/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/

CALGARY, May 9, 2019 /CNW/ - Cathedral Energy Services Ltd. (the "Company" or "Cathedral" / TSX: CET) announces its consolidated financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Dollars in 000's except per share amounts.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws.  For a full disclosure of forward-looking statements and the risks to which they are subject, see "Forward-Looking Statements" later in this news release.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Dollars in 000's except per share amounts

2019 Q1 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Revenues decreased 7% from $40,157 in 2018 Q1 to $37,242 in 2019 Q1 with the decline attributed to Canadian operations which were expected.

Adjusted gross margin decreased to 7% from 12% in 2018 Q1.  This decline was primarily attributed to higher equipment rentals, field labour, trucking and repairs.

Adjusted EBITDAS decreased 46% from $3,443 in 2018 Q1 to $1,874 in 2019 Q1.  Adjusted EBITDAS margin decreased to 5% of revenues in 2019 Q1 from 9% in 2018 Q1.

Reorganized management within our U.S. business unit.

Mud lube version of our nDurance^TM mud motor bearing section has been commercialized in 2 sizes.

OUTLOOK

On a quarter-over-quarter basis, 2019 Q1 U.S. rig activity was down 3% and there are mixed views for activity levels for the balance of 2019.  Take away issues in the Permian are expected to be resolved in late 2019 and into 2020.   The U.S. market is expected to continue to grow its overall production and that will require an increase in oilfield services spending, including services provided by Cathedral. Industry analysts are cautiously optimistic of improved Canadian drilling activity in H2 of 2019 (in comparison to 2019 Q1 activity levels) and this coincides with post breakup work awarded to Cathedral and discussions with clients.  Despite an improvement in WTI and a narrowing of WCS differential in 2019 Q1, producers have not made significant upward adjustments to their capital programs for 2019.   Investors are messaging to producers that they need to live within their cash flow and use free cash flow to pay down debt as well as returning value to shareholder by way of repurchasing shares and implementing or increasing dividends. 

Cathedral's senior management is disappointed with the quarterly financial results and execution within our U.S. operations.  In response to these issues, we have appointed our Canadian Operations Manager, Clayton Lagore, to lead our U.S. business unit replacing both the previous Operations Manager and Sales Manager.  Clayton's background has provided him with extensive knowledge of the drilling industry and general business acumen.  Clayton joined Cathedral in 2006 and was appointed Canadian Operations Manager in 2008.  Prior to joining Cathedral, Clayton worked with major oilfield service companies and owned and operated a number of independent directional drilling businesses which he and his teams built up and sold to larger entities.  Clayton has relinquished his responsibilities for the Canadian business unit and Randy Pustanyk, our EVP, will oversee the Canadian business unit.  The Company has taken advantage of certain U.S. staff departures to re-assign existing staff and this will result in a material reduction in overhead. We are expecting improved financial results for our U.S. business unit in the back half of 2019. The U.S. market is our primary focus and our intention is to continue to grow our market share. 

Testing of our mud lube version of our nDurance™ bearing section has been very successful and this has resulted in Cathedral commercializing our mud lube bearing section in 2 sizes.  Introducing a mud lube bearing assembly, in addition to our sealed bearing design, is aimed at increasing reliability and reducing operating costs in specific applications (Permian, Eagleford and Haynesville) where downhole temperatures are higher and which negatively impacts performance of traditional oil seal bearing designs.  The Company will be able to modify existing assets, at a minimal cost, to build out quantities as required, negating the need for significant capital investment. 

Our patented "Double Bend" and "Double Pad" motor designs are currently in field testing.  Both motor designs are based upon substantially the same principles and are expected to significantly reduce drag, stick slip and rotary torque as well as extending the length of laterals that can be drilled with a conventional bottom hole assembly ("BHA") as compared to using a rotary steerable system. The ability to drill longer laterals with a conventional BHA is expected to result in significant savings to Cathedral's clients.  We have a number of U.S. operators that are interested in testing this new technology and we will continue to seek additional testing opportunities.

With regard to MWD technology, we continue to be on track to introduce our next generation FUSION(tm) Dual Telemetry (DT) tool in 2019.  In addition, a priority is to improve the data rates of our previously commercialized FUSION Linear Pulse ("LP") tool.  Further increases in the speed at which surveys are transmitted on FUSION LP are anticipated in Q2 and Q3.

On behalf of Management and the Board of Directors, we would like to thank Jay Zammit for his contributions to Cathedral over the past twenty years.  Commencing with Cathedral as private company, Jay has contributed his experience and sage advice over these many years.  Jay began his association as a securities lawyer and then in 2003 joined the Board of Directors.  After over two decades of service, Jay has made the decision to reduce his work load, pursue personal interests and thus is retiring from the Cathedral board.  Management and the Board of Directors would like to take a moment to thank Jay for all he has done as a member of the board including his role on various committees.  His contributions will be missed.

2019 CAPITAL PROGRAM  

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company invested $1,963 (2018 - $4,474) in equipment. The following table details the current period's net equipment additions:

Cathedral's 2019 capital budget approved by the Board of Directors in December 2018 was for net equipment additions of approximately $4,000 and $1,700 of intangible additions related to technology development. Subject to operating results and industry outlook, equipment lost-in-hole will be replaced and funded from the proceeds received.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted IFRS 16 Leases ("IFRS 16") (see discussion under "New and Future Accounting Policies").  As a result of this new accounting policy, which was adopted retrospectively without restatement of comparative results, expenditures which previously were reported as cost of sales ("COS") or selling, general and administrative ("SGA") expenses are now classified as lease debt obligation repayments and interest expense and the related right of use asset is depreciated against net income on a straight-line basis.  As interest and depreciation are excluded from Adjusted EBITDAS (refer to Non-GAAP measurements), Adjusted EBITDAS for 2019 was higher in comparison to 2018 in the amount of $825.  Previously this $825 was classified as rent expense (being $683 in COS amounts and $142 in SGA amounts).

Revenues     2019 Q1 revenues were $37,242, which represented a decrease of $2,915 or 7% from 2018 Q1 revenues of $40,157. 

Canadian revenues (excluding motor rental revenues) decreased to $6,446 in 2019 Q1 from $9,698 in 2018 Q1; a 34% decrease.  This decrease was the result of: i) a 31% decrease in activity days to 874 in 2019 Q1 from 1,272 in 2018 Q1 and ii) an 3% decrease in the average day rate to $7,375 in 2019 Q1 from $7,624 in 2018 Q1. 

The average active land rig count in Canada was down 37% in 2019 Q1 compared to 2018 Q1 (source: Baker Hughes).  Cathedral's activity levels were roughly in line with this decline.  The decrease in day rates was due to a reduction in equipment damage recoveries and lower net base rate related to market pressures.

U.S. revenues (excluding motor rental revenues) increased slightly to $29,426 in 2019 Q1 from $29,131 in 2018 Q1; a 1% increase.  This increase was the net result of: i) a 9% decrease in activity days to 2,269 in 2019 Q1 from 2,498 in 2018 Q1; and ii) an 11% increase in the average day rate to $12,969 in 2019 Q1 from $11,662 in 2018 Q1 (when converted to Canadian dollars). 

The average active land rig count for the U.S. was up 9% in 2019 Q1 compared to 2018 Q1 (source: Baker Hughes).  The Company experienced a decline in activity days resulting in a decrease in market share compared to 2018 Q1.  These declines were related to reductions in client's drilling programs to stay within their cash flow as well as some operational issues.  Day rates in USD increased 6% to $9,756 USD in 2019 Q1 from $9,231 USD in 2018 Q1 due to increase in recoveries of 3^rd party equipment rentals from clients.      

Motor rentals in Canada declined slightly while U.S. rentals increased.  Combined rental revenues increased to $1,370 in 2019 compared to $1,328 a 3% increase.

Gross margin and adjusted gross margin     Gross margin for 2019 Q1 was negative compared to 6% in 2018 Q1.  Adjusted gross margin (see Non-GAAP Measurements) for 2019 Q1 was $2,596 or 7% compared to $4,762 or 12% for 2018 Q1.   

Adjusted gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, decreased due to higher equipment rentals, field labour, trucking and repairs. The field labour increased due to industry pressures to retain staff.  Rentals increased primarily due to rental of RSS (rotary steerable systems), most of which was rebilled to customers as discussed previously in U.S. day rate section.

