Transocean Ltd. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

by

in

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Three months ended
 
 
 
 

 
December 31, 
 
September 30,
 
Sequential

 
2023
 
2023
 
change

(In millions, except per share amounts and backlog)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contract drilling revenues
$
741
 
 
 
$
713
 
 
 
$
28
 
 

Adjusted contract drilling revenues
$
748
 
 
 
$
721
 
 
 
$
27
 
 

Revenue efficiency
 
97.0
 
%
 
 
95.4
 
%
 
 
1.6
 
%

Operating and maintenance expense
$
569
 
 
 
$
524
 
 
 
$
45
 
 

Net loss attributable to controlling interest
$
(104
)
 
 
$
(220
)
 
 
$
116
 
 

Diluted loss per share
$
(0.13
)
 
 
$
(0.28
)
 
 
$
0.15
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Adjusted EBITDA
$
122
 
 
 
$
162
 
 
 
$
(40
)
 

Adjusted EBITDA margin
 
16.3
 
%
 
 
22.5
 
%
 
 
(6.2
)
%

Adjusted net loss
$
(74
)
 
 
$
(280
)
 
 
$
206
 
 

Adjusted diluted loss per share
$
(0.09
)
 
 
$
(0.36
)
 
 
$
0.27
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Backlog as of the February 2024 Fleet Status Report
$
9.01
 
billion
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, Feb. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:RIG) today reported a net loss attributable to controlling interest of $104 million, $0.13 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth quarter results included net unfavorable items of $30 million, $0.04 per diluted share as follows:

$24 million, $0.03 per diluted share, loss on conversion of debt to equity;
$5 million, $0.01 per diluted share, loss on impairment of our investment in an unconsolidated affiliate; and
$3 million, discrete tax items, net.

These unfavorable items were partially offset by:

$1 million gain on early retirement of debt;
$1 million of other net favorable items.

After consideration of these net unfavorable items, fourth quarter 2023 adjusted net loss was $74 million, $0.09 per diluted share.

Contract drilling revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2023 increased sequentially by $28 million to $741 million due to increased average daily revenue and higher fleet revenue efficiency, as well as increased utilization on four rigs that were undergoing contract preparation and one rig that underwent a special periodic survey in the third quarter. This was partially offset by lower revenue generated by two rigs that were idle and two rigs that were undergoing contract preparation during the fourth quarter.

Contract intangible amortization represented a non-cash revenue reduction of $7 million, compared to $8 million in the prior quarter.

Operating and maintenance expense was $569 million, compared with $524 million in the prior quarter. The sequential increase was primarily due to rigs returning to work after undergoing contract preparation in the prior quarter and higher in-service maintenance costs across our fleet, partially offset by lower activity for two rigs that were idle in the fourth quarter.

After consideration of the fair value adjustment of the bifurcated exchange feature embedded in our 4.625% exchangeable bonds, which was favorable $145 million in the fourth quarter and unfavorable $93 million in the third quarter, interest expense net of amounts capitalized was $142 million, compared with $139 million in the prior period. Interest income was $10 million, compared with $12 million in the previous quarter.

The Effective Tax Rate(2) was (25.0)%, down from 16.3% in the prior quarter. The decrease was primarily due to reduced losses in the current quarter. The Effective Tax Rate excluding discrete items was (30.0)% compared to (8.7)% in the previous quarter.

Cash provided by operating activities was $98 million during the fourth quarter of 2023, representing an increase of $142 million compared to the prior quarter. The sequential increase was primarily due to timing of interest payments and increased collections from customers partially offset by decreased cash collected from, and increased payments to, our unconsolidated affiliates.

Fourth quarter 2023 capital expenditures of $220 million were primarily associated with the newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Aquila. This compares with $50 million in the prior quarter.

“We are very proud of our performance in 2023,” said Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Thigpen. “We added $3.2 billion of backlog in the calendar year, providing additional visibility to future cash flows. In addition to delivering standout personal and process safety results, we finished the year with a company-best 97.6% uptime performance. Notably, we generated these results in a year that included eight large-scale projects, including installation of the 20K BOP on the Deepwater Atlas, the industry’s first eighth-generation drillship, and the timely delivery and commissioning of the Deepwater Titan, our second eighth-generation drillship. Finally, we took delivery of our eighth 1,400 short ton drillship, the Deepwater Aquila.”

Thigpen concluded: “We remain encouraged by the continued tightness in the market and remain focused on delivering value to our shareholders as we progress through what we expect to be a multi-year upcycle.”

Full Year 2023

For the year ended December 31, 2023, net loss attributable to controlling interest totaled $954 million, $1.24 per diluted share. Full year results included $215 million, $0.28 per diluted share, net unfavorable items listed as follows:

$169 million, $0.22 per diluted share, loss on disposal of assets;
$57 million, $0.07 per diluted share, loss on impairment of assets;
$31 million, $0.04 per diluted share, loss on retirement of debt;
$27 million, $0.04 per diluted share, loss on conversion of debt to equity; and
$5 million, $0.01 per diluted share, loss on impairment of our investment in an unconsolidated affiliate; partially offset by,
$74 million, $0.10 per diluted share, related to favorable discrete tax items.

