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8-K - 8-K - ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPa8-kq42012.htm
EX-99.2 - EARNINGS PRESENTATION - ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPearningspresentationq412.htm


ION Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results
Fourth Quarter EPS of $0.17; Full Year EPS of $0.39, up 160%

HOUSTON, TX – February 13, 2013 – ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) today reported fourth quarter 2012 revenues of $173.1 million, an 8% increase from revenues of $159.9 million in fourth quarter 2011. Fourth quarter 2012 net income increased to $26.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share in fourth quarter 2011. Adjusted EBITDA increased 6% to $62.7 million compared to $59.0 million in fourth quarter 2011.
For full year 2012, ION reported a 16% increase in revenues to $526.3 million, compared to $454.6 million in 2011. 2012 net income was $62.0 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to net income of $23.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in 2011. Excluding special items as described below, 2012 net income was $61.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, versus 2011 net income of $34.6 million, or $0.22 per diluted share.
Brian Hanson, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with the results we delivered in the fourth quarter and full year 2012. We continue to benefit from our investment in multi-client data libraries, generating solid growth in both new venture and data library revenues.
"Our GeoVentures division had another strong fourth quarter, delivering record revenues for both the quarter and the year, driven by increases in library sales and new venture projects. We completed acquisition of several new marine programs in the Arctic and offshore Latin America, and a land program in Europe. We also commenced acquisition of a new marine program offshore Australia. With our new activity and our existing portfolio of library programs, we are well positioned for upcoming licensing rounds anticipated in and around Brazil, Australia, East Africa, and Greenland.
"Our data processing business remains strong, achieving record revenues for the fourth quarter and for the year. We're benefiting from our international expansion and a healthy Gulf of Mexico market. Additionally, our new WiBand broadband solution continues to gain momentum with several projects underway both in the Gulf of Mexico and internationally that have WiBand in the work-flow, or have a high potential to utilize WiBand. Our investments in data processing infrastructure continue to pay off and we look forward to another strong year in 2013 for this business.




"Our Software business achieved record revenues in 2012, driven by healthy Orca® and Gator® software sales during the quarter. We also continued to experience solid growth in our on-board acquisition optimization services business.
"Our Systems segment experienced a year-over-year decline in revenues due to a large 12-streamer sale in fourth quarter 2011 that was not replicated in 2012. We continue to reposition this segment for new ocean-bottom product launches in 2013, such as our next generation VSO system, Calypso™."
FOURTH QUARTER 2012
Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 8% to $173.1 million, compared to $159.9 million a year ago. Solutions segment revenues increased 45% over the same period in 2011; Software segment revenues increased by 16%; while Systems segment revenues declined by 39%.
Solutions segment revenues increased to $121.1 million in fourth quarter 2012, compared to $83.4 million a year ago, driven primarily by an 83% increase in new ventures activity, a 19% growth in data library sales, and 27% growth in the data processing business.
Software segment sales were $10.7 million compared to $9.2 million in fourth quarter 2011. Excluding foreign currency effects, Software segment revenues increased 14% due primarily to increased demand for the Company's Orca and Gator software and onboard acquisition optimization services.
Systems segment sales declined to $41.4 million from $67.3 million in fourth quarter 2011, principally due to the impact of the 12-streamer system sold in fourth quarter 2011 that was not replicated in 2012.
Excluding the impact of special items, consolidated gross margins during the fourth quarter increased to 43% from 40% in fourth quarter 2011. The gross margin improvement was driven primarily by revenue growth and profitability improvement in the Solutions segment. Excluding the impact of special items, fourth quarter operating expenses as a percentage of revenues were 21% compared to 18% in fourth quarter 2011, while consolidated operating margins were relatively flat.
The Company's effective tax rate during the fourth quarter was 27.3% compared to 30.7% in fourth quarter 2011. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a release of a valuation allowance related to U.S. deferred tax assets.




