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International Risk Factors
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
International Risk Factors  
International Risk Factors

 

 

14.International Risk Factors

 

We currently have operations in South America, the Middle East and Africa.  In the future, we may further expand the geographic reach of our operations.  As a result, we are exposed to certain political, economic and other uncertainties not encountered in U.S. operations, including increased risks of social unrest, strikes, terrorism, war, kidnapping of employees, nationalization, forced negotiation or modification of contracts, difficulty resolving disputes and enforcing contract provisions, expropriation of equipment as well as expropriation of oil and gas exploration and drilling rights, taxation policies, foreign exchange restrictions and restrictions on repatriation of income and capital, currency rate fluctuations, increased governmental ownership and regulation of the economy and industry in the markets in which we operate, economic and financial instability of national oil companies, and restrictive governmental regulation, bureaucratic delays and general hazards associated with foreign sovereignty over certain areas in which operations are conducted.

 

South American countries, in particular, have historically experienced uneven periods of economic growth, as well as recession, periods of high inflation and general economic and political instability.  From time to time these risks have impacted our business.  For example, on June 30, 2010, the Venezuelan government expropriated 11 rigs and associated real and personal property owned by our Venezuelan subsidiary.  Prior thereto, we also experienced currency devaluation losses in Venezuela and difficulty repatriating U.S. dollars to the United States.  Today, our contracts for work in foreign countries generally provide for payment in U.S. dollars.  However, in Argentina we are paid in Argentine pesos.  The Argentine branch of one of our second-tier subsidiaries then remits U.S. dollars to its U.S. parent by converting the Argentine pesos into U.S. dollars through the Argentine Foreign Exchange Market and repatriating the U.S. dollars.  In the future, other contracts or applicable law may require payments to be made in foreign currencies.  As such, there can be no assurance that we will not experience in Argentina or elsewhere a devaluation of foreign currency, foreign exchange restrictions or other difficulties repatriating U.S. dollars even if we are able to negotiate contract provisions designed to mitigate such risks.

 

For the six months ended, we experienced aggregate foreign currency losses of $8.3 million. The losses are primarily the result of a sharp devaluation of the Argentine peso in December 2015.  It is expected that the Argentine peso will be allowed to float in the free exchange market and foreign exchange restrictions will be less prohibitive.  However, whether in Argentina or elsewhere, in the event of future payments in foreign currencies and an inability to timely exchange foreign currencies for U.S. dollars, we may incur currency devaluation losses which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

There can be no assurance that there will not be changes in local laws, regulations and administrative requirements or the interpretation thereof which could have a material adverse effect on the profitability of our operations or on our ability to continue operations in certain areas.  Because of the impact of local laws, our future operations in certain areas may be conducted through entities in which local citizens own interests and through entities (including joint ventures) in which we hold only a minority interest or pursuant to arrangements under which we conduct operations under contract to local entities.  While we believe that neither operating through such entities nor pursuant to such arrangements would have a material adverse effect on our operations or revenues, there can be no assurance that we will in all cases be able to structure or restructure our operations to conform to local law (or the administration thereof) on terms we find acceptable.

 

Although we attempt to minimize the potential impact of such risks by operating in more than one geographical area, during the six months ended March 31, 2016, approximately 14.1 percent of our consolidated operating revenues were generated from international locations in our contract drilling business.  During the six months ended March 31, 2016, approximately 81.7 percent of operating revenues from international locations were from operations in South America.  All of the South American operating revenues were from Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador.  The future occurrence of one or more international events arising from the types of risks described above could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.