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8-K - FORM 8-K - UNION DRILLING INCd311884d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   

NEWS RELEASE            

 

Contacts:   Union Drilling, Inc.

Christopher D. Strong, CEO

Tina Castillo, CFO

817-735-8793

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  
  

DRG&L

  

Ken Dennard / Ben Burnham

  

713-529-6600

UNION DRILLING REPORTS

2011 FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 7, 2012 – Union Drilling, Inc. (NASDAQ: UDRL) announced today financial and operating results for the three month and full year periods ended December 31, 2011.

Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $68.2 million compared to $58.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. The Company reported net income of $2.1 million for the quarter, or $0.09 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per share, during the prior year period. Union Drilling’s 2011 fourth quarter results included a $2.7 million pre-tax, or $0.09 per share after tax, gain on disposal of assets associated with the auction of 31 of its smaller rigs and related equipment. 2010 fourth quarter results included a $1.2 million pre-tax gain on sale of spare equipment, which added $0.03 to after-tax earnings per share.

EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled $15.9 million compared to $12.4 million reported in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes the gain on disposal of assets for both periods, totaled $13.2 million compared to $11.2 million in the prior year period. For additional information regarding EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the disclosures contained at the end of this release.

Christopher D. Strong, Union Drilling’s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We had solid financial and operating results in the second half of 2011 and we’re well positioned to build on that foundation in 2012. In December, we completed the auction of 31 older, smaller rigs, which in many ways represents the culmination of our six year transition to a fleet of premium, modern rigs. That fleet, combined with our experienced, knowledgeable crews, is allowing us to increase our customer exposure to major and large independent E&P companies primarily focused on deep horizontal drilling in oil and natural gas bearing formations.


“In response to market conditions, we continue to reposition our fleet in the oil and liquids-rich plays that have proximity to our existing operating regions, such as the Granite Wash, Mississippi Lime and Utica. Most of our rigs in Texas are already drilling for oil and by summer, the majority of our rigs in the Arkoma will be targeting oil in Oklahoma and southern Kansas. In Appalachia, we have rigs drilling liquids-rich Marcellus Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia and I anticipate we will be drilling horizontal Utica wells in Ohio later this year.”

Operating Statistics

Union Drilling’s average marketed rig utilization for the fourth quarter of 2011 was 84.2%, up from 58.5% in the fourth quarter of 2010 (“year-over-year”), and 59.4% in the third quarter of 2011 (“sequential”). The significant increase in utilization was primarily due to the removal of 20 mostly idle rigs from the Company’s marketed rig count in the fourth quarter in preparation for the December auction. Revenue days totaled 3,925, up 3% year-over-year and up 1% sequentially.

Average revenue per revenue day was $17,383, up 14% year-over-year and essentially flat compared to the third quarter of 2011. Operating expenses per revenue day for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $12,003 per revenue day, up 15% year-over-year and 2% sequentially.

Drilling margins totaled $21.1 million, or 31% of revenues, compared year-over-year to 31% of revenues, and compared sequentially to 32% of revenues. Average drilling margin per revenue day totaled $5,380 for the fourth quarter of 2011, up 13% year-over-year, and down 2% sequentially. For additional information regarding drilling margin as a non-GAAP financial measure, please refer to the disclosures contained at the end of this release.

2011 Results

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, Union Drilling reported a net loss of $5.4 million, or $0.23 per share, on revenues of $250.9 million, compared to a net loss of $16.1 million, or $0.69 per share, on revenues of $192.5 million in 2010. 2011 EBITDA increased to $46.2 million compared to $26.0 million in 2010. The 2011 gain on disposal of assets increased EBITDA by $3.8 million and increased net income by $2.9 million, or $0.13 per share.

Drilling margin for 2011 totaled $71.8 million, or 29% of revenues, compared to $49.2 million, or 26% of revenues, in 2010. The Company totaled 14,772 revenue days on 61.5% utilization for the year versus 12,735 revenue days on 49.1% utilization last year. Revenue and drilling margin averaged $16,984 and $4,862, respectively, per revenue day in 2011 compared to $15,119 and $3,863 in 2010.


Conference Call

Union Drilling’s management team will hold a conference call on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. To participate in the call, dial (480) 629-9818 ten minutes before the conference call begins and ask for the Union Drilling conference call. To listen to the live call on the Internet, please visit Union Drilling’s website fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through March 15, 2012 and may be accessed by calling (303) 590-3030 and using the pass code 4506317#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available after the call for a period of 60 days on the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.uniondrilling.com.

About Union Drilling

Union Drilling, Inc., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, provides contract land drilling services and equipment to oil and natural gas producers in the United States. Union Drilling currently markets 50 rigs and specializes in unconventional drilling techniques.

UDRL-E

Statements we make in this press release that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those which are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” “should” or similar words. These matters include statements concerning management’s plans and objectives relating to our operations or economic performance and related assumptions, including general economic and business conditions and industry trends, the continued strength or weakness of the contract land drilling industry in the geographic areas in which we operate, decisions about onshore exploration and development projects to be made by oil and gas companies, the highly competitive nature of our business, our future financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment of capital, the continued availability of qualified personnel, and changes in, or our failure or inability to comply with, government regulations, including those relating to workplace safety and the environment. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Further, we specifically disclaim any duty to update any of the information set forth in this press release, including any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future events and, therefore, involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors described in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and our actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.


Union Drilling, Inc.

Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Revenues

      

Total revenues

   $ 68,228      $ 58,173      $ 250,891      $ 192,539   

Cost and expenses

        

Operating expenses

     47,110        39,916        179,066        143,348   

Depreciation and amortization

     12,106        12,404        50,846        49,932   

Impairment charge

     —          —          808        —     

General and administrative

     7,930        6,895        29,453        24,589   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost and expenses

     67,146        59,215        260,173        217,869   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     1,082        (1,042     (9,282     (25,330

Interest expense

     (428     (293     (1,488     (1,005

Gain on disposal of assets

     2,706        1,164        3,774        1,351   

Other income (expense)

     42        (128     58        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     3,402        (299     (6,938     (24,982

Income tax expense (benefit)

     1,340        14        (1,587     (8,914
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,062      $ (313   $ (5,351   $ (16,068
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.09      $ (0.01   $ (0.23   $ (0.69
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 0.09      $ (0.01   $ (0.23   $ (0.69
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     23,126,833        23,182,345        23,172,709        23,167,131   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

     23,195,766        23,182,345        23,172,709        23,167,131   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


Union Drilling, Inc.

Operating Statistics

(in thousands, except day and per day data)

 

     Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Revenues

   $ 68,228      $ 58,173      $ 250,891      $ 192,539   

Operating expenses

   $ 47,110      $ 39,916      $ 179,066      $ 143,348   

Drilling margins

   $ 21,118      $ 18,257      $ 71,825      $ 49,191   

Revenue days

     3,925        3,824        14,772        12,735   

Marketed rig utilization

     84.2     58.5     61.5     49.1

Revenue per revenue day

   $ 17,383      $ 15,212      $ 16,984      $ 15,119   

Operating expenses per revenue day

   $ 12,003      $ 10,438      $ 12,122      $ 11,256   

Drilling margin per revenue day

   $ 5,380      $ 4,774      $ 4,862      $ 3,863   


Union Drilling, Inc.

Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2011     2010  

Assets:

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7      $ 4   

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,409 and $153 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)

     45,387        30,880   

Inventories

     832        1,252   

Income tax recoverable

     368        1,023   

Prepaid expenses, deposits and other receivables

     3,027        2,112   

Deferred taxes

     1,239        1,186   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     50,860        36,457   

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $1,221 and $920 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)

     979        1,280   

Property, buildings and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $212,173 and $239,362 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)

     289,429        263,210   

Other assets

     743        42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 342,011      $ 300,989   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 21,513      $ 13,076   

Current portion of notes payable for equipment

     120        173   

Financed insurance premiums

     1,057        909   

Accrued expense and other liabilities

     10,811        10,675   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     33,501        24,833   

Revolving credit facility

     67,813        30,054   

Long-term notes payable for equipment

     70        —     

Deferred taxes

     42,972        44,089   

Customer advances and other long-term liabilities

     —          257   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     144,356        99,233   

Stockholders' equity:

    

Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 25,228,816 shares and 25,182,345 shares issued at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively

     252        252   

Additional paid in capital

     172,465        170,788   

Retained earnings

     35,828        41,179   

Treasury stock; 2,080,700 and 2,000,000 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively

     (10,890     (10,463
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     197,655        201,756   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 342,011      $ 300,989   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


EBITDA is earnings before net interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and non-cash impairment. The Company believes EBITDA is a useful measure of evaluating its financial performance because it is used by external users, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others, to assess: (1) the financial performance of Union Drilling’s assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis, (2) the ability of Union Drilling’s assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and support its indebtedness, and (3) Union Drilling’s operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other entities in our industry, without regard to financing or capital structure. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. However, EBITDA is a common alternative measure of operating performance used by investors, financial analysts and rating agencies. A reconciliation of EBITDA to net earnings is included below. EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Union Drilling, Inc.

(in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2011      2010     2011     2010  

Calculation of EBITDA:

         

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,062       $ (313   $ (5,351   $ (16,068

Impairment charge

     —           —          808        —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) excluding impairment charge

     2,062         (313     (4,543     (16,068

Interest expense

     428         293        1,488        1,005   

Income tax expense (benefit)

     1,340         14        (1,587     (8,914

Depreciation and amortization

     12,106         12,404        50,846        49,932   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     15,936         12,398        46,204        25,955   

Gain on sale of equipment

     2,706         1,164        3,774        1,351   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 13,230       $ 11,234      $ 42,430      $ 24,604   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Drilling margin represents contract drilling revenues less contract drilling costs. Union Drilling believes that drilling margin is a useful measure for evaluating its financial performance, although it is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. However, drilling margin is a common measure of operating performance used by investors, financial analysts, rating agencies and Union Drilling’s management. A reconciliation of drilling margin to operating income is included below. Drilling margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Union Drilling, Inc.

(in thousands, except day and per day data)

 

     Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2011      2010     2011     2010  

Calculation of drilling margin:

         

Operating income (loss)

   $ 1,082       $ (1,042   $ (9,282   $ (25,330

Depreciation and amortization

     12,106         12,404        50,846        49,932   

Impairment charge

     —           —          808        —     

General and administrative

     7,930         6,895        29,453        24,589   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Drilling margin

   $ 21,118       $ 18,257      $ 71,825      $ 49,191   

Revenue days

     3,925         3,824        14,772        12,735   

Drilling margin per revenue day

   $ 5,380       $ 4,774      $ 4,862      $ 3,863