Helmerich & Payne - 10-Q quarterly report FY2011 Q1

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For quarterly period ended:  December 31, 2010

OR

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                          to                         

Commission File Number: 1-4221

HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1437 South Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma,74119

(Address of principal executive office)(Zip Code)

(918) 742-5531

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,

if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a small reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

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HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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HELMERICH & PAYNE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1.               Basis of Presentation

Unless the context otherwise requires, the use of the terms “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in these Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements refers to Helmerich & Payne, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pertaining to interim financial information. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all information or footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other current filings with the Commission. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of those of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the results of the periods presented have been included. The results of operations for the in terim periods presented may not necessarily be indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

We classified the Venezuelan operation, an operating segment within the International Land segment, as a discontinued operation in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, as more fully described in Note 2. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of this business, along with its results of operations, have been reclassified for all periods presented. Unless indicated otherwise, the information in the Notes to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements relates only to our continuing operations.

Two land rigs in the U.S. Land segment met the held for sale classification criteria at December 31, 2010.  The net book value of these rigs is included in prepaid expenses and other in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010.

As more fully described in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, our contract drilling revenues are comprised of daywork drilling contracts for which the related revenues and expenses are recognized as services are performed. For contracts that are terminated by customers prior to the expirations of their fixed term, contractual provisions customarily require early termination amounts to be paid to us. Revenues from early terminated contracts are recognized when all contractual requirements have been met.

2.               Discontinued Operations

On June 30, 2010, the Official Gazette of Venezuela published the Decree of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, which authorized the “forceful acquisition” of eleven rigs owned by our Venezuelan subsidiary. The Decree also authorized the seizure of “all the personal and real property and other improvements” used by our Venezuelan subsidiary in its drilling operations. The seizing of our assets became effective June 30, 2010 and met the criteria established for recognition as discontinued operations under accounting standards for presentation of financial statements. Therefore, operations from the Venezuelan subsidiary, an operating segment within the International Land segment, have been classified as discontinued operations in our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. All historical statements have been reclassified to conform to this presentation.

Summarized operating results from discontinued operations are as follows:

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Significant categories of assets and liabilities from discontinued operations are as follows:

Liabilities consist of municipal and income taxes payable and social obligations due within the country of Venezuela.

3.               Earnings per Share

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 260, Earnings per Share, requires companies to treat unvested share-based payment awards that have non-forfeitable rights to dividend or dividend equivalents as a separate class of securities in calculating earnings per share. We have granted and expect to continue to grant restricted stock grants to employees and non-employee directors that contain non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends. Such grants are considered participating securities under ASC 260. As such, we are required to include these grants in the calculation of our basic earnings per share and calculate basic earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings.

Basic net income per share is computed utilizing the two-class method and is calculated based on weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented.

Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the periods utilizing the two-class method for stock options and nonvested restricted stock.

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The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

The following shares attributable to outstanding equity awards were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands, except per share amounts):

4.               Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of replacement parts and supplies held for use in our drilling operations.

5.               Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

The estimated fair value of our available-for-sale securities is primarily based on market quotes. The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities, which excludes investments in limited partnerships carried at cost and assets held in a Non-qualified Supplemental Savings Plan:

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On an on-going basis, we evaluate the marketable equity securities to determine if any decline in fair market below original cost is other-than-temporary. If a decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis established. We review several factors to determine whether a loss is other-than-temporary. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) the length of time a security is in an unrealized loss position, (ii) the extent to which fair value is less than cost, (iii) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and (iv) our intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The cost of securities used in determining realized gains and losses is based on the average cost basis of the security sold. We had no sales of market able equity available-for-sale securities during the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and 2010.

Investments in limited partnerships carried at cost were approximately $12.4 million at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010. The estimated fair value of the limited partnerships was $22.7 million and $22.5 million at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010, respectively.

Assets held in the Non-qualified Supplemental Savings Plan are carried at fair market value which totaled $5.7 million at December 31, 2010 and $5.1 million at September 30, 2010.

The majority of cash equivalents are invested in taxable and non-taxable money-market mutual funds. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short maturity of those investments.

The carrying value of other assets, accrued liabilities and other liabilities approximated fair value at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010.

ASC 820 defines fair value as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” We use the fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820-10 to measure fair value to prioritize the inputs:

·                  Level 1 — Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

·                  Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

·                  Level 3 — Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and not corroborated by market data.

At December 31, 2010, our financial instruments utilizing Level 1 inputs include cash equivalents, equity securities with active markets and money market funds we have elected to classify as restricted assets that are included in other current assets and other assets. Also included is cash denominated in a foreign currency we have elected to classify as restricted that is included in current assets of discontinued operations and limited to remaining liabilities of discontinued operations. For these items, quoted current market prices are readily available.

At December 31, 2010, financial instruments utilizing level 2 inputs include a bank certificate of deposit included in other current assets.

Currently, we do not have any financial instruments utilizing Level 3 inputs.

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The following table summarizes our assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010:

The following information presents the supplemental fair value information about long-term fixed-rate debt at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010:

The fair value for fixed-rate debt was estimated using cash flows discounted at rates reflecting current interest rates at similar maturities plus a credit spread which was estimated using market information on debt instruments with a similar credit profile to us.  The outstanding line of credit and short-term debt bear interest at market rates and the cost of borrowings, if any, would approximate fair value. The debt was valued using a level 2 input.

6.               Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income, net of related income taxes, is as follows (in thousands):

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of related income taxes, are as follows (in thousands):

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7.               Cash Dividends

The $0.06 cash dividend declared September 1, 2010, was paid December 1, 2010. On December 7, 2010, a cash dividend of $0.06 per share was declared for shareholders of record on February 15, 2011, payable March 1, 2011. The dividend payable is included in accounts payable in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet.

8.               Stock-Based Compensation

We have one plan providing for common-stock based awards to employees and to non-employee directors.  The plan permits the granting of various types of awards including stock options and restricted stock awards.  Restricted stock may be granted for no consideration other than prior and future services.  The purchase price per share for stock options may not be less than market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant.  Stock options expire ten years after the grant date.  We have the right to satisfy option exercises from treasury shares and from authorized but unissued shares.

A summary of compensation cost for stock-based payment arrangements recognized in general and administrative expense is as follows (in thousands):

STOCK OPTIONS

The following summarizes the weighted-average assumptions utilized in determining the fair value of options granted during the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:

Risk-Free Interest Rate.  The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury securities for the expected term of the option.

Expected Volatility Rate.  Expected volatility is based on the daily closing price of our stock based upon historical experience over a period which approximates the expected term of the option.

Dividend Yield.  The expected dividend yield is based on our current dividend yield.

Expected Term.  The expected term of the options granted represents the period of time that they are expected to be outstanding.  We estimate the expected term of options granted based on historical experience with grants and exercises.

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9.               Debt

At December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010, we had the following unsecured long-term debt outstanding (in thousands):

The intermediate unsecured debt outstanding at December 31, 2010 matures over a period from August 2012 to August 2014 and carries a weighted-average interest rate of 6.53 percent, which is paid semi-annually.  The terms require that we maintain a minimum ratio of debt to total capitalization of less than 55 percent.  The debt is held by various entities, including $3 million held by a company affiliated with one of our Board members.

We have $200 million senior unsecured fixed-rate notes that mature over a period from July 2012 to July 2016.  Interest on the notes will be paid semi-annually based on an annual rate of 6.10 percent.  We will make five equal annual principal repayments of $40 million starting on July 21, 2012.  Financial covenants require us to maintain a funded leverage ratio of less than 55 percent and an interest coverage ratio (as defined) of not less than 2.50 to 1.00.  The note purchase agreement also contains additional terms, conditions, and restrictions that we believe are usual and customary in unsecured debt arrangements for companies that are similar in size and credit quality.

We have an agreement with a multi-bank syndicate for a $400 million senior unsecured credit facility maturing December 2011.  While we have the option to borrow at the prime rate for maturities of less than 30 days, we anticipate that the majority of all of the borrowings over the life of the facility will accrue interest at a spread over the London Interbank Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).  We pay a commitment fee based on the unused balance of the facility.  The spread over LIBOR as well as the commitment fee is determined according to a scale based on a ratio of our total debt to total capitalization.  The LIBOR spread ranges from .30 percent to .45 percent over LIBOR depending on the ratios.  At December 31, 2010, the LIBOR spread on borrowings was .35 percent and the commitment fee was .075 percent per annum.  At December 31, 2010, we had two letters of credi t totaling $21.9 million under the facility and no borrowings against the facility leaving $378.1 million available to borrow.

