ClearStream Announces Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ClearStream Energy Services Inc. (“ClearStream”, TSX: CSM and CSM.DB.A) today announced its results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

“EBITDAS” and “Adjusted EBITDAS” are not standard measures under IFRS. Please refer to the “Non-IFRS measures” section of this release for a description of these items and limitations of their use.

Third Quarter 2018 Highlights

• During the third quarter of 2018, ClearStream completed the acquisition of AFX Materials and Fabrication Ltd. (“AFX”) for total consideration of up to $2.5 million. AFX is a specialized manufacturer of wear resistant chromium carbide overlay and structural steel fabrication with operations in Alberta. The acquisition is expected to increase the manufacturing capacity of ClearStream’s existing Wear Technology business by 30%;
• Demand for ClearStream’s services was stable during the quarter as revenue was relatively unchanged  compared to the third quarter of 2017;
• Gross margins were 8.6% compared to 7.7% in the third quarter of 2017. Gross margins improved due to a favorable change in sales mix as more revenue was generated from the higher margin Wear Technology division;
• Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) costs for the quarter were $5.6 million compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2017. SG&A expenses increased during the third quarter of 2018 due to an increase in legal and consulting costs combined with higher people costs. Included in third quarter SG&A costs are $0.3 million in one-time expenses, which include costs related to the acquisition of AFX.
• The search for a new Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) is progressing well and an interim solution is in place to ensure a proper transition with the outgoing CFO. We remain excited about ClearStream’s growth opportunities, and confident in our ability to recruit a growth-oriented financial executive to fill the CFO position.
• ClearStream has renewed all key contracts in 2018 to date and expects to renew all remaining contracts before the end of the year;
• ClearStream continues to have strong financial support from our key stakeholders as evidenced by the $10 million term loan obtained on November 2, 2018.  Proceeds from this loan will be used to fund growth opportunities, including the recent acquisition of AFX, and general liquidity needs.

Overview of Financial Results

Impairment of goodwill

ClearStream performed impairment tests as at September 30, 2018 due to the adverse economic impact that low commodity prices have had on ClearStream’s financial results and the industries that it operates in. Based on the testing performed, a goodwill impairment loss of $17.5 million was recorded at September 30, 2018 for the maintenance and construction segment. The goodwill impairment write-down is non-cash in nature and does not affect the Company’s liquidity, cash flows from operating activities, or debt covenants, and does not have an impact on the future operations of the Company.

Segment Review

MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

Revenues for the Maintenance and Construction Services segment were $67.8 million and $255.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $66.7 million and $219.5 million for the same periods in the prior year.  For the third quarter of 2018, revenues were relatively consistent with the prior year with an increase in non-union based maintenance demand offset by a decrease in union based demand.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, an increase in maintenance and plant turnaround demand led to the rise in revenue. Large plant turnarounds in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland were completed during the second quarter of 2018, which were incremental compared to 2017.

Gross profit was $3.4 million and $12.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared with $3.8 million and $14.1 million for the same periods in the prior year. Gross profit margins for those same periods were 5.0% and 4.7% compared to 5.8% and 6.4% in 2017. Gross margins declined due to lower pricing and an unfavorable change in sales mix. Maintenance and construction services continue to be over-supplied relative to demand and, as a result, pricing levels declined compared to 2017. In addition, in the second quarter of 2018, we earned a larger proportion of revenue from work using union based employees, which is lower margin work due to the higher cost of labour associated with this type of work.

SG&A expenses for the Maintenance and Construction segment were $0.2 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared with $0.2 million and $0.9 million for the same periods in the prior year. SG&A expenses decreased slightly over the comparative periods in 2017 due to reductions in headcount and discretionary spending.

WEAR, FABRICATION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

ClearStream sold all transportation assets on January 1, 2018. Total proceeds received on the sale were $3.4 million and a gain of $1.0 million was recognized on the sale. The following table shows the quarter-over-quarter results with the transportation division excluded to facilitate a more relevant comparative analysis:

Excluding the Transportation division, revenues for this segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $18.2 million and $44.9 million, compared to $16.7 million and $47.9 million for the same periods in the prior year. For the three months ended September 30, 2018, the increase in revenue was largely due to an increase in Wear Technology demand.

Gross profit was $4.0 million and $8.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared with $2.7 million and $9.8 million for the same periods in the prior year. For the three months ended September 30, 2018, gross margins increased to 21.9% from 16.1% due to a favorable increase in sales mix, with Wear Technology revenue representing a larger proportion of revenue for this segment. On a year-to-date basis, gross margins were relatively consistent compared to the prior year.

Excluding the Transportation division, SG&A expenses for the Fabrication and Wear Technology segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to the prior periods due to an increase in people costs.

Corporate

Corporate SG&A expenses were $5.3 million and $13.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $4.6 million and $12.4 million for the same periods in the prior year. SG&A costs increased on a year-over-year basis due to higher legal, consulting and people costs. Included in third quarter SG&A costs are $282 in one-time expenses, which include costs related to the acquisition of AFX.

Outlook

Demand for ClearStream core services, including maintenance and Wear Technology, is expected to remain stable during the fourth quarter of 2018; however, revenue is expected to be down compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 due to a decline in Fabrication demand. Despite the expected decrease in revenue, fourth quarter gross profit is expected to be consistent on year-over-year basis due to an expected favorable change in sales mix.

The oil and gas maintenance industry is very competitive and is expected to remain that way for the balance of 2018 and into 2019. Although demand has increased in 2018, gross profit margins have declined due to the continued pressure on pricing. We continue to believe that size and scale are required to provide greater efficiencies and cost savings to our clients. Consolidation of scope of services and higher utilization of the labour supply within the maintenance and turnaround segment must occur before pricing and margin improvements are realized by ClearStream.

Clearstream must continue to focus on cost control, efficiency improvements and operational execution to stay ahead of our competition. ClearStream will also actively seek to expand its scope of services and geographical footprint with more value-added solutions and technologies.

About ClearStream Energy Services Inc.

With a legacy of excellence and experience stretching back more than 50 years, ClearStream provides solutions to the Energy and Industrial markets including: Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Mining, Power, Agriculture, Forestry, Infrastructure and Water Treatment. With offices strategically located across Canada and over 3,000 employees, we provide maintenance, construction and environmental services that keep our clients moving forward. For more information about ClearStream, please visit www.ClearStreamEnergy.ca.

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Forward-looking information 
This report contains certain forward-looking information.  Certain information included in this report may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws.  In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.  Forward-looking information may relate to management’s future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements or information regarding the future plans or prospects of ClearStream and reflects management’s expectations and assumptions regarding the growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities of ClearStream.  Without limitation, information regarding the future operating results and economic performance of ClearStream constitute forward-looking information.  Such forward-looking information reflects management’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management of ClearStream.  Forward-looking information involves significant risks and uncertainties.  A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events and results discussed in the forward-looking information including risks related to investments, conditions of capital markets, economic conditions, commodity prices, dependence on key personnel, limited customer bases, interest rates, regulatory change, ability to meet working capital requirements and capital expenditures needs of the Company, factors relating to the weather and availability of labour. These factors should not be considered exhaustive.  In addition, in evaluating this information, investors should specifically consider various factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors,” in the company’s 2017 Annual Information Form dated February 28, 2018, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. In formulating forward-looking information herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting ClearStream will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general levels of economic activity, regulations, taxes and interest rates. Although the forward-looking information is based on what management of ClearStream considers to be reasonable assumptions based on information currently available to it, there can be no assurance that actual events or results will be consistent with this forward-looking information, and management’s assumptions may prove to be incorrect. This forward-looking information is made as of the date of this report, and ClearStream does not assume any obligation to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances except as required by law. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information.  ClearStream is providing the forward-looking financial information set out in this report for the purpose of providing investors with some context for the outlook presented. Readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose.

Non-standard measures
The terms ‘‘EBITDAS’’ and “Adjusted EBITDAS” (collectively the ‘‘Non-GAAP measures’’) are financial measures used in this report that are not standard measures under IFRS.  ClearStream’s method of calculating Non-GAAP measures may differ from the methods used by other issuers.  Therefore, ClearStream’s Non-GAAP measures, as presented may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.

EBITDAS refers to net earnings determined in accordance with IFRS, before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income tax expense (recovery) and stock based compensation. EBITDAS is used by management and the directors of ClearStream (the “Directors”) as well as many investors to determine the ability of an issuer to generate cash from operations.  Management also uses EBITDAS to monitor the performance of ClearStream’s reportable segments and believes that in addition to net income or loss and cash provided by operating activities, EBITDAS is a useful supplemental measure from which to determine ClearStream’s ability to generate cash available for debt service, working capital, capital expenditures and income taxes. ClearStream has provided a reconciliation of income (loss) from continuing operations to EBITDAS in its consolidated financial statements and MD&A.

Adjusted EBITDAS refers to EBITDAS excluding income from equity investments, the gain on sale of assets held for sale, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, restructuring costs, one-time non-recurring costs as identified by management, and gain on sale of property plant and equipment. ClearStream has used Adjusted EBITDAS as the basis for the analysis of its past operating financial performance. Adjusted EBITDAS is used by ClearStream and management believes it is a useful supplemental measure from which to determine ClearStream’s ability to generate cash available for debt service, working capital, capital expenditures, and income taxes.  Adjusted EBITDAS is a measure that management believes facilitates the comparability of the results of historical periods and the analysis of its operating financial performance which may be useful to investors. ClearStream has provided a reconciliation of income (loss) from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDAS in its MD&A.

Investors are cautioned that the Non-GAAP Measures are not alternatives to measures under IFRS and should not, on their own, be construed as an indicator of performance or cash flows, a measure of liquidity or as a measure of actual return on the shares.  These Non-GAAP measures should only be used with reference to ClearStream’s Interim Financial Statements and Annual Financial Statements available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or www.clearstreamenergy.ca.

CLEARSTREAM ENERGY SERVICES INC. 
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CLEARSTREAM ENERGY SERVICES INC.

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