After consideration of these net unfavorable items, adjusted net loss for 2023 was $739 million, $0.96 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present our operating results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). We believe certain financial measures, such as Adjusted Contract Drilling Revenues, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income, which are non-GAAP measures, provide users of our financial statements with supplemental information that may be useful in evaluating our operating performance. We believe that such non-GAAP measures, when read in conjunction with our operating results presented under U.S. GAAP, can be used to better assess our performance from period to period and relative to performance of other companies in our industry, without regard to financing methods, historical cost basis or capital structure. Such non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

All non-GAAP measure reconciliations to the most comparative U.S. GAAP measures are displayed in quantitative schedules on the company’s website at: www.deepwater.com.

About Transocean

Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on ultra-deepwater and harsh environment drilling services, and operates the highest specification floating offshore drilling fleet in the world.

Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 36 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 28 ultra-deepwater floaters and eight harsh environment floaters. In addition, Transocean is constructing one ultra-deepwater drillship.

For more information about Transocean, please visit: www.deepwater.com.

Conference Call Information

Transocean will conduct a teleconference starting at 9 a.m. EST, 3 p.m. CET, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, to discuss the results. To participate, dial +1 785-424-1226 and refer to conference code 932678 approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

The teleconference will be simulcast in a listen-only mode at: www.deepwater.com, by selecting Investors, News, and Webcasts. Supplemental materials that may be referenced during the teleconference will be available at: www.deepwater.com, by selecting Investors, Financial Reports.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 12 p.m. EST, 6 p.m. CET, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The replay, which will be archived for approximately 30 days, can be accessed at +1 402-220-2660, passcode 932678. The replay will also be available on the company’s website.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements described herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements could contain words such as “possible,” “intend,” “will,” “if,” “expect,” or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, estimated duration of customer contracts, contract dayrate amounts, future contract commencement dates and locations, planned shipyard projects and other out-of-service time, sales of drilling units, timing of the company’s newbuild deliveries, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the fluctuation of current and future prices of oil and gas, the global and regional supply and demand for oil and gas, the intention to scrap certain drilling rigs, the success of our business following prior acquisitions, the effects of the spread of and mitigation efforts by governments, businesses and individuals related to contagious illnesses, such as COVID-19, and other factors, including those and other risks discussed in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in the company’s other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at: www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize (or the other consequences of such a development worsen), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which we become aware of, after the date hereof, except as otherwise may be required by law. All non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations to the most comparative GAAP measure are displayed in quantitative schedules on the company’s website at: www.deepwater.com.

This press release, or referenced documents, do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and do not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean.

Notes

(1)
 
Revenue efficiency is defined as actual operating revenues, excluding revenues for contract terminations and reimbursements, for the measurement period divided by the maximum revenue calculated for the measurement period, expressed as a percentage. Maximum revenue is defined as the greatest amount of contract drilling revenues the drilling unit could earn for the measurement period, excluding revenues for incentive provisions, reimbursements and contract terminations. See the accompanying schedule entitled “Revenue Efficiency.”

(2)
 
Effective Tax Rate is defined as income tax expense or benefit divided by income or loss before income taxes. See the accompanying schedule entitled “Supplemental Effective Tax Rate Analysis.”

 
 
 

Analyst Contact:
Alison Johnson
+1 713-232-7214

Media Contact:
Pam Easton
+1 713-232-7647

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In millions, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Years ended December 31, 
 

 
   
2023

 
2022

 
2021

  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contract drilling revenues
 
$
2,832
 
 
$
2,575
 
 
$
2,556
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Costs and expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Operating and maintenance
 
 
1,986
 
 
 
1,679
 
 
 
1,697
 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
 
744
 
 
 
735
 
 
 
742
 
 

General and administrative
 
 
187
 
 
 
182
 
 
 
167
 
 

 
 
 
2,917
 
 
 
2,596
 
 
 
2,606
 
 

Loss on impairment of assets
 
 
(57
)
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Loss on disposal of assets, net
 
 
(183
)
 
 
(10
)
 
 
(62
)
 

Operating loss
 
 
(325
)
 
 
(31
)
 
 
(112
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Other income (expense), net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Interest income
 
 
52
 
 
 
27
 
 
 
15
 
 

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized
 
 
(646
)
 
 
(561
)
 
 
(447
)
 

Gain (loss) on retirement of debt
 
 
(31
)
 
 
8
 
 
 
51
 
 

Other, net
 
 
9
 
 
 
(5
)
 
 
23
 
 

 
 
 
(616
)
 
 
(531
)
 
 
(358
)
 

Loss before income tax expense
 
 
(941
)
 
 
(562
)
 
 
(470
)
 

Income tax expense
 
 
13
 
 
 
59
 
 
 
121
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Net loss
 
 
(954
)
 