The Company accounts for its 49% interest in INOVA Geophysical as an equity method investment on a one fiscal quarter-lag basis. As a result, the Company's share of INOVA Geophysical's third quarter 2012 financial results is included in the Company's fourth quarter results. For third quarter 2012, INOVA Geophysical reported revenues of $25.1 million, down 7% from $27.0 million in third quarter 2011. INOVA Geophysical reported a net loss of $8.7 million for third quarter 2012, compared to a net loss of $25.3 million in third quarter 2011. The Company recognized losses on its INOVA equity investment of approximately $4.3 million in its fourth quarter 2012 compared to a loss of $13.0 million for the prior year period. For the full year, INOVA was modestly profitable as anticipated.
The Company's total cash and cash equivalents were $61.0 million as of December 31, 2012. Additionally, the Company had $77.7 million of unused capacity under its $175 million credit facility as of December 31, 2012.
FULL YEAR 2012
Total revenues for 2012 increased 16% to $526.3 million compared to $454.6 million in 2011, with year-over-year growth driven by the Company's Solutions and Software business segments.
Solutions segment revenues for 2012 increased 33% to $351.3 million primarily as a result of data processing growth, a 50% increase in new venture revenues, and a 15% increase in library sales. Software segment revenues for 2012 increased 13% while Systems segment revenues for 2012 decreased 14%.
The Company's effective tax rate during 2012 was 27.5%, compared to 29.2% in 2011. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a 2012 release of a valuation allowance related to U.S. deferred tax assets.
Results for 2012 include several special items incurred in the fourth quarter totaling $0.4 million net income impact, net of taxes. The special items consisted primarily of a $12.8 million pre-tax charge for a write down of marine equipment and bad debt reserves, and a $19.0 million pre-tax gain on legal settlements. Excluding the impact of special items, consolidated gross margins for 2012 increased to 41% compared to 38% in 2011, and consolidated operating margins for 2012 increased to 17% from 15% in 2011.
OUTLOOK
Greg Heinlein, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, commented, We delivered another solid quarter with revenues up 8% year over year, and up 31% when adjusting for the large streamer sale




in the same period of 2011. While we had a few off-setting, one-time items this quarter, diluted EPS for the full year grew 160% year-over-year.
"Our 2012 operating expenses were impacted by nearly $9 million of legal expenses related primarily to two lawsuits. We expect our legal expenses to be at more normal levels in 2013.
Based on our market outlook and robust pipeline, in 2013, we will continue to invest in each of our business segments, particularly in marketing and sales, data processing and interpretation personnel, hardware and software, as well as research and development around new marine technologies. In 2013, we anticipate investing between $140 and $160 million in our multi-client data libraries. We estimate interest expense for 2013 to be between $4 and $7 million and our effective tax rate to be between 25% and 30%.
"Exploration budgets are forecasted to grow significantly in 2013, and the seismic industry continues to show capital discipline. We expect those trends to benefit ION further in 2013 across each of our segments."

CONFERENCE CALL
The Company has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, February 14, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time that will include a slide presentation to be posted in the Investor Relations section of the ION website at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. To participate in the conference call, dial 480-629-9866 at least 10 minutes before the call begins and ask for the ION conference call. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the live broadcast ends and will be accessible until February 28, 2013. To access the replay, dial 303-590-3030 and use pass code 4592368#.
Investors, analysts and the general public will also have the opportunity to listen to the conference call live over the Internet by visiting www.iongeo.com. An archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on the Company’s website.
About ION
ION Geophysical Corporation is a leading provider of geophysical technology, services, and solutions for the global oil & gas industry. ION's offerings are designed to allow E&P companies to obtain higher resolution images of the subsurface to reduce the risk of exploration and reservoir development, and to enable seismic contractors to acquire geophysical data safely and efficiently. Additional information about ION is available at www.iongeo.com.





Contacts
Greg Heinlein
Chief Financial Officer
+1.281.552.3011

Jack Lascar
DRG&L
+1.713.529.6600

The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include future sales and market growth, timing of sales, future liquidity and cash levels, future estimated revenues and earnings, sales expected to result from backlog, benefits expected to result from the INOVA Geophysical joint venture and related transactions and other statements that are not of historical fact. Actual results may vary materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include risks associated with litigation, including the lawsuit brought by WesternGeco; the timing and development of the Company’s products and services and market acceptance of the Company’s new and revised product offerings; the operation of the INOVA Geophysical joint venture; the Company’s level and terms of indebtedness; competitors’ product offerings and pricing pressures resulting therefrom; the relatively small number of customers that the Company currently relies upon; the fact that a significant portion of the Company’s revenues is derived from foreign sales; that sources of capital may not prove adequate; the Company’s inability to produce products to preserve and increase market share; collection of receivables; and technological and marketplace changes affecting the Company’s product lines. Additional risk factors, which could affect actual results, are disclosed by the Company from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during 2012.

