Cathedral Energy Services reports results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and increase in 2008 capital budget to $32.3 million
May 7, 2008
7:18pm
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ CALGARY, May 7 /CNW/ - Cathedral Energy Services Income Trust (the "Trust"/TSX: CET.UN) is pleased to report its results for 2008 Q1 and increase in its 2008 capital budget. Dollars are in '000's except for day rates and per Trust Unit amounts. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Dollars in 000's except per Trust Unit amounts Three months ended March 31 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues $ 46,253 $ 42,712 EBITDAS(1) $ 15,395 $ 14,412 Per Trust Unit - diluted $ 0.48 $ 0.46 Income before taxes $ 11,689 $ 11,033 Net income $ 9,917 $ 9,787 Per Trust Unit - basic $ 0.31 $ 0.32 Per Trust Unit - diluted $ 0.31 $ 0.31 Cash distributions declared per Trust Unit $ 0.21 $ 0.21 Distributable cash(1) $ 13,113 $ 13,071 Cash distributions declared $ 6,669 $ 6,530 Payout ratio(1) 51% 50% Property and equipment additions $ 3,960 $ 5,805 Weighted average Trust Units outstanding: Basic ('000) 31,707 31,030 Diluted ('000) 32,054 31,591 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 31 December 31 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Working capital $ 21,455 $ 16,947 Long-term debt and capital lease obligations excluding current portion $ 17,421 $ 17,441 Unitholders' equity $ 82,882 $ 79,250 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Non-GAAP measure; see "NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEARSURMENTS" within Management's Discussion & Analysis. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS This Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") for the three months ended March 31, 2008 should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2007, as well as the MD&A in the Trust's 2007 Annual Report. This MD&A has been prepared as of May 7, 2008. Dollar amounts are in '000's except for day rates and per Trust Unit amounts. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements in this MD&A including (i) statements that may contain words such as "anticipate", "could", "expect", "seek", "may" "intend", "will", "believe", "should", "project", "forecast", "plan" and similar expressions, including the negatives thereof, (ii) statements that are based on current expectations and estimates about the markets in which the Trust/Cathedral operates and (iii) statements of belief, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events that will or may occur in the future, constitute "forward-looking statements" and are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Trust/Cathedral. Forward-looking statements in this MD&A include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future capital expenditures, including the amount, nature and timing thereof; oil and natural gas prices and demand; other development trends within the oil and natural gas industry; business strategy; expansion and growth of the Trust's/Cathedral's business and operations including the Trust/Cathedral's market share and position in the oilfield service market; and other such matters. Such forward-looking statements are subject to important risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and that may affect the Trust's/Cathedral's operations, including, but not limited to: the impact of general economic conditions in Canada and the United States; industry conditions, including the adoption of new environmental, safety and other laws and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced; volatility of oil and natural gas prices; oil and natural gas product supply and demand; risks inherent in the Trust's/Cathedral's ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet its current and future obligations; increased competition; the lack of availability of qualified personnel or labor unrest; fluctuation in foreign exchange or interest rates; stock market volatility; opportunities available to or pursued by the Trust/Cathedral and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Trust/Cathedral. The Trust's/Cathedral's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do transpire or occur, what benefits the Trust/Cathedral will derive therefrom. Subject to applicable law, the Trust disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Further information about the factors affecting forward-looking statements is available in the Trust's current Annual Information Form and 2007 Annual Report which has been filed with Canadian provincial securities commissions and are available on www.sedar.com. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASUREMENTS This MD&A refers to certain financial measurements that do not have any standardized meaning within Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies and/or trusts. The specific measures being referred to include the following: i) "Gross margin" - calculated as revenues less operating expenses is considered a primary indicator of operating performance; ii) "EBITDAS" - defined as earnings before interest on long-term debt and capital lease obligations, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash compensation expense; this measure is considered an indicator of the Trust's ability to generate funds flow from operations prior to consideration of how activities are financed, how the results are taxed and measured and non-cash expenses (see tabular calculation under EBITDAS); iii) "Distributable cash" - defined as cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash operating working capital less required principal repayments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations and maintenance capital expenditures; distributable cash is a key performance