HOUSTON, TX — (Marketwire) — 11/09/12 — Vantage Drilling Company (“Vantage”) (NYSE MKT: VTG) reports a net income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 of $2.0 million or $0.01 per diluted share, excluding approximately $2.5 million of charges for the early retirement of debt, as compared to a net loss of $11.9 million or ($0.04) per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Including the charges for the early retirement of debt, Vantage reported a loss of $538,000 or $0.00 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2012.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Vantage reports a net loss of $9.2 million or ($0.03) per diluted shares, excluding approximately $2.5 million of charges for the early retirement of debt as compared to a net loss of $45.4 million or ($0.16) per diluted shares, excluding approximately $25.2 million of charges for the early retirement of debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Including the charges for early retirement of debt, the company reported net losses of $11.7 million or ($0.04) per diluted share and $70.6 million or ($.24) per diluted share respectively for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.
Paul Bragg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to announce another strong quarter from operations, with the fleet including the jackups and the Platinum Explorer achieving utilization in excess of 98%.”
Titanium Explorer Update
The Titanium Explorer, which was acquired in April 2012, mobilized to the United States Gulf of Mexico, to commence an eight year contract. Acceptance testing with our customer was interrupted during the third quarter by Hurricane Isaac, which necessitated our sailing out of harm–s way and further disrupted the supply chain and vendor access to the Titanium Explorer for more than a week. Most of the testing protocol has now been completed successfully, including third party certification of the BOP. The functional tests of the BOP in deepwater were unfortunately interrupted by operational issues of the customer-supplied ROV. The ROV cameras and robotics are essential to complete the seafloor testing of the equipment. We lost approximately ten days of testing associated with the ROV issues. During the testing delays, we noted an engine issue aboard the Titanium Explorer. After consultation with the engine manufacturer, we decided that it would be prudent to not only repair the problem, but to undertake a preventative upgrade recommended by the manufacturer to all six primary engines onboard. The repair and upgrade is being conducted currently and is expected to be completed in the third week of November. Following this, we will return to deepwater to recommence acceptance testing. We expect to commence operations under the drilling contract in December. “We are clearly disappointed by the disruptions and delays we have encountered commencing operations for the Titanium Explorer, but we believe we are very close to a successful commencement of our contract. The crew and support team has done an outstanding job preparing the Titanium Explorer and dealing with the adversities encountered,” commented Mr. Bragg.
Jackup Fleet Update
Vantage, together with our customer for the Topaz Driller in Malaysia, has agreed to modify the terms of their contract in order for the Topaz Driller to perform a one-year drilling program in Indonesia. The original contract was for two wells in Malaysia plus a one well option. Under the modified terms, Vantage and the customer–s Indonesian affiliate have entered into a new one-year contract for a drilling program in Indonesia at an increased rate. Additionally, the Indonesian affiliate will be granted three options for six months each. Upon completion of the Indonesian contract, the customer is anticipated to generate revenue of approximately $57 million.
The Emerald Driller has received a letter of award for a two year contract from its customer in Thailand. The contract will commence in continuity with the Emerald Driller–s current contract, which we estimate will be completed in June 2013. Estimated revenues to be generated over the initial two year term of the contract are approximately $114 million.
Vantage, a Cayman Islands exempted company, is an offshore drilling contractor, with an owned fleet of four Baker Marine Pacific Class 375 ultra-premium jackup drilling rigs and two ultra-deepwater drillships, the Platinum Explorer and the Titanium Explorer, as well as an additional ultra-deepwater drillship, the Tungsten Explorer, now under construction. Vantage–s primary business is to contract drilling units, related equipment and work crews primarily on a dayrate basis to drill oil and natural gas wells. Vantage also provides construction supervision services for, and will operate and manage, drilling units owned by others. Through its fleet of seven owned drilling units, Vantage is a provider of offshore contract drilling services globally to major, national and large independent oil and natural gas companies.
The information above includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions identified above or as disclosed from time to time in the company–s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these factors, actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Paul A. Bragg
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Vantage Drilling Company
(281) 404-4700