SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

The accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pertaining to interim financial information. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all information or footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto in our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other current filings with the SEC. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of those of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the results of the periods presented have been included. The results of operations for the interim periods presented may not necessarily be indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Company obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Company loses control of the subsidiary. Specifically, income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the fiscal year are included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) from the date the Company gains control until the date when the Company ceases to control the subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits with banks and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Approximately $376.1 million of cash and cash equivalents resides in accounts in the United States and the remaining $50.1 million are in other countries. Our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are subject to potential credit risk, and certain of our cash accounts carry balances greater than the federally insured limits.

We had restricted cash of $50.0 million and $34.3 million at June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $35.0 million and $41.8 million at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Of the total at June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, $1.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively, is related to the acquisition of drilling technology companies, $2.0 million as of both fiscal period ends is from the additional capitalization of our wholly-owned captive insurance company, $46.1 million and $30.0 million, respectively, represents an additional amount management has elected to restrict for the purpose of potential insurance claims in our wholly-owned captive insurance companies, and $0.03 million at June 30, 2020 is for other restricted purposes. The restricted amounts are primarily invested in federally insured deposit accounts.

Leases

We lease various offices, warehouses, equipment and vehicles. Rental contracts are typically made for fixed periods of 1 to 15 years but may have extension options. Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. The lease agreements do not impose any covenants, but leased assets may not be used as security for borrowing purposes.

Up until the end of fiscal year 2019, leases of property, plant and equipment were classified as either finance or operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) were charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease (“levelized lease cost”).

Beginning October 1, 2019, leases are recognized as a right-of-use asset and a corresponding liability within accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities at the date at which the leased asset is available for use by the Company. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance cost. The finance cost is recognized over the lease period to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. The right-of-use asset is depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis for finance type leases and as the difference between the levelized lease cost and the finance cost for operating leases.

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net present value of the following lease payments:


•	Fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable


•	Variable lease payments that are based on an index or a rate


•	Amounts expected to be payable by the lessee under residual value guarantees


•	The exercise price of a purchase option if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option, and


•	Payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the lessee exercising that option.

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be determined, the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate is used, which is the rate that the lessee would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value in a similar economic environment with similar terms and conditions.

Right-of-use assets are measured at cost and are comprised of the following:


•	The amount of the initial measurement of lease liability


•	Any lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received


•	Any initial direct costs, and


•	Asset retirement obligations related to that lease, as applicable.

Payments associated with short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognized on a straight-line basis as an expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less. Low-value assets are comprised of IT-equipment and office furniture.

In determining the lease term, management considers all facts and circumstances that create an economic incentive to exercise an extension option, or not exercise a termination option. Extension options (or periods after termination options) are only included in the lease term if the lease is reasonably certain to be extended (or not terminated). The assessment is reviewed if a significant event or a significant change in circumstances occurs and is within the control of the lessee.

Recently Issued Accounting Updates

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") in the form of Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs") to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"). We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable, clarifications of ASUs listed below, immaterial, or already adopted by the Company.

The following table provides a brief description of recent accounting pronouncements and our analysis of the effects on our financial statements:



Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and related ASUs issued subsequent	ASU No. 2016-02 requires organizations that lease assets — referred to as “lessees” — to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Lessor accounting remains substantially similar to current U.S. GAAP. In addition, disclosures of leasing activities are to be expanded to include qualitative along with specific quantitative information. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2016-02 mandates a modified retrospective transition method of adoption with an option to use certain practical expedients.	October 1, 2019	We adopted this ASU during the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, as required. Refer to Note 6—Leases for additional information.
ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract	This ASU aims to reduce complexity in the accounting for costs of implementing a cloud computing service arrangement. ASU No. 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments in this update should be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted.	October 1, 2019	We early adopted this ASU during the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 on a prospective basis. The prospective impact was not material to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Standards that are not yet adopted as of June 30, 2020
ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) and related ASUs issued subsequent	This ASU introduces a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. The new model will apply to: (1) loans, accounts receivable, trade receivables, and other financial assets measured at amortized cost, (2) loan commitments and certain other off-balance sheet credit exposures, (3) debt securities and other financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income(loss), and (4) beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019.	October 1, 2020	We are currently evaluating the impact the new guidance may have on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans—General (Topic 715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	This ASU amends ASC 715 to add, remove, and clarify disclosure requirements related to defined benefit, pension and other postretirement plans. This update is effective for annual and interim periods ending after December 15, 2020.	October 1, 2021	We are currently evaluating the impact the new guidance may have on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.



