HOUSTON, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD), an international provider of rental tools and drilling services to the energy industry, today reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, including net income of $8.0 million and $0.07 per diluted share on revenues of $237.8 million.  These results include non-routine expenses of $5.2 million associated with a July debt refinancing and $4.8 million related to the April acquisition of International Tubular Services Limited (ITS).  Excluding these non-routine expenses, the Company earned net income of $14.5 million and $0.12 per diluted share, compared with similarly adjusted 2013 second quarter net income of $17.3 million and $0.14 per diluted share, on revenues of $226.0 million.  Adjusted EBITDA, excluding non-routine expenses, was $74.5 million, compared with $71.4 million for the preceding quarter.

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"Our recent operating results demonstrate the strengthening of our business and the effects of our operating strategy.  The third quarter's results reflect operational gains in several areas, most notably in international drilling; our management of the continued challenges in the U.S. land drilling market for rental tools; and our strategic response to seasonal conditions in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico barge drilling market," said Gary Rich, president and chief executive officer.  "In addition, we made great progress integrating the recent ITS acquisition, achieving long-lasting business synergies and improved financial performance.

"Building on our success in prior quarters, we raised average utilization of our international rig fleet to 70 percent from 53 percent in the 2013 second quarter.  We continue to work on improvements in fleet utilization and made significant progress in deploying our rig fleet into markets with potential for sustainable, profitable activity.

"Our U.S. Rental Tools business increased its gross margin percentage despite a decline in revenues, compared with the prior quarter.  The business benefitted from its growing presence in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling market while it continued to manage the challenges of the soft U.S. land drilling market, balancing long-term customer retention and competitive pricing.  

"In response to a typical storm season-related slowdown in barge drilling demand, our Gulf of Mexico barge drilling business conducted dry dock overhaul and maintenance work on three barge drilling rigs during the third quarter, preparing them for sustained work in this durable market.

"Our results also demonstrate the progress we made in the past year becoming a more focused and effective business operation.  We achieved important benefits from our rental tools business due to the acquisition of ITS, from our U.S. Barge Drilling segment with higher average dayrates, from our U.S drilling operations with the successful start-up of our new arctic-class rigs, and from increased international drilling utilization as we redeployed and reengaged much of our rig fleet," Mr. Rich added.

Third Quarter Highlights

• Rig fleet utilization for International Drilling increased as a result of recent success in contracting previously idle rigs, including two each in Kazakhstan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; and one each in Indonesia and Sakhalin, Russia.
• U.S. rental tools' revenues from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling market increased 14 percent from the prior quarter as a result of the growing demand in this expanding market.
• ITS gross margin as a percentage of revenues increased to 23.3 percent, from 21.4 percent in the 2013 second quarter as it gained momentum in key commercial markets following the acquisition in April.
• The integration of ITS has been substantially completed, including extensive compliance reviews and post-acquisition assimilation, at a cost of $4.8 million in the 2013 third quarter. We expect a smaller amount of further costs as we finish these activities.
• In July, we issued $225 million of 7.5% Senior Notes, due in 2020, primarily to refinance the term loan that enabled the ITS acquisition. The refinancing provided a lower borrowing rate and staggered our debt maturities.

Outlook

"We are encouraged by recent forecasts of long term economic and industry trends, supporting demand growth in some of our key markets and the need for the innovative, reliable and efficient products and services we provide.  In the more immediate future, we expect our rental tools segment to benefit from further growth of its international operations and its expanded presence in the growing Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling market.  This may be tempered by effects of continued softness in U.S. land drilling markets.  We expect drilling demand in the Gulf of Mexico's inland waters to improve from current levels and support solid results from our barge drilling business.  Our success in securing continued work for our international rig fleet will determine our ability to maintain and build on the contributions from this business.  We expect tender activity and contract renewals to provide ample opportunities to recontract rigs as they come to term, as well as further strengthen our international drilling rig fleet utilization. 

"We continue to make progress in strengthening our business and ability to meet the needs of our customers. We see many opportunities ahead and remain focused on delivering reliable performance and value to our stakeholders," Mr. Rich concluded.

Third Quarter Review

Parker Drilling's revenues for the 2013 third quarter, compared with the 2013 second quarter, increased 5 percent to $237.8 million from $226.0 million, segment gross margin increased to $84.0 million from $82.5 million and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues declined to 35.3 percent from 36.5 percent. (Segment gross margin excludes depreciation and amortization expense).

• Rental Tools segment revenues were $89.6 million, segment gross margin was $40.9 million and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 45.6 percent.  Compared with the 2013 second quarter, revenues increased 9 percent, segment gross margin increased 7 percent, and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues declined.  Segment results reflect the impact of the April 2013 acquisition of ITS.  This led to an increase in revenues and segment gross margin and a decline in segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues, compared to the 2013 second quarter.  The U.S. rental tools business achieved an increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenues despite a moderate decline in revenues as the effects of growth in the expanding Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling market counterbalanced the impact of continued softness in the U.S. land drilling market.  International rental tools achieved an increase in revenues, gross margin and gross margin as a percentage of revenues as the ITS business gained momentum in key commercial markets following the acquisition in April.    
• U.S. Barge Drilling segment revenues were $33.9 million, segment gross margin was $15.8 million, and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 46.6 percent. Compared with the 2013 second quarter, revenues declined 11 percent, segment gross margin decreased 21 percent, and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues declined. Anticipating lower utilization as the Gulf of Mexico's storm season advanced into its historically more intense period, we scheduled three barge rigs for maintenance and dry dock work during the 2013 third quarter. As a result, average rig fleet utilization was 88 percent, less than the prior period's 100 percent level.
• U.S. Drilling segment revenues were $18.7 million, segment gross margin was $3.9 million and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 20.9 percent. Compared with the 2013 second quarter, revenues increased 4 percent, segment gross margin increased 7 percent, and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues increased. The segment recorded its second quarter of full operation for the two arctic-class drilling rigs in Alaska and the O&M contract in California and continues to deliver results consistent with the growing operating experience and performance record of these assets.
• International Drilling segment revenues were $88.6 million, segment gross margin was $23.2 million, and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 26.3 percent. Compared with the 2013 second quarter, revenues increased 6 percent, segment gross margin increased 14 percent and segment gross margin as a percentage of revenues increased. During the 2013 third quarter, international rig fleet utilization rose as a result of successes in contracting previously idle rigs into targeted growth markets. Commencing work under these new contracts was the primary contributor to the increase in revenues and gross margin.
• Technical Services segment revenues were $7.0 million and segment gross margin was $0.2 million. Compared with the 2013 second quarter, both revenues and segment gross margin rose, the result of an increase in project-related activity.

The decline in general and administrative expense, to $14.2 million for the 2013 third quarter, from $22.4 million for the prior quarter, was primarily due to the reduction in expenses associated with the acquisition and integration of ITS.  Debt extinguishment expense associated with a July debt refinancing and related higher interest expense due to increased borrowings reduced pre-tax income by approximately $7.0 million. Capital expenditures were $39.3 million for the 2013 third quarter, and $102.9 million for the first nine months of the year. 

Conference Call

Parker Drilling has scheduled a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Central time (11:00 a.m. Eastern time) on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, to review reported results.  The call will be available by telephone at (480) 629-9818.  The call can also be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.  A replay of the call can be accessed on the Company's website for 12 months and will be available by telephone from November 6 through November 13 at (303) 590-3030, using the access code 4645655#.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical facts that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about anticipated future financial or operational results; the outlook for rig utilization and dayrates; general industry conditions such as the demand for drilling and the factors affecting demand; competitive advantages such as technological innovation; future operating results of the Company's rigs, rental tools operations and projects under management; capital expenditures; expansion and growth opportunities; acquisitions or joint ventures; asset sales; successful negotiation and execution of contracts; scheduled delivery of drilling rigs for operation; the strengthening of the Company's financial position; increases in market share; outcomes of legal proceedings and investigations; compliance with credit facility and indenture covenants; and similar matters. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Although the Company believes that its expectations stated in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks relating to changes in worldwide economic and business conditions that could adversely affect market conditions, fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices that could reduce the demand for drilling services, changes in laws or government regulations that could adversely affect the cost of doing business, our ability to refinance our debt and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected as described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K and other public filings and press releases. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Description

Parker Drilling (NYSE: PKD) provides rental tools and contract drilling services to the energy industry. The Company's rental tools business supplies premium equipment and well services to operators on land and offshore in the U.S. and international markets.  The Company's drilling services business serves operators in the inland waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico utilizing Parker's barge rig fleet and in select international markets and harsh-environment regions utilizing Parker-owned and customer-owned equipment. More information about Parker Drilling can be found on the Company's website at www.parkerdrilling.com.

SOURCE Parker Drilling Company