Financial covenants in the facility require we maintain a funded leverage ratio (as defined) of less than 50 percent and an interest coverage ratio (as defined) of not less than 3.00 to 1.00.  The facility contains additional terms, conditions and restrictions that we believe are usual and customary in unsecured debt arrangements for companies that are similar in size and credit quality.  At December 31, 2010 we were in compliance with all debt covenants.

10.   Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was 37.4 percent and 36.8 percent, respectively.  The effective rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0 percent primarily due to state and foreign taxes.

It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefit with respect to certain unrecognized tax positions will increase or decrease during the next 12 months; however, we do not expect the change to have a material effect on results of operations or financial position.

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11.   Acquisition of TerraVici Drilling Solutions

Pursuant to the satisfaction of a performance milestone, we paid $4.0 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2011 that was accounted for as goodwill.  The payment is shown as an investing activity in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.

12.   Commitments and Contingencies

In conjunction with our current drilling rig construction program, purchase commitments for equipment, parts and supplies of approximately $117.3 million are outstanding at December 31, 2010.

Various other legal actions, the majority of which arise in the ordinary course of business, are pending.  We maintain insurance against certain business risks subject to certain deductibles.  None of these legal actions are expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

We are contingently liable to sureties in respect of bonds issued by the sureties in connection with certain commitments entered into by us in the normal course of business.  We have agreed to indemnify the sureties for any payments made by them in respect of such bonds.

During the ordinary course of our business, contingencies arise resulting from an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving an uncertainty as to the realization of a possible gain contingency.  We account for gain contingencies in accordance with the provisions of ASC 450, Contingencies, and, therefore, we do not record gain contingencies and recognize income until realized.  As discussed in Note 2, Discontinued Operations, property and equipment of our Venezuelan subsidiary was seized by the Venezuelan government on June 30, 2010.  We continue to evaluate various remedies, including any recourse we may have against Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (“PDVSA”), the state-owned petroleum company, or related parties, any remuneration or reimbursement that we might collect from PDVSA or related parties, and any other sources of recovery for our losses. 60; While there exists the possibility of realizing a recovery, we are currently unable to determine the timing or amounts we may receive, if any, or the likelihood of recovery.  No gain contingencies are recognized in our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

13.         Segment Information

We operate principally in the contract drilling industry. Our contract drilling business includes the following reportable operating segments: U.S. Land, Offshore, and International Land.  The contract drilling operations consist mainly of contracting Company-owned drilling equipment primarily to large oil and gas exploration companies.  Our primary international areas of operation include Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, Tunisia and Bahrain. The International Land operations have similar services, have similar types of customers, operate in a consistent manner and have similar economic and regulatory characteristics.  Therefore, we have aggregated our international operations into one reportable segment.  Our Venezuelan operation, which was historically an operating segment within the International Land Segment, was discontinued in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.  Conseque ntly, its operating results are excluded from the segment data tables below for all periods presented.  Each reportable segment is a strategic business unit which is managed separately. Other includes non-reportable operating segments.  Revenues included in Other consist primarily of rental income.  Consolidated revenues and expenses reflect the elimination of all material intercompany transactions.

We evaluate segment performance based on income or loss from operations (segment operating income) before income taxes which includes:

·                  revenues from external and internal customers

·                  direct operating costs

·                  depreciation and

·                  allocated general and administrative costs but excludes corporate costs for other depreciation, income from asset sales and other corporate income and expense.

Certain general and administrative costs are allocated to the segments based primarily on specific identification and, to the extent that such identification is not practical, on other methods which we believe to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided.

Segment operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure of our performance, as it excludes general and administrative expenses, corporate depreciation, income from asset sales and other corporate income and expense.  We consider segment

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14.         Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits

The following provides information at December 31, 2010 and 2009 related to the Company-sponsored domestic defined benefit pension plan.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Employer Contributions

We contributed $0.5 million to the Pension Plan during the three months ended December 31, 2010.  We estimate contributing at least $1.6 million for the remainder of fiscal 2011 to meet the minimum contribution required by law and expect additional contributions to be made to fund distributions.

