HOUSTON, Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS) today reported a GAAP net loss for the December 2014 quarter of $1.0 million, or a $0.03 loss per diluted share, compared to net income of $18.9 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago.

Adjusted net income, which excludes special items and asset disposition effects, decreased 21% to $24.7 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the December 2014 quarter, compared to $31.3 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, in the December 2013 quarter. Results for the December 2014 quarter were significantly impacted by foreign currency impacts of $13.9 million, which decreased diluted earnings per share, on an adjusted and unadjusted basis, by $0.31 for the period.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent ("adjusted EBITDAR"), which also excludes special items and asset disposition effects, was $109.1 million for the December 2014 quarter, an 8% increase from $100.7 million in the same period a year ago.

GAAP net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2014 decreased 55.7% to $69.2 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, from $156.4 million, or $4.28 per diluted share, in the same nine-month period a year ago. Adjusted net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2014 decreased 10% to $102.2 million, or $2.87 per diluted share, from $113.9 million, or $3.11 per diluted share, in the same nine-month period a year ago.  However, adjusted EBITDAR improved 12% to $347.5 million in the current year-to-date period from $311.0 million in the first nine months of our last fiscal year. Results for the nine months ended December 31, 2014 were also significantly impacted by foreign currency impacts of $27.3 million, which decreased diluted earnings per share, on an adjusted and unadjusted basis, by $0.60 for the period.

"The December 2014 quarter had similar financial results to our second quarter fiscal year 2015 and for similar reasons," said Jonathan E. Baliff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bristow Group.  "In spite of many challenges faced by our clients and employees, we were able to safely deliver top line revenue growth of over 15%. This revenue growth, and the continued delivery of significant positive cash flow from operations, drove an over $34 million increase in Bristow Value Added ("BVA"), improved returns on capital, and $410 million of ending liquidity during the first nine months of fiscal 2015. This BVA and operating cash flow increase in the face of global macro-economic volatility demonstrates the strength of our underlying business model, balance sheet and client relationships."

"The recent rapid decline in oil prices is leading to a reduction in capital expenditures by most of our clients. We anticipated these developments in the latter half of calendar 2014 and implemented a proactive strategy to help our clients meet their cost reduction objectives." Jonathan added, "We are also proactively making cost and capital efficiency improvements in partnership with our OEM and Lessor partners. This will allow our business model to thrive and capitalize on this environment for our clients, as we continue to execute our growth plan including the startup of the UK search and rescue contract in April 2015."

We continue to see top line strength in our operations driving improvements in adjusted EBITDAR year-over-year, with an increase in operating revenue of 15% for the December 2014 quarter and 18% for the first nine months of the fiscal year over the prior year periods. The results for the December 2014 quarter were significantly impacted by:

• Unfavorable foreign currency exchange impacts of $13.9 million driven primarily by a strengthening U.S. dollar, including $7.7 million reflected as a reduction in earnings from unconsolidated affiliates related to our affiliate in Brazil,
• An increase in general and administrative expense of $23.6 million primarily related to higher incentive compensation costs of $13.4 million, primarily resulting from improved year-over-year BVA and stock price performance versus our peer group, and higher professional fees of $5.1 million primarily related to ongoing Operational Excellence and other initiatives,
• Non-cash impairment charges related to aircraft of $25.6 million and inventory of $3.8 million, and
• The effect of an accounting correction of $5.3 million.

Adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, which are non-GAAP measures as discussed below, include the significant impact of foreign currency exchange impacts and general and administrative expense increases as these items are associated with our business operations. Foreign currency exchange impacts in the December 2014 quarter decreased earnings per share by $0.31, on an adjusted and unadjusted basis, compared to a $0.07 decrease in the December 2013 quarter.

Adjusted EBITDAR improved despite the impact of foreign currency exchange and increased general and administrative expenses as a result of the following:

• An increase in activity in our Europe business unit, including the addition of Eastern Airways in February 2014,
• The startup of new contracts in our Australia business unit,
• Improved contract terms in our West Africa business unit,
• The recovery of $1.8 million from an original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") provided in the form of maintenance credits that resulted from a settlement for aircraft performance issues and related costs that benefited results in our Europe and Australia business units, and
• A favorable shift in the mix to larger aircraft under contract and improved utilization that benefited our North America business unit.

Our net income and diluted earnings per share also were impacted by changes in our aircraft leasing.  Net income and diluted earnings per share, on an unadjusted and adjusted basis, were impacted by a pre-tax $18.0 million increase in rent expense over the December 2013 quarter, as we increased the number of leased aircraft.

In terms of cash generation from our business and management of our capital, net cash provided by operating activities was $162.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2014 compared to $137.3 million for the same period a year ago.  Our total liquidity, including cash on hand and availability on our revolving credit facility, was $412.4 million as of December 31, 2014 compared to $529.9 million as of March 31, 2014. Despite our use of significant cash for capital expenditures of $499.3 million and net debt pay down of $25.3 million year to date, our liquidity remains strong.