Tables to follow





ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited) 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Service revenues
$
122,082

 
$
84,011

 
$
354,583

 
$
265,586

Product revenues
50,988

 
75,872

 
171,734

 
189,035

Total net revenues
173,070

 
159,883

 
526,317

 
454,621

Cost of services
69,432

 
45,877

 
219,324

 
177,956

Cost of products
30,894

 
49,389

 
91,192

 
103,220

Gross profit
72,744

 
64,617

 
215,801

 
173,445

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Research, development and engineering
8,544

 
6,499

 
34,080

 
24,569

Marketing and sales
11,078

 
8,190

 
35,240

 
31,269

General, administrative and other operating expenses
28,259

 
16,500

 
71,954

 
50,812

Total operating expenses
47,881

 
31,189

 
141,274

 
106,650

Income from operations
24,863

 
33,428

 
74,527

 
66,795

Interest expense, net
(1,146
)
 
(1,600
)
 
(5,265
)
 
(5,784
)
Equity in earnings (losses) of INOVA Geophysical
(4,264
)
 
(13,018
)
 
297

 
(22,862
)
Other income (expense)
17,851

 
(1,144
)
 
17,124

 
(3,447
)
Income before income taxes
37,304

 
17,666

 
86,683

 
34,702

Income tax expense
10,191

 
5,420

 
23,857

 
10,136

Net income
27,113

 
12,246

 
62,826

 
24,566

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
53

 
105

 
489

 
208

Net income attributable to ION
27,166

 
12,351

 
63,315

 
24,774

Preferred stock dividends
338

 
338

 
1,352

 
1,352

Net income applicable to common shares
$
26,828

 
$
12,013

 
$
61,963

 
$
23,422

Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.17

 
$
0.08

 
$
0.40

 
$
0.15

Diluted
$
0.17

 
$
0.08

 
$
0.39

 
$
0.15

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
156,107

 
155,292

 
155,801

 
154,811

Diluted
163,016

 
162,132

 
162,765

 
156,090







ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited) 
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
ASSETS
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
60,971

 
$
42,402

Short-term investments

 
20,000

Accounts receivable, net
127,136

 
130,612

Unbilled receivables
89,784

 
25,628

Inventories
70,675

 
70,145

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
25,605

 
13,460

Total current assets
374,171

 
302,247

Deferred income tax asset
28,414

 
17,645

Property, plant, equipment and seismic rental equipment, net
33,772

 
24,771

Multi-client data library, net
230,315

 
175,768

Investment in INOVA Geophysical
73,925

 
72,626

Goodwill
55,349

 
53,963

Intangible assets, net
14,841

 
17,716

Other assets
9,796

 
9,322

Total assets
$
820,583

 
$
674,058

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
$
3,496

 
$
5,770

Accounts payable
28,688

 
22,296

Accrued expenses
124,095

 
61,384

Accrued multi-client data library royalties
26,300

 
15,318

Deferred revenue
26,899

 
33,802

Total current liabilities
209,478

 
138,570

Long-term debt, net of current maturities
101,832

 
99,342

Other long-term liabilities
8,131

 
7,719

Total liabilities
319,441

 
245,631

Redeemable noncontrolling interests
2,123

 
2,615

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Cumulative convertible preferred stock
27,000

 
27,000

Common stock
1,564

 
1,555

Additional paid-in capital
848,669

 
843,271

Accumulated deficit
(360,297
)
 
(423,612
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(11,886
)
 
(16,193
)
Treasury stock
(6,565
)
 
(6,565
)
Total stockholders’ equity
498,485

 
425,456

Noncontrolling interests
534

 
356

Total equity
499,019

 
425,812

Total liabilities and equity
$
820,583

 
$
674,058







ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited) 

Years Ended December 31,

2012
 
2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
62,826

 
$
24,566

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization (other than multi-client library)
16,202

 
13,917

Amortization of multi-client data library
89,080

 
77,317

Stock-based compensation expense
6,598

 
6,344

Equity in (earnings) losses of INOVA Geophysical
(297
)
 
22,862

Write-down of marine equipment
5,928

 

Write-down of investments
556

 
1,312

Deferred income taxes
3,686

 
(8,131
)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
(193
)
 
(3,294
)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
4,006

 
(52,955
)
Unbilled receivables
(64,156
)
 
44,962

Inventories
(7,039
)
 
(6,641
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and accrued royalties
61,873

 
(7,546
)
Deferred revenue
(6,957
)
 
15,957

Other assets and liabilities
(3,032
)
 
1,314

Net cash provided by operating activities
169,081

 
129,984

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Investment in multi-client data library
(145,627
)
 
(143,782
)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(14,877
)
 
(11,060
)
Investment in seismic rental equipment
(1,773
)
 

