HOUSTON, Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: KEG) reported third quarter 2012 consolidated revenues of $490.9 million, generating income from continuing operations of $22.1 million, or $0.15 per share. Second quarter 2012 consolidated revenues were $516.0 million with income from continuing operations of $31.5 million, or $0.21 per share.

On a consolidated basis, the Company recorded a net loss of $38.1 million, or $0.25 per share. This includes a loss of $60.2 million, or $0.40 per share, associated with the sale of the Argentina business, reflected in discontinued operations. Second quarter 2012 consolidated net income was $29.0 million, or $0.19 per share, which includes a loss from discontinued operations of $2.5 million, or $0.02 per share.

The following table sets forth summary data from continuing operations for the third quarter 2012 and prior comparable quarterly periods.

U.S. Segment

Third quarter 2012 U.S. revenues were $397.8 million, down 7.8% compared to $431.6 million in the second quarter. Operating income was $60.1 million, or 15.1% of revenue, compared to $82.5 million, or 19.1% of revenue, in the second quarter 2012.

During the third quarter, Fluids Management Services revenues declined 15.1%, Coiled Tubing Services revenues declined 7.9%, and revenues from the frac stack and well testing businesses declined 35.8% sequentially due to lower activity and pricing. Combined, these businesses account for approximately 84% of the decline in U.S. revenues.

International Segment

Third quarter 2012 international revenues were $93.0 million, up 10.3% compared to prior quarter revenues of $84.4 million. Operating income was $19.4 million, or 20.8% of revenues. Second quarter 2012 operating income was $16.1 million, or 19.1% of revenues. The improvement in third quarter results was driven largely by higher activity in Mexico.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and Administrative (G&A) expenses were $53.6 million, or 10.9% of revenues. Second quarter 2012 G&A expenses were $58.1 million, or 11.3% of revenues. The decline in third quarter G&A expenses was primarily due to the reversal of previously accrued bonus compensation.

Capital Expenditures and Liquidity

Key's consolidated cash balance at September 30, 2012 was $38.3 million compared to $28.3 million at June 30, 2012. Capital expenditures were $90.4 million during the third quarter 2012 and $399.7 million through September 30, 2012.

Total debt at September 30, 2012 was $904.0 million compared to total debt of $874.5 million at June 30, 2012. At the end of the quarter, there was $271 million available under the Company's $550 million senior secured credit facility. Net debt to total capitalization at the end of the third quarter 2012 was 39.8%.

Overview and Outlook

Commenting on the results, Key's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dick Alario, stated, "Our U.S. results were negatively impacted by continued activity declines in natural gas markets, and we began to experience the effects of reduced customer spending in oil markets. Our international segment generated improved results as we continued to take advantage of opportunities to grow and increase profitability in Latin America and the Middle East."

Alario continued, "Regarding our fourth quarter outlook, we anticipate U.S. activity will trend lower through year end, driven by continued reductions in customer spending and typical year end seasonality. We expect fourth quarter U.S. revenues to decline approximately 6% to 8% and operating income margins to drop approximately 200 to 250 basis points compared to the third quarter. We believe fourth quarter international revenues will increase approximately 5% compared to the third quarter with approximately 100 to 200 basis points of sequential operating income margin improvement."

Conference Call Information

As previously announced, Key management will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2012 financial results on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. CDT. To access the call in the U.S. and Canada dial 888-794-4637. International callers should dial 660-422-4879. All callers should ask for the "Key Energy Services Conference Call" or provide the access code 32988824. The conference call will also be available live via the internet. To access the webcast, go to www.keyenergy.com and select "Investor Relations."  

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available on Thursday, November 1, 2012, beginning approximately two hours after the completion of the conference call and will remain available for one week.  To access the replay, call 855-859-2056 or 800-585-8367. The access code for the replay is 32988824. The replay will also be accessible at www.keyenergy.com under "Investor Relations" for a period of at least 90 days.

