Ensign Energy Services Inc. Reports 2019 First Quarter Results

CALGARY, May 13, 2019 /CNW/ -

OVERVIEW

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $445.3 million, an increase of 72 percent from revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 of $258.5 million. Revenue, net of third party, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $412.4 million, an increase of 82 percent from Revenue, net of third party, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 of $227.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $115.5 million ($0.74 per common share) in the first quarter of 2019, higher by $63.2 million than Adjusted EBITDA of $52.3 million ($0.33 per common share) in the first quarter of 2018. Net loss attributed to shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $22.3 million ($0.14 per common share), compared to net loss attributed to shareholders of $26.7 million ($0.17 per common share) for the three months ended March 31, 2018, Funds flow from operations increased 60 percent to $86.3 million ($0.55 per common share) in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $53.9 million ($0.34 per common share) in the first quarter of the prior year.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company acquired 89.3 percent of Trinidad Drilling Ltd. ("Trinidad"), the largest acquisition in the Company's history (the "Trinidad Acquisition"), ultimately adding 68 drilling rigs in Canada, 66 in the United States and one internationally. The Trinidad Acquisition also expanded the Company's geographic footprint with the addition of three new countries of operation (Bahrain, Kuwait and Mexico) in connection with the joint venture described below, expanded the Company's existing customer base, and provided the Company additional exposure to the United States market in particular.

Results for the first quarter of 2019 were materially impacted by the Trinidad Acquisition. The acquisition includes a 60 percent interest in Trinidad Drilling International ("TDI"), which is a joint venture with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Halliburton Company. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company acquired the remaining 10.7 percent of Trinidad shares and as a result Trinidad shares were delisted from trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Operating days were higher in Canada and the United States in the first quarter of 2019 when compared to the first quarter of 2018 due to additional days from the Trinidad Acquisition as well as an increased demand in oilfield services caused by stabilization of crude oil and natural gas commodity prices. A strengthening year-over-year of the United States dollar against the Canadian dollar positively impacted United States and international financial results on translation to Canadian dollars. The average United States dollar exchange rate was 1.33 for the first three months of 2019 (first three months of 2018 - 1.26) versus the Canadian dollar, an increase of five percent, compared to the first three months of 2018.

Gross margin increased to $127.6 million (30.9 percent of Revenue, net of third party) for the first quarter of 2019 compared to gross margin of $63.1 million (27.8 percent of Revenue, net of third party) for the first quarter of 2018. The increase in gross margin percentage in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018 was primarily attributed to the increase in activity, effective cost controls, synergies obtained from the Trinidad Acquisition and the positive impact of the strengthened United States dollar against the Canadian dollar.

Working capital at March 31, 2019 was a surplus of $279.2 million, compared to a deficit of $156.2 million at December 31, 2018. The increase in working capital year-over-year was largely due to the repayment USD $200.0 million Ensign senior unsecured notes (the "Ensign Notes") and the repayment the Trinidad's credit facility (the "Trinidad Facility") of $98.0 million. At the end of the first quarter 2019, the Company had total liquidity of $139.3 million consisting of $122.8 million in cash and $16.5 million in available bank facilities.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share data and operating information)