 
(621
)
 
 
(591
)
 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
1
 
 

Net loss attributable to controlling interest
 
$
(954
)
 
$
(621
)
 
$
(592
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Loss per share, basic and diluted
 
$
(1.24
)
 
$
(0.89
)
 
$
(0.93
)
 

Weighted-average shares, basic and diluted
 
 
768
 
 
 
699
 
 
 
637
 
 

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share data)
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
December 31, 
 

 
 
2023

 
2022

  

Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
762
 
 
$
683
 
 

Accounts receivable, net
 
 
512
 
 
 
485
 
 

Materials and supplies, net
 
 
426
 
 
 
388
 
 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents
 
 
233
 
 
 
308
 
 

Other current assets
 
 
193
 
 
 
144
 
 

Total current assets
 
 
2,126
 
 
 
2,008
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Property and equipment
 
 
23,875
 
 
 
24,217
 
 

Less accumulated depreciation
 
 
(6,934
)
 
 
(6,748
)
 

Property and equipment, net
 
 
16,941
 
 
 
17,469
 
 

Contract intangible assets
 
 
4
 
 
 
56
 
 

Deferred tax assets, net
 
 
44
 
 
 
13
 
 

Other assets
 
 
1,139
 
 
 
890
 
 

Total assets
 
$
20,254
 
 
$
20,436
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Liabilities and equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Accounts payable
 
$
323
 
 
$
281
 
 

Accrued income taxes
 
 
23
 
 
 
19
 
 

Debt due within one year
 
 
370
 
 
 
719
 
 

Other current liabilities
 
 
681
 
 
 
539
 
 

Total current liabilities
 
 
1,397
 
 
 
1,558
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Long-term debt
 
 
7,043
 
 
 
6,628
 
 

Deferred tax liabilities, net
 
 
540
 
 
 
493
 
 

Other long-term liabilities
 
 
858
 
 
 
965
 
 

Total long-term liabilities
 
 
8,441
 
 
 
8,086
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shares, CHF 0.10 par value, 1,021,294,549 authorized, 142,362,093 conditionally authorized, 843,715,858 issued and 809,030,846 outstanding at December 31, 2023, and 905,093,509 authorized, 142,362,675 conditionally authorized, 797,244,753 issued and 721,888,427 outstanding at December 31, 2022
 
 
81
 
 
 
71
 
 

Additional paid-in capital
 
 
14,544
 
 
 
13,984
 
 

Accumulated deficit
 
 
(4,033
)
 
 
(3,079
)
 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
 
(177
)
 
 
(185
)
 

Total controlling interest shareholders’ equity
 
 
10,415
 
 
 
10,791
 
 

Noncontrolling interest
 
 
1
 
 
 
1
 
 

Total equity
 
 
10,416
 
 
 
10,792
 
 

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
20,254
 
 
$
20,436
 
 

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Years ended December 31, 
 

 
 
2023

 
2022

 
2021

  

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Net loss
 
$
(954
)
 
$
(621
)
 
$
(591
)
 

Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Amortization of contract intangible asset
 
 
52
 
 
 
117
 
 
 
220
 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
 
744
 
 
 
735
 
 
 
742
 
 

Share-based compensation expense
 
 
40
 
 
 
29
 
 
 
28
 
 

Loss on impairment of assets
 
 
57
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Loss on impairment of investment in unconsolidated affiliates
 
 
5
 
 
 

 
 
 
37
 
 

Loss on disposal of assets, net
 
 
183
 
 
 
10
 
 
 
62
 
 

Fair value adjustment to bifurcated compound exchange feature
 
 
127
 
 
 
157
 
 
 

 
 

Amortization of debt-related balances, net
 
 
51
 
 
 
33
 
 
 
25
 
 

(Gain) loss on retirement of debt
 
 
31
 
 
 
(8
)
 
 
(51
)
 

Deferred income tax expense
 
 
18
 
 
 
46
 
 
 
128
 
 

Other, net
 
 
43
 
 
 
44
 
 
 
52
 
 

Changes in deferred revenues, net
 
 
70
 
 
 
(20
)
 
 
(108
)
 

Changes in deferred costs, net
 
 
(190
)
 
 
1
 
 
 
(6
)
 

Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net
 
 
(113
)
 
 
(75
)
 
 
37
 
 

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
164
 
 
 
448
 
 
 
575
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Capital expenditures
 
 
(427
)
 
 
(717
)
 
 
(208
)
 

Investments in equity of unconsolidated affiliates
 
 
(10
)
 
 
(42
)
 
 
(1
)
 

Investment in loans to unconsolidated affiliates
 
 
(3
)
 
 
(5
)
 
 
(33
)
 

Proceeds from disposal of assets, net
 
 
10
 
 
 
7
 
 
 
9
 
 

Proceeds from acquisition of unconsolidated affiliate
 
 
7
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Net cash used in investing activities
 
 
(423
)
 
 
(757
)
 
 
(233
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cash flows from financing activities