CanElson Announces Strong Third Quarter Financial Results, Expands Its Credit Facility Through Syndication and Declares Third...
November 09 2012 - 6:00AM
Marketwired Canada
CanElson Drilling Inc. (TSX:CDI) today announced strong financial results for
the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 compared with a year earlier.
CanElson also has expanded its credit facility to $120 million from $60 million
previously available and declared a third quarter dividend of $0.05 per share.
THIRD QUARTER 2012 SUMMARY (Compared with a year earlier)
-- Services revenue $58.5 million, up 7% from $54.7 million
-- CanElson's Canadian utilization of 62% was 1.5 times higher than the
industry average, up from 1.4
-- Foreign segment (United States and Mexico) revenue grew by 27% to $27.1
million representing 46% of total revenue for the quarter
-- EBITDA $22.2 million, up 9% from $20.3 million
-- Income attributable to shareholders $10.2 million, declined 5% from
$10.7 million
-- EPS (diluted) $0.13, declined 13% from $0.15
-- Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 76.3 million, up 4% from
73.6 million
-- Declared third quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, up from nil
NINE MONTHS ENDED 2012 SUMMARY (Compared with a year earlier)
-- Services revenue $161.6 million, up 34% from $120.7 million
-- CanElson's Canadian utilization of 52% was 1.2 times higher than the
industry average, which is the same as the prior year
-- Foreign segment (United States and Mexico) revenue grew by 60% to $78.6
million representing 49% of total revenue
-- EBITDA $60.3 million, up 46% from $41.2 million
-- Income attributable to shareholders $29.7 million, up 48% from $20.0
million
-- EPS (diluted) $0.39, up 34% from $0.29
-- Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 75.2 million, up 10% from
68.2 million
-- Declared dividends totaling $0.15 per share, up from nil
"Our highly versatile tele-double and modern drilling rig fleet, and operations
in key oil-weighted basins across North America enabled us to generate strong
financial results during the third quarter even though the rig activity levels
declined in both the United States and Canada relative to the same period last
year," stated Randy Hawkings, President and CEO of CanElson. "Our prudent growth
and risk management strategy continues to prove itself as we remain focused on
delivering superior full-cycle value and growth to our customers and
shareholders."
OUTLOOK
Drilling Services
We believe that our strategy has uniquely positioned us to sustain relatively
strong profitability during the full drilling industry cycle. The current
drilling cycle, as we described in the second quarter 2012 MD&A, continues to be
subdued in Canada and the US. The cornerstones to our relative industry
strength, profitability, and top quartile financial results are:
1. operations in four core balanced geographical regions;
2. a standardized deep modern rig fleet (average age of less than 4.5 years
and average vertical rating of greater than 4000 metres);
3. new cost saving initiatives such as our natural gas fuel and flare gas
initiative with CanGas and our new proprietary triple design;
4. an established foot print and a growing reputation for efficiency in
optimization of drilling practices in Mexico where the market appears to
be poised for growth; and
5. a strong balance sheet with excess capacity to take advantage of
opportunities.
Mexico
The drilling industry in Mexico appears to be counter cyclical relative to
Canada and the United States. PEMEX is dedicated to stemming oil production
decline and increasing domestic gas production; and we have demonstrated our
ability to effectively and successfully do business in Mexico. We believe our
performance in the region and our alignment with an experienced and strong local
partner (Grupo Diavaz with 40 years working for PEMEX) will provide an excellent
opportunity for our Mexican joint venture, Diavaz CanElson de Mexico, S.A. de
C.V. ("DCM"), to expand its complement of services. As previously disclosed we
expect DCM's customer will move to a production sharing contract with PEMEX
during the next three months. Therefore, DCM has experienced the current
temporary lull in activity this year during this transition period.
Texas
CanElson has deployed 24% of its fleet focused on oil-directed drilling to the
Permian Basin in Texas. The industry rig count in this area has recently
declined due to the macro industry trends described above which may result in
minor downward pressure on revenue rates in 2013 for CanElson's rigs operating
there, compared with 2012. We do not expect that this pressure will
significantly impact our overall utilization in west Texas and anticipate that
we will still achieve capacity utilization in excess of 90% for the remainder of
2012 and into 2013, with downtime caused only by rig move intervals and planned
re-certifications of some of our drilling equipment.