measurement used by management, analysts and investors to evaluate the financial performance of the Trust (see tabular calculation under Distributions); iv) "Maintenance capital expenditures" - refers to capital expenditures required to maintain existing levels of service but excludes replacement cost of lost-in-hole equipment to the extent the replacement equipment is financed from the proceeds on disposal of the equipment lost-in-hole; v) "Payout ratio" - calculated as cash distributions declared divided by distributable cash, is an indicator of the Trust's ability to fund its distributions from the Trust's ongoing operations excluding changes in non-cash working capital (see tabular calculation under Distributions) (see distributable cash definition above); and vi) "Funds from operations" - calculated as cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash operating working capital is considered an indicator of the Trust's ability to generate funds flow from operations but excluding changes in non-cash operating working capital which is financed using the Trust's bank indebtedness/line of credit facility. OVERVIEW The Trust completed the first quarter of 2008 with record quarterly revenues of $46,253. Prior to 2008 Q1 the quarter with the highest revenues was 2007 Q1 at $42,712. The 2008 Q1 record revenues were lead by the Trust's directional drilling division which represented 75% (2007 Q1 - 73%) of 2008 Q1 revenues. Within the oilfield service sector, the directional drilling sub-sector has been very active area with a growing number of wells being drilled directionally/horizontally. In resource plays such as the Bakken (southeast Saskatchewan) and Montney (northeast B.C.), operators are using the combination of horizontally drilled wells and multi-stage fracturing to increase reservoir recoveries and it is expected that such completion techniques will continue to expand the number of horizontal wells drilled. The Trust's production testing and wireline divisions continue to be negatively affected by the decline in natural gas drilling in western Canada. 2008 Q1 EBITDAS was $15,395 ($0.48 per diluted Trust Unit) which represents a $983 or 6.8% increase from $14,412 ($0.46 per diluted Trust Unit) in 2007. The Trust's net income for 2008 Q1 was $9,917 (2007 - $9,787) or $0.31 (2007 - $0.31) per diluted Trust Unit. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Revenues - 2008 Q1 record revenues of $46,253 were the result of increased growth in the directional drilling portion of the Trust's operations. Directional drilling activity days increased 20.5% from 3,323 in 2007 Q1 to 4,005 in 2008 Q1. The average day rate received for providing directional drilling services decreased 7.6% on a quarter-over-quarter basis to $8,419 (2007 - $9,116). The decrease in the average day rate is mainly the result of industry-wide Canadian day rate decreases due to market pressures. Directional drilling activity days in the Canadian and U.S. markets were up 18.4% and 24.3%, respectively. On a quarter-over-quarter basis revenues from the production testing division are down 7.1% (2008 - $4,150; 2007 - $4,466) due mainly to pricing pressures but also a result of a decrease in demand. As previously announced the Trust is in the process of expanding its production testing business to the U.S. Rocky Mountain region with the build out of 5 production testing units. In early 2008 Q2 one production testing unit was transferred to the U.S. operations and it is expected to start generating revenues in 2008 Q2. The Trust's wireline division had a quarter-over-quarter increase in revenues of 7.3% (2008 - $7,580; 2007 - $7,066) with the increase being due to the start-up of a U.S. wireline division in 2007 Q3. In early 2008 the Trust established a second U.S. operations base for its wireline division in Dickinson, North Dakota with one wireline unit that was transferred from the Canadian operations. Gross margin - The gross margin for 2008 Q1 was 49.0% which compares to 50.3% in 2007 Q1. The decrease is attributed to a number of factors including: i) increases in directional field labour rates; ii) increased equipment rental charges due to demand and need for specialty equipment; and iii) a decrease in the average day rate in providing directional drilling services. General and administrative expenses - General and administrative expenses increased from $6,932 in 2007 Q1 to $7,431 in 2008 Q1 - an increase of $499. The increase was primarily related to increased personnel and office/shop rental costs as well as an overall increase in activity levels for the directional drilling division and costs associated with pursuing international business opportunities. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses were 16.1% in 2008 Q1 and 16.2% in 2007 Q1. Depreciation and amortization - Depreciation for 2008 Q1 was $2,851 which compares to $2,756 in 2007 Q1. Despite the amount of capital expenditures on the Trust's depreciable asset base over the past 12 months depreciation on a quarter-over-quarter did not increase significantly due to the change in accounting method for foreign currency translation of the Trust's U.S. operations. As a percentage of revenues, depreciation amounted to 6.2% for 2008 and 6.5% for 2007. Interest expense - Interest expense related to long-term debt and capital leases increased from $263 in 2007 Q1 to $276 in Q1 2008 due to the combined net effect of: i) an increase in the average level of debt outstanding; and ii) a decrease in the effective interest rate on the related debt. Other interest expense, which increased marginally on a quarter-over-quarter basis from $96 in 2007 Q1 to $99 in 2008 Q1, relates mainly to interest charges on use by the Trust of its bank indebtedness/line of credit facility. Foreign