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Revenue for the first quarter of 2019 was $445.3 million, a 72 percent increase from the first quarter of 2018 revenue of $258.5 million.
• Revenue by geographic area:
• Canada - $106.4 million, 24 percent of total;
• United States - $273.6 million, 61 percent of total; and
• International - $65.2 million, 15 percent of total.
• Canadian drilling recorded 3,061 operating days in the first quarter of 2019, a 56 percent increase from 1,960 operating days in the first quarter of 2018.  Canadian well servicing recorded 12,798 operating hours in the first quarter of 2019, a 23 percent decrease from 16,726 operating hours in the first quarter of 2018.
• United States drilling recorded 6,657 operating days in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 3,753 operating days from 2,904 operating days in the first quarter of 2018.  United States well servicing recorded 28,365 operating hours in the first quarter of 2019, a 27 percent increase from 22,406 operating hours in the first quarter of 2018.
• International drilling recorded 1,329 operating days in the first quarter of 2019, a two percent decrease from 1,358 operating days recorded in first quarter of 2018.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2019 was $115.5 million, an increase by $64.4 million from Adjusted EBITDA of $52.3 million for the first quarter of 2018.
• Funds from operations for the first quarter of 2019 increased 60 percent to $86.3 million from $53.9 million in first quarter of the prior year.
• The Company acquired the remaining 10.7 percent of Trinidad shares.
• Net capital expenditures for the quarter was $39.6 million of which $3.0 million was funded by customers. Net capital expenditures for the calendar year 2019 remain targeted at $102 million.
• The Company declared a second quarter cash dividend on common shares of $0.12 per common share, payable July 5, 2019 with a record date of June 21, 2019. The dividend reinvestment plan (the "DRIP") participation rate is expected to be approximately 40 percent. The first quarter dividend had a participation rate of 38.5%.
• Shareholders are eligible to participate in the Company's DRIP. The DRIP provides eligible holders of Common Shares with an option to elect to reinvest their dividends in Common Shares of the Company at a discount of up to five percent of the average market price on each dividend payment date.

REVENUE AND OILFIELD SERVICES EXPENSE

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 totaled $445.3 million, an increase of 72 percent from the first quarter of 2018 of $258.5 million. As a percentage of Revenue, net of third party, gross margin for the first quarter of 2019 increased to 30.9 percent (2018 - 27.8 percent).

The increase in revenue was largely due to increased operating activity by way of the Trinidad Acquisition and revenue rate increases. Further, the financial results from the Company's United States and international operations were positively impacted upon translation, due to the stronger United States dollar relative to the Canadian dollar in the first three months of 2019.

CANADIAN OILFIELD SERVICES

The Company recorded revenue of $106.4 million in Canada for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of 44 percent from $73.8 million recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Canadian revenues accounted for 24 percent of the Company's total revenue in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 29 percent in the first quarter of 2018.

The increased operating results for the Company's Canadian operations was largely due to the Trinidad Acquisition and revenue rate improvements. The increase was partially offset by lower operating activities by Canadian well servicing. Gross margin was higher because of effective cost control and synergies realized from the Trinidad Acquisition.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded 3,061 drilling days compared to 1,960 drilling days for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of 56 percent. Well servicing hours decreased by 23 percent to 12,798 operating hours in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 16,726 operating hours in the corresponding period of 2018.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company transferred one ADR^® drilling rig from Canada to the United States, moved five under-utilized drilling rigs into the Company's reserve fleet and decommissioned seven well servicing rigs in Canada.

UNITED STATES OILFIELD SERVICES

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, revenue of $273.6 million was recorded by the Company's United States operations, an increase of $148.1 million from the $125.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of the prior year. The Company's United States operations accounted for 61 percent of the Company's revenue in the first quarter of 2019 (2018 - 49 percent).

Drilling rig operating days increased to 6,657 drilling days in the first quarter of 2019 from 2,904 drilling days in the first quarter of 2018. Well servicing activity expressed in operating hours increased by 27 percent in the first quarter of 2019 to 28,365 operating hours from 22,406 operating hours in the first quarter of 2018.

Overall operating results for the Company's United States operations were positively impacted by an increase in operating activity by way of the Trinidad Acquisition. Gross margin was higher because of effective cost control and synergies realized from the Trinidad Acquisition. Furthermore, the operating results were positively impacted by a strengthening United States dollar, which increased five percent versus the Canadian dollar when compared to the three months ending March 31, 2018.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company transferred one ADR^® drilling rig from Canada to the United States.

