HOUSTON, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE:BRS) today reported financial results for its fiscal 2010 first quarter ended June 30, 2009. Highlights include: -- Revenue of $290.5 million, an increase of 2% from the June 2008 quarter and 6% from the March 2009 quarter. -- Operating income of $44.8 million, an increase of 14% from the June 2008 quarter and a decrease of 6% from the March 2009 quarter. -- Net income of $23.7 million, a 5% increase from the June 2008 quarter and an 8% decrease from the March 2009 quarter. -- Diluted earnings per share of $0.66, a decrease versus the June 2008 and March 2009 quarters. -- Net cash generated by operating activities was $35 million in the June 2009 quarter. -- On May 26, 2009, we acquired a 42.5% interest in Lider Aviacao Holding S.A. ("Lider"), the largest provider of helicopter services in Brazil, which contributed $1.3 million to operating income in the June 2009 quarter. -- Our results for the June 2009 quarter were impacted by following significant items: -- An increase in severance costs primarily driven by the departure of an executive officer that resulted in decreases in operating income of $4.2 million, net income of $3.0 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.08. -- Earnings recognized from our investment in Lider that increased operating income by $1.3 million, net income by $0.9 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.03. -- Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which when compared to rates in the June 2008 quarter resulted in decreases in revenue of $35.0 million, operating income of $3.0 million, net income of $3.5 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.10, and when compared to rates in the March 2009 quarter resulted in increases in revenue of $10.8 million and operating income of $2.6 million, but had little impact on net income and diluted earnings per share. -- Items that occurred in the June 2008 quarter which affect the comparability of our financial results include: -- The reorganization of our operations in Mexico that increased operating income by $4.4 million, net income by $3.7 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.12. -- An increase in Australia's compensation costs due to adjustments in employee tax and leave accruals relating to prior periods that resulted in a decrease of operating income of $1.3 million, net income of $0.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.03. -- Inventory charges in the Eastern Hemisphere ("EH") Centralized Operations business unit that decreased operating income by $2.0 million, net income by $1.4 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.04. -- Items that occurred in the March 2009 quarter which affect the comparability of our financial results include: -- The net reduction in expense in Australia upon resolution of a local tax matter, which was partially offset by expense recorded for other local tax matters. These items collectively resulted in an increase in operating income of $1.3 million, net income of $0.8 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.02. -- A reduction in maintenance expense in our EH Centralized Operations business unit associated with a credit resulting from the renegotiation of a "power by the hour" contract for aircraft maintenance with a third party provider, which increased operating income by $6.8 million, net income by $4.4 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.12. -- An increase in our overall effective tax rate to 35.0% resulting from a one time provision for potential foreign taxes and a settlement of tax contingencies related to certain foreign income taxes, which decreased net income by $4.7 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.13. Capital and Liquidity -- At June 30, 2009, key balance sheet items, capital commitments and liquidity sources were: -- $1.3 billion in stockholders' investment and $724 million of indebtedness. -- $138 million in cash and a $100 million undrawn revolving credit facility. -- $169 million in aircraft purchase commitments for 17 aircraft. CEO Remarks "Despite the current global economic situation and the impact on our industry, we are pleased with our June 2009 quarter results as we continue to experience good activity levels in a number of markets including Nigeria, the North Sea and Brazil. In Nigeria, activity levels continue to be strong despite a challenging political environment. In the North Sea, results were strong due to a temporary increase in ad hoc flying and other short-term contracts, as well as improved margins for Bristow Norway. In Brazil, our fiscal first quarter results included a contribution from our recent investment in Lider. Our results for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were comparable to the March 2009 quarter, and were not impacted to the degree that other service companies have experienced. This is driven by our efforts to retain stable pricing and upgrade our fleet to larger, more efficient and more profitable aircraft," said William E. Chiles, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bristow Group. "We continue to operate in a challenging economic and industry environment with significant volatility in energy prices, which has a direct impact on our customers' activity levels and translates into uncertainty in our business. However, we believe we are properly positioned and have the liquidity and financial flexibility to weather this uncertain market," Chiles concluded. CONFERENCE CALL Management will conduct a conference call starting at 10:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 a.m. CDT) on Thursday, August 6, 2009, to review financial results for the June 2009 quarter. The conference call can be accessed as follows: Via Webcast: -- Visit Bristow Group's investor relations Web page at http://www.bristowgroup.com/ -- Live: Click on the link for "Bristow Group Fiscal 2010 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call" -- Replay: A replay via webcast will be available approximately one hour after the call's completion and will be accessible for approximately 90 days Via Telephone within the U.S.: -- Live: Dial toll free (877) 941-8631 -- Replay: A telephone replay will be available through August 20, 2009 and may be accessed by calling toll free (800) 406-7325, passcode: 4114028# Via Telephone outside the U.S.: -- Live: Dial (480) 629-9819 -- Replay: A telephone replay will be available through August 20, 2009 and may be accessed by calling (303) 590-3030, passcode: 4114028# ABOUT BRISTOW GROUP INC. Bristow Group Inc. is a leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry. Through its subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures, the Company has major transportation operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea, and in most of the other major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including Alaska, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway and Trinidad. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.bristowgroup.com/. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLOSURE Statements contained in this news release that state the Company's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the impact of activity levels, commodity prices, market conditions, liquidity and financial flexibility. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Bristow Group Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, including financial estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. (financial tables follow) Beginning in the June 2009 quarter, the following changes in presentation have been reflected: -- Gain on disposal of assets which was previously included within operating expense has been reclassified to be included as a separate line below operating expense, but still within operating income. We believe that this presentation is preferable in order to provide a clearer presentation of our operating expenses. -- Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates which were previously excluded from operating income are now included in this section. We believe that this presentation is preferable as the operations of our unconsolidated affiliates are integral to our operations. -- With respect to our segment information, there is no longer a Southeast Asia business unit. Australia is now a separate business unit and Malaysia, China and Vietnam are now included in the Other International business unit. Additionally, we previously recorded certain cost reimbursement intercompany transactions between the EH Centralized Operations business unit and other business units as intrasegment revenue. We have reclassified these cost reimbursements from revenue to a reduction in expense. -- We adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position ("FSP") Accounting Principles Board 14-1, "Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion." This FSP requires that convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion (including partial cash settlement) be accounted for with a liability component based on the fair value of a similar nonconvertible debt instrument and an equity component based on the excess of the initial proceeds from the convertible debt instrument over the liability component. Such excess represents proceeds related to the conversion option and is recorded as accumulated paid in capital. The liability is recorded at a discount, which is then amortized as additional non-cash interest expense over the convertible debt instrument's remaining life. Additionally, this FSP requires our bifurcation of the debt issuance costs into a component of debt and equity. Our adoption of this FSP has been applied retrospectively to all past periods presented for our 3% Convertible Senior Notes issued in June 2008 which are subject to this FSP. -- We adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements - An Amendment of ARB No. 51," that changed the accounting and reporting for minority interests. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 160, we have presented noncontrolling interest as stockholders' investment on our consolidated balance sheet as of March 31 and June 30, 2009 and presented net income attributable to noncontrolling interests separately on our consolidated statements of income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009. Prior year amounts were previously included in mezzanine stockholders' investment and minority interest expense on our consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income, respectively. In addition to statement of income and segment information for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2009, we have presented in the tables below the revised statements of income and segment information for the quarters ended September 30, 2008, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009 based on this new presentation and the retroactive adoption of the accounting standards discussed above. BRISTOW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended ------------------ June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31, March 31, June 30, 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Gross revenue: Operating revenue from non- affiliates $241,134 $248,526 $236,491 $237,909 $248,891 Operating revenue from affiliates 17,270 18,430 16,792 12,412 14,602 Reimbursable revenue from non- affiliates 24,371 23,208 28,617 23,412 25,853 Reimbursable revenue from affiliates 1,348 1,524 1,087 1,272 1,106 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 284,123 291,688 282,987 275,005 290,452 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Operating expense: Direct cost 186,973 188,393 176,038 166,971 180,677 Reimbursable expense 26,067 24,681 28,689 23,550 26,657 Depreciation and amortization 14,955 15,485 16,663 18,411 18,186 General and administrative 27,206 25,984 25,586 24,880 28,802 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 255,201 254,543 246,976 233,812 254,322 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Gain on disposal of assets 2,665 3,302 37,678 1,660 6,009 Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates, net of losses 7,723 1,971 (1,417) 4,947 2,633 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Operating income 39,310 42,418 72,272 47,800 44,772 Interest income 1,447 3,205 1,087 265 222 Interest expense (8,602) (9,065) (8,276) (9,207) (10,012) Other income (expense), net 1,692 2,070 (1,522) 1,128 (1,481) ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Income before provision for income taxes 33,847 38,628 63,561 39,986 33,501 Provision for income taxes (10,564) (10,069) (15,861) (14,000) (9,510) ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Income from continuing operations 23,283 28,559 47,700 25,986 23,991 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (703) (952) (535) (137) (268) ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Net income from continuing operations attributable to Bristow 22,580 27,607 47,165 25,849 23,723 Discontinued operations: Loss from discontinued operations before provision for income taxes - (379) - - - Provision for income taxes on discontinued operations - 133 - - - --- --- --- --- --- Loss from discontinued operations - (246) - - - --- --- --- --- --- Net income attributable to Bristow 22,580 27,361 47,165 25,849 23,723 Preferred stock dividends (3,162) (3,163) (3,162) (3,163) (3,162) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net income available to common stockholders $19,418 $24,198 $44,003 $22,686 $20,561 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Basic earnings per common share: Earnings from continuing operations $0.78 $0.84 $1.51 $0.78 $0.71 Loss from discontinued operations - (0.01) - - - --- ----- --- --- --- Net earnings $0.78 $0.83 $1.51 $0.78 $0.71 ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== Diluted earnings per common share: Earnings from continuing operations $0.72 $0.77 $1.32 $0.72 $0.66 Loss from discontinued operations - - - - - --- --- --- --- --- Net earnings $0.72 $0.77 $1.32 $0.72 $0.66 ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 24,848 29,085 29,101 29,110 29,133 Diluted 31,552 35,636 35,628 35,748 35,782 BRISTOW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) March 31, June 30, 2009 2009 ---- ---- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $300,969 $138,295 Accounts receivable from non-affiliates 