BUSINESS UNIT RESULTS

Europe Business Unit

Bristow acquired a 60% interest in Eastern Airways in February 2014, which contributed $34.8 million in operating revenue and $5.4 million in adjusted EBITDAR for the December 2014 quarter representing a significant portion of a 22.3% improvement in operating revenue and a 14.7% improvement in adjusted EBITDAR over the December 2013 quarter in our Europe Business Unit. Operating revenue and adjusted EBITDAR also improved due to an increase in activity and addition of a new contract in Norway. Adjusted EBITDAR also benefited from the recovery of $1.1 million in maintenance credits from an OEM during the December 2014 quarter, while being negatively affected by a $5.5 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency exchange rate changes.

West Africa Business Unit

Improved contract terms in our West Africa Business Unit resulted in a 1.4% increase in operating revenue for the December 2014 quarter compared to the December 2013 quarter. However, a $2.0 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency exchange rate changes effected adjusted EBITDAR during the December 2014 quarter. The increase in revenue and cost control measures implemented in the previous quarters are reflected in the 4.8% increase in adjusted EBITDAR to $27.9 million for the December 2014 quarter compared to $26.6 million for the December 2013 quarter, despite the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes.

North America Business Unit

The increase in the number of large aircraft on contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico drove a 13.6% increase in operating revenue in North America, partially offset by the planned closure of operations in Alaska and a decline in small aircraft on contract compared to the prior year quarter. This change in the mix of fleet on contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico to larger aircraft and improved utilization resulted in a 37.4% improvement in adjusted EBITDAR to $24.9 million in the December 2014 quarter compared to $18.2 million in the December 2013 quarter.

Australia Business Unit

Operating revenue for our Australia Business Unit increased 51.5% to $52.4 million in the December 2014 quarter from $34.6 million in the December 2013 quarter due to the ramp up of new contracts, including a significant contract with INPEX. As a result of the contracts and a benefit from the recovery of $0.7 million in maintenance credits from an OEM during the December 2014 quarter, adjusted EBITDAR increased to $13.3 million from $5.2 million in the December 2013 quarter. The results for the December 2014 quarter were negatively impacted by $1.5 million of unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes.

Other International Business Unit

Operating revenue for our Other International Business Unit increased 5.9% in the December 2014 quarter primarily due to a contract in Tanzania that started in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, partially offset by a decline in revenue due to contracts ending in Malaysia and Mexico and lower activity in Brazil and Trinidad. Adjusted EBITDAR for the December 2014 quarter decreased to $6.8 million compared to $10.2 million in the December 2013 quarter, primarily due to lower earnings from unconsolidated affiliates and the end of the contract in Malaysia, partially offset by the contract in Tanzania. Líder, our unconsolidated affiliate in Brazil, results for the December 2014 quarter were unfavorably impacted by $7.7 million from foreign currency exchange rate changes.

GUIDANCE

We are lowering our adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance for the full fiscal year 2015 to $4.05 to $4.45, primarily resulting from foreign currency exchange effects. Our previous guidance for the full fiscal year 2015 was $4.70 to $5.20.

"Our fiscal third quarter of 2015, similar to the second quarter of 2015, was impacted by foreign exchange and other costs, resulting in a decrease in earnings per share year over year.  Nevertheless, our management team is focused on our operating performance in this challenging environment, and we currently expect a strong fourth quarter of the fiscal year," said John H. Briscoe, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bristow Group. "Our global business continues to deliver increases in gross cash flow returns and BVA, while we continue to focus on creating a balanced return for our shareholders, especially the commitment to double the dividend every three to five years. Our dedicated employees have stepped up to the challenge, while remaining very focused on safety. For example, the team is raising the bar with significant optimization and efficiency efforts underway including a new global ERP system, the first phase of which went live in October 2014. We are focused on controlling costs and capital expenditures in this environment for our clients, our employees and our shareholders."

As a reminder, our adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance excludes the effect of special items and asset dispositions because their timing and amounts are more variable and less predictable.  Further, this guidance is based on current foreign currency exchange rates.  In providing this guidance, we have not included the impact of any changes in accounting standards or significant acquisitions and divestitures.  Events or other circumstances that we do not currently anticipate or cannot predict, including changes in the market and industry, could result in earnings per share for fiscal year 2015 that are significantly above or below this guidance.  Factors that could cause such changes are described below under the Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure and the Risk Factors in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 and annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.

