Tidewater Reports 1Q Earnings

Tidewater Inc. has announced first quarter net earnings for the period ended June 30, 2011, of $24.6 million, or $0.48 per share, on revenues of $254.6 million. For the same quarter last year, net earnings were $39.8 million, or $0.77 per share, on revenues of $262.5 million. The immediately preceding quarter ended March 31, 2011, had net earnings of $12 million, or $0.23 per common share, on revenues of $254 million.

Included in net earnings for the March 31, 2011 quarter were:
- a $6.3 million ($6.3 million after-tax, or $0.12 per common share) charge to general and administrative expenses related to a previously disclosed settlement with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
- a $3.9 million ($3.0 million after-tax, or $0.06 per common share) impairment charge included in “Gain on asset disposition, net” related to a write-down to estimated fair market value of eleven vessels and related parts inventory that are expected to be sold to a scrap dealer.
- an effective income tax rate for the quarter of 52.6%, in part reflecting the impact of the two previously discussed charges which have virtually no related tax benefits. The quarterly effective tax rate also reflects an increase in the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate exclusive of discrete items (including the two discussed above) from approximately 23% to the final fiscal 2011 effective tax rate excluding discrete items of approximately 26%. The impact of this increased tax rate on fourth fiscal quarter diluted earnings per share totaled $0.10, with $0.02 per common share pertaining to fourth quarter earnings and $0.08 per common share related to the cumulative effect on income tax expense related to the three prior quarters’ earnings.

As previously announced, Tidewater will hold a conference call to discuss June quarterly earnings on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. Central time. Investors and interested parties may listen to the teleconference via telephone by calling 1-888-388-7493 if calling from the U.S. or Canada (1-706-679-8348 if calling from outside the U.S.) and ask for the “Tidewater” call just prior to the scheduled start. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. Central time on August 4, 2011, and will continue until 11:59 p.m. Central time on August 6, 2011. To hear the replay, call 1-855-859-2056 or (1-404-537-3406 if calling from outside the U.S.). The conference call ID number is 83160260.