Weatherford Reports Fourth Quarter and 2013 Annual Results

GENEVA, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE/Euronext Paris/SIX: WFT) reported net income of $53 million ($0.07 diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis), before charges, on revenues of $3.74 billion for the fourth quarter of 2013. For the year ended December 31, 2013, Weatherford reported full-year net income, before charges, of $463 million ($0.60 diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis) on revenues of $15.26 billion.

Fourth Quarter 2013 Highlights

• Successful remediation of the long standing material weakness in income tax accounting;
• Reduction in net debt by $687 million;
• Positive free cash flow generation of $298 million (sequential improvement of $337 million), driven primarily by a reduction in working capital; and
• Completion of the sale of our equity investment in Borets for $400 million and collection of cash proceeds of $359 million in the fourth quarter.

Bernard J. Duroc-Danner, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "While the fourth quarter results were disappointing, Weatherford is now actively engaged in transforming itself into a lean, deleveraged and focused organization going into 2014. Over the last few years, we have been consumed with remediating the material weakness in our tax accounting and managing several governmental investigations. Now that we have both of these distractions behind us, we can focus fully on the future. We have defined three initiatives that will transform Weatherford.

• We will divest our non-core businesses. In the second half of 2013, we identified several non-core businesses that Weatherford had accumulated over the years that are not part of our future growth strategy. These included four businesses: pipeline and specialty services, testing and production services, drilling fluids and wellheads. We have focused teams working on each of the four divestitures and we expect to complete the cash sale of each business by the end of 2014. In addition to these four businesses, the IPO or spin-off of our land drilling rig business is expected to take place in Q4 2014 or Q1 2015. The cash proceeds from these transactions will be used to pay down debt. Finally, we expect to complete our legacy loss contracts in Iraq during 2014 and exit the early production facility ("EPF") business for good.
   
• We will reduce our cost base of our remaining core businesses, which includes our recently announced plan to reduce our worldwide employee headcount by 7,000 during the first half of this year with targeted annualized cost savings of $500 million. We have made significant progress on this front with 6,192 positions already identified for termination starting the end of the first quarter with estimated annualized cost savings of $466 million. There are other areas of cost reductions which will come from shutting down marginal business presence in certain markets that are uneconomic and drain cash. This effort is not expected to result in Weatherford's exit from any country as a whole and is not anticipated to materially reduce our infrastructure footprint.
   
• The third element of our transformation is linked to the first two. Once we divest the non-core businesses and reduce our remaining cost base, the entire management team will refocus on growing the core businesses retained by Weatherford and doing so at attractive cash incremental returns. The core includes well construction, formation evaluation, completion, stimulation and artificial lift. These businesses have good margins and did so even in 2013. The overall 2013 operating income margin (before R&D and corporate expenses) was 11.2%. The operating income margin for our core businesses was 16.3% compared to a negative operating income margin of (6.9)% for the non-core businesses. Excluding the impact of the U.S. pressure pumping business, the core businesses generated an operating income margin of 18.9% in 2013. These businesses have good capital intensity and capital return characteristics and we believe in their future. The U.S. pressure pumping business is being re-engineered and repaired and, with emerging market conditions, we should be able to improve our performance in this business in 2014.

In summary, Weatherford is committed to transforming itself in 2014 to emerge as a leaner, more efficient and stronger company, with high margin core product lines, strategically positioned and focused on growing them. We are also committed to deleveraging the company through a combination of proceeds from divestitures and internally generated cash flow as quickly and as much as we can. Our medium-term objective is a 25% debt to capitalization ratio.

My entire management team and I are determined to make the above happen. Our direction is clear. Execution is our single minded focus."

Fourth Quarter 2013 Results

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $3.74 billion compared with $3.82 billion in the third quarter of 2013 and $4.06 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2013, before charges, was $53 million compared to $177 million in the third quarter of 2013 and $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The sequential decline in earnings was driven by:

• Extreme weather conditions in North America, Russia and the North Sea, adversely affecting activity;
• Operational disruptions in the Middle East;
• Capital discipline driven activity reductions in Latin America; and
• A higher than normal tax rate of 45%, which included certain items that are expected to benefit future tax charges.

Reported net income on a GAAP basis for the fourth quarter of 2013 was a net loss of $271 million, or ($0.35) per diluted share. After-tax charges for the fourth quarter of $324 million included:

• $171 million, net of tax, associated with our legacy lump sum contracts in Iraq;
• $96 million, net of tax, for charges related to the exchange of some of our Venezuela accounts receivable for bonds that were subsequently monetized and other accounts receivable write-offs;
• $57 million, net of tax, in severance, exit and other charges.

Regional Highlights

•    North America

North America revenues for the fourth quarter were $1.57 billion, down 2% sequentially and down 7% from the same quarter in the prior year. North America revenue decreased sequentially due to lower activity in the U.S. markets from severe weather disruptions impacting most of our service product lines. Product sales from the Artificial Lift and Completion product lines improved sequentially. Fourth quarter operating income was flat sequentially at $216 million (13.7% margin) despite the decline in revenues, and down $10 million, or 4%, from the same quarter in the prior year.

•    Middle East/North Africa/Asia Pacific

Fourth quarter revenues of $821 million were up $2 million sequentially, and down $30 million, or 4%, from the same quarter in the prior year. The current quarter's operating income of $50 million (6.1% margin) decreased $19 million, or 28%, sequentially and decreased 14% from the same quarter in the prior year. Short-term operational disruptions in the Middle East during the fourth quarter impacted our sequential operating income, primarily in the Land Rig Drilling and Well Construction product lines.

