Transocean Ltd. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

• Revenues were $2.043 billion, compared with $2.237 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014;
• Operating and maintenance expenses were $1.084 billion, down from $1.310 billion in the prior period;
• Adjusted net income was $398 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, which excludes net unfavorable items;
• Net loss attributable to controlling interest was $483 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, including $881 million of net unfavorable items, versus the comparable fourth quarter net loss of $739 million, or $2.04 per diluted share, including $1.083 billion of net unfavorable items;
• The Annual Effective Tax Rate⁽¹⁾ was 25.8 percent, down from 26.5 percent in the prior quarter;
• Cash flows from operating activities were $526 million, down sequentially from $566 million;
• Fleet revenue efficiency⁽²⁾ was 95.9 percent, compared to 95.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014. Revenue efficiency on ultra-deepwater rigs was 97.2 percent, up from 95.4 percent in the prior quarter;
• Fleet utilization⁽³⁾ was 79 percent, up from 73 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014; and
• Contract backlog was $19.9 billion as of the April 16, 2015, Fleet Status Report.

ZUG, SWITZERLAND-May 6, 2015-Transocean Ltd. RIG RIGN today reported a net loss attributable to controlling interest for the three months ended March 31, 2015 of $483 million, or $1.33 per diluted share. First quarter 2015 results included net unfavorable items of $881 million, $2.43 per diluted share, as follows:

• $481 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, associated with an impairment of the Deepwater Floater asset group;
• As previously announced, $393 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in impairments of assets classified as held for sale;
• $5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in costs related to one-time termination benefits; and
• $2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, primarily associated with discontinued operations and other items.

After consideration of these net unfavorable items, first quarter adjusted net income was $398 million, or $1.10 per diluted share. 

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the company reported net income attributable to controlling interest of $456 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, which included net unfavorable items of $64 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. After consideration of these net unfavorable items, adjusted net income was $520 million, or $1.43 per diluted share.

Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased $194 million sequentially to $2.043 billion due primarily to reduced activity associated with stacked and idle rigs, and asset disposals, partly offset by fewer out-of-service days.

Operating and maintenance expenses decreased $226 million sequentially to $1.084 billion. The decrease was mainly associated with the company's onshore and offshore cost reduction initiatives including the optimization of maintenance and out-of-service costs, asset disposals, and stacking of rigs.

General and administrative expenses decreased $16 million from the prior quarter to $46 million due primarily to the company's cost reduction initiatives and certain costs incurred in the fourth quarter of 2014 that were not repeated in the first quarter.

Due primarily to the asset impairments and favorable changes in estimates related to prior years' tax liabilities, Transocean's first quarter 2015 Effective Tax Rate⁽⁴⁾ was (21.6) percent, compared with (1.3) percent in the fourth quarter of 2014. Transocean's Annual Effective Tax Rate for the first quarter of 2015 was 25.8 percent, compared with the full year 2014 Annual Effective Tax Rate of 18.7 percent. The increase was due partly to the overall level of pre-tax income and to U.K. legislation associated with bareboat charter payments to affiliates. The Annual Effective Tax Rate excludes the effect of the impairments.

Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, was $116 million in the first quarter of 2015, down from $123 million in the prior quarter. Interest income was $6 million, compared with $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Capitalized interest was $26 million, compared with $24 million in the prior quarter.

Cash flows from operating activities decreased $40 million from the fourth quarter of 2014 to $526 million.

Capital expenditures decreased $117 million sequentially to $201 million due primarily to lower project costs on the existing fleet.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

All non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations to the most comparative GAAP measure are displayed in quantitative schedules on the company's website at www.deepwater.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements described in this press release that are not historical facts are 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 statements contain words such as "possible," "intend," "will," "if," "expect" or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in tax estimates, impairment of goodwill, asset impairments, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the future prices of oil and gas, capital markets and other factors, including those and other risks discussed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and in the company's other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize (or the other consequences of such a development worsen), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which we become aware of, after the date hereof, except as otherwise may be required by law.

This press release, or referenced documents, do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and do not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean.

Conference Call Information

Transocean will conduct a teleconference starting at 9:30 a.m. EDT, 3:30 p.m. CEST, on Thursday, May 7, 2015, to discuss the results. To participate, dial +1 913-312-1376 and refer to confirmation code 3397826 approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

The teleconference will be simulcast in a listen-only mode over the Internet and can be accessed at Transocean's website, www.deepwater.com, by selecting "Investor Relations/Overview." Supplemental materials that may be referenced during the teleconference will be posted to Transocean's website and can be found by selecting "Investor Relations/Financial Reports."