ASU No. 2019-12, Financial Instruments – Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes	This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions related to Topic 740. The ASU also improves consistent application of and simplifies GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption of the amendment is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for public entities for periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. An entity that elects to early adopt the amendments in an interim period should reflect any adjustments as of the beginning of the annual period that includes that interim period. Additionally, an entity that elects early adoption must adopt all the amendments in the same period.	October 1, 2021	We are currently evaluating the impact the new guidance may have on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Self-Insurance

<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:13px;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;"><br clear="none"/></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:13px;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;">Self-Insurance</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:13px;text-indent:48px;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">We self-insure a significant portion of expected losses relating to workers’ compensation, general liability and automobile liability. Generally, deductibles range from </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">$1 million</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;"> to </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">$10 million</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;"> per occurrence depending on the coverage and whether a claim occurs outside or inside of the United States. Insurance is purchased over deductibles to reduce our exposure to catastrophic events. Estimates are recorded for incurred outstanding liabilities for workers’ compensation, general liability claims and claims that are incurred but not reported. Estimates are based on adjusters' estimates, historical experience and statistical methods commonly used within the insurance industry that we believe are reliable. We have also engaged a third-party actuary to perform a review of our domestic casualty losses as well as losses in our captive insurance companies. Nonetheless, insurance estimates include certain assumptions and management judgments regarding the frequency and severity of claims, claim development and settlement practices. Unanticipated changes in these factors may produce materially different amounts of expense that would be reported under these programs.</font></div></div>

International Land Drilling Risks

International Solutions Drilling Risks

International Solutions drilling operations may significantly contribute to our revenues and net operating income. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully conduct such operations, and a failure to do so may have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Also, the success of our International Solutions operations will be subject to numerous contingencies, some of which are beyond management’s control. These contingencies include general and regional economic conditions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, modified exchange controls, changes in international regulatory requirements and international employment issues, risk of expropriation of real and personal property and the burden of complying with foreign laws. Additionally, in the event that extended labor strikes occur or a country experiences significant political, economic or social instability, we could experience shortages in labor and/or material and supplies necessary to operate some of our drilling rigs, thereby potentially causing an adverse material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Many of the countries in which we operate have implemented measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures, including imposing mandatory closures of all non-essential business facilities, seeking voluntary closures of such facilities and imposing restrictions on, or advisories with respect to, travel, business operations and public gatherings or interactions, have significantly reduced global economic activity, thereby, resulting in lower demand for crude oil. In particular, the travel restrictions in certain countries where we operate, including the closure of their borders to travel into the country, have resulted in an inability to effectively staff or rotate personnel at, and thereby operate, certain of our rigs and could lead to an inability to fulfill our contractual obligations under contracts with customers.

We have also experienced certain risks related to our Argentine operations. In Argentina, while our dayrate is denominated in U.S. dollars, we are paid in Argentine pesos. The Argentine branch of one of our second-tier subsidiaries 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. Argentina also has a history of implementing currency controls which restrict the conversion and repatriation of U.S. dollars, including controls that were implemented in September 2019 and are presently in effect. As a result of these currency controls, our ability to remit funds from our Argentine subsidiary to its U.S. parent has been limited. In the past, the Argentine government has also instituted price controls on crude oil, diesel and gasoline prices and instituted an exchange rate freeze in connection with those prices. These price controls and an exchange rate freeze could be instituted again in the future. In addition, in 2020, the Argentine government introduced labor regulations that prohibit employee dismissals or suspensions without just cause, for lack of (or reduction in) work or due to force majeure, subject to certain exceptions that may result in the payment of compensation to suspended employees and/or increased severance costs to the company. These prohibitions have resulted in significant challenges for our Argentine operations and it remains uncertain for how long they will be in effect. Further, there are ongoing concerns regarding Argentina's debt burden, as Argentina defaulted on some of its international debt obligations in May 2020. These concerns could further negatively impact Argentina's economy and adversely affect our Argentine operations. Argentina’s economy is considered highly inflationary, which is defined as cumulative inflation rates exceeding 100 percent in the most recent three-year period based on inflation data published by the respective governments. Nonetheless, all of our foreign subsidiaries use the U.S. dollar as the functional currency and local currency monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars with gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions included in current results of operations.

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020, we experienced aggregate foreign currency losses of $3.2 million and $6.0 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2019, we recorded aggregate foreign currency losses of $0.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively. In the future, we may incur larger currency devaluations, foreign exchange restrictions or other difficulties repatriating U.S. dollars from Argentina or elsewhere, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. As of June 30, 2020, our cash balance in Argentina was $38.6 million.

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 acceptable to us.

Although we attempt to minimize the potential impact of such risks by operating in more than one geographical area, during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020, approximately 7.3 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, of our operating revenues were generated from international locations in our contract drilling business compared to 6.8 percent and 7.7 percent during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020, approximately 33.2 percent and 68.2 percent, respectively, of operating revenues from international locations were from operations in South America compared to 95.1 percent and 92.1 percent during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Substantially all of the South American operating revenues were from Argentina and Colombia. 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 operati