NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD - Quarter Report: 2008 March (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 March 31, 2008

 

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, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

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 April 25, 2008 was 281,517,543. In addition, our subsidiary, Nabors Exchangeco (Canada) Inc., had 108,980 exchangeable shares outstanding as of April 25, 2008 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

 

 

 

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 537 actively marketed land drilling rigs. We conduct oil, gas and geothermal land drilling operations in the U.S. Lower 48 states, Alaska, Canada, South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, the Middle East, the Far East, Russia and Africa. We are also one of the largest land well-servicing and workover contractors in the United States and Canada. We actively market approximately 576 land workover and well-servicing rigs in the United States, primarily in the southwestern and western United States, and actively market approximately 171 land workover and well-servicing rigs in Canada. Nabors is a leading provider of offshore platform workover and drilling rigs, and actively markets 36 platform, 12 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 51% ownership interest in a joint venture in Saudi Arabia, which owns and actively markets 9 rigs in addition to the rigs we lease to the joint venture. 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 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, pipeline handling equipment and rig reporting software. We also invest in oil and gas exploration, development and production activities and have 49% ownership interests in joint ventures in the U.S., Canada and International areas.

 

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 certain 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 11 Discontinued Operation for additional discussion.

 

As used in the 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, 2007. In our management’s opinion, the consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position as of March 31, 2008 and the results of our operations and our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, in accordance with GAAP. Interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 may not be indicative of results that will be realized for the full year ending December 31, 2008.

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

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 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 and 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”). Our consolidated financial statements exclude majority-owned entities for which we do not have either (1) the ability to control the operating and financial decisions and policies of that entity or (2) a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”). 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 included in other long-term assets as a single amount in our consolidated balance sheets. Investments in net assets of unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using the equity method totaled $392.0 million and $383.4 million as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. 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 income in our consolidated statements of income, and our investments in these funds are included in long-term investments in our consolidated balance sheets.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements for financial assets and liabilities, as well as for any other assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis in financial statements. SFAS No. 157 is effective with respect to financial assets and liabilities for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. SFAS No. 157 applies prospectively to financial assets and liabilities. There is a one-year deferral for the implementation of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis. Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157 relating to financial assets and liabilities. The new disclosures regarding the level of pricing observability associated with financial instruments carried at fair value is provided in Note 3 to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 with respect to financial assets and liabilities did not have a material financial impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition. We are currently evaluating the impact of implementation with respect to nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis on our consolidated financial statements, which will be primarily limited to asset impairments including goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination and asset retirement obligations.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value and establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007, provided the

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

entity also elects to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition as we have not elected to apply the provisions to our financial instruments or other eligible items that are not required to be measured at fair value.

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an Amendment to FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS No. 161”)”. This statement is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced qualitative and quantitative disclosures regarding derivative instruments, gains and losses on such instruments and their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact that this pronouncement may have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, which among other things, requires enhanced disclosures about assets and liabilities carried at fair value.

 

As defined in SFAS No. 157, fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We utilize market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. We primarily apply the market approach for recurring fair value measurements and endeavor to utilize the best information available. Accordingly, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The use of unobservable inputs is intended to allow for fair value determinations in situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. We are able to classify fair value balances based on the observability of those inputs. SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy such that Level 1 measurements include unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market, Level 2 measurements include quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market which have been adjusted for items such as effects of restrictions for transferability and those that are not quoted but are observable through corroboration with observable market data, including quoted market prices for similar assets, and Level 3 measurements include those that are unobservable and of a highly subjective measure.

 

The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, our financial assets and liabilities that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008. As required by SFAS No. 157, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

 

 

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, 2007.

 

Total share-based compensation expense, which includes both stock options and restricted stock, totaled $9.0 million and $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Share-based compensation expense has been allocated to our various operating segments (Note 12).

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company awarded 1,987,631 shares of restricted stock to its employees, directors and executive officers. These awards had an aggregate value at their date of grant of $62.0 million and vest over a period of three to five 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. We may redeem some or all of the notes for a price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued interest and additional amounts, if any, to the redemption date at any time on or after June 15, 2008. 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 classified as current liabilities in our balance sheet as of June 30, 2007. If these notes are not put to us on June 15, 2008 or we do not redeem the notes, the notes will be reclassified back to long-term debt at that time.

