NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2007

 

Commission file number:  001-32657

 

 

Nabors Industries Ltd.

 

Incorporated in Bermuda
Mintflower Place
8 Par-La-Ville Road
Hamilton, HM08
Bermuda
(441) 292-1510

 

98-0363970
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer þ     Accelerated Filer o     Non-accelerated Filer o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

The number of common shares, par value $.001 per share, outstanding as of October 26, 2007 was 283,089,379. In addition, our subsidiary, Nabors Exchangeco (Canada) Inc., has 130,440 exchangeable shares outstanding as of October 26, 2007 that are exchangeable for Nabors common shares on a one-for-one basis, and have essentially identical rights as Nabors Industries Ltd. common shares, including but not limited to voting rights and the right to receive dividends, if any.

 

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX

 

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES

IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES

IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Nabors is the largest land drilling contractor in the world, with approximately 670 land drilling rigs. We conduct oil, gas and geothermal land drilling operations in the U.S. Lower 48 states, Alaska, Canada, South and Central America, the Middle East, the Far East and Africa. We are also one of the largest land well-servicing and workover contractors in the United States and Canada. We own approximately 635 land workover and well-servicing rigs in the United States, primarily in the southwestern and western United States, and approximately 191 land workover and well-servicing rigs in Canada. Nabors is a leading provider of offshore platform workover and drilling rigs, and actively markets 41 platform, 14 jack-up units and 4 barge rigs in the United States and multiple international markets. These rigs provide well-servicing, workover and drilling services. We have a 50% ownership interest in a joint venture in Saudi Arabia, which owns 18 rigs. We also offer a wide range of ancillary well-site services, including engineering, transportation, construction, maintenance, well logging, directional drilling, rig instrumentation, data collection and other support services in selected domestic and international markets. We provide logistics services for onshore drilling and well-servicing operations in Canada using helicopters and fixed-winged aircraft. We manufacture and lease or sell top drives for a broad range of drilling applications, directional drilling systems, rig instrumentation and data collection equipment, and rig reporting software. We also invest in oil and gas exploration, development and production activities.

 

The majority of our business is conducted through our various Contract Drilling operating segments, which include our drilling, workover and well-servicing operations, on land and offshore. Our oil and gas exploration, development and production operations are included in a category labeled Oil and Gas for segment reporting purposes. Our operating segments engaged in drilling technology and top drive manufacturing, directional drilling, rig instrumentation and software, and construction and logistics operations are aggregated in a category labeled Other Operating Segments for segment reporting purposes.

 

During the third quarter of 2007, we sold our Sea Mar business to an unrelated third party. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated statements of income, and the respective accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements, have been updated to retroactively reclassify the operating results of this Sea Mar business, previously included in Other Operating Segments, as a discontinued operation for all periods presented. See Note 10 Discontinued Operations.

 

As used in this Report, “we,” “us,” “our”, “the Company” and “Nabors” means Nabors Industries Ltd. and, where the context requires, includes our subsidiaries.

 

 

Interim Financial Information

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Nabors are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period to conform to the current period presentation, with no effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted. Therefore, these financial statements should be read along with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. In our management’s opinion, the consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position as of September 30, 2007 and the results of our operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, and our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, in accordance with GAAP. Interim results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 may not be indicative of results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2007.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm has performed a review of, and issued a report on, these consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with standards established by the Public Company

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Accounting Oversight Board. Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this report should not be considered a part of any registration statement prepared or certified within the meanings of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nabors, all majority-owned subsidiaries, and all non-majority owned subsidiaries required to be consolidated under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (“FIN 46R”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Investments in operating entities where we have the ability to exert significant influence, but where we do not control their operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method. Our share of the net income of these entities is recorded as Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates in our consolidated statements of income and our investment in these entities is carried as a single amount in our consolidated balance sheets. Investments in net assets of unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method totaled $134.4 million and $98.0 million as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, and are included in other long-term assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Similarly, investments in certain offshore funds classified as non-marketable are accounted for using the equity method of accounting based on our ownership interest in each fund. Our share of the gains and losses of these funds is recorded in investment (loss) income in our consolidated statements of income and our investments in these funds are included in long-term investments in our consolidated balance sheets.

 

 

The Company has several share-based employee compensation plans, which are more fully described in Note 3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” (“SFAS 123-R”), using the modified prospective application method.

 

Total share-based compensation expense, which includes both stock options and restricted stock, totaled $8.4 million and $7.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $24.7 million and $22.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. Share-based compensation expense has been allocated to our various operating segments (Note 11).

