HOUSTON, Feb. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) today reported results for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, including a net loss of $35.6 million, or $(0.29) per share, on revenues of $148.7 million.

The net loss included the following pre-tax charges:

* $6.1 million of asset and inventory write-offs, which include $4.8 million to reduce the carrying value of two rigs and $1.3 million in inventory writedowns, related to the Company's decision to no longer provide its drilling services in Colombia;

* $4.3 million of non-cash charges to increase the provision for the reduction in carrying value of certain drilling-related assets; and,

* $4.8 million loss associated with the sale of the Company's investment in a joint venture.

Excluding these pre-tax charges, the adjusted net loss was $23.3 million, or $(0.19) per share.

Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $28.6 million, compared with $35.4 million for the preceding quarter.

Gary Rich, the Company's Chairman, President and CEO said, "Cost reductions, particularly those implemented in the second half of the year, resulted in fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA that was slightly higher than we anticipated despite a 14 percent sequential decline in revenues. We experienced activity declines across all three segments as low commodity prices continued to curtail customer activity across multiple geographic markets.

2015 Summary

"In 2015, we successfully accomplished several initiatives aimed at navigating this difficult operating environment. We lowered our cost base through headcount reductions and minimized rig-related costs, maintained our working capital diligence, reduced capital expenditures and, where possible, sustained utilization and market share.

"We further strengthened our financial position by reducing our total debt by $30 million during the year and enhanced our liquidity and financial flexibility by increasing our revolver capacity. By efficiently managing our cash receipts and spending, we ended the year with a cash balance of $134 million and an undrawn revolver. Our total liquidity as of December 31, 2015 was approximately $322 million as compared with approximately $178 million at December 31, 2014.

"From an operational perspective, our U.S. rental tools business outperformed the U.S. rig count as we maintained share and grew our Gulf of Mexico footprint. While the U.S. rig count declined 47 percent in 2015, our U.S. rental tools revenue was 37 percent lower. In addition, we increased gross margin as a percentage of revenue in our international rental tools business despite lower revenue as we inserted new management, consolidated and closed locations, reduced headcount, and improved the management of our supply chain.

"Going forward, we believe rig utilization and pricing will continue to come under pressure, especially as the deteriorating market fundamentals impact our international drilling customers. We also think the lower U.S. rig count will further impact utilization and pricing for our rental tools. In response, we will maintain our focus on managing our cash flows. As part of that strategy, our 2016 capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $50 million as compared with $88 million in 2015."

Fourth Quarter Review

Parker Drilling's revenues for the 2015 fourth quarter, compared with the 2015 third quarter, decreased 14.2 percent to $148.7 million from $173.4 million, operating gross margin excluding depreciation and amortization expense (gross margin) decreased 22.7 percent to $34.3 million from $44.4 million and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 23.1 percent, compared with 25.6 percent for the prior period.

Drilling Services

For the Company's Drilling Services business, which is comprised of the U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling and International & Alaska Drilling segments, revenues declined 15.1 percent to $99.0 million from $116.6 million, gross margin decreased 24.6 percent to $20.5 million from $27.2 million, and gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 20.7 percent, compared with 23.3 percent for the prior period.

U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling

U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling segment revenues were $3.5 million, a 41.7 percent decrease from 2015 third quarter revenues of $6.0 million. Gross margin was a $2.2 million loss as compared with a 2015 third quarter gross margin loss of $1.9 million. The declines in revenues and margin were primarily the result of lower utilization, partially offset by lower costs.

International & Alaska Drilling

International & Alaska Drilling segment revenues were $95.5 million, a 13.7 percent decrease from 2015 third quarter revenues of $110.7 million. Gross margin was $22.6 million, a 22.3 percent decrease from 2015 third quarter gross margin of $29.1 million. Gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 23.7 percent as compared with 26.3 percent in the 2015 third quarter. The decrease in revenues is primarily attributable to lower Latin America rig utilization and project services activities, partially offset by lower operating costs.

Rental Tools Services

Rental Tools segment revenues were $49.8 million, a 12.3 percent decrease from 2015 third quarter revenues of $56.8 million. Gross margin was $13.8 million, a 19.8 percent decrease from 2015 third quarter gross margin of $17.2 million. Gross margin as a percentage of revenues was 27.7 percent as compared with 30.3 percent in the 2015 third quarter. Reduced revenues and gross margin were primarily due to the continued decline in U.S. land drilling activity, as well as lower activity in certain international markets.

General and Administrative expense decreased to $6.9 million for the 2015 fourth quarter, from $8.9 million for the 2015 third quarter.

The Company's effective tax rate in the fourth quarter was 7%, primarily due to discrete items as well as receiving no tax benefit from certain charges incurred during the quarter.

Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter were $15.7 million, and were $88.2 million for 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 Thursday, February 18, 2016, to review reported results.  The call will be available by telephone at (888) 510-1785, access code 2054769.  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 February 18, 2016 through February 25, 2016 at (888) 203-1112, access code 2054769#.

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 rental tools utilization and rig utilization and dayrates; the results of past capital expenditures; scheduled start-ups of rigs; 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; future capital expenditures; expansion and growth opportunities; acquisitions or joint ventures; asset sales; successful negotiation and execution of contracts; scheduled delivery of drilling rigs or rental equipment for operation; the strengthening of the Company's financial position; increases in utilization or market share; outcomes of legal proceedings; 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 reasonable, 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, fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices, compliance with existing laws and changes in laws or government regulations, the failure to realize the benefits of, and other risks relating to, acquisitions, the risk of cost overruns, our ability to refinance our debt and other important factors, many of which could adversely affect market conditions, demand for our services, and costs, and all or any one of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For more information, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 provides drilling services and rental tools to the energy industry. The Company's Drilling Services business serves operators in the inland waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico utilizing Parker Drilling's barge rig fleet and in select international markets and harsh-environment regions utilizing Parker-owned and customer-owned equipment. The Company's Rental Tools Services business supplies premium equipment and well services to operators on land and offshore in the U.S. and international markets.  More information about Parker Drilling can be found on the Company's website at www.parkerdrilling.com.

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SOURCE Parker Drilling Company