Tidewater reports a red ink quarter

Offshore service vessel giant Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW) reported a second quarter net loss for the period ended September 30, 2011, of $4.9 million, or $0.09 per share, on revenues of $250.9 million. For the same quarter last year, net earnings were $19.4 million, or $0.38 per share, on revenues of $267.1 million. The immediately preceding quarter ended June 30, 2011, had net earnings of $24.6 million, or $0.48 per common share, on revenues of $254.6 million.

The second quarter net loss includes a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $30.9 million ($22.1 million after tax, or $0.43 per share), resulting from the company’s decision to change its reportable segments during the September 2011 quarter. Following the change in reportable segments from International and United States to Americas, Asia/Pacific, Middle East/North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa/Europe, the company performed an interim goodwill impairment assessment which resulted in the non-cash goodwill impairment charge.

Included in the prior fiscal year’s net earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, was a $4.35 million ($4.35 million after-tax, or $0.09 per common share) charge included in general and administrative expenses related to the settlement with the United States Department of Justice to resolve the previously disclosed Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation.

As it previously announced, Tidewater has been working with Saudi Aramco to resolve certain performance standards issues that were identified with respect to nine newbuild vessels previously committed to multi-year charters with Saudi Aramco. Tidewater says that one of these vessels is now on hire with Saudi Aramco and other vessels continue with inspections associated with the on-hire process. The company has worked out an arrangement to use Tidewater substitute vessels for four of the remaining eight newbuild vessels, as necessary, until their construction is completed and they become available. Saudi Aramco has declined to accept the remaining four vessels of the nine-vessel package, and they will be redeployed by Tidewater in other operations outside Saudi Arabia. While Saudi Aramco has not indicated whether it will seek additional remedies with respect to these four vessels, Tidewater says is pleased to have come to an acceptable resolution with respect to five of nine vessels and is focused on continuing to develop this important new relationship. The agreement with Saudi Aramco in regards to the five-vessel package includes dayrate discounts related to late delivery for a period of time. At this time, Tidewater believes that discounts with respect to these vessels will total approximately $1.5-$2.0 million and will be recognized as lower vessel revenue than was originally anticipated, spread over the next several quarters.

Tidewater Inc. owns 350 vessels, the world’s largest fleet of vessels serving the global offshore energy industry