DIVIDEND AND SHARE REPURCHASE

On February 5, 2015, our Board of Directors approved our sixteenth consecutive quarterly dividend. This dividend of $0.32 per share will be paid on March 16, 2015 to shareholders of record on February 27, 2015. Based on shares outstanding as of December 31, 2014, the total quarterly dividend payment will be approximately $11.1 million. On November 6, 2014, our Board of Directors extended the date to repurchase shares of our common stock through November 5, 2015 and increased the remaining authorized repurchase amount to a total of $150 million. During the December 2014 quarter, we spent $37.4 million to repurchase 565,622 shares of our common stock.  Since we first commenced a share repurchase program in December 2011, we have repurchased over 8% of our common stock. As of January 30, 2015, we had $125.0 million of repurchase authority remaining.

AIRNORTH TRANSACTION

On January 29, 2015, Bristow Helicopters Australia PTY LTD ("Bristow Helicopters Australia") acquired an 85% interest in Capiteq Limited, operating under the name Airnorth, for cash of A$30.3 million ($24.0 million) with possible earn out consideration of up to A$17 million ($13.5 million) to be paid over three years based on the achievement of specified financial performance thresholds. Airnorth is Northern Australia's largest regional fixed wing operator based in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia with both scheduled and charter services which focus primarily on the energy and mining industries in northern and western Australia as well as international service to Dili, Timor-Leste and the Philippines.  Airnorth's fleet consists of thirteen aircraft (nine turboprop and four new technology regional jets) and its customer base includes many energy companies to which Bristow Group already provides helicopter service. We believe this investment will strengthen our ability to provide point to point transportation services for existing Australian based passengers, expand helicopter services in certain areas in Southeast Asian markets and create a more integrated logistics solution for global clients.

The acquisition of Airnorth will be accounted for under the purchase method and the results will be consolidated from the date of acquisition in the Australia business unit. The purchase price will be allocated based on the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date.

We expect this acquisition will contribute approximately A$18 million ($14.4 million) in operating revenue and A$4.2 million ($3.3 million) of adjusted EBITDAR in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 and approximately A$105-115 million ($83-91 million) in operating revenue and A$25-30 million ($20-24 million) of adjusted EBITDAR for fiscal year 2016.

CONFERENCE CALL

Management will conduct a conference call starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (9:00 a.m. CT) on Friday, February  6, 2015 to review financial results for the fiscal year 2015 third quarter ended December 31, 2014.  This release and the most recent investor slide presentation are available in the investor relations area of our web page at www.bristowgroup.com.  The conference call can be accessed as follows:

Via Webcast:

• Visit Bristow Group's investor relations Web page at www.bristowgroup.com
• Live: Click on the link for "Bristow Group Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call"
• Replay: A replay via webcast will be available approximately one hour after the call's completion and will be accessible for approximately 90 days

Via Telephone within the U.S.:

• Live: Dial toll free 1-877-407-8293
• Replay: A telephone replay will be available through February 20, 2015 and may be accessed by calling toll free 1-877-660-6853, passcode: 13598729#

Via Telephone outside the U.S.:

• Live: Dial 1-201-689-8349
• Replay: A telephone replay will be available through February 20, 2015 and may be accessed by calling 1-201-612-7415, passcode: 13598729#

ABOUT BRISTOW GROUP INC.

Bristow Group Inc. is the leading provider of helicopter services to the worldwide offshore energy industry based on the number of aircraft operated and one of two helicopter service providers to the offshore energy industry with global operations.  The Company has major transportation operations in the North Sea, Nigeria and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, and in most of the other major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Russia and Trinidad.  For more information, visit the Company's website at www.bristowgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLOSURE

Statements contained in this news release that state the Company's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include statements regarding earnings guidance, expected contract revenue, capital deployment strategy, operational and capital performance, shareholder return, liquidity, market and industry conditions and the expected impact of the Airnorth acquisition.  It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.  Risks and uncertainties include without limitation:  fluctuations in the demand for our services; fluctuations in worldwide prices of and supply and demand for oil and natural gas; fluctuations in levels of oil and natural gas production, exploration and development activities; the impact of competition; actions by clients; the risk of reductions in spending on helicopter services by governmental agencies; changes in tax and other laws and regulations; changes in foreign exchange rates and controls; risks associated with international operations; operating risks inherent in our business, including the possibility of declining safety performance; general economic conditions including the capital and credit markets; our ability to obtain financing; the risk of grounding of segments of our fleet for extended periods of time or indefinitely; our ability to re-deploy our aircraft to regions with greater demand; our ability to acquire additional aircraft and dispose of older aircraft through sales into the aftermarket; the possibility that we do not achieve the anticipated benefit of our fleet investment program; availability of employees; and political instability, war or acts of terrorism in any of the countries where we operate.  Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 and annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.  Bristow Group Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, including financial estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Linda McNeill
Investor Relations
(713) 267-7622

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SOURCE Bristow Group Inc.