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company awarded 1,740,763 shares of restricted stock to its employees, directors and executive officers. These awards had an aggregate value at their date of grant of $52.5 million and vest over a period of three to four years.

 

 

Our $700 million zero coupon senior exchangeable notes due 2023 can be put to us on June 15, 2008, June 15, 2013 and June 15, 2018 for a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus contingent interest and additional amounts, if any. Accordingly, as our $700 million zero coupon senior exchangeable notes can be put to us on June 15, 2008, the outstanding principal amount of these notes of $700 million were reclassified from long-term debt to current liabilities in our balance sheet as of June 30, 2007. If these notes are not put to us on June 15, 2008, the notes will be reclassified back to long-term debt at that time.

 

 

Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” In connection with the adoption of FIN 48, the Company recognized increases of $24 million and $21 million to its tax reserves for uncertain tax positions and interest and penalties,

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

respectively. These increases were accounted for as an increase to other long-term liabilities and as a reduction to retained earnings at January 1, 2007. As of January 1, 2007, the Company had approximately $114.1 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, including $29.8 million of interest and penalties, which also represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably impact the effective income tax rate in future periods. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had approximately $74.1 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, including $26.0 million of interest and penalties, recorded as other long-term liabilities. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company accrued and recognized estimated interest and penalties of approximately $1.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

 

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. U.S. federal income tax returns for 2004 and 2005 are currently under examination. Internationally, income tax returns from 1995 through 2005 are currently under examination. Based on the number of tax years currently under audit by relevant Federal, State and foreign tax authorities, the Company anticipates that several of these audits could be finalized within 12 months. As a result, it is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized benefits with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. However, based on the current status of examinations, and the protocol for finalizing audits with the relevant tax authorities, which could include formal legal proceedings, it is not possible to estimate the future impact of the amount of changes, if any, to recorded uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2007. Due to recent examinations, our FIN 48 tax reserves were reduced by $38.6 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2007.

 

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income tax matters in the income tax expense line item in the consolidated statement of income.

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, our employees exercised vested options to acquire 4.5 million and 1.0 million of our common shares, respectively, resulting in proceeds of $60.4 million and $21.9 million, respectively.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2007, our outstanding shares increased by 729,866 related to a share settlement of stock options exercised by Mr. Isenberg. As part of the share settlement, Mr. Isenberg surrendered 4,142,812 unexercised vested stock options to the Company with a value of approximately $29.7 million to satisfy the stock options exercise price and related income taxes owed.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, there were no repurchases of our common shares in the open market. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we repurchased 40.2 million of our common shares in the open market for $1.4 billion. We retired 17.9 million shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and held 22.2 million of these shares in treasury.

 

 

Commitments

 

Employment Contracts

 

Nabors’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Eugene M. Isenberg, and its Deputy Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer, Anthony G. Petrello, have employment agreements which were amended and restated effective October 1, 1996 and which currently are due to expire on September 30, 2010.

 

Mr. Isenberg’s employment agreement was originally negotiated with a creditor’s committee in 1987 in connection with the reorganization proceedings of Anglo Energy, Inc., which subsequently changed its name to Nabors. These contractual arrangements subsequently were approved by the various constituencies in those reorganization proceedings, including equity and debt holders, and confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court.

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Mr. Petrello’s employment agreement was first entered into effective October 1, 1991. Mr. Petrello’s employment agreement was agreed upon as part of arm’s length negotiations with the Board before he joined Nabors in October 1991 and was reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board and the full Board of Directors at that time.

 

The employment agreements for Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello were amended in 1994 and 1996. These amendments were approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board and the full Board of Directors at that time.

 

The employment agreements each provide for an initial term of five years with an evergreen provision which automatically extended the agreement for an additional one-year term on each anniversary date, unless Nabors provided notice to the contrary ten days prior to such anniversary. In March 2006, the Board of Directors exercised its election to fix the expiration date of the employment agreements for Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello and accordingly, these agreements will expire at the end of their current term at September 30, 2010.