exchange gain/loss - The Trust's foreign exchange gain/loss has changed from a $47 loss in 2007 Q1 to a $33 gain in 2008 Q1. Effective January 1, 2008, the Trust changed the classification of its U.S. operations to self-sustaining (as opposed to fully integrated) resulting in the financial statements being translated using the current rate method as opposed to the temporal method. Non-cash compensation expense - For 2008 Q1 the Trust had non-cash compensation expense of $579 which compares to $360 for 2007 Q1. The value of the options is being amortized against income over the three-year vesting period. The increased non-cash compensation expense reflects the increase in the value attributed to the options. Gain on disposal of property and equipment - During 2008 Q1 the Trust had a gain on disposal of property and equipment of $226, which compares to a loss of $3 in 2007 Q1. The Trust's gains are mainly due to recoveries of lost-in-hole equipment costs including previously expensed depreciation on the related assets. The timing of lost-in-hole recoveries is not in the control of the Trust and therefore can fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter. Taxes - For 2008 Q1, the Trust had a tax expense of $1,772 (effective tax rate of 15.2%) which compares to $1,246 (effective tax rate of 11.3%) in 2007 Q1. The increase in the effective tax rate is due to a lower portion of the Trust's pre-tax income is being allocated to unitholders and therefore the corporate entities within the Trust structure are incurring the related tax. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Trust's principal source of liquidity is cash generated from operations. The Trust also has the ability to fund liquidity requirements through its credit facility and the issuance of debt and/or equity. At March 31, 2008, the Trust had an operating line of credit with a major Canadian bank in the amount of $12,500 (December 31, 2007 - $12,500) of which $9,370 (December 31, 2007 - $6,030) was drawn. In addition, the Trust has a non-reducing revolving term loan facility in the amount of $25,000 (December 31, 2007 - $25,000) of which $17,000 (December 31, 2007 - $17,000) was drawn as at March 31, 2008. In addition, at March 31, 2008, the Trust had obligations under capital leases in the amount of $402 (December 31, 2007 - $451) and other long-term debt of $304 (December 31, 2007 - $283). Operating activities - Cash flow from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $6,882 (2007 - $9,775) a decrease of $2,893. Funds from operations (before changes in non-cash operating working capital) increased from $13,164 in 2007 Q1 to $13,299 in 2008 Q1. On a quarter-over-quarter basis the Trust's investment in non-cash operating working capital increased $3,028 and this is the main contributing factor to the decrease on cash flow from operations. The Trust has a strong working capital position at March 31, 2008 at $21,455 which compares to $16,947 at December 31, 2007. Investing activities - Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 amounted to $3,510 which compares to $3,026 for the same period in 2007. During 2008 Q1 the Trust invested an additional $3,960 (2007 - $5,805) in property and equipment with the main additions being expansion of the overall mud motor and drill collar fleet, MWD components which will be used in the 2008 build out of 10 EM-MWD systems, and progress payments on the construction of a mud motor facility in Nisku, Alberta. At March 31, 2008, the Trust's operating entities had 78 MWD systems, 19 production testing units and 27 wireline units. Financing activities - Cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 amounted to $2,205 which compares to $6,829 in 2007 Q1. Distributions paid to Unitholders for 2008 Q1 totaled to $6,650 (2007 - $8,056). The quarter-over-quarter decrease is the net result of: i) the payment of a "special" $0.05 per Trust Unit cash distribution declared in December 2006 ($1,549) and paid in 2007 Q1 - there was no such "special" cash distribution paid in 2008 Q1; and ii) an increase in the number of Trust Units outstanding due to the exercise of Trust Unit options. The Trust's "regular" monthly distribution has been at $0.07 per Trust Unit since September 2006. Cash distributions paid have been financed from cash flow from operations and management currently expects future cash distributions will also be financed from cash flow from operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 financing cash inflows resulted from: i) $1,133 (2007 - $1,359) cash received on the exercise of Trust Unit options, ii) a $47 (2007 - $173) increase in new long-term debt; and iii) a $3,340 (2007 - $195 repayment) draw on the Trust bank indebtedness/line of credit facility. Offsetting these inflows was a cash outflow of $75 (2007 - $110) repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations. At May 7, 2008, the Trust had 32,162,190 Trust Units and 2,208,196 Trust Unit options outstanding. Contractual obligations - In the normal course of business, the Trust incurs contractual obligations and those obligations are disclosed in the Trust's MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2007. As at March 31, 2008, the Trust has a commitment to purchase approximately $5,681 of property and equipment. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect fraud or misstatements because of limitations inherent in any system of internal control. There were no significant changes in the design or effectiveness of the Trust's disclosure controls or internal controls over financial reporting in the first quarter of 2008. CHANGE IN FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION Previously, the Trust's U.S. operations were classified as integrated operations and were translated using the temporal method with all translation gains (losses) included in the determination of net income for the current period. Effective January 1, 2008, the Trust changed the classification of its U.S. operations to self-sustaining resulting in the financial statements being translated using the current rate method as opposed to the temporal method. Under the current rate method of translation, revenues and expenses of the subsidiary are translated at the rates in effect at the time of the transactions while assets and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Upon consolidation of the U.S. operations, gains and losses due to fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates are deferred on the balance sheet as a separate component of Other Comprehensive Income ("OCI"). Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) forms part of Unitholders' equity. This change in foreign currency translation has been applied prospectively and resulted in a foreign exchange loss of $1,894 being deferred and recorded as OCI as at January 1, 2008. NEW ACCOUNTING POLICIES Effective January 1, 2008, The Trust adopted the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants ("CICA") section 3031, "Inventories", section 1535, "Capital Disclosures", and section 3861, "Financial Instruments - Disclosure and Presentation". These standards have been adopted prospectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the adoption of these standards did not have an effect on the Trust's results, financial position or cash flows but additional disclosures have been provided in the notes to the interim financial statements. BUSINESS RISKS The MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2007, which is included in the Trust's 2007 Annual Report, includes an overview on business risks associated with the Trust and its operating entities. Those business risks remain in effect as at March 31, 2008. DISTRIBUTIONS The Administrator of the Trust reviews the level and nature of distributions (cash, in-kind or a combination of cash and in-kind) on an on-going basis giving consideration to current performance, historical and future trends in the business, the expected sustainability of those trends and enacted tax legislation which will affect future taxes payable as well as required long-term debt repayments, maintenance capital expenditures required to sustain performance and future growth capital expenditures. Despite the seasonality of the Trust's business, it is the Trust's policy to pay consistent distributions throughout the year. The Trust's operations in western Canada are subject to seasonality as activity levels in the oilfield services industry are generally lower during "spring breakup" which normally commences in late March and continues through to May (mainly in the Q2 of the fiscal year). The net result of the Trust's policy to pay consistent distributions throughout the year despite the seasonality of its operations is that in Q2 cash distributions declared may exceed net income, cash flow from operating activities and/or distributable cash for the quarter. Distributable cash is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measurement that management considers a key measure in demonstrating the Trust's ability to generate the cash necessary to pay distributions, fund future capital investments and the repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations. Distributable cash as presented is not intended to represent operating profit for the period nor should it be viewed as an alternative to operating profit, net income or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Distributable cash does not have any standardized meaning within Canadian GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other trusts (refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measurements). The Trust intends to pay cash distributions to Unitholders but the payment of cash distributions cannot be guaranteed. The following is a comparison of cash distributions declared and certain defined amounts: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiscal year --------------------- 2008 Q1 2007 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash flow from operating activities $ 6,882 $ 39,729 $ 39,929 Net income for the period $ 9,917 $ 24,863 $ 35,348 Distributable cash $ 13,113 $ 38,993 $ 45,972 Cash distributions declared $ 6,669 $ 26,405 $ 24,681 Excess of cash flow from operating activities over cash distributions declared $ 213 $ 13,324 $ 15,248 Excess (short-fall) of net income over cash distributions declared $ 3,248 $ (1,542) $ 10,667 Excess of distributable cash over cash distributions declared $ 6,444 $ 12,588 $ 21,291 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income includes significant non-cash charges which for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $3,608 and for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $16,607 and $13,429, respectively, which do not impact cash flow. Included in these non-cash charges is a provision for depreciation that is not a reasonable proxy for the cost of maintaining existing levels of service (i.e. maintenance capital expenditures). Therefore, in certain periods cash distributions declared may exceed net income. Management does not consider the excess of cash distributions declared over net income for the year ended December 31, 2007 to be an economic return of capital. Instead the excess is considered a function of the timing of cash flows versus accounting income. Currently cash distributions declared are less than distributable cash as the Trustees, on the recommendation of management of the Administrator, have decided to retain a portion of distributable cash to finance capital expenditures, debt repayment and working