PHX Energy Services Corp. ("
PHX Energy"
"
we" "
our" or the
"
Corporation") (TSX: PHX) is pleased to provide an
operational update as well as announce that its Board of Directors
(the “
Board”) has approved the reinstatement of a
quarterly dividend program and its 2021 capital expenditures
program.
The 2020-year has been unprecedented due to the
impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and the decline in energy
demand, commodity prices and rig counts. Knowing the cyclical
nature of the energy industry, one of our ongoing strategies is to
always be positioned for the next downturn. This includes
protecting and building balance sheet strength and focusing on
being a vital provider in Operators’ drive for drilling efficiency.
As a result of these objectives, we entered this volatile time with
one of the strongest balance sheets in the energy services sector
and with a strong reputation as a leader in premium technologies
and operational performance. This has allowed us to not only
survive in these trying times but to outperform and achieve
financial and operational successes.
In a time when US rig counts hit historical
lows, we are growing our market share because of the strength of
our technology and expertise of our personnel, and today, we are
arguably the most active directional provider in the largest basin
in the US, the Permian. In Canada we are continuing to maintain our
healthy market share despite the persistent challenges of this
market. As a result of our swift actions to protect our financial
position at the onset of what became the worst downturn in the
energy industry’s history, we have generated positive cash flows as
well as eliminated all bank debt and hold cash and cash equivalents
of $18.9 million as at September 30, 2020. Additionally, we have
leveraged our NCIB as a tool to enhance total long-term shareholder
returns by purchasing and cancelling approximately 5% of our shares
outstanding during the 2020 fiscal year, and since December 31,
2017 we have repurchased and cancelled approximately 15% of shares
outstanding.
We have diligently worked over the past few
years to build a business model that allows us to further enhance
shareholder returns even in a down market, and as a result, we are
pleased to announce that our Board has approved the reinstatement
of a quarterly dividend program effective immediately. The Board
has declared a cash dividend of $0.025 per common share designated
as an “eligible dividend” within the meaning of subsection 89(1) of
the Income Tax Act (Canada), and payable on January 15, 2021, to
shareholders of record at the close of business on December 31,
2020. The ex-dividend date is December 30, 2020. We believe we have
built financial strength that can sustain a capital allocation
strategy that includes a quarterly dividend as a further way to
reward shareholders as we continue to differentiate ourselves from
other energy service providers.
Additionally, the Board has approved our
preliminary 2021 capital expenditure program of $15 million (the
“Program”). The Program is anticipated to
principally be allocated toward expanding PHX Energy’s Velocity and
Atlas high performance drilling technology fleets, with $7 million
expected to be allocated toward growth expenditures and $8 million
expected to be allocated towards maintenance expenditures.
Exiting 2020, the industry rig counts are slowly
recovering from the all-time lows experienced and we are also
seeing a similar trend in our operations in the fourth quarter.
With North American rig counts forecasted to slightly improve in
2021, we anticipate our activity levels will remain steady and our
premium technologies will continue to be in high demand. The
additional fleet capacity that will result from the Program is
expected to meet this demand and allow for continued growth. We are
cautiously optimistic for 2021, knowing the volatility of the
current environment, and anticipate we will continue to strengthen
our enviable position as both a financial and operational
leader.
About PHX Energy Services
Corp.
The Corporation, through its directional
drilling subsidiary entities, provides horizontal and directional
drilling technology and services to oil and natural gas producing
companies in Canada, the US, Russia and Albania.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this document
constitute "forward looking statements" and/or "forward looking
information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws
(collectively referred to as "forward looking statements"). When
used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will",
"intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect",
and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward looking
statements. Such statements reflect the current views of PHX Energy
with respect to future events, the Program and operating
performance and speak only as of the date of this document. In
particular, this document contains forward looking statements
pertaining to the amount of the Corporation's 2021 capital
expenditure program, the source of funding the Program, the planned
allocation of the Program, the anticipated 2021 activity and demand
for our services, anticipated growth into 2021 and beyond, and the
continuation of our quarterly dividend.
In light of continued volatile market
conditions, including without limitation the continuing uncertainty
of and adverse impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on the
Corporation's operations, there can be no assurances that the
Corporation will continue to maintain the quarterly dividend
program in the future. The future payment of dividends remains
subject to the approval of and declaration by the Board of
Directors on a quarterly basis. The amount of future cash
dividends, if any, by the Corporation will be subject to the
discretion of and ongoing assessment by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation and may vary, or be suspended entirely, depending
on a variety of factors and conditions existing from time to time,
including the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,
fluctuations in commodity prices, operating costs and profits,
working capital and capital expenditure requirements, debt service
requirements, foreign exchange rates and the satisfaction of
solvency tests imposed by the Business Corporation's Act (Alberta)
for the declaration and payment of dividends.
Forward looking statements involve significant
risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future
performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate
indications of whether such results will be achieved. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements as a
number of factors could cause actual results to defer materially
from the results discussed in these forward looking statements,
including but not limited to those factors referred to under the
heading "Risk Factors" in the Corporation's Annual Information Form
("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2019 and
the Corporation's management's discussion and analysis for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 . Although forward
looking statements contained in this press release are based upon
what the Corporation believes are reasonable assumptions, the
Corporation cannot assure investors that actual results will be
consistent with these forward looking statements. The forward
looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by
this cautionary statement. Unless otherwise required by law, PHX
Energy does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these
forward looking statements.
For further information please contact: John
Hooks, CEO; Michael Buker, President; or Cameron Ritchie, Senior
Vice President Finance and CFO
PHX Energy Services Corp. Suite 1400, 250 2nd
Street SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 0C1 Tel: 403-543-4466
Fax: 403-543-4485 www.phxtech.com
PHX Energy Services (TSX:PHX)
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