 

In addition to a base salary, the employment agreements provide for annual cash bonuses in an amount equal to 6% and 2%, for Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello, respectively, of Nabors’ net cash flow (as defined in the respective employment agreements) in excess of 15% of the average shareholders’ equity for each fiscal year. (Mr. Isenberg’s cash bonus formula originally was set at 10% in excess of a 10% return on shareholders’ equity and he has voluntarily reduced it over time to its 6% in excess of 15% level.) Mr. Petrello’s bonus is subject to a minimum of $700,000 per year. In 17 of the last 18 years, Mr. Isenberg has agreed voluntarily to accept a lower annual cash bonus (i.e., an amount lower than the amount provided for under his employment agreement) in light of his overall compensation package. Mr. Petrello has agreed voluntarily to accept a lower annual cash bonus (i.e., an amount lower than the amount provided for under his employment agreement) in light of his overall compensation package in 14 of the last 17 years.

 

Mr. Isenberg voluntarily agreed to amend his employment agreement in March 2006 (the “2006 Amendment”). Under the 2006 Amendment, Mr. Isenberg agreed to reduce the annual cash bonus to an amount equal to 3% of Nabors’ net cash flow (as defined in his employment agreement) in excess of 15% of the average shareholders’ equity for 2006. For 2006, the annual cash bonuses for Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello pursuant to the formula described in their employment agreements, as amended per the 2006 Amendment described above, were $43.2 million and $28.7 million, respectively. In light of their overall compensation package including significant restricted stock awards, they agreed to accept cash bonuses in the amount of $22.0 million and $14.6 million, respectively.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2007, Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello voluntarily agreed to a reduction of the cash bonus in an amount equal to 3% and 1.5%, respectively, of Nabors’ net cash flow (as defined in their respective employment agreements.) Mr. Isenberg voluntarily agreed to the same reduction for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and agreed to a $3 million reduction in the amount of his annual cash bonus for the three months ended September 30, 2007. For the remainder of 2007 through the expiration date of the employment agreement, the annual cash bonus will remain 6% and 2%, respectively, for Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello of Nabors’ net cash flow in excess of 15% of the average shareholders’ equity for each fiscal year.

 

Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello also are eligible for awards under Nabors’ equity plans and may participate in annual long-term incentive programs and pension and welfare plans, on the same basis as other executives; and may receive special bonuses from time to time as determined by the Board.

 

Termination in the event of death, disability, or termination without cause.  In the event that either Mr. Isenberg’s or Mr. Petrello’s employment agreement is terminated (i) upon death or disability (as defined in the respective employment agreements), (ii) by Nabors prior to the expiration date of the employment agreement for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in the respective employment agreements) or (iii) by either individual for Constructive Termination Without Cause (as defined in the respective employment agreements), each would be entitled to receive within 30 days of the triggering event (a) all base salary which would have been payable through

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

the expiration date of the contract or three times his then current base salary, whichever is greater; plus (b) the greater of (i) all annual cash bonuses which would have been payable through the expiration date; (ii) three times the highest bonus (including the imputed value of grants of stock awards and stock options), paid during the last three fiscal years prior to termination; or (iii) three times the highest annual cash bonus payable for each of the three previous fiscal years prior to termination, regardless of whether the amount was paid. In computing any amount due under (b)(i) and (iii) above, the calculation is made without regard to the 2006 Amendment or the amounts agreed to for 2007 reducing Mr. Isenberg’s and Mr. Petrello’s bonus percentages as described above. If, by way of example, these provisions had applied at September 30, 2007, Mr. Isenberg would have been entitled to a payment of approximately $328 million, subject to a “true-up” equal to the amount of cash bonus he would have earned under the formula during the remaining term of the agreement, based upon actual results, but the payment would not be less than approximately $264 million. Similarly, with respect to Mr. Petrello, had these provisions applied at September 30, 2007, Mr. Petrello would have been entitled to a payment of approximately $111 million, subject to a “true-up” equal to the amount of cash bonus he would have earned under the formula during the remaining term of the agreement, based upon actual results, but the payment would not be less than approximately $103 million. These payment amounts are based on historical data and are not intended to be estimates of future payments required under the agreements. Depending upon future operating results, the “true-up” could result in the payment of amounts which are significantly higher. The Company does not have insurance to cover its obligations in the event of death, disability, or termination without cause for either Messrs. Isenberg or Petrello. In addition, the affected individual is entitled to receive (a) any unvested restricted stock outstanding, which shall immediately and fully vest; (b) any unvested outstanding stock options, which shall immediately and fully vest; (c) any amounts earned, accrued or owing to the executive but not yet paid (including executive benefits, life insurance, disability benefits and reimbursement of expenses and perquisites), which shall be continued through the later of the expiration date or three years after the termination date; (d) continued participation in medical, dental and life insurance coverage until the executive receives equivalent benefits or coverage through a subsequent employer or until the death of the executive or his spouse, whichever is later; and (e) any other or additional benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs of Nabors. For Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello, the values of unvested restricted stock were approximately $28 million and $17 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2007. Neither Messrs. Isenberg nor Petrello had unvested stock options as of September 30, 2007. Estimates of the cash value of Nabors’ obligations to Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello under (c), (d) and (e) above are included in the payment amounts above.

