France: BOURBON Reports Improvement in Performance and Results

“The market upturn in 2011 has resulted in early signs of an improvement in BOURBON’s performance and results,” Christian Lefèvre, Chief Executive Officer of BOURBON announced.

“EBITDA was up 24.6% compared with the previous year. This market upturn is more apparent in the deepwater offshore segment where we saw an increase of 4.6 points in utilization rates and 6.1% in prices in the second half. The steady improvement in activity coupled with a more favorable dollar in the second half of 2011 enabled the Group to post positive net income group share for the second half of 2011, at 28.2 million euros. A stable oil price (average of USD 111 per barrel over 2011) encourages investment in the sector and principally in deepwater offshore where the majority of the main discoveries are made. This will have a positive effect on the future prospects for the offshore vessels market and, with its modern and innovative fleet which has an average age of 5.6 years, BOURBON’s performance is likely to improve still further in 2012.”

Revenues in 2011 totaled 1.008 billion euros, up 18.6% compared with the previous year. Marine Services and Subsea Services gained 20.1% and 15.5% respectively, thanks to the expansion of the fleet, the significant increase in utilization rates, especially in shallow water, and to a lesser extent, to the start of an increase in daily rates.

From the 1st to 2nd half of 2011, revenues increased by 8.8% (a total of 525.3 million euros), with Marine Services and Subsea Services growing respectively by 10.8% and 9.8%.

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, revenues for the 2nd half of 2011 were 18.4% higher.

EBITDA in 2011 came to 300.2 million euros, up 24.6% compared with the previous year and significantly higher than the increase in revenues. Profitability measured by the “EBITDA to average capital employed excluding installments” ratio improved by 1 percentage point to 11.5%.

From the 1st to 2nd half of 2011, EBITDA was 11.3% higher and amounted to 158.2 million euros in the 2nd half thanks to the Marine Services Activity (+21.5%).

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, EBITDA in the 2nd half of 2011 was 32.8% higher, mainly thanks to the Marine Services Activity (+38.8%).

EBIT in 2011 was up 59.4% compared with the previous year, at 85.3 million euros, largely thanks to the increase in utilization and daily rates.

From the 1st to 2nd half of 2011, EBIT dipped by 1.9% due to higher depreciations because of the fleet’s expansion, more vessel overhauls and an increase in provisions.

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, EBIT in the 2nd half of 2011 was 140.2% higher at 42.2 million euros. This growth reflects the improvement in EBITDA.

Financial loss in 2011 amounted to a net charge of 71.7 million euros. Compared with 2010, the 10 million euro increase in the cost of net debt, to 64.4 million euros, reflects the higher level of debt and interest rates. Also, significant unrealized profits on financial instruments and differences in foreign exchange had been recorded in 2010.

From the 1st to the 2nd half of 2011, financial loss improved by 53.8 million euros to -8.9 million euros, with the foreign exchange loss of 30.5 million euros in the 1st half being replaced by a gain of 29.2 million euros (of which 8.9 million euros were unrealized gains).

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, financial loss improved by 29.0 million euros, due to two contrasting trends: a 5.8 million euro higher cost of net debt on one hand, and on the other, a 36.9 million euro improvement in foreign exchange differences.

Net income Group share 2011 was positive at 6.8 million euros. This reflects the improvement in utilization rates and is helped by the gradual increase in daily rates although these are still low in comparison with historic rates. The 2010 net income of 39.2 million euros included profits of 31.6 million euros from discontinued operations.

MARINE SERVICES

Results Marine Services     

2011 revenues in Marine Services amounted to 792.9 million euros, up 20.1% compared with 2010, mainly due to the expansion of the fleet (+28 vessels), the strong improvement in utilization rates for shallow water vessels and the rise in daily rates.

From the 1st to the 2nd half of 2011, revenues of 416.8 million euros increased by 10.8%, mainly due to the expansion of the fleet (+12 vessels) and the improvement in utilization and daily rates for deepwater offshore vessels.

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, revenues were 20.8% higher thanks mainly to the expansion of the fleet, the strong improvement in utilization rates of shallow water offshore vessels, and a steady increase in daily rates in all segments.

Compared with the previous year, EBITDA 2011 was up 21% at 221.4 million euros, mainly due to the 31.8 million euro increase in shallow water offshore vessels. Profitability measured by the “EBITDA to average capital employed excluding installments” ratio improved by 0.7 of a percentage point to 10.5%.

From the 1st to the 2nd half of 2011, EBITDA was 21.5% higher, due in particular to the performance of the deepwater offshore vessels.

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, EBITDA for the 2 nd half of 2011 was 33.9 million euros higher thanks to all three segments and particularly the strong growth in shallow water offshore vessels.

