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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2001
TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
CAYMAN ISLANDS 333-75899 N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
4 GREENWAY PLAZA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77046
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 232-7500
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
The registrant is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K to provide updates
regarding the status of two legal proceedings involving Transocean Sedco Forex
Inc. (the "Company" or "Transocean Sedco Forex") and the Company's anticipated
idle rig days in 2001 and to report the Company's results for the first quarter
of 2001.
RIGCO North America, LLC ("RIGCO"), a subsidiary of Tatham Offshore Inc., filed
suit in a Texas state court in July 1999 asserting various claims in connection
with shipyard and rig management contracts for two rigs managed on behalf of
RIGCO. As a result of the Sedco Forex Holdings Limited merger, the Company
assumed liability for these claims. RIGCO alleged breach of contract, negligence
and fraud and claimed damages of at least $51 million, plus exemplary damages,
attorneys' fees and other unspecified damages. The Company settled the suit in
April 2001.
The Company is a defendant in Bryant, et al. v. R&B Falcon Drilling USA, Inc.,
et al. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas,
Galveston Division. R&B Falcon Drilling USA is a wholly owned indirect
subsidiary of R&B Falcon Corporation. In this suit, the plaintiffs allege that
R&B Falcon Drilling USA, the Company and a number of other offshore drilling
contractors with operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico have engaged in a
conspiracy to depress wages and benefits paid to certain of their offshore
employees. The plaintiffs contend that this alleged conduct violates federal
antitrust law and constitutes unfair trade practices and wrongful employment
acts under state law. The plaintiffs sought treble damages, attorneys' fees and
costs on behalf of themselves and an alleged class of offshore workers, along
with an injunction against exchanging certain wage and benefit information with
other offshore drilling contractors named as defendants. In May 2001, the
Company reached an agreement in principle with plaintiffs' counsel to settle all
claims, pending Court approval of the settlement. Court approval of the
settlement is expected during the fourth quarter of 2001; however, the Company
can give no assurance that this approval will be obtained.
The terms of the settlements have been reflected in the Company's results of
operations for the first quarter of 2001. The Company does not believe the
settlements had a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results
of operations.
The Company expects that the combined company (after the R&B Falcon Corporation
merger) will experience approximately 1,400 idle rig days of shipyard time in
2001 (excluding rigs under construction) in connection with planned maintenance
and rig upgrades and estimates that over two-thirds of that time will occur in
the first half of the year.
On May 7, 2001, the Company issued a press release reporting its results for the
first quarter of 2001. The Company announced that net income for the three
months ended March 31, 2001 totaled $30.5 million or $0.11 per diluted share on
revenues of $550.1 million. The first quarter results include a $15.9 million,
$0.06 per diluted share net after-tax gain resulting from the February 2001 sale
of a semisubmersible rig owned by a joint venture in which the Company has a 25%
equity interest. Adjusting for the net after-tax gain, net income for the three
months ended March 31, 2001 was $14.6 million or $0.05 per diluted share. Net
income for the first quarter of
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2000, which was prior to the Company's merger with R&B Falcon Corporation, was
$32.5 million or $0.15 per diluted share and included a $25.1 million (net $0.08
per diluted share) cash settlement relating to the early termination of a rig
contract. Revenues during the first quarter of 2000 totaled $300.8 million.
Transocean Sedco Forex completed its merger with R&B Falcon Corporation on
January 31, 2001. Therefore, results for the three months ended March 31, 2001
reflect only two months of R&B Falcon operations. Pro forma utilization measures
noted below have been calculated based on the combined fleet of Transocean Sedco
Forex and R&B Falcon for the full first quarter 2001 and equivalent period of
2000.
Revenues derived from the Company's International and U.S. Floater Contract
Drilling Services business segment, consisting of high specification floaters,
other floaters, non-U.S. jackups, other mobile offshore drilling units and other
offshore support services, totaled $468.1 million during the three months ended
March 31, 2001. Operating income for this segment, before depreciation and
amortization and general and administrative expenses, was $159.9 million. Pro
forma utilization for the high specification floaters, other floaters and
non-U.S. jackups during the three months ended March 31, 2001 was 83%, 70% and
79%, respectively, and compares to pro forma utilization of 73%, 59% and 67%,
respectively, during the same three months in 2000.
Revenues derived from the Company's Gulf of Mexico Shallow and Inland Water
business segment, consisting of jackup and submersible drilling rigs and inland
drilling barges, was $82.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2001.
Operating income for this business segment (before depreciation and amortization
and general and administrative expenses) was $39.2 million. The segment's jackup
and submersible pro forma utilization during the three months ended March 31,
2001 was 74%, while the inland barge pro forma utilization totaled 67%. The pro
forma utilization figures include eight jackups and submersibles and nine inland
drilling barges not marketed during the quarter. During the corresponding three
months in 2000, jackup and submersible and inland drilling barge pro forma
utilization totaled 50% and 39%, respectively.
J. Michael Talbert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transocean Sedco
Forex Inc., stated, "As expected, first quarter 2001 results were hindered by
approximately 575 days at zero revenue, caused by scheduled maintenance and
repairs on our mobile offshore drilling fleet. During the second quarter of
2001, 13 mobile offshore drilling units are planned to be in shipyards for
varying amounts of time expected to total approximately 400 days at zero
revenue. However, by mid-year 2001, we expect to have completed over two-thirds
of the planned fleet shipyard projects for 2001, significantly reducing the
associated days at zero revenue for the second half of the year. This
expectation, together with the addition of our final four newly constructed
semisubmersibles and an anticipated continuation of improving industry
fundamentals, should provide the foundation for improving earnings performance
for the remainder of 2001."
