Helix Energy Announces Net Loss in 4Q 2012 (USA)

February 21, 2013

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. reported a net loss of $171.6 million, or $(1.64) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with net income of $16.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same period in 2011, and net income of $14.9 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2012.

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $46.3 million, or $(0.44) per diluted share, compared with net income of $129.9 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Fourth quarter 2012 results were impacted by the following items:

– An impairment charge of $157.8 million related to the pending sale of the Caesar and related mobile pipelay equipment.

– An impairment charge of $138.6 million related to the February 2013 sale of our oil and gas business (included in discontinued operations).

– Net realized loss of $3.3 million ($10.5 million loss in continuing operations and $7.2 million gain in discontinued operations) due to the discontinuance of hedge accounting on our commodity contracts as a result of the sale of our oil and gas business.

The above three items resulted in an after-tax impact of $(1.87) per diluted share – $(1.05) per diluted share continuing operations and $(0.82) per diluted share discontinued operations.

Fourth quarter 2012 highlights included:

– In October, entered into an agreement to sell the Caesar, Express, and related equipment for $238 million. Express closing is expected in May and Caesar closing is expected in July.

– In December, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the wholly-owned U.S. oil and gas subsidiary, Energy Resource Technology GOM, Inc. (ERT). The sale closed on February 6, 2013 for $620 million in cash plus future overriding royalties.

Owen Kratz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helix, stated, “The divestiture of our oil and gas business and the pending sale of our pipelay vessels represent watershed events in the development of Helix. We are better positioned to advance our strategy of growing our Well Intervention and Robotics businesses.”

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Press Release, February 21, 2013