A replay of the conference call will be available after 12:30 p.m. EDT, 6:30 p.m. CEST, on May 7, 2015. The replay, which will be archived for approximately 30 days, can be accessed by dialing +1 719-457-0820 and referring to the confirmation code 3397826. The replay will also be available by on the company's website.

About Transocean

Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services, and believes that it operates one of the most versatile offshore drilling fleets in the world. 

Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in, and operates a fleet of 65 mobile offshore drilling units consisting of 41 high-specification floaters (ultra-deepwater, deepwater and harsh environment drilling rigs), 14 midwater floaters and 10 high-specification jackups. In addition, the company has seven ultra-deepwater drillships and five high-specification jackups under construction.

For more information about Transocean, please visit: www.deepwater.com.

Analyst Contacts:
Thad Vayda               
+1 713-232-7551                                  

Diane Vento
+1 713-232-8015

Media Contact:
Pam Easton                                       
+1 713-232-7647

Notes

(1) Annual Effective Tax Rate is defined as income tax expense from continuing operations excluding various discrete items (such as changes in estimates and tax on items excluded from income before income tax expense), divided by income from continuing operations before income tax expense excluding gains on sales and similar items pursuant to the accounting standards for income taxes. See the accompanying schedule entitled "Supplemental Effective Tax Rate Analysis."

(2) Revenue efficiency is defined as actual contract drilling revenues for the measurement period divided by the maximum revenue calculated for the measurement period, expressed as a percentage.  Maximum revenue is defined as the greatest amount of contract drilling revenues the drilling unit could earn for the measurement period, excluding amounts related to incentive provisions. See the accompanying schedule entitled "Revenue Efficiency."

(3) Rig utilization is defined as the total number of operating days divided by the total number of rig calendar days in the measurement period, expressed as a percentage. See the accompanying schedule entitled "Utilization."

(4) Effective Tax Rate is defined as income tax expense for continuing operations divided by income from continuing operations before income taxes. See the accompanying schedule entitled "Supplemental Effective Tax Rate Analysis."

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FLEET OPERATING STATISTICS

TRANSOCEAN LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FLEET OPERATING STATISTICS (continued)

Transocean Ltd. and Subsidiaries
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share
(in US$ millions, except per share data)

	QTD
	03/31/15
Adjusted Net Income
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest, as reported	$(483)
Add back (subtract):
One-time termination benefits	5
Loss on impairment of assets	874
Gain on disposal of assets, net	(1)
Loss from discontinued operations	2
Discrete tax items and other, net	1
Net income, as adjusted	$398
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Diluted earnings (loss) per share, as reported	$(1.33)
Add back (subtract):
One-time termination benefits	0.01
Loss on impairment of assets	2.41
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-
Loss from discontinued operations	0.01
Discrete tax items and other, net	-
Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted	$1.10

	YTD	QTD	YTD	QTD	YTD	QTD	QTD
	12/31/14	12/31/14	09/30/14	09/30/14	06/30/14	06/30/14	03/31/14
Adjusted Net Income
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest, as reported	$(1,913)	$(739)	$(1,174)	$(2,217)	$1,043	$587	$456
Add back (subtract):
Litigation matters	(12)	-	(12)	(14)	2	-	2
One-time termination benefits	9	1	8	3	5	4	1
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other assets	3,826	1,140	2,686	2,621	65	-	65
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	(2)	(4)	2	3	(1)	(1)	-
Loss on retirement of debt	13	8	5	-	5	4	1
Loss on disposal of assets in discontinued operations	10	-	10	-	10	-	10
Loss (income) from discontinued operations	10	4	6	1	5	7	(2)
Discrete tax items and other, net	(138)	(66)	(72)	(45)	(27)	(14)	(13)
Net income, as adjusted	$1,803	$344	$1,459	$352	$1,107	$587	$520
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Diluted earnings (loss) per share, as reported	$(5.29)	$(2.04)	$(3.24)	$(6.12)	$2.86	$1.61	$1.25
Add back (subtract):
Litigation matters	(0.03)	-	(0.03)	(0.04)	0.01	-	0.01
One-time termination benefits	0.02	-	0.02	0.01	0.01	0.01	-
Loss on impairment of goodwill and other assets	10.53	3.15	7.39	7.22	0.19	-	0.19
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net	(0.01)	(0.01)	0.01	0.01	-	-	-
Loss on retirement of debt	0.04	0.02	0.01	-	0.01	0.01	-
Loss on disposal of assets in discontinued operations	0.03	-	0.03	-	0.03	-	0.03
Loss (income) from discontinued operations	0.03	0.01	0.02	-	0.01	0.02	(0.01)
Discrete tax items and other, net	(0.38)	(0.18)	(0.21)	(0.12)	(0.08)	(0.04)	(0.04)
Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted	$4.94	$0.95	$4.00	$0.96	$3.04	$1.61	$1.43

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