Re-casted Prior Period Financial Results from Continuing Operations

Key has recast certain prior period financial information to reflect its results from continuing operations, which exclude the Argentine operations. This recasted financial information is available on Key's website at www.keyenergy.com under "Investor Relations".

Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited):

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):

Consolidated Cash Flow Data (in thousands, unaudited):

Segment Revenue and Operating Income from continuing operations (in thousands, except for percentages, unaudited):

Following is a reconciliation of income from continuing operations attributable to Key as presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to EBITDA from continuing operations as required under Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Reconciliations of income from continuing operations to EBITDA (in thousands, except for percentages, unaudited):

"EBITDA" is defined as income or loss from continuing operations attributable to Key before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

"EBITDA" is a non-GAAP measure that is used as supplemental financial measures by the Company's management and directors and by external users of the Company's financial statements, such as investors, to assess:

• The financial performance of the Company's assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
• The ability of the Company's assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on its indebtedness;
• The Company's operating performance and return on invested capital as compared to those of other companies in the well services industry, without regard to financing methods and capital structure; and
• The Company's operating trends underlying the items that tend to be of a non-recurring nature.

EBITDA has limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities, or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income and these measures may vary among other companies. Limitations to using EBITDA as an analytical tool include:

• EBITDA does not reflect Key's current or future requirements for capital expenditures or capital commitments;
• EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements necessary to service, interest or principal payments on Key's debt;
• EBITDA does not reflect income taxes;
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
• Other companies in Key's industry may calculate EBITDA differently than Key does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure; and
• EBITDA is a different calculation from earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as defined for purposes of the financial covenants in the Company's senior secured credit facility, and therefore should not be relied upon for assessing compliance with covenants.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements as to matters that are not of historic fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Key's current expectations, estimates and projections about Key, its industry, its management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, and include statements regarding future operational and activity expectations, and anticipated financial performance in the fourth quarter of 2012. No assurance can be given that such expectations, estimates or projections will prove to have been correct. Whenever possible, these "forward-looking statements" are identified by words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates" and similar phrases.

Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including, but not limited to:  risks that Key will be unable to achieve its financial and operational projections, including quarterly projections of revenue and/or operating income margins (whether for Key as a whole or for geographic regions and/or business segments individually); risks that market fundamentals in the U.S. could further deteriorate or worsen beyond current expectations and/or that Key could experience further unexpected declines in activity and demand for its rig service, fluid management service, coiled tubing service, and fishing and rental service businesses; risks affecting Key's international operations, including risks related to growth in Mexico, other risks affecting Key's operations in Russia, and risks associated with expanding operations in Colombia, Oman and Bahrain; risks associated with the recently completed sale of Key's Argentine operations, including risk that Key may be unable to achieve the benefits contemplated under the transaction; risks, in responding to changing or declining market conditions, that Key may not be able to reduce, and could even experience increases in, the costs of labor, fuel, equipment and supplies employed and used in Key's businesses; risks relating to compliance with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, as well as actions by governmental and regulatory authorities; risks relating to changes in the demand for or the price of oil and natural gas; risks that Key may not be able to execute its capital expenditure program and/or that any such capital expenditure investments, if made, will not generate adequate returns; and other risks affecting Key's ability to maintain or improve operations, including its ability to maintain prices for services under market pricing pressures, weather risks, and the impact of potential increases in general and administrative expenses.

Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Key's control, Key's actual results and performance may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Other important risk factors that may affect Key's business, results of operations and financial position are discussed in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K and in other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Unless otherwise required by law, Key also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made here. However, readers should review carefully reports and documents that Key files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Key Energy Services
Key Energy Services is the largest onshore, rig-based well servicing contractor based on the number of rigs owned. Key provides a complete range of well intervention services and has operations in all major onshore oil and gas producing regions of the continental United States and internationally in Mexico, Colombia, the Middle East and Russia. 

Contact:
Gary Russell, Investor Relations
713-651-4434  

SOURCE Key Energy Services, Inc.