CALGARY, ALBERTA (Marketwired – May 12, 2016) – Total Energy Services Inc. (“Total Energy” or the “Company”) announces its consolidated financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2016.

Financial Highlights

($000’s except per share data)

Notes 1 through 4 please refer to the Notes to the Financial Highlights set forth at the end of this release.

Total Energy’s results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 reflect very challenging industry conditions.  Substantial declines in North American oil and natural gas drilling and completion activity have contributed to severe market conditions in certain of the businesses in which Total Energy competes, particularly within the Contract Drilling Services and Rentals and Transportation Services divisions.  In this environment, Total Energy continued to be disciplined in the conduct of its business in order to preserve its equipment base, minimize operating losses and protect its financial strength and flexibility.  Despite a continued focus on managing credit risk, the Company recorded a $0.2 million provision for bad debt during the first quarter of 2016.  Also impacting 2016 first quarter financial results was a net unrealized foreign exchange loss of $0.8 million arising from foreign currency translations.  This unrealized foreign exchange loss is included in cost of services and relates primarily to the Company’s Compression and Process Services division.

Total Energy’s Contract Drilling Services division achieved 12% utilization during the first quarter of 2016, recording 196 operating days (spud to release), compared to 263 operating days, or 17% utilization, during the first quarter of 2015.  Revenue per operating day decreased 18% for the first quarter of 2016 relative to the prior year comparable period due to reduced pricing.  Efforts to reduce operating and overhead costs allowed this division to remain marginally profitable despite very low equipment utilization.

The Rentals and Transportation Services division achieved a utilization rate on major rental equipment of 15% during the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 38% during the first quarter of 2015.  Divisional revenue per utilized rental piece decreased 5% for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 due to lower pricing that was offset somewhat by equipment mix.  This division exited the first quarter of 2016 with approximately 10,000 pieces of rental equipment and 115 heavy trucks as compared to 10,000 rental pieces and 119 heavy trucks at March 31, 2015.  While this division continued to take action to reduce operating costs during the first quarter, its significant fixed cost structure contributed to the fact that for the first time ever, this division was not profitable during the first quarter which is typically its busiest quarter.

Revenue in the Compression and Process Services division decreased 38% to $35.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $57.4 million for the same period in 2015.  This division exited the first quarter of 2016 with a $49.4 million backlog of fabrication sales orders as compared to $86.6 million at March 31, 2015 and $48.9 million at December 31, 2015.  Included in the March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 backlog is an $8.1 million order purported to be cancelled without payment of the prescribed cancellation fee and no revenue has or will be recorded in respect of such order until resolution.  At March 31, 2016, approximately 11,200 horsepower of compression equipment was on rent compared to 38,400 horsepower on rent at March 31, 2015 and 15,800 at December 31, 2015.  The gas compression rental fleet operated at an average utilization rate of 35% for the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 77% during the first quarter of 2015 and 42% in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Cashflow was $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $7.5 million for the comparable period in 2015.  Despite historically low equipment utilization rates in the Contract Drilling Services and Rentals and Transportation Services divisions due in part to the Company’s determination not to pursue unprofitable work, Total Energy managed to generate positive cash flow while at the same time minimize wear and tear on its equipment.

During the first quarter, Total Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share to shareholders of record on March 31, 2016.  This dividend was paid on April 29, 2016.  For Canadian income tax purposes, all dividends paid by Total Energy on its common shares are designated as “eligible dividends” unless otherwise indicated.  During the first quarter of 2016, 12,100 common shares were purchased under the Company’s normal course issuer bid at an average price of $13.01 per share (including commissions).

Outlook

 Current industry conditions in North America are as difficult as any faced by Total Energy in its 20 year history and are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.  In such environment, the Company is focused on maintaining its financial strength and liquidity, preserving its operating assets, retaining core personnel and pursuing opportunities to add quality personnel and assets so as to be ready, willing and able to go back to work with minimal expense and delay when industry conditions eventually improve.

The challenges facing the energy industry have led to a dysfunctional energy services marketplace, highlighted by unsustainable pricing and equipment cannibalization.  Total Energy continues to strategically manage its participation in such market, which is evidenced in part by the Company’s historically low equipment utilizations during the first quarter.  Risks relating to the financial solvency of business counterparties remain elevated and Total Energy continues to manage these risks carefully so as to minimize bad debt expense and the costs and disruptions occasioned by insolvent suppliers.

Total Energy continued to take steps during the first quarter to adjust its operating capacity to the current reality.  Unfortunately, these adjustments impact many quality people despite the Company’s efforts to preserve its core human resource capacity in the same way it seeks to preserve its equipment base.  The Company saw its workforce continue to decrease during the first quarter of 2016 with cumulative headcount reductions now exceeding 50% since the beginning of 2015.

Arising out of this difficult market are numerous investment opportunities.  During the first quarter, Total Energy completed the acquisition of the operating assets of an oilfield equipment rental company based in the United States and efforts continue to review numerous potential acquisitions.  Apart from valuation, the quality of equipment and personnel are paramount considerations when considering such opportunities.

Total Energy’s financial condition remains very strong, with $87.7 million of positive working capital (including $18.0 million, or $0.58 per share, of cash and marketable securities) and no net debt as at March 31, 2016.  The Company’s only bank debt consists of a $48.3 million mortgage loan, which is secured by approximately 60% of the Company’s significant real estate holdings (based on value). To support the mortgage loan, in May of 2015 Total Energy received an independent appraisal of its real estate holdings which estimated the market value to be $110 million.  This appraisal excluded $8.4 million of subsequent 2015 real estate additions.  The net book value of the Company’s real estate holdings at December 31, 2015 was $55.7 million. The mortgage loan requires monthly principal and interest payments of $278,800 until May of 2020 when the remaining principal amount of approximately $40.2 million becomes due.  Total Energy’s $65 million operating credit facility is currently undrawn.  The Company’s bank credit facilities require that it maintain a debt (less cash) to equity ratio below 2.5 to 1.0 and a current ratio of at least 1.3 to 1.0.  As at March 31, 2016, Total Energy’s debt to equity ratio was 0.10 to 1.0 and the current ratio was 4.05 to 1.0.

The Company’s strong financial position, modern and well maintained fleet of equipment, established market presence and experienced and stable management team allow the Company to conduct its business in a disciplined and sustainable manner.  Total Energy will also look to use its financial capacity and flexibility to continue to build sustainable shareholder value.

Conference Call

At 2:30 p.m. MDT today, Total Energy will conduct a conference call and webcast to discuss its year end financial results.  Daniel Halyk, President & Chief Executive Officer, will host the conference call.  The call is open to Shareholders and all other interested persons.  A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible on Total’s website at www.totalenergy.ca by selecting “Webcasts”.  Persons wishing to join the conference call live may do so by calling (866) 696-5910 or (416) 340-2217.  Those who are unable to listen to the call live may listen to a recording of it on Total Energy’s website.  A recording of the conference call will also be available until May 19, 2016 by dialing (800) 408-3053 (passcode 6370681).

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Shareholders and other interested persons are invited to attend the annual meeting of Shareholders which will commence at 10:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at the Calgary Petroleum Club, 319 – 5^th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta.