Cash Flows
Operating cash flows were $24.7 million during the third quarter 2022 compared to $(5.8) million during the prior quarter and $28.7 million during the third quarter 2021. The improvement in operating cash flows quarter over quarter was primarily due to improvements in operating income during the third quarter 2022 compared to the prior quarter. The reduction in operating cash flows year over year was primarily due to higher regulatory recertification costs for our vessels and systems and negative changes in working capital during the third quarter 2022 and tax refunds of $12.4 million related to the CARES Act received during the third quarter 2021, offset in part by higher operating income during the third quarter 2022. Regulatory recertification costs for our vessels and systems, which are included in operating cash flows, were $10.7 million and included the dry docking for the Helix Producer I during the third quarter 2022 compared to $9.3 million during the prior quarter and $0.9 million during the third quarter 2021.
Capital expenditures, which are included in investing cash flows, totaled $2.8 million during the third quarter 2022 compared to $1.6 million during the prior quarter and $0.6 million during the third quarter 2021. Our net cash flow from investing activities included a cash outflow of $112.6 million (net of acquired cash) for our acquisition of Alliance on July 1, 2022.
Free Cash Flow was $21.8 million in the third quarter 2022 compared to $(7.4) million during the prior quarter and $28.1 million during the third quarter 2021. The increase in Free Cash Flow quarter over quarter was due primarily to higher operating cash flow, and the decrease in Free Cash Flow year over year was due primarily to lower operating cash flow during the third quarter 2022. (Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure. See reconciliation below.)
Financial Condition and Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents were $162.3 million at September 30, 2022, excluding $2.5 million of restricted cash. On July 1, 2022, we amended our ABL facility to, among other things, increase the size of the facility from $80 million to $100 million. Available capacity under our ABL facility at September 30, 2022 was $81.8 million, resulting in total liquidity of $244.1 million. At September 30, 2022 we had $263.6 million of long-term debt and net debt of $98.8 million.
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Conference Call Information
Further details are provided in the presentation for Helix’s quarterly teleconference to review its third quarter 2022 results (see the “For the Investor” page of Helix’s website, www.helixesg.com). The teleconference, scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time, will be audio webcast live from the “For the Investor” page of Helix’s website. Investors and other interested parties wishing to participate in the teleconference may join by dialing 1-877-243-4912 for participants in the United States and 1-303-223-0113 for international participants. The passcode is “Staffeldt.” A replay of the webcast will be available on the “For the Investor” page of Helix’s website by selecting the “Audio Archives” link beginning approximately two hours after the completion of the event.
About Helix
Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an international offshore energy services company that provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations. Our services are centered toward and well positioned to facilitate global energy transition by maximizing production of remaining oil and gas reserves, decommissioning end-of-life oil and gas fields, and supporting renewable energy developments. For more information about Helix, please visit our website at www.helixesg.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management evaluates performance and financial condition using certain non-GAAP measures, primarily EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, net debt, net debt to book capitalization and Free Cash Flow. We define EBITDA as earnings before income taxes, net interest expense, gains or losses on extinguishment of long-term debt, gains and losses on equity investments, net other income or expense, and depreciation and amortization expense. Non-cash impairment losses on goodwill and other long-lived assets are also added back if applicable. To arrive at our measure of Adjusted EBITDA, we exclude the gain or loss on disposition of assets, acquisition and integration costs, the change in fair value of the contingent consideration and the general provision (release) for current expected credit losses, if any. Net debt is calculated as long-term debt including current maturities of long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. Net debt to book capitalization is calculated by dividing net debt by the sum of net debt and shareholders’ equity. We define Free Cash Flow as cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sale of assets.