High Arctic Announces 2024 Fourth Quarter and Year End Financial and Operating Results

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CALGARY, Alberta, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (TSX: HWO) (the "Corporation” or "High Arctic”) released its' fourth quarter and year-end results today. The audited consolidated financial statements, management discussion & analysis ("MD&A”), and annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on High Arctic's website at www.haes.ca. All amounts are denominated in Canadian dollars ("CAD”), unless otherwise indicated.

Mike Maguire, Interim Chief Executive Officer commented:

"With 2024 complete High Arctic has effectively been reset and is now a Canadian focused platform characterized by minimal debt, investment holdings, and an established and viable high margin rental business.

Our rental business footprint, while still small in scale, was bolstered by the Delta Acquisition completed in late 2023, an acquisition that is indicative of the type and structure of accretive investments High Arctic looks to pursue going forward.

The Board of Directors is currently undergoing a process to recruit and appoint a new Chief Executive Officer to augment and lead High Arctic's vision and strategic plan which is to grow its equipment rentals business and position itself to benefit from upstream energy service activity levels in the western Canadian oil and gas industry.”

In the following discussion, the three months ended December 31, 2024 may be referred to as the "Quarter” or "Q4 2024”, and similarly the year ended December 31, 2023 may be referred to as "YTD 2023”. The comparative three months ended December 31, 2023 may be referred to as "Q4 2023” and similarly the year ended December 31, 2022 may be referred to as "YTD 2022”. References to other quarters may be presented as "QX 20XX” with X being the quarter/year to which the commentary relates.

2024 Highlights

• Successful integration of Delta Rental Services.
• Completed the reorganization of High Arctic including the return of $37.8 million to shareholders.
• Maintained operational excellence and safety as evidenced by the continuation of recordable incident free work.
• Exited Q4 with net positive working capital of $2.7 million, including $3.1 million of cash.

With the corporate restructuring and spinoff of the PNG business complete, the Corporation's 2025 strategic objectives include:

• Relentless focus on safety excellence and quality service delivery;
• Grow the core businesses through selective and opportunistic investments;
• Actively manage direct operating costs and general and administrative costs;
• Steward capital to preserve balance sheet strength and financial flexibility; and
• Execute on accretive acquisitions in Canada to drive shareholder value and optimize available tax loss carry-forwards.
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At the beginning of 2024, High Arctic established a set of strategic priorities. Our priorities and highlights of objectives met include:

• Continued relentless focus on safety excellence and quality service delivery.
  • High Arctic's Canadian business completed 2024 without any recordable incidents, contributing to the Corporation's second calendar year running with a zero Total Recordable Incident Frequency Rate ("TRIF”) rate.
  • High Arctic extended its recordable incident free activity in PNG, with 7 years and 353 days of continuous recordable incident free work conducted to the date of the spin-out, representing over 4 million work hours.
• The creation of appropriate capital and corporate structures for the current businesses, providing the opportunity to consider transactions which would create value for the Corporation's shareholders.
  • The Arrangement was overwhelmingly supported by shareholders and resulted in separate public companies each focused upon their area of expertise.
• A return of significant capital and spin out of the PNG Business to shareholders.
  • The Arrangement resulted in separate public companies while also delivering a tax efficient return of capital totaling $37.8 million to shareholders.
  • The Corporation retained its position on the main TSX (TSX: HWO); with High Arctic Overseas Holdings Corp. being listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: HOH).
• Grow the core businesses through selective and opportunistic investments.
  • The Corporation focused on the very successful integration and rebranding of its rentals business in 2024, following its acquisition and amalgamation of the Delta Acquisition at the end of 2023.
  • The middle of the year was dedicated to the business of the Arrangement and the resulting transitionary work, however later in the year, the Corporation commenced the examination of selective investment opportunities, with this work continuing into 2025.
• Capital stewardship that preserves balance sheet strength and financial flexibility.
  • The Delta acquisition has provided incremental free cash flow and operational synergies.
  • The Corporation currently maintains low debt levels and associated leverage ratios.
  • Exited 2024 with a working capital ratio of 1.6:1
• Building up the Canadian business with acquisitions that allow the Corporation to optimize its available tax loss carry-forwards.
  • The Delta acquisition creates a blueprint for accretive acquisitions that position the Corporation to improve its ability to utilize its significant tax loss carry-forwards.
  • The Corporation, under the stewardship of the Board, continues its strategic review of potential acquisition targets with strong underlying intrinsic value and that will be accretive for shareholders.