Canada and North Dakota
As a result of the volatility in both oil and natural gas commodity prices,
reduced access to capital, commodity transportation challenges, and global macro
concerns our customers are understandably cautious with respect to their capital
spending programs. Consequently, we anticipate the current revenue rate
conditions to prevail through the first quarter of 2013 combined with typical
seasonal utilization increases through the winter. Beyond the first quarter we
have less certainty as to the market direction but we expect that the strong
relationships, cost reduction initiatives (e.g. CanGas) and long term contracts
we have established with our customers will provide a competitive edge in the
market place.
Rig Assembly
At our Nisku, Alberta facility we are assembling three additional tele-doubles
at an estimated investment of approximately $8 million per rig. We will deploy
these new rigs in Q4 of 2012 and Q1 of 2013, all with long term committed
contracts. These new rigs will expand the gross size of the fleet to 41 rigs. As
in the past, we continue to order long lead items for an additional tele-double,
with full construction dependent upon obtaining customer commitments. In
addition, progress is continuing on finalizing the detail designs of a
proprietary triple drilling rig that will incorporate similar characteristics of
our successful tele-doubles.
Fleet deployment (by rigs)
Mexico
North Drilling Mexico
Canada Texas Dakota (Leased) Service Total
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September 30,
2012 22 9 (net 8) 4 1 (net 0.5) 2 (net 1) 38 (net 35.5)
September 30,
2011 20 6 (net 5) 4 2 (net 1) 2 (net 1) 34 (net 31)
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Change % 10% 50% unchanged -50% unchanged 10%
(net 60%) (net 14%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross fleet deployment (by %)
Mexico
North Drilling Mexico
Canada Texas Dakota (Leased) Service Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 30,
2012 57% 24% 11% 3% 5% 100%
September 30,
2011 59% 17% 12% 6% 6% 100%
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CanGas Solutions Inc. ("CanGas")
We believe CanGas is the only provider of compressed natural gas ("CNG")
transportation services by truck-hauled CNG trailers in Western Canada, as such;
it is strategically positioned for rapid growth and cost-savings to customers.
Additionally, we look to bring this expertise to our operations outside the
WCSB.
CanGas provides two unique high value services requiring road transportation of
CNG. The first service provides high pressure processed natural gas to remote
worksites where the natural gas can displace a significant proportion of diesel
burned in conventional diesel engines converted to bi-fuel (a mixture of natural
gas and diesel fuel) usage. CanGas also sources and supplies high pressure input
compression to fill the road transport CNG trailers, and the diesel engine
bi-fuel conversions. The second service collects low pressure raw natural gas
which would otherwise be flared, and transports this previously wasted gas under
high pressure to a gas processing facility. In areas with flaring restrictions
the conservation of this raw gas allows the owner to produce more oil than would
otherwise be allowed by regulations as well as the ability to use this gas for
other purposes. Finally, CanGas is developing proprietary technology that could
economically employ portable, small-scale field facilities to condition raw
stranded natural gas so that it would be suitable for consumption in diesel
engines. We hope to profit both from the commercialization of this technology
and from the additional opportunities that it provides for our CNG engine
conversion and CNG transportation business.
During the third quarter, CanGas signed a three year natural gas supply
agreement with Bayhurst Energy Services Corporation, a subsidiary of SaskEnergy,
Saskatchewan's Crown-owned natural gas utility. Under the agreement, SaskEnergy
will develop a high-capacity CNG facility at Weyburn, Saskatchewan allowing
CanGas to be the first commercial supplier in Western Canada of trucked CNG for
diesel engines on drilling rigs. As a result CanGas will have a source of
natural gas for CanGas' CNG delivery trailers to transport natural gas to the 14
CanElson rigs based in south east Saskatchewan.