Maturity (net purchases) of short-term investments
20,000

 
(20,000
)
Investment in convertible notes
(2,000
)
 
(6,500
)
Other investing activities

 
(280
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(144,277
)
 
(181,622
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Borrowings under revolving line of credit
148,250

 

Repayments under revolving line of credit
(51,000
)
 

Payments on notes payable and long-term debt
(101,702
)
 
(6,145
)
Payment of preferred dividends
(1,352
)
 
(1,352
)
Proceeds from employee stock purchases and exercise of stock options
807

 
13,105

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
193

 
3,294

Contribution from noncontrolling interests
212

 
961

Other financing activities
(1,862
)
 
(59
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(6,454
)
 
9,804

Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
219

 
(183
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
18,569

 
(42,017
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
42,402

 
84,419

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
60,971

 
$
42,402







ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF SEGMENT INFORMATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Net revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solutions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Venture
$
55,991

 
$
30,516

 
$
147,346

 
$
98,335

Data Library
32,826

 
27,470

 
88,085

 
76,332

Total multi-client revenues
88,817

 
57,986

 
235,431

 
174,667

Data Processing
32,233

 
25,434

 
115,834

 
88,783

Total
$
121,050

 
$
83,420

 
$
351,265

 
$
263,450

Systems:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Towed Streamer
$
30,709

 
$
51,453

 
$
77,769

 
$
111,453

Ocean Bottom
1,719

 
451

 
14,823

 
960

Other
8,929

 
15,381

 
39,404

 
40,591

Total
$
41,357

 
$
67,285

 
$
131,996

 
$
153,004

Software:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Software Systems
$
9,631

 
$
8,587

 
$
39,738

 
$
36,031

Services
1,032

 
591

 
3,318

 
2,136

Total
$
10,663

 
$
9,178

 
$
43,056

 
$
38,167

Total
$
173,070

 
$
159,883

 
$
526,317

 
$
454,621

Gross profit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solutions
$
51,919

 
$
37,541

 
$
132,950

 
$
84,647

Systems
13,013

 
20,357

 
50,790

 
61,109

Software
7,812

 
6,719

 
32,061

 
27,689

Total
$
72,744

 
$
64,617

 
$
215,801

 
$
173,445

Gross margin:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solutions
43
 %
 
45
 %
 
38
 %
 
32
 %
Systems
31
 %
 
30
 %
 
38
 %
 
40
 %
Software
73
 %
 
73
 %
 
74
 %
 
73
 %
Total
42
 %
 
40
 %
 
41
 %
 
38
 %
Income from operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solutions
$
39,208

 
$
27,868

 
$
88,589

 
$
50,620

Systems
(5,938
)
 
11,043

 
10,132

 
33,034

Software
6,582

 
6,054

 
28,129

 
24,463

Corporate and other
(14,989
)
 
(11,537
)
 
(52,323
)
 
(41,322
)
Total
$
24,863

 
$
33,428

 
$
74,527

 
$
66,795

Operating margin:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solutions
32
 %
 
33
 %
 
25
 %
 
19
 %
Systems
(14
)%
 
16
 %
 
8
 %
 
22
 %
Software
62
 %
 
66
 %
 
65
 %
 
64
 %
Corporate and other
(9
)%
 
(7
)%
 
(10
)%
 
(9
)%
Total
14
 %
 
21
 %
 
14
 %
 
15
 %




Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income
(Non-GAAP Measure)
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measurement that is presented as an additional indicator of operating performance and is not a substitute for net income or net income per share calculated under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because it is an indicator of the strength and performance of our ongoing business operations, including our ability to service our debt. The calculation of Adjusted EBITDA shown below is based upon amounts derived from the Company’s financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP.
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Net Income
$
27,113

 
$
12,246

 
$
62,826

 
$
24,566

Interest expense, net
1,146

 
1,600

 
5,265

 
5,784

Income tax expense
10,191

 
5,420

 
23,857

 
10,136

Depreciation and amortization expense
26,839

 
25,419

 
105,282

 
91,234

Equity in (earnings) losses of INOVA Geophysical
4,264

 
13,018

 
(297
)
 
22,862

Gain on legal settlement
(19,000
)
 

 
(19,000
)
 

Write-down of marine equipment
5,928

 

 
5,928

 

Write-down of bad debt
5,640

 

 
5,640

 

Write-down of investments
556

 
1,312

 
556

 
1,312

Adjusted EBITDA
$
62,677

 
$
59,015

 
$
190,057

 
$
155,894