INTERNATIONAL OILFIELD SERVICES

The Company's international operations recorded revenue of $65.2 million in the first quarter of 2019, a 10 percent increase from the $59.1 million recorded in the corresponding period of the prior year. The Company's international operations contributed 15 percent of the total revenue in the first quarter of 2019 (2018 - 23 percent).

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, international operating days totaled 1,329 operating days compared to 1,358 drilling days for the three months ended March 31, 2018, a decrease of two percent.

Although the operating days decreased in the first quarter of 2019, the international operating results improved due to higher revenue rates and the strengthened United States dollar, which increased five percent versus the Canadian dollar when compared to the first quarter of 2018.

JOINT VENTURE

As part of the Trinidad Acquisition during fourth quarter, 2018, Ensign acquired a 60 percent ownership in Trinidad Drilling ("TDI"), a joint venture with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Halliburton Company. TDI has five rigs and operates rigs in Bahrain, Mexico and Kuwait. The Company owns 60 percent of the shares of TDI and each parties have equal voting rights.

Amounts below are presented at 100 percent of the value included in the statement of operations and comprehensive (loss):

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, TDI recorded revenue of  $10.2 million (2018 - $nil). For three months ended March 31, 2019, TDI operating days totaled 123  (2018 - $nil).

DEPRECIATION

Depreciation expense totaled $88.2 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared with $98.6 million for the first quarter of 2018. In the first quarter of 2019, due to the acquisition of Trinidad the Company reviewed the makeup of and the age of the drilling rig fleet and equipment and determined that based on age, specification and type of recertifications that were taking place, that the useful life estimates previously used did not appropriately represent the useful life of this equipment. On this basis, the Company believes the new useful life estimates for its equipment accurately reflect the future economic benefits related to these assets. These adjustments were applied prospectively and, as such, have caused a decrease in depreciation expense in 2019 when compared to 2018.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE

General and administrative expense increased 30 percent to $14.0 million (3.2 percent of revenue) for the first quarter of 2019 compared to $10.8 million (4.2 percent of revenue) for the first quarter of 2018. The increase was due primarily to the Trinidad Acquisition. Management continues to focus on managing costs and realization of additional synergies from the acquisition of Trinidad.

RESTRUCTURING COSTS

Restructuring costs totaled $8.5 million for the first quarter of 2019, which includes severance cost of $6.9 million (2018 - $nil).

INTEREST EXPENSE

Interest was incurred on the Company's $900.0 million global revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility"), USD $700.0 million senior loan facility (the "Senior Loan"), the $37.0 million subordinate convertible debenture (the Debentures") and capital lease obligations. Interest was also incurred on prior debt instrument until retired during the quarter and as well as the amortization of deferred financing costs associated with the refinancing the Company's debt.

Interest expense increased by $26.2 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 as a result of an increase to the overall interest rate and total debt. The negative translational impact on United States dollar-denominated debt of a strengthened United States dollar versus the Canadian dollar also impacted interest expense for the quarter.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE GAIN AND OTHER

Included in this amount is the impact of foreign currency fluctuations in the Company's subsidiaries that have functional currencies other than the Canadian dollar.

INCOME TAXES

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was 35.8 percent compared with 36.3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The effective tax rate in the first quarter of the current year was lower than the effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2018 due to the impact of earnings in foreign tax jurisdictions.

FUNDS FLOW FROM OPERATIONS AND WORKING CAPITAL

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company generated Funds flow from operations of $86.3 million ($0.55 per common share) an increase of 60 percent from $53.9 million ($0.34 per common share) for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in Funds flow from operations in 2019 compared to 2018 is largely due to the increase in activity compared to the prior period due to the Trinidad Acquisition. The increase was further positively impacted by the strengthening United States dollar.