 

As noted above in March 2006, the Board of Directors exercised its election to fix the expiration date of the employment agreements for Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello such that each of these agreements expires at the end of their respective current term at September 30, 2010. Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello have informed the Board of Directors that they have reserved their rights under their employment agreements with respect to the notice setting the expiration dates of their employment agreements, including whether such notice could trigger an acceleration of certain payments pursuant to their employment agreements.

 

Termination in the event of a Change in Control.  In the event that Messrs. Isenberg’s or Petrello’s termination of employment is related to a Change in Control (as defined in their respective employment agreements), they would be entitled to receive a cash amount equal to the greater of (a) one dollar less than the amount that would constitute an “excess parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, or (b) the cash amount that would be due in the event of a constructive Termination Without Cause, as described above. If, by way of example, there was a change of control event that applied on September 30, 2007, then the payments to Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello would be approximately $328 million and $111 million, respectively. These payment amounts are based on historical data and are not intended to be estimates of future payments required under the agreements. Depending upon future operating results, the “true-up” could result in the payment of amounts which are significantly higher but the payment would not be less than $264 million and $103 million, respectively. In addition, they would receive (a) any unvested restricted stock outstanding, which shall immediately and fully vest; (b) any unvested outstanding stock options, which shall immediately and fully vest; (c) any amounts earned, accrued or owing to the executive but not yet paid (including executive benefits, life insurance, disability benefits

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

and reimbursement of expenses and perquisites), which shall be continued through the later of the expiration date or three years after the termination date; (d) continued participation in medical, dental and life insurance coverage until the executive receives equivalent benefits or coverage through a subsequent employer or until the death of the executive or his spouse, whichever is later; and (e) any other or additional benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs of Nabors. For Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello, the values of unvested restricted stock were approximately $28 million and $17 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2007. Neither Messrs. Isenberg nor Petrello had unvested stock options as of September 30, 2007. The cash value of Nabors’ obligations to Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello under (c), (d) and (e) above are included in the payment amounts above. Also, they would receive additional stock options immediately exercisable for 5 years to acquire a number of shares of common stock equal to the highest number of options granted during any fiscal year in the previous three fiscal years, at an option exercise price equal to the average closing price during the 20 trading days prior to the event which resulted in the change of control. If, by way of example, there was a change of control event that applied at September 30, 2007, Mr. Isenberg would have received 3,366,666 options valued at approximately $36 million and Mr. Petrello would have received 1,683,332 options valued at approximately $18 million, in each case based upon a Black-Scholes analysis. Finally, in the event that an excise tax was applicable, they would receive a gross-up payment to make them whole with respect to any excise taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. With respect to the preceding sentence, by way of example, if there was a change of control event that applied on September 30, 2007, and assuming that the excise tax was applicable to the transaction, then the additional payments to Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello for the gross-up would be up to approximately $146 million and $51 million, respectively.

 

Other Obligations.  In addition to salary and bonus, each of Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello receive group life insurance at an amount at least equal to three times their respective base salaries; various split-dollar life insurance policies, reimbursement of expenses, various perquisites and a personal umbrella insurance policy in the amount of $5 million. Premiums payable under the split-dollar life insurance policies were suspended as a result of the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Contingencies

 

Income Tax Contingencies

 

We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. We are regularly under audit by tax authorities. Although we believe our tax reserves are reasonable, the final determination of tax audits and any related litigation could be materially different than that which is reflected in our income tax provisions and accruals. Based on the results of an audit or litigation, a material effect on our financial position, income tax provision, net income, or cash flows in the period or periods for which that determination is made could result.

 

It is possible that future changes to tax laws (including tax treaties) could have an impact on our ability to realize the tax savings recorded to date as well as future tax savings as a result of our corporate reorganization, depending on any responsive action taken by us.