 

On February 20, 2008, Nabors Industries, Inc. (“Nabors Delaware”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, completed a private placement of $575 million aggregate principal amount of 6.15% senior notes due 2018 with registration rights, which are unsecured and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us. The issue of senior notes was resold by a placement agent to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act. The notes bear interest at a rate of 6.15% per year, payable semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning August 15, 2008.

 

We intend to file a registration statement with the SEC with respect to an offer to exchange the notes for registered notes with substantially identical terms pursuant to a registration rights agreement, within 90 days following the original issue date of the notes.

 

The $575 million senior notes are unsecured and are effectively junior in right of payment to any of Nabors Delaware’s future secured debt. The senior notes rank equally with any of Nabors Delaware’s other existing and future unsubordinated debt and are senior in right of payment to any of Nabors Delaware’s future senior subordinated debt. Our guarantee of the senior notes is unsecured and ranks equal in right of payments to all of our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes are subject to redemption by us, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes then outstanding to be redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest, determined in the manner set forth in the indenture. In the event of a change in control, as defined, the holders of notes may require us to purchase all or any part of each note in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount plus acrrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, except to the extent we have exercised our right to redeem the notes.

 

We intend to use the proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of debt.

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

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 to its tax reserves for uncertain tax positions and interest and penalties which was accounted for as an increase to other long-term liabilities and as a reduction to retained earnings at January 1, 2007. We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in the income tax expense line item in our consolidated statements of income.

 

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Internationally, income tax returns from 1995 through 2005 are currently under examination. The Company anticipates that several of these audits could be finalized within 12 months. It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized benefits with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions could significantly increase or decrease within 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 March 31, 2008.

 

The Company has recorded a deferred tax asset of approximately $99.0 million relating to net operating loss carryforwards that have an indefinite life in one foreign jurisdiction. A valuation allowance of approximately $94.2 million has been recognized because the Company believes it is more likely than not that substantially all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, our employees exercised vested options to acquire .3 million and 2.6 million of our common shares, respectively, resulting in proceeds of $6.8 million and $59.0 million, respectively.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we repurchased .15 million of our common shares in the open market for $4.2 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2007, there were no repurchases of common shares in the open market.

 

 

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 creditors 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.

 

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.

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

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 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.

 

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 be 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 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 reducing Mr. Isenberg’s bonus percentage as described above. If, by way of example, these provisions had applied at March 31, 2008, Mr. Isenberg would have been entitled to a payment of approximately $264 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 March 31, 2008, Mr. Petrello would have been entitled to a payment of approximately $103 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

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

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 value of unvested restricted stock was approximately $47 million and $24 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2008. Neither Messrs. Isenberg nor Petrello had unvested stock options as of March 31, 2008. 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 termination without cause, as described above. If, by way of example, there was a change of control event that applied on March 31, 2008, then the payments to Messrs. Isenberg and Petrello would be approximately $264 million and $103 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 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 value of unvested restricted stock was approximately $47 million and $24 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2008. Neither Messrs. Isenberg nor Petrello had unvested stock options as of March 31, 2008. 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 five 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 March 31, 2008, Mr. Isenberg would have received 3,366,666 options valued at approximately $36 million and Mr. Petrello would have received 1,683,332

 

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

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 March 31, 2008, 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 $109 million and $45 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

 

Oil and Gas Joint Ventures

 

On September 22, 2006, we entered into an agreement with First Reserve Corporation to form a new joint venture, NFR Energy LLC, to invest in oil and gas exploration opportunities worldwide. First Reserve Corporation is a private equity firm specializing in the energy industry. Each party initially made a non-binding commitment to fund its proportionate share of $1.0 billion in equity. During 2007, joint venture operations in the U.S., Canada and International areas, were divided among three separate joint venture entities, including NFR Energy LLC (“NFR”), Stone Mountain Ventures Partnership (“Stone Mountain”) and Remora Energy International LP (“Remora”), respectively. We hold a 49% ownership interest in these joint ventures. Each joint venture pursues development and exploration projects with both existing customers of ours and with other operators in a variety of forms including operated and non-operated working interests, joint ventures, farm-outs and acquisitions. As of March 31, 2008, we had made capital contributions of approximately $243.1 million, $32.6 million and $14.7 million, respectively, to NFR, Stone Mountain and Remora.