As at March 31, 2019 the Company's working capital was a surplus of $279.2 million, compared to a working capital deficit of $156.2 million at December 31, 2018. The increase in working capital in the first three months of 2019, was mainly related the repayment of USD $200.0 million Ensign Notes and the $98.0 million Trinidad Facility. The Company expects funds generated by operations, combined with current and future credit facilities, to fully support current operating and capital requirements. The existing bank facility provides for total borrowings of $900.0 million and the Senior Loan provides USD $700.0 million of which $16.5 million was undrawn and available at March 31, 2019.  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Net purchases of property and equipment for the first quarter of 2019 totaled $39.6 million (2018 - $15.4 million). The purchase of property and equipment relates predominantly to maintenance capital for certain drilling rigs and to the construction of one service rig for the United States. During first quarter of 2019, the Company acquired the remaining 10.7 percent of Trinidad shares for consideration of $49.2 million.

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

The Company's available bank facilities consist of a $900.0 million Bank Facility and USD $700.0 million Senior Loan. The Bank Facility and the Senior Loan mature November 26, 2021 and February 14, 2024 respectively.

As at March 31, 2019 the Company had $44.2 million (2018 - $8.2 million) outstanding collateralized letters of credit, used in the normal course of business.

Subsequent to March 31, 2019, the Company issued US$700.0 million of Senior Notes due 2024 bearing interest of 9.25%. The net proceeds of the offering and cash on hand were used to repay all outstanding loans under the US$700.0 million Senior loan disclosed in Note 7. The Senior Notes are callable on or after April 15, 2021 at 104.625%, April 15, 2022 at 102.313% and April 15, 2023 and thereafter at 100%. The Company's blended interest rate on outstanding debt for the year will be approximately 7.0%. The go forward capital structure consisting of the Bank Facility and Senior notes allows for the Company to utilize cash to reduce debt in the near term with greater flexibility then a more weighted non-callable capital structure.

The Board of Directors of the Company has declared a second quarter cash dividend of $0.12 per common share to be payable on July 5, 2019 to all Common Shareholders of record as of June 21, 2019. The dividend is pursuant to the quarterly dividend policy adopted by the Company. Pursuant to subsection 89(1) of the Canadian Income Tax Act ("ITA"), the dividend being paid is designated as an eligible dividend, as defined in subsection 89(1) of the ITA.  

NEW BUILDS AND MAJOR RETROFITS

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company transferred one ADR^® drilling rig from Canada to United States, moved five under-utilized drilling rigs into the Company's reserve fleet and decommissioned seven well servicing rigs in Canada. The Company continues to selectively add new ADR^® drilling rigs to meet the increasing technical demands of its customers. Following March 31, 2019, the Company deployed a new well servicing rig to the United States. The Company plans to deploy one ADR^® drilling rig to the international fleet in the second quarter.

OUTLOOK

Industry Overview

Operating free cash flow and debt reductions are what both the oilfield services industry and their customers are focusing on in 2019 and beyond.  This emphasis and focused discipline should help drive returns into the future and contribute to a healthier industry going forward. The oilfield services industry continues to experience volatility with the benchmark price of West Texas Intermediate experiencing significant increases in Q1, 2019 compared to the significant decreases in Q4, 2018. This volatility has continued to cause companies to be cautious as they approach and budget for 2019 and beyond. Through this period of volatility, the Company intends to continue to focus on costs, realization of annualized synergies of $40.0 million from the Trinidad acquisition and exercising prudent capital controls with a budgeted  net capital spend in 2019 of $102.0 million dedicated solely to maintenance capital.

Canadian Activity 

The mandatory oil production curtailments in Alberta drastically improved the differential for light and heavy Canadian oil in Q1, 2019. This has improved the cash flow of many of our customers and has the potential to increase activity or at least sentiment in Canadian market. Takeaway capacity is still the primary issue in the Canadian market and  potentially may see some improvement in 2020 with the Enbridge Line 3 and crude by rail capacity expected to increase. Customer inquiries for drilling rigs for the back half of 2019 have increased and could portend an increase in activity. In addition, the ongoing LNG Canada project is expected to increase activity in 2020 as natural gas supplies will be required to fulfill the project and its commitments.