Depreciation of equipment allocated to cost of sales increased to $4,445 in 2019 Q1 from $2,215 in 2018 Q1 due to changes in estimate of useful life made effective October 1, 2018.  Depreciation included in cost of sales as a percentage of revenue was 12% for 2019 Q1 and 6% in 2018 Q1.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A")       SG&A expenses were $3,855 in 2019 Q1; an increase of $28 compared with $3,827 in 2018 Q1.  As a result of the implementation of IFRS 16 there was a decrease of $142 related to amounts previously classified as rent, but currently classified as lease repayments and interest.  Depreciation increased $672 on the related right of use assets set up under IFRS 16.

Additionally, there were reductions in SG&A wages and related benefits and burdens.  As a percentage of revenue, SG&A was 10% in 2019 Q1 compared to 10% in 2018 Q1. 

Technology group expenses     Technology group expenses are related to new product development and supporting and upgrading existing technology. Technology group expenses consist of salaries and related benefits and burdens as well as shop supplies.  Technology group activities spent on new product development are capitalized as intangible assets.  Total technology group costs were $982 in 2019 Q1; an increase of $151 compared with $831 in 2018 Q1.  The portion of total technology group costs related to new product development was $230 and this amount has been capitalized as intangible assets (2018 Q1 - $230).  Technology group costs not related to new product development were $752 in 2019 Q1; an increase of $151 compared with $601 in 2018 Q1.  Technology group costs increased primarily due to wage increases.

Gain on disposal of equipment     During 2019 Q1, the Company had a gain on disposal of equipment of $2,793 compared to $3,008 in 2018 Q1.  These gains mainly relate to equipment lost-in-hole.  Proceeds from clients on lost-in-hole equipment are based on amounts specified in service agreements and, in most cases; these proceeds exceed the net book value of the equipment and result in a gain.  The timing of lost-in-hole recoveries is not in the control of the Company and therefore can fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter.  In 2019 Q1, the Company received proceeds on lost-in-hole recoveries from clients of $3,962 (2018 Q1 - $3,775).

Finance costs     Finance costs consist of interest expenses on operating loans, long-term debt and bank charges of $143 for 2019 Q1 versus $45 for 2018 Q1.  The change was due to increase in average debt levels outstanding in 2019 Q1.

Finance costs lease liability     Beginning in 2019 Q1, there was $262 related to IFRS 16 (2018 Q1 - $nil) (see discussion under "New and Future Accounting Policies"). 

Foreign exchange     The Company had a foreign exchange gain of $542 in 2019 Q1 compared to a loss of $(697) in 2018 Q1 due to the fluctuations of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar.  The Company's foreign operations are denominated in USD and therefore, upon consolidation, gains and losses due to fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates are recorded as other comprehensive income on the balance sheet as a component of equity.  However, gains and losses in the Canadian entity on U.S. denominated intercompany balances continue to be recognized in the statement of comprehensive income (loss).  Included in the 2019 Q1 foreign currency loss are unrealized gain of $527 (2018 Q1 - loss of $669) related to intercompany balances.

Income tax     In 2018 Q4, Cathedral derecognized $13,059 of deferred tax assets due to a recent history of tax losses within Cathedral's Canadian entity.  As a result of this, for periods like 2019 Q1 where there are losses in the Canadian entity that are not recognized the effective tax rate is not meaningful.  Income tax expense is booked based upon expected annualized effective rates based upon the statutory rates of 27% for Canada and 23% for the U.S. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Overview     On an annualized basis, the Company's principal source of liquidity is cash generated from operations and proceeds from equipment lost-in-hole.    In addition, the Company has the ability to fund liquidity requirements through its credit facility and the issuance of debt and/or equity.   Cash flow - operating activities in 2019 Q1 decreased to a loss of $(854) from $2,132 in 2018 Q1. This decrease was primarily due to decreased net earnings and the positive impact of changes in working capital in 2018 Q1.  This use of cash reduced the Company's cash balances.

Working capital     At March 31, 2019 the Company had working capital of $27,554 (December 31, 2018 - $30,599).  $2,048 of the decrease in working capital relates to increase in current portion of lease liabilities due to the adoption of IFRS 16.

Credit facility     The Company's credit facility (the "Facility") consists of a $5 million operating facility and a $15 million extendible revolving credit facility and expires December 31, 2020.  The Facility is secured by a general security agreement over all present and future personal property.  The Facility provides a definition of EBITDA ("Credit Agreement EBITDA") to be used in calculation of financial covenants.

The financial covenants associated with the amended Facility are:

Consolidated funded debt to consolidated Credit Agreement EBITDA ratio shall not exceed 3.0:1; and
Consolidated interest coverage ratio shall not be less than 2.5:1.

The Facility bears interest at the financial institution's prime rate plus 0.75% to 2.25% or bankers' acceptance rate plus 1.75% to 3.00% with interest payable monthly.  Interest rate spreads for the Facility depend on the level of funded debt compared to the 12 month trailing Credit Agreement EBITDA.  The Facility provides a means to lock in a portion of the debt at interest rates through bankers' acceptance ("BA") based on the interest rate spread on the date the BA was entered into. 

Compliance with Facility covenants

Based on current available information, Cathedral expects to comply with all covenants for the next twelve months.

At March 31, 2019, the Company had drawn $7,000 of its revolving credit facility, $nil of its operating facility and had $5,036 in cash.  At March 31, 2019, the Company had consolidated funded debt of $2,804 which includes five outstanding letters of credit ("LOC") which are included in the funded debt calculation.  For the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2019, Credit Agreement EBITDA was $12,357. 

The calculation of the financial covenants under the Facility as at March 31, 2019 is as follows:

Contractual obligations     In the normal course of business, the Company incurs contractual obligations and those obligations are disclosed in the Company's annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.    

As at March 31, 2019, the Company's commitment to purchase equipment is approximately $762.  Cathedral anticipates expending these funds in 2019 Q2 and Q3.

The Company has issued the following five LOC:

• two securing rent payments on property leases and renew annually with the landlords. The first LOC is $700 CAD for the first ten years of the lease and then reduces to $500 for the last five years of the lease. The second LOC is currently for $542 USD and increases annually based upon annual changes in rent;
• $75 USD issued for U.S. workers compensation coverage; and
• two securing the Company's corporate credit cards in the amounts of $75 CAD and $175 USD.

Share capital     At May 9, 2019, the Company has 49,468,117 common shares and 2,959,500 options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $1.03.

NEW AND FUTURE ACCOUNTING POLICIES

i) The Company has adopted IFRS 16 Leases ("IFRS 16") effective January 1, 2019. 

The Company utilized the modified retrospective approach in application of the standard.  This resulted in the recognition of a lease liability and a corresponding recognition of a right-of-use asset. The Company has chosen to recognize the right-of-use asset on January 1, 2019 at a value equal to the related liability of the lease.  The Company also used the exemption for any capital leases recognized prior to January 1, 2019 under the previous standards and to only apply IFRS 16 to contracts that were previously identified as leases.  As such, the Company did not apply the standard to any contracts not previously identified as containing a lease.  Exemptions were utilized for short-term leases where the term is 12 months or less and for leases of low value items.  As well, the classification of cash flows were impacted as the presentation of operating lease payments previously shown as operating cash flows will be split into financing (principal portion) and financing (interest portion) cash flows under IFRS 1616.

The modified retrospective approach does not require restatement of prior period financial information.  Accordingly, comparative information in the Company's financial statements are not restated.

As lease payments are made there is a reduction to the principal portion of the lease liability as well as an amount allocated to finance costs.  The finance cost is expensed over the lease term.  The right of use asset is depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis.  Cathedral uses a single discount rate for a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics.

ii) The Company also adopted IFRS Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") issued IFRIC 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments ("IFRIC 23") which clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes.  The adoption of this standard did not have any material impact on the Company's financial statements.

There were no other new or amended standards issued during the three months ended March 31, 2019 that are applicable to the Company in future periods.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws.  All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should" or similar words suggesting future outcomes.  In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things: take away issues in the Permian are expected to be resolved in late 2019 and into 2020; the U.S. market is expected to continue to grow its overall production and that will require an increase in oilfield services spending, including services provided by Cathedral; industry analysts are cautiously optimistic of improved Canadian drilling activity in H2 of 2019; expecting improved financial results for our U.S. business unit in the back half of 2019; the U.S. market is our primary focus and our intention is to continue to grow our market share; the ability to drill longer laterals with a conventional BHA is expected to result in significant savings to Cathedral's clients; further increases in the speed at which surveys are transmitted on mud pulse are anticipated in Q2 and Q3; projected capital expenditures and commitments and the financing thereof; and Cathedral expects to comply with all covenants during 2019.

The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon.

Various material factors and assumptions are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements.  Those material factors and assumptions are based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third party industry analysts and other third party sources.  In some instances, material assumptions and material factors are presented elsewhere in this news release in connection with the forward-looking statements.  You are cautioned that the following list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive.  Specific material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to:

• the performance of Cathedral's business, including current business and economic trends;
• oil and natural gas commodity prices and production levels;
• alternatives to and changing demand for hydrocarbon products;
• performance obligation to clients;
• capital expenditure programs and other expenditures by Cathedral and its customers;
• currency exchange and interest rates;
• the ability of Cathedral to service its debt;
• the ability of Cathedral to retain and hire qualified personnel;
• the ability of Cathedral to obtain parts, consumables, equipment, technology, and supplies in a timely manner to carry out its activities;
• the ability of Cathedral to maintain good working relationships with key suppliers;
• the ability of Cathedral to retain customers, market its services successfully to existing and new customers and reliance on major customers;
• risks associated with technology development and intellectual property rights;
• the ability of Cathedral to maintain safety performance;
• the ability of Cathedral to obtain adequate and timely financing on acceptable terms;
• the ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage to mitigate operational risks;
• risks associated with acquisitions and business development efforts;
• environmental risks;
• risks associated with information technology systems;
• changes under governmental regulatory regimes and tax, environmental and other laws in Canada and the United States ("U.S."); and
• competitive risks.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties some of which are described herein.  Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks identified in this news release and in the Company's Annual Information Form under the heading "Risk Factors".  Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Further information about the factors affecting forward-looking statements is available in the Company's current Annual Information Form that has been filed with Canadian provincial securities commissions and is available on www.sedar.com.

NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS

Cathedral uses certain performance measures throughout this document that are not defined under GAAP. Management believes that these measures provide supplemental financial information that is useful in the evaluation of Cathedral's operations and are commonly used by other oilfield companies. Investors should be cautioned, however, that these measures should not be construed as alternatives to measures determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of Cathedral's performance. Cathedral's method of calculating these measures may differ from that of other organizations, and accordingly, may not be comparable.

The specific measures being referred to include the following:

i)      "Adjusted gross margin" - calculated as gross margin plus non-cash items (depreciation and share-based compensation); is considered a primary indicator of operating performance (see tabular calculation);

ii)     "Adjusted gross margin %" - calculated as adjusted gross margin divided by revenues and is considered a primary indicator of operating performance (see tabular calculation);

iii)    "Adjusted EBITDAS" - defined as earnings before Interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, unrealized foreign exchange on intercompany balances, write-down of equipment, write-down of inventory and non-recurring expenses (including severance). Management believes that Adjusted EBITDAS provides supplemental information to net earnings in evaluating the results of the Company's business activities before considering certain charges, how it was financed and how it was taxed; and

iv)    "Net equipment additions" – is equipment additions expenditures less proceeds from equipment lost down-hole.  Cathedral uses net equipment additions to assess net cash flows related to the financing of Cathedral's equipment additions.

The following tables provide reconciliations from GAAP measurements to non-GAAP measurements referred to in this MD&A:

Adjusted gross margin

 Adjusted EBITDAS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
Dollars in '000s
(unaudited)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
Dollars in '000s except per share amounts
(unaudited)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
Dollars in '000s
(unaudited)

Cathedral Energy Services Ltd. (the "Company" or "Cathedral"), based in Calgary, Alberta is incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) and operates in the U.S. under Cathedral Energy Services Inc.  The Company is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CET".  Cathedral, is a trusted partner to North American energy companies requiring high performance directional drilling services. We work in partnership with our customers to tailor our equipment and expertise to meet their specific geographical and technical needs.  Our experience, technologies and responsive personnel enable our customers to achieve higher efficiencies and lower project costs.  For more information, visit www.cathedralenergyservices.com.

SOURCE Cathedral Energy Services Ltd.

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