Also during the third quarter, CanGas installed bi-fuel conversion kits on four
of CanElson's rigs. CanGas has commissioned operations on one of these rigs
which has been using natural gas as fuel. The remaining three are expected to be
commissioned and commence operations imminently. As CanGas continues to convert
more CanElson rigs to run on bi-fuel we expect to realize considerable cost
savings from the substitution of inexpensive natural gas for diesel fuel. We
also expect to be able to optimize bi-fuel operations as we become more involved
within the operations and gain hands-on experience, which should positively
impact the Corporation's financial results.
Our assessment of CanGas' significant growth prospects is based on anticipated
environmental trends, especially tighter restrictions on flared gas to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and waste, as well as the significant cost saving
available from the substitution of inexpensive natural gas for diesel fuel.
CanGas is a natural supplier to our Drilling Services and further differentiate
CanElson's drilling services benefiting both our clients and our shareholders.
CanGas currently derives revenue principally from the collection of low pressure
raw natural gas from remote locations and the transportation of that gas to a
processing facility. With further investment we also expect to receive revenue
from the conditioning of wellhead natural gas, if and when our proprietary gas
conditioning technology is proven commercial.
By 2013, as CanGas expands its fleet of CNG trailers and compression units and
converts more drilling rigs to bi-fuel capacity, the delivery of CNG to drilling
rigs may become the primary source of CanGas revenue.
CanGas operated a fleet of 8 CNG trailers as at the end of the third quarter of
2012, up 33% from 6 CNG trailers at the end of the second quarter of 2012.
Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, CanGas further expanded the CNG
fleet by 8, bringing the total size of the fleet to 16 trailers at the date of
this press release.
CanGas operated 3 portable compression units as at the end of the third quarter
of 2012, up 50% from 2 portable compression units at the end of the second
quarter of 2012. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, CanGas further
expanded the number of portable compression units by 3, bringing the total
number of units to 6 at the date of this press release.
CAPITAL AVAILABILITY AND CAPITAL PROGRAM
With net debt (debt less cash) at September 30, 2012 of only $17.7 million and
$41.4 million available on our existing credit facilities, we are well
capitalized to take advantage of specific strategic opportunities. Funds flow
continues to be strong and will support our quarterly dividend rate of $0.05 per
share and our announced 2012 capital program as well as further expansion into
2013.
A significant percentage of CanElson's 2012 and 2013 capital programs are being
funded by operating cash flows with the remainder anticipated to be funded
through amounts available on the undrawn portion of the Corporation's loans and
borrowings. CanElson's total 2012 and 2013 capital programs are expected to be
as follows:
Drilling Services
------------------------------------
Spare
equipment,
facilities & Upgrades &
overhead maintenance Expansion CanGas Total
Capital Expenditures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total approved 2013
capital projects $ 3.0 $ 11.5 $ 5.6 $ 4.9 $ 25.0
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Nine months ended
September 30, 2012 $ 5.5 $ 6.6 $ 43.4 $ 4.0 $ 59.4
Anticipated costs to
complete 2012
capital projects 4.1 1.9 17.1 10.4 33.5
----------------------------------------------------
Total approved costs
for 2012 capital
projects $ 9.6 $ 8.5 $ 60.5 $ 14.4 $ 92.9
Previously
anticipated costs
for 2012 capital
projects (i) 7.0 12.7 58.2 20.3 98.2
----------------------------------------------------
Variance from
previously
anticipated 2012
capital projects $ 2.6 $ (4.2) $ 2.3 $ (5.9) $(5.3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) See our news release dated September 10, 2012
2013 Capital Program ($25 million):
Our modern standardized fleet allows us to minimize capital expenditures on
maintenance and spare equipment. Expansion capital is primarily limited to
additional top drives and completion of contracted rig builds. As in the past,
the Corporation's initial capital program excludes any potential new rig builds.
Construction of any additional drilling rigs is pending receipt of long-term
committed contracts.
