CALGARY, Alberta, May 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Total Energy Services Inc. (“Total Energy” or the “Company”) (TSX:TOT) announces its consolidated financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

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.

“nm” – calculation not meaningful

Total Energy’s results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 reflect improved industry conditions in North America and Australia as compared to the first quarter of 2021. The Company did not receive any COVID-19 relief funds during the quarter as compared to $5.9 million received in the first quarter of 2021.

Contract Drilling Services (“CDS”)

_{⁽¹⁾   See Note 1 of the Notes to the Financial Highlights set forth at the end of this release.
⁽²⁾   Operating days includes drilling and paid stand-by days.}

First quarter 2022 drilling activity in North America and Australia continued to increase with rising oil and natural gas prices. Continued recovery of Canadian industry activity levels from the historic lows of 2020 and market share gains in the United States drove a significant year over year increase in North American operating days and increased revenue per operating day.   In Australia, activity and results improved in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021 as two drilling rigs returned to service following the completion of recertifications and upgrades. The first quarter EBITDA margin was slightly lower on a year over year basis due to pricing gains not fully offsetting the absence of COVID-19 relief funds and operating cost inflation.

Rentals and Transportation Services (“RTS”)

_{⁽¹⁾ See Note 1 of the Notes to the Financial Highlights set forth at the end of this release.}

First quarter revenue in the RTS segment increased as compared to the same period in 2021 due to higher equipment utilization and improved pricing in Canada and the United States. Increased equipment utilization as well as higher revenue per utilized piece of equipment contributed to the year over year increase in first quarter EBITDA and EBITDA margin. The RTS segment has significant leverage to equipment utilization due to its relatively fixed cost structure. Such leverage was demonstrated in the first quarter of 2022 with a disproportionate increase in EBITDA relative to revenue, which was sufficient to offset the absence of COVID-19 relief assistance and significant operating cost inflation.

Compression and Process Services (“CPS”)

_{⁽¹⁾ See Note 1 of the Notes to the Financial Highlights set forth at the end of this release.
⁽²⁾ Rental equipment utilization is measured on a horsepower basis.}

The year over year increase in the CPS segment’s first quarter revenue was due primarily to higher fabrication sales and increased equipment overhaul activity. Compression rental fleet utilization also continued to recover during the first quarter of 2022. The absence of COVID-19 relief assistance, costs incurred to prepare for substantially higher fabrication activity levels and general operating cost inflation contributed to lower first quarter EBITDA and EBITDA margin in 2022 as compared to 2021. Exacerbating the pressure on margins was the completion of fixed price fabrication orders during the first quarter of 2022 that were received in mid-2021. The fabrication sales backlog continued to grow during the first quarter of 2022, increasing by another $33.2 million, or 23%, compared to the $147.5 million backlog at December 31, 2021.

Well Servicing (“WS”)

_{⁽¹⁾ See Note 1 of the Notes to the Financial Highlights set forth at the end of this release.
⁽²⁾ Service hours is defined as well servicing hours of service provided to customers and includes paid rig move and standby.
⁽³⁾ The Company reports its service rig utilization for its operational service rigs in North America based on service hours of 3,650 per rig per year to reflect standard 10 hour operations per day. Utilization for the Company’s service rigs in Australia is calculated based on service hours of 8,760 per rig per year to reflect standard 24 hour operations.}

First quarter WS segment revenue and EBITDA increased in 2022 as compared to 2021 due primarily to higher activity levels in the United States and Australia and increased North American pricing. Canadian well servicing activity was slightly lower than prior year due to the earlier arrival of spring break up. Increased oil production activity and significant well abandonment activity in Canada continued to underpin North American well service activity.   Despite the absence of COVID-19 relief funds and operating cost inflation, the WS segment’s EBITDA margin improved modestly for the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021 as a result of higher pricing and utilization.

Corporate

During the first quarter of 2022, Total Energy remained focused on the safe and efficient operation of its business, improving the financial performance of all business segments and the prudent deployment of capital. $11.6 million of capital expenditures were made during the first quarter, which included $2.0 million of carry-over from 2021. Partially funding these capital expenditures was $3.0 million of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment that realized a $1.5 million gain on sale.

During the first three months of 2022 bank debt was further reduced by $20.7 million, or 11%, and 530,000 common shares were repurchased under the Company’s normal course issuer bid at an average price of $6.66 (including commissions).   The Company exited the first quarter of 2022 with $126.5 million of positive working capital, including $44.2 million of cash, and $115 million of available credit under its $225 million of revolving bank credit facilities.   The weighted average interest rate on the Company’s outstanding debt at March 31, 2022 was 2.79%.

Outlook

Total Energy’s diversified business platform, efficient cost structure and disciplined deployment of capital allowed the Company to generate significant free cash flow since the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020. To date, such free cash flow has been primarily directed towards enhancing shareholder returns through debt repayment and share buybacks. From the beginning of 2020 to March 31, 2022, Total Energy has repaid $108.0 million of bank debt and made $14.0 million of share repurchases under its normal course issuer bid. In April of 2022 an additional $10.0 million of bank debt was voluntarily repaid.

Total Energy’s diversification provides the Company with significant leverage to recovering global energy industry activity levels, as evidenced by the realization of its third consecutive profitable quarter during the first quarter of 2022.   With continued strength in commodity prices, current indications are that industry conditions will continue to improve for the remainder of 2022.