The following is a summary of select financial information of the Corporation:

Fourth Quarter 2024 Summary

• Revenue from continuing operations increased 136% to $2,443 in the quarter compared to $1,037 in Q4 2023. The increase in revenue is primarily attributable to the Delta Acquisition in late Q4 2023.
• Oilfield services operating margin from continuing operations was $1,143 in the current year quarter compared to $664 in the prior year quarter, an increase of $479 or 72%, driven by the Delta Acquisition as noted above.
• EBITDA from continuing operations was $178 in the current year quarter compared to EBITDA loss of $918 in the prior year quarter. EBITDA from continuing operations benefitted from the acquisition of Delta Rental Services Ltd. ("Delta”) or (the "Delta Acquisition”) in late 2023.   
• Operating loss from continuing operations of $553 in the quarter compared to $1,408 in Q4 2023. The decrease in operating loss is attributable to higher oilfield services operating margin and reduced general and administrative costs, offset in part, by an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses. The improvements in operating loss from continuing operations is directly related to the Delta Acquisition.
• Net loss from continuing operations was $715 in Q4 2024 compared to net income from continuing operations of $219 in Q4 2023. Net loss from continuing operations was impacted by the same items impacting operating loss (as above) with a substantial contribution from the Delta Acquisition combined with reduced interest income, net higher non-cash accretion on contingent payments and notes receivable, fair value related adjustments, reduced income from equity accounted investment in Team Snubbing, and the positive change in foreign exchanges loss in Q4 2023 to gain in Q4 2024.

• Revenue from continuing operations increased 209% to $10,470 compared to revenue of $3,384 achieved in 2023. Consistent with the summary of the fourth quarter results, the increase in revenue is primarily attributable to the Delta Acquisition in late Q4 2023.
• Oilfield services operating margin from continuing operations was $5,207 in the current year quarter compared to $2,058 in the prior year quarter, an increase of $3,149 or 153%, driven by the Delta Acquisition as noted above.
• EBITDA loss from continuing operations was $527 in the current year compared to EBITDA loss of $2,311 in the prior year. EBITDA from continuing operations benefitted from the Delta Acquisition.
• Operating loss from continuing operations improved to $2,965 in the year compared to $5,163 in 2023. The decrease in operating loss is attributable to higher oilfield services operating margin, offset in part, by an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses. The improvements in operating loss from continuing operations was directly related to the Delta Acquisition.
• Net loss from continuing operations was $2,117 compared to $989 in FY 2023. The net loss, despite an improvement of $2,198 in operating income, is primarily due to the 2023 $615 gain on sale of the nitrogen business, a 2023 $915 deferred income tax recovery, $729 lower interest income from cash on guaranteed investment certificates ("GICs”) and term deposits in 2024 with the July 2024 distributed return of capital to shareholders, $1,493 lower equity investment income from Team Snubbing, and the net impact of higher non-cash accretion related expenses.
• Production Service's 42% equity investment share of Team Snubbing Services Inc. net loss was $690 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net income of $803 in the comparative period in 2023. Weak international operating results in 2024 combined with costs incurred to restructure the international business in Alaska dragged down Team Snubbing's results while the Canadian business performed in line with 2023.
• Cash from operating activities from continuing operations was $184 for the year, an improvement of $699 as compared to the prior year use of $515, driven by strong operational performance from the Delta Acquisition, partially offset by the significant additional general and administrative expenses incurred in 2024 due to the Arrangement.
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The Rental Services segment consists of High Arctic's oilfield rental equipment in Canada, centred upon pressure control equipment and equipment supporting the high-pressure stimulation of oil and gas wells in the WCSB.

The increase in revenue for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2024, versus the comparable periods in 2023 is a direct result of the contribution from the Delta business that was acquired in late 2023. Specifically, Q4 2024 revenues increased by $1,406 or 136% compared to Q3 2023, with annual 2024 revenues increasing by $7,086 or 209% when compared to annual 2023. Operating margins of 46.8% and 49.7% for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, respectively, are approximately 17 percent and 11 percent lower (on a gross basis) than the comparable periods in 2023, respectively. The reduction in operating margins is primarily a result of the Delta Acquisition, as Delta utilizes a combination of owned and third-party rental equipment in its operations, with third-party rental equipment resulting in higher operating expenses.