2012 Capital Program ($92.9 million):
The reasons for a significant decrease to the 2012 CanGas capital budget include
a decrease of capital requirements as third parties have initially undertaken
the purchasing and installation of high speed CNG compressors, and no
requirements to utilize previously built in capital contingencies to roll-out
drilling rig bi-fuel projects. We expect that the decrease will not compromise
CanGas' growth plans.
Key elements of the remaining 2012 capital program are:
Drilling Services ($23 million):
(1) $17.1 million for the construction and completion of construction for
three contracted and committed tele-doubles (relating to rigs #33, #34
and #35), long lead items for one tele-double (rig #36) and other
growth capital investment; and
(2) Approximately $5.9 million for spares, shop upgrades and maintenance
capital.
CanGas:
$10.4 million to convert the primary diesel engines on 15 of our drilling rigs
to bi-fuel capability by January 2013 so that the engines can operate on a
mixture of natural gas and diesel fuel; to expand our fleet of truck-hauled CNG
delivery trailers to more than 44 from 22 currently; to expand the portable
compression units by 4 to 6 units; and for further research and development
associated with our proprietary small-scale portable, raw gas conditioning
technology to condition raw stranded natural gas so that it would be suitable
for consumption in engines.
2013 PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
Looking to 2013, CanElson's primary objectives will be to maintain and
strengthen its industry leading position by consistently providing operational
excellence and drilling efficiencies to its customers. With this focus, we will
be well positioned to obtain strong customer commitments and to capitalize on
new opportunities. Assuming we continue to obtain satisfactory customer
commitments, we intend to carry out the following activities that will enhance
our competitive positioning: expand our service offering in Mexico; continue
with the rapid conversion of the diesel engines in our fleet to bi-fuel
capacity; tactically develop, contract and deploy a proprietary triple drilling
rig to complement our core tele-double fleet; and continue to expand our
standard tele-double fleet. Achieving these objectives will present new
opportunities for CanElson, its customers and shareholders.
SYNDICATION OF CREDIT FACILITIES
CanElson is also pleased to announce the syndication of its credit facilities
led by HSBC Bank Canada, as Agent, with HSBC Bank Canada, Royal Bank of Canada,
The Bank of Nova Scotia and Alberta Treasury Branches, as lenders, which
increases CanElson's aggregate credit limit from $60 million to $120 million
(consisting of a $110 million extendible revolving term loan facility and a $10
million extendible revolving operating loan facility). The Lenders are committed
to the credit facilities for at least 3 years (having a current maturity date of
November 8, 2015), which are to be used by CanElson for general corporate and
working capital requirements as well as to assist with capital expenditures and
acquisitions. At CanElson's option, and upon the consent of the Lenders, the
maturity date of the credit facilities can be extended upon terms acceptable to
the parties. The credit facilities require interest to be paid monthly with no
scheduled principal repayments until the stated maturity date.
DIVIDEND
The Board of Directors has declared the third quarter dividend of $0.05 per
share for the three month period ended September 30, 2012, payable on December
4, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 23, 2012.
