Valaris Limited reported second quarter 2021 results.
President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Burke said, “On April 30, 2021, Valaris emerged from chapter 11 with a significantly strengthened capital structure, including a net cash position, $550 million of debt due in 2028 and an industry-leading cost structure that is scalable and adaptable to changing market conditions.”
Burke added, “During the three months since emergence, our customers awarded Valaris more than 20 new contracts or extensions with associated contract backlog totaling over $1.3 billion. This figure includes an eight-well contract, with an estimated duration of three-and-a-half years, for VALARIS DS-11, a two-year contract for VALARIS DS-16 and a 420-day contract for VALARIS DPS-1, which we announced in today's fleet status report, as well as a three-year contract for VALARIS DS-18 awarded in early June. These contract awards are a testament to the technical capabilities of our fleet and the excellent operational and safety performance of our crews, and I want to take the opportunity to recognize all the teams in Valaris that have contributed to this outstanding contracting success over the past several months.”
Burke concluded, “We are beginning to see early signs of a recovery in customer demand following the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, evidenced by our contracting activity over the past few months. As a result, Valaris is well-positioned to benefit from the opportunities we see in the market today. We will continue to focus on winning work for our active fleet and returning some of our high-quality stacked rigs to work as suitable opportunities arise. I am extremely proud of what Valaris has achieved during the three months since our emergence from chapter 11, and I am excited to see what the future holds for the Company.”
Fresh Start Accounting
Valaris emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 30, 2021 (the "Effective Date"). Upon emergence, Valaris applied fresh start accounting which resulted in Valaris becoming a new reporting entity for accounting and financial reporting. Accordingly, our financial statements and notes after the Effective Date are not comparable to our financial statements and notes prior to that date. As required by GAAP, results for the quarter must be presented separately for the predecessor period from April 1, 2021, through April 30, 2021 (the "Predecessor" period) and the successor period from May 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021 (the "Successor" period). However, the Company has combined certain results of the Predecessor and Successor periods ("Combined" results) as non-GAAP measures to compare to prior periods since we believe it provides the most meaningful basis to analyze our results.
Second Quarter Highlights
Revenues were $203 million and $90 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined revenues declined to $293 million in the second quarter 2021 from $307 million in the first quarter. Excluding reimbursable items, Combined revenues declined to $261 million in the second quarter from $277 million in the prior quarter primarily due to lower revenues from the floater fleet as two drillships working in the first quarter were between contracts for most of the second quarter.
Contract drilling expense was $169 million and $86 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined contract drilling expense increased to $254 million in the second quarter 2021 from $252 million in the first quarter. Excluding reimbursable items, Combined contract drilling expense declined to $236 million in the second quarter from $237 million in the prior quarter primarily due to fewer operating days for the floater fleet. This was partially offset by additional operating days for the jackup fleet and higher rig reactivation costs as previously stacked rigs, primarily VALARIS JU-249 and VALARIS JU-121, underwent preparations for long-term contracts.
General and administrative expense was $13 million and $6 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined general and administrative expense declined to $19 million in the second quarter 2021 from $24 million in the prior quarter primarily due to lower personnel costs.
Tax expense was $15 million and tax benefit was $16 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined tax benefit was less than $1 million in the second quarter 2021 compared to tax expense of $32 million in the prior quarter. The Combined second quarter tax provision included $12 million of discrete tax benefit primarily related to fresh start accounting adjustments. The prior quarter tax provision included $20 million of discrete tax expense related to uncertain tax positions taken for prior years. Adjusted for discrete items, Combined tax expense of $12 million in the second quarter was in line with the prior quarter.
Combined adjusted EBITDA of $17 million in the second quarter 2021 compared to $28 million in the prior quarter. Combined adjusted EBITDAR of $41 million in the second quarter 2021 compared to $39 million in the prior quarter. Combined adjusted EBITDARPS of $58 million in the second quarter 2021 compared to $57 million in the prior quarter.
Segment Highlights
Floaters
Floater revenues were $50 million and $18 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined floater revenues declined to $68 million in the second quarter 2021 from $97 million in the prior quarter. Excluding reimbursable items, Combined revenues declined to $62 million in the second quarter from $88 million in the prior quarter primarily due to fewer operating days as two drillships that were working in the first quarter were between contracts for most of the second quarter.
Contract drilling expense was $45 million and $22 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined contract drilling expense declined to $67 million in the second quarter 2021 from $84 million in the prior quarter. Excluding reimbursable items, Combined contract drilling expense declined to $63 million in the second quarter from $81 million in the prior quarter primarily due to fewer operating days in the second quarter.
Jackups
Jackup revenues were $129 million and $60 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined jackup revenues increased to $188 million in the second quarter 2021 from $173 million in the prior quarter. Excluding reimbursable items, Combined revenues increased to $167 million in the second quarter from $157 million in the prior quarter. The sequential quarter increase was primarily due to an increase in average day rates, which were $99,000 in the second quarter compared to $95,000 in the prior quarter and a four percentage point increase in utilization to 54%.
Contract drilling expense was $96 million and $49 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined contract drilling expense increased to $144 million in the second quarter 2021 from $121 million in the prior quarter. Excluding reimbursable items, Combined contract drilling expense increased to $134 million in the second quarter from $114 million in the prior quarter primarily due to $19 million higher reactivation costs in the second quarter as we prepare rigs, primarily VALARIS JU-249 and VALARIS JU-121, for long-term contracts starting later in the year.
ARO Drilling
Revenues were $84 million and $41 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined revenues increased to $125 million in the second quarter 2021 from $123 million in the prior quarter. Combined contract drilling expense increased to $93 million in the second quarter from $86 million in the prior quarter primarily due to higher personnel costs. Combined EBITDA was $28 million in the second quarter compared to $33 million in the prior quarter.
Other
Revenues were $25 million and $12 million for the Successor and Predecessor periods, respectively. Combined revenues of $37 million in the second quarter 2021 were in line with the prior quarter and Combined contract drilling expense declined to $14 million in the second quarter from $15 million in the prior quarter.