Production Services segment

The Production Services segment operations consist of High Arctic's idled snubbing units in Colorado, U.S., and its equity investments in the Seh' Chene Partnership and Team Snubbing Services Inc. in Canada. Though the Seh' Chene Partnership has experienced limited business activity since the 2022 Canadian sales transactions, the partnership is still active and the Corporation together with its partner will look to reposition its customer offerings and explore other avenues for business activity.

Team Snubbing Services Inc.

High Arctic accounts for the results of its 42% equity interest in Team Snubbing using the equity method of accounting, with Team Snubbing's net earnings recorded as income from equity investments in the respective reporting period. As reported in the Corporation's 2024 Financial Statements (Note 12), Team Snubbing achieved gross revenues of $26,064 for 2024 versus gross revenues of $21,252 for the comparative period in 2023. This increase in revenues is primarily a result of the consolidation of the results of Team Snubbing International Inc. ("Team International”) for the first time following Team Snubbing's April 1, 2024, acquisition of control of Team International.

Team International's operations experienced lower than anticipated activity levels in the Alaskan market in both Q4 2024, and for the year 2024. In addition, during Q2 2024, Team International incurred additional costs for restructuring management and operational teams. The restructuring initiative consolidated Team International's workforce, "right sizing” it to the needs of the overall customer base and aligning the service delivery with Team Snubbing's successful Canadian model. Team Snubbing's domestic Canadian operations experienced similar activity levels in both Q4 2024 and year-to-date 2024, when compared to the same periods of 2023.

High Arctic's proportionate share of Team Snubbing's net loss for 2024 was $690 compared to an income inclusion of $803 for the comparable period in 2023, representing a decrease in income from equity investment of $1,493. This year-over-year decline in income from equity investment realized in 2024 was primarily due to the results of Team International.

Liquidity and capital resources

In Q4 2024, cash from operating activities from continuing operations was $226, as compared with an outflow of $874 from operating activities from continuing operations in Q4 2023. Funds from operating activities from continuing operations totaled $530 in the quarter versus funds used of $335 for Q4 2023 (see "Non-IFRS Measures”). In Q4 2024, changes in non-cash operating working capital from continuing operations totaled an outflow of $304 compared to an outflow of $539 in Q4 2023.

For the year ended 2024, cash from operating activities from continuing operations was $184 as compared to a use of cash of $515 of cash from operating activities from continuing operations in 2023. Funds from operating activities from continuing operations totaled $484 for the year ended 2024, versus a use of funds of $1,292 for 2023.

Changes in cash from operating activities from continuing operations and funds from operating activities from continuing operations for both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024, when compared to the same periods in 2023, were largely the result of the positive impact on the business from the Delta Acquisition. In addition, operating related cash flows in the fourth quarter of 2024 benefitted from reduced G&A costs associated with the Arrangement transaction which was completed in the third quarter of 2024.

Investing Activities

During the fourth quarter, the Corporation's net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations totaled $310 compared to $3,160 for the prior year comparative quarter. For the year ended 2024, net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations totaled $997 compared to an inflow of $25,638 in the prior year. For the fourth quarter of 2024 and YTD 2024, the majority of expenditures incurred related to sustaining and growth capital for the Rental Services Segment combined with investments in information technology and systems required to support the Corporation upon completion of the Arrangement transaction. YTD 2023 investing activities were impacted by proceeds received on the sale of assets (net of costs) of $29,569, offset in part by the Delta Acquisition in Q4 2023 for $3,430.

Financing Activities

During the fourth quarter, the Corporation's net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was $430 compared to an inflow of $45 in the prior year comparative quarter. For the year ended 2024, net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was $38,659 compared to $2,967 in the prior year. Cash flow from financing activities for the year ended 2024 was impacted by a one-time $37,842 distribution to shareholders in accordance with the completion of the Arrangement transaction. Excluding the impact of the one-time distribution, cash flows related to finance activities were impacted by the normal course receipts and payments on the Corporation's existing note receivables, lease liabilities and long-term debt.

Working Capital

As at December 31, 2024, the Corporation's working capital balance was $2,692 compared to $62,985 as at December 31, 2023. The change in working capital is largely due to the spinout of the Corporation's PNG business combined with the $37,842 return of capital distribution paid during 2024, both of which were completed in connection with the Arrangement transaction.

Long-term Debt