Management believes the Corporation can pursue disciplined but aggressive growth
opportunities while returning value to our shareholders through a dividend.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
(Tabular amounts are stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share
amounts and rig operating days)
Three months ended Nine months ended
September 30, September 30,
2012 2011 change 2012 2011 change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Services revenue $ 58,501 $ 54,569 7% $ 161,590 $ 120,660 34%
Rig construction
revenue $ - $ - nm $ - $ 4,377 -100%
EBITDA $ 22,172 $ 20,337 9% $ 60,337 $ 41,288 46%
Income attributable
to shareholders of
the corporation $ 10,172 $ 10,724 -5% $ 29,656 $ 20,005 48%
Income per share
Basic $ 0.13 $ 0.15 -11% $ 0.39 $ 0.30 30%
Diluted $ 0.13 $ 0.15 -11% $ 0.39 $ 0.29 34%
Funds flow $ 21,854 $ 20,838 5% $ 56,365 $ 39,693 42%
Gross Margin
(services) $ 26,370 $ 23,701 11% $ 72,304 $ 47,823 51%
Gross Profit (rig
construction) $ - $ - nm $ - $ 788 -100%
Weighted average
diluted shares
outstanding 76,335 73,564 4% 75,161 68,158 10%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MD&A
CanElson's complete unaudited interim financial results and Management's
Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the third quarter and nine month period ended
September 30 of 2012 have been filed on SEDAR and posted to the company's
website at this link:
http://www.canelsondrilling.com/investor-relations/financial-reports
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to
CanElson that are based on the expectations of CanElson as well as assumptions
made by and information currently available to CanElson which may constitute
forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. In particular,
this press release contains forward-looking information related to: we believe
that our strategy has uniquely positioned us to sustain relatively strong
profitability during the full drilling industry cycle; We believe our
performance in the region and our alignment with an experienced and strong local
partner (Grupo Diavaz with 40 years working for PEMEX) will provide an excellent
opportunity for DCM to expand its complement of services. As previously
disclosed we expect DCM's customer will move to a production sharing contract
with PEMEX during the next three months; in Texas decline in rig count may
result in some downward pressure on revenue rates in 2013 for the Corporation's
rigs there, compared with 2012. We do not expect that this pressure will
significantly impact our overall utilization in west Texas and anticipate that
we will still achieve capacity utilization in excess of 90% for the remainder of
2012 and into 2013; in Canada and North akota we anticipate the current revenue
rate conditions to prevail through the first quarter of 2013 combined with
typical seasonal utilization increases through the winter. Beyond the first
quarter we have less certainty as to the market direction but we expect that the
strong relationships, cost reduction initiatives (e.g. CanGas) and long term
contracts we have established with our customers will provide a competitive edge
in the market place; we will deploy new rigs in Q4 of 2012 and Q1 of 2012;
CanGas is strategically positioned for rapid growth and cost-savings to
customers; we hope to profit both from the commercialization of this technology
and from the additional opportunities that it provides for our CNG engine
conversion and CNG transportation business; As CanGas continues to convert more
CanElson rigs to run on bi-fuel we expect to make considerable cost savings from
the substitution of inexpensive natural gas for diesel fuel.
We also expect to be able to optimize bi-fuel operations as we become more
involved within the operations and gain hands-on experience which should
positively impact the Company's financial results; Our assessment of CanGas'
significant growth prospects is based on anticipated environmental trends; With
further investment we also expect to receive revenue from the conditioning of
wellhead natural gas if and when our proprietary gas conditioning technology is
proven commercial; By 2013, as CanGas expands its fleet of CNG trailers and
compression units and converts more drilling rigs to bi-fuel capacity, the
delivery of CNG to drill rigs may become the primary source of CanGas revenue;
funds flow continues to be strong and will support our dividend rate of $0.05
quarterly and our announced 2012 capital program as well as further expansion
into 2013; all references relating to future capital expenditures for 2012 and
2013; Looking to 2013, CanElson's primary objectives will be to maintain and
strengthen its industry leading position by consistently providing operational
excellence and drilling efficiencies to its customers. With this focus, we will
be well positioned to obtain strong customer commitments and to capitalize on
new opportunities. Assuming we continue to obtain satisfactory customer
commitments, we intend to carry out the following activities that will enhance
our competitive positioning: expand our service offering in Mexico; continue
with the rapid conversion of the diesel engines in our fleet to bi-fuel
capacity; tactically develop, contract and deploy a proprietary triple drilling
rig to complement our core tele-double fleet; and continue to expand our
standard tele-double fleet. Achieving these objectives will present new
opportunities for CanElson, its customers and its shareholders. Such forward
looking information involves material assumptions and known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond CanElson's control. Many factors
could cause the performance or achievement by CanElson to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be
expressed or implied by such forward looking information. CanElson's Annual
Information Form and other documents filed with securities regulatory
authorities (accessible through the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com) describe the
risks, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual
results and which are incorporated herein by reference. CanElson disclaims any
intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking
information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
CanElson Drilling Inc.
Randy Hawkings
President and CEO
(403) 266-3922
CanElson Drilling Inc.
Robert Skilnick
Chief Financial Officer
(403) 266-3922
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