Of our 118 marketed Canadian rigs, approximately 31 percent are engaged in contracts, with 26 percent of the contracts having a remaining term that is six months or greater.  

United States Activity

The drilling rig count in the United States has been reduced by approximately five percent from the start of the year with a general expectation that the count will remain relatively flat for the remainder of the year. Day rates have increased modestly year over year, but have been flat to slightly down from Q4, 2018. Day rates increases will likely abate until the drilling rig count begins to increase.

Of our 134 marketed United States drilling rigs, approximately 57 percent are contracted, with 32 percent of the contracts having term that is six months or greater.

International Activity 

Australia will continue to be the growth area for the Company as the drilling rigs contracted in Q4 2018 commence operations in 2019. Latin American operations have seen and likely will continue to see a decrease in activity due to the January 2019 expansion of sanctions against Venezuela by the United States. Activity in the Middle East is now expected to increase with the award of two contracts in Bahrain for one wholly owned drilling rig and one 60 percent owned joint venture drilling rig.

Our 50 marketed international rigs, approximately 50 percent are contracted, with 38 percent of the contracts having term that is six months or greater. 

Trinidad Acquisition Update

As of April 1, 2019, the North American operations of Trinidad were completely amalgamated and consolidated into Ensign. The International operations will be fully incorporated into Ensign by the end of the year. The acquisition has been accretive to the Company's cash flow per share on a debt-adjusted basis and should continue to be accretive into the future as the Company fully expects to realize annualized targeted synergies in excess of $40.0 million relating to the elimination of duplicate public company costs, facility overlap and staff efficiencies.

Subsequent Event

Subsequent to the quarter the Company completed the sale of the testing and wireline division for approximately $24.0 million. The proceeds of the sale were applied to the bank facility. The Company as previously stated, expects to reduce debt by $100.0 million by the end of 2019 and the reduction in debt remains a priority

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

This document contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, political, economic and market conditions, crude oil and natural gas prices, foreign currency fluctuations, weather conditions, the Company's defense of lawsuits and the ability of oil and gas companies to pay accounts receivable balances and raise capital or other unforeseen conditions which could impact on the use of the services supplied by the Company. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties that face the Company and the industry in which it operates, refer to the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of our current Management's Discussion & Analysis and the section titled "Risk Factors" in our current Annual Information Form.

CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call will be held to discuss the Company's first quarter 2019 results at 2:00 p.m. MDT (4:00 p.m. EDT) on Monday, May 13, 2019. The conference call number is 1-647-427-7450 (in Toronto) or 1-888-231-8191 (outside Toronto). A taped recording will be available until May 20, 2019 by dialing 1-416-849-0833 (in Toronto) or 1-855-859-2056 (outside Toronto) and entering the reservation number 3256115. A live broadcast may be accessed through the Company's web site at www.ensignenergy.com.

Ensign Energy Services Inc. is an international oilfield services contractor and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol ESI.

Ensign Energy Services Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

Ensign Energy Services Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Loss

Ensign Energy Services Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Ensign Energy Services Inc.
Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as "losses before interest, income taxes, depreciation, asset decommissioning and write-downs, share-based compensation, restructuring costs, and foreign exchange loss (gain) and other". Management believes that, in addition to Net loss, Adjusted EBITDA is a useful supplemental measure as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company's principal business activities prior to consideration of how these activities are financed, how the results are taxed in various jurisdictions, how the results are impacted by foreign exchange or how the results are impacted by the accounting standards associated with the Company's share-based compensation plans. Adjusted EBITDA also takes into account the Company's portion of the principle activities of the joint venture arrangements be removing the loss (gain) from investment in joint ventures and including adjusted EBITDA from investment in joint ventures. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per share are not recognized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards and thus may not be comparable to measures used by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA from investment in joint ventures is calculated below:

SOURCE Ensign Energy Services Inc.

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