United states securities and exchange commission

 

The increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, was primarily due to a reduction in capitalized interest on the Pacific Meltem and the Pacific Zonda .

Gain on debt extinguishment . During the year ended December 31, 2016, we repurchased $60.6 million of our 2017 Senior Secured Notes for a purchase price of $23.6 million plus accrued interest. We recorded the resulting gain, net of the corresponding unamortized deferred financing costs and debt discount, of $36.2 million, as a gain on debt extinguishment in our statements of operations.

Other expense . The change in other expense primarily related to currency exchange fluctuations.

Income taxes . The decrease in income tax expense was primarily due to expiration of the contract for the Pacific Khamsin  in December 2015 and the contract for the Pacific Bora in September 2016. The decrease was partially offset by a decrease in uncertain tax positions in 2015.

The relationship between our provision for or benefit from income taxes and our pre-tax book income can vary significantly from period to period considering, among other factors, (a) the overall level of pre-tax book income, (b) changes in the blend of income that is taxed based on gross revenues or at high effective tax rates versus pre-tax book income or at low effective tax rates and (c) our rig operating structures. Consequently, our income tax expense does not necessarily change proportionally with our pre-tax book income. Significant decreases in our pre-tax book income typically result in higher effective tax rates, while significant increases in pre-tax book income can lead to lower effective tax rates, subject to the other factors impacting income tax expense noted above. Additionally, pre-tax book losses typically result in negative effective tax rates. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, our effective tax rate was (146.9)% and 18.6%, respectively.

The decrease in our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 to negative levels, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 was the result of our idle drillships, which are generating losses for which no tax benefit is expected.

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Year ended December 31, 2015 compared to Year ended December 31, 2014

The following table provides a comparison of our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:

		Years Ended December 31,
		2015			2014			Change			% Change
		(in thousands, except percentages)
Revenues
Contract drilling		$	1,085,063		$	1,085,794		$	(731)		—%
Costs and expenses
Operating expenses			(431,261)			(459,617)			28,356		6%
General and administrative expenses			(55,511)			(57,662)			2,151		4%
Depreciation expense			(243,457)			(199,337)			(44,120)		22%
Loss from construction contract rescission			(40,155)			—			(40,155)		100%
Operating income			314,679			369,178			(54,499)		15%
Other expense
Interest expense			(156,361)			(130,130)			(26,231)		20%
Other expense			(3,217)			(5,171)			1,954		38%
Income before income taxes			155,101			233,877			(78,776)		34%
Income tax expense			(28,871)			(45,620)			16,749		37%
Net income		$	126,230		$	188,257		$	(62,027)		33%

 

Revenues. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 were in line with the year ended December 31, 2014 because of an increase from higher revenue efficiency and higher average contractual dayrates in 2015 offset by a decrease in the amortization of deferred revenue.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, our operating fleet of drillships achieved an average revenue efficiency of 94.7%, compared to 93.1% during the year ended December 31, 2014. Average contractual dayrates for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $556,000 and $518,000, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, amortization of deferred revenue decreased to $86.3 million from $109.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease in the amortization of deferred revenue was primarily due to completion of the primary contract term for the Pacific Bora in August 2014 and for the Pacific Mistral in February 2015, partially offset by a full year of deferred revenue recognition in 2015 for the Pacific Sharav . Contract drilling revenue for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 also included reimbursable revenues of $28.8 million and $28.7 million, respectively.

Operating Expenses.  The following table summarizes operating expenses:

		Years Ended December 31,
		2015			2014
		(in   thousands)
Direct rig related operating expenses, net		$	345,504		$	346,475
Reimbursable costs			27,286			26,022
Shore-based and other support costs			32,520			35,947
Amortization of deferred costs			25,951			51,173
Total		$	431,261		$	459,617

 

Direct rig related operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were in line with the year ended December 31, 2014 despite approximately 20% more rig months in 2015 compared to 2014 due to our cost savings measures.

Reimbursable costs are not included under the scope of the drilling contract’s initial dayrate, but are subject to reimbursement from our clients. Reimbursable costs can be highly variable between periods. Because the reimbursement of these costs by our clients is recorded as additional revenue, they do not generally negatively affect our margins.

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The decrease in amortization of deferred costs was primarily due to completion of the primary contract term for the Pacific Bora in August 2014 and for the Pacific Mistral in February 2015, partially offset by the additional deferred costs for the Pacific Sharav .

Direct rig related operating expenses and shore-based and other support costs divided by the number of operating and idle rig days were as follows:

		Years Ended December 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands, amounts per rig per day)
Direct rig related operating expenses, net		$	149.1		$	177.6
Shore-based and other support costs			14.0			18.4
Total		$	163.1		$	196.0

 

The decrease in direct rig related operating expenses per operating rig per day for the year ended December 31, 2015 was attributable to cost saving measures implemented on both operating and smart stacked drillships.

The decrease in shore-based and other support costs per operating rig per day for the year ended December 31, 2015 was due to a significant reduction in Brazil office overhead, leveraging our shore-based resources to service a larger fleet, as well as the implementation of cost savings measures.

General and administrative expenses . The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 was due to our cost savings measures.

Depreciation expense . The increase in depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 related to the depreciation expense incurred on the Pacific Sharav and the Pacific Meltem , after being placed into service on August 27, 2014 and August 25, 2015 respectively.

Loss on construction contract rescission . We recognized a $40.2 million loss in 2015 in connection with the rescission of the Construction Contract for the Pacific Zonda . See Note 4 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in this annual report for additional information.

Interest expense . The following table summarizes interest expense:

		Years Ended December 31,
		2015			2014
		(in thousands)
Interest		$	(183,800)		$	(185,261)
Realized losses on interest rate swaps			(9,643)			(6,959)
Capitalized interest			37,082			62,090
Interest expense		$	(156,361)		$	(130,130)

 

The increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily due to a reduction in capitalized interest resulting from placing the Pacific Sharav and the Pacific Meltem into service.

Other expense . The decrease in other expense was due primarily to lower foreign currency exchange losses.

Income taxes . The decrease in income tax expense was primarily due to a decrease in uncertain tax positions. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in taxes for the full year of operations for the Pacific Sharav and changes in our tax structures in certain jurisdictions.

The relationship between our provision for or benefit from income taxes and our pre-tax book income can vary significantly from period to period considering, among other factors, (a) the overall level of pre-tax book income, (b) changes in the blend of income that is taxed based on gross revenues or at high effective tax rates versus pre-tax book income or at low effective tax rates and (c) our rig operating structures. Consequently, our income tax expense does not necessarily change proportionally with our pre-tax book income. Significant decreases in our pre-tax book income typically result in higher effective tax rates, while significant increases in pre-tax book income can lead to lower

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effective tax rates, subject to the other factors impacting income tax expense noted above. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, our effective tax rate was 18.6% and 19.5%, respectively.

Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 decreased primarily as a result of a decrease in uncertain tax positions. The decrease was partially offset by the negative impact of changes in our tax structures in certain jurisdictions.