Commenting on the Company's newbuild project status, Talbert explained, "We have
essentially completed our newbuild program which, between Transocean Sedco Forex
and R&B Falcon projects, has added 16 new or converted deepwater
semisubmersibles and drillships since 1998 to our high specification fleet. As
previously reported, the semisubmersible Cajun Express was delivered to Marathon
Oil Company in April 2001, when the rig commenced an 18-month
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contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The semisubmersible Sedco Energy arrived in
Brazil on April 28, 2001 and is expected to commence a 42-month contract with
Texaco during May 2001. Also, following a March 2001 departure from Ulsan,
Korea, where it was constructed, the semisubmersible Deepwater Horizon is
expected to arrive in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in July 2001 and shortly
thereafter commence a three-year contract with BP. Finally, the semisubmersible
Sedco Express has essentially completed all testing and commissioning and will
remain in the Canary Islands while efforts proceed to secure a contract for the
rig."
Commenting on the current status of the offshore drilling industry, Talbert
closed by stating, "Demand for mobile offshore drilling units and inland barges
is favorable at present, sustained by the continuation of robust commodity
prices. Dayrates for most types of mobile offshore drilling units and inland
barges have been improving. Presently, 23 of our 24 international jackups are on
contract, as well as 26 of our 34 U.S.-based jackups and submersibles. All eight
of the idle jackups and submersibles in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were not
marketed during the first quarter, resulting in 100% marketed utilization for
this region. Also, 23 out of the 33 drilling barges in our U.S. inland barge
business are working, with two idle units expected to be reactivated over the
next 60 days. Our mid-water floater fleet is experiencing utilization and
dayrate improvement, especially in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and in the U.K.
sector of the North Sea. At present, 11 out of 12 of our U.K. North Sea
semisubmersibles are on contract. Finally, the deepwater drilling market remains
steady in the three major deepwater provinces, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Brazil
and West Africa. We continue to expect an improving level of activity for
drilling rigs capable of operating in water depths greater than 5,000 feet, as
deepwater discoveries made over the past four years transition to what could be
a multi-year development phase, helping to absorb available deepwater capacity."
Statements regarding contract commencement, planned shipyard projects and
associated downtime, newbuilds (including the timing of delivery and contract
commencement dates), outlook and fundamentals for the oil and gas industry,
future rig demand, improving earnings performance, utilization and dayrates and
deepwater development and the effect on deepwater drilling rig capacity, as well
as any other statements that are not historical facts in this Current Report,
are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions. These include but are not limited to operating hazards and delays,
delays or cost overruns in construction projects, risks associated with
international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the
future price of oil and gas, demand for rigs and other factors detailed in the
Company's most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may vary materially from those indicated.
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Pro Forma Utilization
Three Months Ended March 31,
2001 2000
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International and U.S. Floater Contract Drilling Services Segment:
High Specification Floaters 83% 73%
Other Floaters 70% 59%
Jackups - Non-U.S. 79% 67%
U.S. Shallow Water, Inland Barge Segment:
Jackups and Submersibles 74% 50%
Inland Barges 67% 39%
Total Mobile Offshore Drilling Fleet 73% 56%
Pro Forma Average Dayrates
Three Months Ended March 31,
2001 2000
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International and U.S. Floater Contract Drilling Services Segment:
High Specification Floaters $134,000 $119,800
Other Floaters $59,000 $65,500
Jackups - Non-U.S. $38,400 $32,000
U.S. Shallow Water, Inland Barge Segment:
Jackups and Submersibles $35,400 $19,100
Inland Barges $19,100 $15,100
Total Mobile Offshore Drilling Fleet $56,300 $50,900
TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2001 2000
(In millions, except per share data)
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Operating Revenues $550.1 $300.8
Costs and Expenses
Operating and maintenance 351.0 185.8
Depreciation 99.3 57.9
Goodwill amortization 30.2 6.7
General and administrative 14.7 12.8
495.2 263.2
Gain From Sale of Assets 19.6 --
Operating Income 74.5 37.6
Other Income (Expense), Net
Equity in earnings of joint ventures 1.7 2.9
Interest income 3.6 1.0
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized (37.2) --
Other, net (0.6) 0.9
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(32.5) 4.8
Income Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest 42.0 42.4
Income Tax Expense 10.2 9.7
Minority Interest 1.3 0.2
Net Income $30.5 $32.5
Earnings Per Share
Basic $0.11 $0.15
Diluted $0.11 $0.15
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic 280.6 210.2
Diluted 285.5 211.0
On January 31, 2001, the Company completed a merger transaction with R&B
Falcon Corporation. As a result of the merger, R&B Falcon Corporation became an
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company accounted for the
merger using the purchase method of accounting with the Company treated as the
acquiror for accounting purposes. The above Condensed Consolidated Statement of
Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2001, includes two months of
operating results of R&B Falcon Corporation.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
TRANSOCEAN SEDCO FOREX INC.
Date: May 7, 2001 By: /s/ ERIC BROWN
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Eric Brown
Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary
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