Foreign Plan

We maintain an unfunded pension plan in one of the international subsidiaries.  Our pension benefit was approximately $3,000 and our pension expense was approximately $145,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

15.   Risk Factors

International operations are subject to certain political, economic and other uncertainties not encountered in U.S. operations, including increased risks of terrorism, kidnapping of employees, expropriation of equipment as well as expropriation of a particular oil company operator’s property and drilling rights, taxation policies, foreign exchange restrictions, currency rate fluctuations and general hazards associated with foreign sovereignty over certain areas in which operations are conducted. There can be no assurance that there will not be changes in local laws, regulations and administrative requirements or the interpretation thereof which could have a material adverse effect on the profitability of our operations or on our ability to continue operations in certain areas.

16.   Recently Issued Accounting Standards

On January 21, 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) — Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.  Effective December 15, 2009, we adopted the disclosure requirements requiring reporting entities to provide information about movements of assets among Levels 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements.  The adoption had no impact on these Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.  Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, a reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements of financial instruments valued with a Level 3 method, which is used to price the hardest to value instruments, will be required.  We currently believe the adoption related to Level 3 financial instruments will have no impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

On October 1, 2010, we adopted ASU No. 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (Topic 605), which amended the revenue guidance under ASC 605.  The adoption had no impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

December 31, 2010

RISK FACTORS AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere herein and the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Our future operating results may be affected by various trends and factors which are beyond our control. These include, among other factors, fluctuations in natural gas and crude oil prices, early termination of drilling contracts, forfeiture of early termination payments under fixed term contracts due to sustained unacceptable performance, unsuccessful collection of receivables, inability to procure key rig components, failure to timely deliver rigs within applicable grace periods, disruption to or cessation of the business of our limited source vendors or fabricators, currency exchange losses, expropriation of assets, deterioration of credit markets, changes in general economic and political conditions, adverse weather conditions including hurricanes, rapid or unexpected changes in technologies and uncertain business conditions that affect our businesses. Accordingly, past results and trends should not be used by investors to anticipate future results or trends.  Our risk factors are more fully described in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations include forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions.  We caution that, while we believe such assumptions to be reasonable and make them in good faith, assumptions about future events and conditions almost always vary from actual results.  The differences between assumed facts and actual results can be material. We are including this cautionary statement to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for any forward-looking statements made by us or persons acting on our behalf.  The factors identified in this cautionary statement are important factors (but not necessarily all important factors) that could cau se actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by us or persons acting on our behalf.  We undertake no duty to update or revise our forward-looking statements based on changes of internal estimates on expectations or otherwise.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 vs. Three Months Ended December 31, 2009

We reported income from continuing operations of $104.4 million ($0.96 per diluted share) from operating revenues of $594.6 million for the first quarter ended December 31, 2010, compared with income from continuing operations of $63.8 million ($0.60 per diluted share) from operating revenues of $396.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2010.  In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we had a net loss from discontinued operations of $0.2 million with no effect on a per diluted share basis.  In the first quarter of fiscal year 2010, we had a loss from discontinued operations of $0.6 million ($0.01 loss per diluted share).  Including discontinued operations, we recorded net income of $104.2 million ($0.96 per diluted share) for the first quarter ended December 31, 2010,  compared to net income of $63.2 million ($0.59 per diluted share) for the first quarter ended December  31, 2009.  Income from continued operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 includes approximately $1.7 million ($0.02 per diluted share) of after-tax gains from the sale of assets. Income from continued operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 includes approximately $0.7 million ($0.01 per diluted share) of after-tax gains from the sale of assets.

On June 30, 2010, the Official Gazette of Venezuela published the Decree of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, which authorized the “forceful acquisition” of eleven rigs owned by our Venezuelan subsidiary.  The Decree also authorized the seizure of “all the personal and real property and other improvements” used by our Venezuelan subsidiary in its drilling operations. The seizing of our assets became effective June 30, 2010 and met the criteria established for recognition as discontinued operations under accounting standards for presentation of financial statements.  Therefore, operations from the Venezuelan subsidiary, an operating segment within the International Land segment, have been classified as discontinued operations in our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.  All historical statements have been reclassified to conform to this presentation.

We continue to evaluate various remedies, including any recourse we may have against PDVSA or related parties, any remuneration or reimbursement that we might collect from PDVSA or related parties, and any other sources of recovery for our losses.  While there exists the possibility of realizing a recovery, we are currently unable to determine the timing or amounts we may receive, if any, or the likelihood of recovery. No gain contingencies are recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.