•    Europe/Sub-Sahara Africa/Russia

Fourth quarter revenues of $688 million were flat sequentially and 3% higher than the same quarter in the prior year. The sequential revenues were impacted by seasonal disruptions in Russia and the North Sea, which were offset by improvements in other parts of Europe and Sub-Sahara Africa. The current quarter's operating income of $47 million (6.8% margin) decreased $56 million, or 54%, sequentially and declined 20% when compared to the same quarter in the prior year. Impacting the fourth quarter operating income is a reduction in the equity earnings of our investment in Borets that was sold early in the fourth quarter.

•     Latin America

Fourth quarter revenues of $657 million were down $56 million, or 8%, sequentially, and down $199 million, or 23%, compared to the same quarter in the prior year. The decline in revenue in the fourth quarter was largely related to capital discipline driven reductions in certain markets. The fourth quarter's operating income of $62 million (9.4% margin) was down $53 million, or 46%, lower sequentially and $63 million, or 50%, lower than the same quarter in the prior year. These deteriorations are consistent with the decline in revenues and driven mainly by our decision to reduce activity in certain markets and refocus on cash-driven growth opportunities elsewhere in the region. This decision resulted in lower activity for the Formation Evaluation, Stimulation and Artificial Lift product lines.

Liquidity and Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow improved by $337 million sequentially, driven by improvements in working capital as accounts receivable and inventory balances declined during the fourth quarter. Capital expenditures, net of lost-in-hole, increased 3% sequentially and declined 29% compared to the same quarter in the prior year. Inventory levels were down for the third consecutive quarter and contracted 6% sequentially. Days sales in inventory decreased to 80 days from 83 days in the prior quarter and was down seven  days compared to the same quarter in the prior year. Days sales outstanding decreased seven days sequentially and compared to the same quarter in the prior year as all regions saw improvements in collections during the fourth quarter. Overall, working capital days were down 14 days for the year.

Income Tax Material Weakness Remediation

During 2013, we completed the remediation of our material weakness in financial reporting for income taxes and concluded that our internal controls are effective. We will continue to focus on maintaining the system of internal controls that was developed and implemented over the last three years and make enhancements as necessary.

Outlook

In 2014, we remain focused on achieving a step change in profitability by:

• Focusing the organization on growing our core businesses;
• Making our cost base more efficient;
• Divesting our non-core businesses and reducing our net debt.

We have completed the initial phase of our cost reduction initiatives and have identified 6,192 positions for our reduction in workforce, with expected annualized cost savings of $466 million. This reduction remains on track to be completed during the first half of 2014. Our strategic business reviews of operations that do not have critical mass, are currently unprofitable and are a drain on our cash flow are well underway. We expect to begin eliminating select operations identified during these reviews in the second quarter of 2014. We expect these actions will bring additional costs savings, both in the form of headcount reductions and other savings. These additional headcount reductions will enable us to deliver fully on the 7,000 reduction target and approach the $500 million annualized cost savings targeted previously.

In 2014, we expect revenue growth in North America, Europe/Sub Sahara Africa/Russia and Middle East/North Africa/Asia Pacific regions while Latin America is expected to decline year over year. Overall margins will improve with lower costs and the growth in our more profitable core businesses. Based on our current activity profile, and inclusive of the already identified and expected benefits from the cost reduction actions outlined above, we reiterate our most recent guidance and expect 2014 earnings per share (non-GAAP) to range between $1.10 and $1.20. Our effective tax rate is forecasted to be between 25% and 35% and will depend on the geographical mix of earnings going forward. Capital expenditure for 2014 is targeted at 8% of revenue. The continued focus on reducing working capital coupled with improved earnings is expected to generate positive free cash flow of approximately $500 million for the year. Given these targets and the divestiture program, we expect net debt to approach $7 billion by the end of the year.

Retirement of Board Member

The Company announces the retirement of former Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady, from its Board of Directors. Mr. Brady's decision is due to his numerous commitments which encumber his ability to be present at overseas Board meetings.

Mr. Brady has been a Director since 2004. He joined the Board of Directors during a time when the Company was in full development and established a large international presence. Later, Mr. Brady further helped lead the Company through its most challenging years. His adept leadership and considerable experience have contributed fundamentally in guiding the Company on its transformational path.

The entire Company and its Board of Directors sincerely thank Mr. Brady for his dedicated and distinguished tenure at Weatherford. He has been a trusted colleague and adviser whose input and sound direction were invaluable.

Non-GAAP Performance Measures

Unless explicitly stated to the contrary, all performance measures used throughout this document are non-GAAP. Corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures have been provided in the following pages to offer meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior periods.

About Weatherford

Weatherford is a Swiss-based, multinational oilfield service company. It is one of the largest global providers of technology and services for the oil and gas industry. Weatherford operates in over 100 countries, and employs over 67,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.weatherford.com

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the quarterly results on February 26, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. eastern standard time (EST), 7:30 a.m. central standard time (CST). Weatherford invites investors to listen to the call live via the Company's website, www.weatherford.com in the Investor Relations section. A recording of the conference call and transcript of the call will be available in that section of the website shortly after the call ends.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, and the conference call announced in this release may include, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, the Company's non-GAAP earnings per share and the size, timing and benefits of the reduction in workforce, and are also generally identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "budget," "intend," "strategy," "plan," "guidance," "may," "should," "could," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs of Weatherford's management, and are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements. Readers are also cautioned that forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to the Company's ability to implement workforce reductions in various geographies; possible changes in the size and components of the expected costs and charges associated with the workforce reduction; and risks associated with the Company's ability to achieve the benefits of the planned workforce reduction. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and those set forth from time-to-time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). We undertake no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required under federal securities laws.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Weatherford International Ltd.