 

On May 31, 2006, Nabors International Finance Inc. (“NIFI”), a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Nabors, received from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) two Notices of Proposed Adjustment (“NOPA”) in connection with an audit of NIFI for tax years 2002 and 2003. One NOPA proposes to deny a deduction of $85.1 million in interest expense in our 2002 tax year relating to intercompany indebtedness incurred in connection with our June 2002 transaction, whereby we reorganized as a Bermuda company. The second NOPA proposes to deny a deduction of $207.6 million in the same item of interest expense in our 2003 tax year. On August 9, 2006, NIFI received a Revenue Agent Report, asserting the adjustments relating to the two NOPAs referred to above. On September 18, 2006, NIFI filed a protest with the IRS related to the two adjustments. We previously had obtained

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

advice from our tax advisors that the deduction of such amounts was appropriate, and more recently that the position of the IRS lacks merit. At the end of 2003, the Company paid off approximately one-half of the intercompany indebtedness incurred in connection with the inversion. On August 30, 2007, the Company was notified by the Appeals Division of the IRS that neither NOPA had been sustained. The IRS could propose the disallowance of the deductions that relate to the remaining inversion debt upon audit of NIFI’s 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 tax years. We have not recorded any reserves related to the foregoing matters.

 

On September 14, 2006, Nabors Drilling International Limited (“NDIL”), a wholly-owned Bermuda subsidiary of Nabors, received a Notice of Assessment (the “Notice”) from the Mexican Servicio de Administracion Tributaria (the “SAT”) in connection with the audit of NDIL’s Mexican branch for tax year 2003. The Notice proposes to deny a depreciation expense deduction that relates to drilling rigs operating in Mexico in 2003, as well as a deduction for payments made to an affiliated company for the provision of labor services in Mexico. The amount assessed by the SAT is approximately $19.8 million (including interest and penalties). Nabors and its tax advisors previously concluded that the deduction of said amounts was appropriate and more recently that the position of the SAT lacks merit. NDIL’s Mexican branch took similar deductions for depreciation and labor expenses in 2004, 2005 and 2006. It is likely that the SAT will propose the disallowance of these deductions upon audit of NDIL’s Mexican branch’s 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 tax years.

 

Self-Insurance Accruals

 

We are self-insured for certain losses relating to workers’ compensation, employers’ liability, general liability, automobile liability and property damage. Effective April 1, 2007, hurricane coverage for Gulf of Mexico exposures is subject to a $10 million deductible. We are insured for $25 million over the deductible at 100%, and have added a second insured layer for $30 million at 60%. We are self-insuring 40% of the second layer.

 

Litigation

 

Nabors and its subsidiaries are defendants or otherwise involved in a number of lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. We estimate the range of our liability related to pending litigation when we believe the amount and range of loss can be estimated. We record our best estimate of a loss when the loss is considered probable. When a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss with no best estimate in the range, we record the minimum estimated liability related to the lawsuits or claims. As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability related to our pending litigation and claims and revise our estimates. Due to uncertainties related to the resolution of lawsuits and claims, the ultimate outcome may differ from our estimates. In the opinion of management and based on liability accruals provided, our ultimate exposure with respect to these pending lawsuits and claims is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or cash flows, although they could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for a particular reporting period.

 

On December 22, 2005, we received a grand jury subpoena from the United States Attorney’s Office in Anchorage, Alaska, seeking documents and information relating to an alleged spill, discharge, overflow or cleanup of drilling mud or sludge involving one of our rigs during March 2003. We are cooperating with the authorities in this matter.

 

On February 6, 2007, a purported shareholder derivative action entitled Kenneth H. Karstedt v. Eugene M. Isenberg, et al was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas against the Company’s officers and directors, and against the Company as a nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that stock options were priced retroactively and were improperly accounted for, and alleges various causes of action based on that assertion. The complaint seeks, among other things, payment by the defendants to the Company of damages allegedly suffered by it and disgorgement of profits. On March 5, 2007, another purported shareholder derivative action entitled Gail McKinney v. Eugene M. Isenberg, et al was also filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The complaint makes substantially the same allegations against the same defendants and

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

seeks the same elements of damages. The two purported derivative actions have been consolidated into one proceeding. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007, a review was conducted of the Company’s granting practices and accounting for certain employee equity awards to both the senior executives of the Company and other employees from 1988 through 2006. Based on the results of the review, the Company recorded a noncash charge of $38.3 million, net of tax, at December 31, 2006. The Company determined that no restatement of its historical financial statements was necessary because there were no findings of fraud or intentional wrongdoing, and because the effects of certain revised measurement dates were not material in any fiscal year.

 

In a letter dated December 28, 2006, the SEC staff advised us that it had commenced an informal inquiry regarding our stock option grants and related practices, procedures and accounting. By letter dated May 7, 2007, the SEC staff informed us they had closed the investigation without any recommendation of enforcement action.