capital. It is not management's intent to distribute 100% of distributable cash. Distributable cash (refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measurements) is calculated as follows: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash flow from operating activities $ 6,882 $ 9,775 Add (deduct): - changes in non-cash operating working capital(1) 6,417 3,389 Less: - required principal repayments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations (76) (93) - maintenance capital expenditures (110) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Distributable cash $ 13,113 $ 13,071 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash distributions declared $ 6,669 $ 6,530 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Payout ratio 51% 50% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Changes in non-cash operating working capital have been added back (deducted) as such changes are financed using the Trust's bank indebtedness/line of credit facility. In addition, if changes in non- cash operating working capital were not excluded from the calculation of distributable cash it would introduce cash flow variability and affect underlying cash flow from operating activities. EBITDAS EBITDAS (refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measurements) is calculated as follows: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDAS as reported $ 15,395 $ 14,412 Deduct: - depreciation and amortization (2,851) (2,756) - interest - long-term debt and capital lease obligations (276) (263) - non-cash compensation expense (579) (360) - provision for taxes (1,772) (1,246) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $ 9,917 $ 9,787 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOVERNANCE The Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees has reviewed this MD&A and the related unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and recommended they be approved to the Board of Trustees. Following a review by the full Board, the MD&A and financial statements were approved. SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS Three month period Mar Dec Sep Jun Mar Dec Sep Jun ended 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues $46,253 $39,054 $38,355 $24,985 $42,712 $35,327 $38,041 $26,204 EBITDAS 15,395 13,707 13,775 4,837 14,412 13,046 16,010 8,370 Net income (loss) 9,917 10,365 7,126 (2,415) 9,787 8,127 11,396 4,963 Net income (loss) per Trust Unit - basic 0.31 0.33 0.23 (0.08) 0.32 0.26 0.37 0.16 Net Income (loss) per Trust Unit - diluted 0.31 0.33 0.22 (0.08) 0.31 0.26 0.36 0.16 Cash distr- ibutions declared per Trust Unit 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.26 0.20 0.185 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- OUTLOOK The strengthening of natural gas prices in late 2007/early 2008 has created an element of optimism in the oil and gas sector and this is expected to translate, in due course, into increased capital expenditure budgets by oil and natural gas producers for their Canadian operations. This in turn is expected to increase demand for oilfield services, including those provided by Cathedral's operating divisions. Management continues to expect that going forward Cathedral's business lines will provide strong financial results. As a result, the Board of Directors of the Trust's Administrator, Cathedral Energy Services Ltd., have approved a further $20,000 increase in the 2008 capital budget to bring the current 2008 capital budget to $32,300. The major components within the $32,300 capital budget include: 1) 20 EM-MWD systems along with the expansion of the mud motor and drill collar fleet to complete the expanded directional drilling job capacity; ii) 10 production testing units; iii) specialty wireline tools; and iv) facility costs associated with the completion of the Nisku mud motor repair facility. Ten of the new EM-MWD systems and related mud motors and drill collars will be allocated to the U.S. operations of which 5 EM-MWD systems were transferred to the U.S. operations in 2008 Q2. The remaining 10 EM-MWD systems and related mud motors and drill collars will be added to the Canadian fleet. Of the ten production testing units being added, 5 will be deployed in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. and the balance in the Canadian market. The 2008 capital budget will be financed by way of funds from operations and credit facilities. The Trust is in discussions with its existing bank to increase the limits to its current credit facility. To facilitate earlier commencement of providing production testing services in the U.S. Rocky Mountain region, one production testing unit from the Canadian fleet was re-located to the U.S. in 2008 Q2. This is the Trust's first deployment towards having 5 production testing units in the U.S. market with potential to add to these 5 units, subject to market demand. In early 2008 our U.S. wireline division expanded into the Williston Basin region with the establishment of an operating facility in Dickinson, North Dakota with one wireline unit. Management is currently addressing the need for additional wireline units in the U.S. market. As part of the Trust's continuing drive to provide state-of-art technology to its customers we continue to rollout our second generation EM-MWD system. As well, several new advancements will be incorporated into a third generation EM-MWD system which will create additional efficiency in the operations of the system. A focus on the rollout of the Remote Drilling System ("RDS") will continue in both the Canadian and U.S. markets as this technology will allow the Trust to reduce the number of field personnel required on a job, thereby reducing the costs to both the Trust and its clients. Cathedral continues to pursue directional drilling business opportunities in South America. A bid has been submitted and we expect to be advised as to the results of the bidding process in the near term. The Trust continues to actively pursue opportunities to offer an expanded range of services to its customers, increase its market share, enter new geographic territories and make strategic acquisitions. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Dollars in '000's March 31 December 31 (unaudited) 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,473 $ 1,306 Accounts receivable 46,091 37,359 Inventory 3,756 3,584 Prepaid expenses and deposits 723 781 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53,043 43,030 Property and equipment 67,065 67,639 Intangibles 551 588 Goodwill 19,775 19,775 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 140,434 $ 131,032 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES AND UNITHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Bank Indebtedness $ 9,370 $ 6,030 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 18,571 17,203 Distribution payable to Unitholders 2,235 2,216 Taxes payable 1,127 341 Current portion of capital lease obligations 177 194 Current portion of long-term debt 108 99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31,588 26,083 Capital lease obligations 225 257 Long-term debt 17,196 17,184 Future income taxes 8,543 8,258 Unitholders' equity: Unitholders' capital 49,578 48,193 Contributed surplus 2,507 2,205 Retained earnings 32,100 28,852 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (1,303) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 82,882 79,250 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 140,434 $ 131,032 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS Dollars in '000's except per Trust Unit amounts (unaudited) Three months ended March 31 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues $ 46,253 $ 42,712 Expenses: Operating 23,587 21,222 General and administrative 7,431 6,932 Depreciation and amortization 2,851 2,756 Interest - long-term debt and capital lease obligations 276 263 Interest - other 99 96 Foreign exchange loss (gain) (33) 47 Non-cash compensation expense 579 360 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34,790 31,676 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11,463 11,036 Gain (loss) on disposal of property and equipment 226 (3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income before taxes 11,689 11,033 Taxes: Current 1,542 988 Future income taxes 230 258 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,772 1,246 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income for the period 9,917 9,787 Retained earnings, beginning of period 28,852 30,394 Less: Distributions declared (6,669) (6,530) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retained earnings, end of period $ 32,100 $ 33,651 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income per Trust Unit: Basic $ 0.31 $ 0.32 Diluted $ 0.31 $ 0.31 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME AND ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Dollars in '000's (unaudited) Three months ended March 31 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Income for the period $ 9,917 $ 9,787 Other comprehensive income: Unrealized foreign exchange gain on translation of self-sustaining foreign operations 591 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comprehensive income for the period $ 10,508 $ 9,787 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning of period $ - $ - Adjustment for change in foreign currency translation method (1,894) - Other comprehensive income 591 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Accumulated other comprehensive loss, end of period $ (1,303) $ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Dollars in '000's (unaudited) Three months ended March 31 2008 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash provided by (used in): Operating activities: Net income for the period $ 9,917 $ 9,787 Items not involving cash: Depreciation and amortization 2,851 2,756 Future income taxes 230 258 Unrealized foreign exchange gain (52) - Non-cash compensation expense 579 360 Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment (226) 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13,299 13,164 Changes in non-cash operating working capital (6,417) (3,389) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6,882 9,775 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investing activities: Property and equipment additions (3,960) (5,805) Proceeds on disposal of property and equipment 461 24 Changes in non-cash investing working capital (11) 2,755 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3,510) (3,026) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financing activities: Advances under long-term debt 47 173 Repayment of long-term debt (26) (46) Repayment of capital lease obligations (49) (64) Distributions paid to Unitholders (6,650) (8,056) Proceeds on exercise of Trust Unit options 1,133 1,359 Increase (decrease) in bank indebtedness 3,340 (195) (2,205) (6,829) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Change in cash and cash equivalents 1,167 (80) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 1,306 1,554 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 2,473 $ 1,474 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- %SEDAR: 00018316E
For further information: Requests for further information should be directed to: Mark L. Bentsen, President and Chief Executive Officer or P. Scott MacFarlane, Chief Financial Officer, Cathedral Energy Services Ltd., 1700, 715 - 5th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2X6, Telephone: (403) 265-2560, Fax: (403) 262-4682, www.cathedralenergyservices.com