 

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 estimates 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 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

 

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expenses in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. It is likely that the SAT will propose the disallowance of these deductions upon audit of NDIL’s Mexican branch’s 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 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, 2008, with our insurance renewal, certain changes have been made to our self-insured retentions. Automobile liability is subject to a $.5 million per occurrence deductible and an additional $1.0 million corridor deductible. Our hurricane coverage for U.S. Gulf of Mexico exposures is subject to a $10.0 million deductible. We are insured for $55.0 million over the deductible at 85.5%. Accordingly, we are self-insuring 14.5% of this exposure.

 

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 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 alleged that stock options were priced retroactively and were improperly accounted for, and alleged various causes of action based on that assertion. The complaint sought, 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 made substantially the same allegations against the same defendants and sought the same elements of damages. The two purported derivative actions were consolidated into one proceeding. On December 31, 2007, the Company and the individual defendants agreed with the plaintiffs-shareholders to settle the derivative action. The settlement is subject to preliminary and final approval of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the Company and the individual defendants have implemented or will implement certain corporate governance reforms and adopt certain modifications to our equity award policy with no financial accounting impact and our Compensation Committee charter. The Company and its insurers have agreed to pay up to $2.85 million to plaintiffs’ counsel for their attorneys’ fees and the reimbursement of their expenses and costs. The Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement on March 13, 2008. A final approval hearing is scheduled for May 14, 2008.

 

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. Our Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has engaged outside counsel to review certain transactions with this vendor, which provides freight forwarding and customs clearance services. Both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice have been advised of the Company’s investigation, which is in its early stage. The ultimate outcome of this review or the effect of implementing any further measures which may be necessary to ensure full compliance with the applicable laws cannot be determined at this time.

 

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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. 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:

 

 

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

 

 

 

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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 5,703,555 shares during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 4,963,038 shares during the three months ended March 31, 2007. 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.

 

 

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

 

 

As of March 31, 2008, our short-term investments consist of investments in available-for-sale marketable debt and equity securities of $318.9 million and trading securities of $37.0 million and our long-term investments consist of investments in non-marketable securities accounted for by the equity method and oil and gas financing receivables. Earnings associated with our oil and gas financing receivables are recognized as operating revenues. The March 31, 2008 other current assets amount represents $59.9 million in cash proceeds receivable from brokers

 

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from the sale of certain non-marketable securities. The cash proceeds were received in April 2008. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we recognized $31.2 million of unrealized gains on our trading securities held at March 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2007, our short-term investments consist entirely of investments in available-for-sale marketable debt securities while our long-term investments consist of investments in non-marketable securities and oil and gas financing receivables. The December 31, 2007 other current assets amount represents $53.1 million in cash proceeds receivable from brokers from the sale of certain non-marketable securities.

 

In March 2008, our investment in a privately-held company became a marketable equity security subsequent to a public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Accordingly, we have accounted for the marketable equity security in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.” We have classified $37.0 million of these securities as trading securities and $101.5 million of these securities as available-for-sale based on our investment strategy.

 

Accrued liabilities include the following:

 

 

Investment income includes the following:

 

 

Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets, impairment charges and other expense (income), net includes the following:

 

 

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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, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $49.5 million. The assets included 20 offshore supply vessels and certain related assets, including its right under a vessel construction contract. The operating results of this business for all periods presented are reported as discontinued operations in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of income and the respective accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. Our condensed statements of income from discontinued operations related to the Sea Mar business for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:

 

Condensed Statements of Income

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

 

The following table sets forth financial information with respect to our reportable segments:

 

 

 

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Nabors has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of the issued public debt securities of Nabors Delaware, a wholly-owned subsidiary, and Nabors and Nabors Delaware have fully and unconditionally guaranteed the $225 million 4.875% senior notes due 2009 issued by Nabors Holdings 1, ULC, our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

The following condensed consolidating financial information is included so that separate financial statements of Nabors Delaware and Nabors Holdings are not required to be filed with the SEC. The condensed consolidating financial statements present investments in both consolidated and unconsolidated affiliates using the equity method of accounting.

 

The following condensed consolidating financial information presents: condensed consolidating balance sheets as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, statements of income and cash flows for each of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 of (a) Nabors, parent/guarantor, (b) Nabors Delaware, issuer of public debt securities guaranteed by Nabors and guarantor of the $225 million 4.875% senior notes issued by Nabors Holdings, (c) Nabors Holdings, issuer of the $225 million 4.875% senior notes, (d) the non-guarantor subsidiaries, (e) consolidating adjustments necessary to consolidate Nabors and its subsidiaries and (f) Nabors on a consolidated basis.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets