BackAhead of the scheduled FY2013 earnings announcement¹, SBM Offshore announces²:
Highlights
- Production Acceptance Notice of Deep Panuke following debottlenecking
- Company-wide review of decommissioning provisions and vessel values leading to non-cash charges of US$160 million
- Sale and lease back transactions for two of three Monaco offices agreed with proceeds exceeding US$100 million
- Anticipation of FY2013 IFRS revenue of approximately US$4.6billion, compared to guidance of US$4.3 billion
Bruno Chabas, CEO of SBM Offshore commented: “From a difficult start, 2013 has been a year of achievements. As we close, we are updating the market on further steps that mark SBM Offshore’s progress and our determination to manage our business rigorously and efficiently.
We are pleased to announce that the Deep Panuke facility has received Production Acceptance Notice and is formally on hire. This has been a tough project, but its delivery reflects the advances we have made. Today, SBM Offshore focuses on what the client wants and delivers it. This is a significant factor in the progress being made across our project portfolio, as reflected by today’s increased 2013 IFRS revenue guidance.
We have recently concluded a Company-wide review of decommissioning provisions and vessel values. As a matter of prudent accounting, this will result in certain non-cash charges. Even so, the Company will return a positive IFRS net income for 2013 and remains firmly within its covenants.”
Decommissioning Review
With the upcoming expiration of contracts for FPSO Kuito and FPSO Brasil, the Company has undertaken the reassessment of decommissioning costs for both vessels. The expected costs associated with removing the vessels from service have proven higher than earlier estimates. As a consequence, a Company-wide review was conducted in Q4 to reassess decommissioning expenses of all other vessels, resulting in a charge to income of approximately US$40 million.
Residual Value of Laid-Up Vessels
Within SBM Offshore’s fleet, the FPSO Falcon and VLCC Alba have been laid up since 2009, and 2011, respectively. Due to more stringent requirements regarding the use of single hull vessels with limited storage capacity, the estimated recoverable amount under current market conditions is considerably lower than the carrying value. This will result in non-cash charges of approximately US$55 million in the second half of 2013.
Thunderhawk
Thunderhawk, a semisubmersible production facility in the US Gulf of Mexico, is the only facility in SBM Offshore’s Lease fleet portfolio which bears exposure to reservoir risk. It started operations in 2009. On production trends from current reserves, and projections from planned new fields, total deliverable volumes will be insufficient to sustain the asset’s current book value. As a result, the carrying value of the facility has been written down by approximately US$65 million.
Deep Panuke
The Company is pleased to announce that the team has completed the debottlenecking process, brought the platform to full production capacity safely and has received Production Acceptance Notice (PAN) from the client. The platform is currently on hire and generating full day rate as per contractual commitments. A charge of approximately US$5 million in connection with the final commissioning will be taken in the second half of 2013.
Divestment Update
The sale and lease back of real estate in Monaco continues to progress well. The Company is pleased to report sale and lease back transactions for two of three buildings. The remaining building is now expected to be sold in 2014. Sales proceeds thus far exceed US$100 million, resulting in a book profit of approximately US$30 million.
FY2013 IFRS Revenue Guidance
As the Company nears its fiscal year end, management anticipates FY2013 IFRS revenue of approximately US$4.6 billion. This represents an increase to prior IFRS revenue guidance of US$300 million, driven by the Turnkey segment.
Today’s announced write-downs and charges are predominantly non-cash items. Despite all the provisions and impairments taken throughout the year, the Company continues to anticipate positive IFRS net income in FY2013 and to remain securely within its covenants.
Conference Call
SBM Offshore’s management will host a conference call followed by a Q&A session at 7:30AM Central European Time on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 to further discuss today’s announcement. Interested parties are invited to listen to the call by dialing +31 20 794 8484 in the Netherlands,+44 207 190 1590 in the UK or +1 480 629 9856 in the US, using access code: 4657361.
1 all numbers unaudited
2 updates reflect recent events and insights acquired since the publication of 1H13 results