194,030 208,481 Accounts receivable from affiliates 22,644 23,580 Inventories 165,438 184,190 Prepaid expenses and other assets 20,226 58,856 ------ ------ Total current assets 703,307 613,402 Investment in unconsolidated affiliates 20,265 199,734 Property and equipment - at cost: Land and buildings 68,961 75,277 Aircraft and equipment 1,823,011 1,877,295 --------- --------- 1,891,972 1,952,572 Less - Accumulated depreciation and amortization (350,515) (378,846) -------- -------- 1,541,457 1,573,726 Goodwill 44,654 46,808 Other assets 24,888 24,409 ------ ------ $2,334,571 $2,458,079 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' INVESTMENT Current liabilities: Accounts payable $44,892 $61,490 Accrued wages, benefits and related taxes 39,939 28,996 Income taxes payable - 551 Other accrued taxes 3,357 2,654 Deferred revenues 17,593 18,872 Accrued maintenance and repairs 10,317 10,934 Accrued interest 6,434 8,608 Deposits on assets held for sale - 23,764 Other accrued liabilities 20,164 21,545 Deferred taxes 6,195 11,042 Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt 8,948 8,953 ----- ----- Total current liabilities 157,839 197,409 Long-term debt, less current maturities 714,965 714,553 Accrued pension liabilities 81,380 96,384 Other liabilities and deferred credits 16,741 18,061 Deferred taxes 127,266 133,138 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' investment: 5.50% mandatory convertible preferred stock 222,554 222,554 Common stock 291 293 Additional paid-in capital 436,296 439,712 Retained earnings 718,493 739,054 Noncontrolling interests 11,200 11,811 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (152,454) (114,890) -------- -------- 1,236,380 1,298,534 --------- --------- $2,334,571 $2,458,079 ========== ========== BRISTOW GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SELECTED OPERATING DATA (In thousands, except flight hours and percentages) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended ------------------ June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31, March 31, June 30, 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Flight hours (excludes Bristow Academy and unconsolidated affiliates): U.S. Gulf of Mexico 37,639 34,891 25,553 19,603 20,421 Arctic 2,437 3,695 1,279 1,082 2,348 Latin America 8,539 9,595 10,836 9,281 8,586 Europe 10,306 10,265 13,241 13,681 14,855 West Africa 9,598 9,647 9,884 9,898 8,950 Australia 4,040 3,813 3,649 3,585 2,880 Other International 2,895 2,851 2,793 2,235 2,493 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Consolidated total 75,454 74,757 67,235 59,365 60,533 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Gross Revenue: U.S. Gulf of Mexico $61,509 $62,491 $53,695 $45,006 $45,461 Arctic 4,243 6,840 3,005 2,637 4,395 Latin America 20,206 19,051 20,707 20,569 19,559 WH Centralized Operations 2,260 2,909 3,134 (453) 1,485 Europe 95,430 98,303 102,477 105,294 115,043 West Africa 43,300 47,010 50,478 51,639 54,817 Australia 33,113 29,226 25,029 26,433 28,163 Other International 16,788 18,370 17,076 14,636 13,435 EH Centralized Operations 2,315 4,057 2,796 2,966 3,659 Bristow Academy 6,151 5,572 5,563 7,113 7,293 Intrasegment eliminations (1,224) (2,137) (973) (891) (2,860) Corporate 32 (4) - 56 2 --- --- --- --- --- Consolidated total $284,123 $291,688 $282,987 $275,005 $290,452 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Operating income (loss): U.S. Gulf of Mexico $7,989 $8,263 $8,721 $6,732 $6,240 Arctic 519 1,900 184 (5) 605 Latin America 9,701 3,973 5,501 3,903 4,779 WH Centralized Operations (676) 904 (2,509) (4,172) (3,209) Europe 19,466 22,211 13,757 19,811 18,778 West Africa 6,516 8,024 13,167 18,603 14,238 Australia 2,145 (1,218) 2,850 7,068 6,175 Other International 3,298 3,945 5,429 7,257 3,287 EH Centralized Operations (5,422) (2,243) (4,705) (6,622) (2,893) Bristow Academy 546 (159) (168) 534 931 Gain on disposal of assets 2,665 3,302 37,678 1,660 6,009 Corporate (7,437) (6,484) (7,633) (6,969) (10,168) ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- Consolidated total $39,310 $42,418 $72,272 $47,800 $44,772 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Operating margin: U.S. Gulf of Mexico 13.0% 13.2% 16.2% 15.0% 13.7% Arctic 12.2% 27.8% 6.1% -0.2% 13.8% Latin America 48.0% 20.9% 26.6% 19.0% 24.4% Europe 20.4% 22.6% 13.4% 18.8% 16.3% West Africa 15.0% 17.1% 26.1% 36.0% 26.0% Australia 6.5% -4.2% 11.4% 26.7% 21.9% Other International 19.6% 21.5% 31.8% 49.6% 24.5% Bristow Academy 8.9% -2.9% -3.0% 7.5% 12.8% Consolidated total 13.8% 14.5% 25.5% 17.4% 15.4% Linda McNeill, Investor Relations (713) 267-7622 DATASOURCE: Bristow Group Inc. CONTACT: Linda McNeill, Investor Relations, +1-713-267-7622, for Bristow Group Inc. Web Site: http://www.bristowgroup.com/

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