 

On July 5, 2007, we received an inquiry from the U.S. Department of Justice relating to its investigation of one of our vendors and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. We are reviewing certain transactions with this vendor, which provides freight forwarding and customs clearance services, and intend to cooperate with the Department of Justice inquiry. The ultimate outcome of this review cannot be determined at this time.

 

On October 17, 2007, we settled a dispute with a vendor. Pursuant to the settlement, we received an equity interest in a parent company of the vendor, we, in consideration of which, granted the vendor a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use certain technology, and the parties each executed a mutual release of claims against each other.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements (Including Guarantees)

 

We are a party to certain transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements defined as “off-balance sheet arrangements” that could have a material future effect on our financial position, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. The most significant of these off-balance sheet arrangements involve agreements and obligations in which we provide financial or performance assurance to third parties. Certain of these agreements serve as guarantees, including standby letters of credit issued on behalf of insurance carriers in conjunction with our workers’ compensation insurance program and other financial surety instruments such as bonds. We have also guaranteed payment of contingent consideration in conjunction with certain acquisitions in 2005. Potential contingent consideration is based on future operating results of those businesses. In addition, we have provided indemnifications to certain third parties which serve as guarantees. These guarantees include indemnification provided by Nabors to our share transfer agent and our insurance carriers. We are not able to estimate the potential future maximum payments that might be due under our indemnification guarantees.

 

Management believes the likelihood that we would be required to perform or otherwise incur any material losses associated with any of these guarantees is remote. The following table summarizes the total maximum amount of financial and performance guarantees issued by Nabors:

 

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations is as follows:

 

 

 

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

For all periods presented, the computation of diluted earnings per share excludes outstanding stock options and warrants with exercise prices greater than the average market price of Nabors’ common shares, because the inclusion of such options and warrants would be anti-dilutive. The average number of options and warrants that were excluded from diluted earnings per share that would potentially dilute earnings per share in the future were 4,601,925 and 4,327,513 shares during the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 4,629,158 and 2,443,254 shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In any period during which the average market price of Nabors’ common shares exceeds the exercise prices of these stock options and warrants, such stock options and warrants will be included in our diluted earnings per share computation using the treasury stock method of accounting. Restricted stock will similarly be included in our diluted earnings per share computation using the treasury stock method of accounting in any period where the amount of restricted stock exceeds the number of shares assumed repurchased in those periods based upon future unearned compensation.

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

Accrued liabilities include the following:

 

 

Our cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments consist of the following:

 

 

As of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, our short-term investments consist entirely of investments in available-for-sale marketable debt securities while our long-term investments consist entirely of investments in non-marketable securities. The $43.6 million represents cash proceeds receivable from the sale of certain non-marketable securities. The cash proceeds were received during October.

 

Investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2007 was a net loss of $27.5 million compared to income of $37.2 million during the prior year quarter. The loss during the current quarter reflected a net loss of $37.7 million from the portion of our investment portfolio that is comprised of our actively managed funds that are classified as long-term investments. Investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was a net loss of $8.0 million compared to income of $67.8 million during the prior year period. The loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 included a net loss of $40.7 million from our long-term investments described above inclusive of substantial gains recorded in the second quarter of 2007 from sales of short-term investments of marketable equity securities.

 

On June 28, 2007, the Company completed the sale of three accommodation jackups from its International operating segment to an unrelated party. As consideration for the sale, the Company received net proceeds of approximately $99 million, resulting in a $38 million gain. The gain is included in the “Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets, impairment charges and other expense (income), net” line item of the consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2007, we recorded impairment losses totaling $29 million, primarily related to certain rig components across several business units. The loss is included in the “Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets, impairment charges and other expense (income), net” line item of the consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

In August 2007, we sold our Sea Mar business which had previously been included in Other Operating segments to an unrelated third party for a cash purchase price of $194.3 million. The assets included 20 offshore supply vessels and certain related assets, including a right under a vessel construction contract. The operating results of this business for all periods presented are accounted for as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, including a gain, net of tax of $19.6 million recorded in the current quarter. Our condensed statements of income from discontinued operations related to the Sea Mar business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

Condensed Statements of Income

 

 

As of December 31, 2006, the net book value of the assets of Sea Mar being disposed of was approximately $141 million.

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

The following tables set forth certain financial information with respect to our reportable segments:

 

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)