In direct response to increased customer demand, the Company’s Board of Directors has approved a $16.0 million increase to Total Energy’s 2022 capital expenditure budget to $42.1 million. $13.0 million of this increase is being directed towards equipment recertifications and upgrades and the purchase of new drill pipe, with the remaining $3.0 million earmarked for additions to the compression rental fleet. Total Energy plans to fund the remaining $30.5 million of its 2022 capital expenditure budget with cash on hand and cashflow.

Dividend Reinstatement

Total Energy’s Board of Directors has determined to reinstate a quarterly dividend to shareholders and has declared a dividend of $0.06 per common share for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 on Total Energy’s outstanding common shares. The dividend is payable on July 15, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2022. The ex-dividend date is June 29, 2022. Unless otherwise indicated, all dividends declared by the Company are “eligible dividends” within the meaning of subsection 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Shareholders are reminded that Total Energy’s annual meeting of Shareholders will take place on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 10:00 am (Mountain Time) at the Calgary Petroleum Club. In the event that any changes to the meeting are required due to COVID-19 public health orders or otherwise, the Company will provide updated meeting information by way of news release, which will also be made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Total Energy’s website at www.totalenergy.ca.

Mr. Bruce Pachkowski, a founding director and current Chair of the Board, will be retiring from Total Energy’s Board of Directors effective at the end of his current term, following the Company’s upcoming annual meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Pachkowski has served as a director for 25 years and has contributed significantly to Total Energy’s growth and success since its incorporation in November of 1996. On behalf of all shareholders of Total Energy, the Board of Directors extends its gratitude to Mr. Pachkowski and wishes him and his family the very best in retirement.

Conference Call

At 9:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) on May 12, 2022 Total Energy will conduct a conference call and webcast to discuss its first quarter financial results. Daniel Halyk, President & Chief Executive Officer, will host the conference call. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible on Total Energy’s website at www.totalenergy.ca by selecting “Webcasts”. Persons wishing to participate in the conference call may do so by calling (800) 319-4610 or (416) 915-3239. 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 June 12, 2022 by dialing (855) 669-9658 (passcode 8790).

Selected Financial Information

Selected financial information relating to the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 is included in this news release. This information should be read in conjunction with the condensed interim consolidated financial statements of Total Energy and the notes thereto as well as management’s discussion and analysis to be issued in due course and in the Company’s 2021 Annual report.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in thousands of Canadian dollars except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(unaudited)

Segmented Information

The Company provides a variety of products and services to the energy and other resource industries through five reporting segments, which operate substantially in three geographic regions. These reporting segments are Contract Drilling Services, which includes the contracting of drilling equipment and the provision of labour required to operate the equipment, Rentals and Transportation Services, which includes the rental and transportation of equipment used in energy and other industrial operations, Compression and Process Services, which includes the fabrication, sale, rental and servicing of gas compression and process equipment and Well Servicing, which includes the contracting of service rigs and the provision of labour required to operate the equipment. Corporate includes activities related to the Company’s corporate and public issuer affairs.

As at and for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars)

As at and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (unaudited, in thousands of Canadian dollars)

   _{⁽¹⁾   Corporate includes the Company’s corporate activities and obligations pursuant to long-term credit facilities.
   ⁽²⁾   Includes property, plant and equipment, lease asset (excluding current portion) and goodwill.}

Total Energy provides contract drilling services, equipment rentals and transportation services, well servicing and compression and process equipment and service to the energy and other resource industries from operation centers in North America and Australia. The common shares of Total Energy are listed and trade on the TSX under the symbol TOT.

For further information, please contact Daniel Halyk, President & Chief Executive Officer at (403) 216-3921 or Yuliya Gorbach, Vice-President Finance and Chief Financial Officer at (403) 216-3920 or by e-mail at: investorrelations@totalenergy.ca or visit our website at www.totalenergy.ca

Notes to the Financial Highlights

(1)   EBITDA means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and is equal to net income (loss) before income taxes plus finance costs plus depreciation. EBITDA is not a recognized measure under IFRS. Management believes that in addition to net income (loss), EBITDA is a useful supplemental measure as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company’s primary business activities prior to consideration of how those activities are financed, amortized or how the results are taxed in various jurisdictions as well as the cash generated by the Company’s primary business activities without consideration of the timing of the monetization of non-cash working capital items. Readers should be cautioned, however, that EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of Total Energy’s performance. Total Energy’s method of calculating EBITDA may differ from other organizations and, accordingly, EBITDA may not be comparable to measures used by other organizations.

(2)   Working capital equals current assets minus current liabilities.

(3)   Net Debt equals long-term debt plus lease liabilities plus current liabilities minus current assets. Management believes this measure provides a useful indication of the Company’s liquidity.

(4)   Basic and diluted shares outstanding reflect the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the periods. See note 5 to the Company’s Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Certain statements contained in this press release, including statements which may contain words such as “could”, “should”, “expect”, “believe”, “will” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of Total Energy as at the effective date of such statements and, in some cases, information supplied by third parties. Although Total Energy believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and that information received from third parties is reliable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning industry activity levels, including expectations regarding Total Energy’s future activity levels, market share and compression and process production activity. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors including fluctuations in the market for oil and natural gas and related products and services, political and economic conditions, central bank interest rate policy, the demand for products and services provided by Total Energy, Total Energy’s ability to attract and retain key personnel and other factors. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Total Energy to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Reference should be made to Total Energy’s most recently filed Annual Information Form and other public disclosures (available at www.sedar.com) for a discussion of such risks and uncertainties.

The TSX has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.