holdings, Inc., with no related income tax effects.  This gain
    was partially offset by exit costs, restructuring charges and tax expense
    associated with the acquisition of Precision and related activities. On an
    after tax basis, the net gain approximated $79.8 million, or twenty-three
    cents per diluted share, during the three months ended December 31, 2005.

    Note [c]: This amount represents severance and other charges associated
    with the Company's current quarter exit and restructuring activities and
    the integration of the Precision acquisition.  On an after tax basis,
    these charges approximated $19.9 million during the year ended
    December 31, 2006.  In addition, the Company realized a tax benefit of
    $26.4 million related to the favorable settlement of certain foreign tax
    exposures.  On an after tax basis, these items resulted in an effect of
    two cents per diluted share.

    Note [d]: Represents a gain recognized on the sale of shares of Universal
    Compression Holdings, Inc., with no related income tax effects.  This gain
    was partially offset by exit costs, restructuring charges and tax expense
    associated with the acquisition of Precision and related activities, debt
    redemption expense incurred with the settlement of the Zero Coupon
    Convertible Debentures, and debt restructuring costs related to our
    investment in Universal Compression Holdings, Inc.  On an after tax basis,
    the net gain approximated $3.5 million, or one cent per diluted share,
    during the year ended December 31, 2005.
SOURCE  Weatherford International Ltd.
    -0-                             01/30/2007
    /CONTACT:  Andrew P. Becnel, Chief Financial Officer of Weatherford
International Ltd., +1-713-693-4136/
    /Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990308/WEATHERFORDLOGO
             PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.weatherford.com /
    (WFT)

CO:  Weatherford International Ltd.
ST:  Texas
IN:  OIL
SU:  ERN CCA

MA-CT
-- DATU017 --
4935 01/30/2007 06:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com