Results by segment

Deepwater Offshore vessels          

In 2011, revenues from deepwater offshore vessels came to 318.4 million euros and represented 40% of total Marine Services Activity. In accordance with the strategy that takes into account the risk of over capacity on this segment, BOURBON only took delivery of one vessel in 2011.

Due to the policy of long-term contractualization, the utilization rate remained high at 89.8%.

EBITDA amounted to 110.6 million euros, which is half the total of the Marine Services Activity.

Compared with the previous half, revenues in the 2 nd half of 2011 were up 13.4% thanks to better performance from vessels on the spot market in the North Sea and an increase in rates on the renewal of contracts for PSV. EBITDA was consequently 26.6% higher.

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, revenues were up 9.2% thanks to a new vessel joining the fleet, the improvement in daily rates and to a lesser extent, to better utilization rates.

Shallow water Offshore

In 2011, the revenues realized by shallow water offshore vessels totaled 241.5 million euros, a charp increase (+59.1%) year on year, thanks to 15 vessels joining the fleet, significantly higher utilization rates at 87.5% (+14.3 points) mainly in Brazil, and the start of a general improvement in daily rates. EBITDA more than doubled to 60.3 million euros.

Compared with the previous half, revenues were up 13.1% due to the expansion of the fleet, and EBITDA was 12.2% higher.

Compared with the 2ndhalf of 2010, revenues were some 1.5 times higher at 128.1 million euros, thanks to the expansion of the fleet and the sharp increase in utilization rates (+14.8 points).

EBITDA was 136.7% higher.

Crewboats         

In 2011, revenues from Crewboats came to 233.0 million euros, 16.6% higher thanks to the expansion of the fleet (+14 vessels) and an increase in daily rates. EBITDA amounted to 50.5 million euros, up only 9.4% due to higher costs in the first half.

Compared with the previous half, revenues were up 5.1% at 119.4 million euros due to the fleet’s expansion and slightly higher daily rates. EBITDA was up by 22.3%, at 27.8 million euros, thanks to the improvement in revenues and better cost control in the 2 nd half.

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, revenues were up 13.7% thanks to the fleet’s expansion and the upturn in daily rates. EBITDA was 19.8% higher.

SUBSEA SERVICES

In 2011, Subsea Services revenues amounted to 172.8 million euros, up 15.5% compared with the previous year, due to the full-year contribution of the biggest vessel in the fleet and the rise in the utilization rate which amounted to 93.2% on average over the year. EBITDA increased by 27.9% to 67.5 million euros thanks to the increase in revenues, to a strong utilization rate and to the contribution of integrated services contracts including two WorkROVs from the BOURBON fleet.

Compared with the 1st half of 2011, revenues increased by 9.8% due to a new IMR vessel and two ROVs, as well as the renewal of existing contracts in the fourth quarter. EBITDA nevertheless decreased slightly after the very good performance in the previous half, but the EBITDA/revenues ratio remained high.

Compared with the 2nd half of 2010, revenues increased by 10.6%, following the entry of a new IMR vessel into the fleet and the renewal of existing contracts during the year. EBITDA increased by 17.7%, helped by good cost control and a 1.4 percentage point improvement in utilization rates.

OTHER

The “Other” category mainly includes the activity of the cement carrier, Endeavor, and externally chartered offshore vessels as well as items not included in the two other Activities.

OUTLOOK

Increased demand for offshore service vessels should continue in the coming years. Significant investments by oil and gas clients and their 4-year prospects have been scaled up. The outlook for a greater number of active drilling rigs and the contractor’s strong order books confirm the sharp market rebound.

Clients will continue to favor innovative, high-productivity vessels, which is where BOURBON’s fleet of vessels is particularly appreciated. The process of replacing older vessels (deemed obsolete) on the market is set to gather pace to meet the increasingly stringent demands of oil and gas companies in terms of “risk management”. In 2012, BOURBON will take delivery of 41 new vessels.

As regards the increase forecast in utilization rates for offshore vessels and their daily rates, the market is anticipating an ongoing improvement in 2012 compared with 2011.

Due to its unique positioning, its comprehensive range of services, the quality of its fleet and the competency of its employees, BOURBON will continue to reap the full benefit of this improvement in the market.

BOURBON set up €/US$ hedging contracts to cover the entirety of its estimated EBITDA exposure in 2012. These dollar forward sales were made at an average exchange rate of €1 = US$1.3070.

About BOURBON

BOURBON offers oil & gas companies with the most demanding requirements a comprehensive range of surface and subsea marine services for offshore oil & gas fields and wind farms, based on an extensive range of latest-generation vessels. The Group provides a local service through its 27 operating subsidiaries, close to clients and their operations, and it guarantees the highest standards of service quality and safety worldwide.

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Subsea World News Staff , March 08, 2012;  Image: Bourbon