PHX Energy Announces All-Time Record Annual and Quarterly Financial and Operating Results and a Decrease to Its Monthly Dividend

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Feb 25, 2015) - PHX Energy (PHX.TO) achieved the highest level of annual revenue, operating days, EBITDA, net earnings, and funds from operations in its history.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Corporation generated consolidated revenue of $521.5 million as compared to $380.7 million in the 2013-year; an increase of 37 percent. Excluding the $15.0 million impairment loss on goodwill in the 2014-year and the gain on sale of land and operations centre of $2.2 million, the write-down of technological assets of $1.2 million, and the gains from pre-existing ownership interest in acquired subsidiaries of $14.8 million in the 2013-year, EBITDA increased by 47 percent to $83.7 million in 2014 as compared to $56.9 million in 2013 and net earnings increased by 77 percent to $37.0 million in 2014 from $20.9 million in 2013. The Corporation's funds from operations were $82.3 million in 2014, which is 55 percent greater than the $53.2 million achieved in 2013.

The Corporation's Canadian and US segments both reported record level of annual revenues and operating days in 2014. PHX Energy's US operations achieved significant year-over-year growth, and in the 2014-year revenue from the US segment represented 54 percent of consolidated revenue compared to 48 percent in 2013. Activity in the Corporation's international operations remained strong with the segment's revenue representing 10 percent of consolidated revenue as compared to 13 percent in 2013.

As at December 31, 2014, $22.4 million of goodwill relating to Stream Services ("Stream"), the Corporation's electronic drilling recorder ("EDR") division, was tested for impairment. Using the "value in use" approach with various assumptions Management deemed reasonable, it was determined that the carrying value of the Stream business unit exceeded its fair value by $15.0 million. As a result, a corresponding impairment loss was recognized in the 2014-quarter.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, $68.3 million in capital expenditures were incurred and PHX Energy's job capacity increased by 31 concurrent jobs to 228. Of these, 111 measurement while drilling ("MWD") systems were deployed in Canada, 102 in the US, 9 in Russia, and 6 in Albania. In addition, the Corporation has a worldwide resistivity while drilling ("RWD") job capacity of 17. The Corporation, in 2014, closed its Colombian operations.

The Corporation's capital expenditures were financed from a combination of cash flow from operations and borrowings under the Corporation's credit facilities. On December 12, 2014, the Corporation amended and restated its syndicated loan agreement with its current lending syndicate and additional syndicate members to increase its credit facilities to CAD$175 million and US$25 million. Under the amended syndicated loan agreement, the syndicated facility can be expanded through the exercise of an additional CAD$50 million accordion option to the Canadian revolving line of credit. The maturity date was amended to December 12, 2018 and can be extended annually, provided that the requested new maturity date does not exceed four years. As at December 31, 2014, the syndicated facility and US operating facility had an aggregate carrying amount of $104.3 million classified as a non-current liability.