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FORT WORTH, Texas, April 30, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Union Drilling, Inc. (Nasdaq: UDRL) announced today financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008.
Revenues for the first quarter of 2008 were $64.1 million, a decrease of 9% compared to revenues of $70.5 million in the first quarter of 2007. Net income in the first quarter of 2008 was $2.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, a 75% decline compared to net income of $8.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2007. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2008 decreased 41% to $14.1 million compared to $23.9 million reported in the same period last year. For additional information regarding EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure, please refer to the disclosures contained at the end of this release.
Christopher D. Strong, Union Drilling's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "First quarter results were primarily impacted by the same issues we faced during the fourth quarter of 2007. Specifically, utilization was down significantly due to weather issues in Appalachia and reduced demand for certain of our smaller rigs across the fleet. While weather was more of an issue for us than in the prior two mild winters, natural gas storage has returned to normal levels and shoulder season gas prices are providing the impetus for increased drilling activity.
"Despite two consecutive challenging quarters for our Company, I am upbeat about our outlook. Based upon customer inquiries for rigs and our fleet utilization, it appears that February was a 'bottom' for us. We experienced a moderate increase in utilization in March, and preliminary operating statistics for April indicate that this trend is continuing. If the period of low utilization turns out to have been short-lived, the decision not to implement widespread layoffs will benefit the company going forward. As I look toward the remainder of 2008 and into 2009, we are going to be more aggressive in the deployment of capital to meet customer demands. We have ordered four new 1,000 horsepower drawworks and two new derricks to upgrade the capacity of several existing rigs and we recently purchased a 1,000 horsepower portable rig that was built in 2007 for work in the Marcellus Shale play in Pennsylvania. It is very fortuitous that there is rapid growth in deep horizontal drilling near or below areas where we have large, well-trained labor forces drilling shallower wells with smaller equipment. We have opportunities, both in the Fayetteville and Marcellus Shale plays, to transition our people to larger, purpose-built rigs as these plays take off."
Operating Statistics
Union Drilling's average revenue per revenue day increased 7% to $17,361 for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $16,237 for the first quarter of 2007, primarily due to the production of the Company's larger rigs with greater capacity, which earn a higher dayrate than Union's smaller rigs for which current demand has declined. Average marketed rig utilization for the first quarter was 57.1%, down from 70.5% in the same period last year primarily as a result of a significant decrease in demand for smaller rigs in the Company's fleet as well as adverse weather conditions over much of Union's Appalachian operating region. Revenue days totaled 3,691 days compared to 4,344 days for the same period last year. Drilling margins totaled $20.8 million, or 32% of revenues, for the first quarter of 2008 versus $29.3 million, or 42% of revenues, in the first quarter of 2007. Average drilling margin per revenue day during the first quarter totaled $5,625 in 2008 versus $6,741 in the prior year period, a decline of 17%. For additional information regarding drilling margin as a non-GAAP financial measure, please refer to the disclosures contained at the end of this release.
Conference Call
Union Drilling's management team will be holding a conference call on Thursday, May 1, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. To participate in the call, dial (303) 262-2075 ten minutes before the conference call begins and ask for the Union Drilling conference call. To listen to the live call on the Internet, please visit Union Drilling's website fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through May 8, 2008 and may be accessed by calling (303) 590-3000 and using the pass code 11112758#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available after the call for a period of 60 days on the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at http://www.uniondrilling.com.
About Union Drilling
Union Drilling, Inc., headquartered in Ft. Worth, Texas, provides contract land drilling services and equipment, primarily to natural gas producers, in the United States. Union Drilling currently owns and markets 71 rigs and specializes in unconventional drilling techniques.
UDRL-E
This press release contains various forward-looking statements and information that are based on management's belief as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Forward-looking information includes statements regarding the Company's anticipated growth, demand from the Company's customers, capital spending by oil and gas companies and the Company's expectations regarding its new rigs and the U. S. land drilling sector. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other matters: general and regional economic conditions and industry trends; the continued strength or weakness of the contract land drilling industry in the geographic areas where the Company operates; decisions about onshore exploration and development projects to be made by oil and gas companies; the highly competitive nature of the contract land drilling business; the Company's future financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment of capital; the continued availability of qualified personnel; and changes in governmental regulations, including those relating to workplace safety and the environment. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. These risks, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Union Drilling, Inc.
Statements of Income
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007
Revenues
Total revenues 64,078 70,532
Cost and expenses
Operating expenses 43,317 41,251
Depreciation and amortization 10,582 8,916
General and administrative 6,794 5,405
Total cost and expenses 60,693 55,572
Operating income 3,385 14,960
Interest expense (209) (422)
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets 117 (27)
Other income 33 35
Income before income taxes 3,326 14,546
Income tax expense 1,180 6,046
Net income $2,146 $8,500
Earnings per common share:
Basic $0.10 $0.39
Diluted $0.10 $0.39
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding:
Basic 21,974,884 21,533,709
Diluted 22,106,851 21,747,094
Union Drilling, Inc.
Operating Statistics
(in thousands, except day and per day data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007
Revenues $64,078 $70,532
Drilling margins $20,761 $29,281
Revenue days 3,691 4,344
Marketed rig utilization 57.1% 70.5%
Revenue per revenue day $17,361 $16,237
Drilling margin per revenue day $5,625 $6,741
Union Drilling, Inc.
Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
(unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $20 $20
Accounts receivable (net of
allowance for doubtful accounts of
$423 and $311 at March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, respectively) 41,833 39,878
Inventories 1,200 1,201
Prepaid expenses, deposits and other
receivables 3,672 6,957
Deferred taxes 2,286 1,812
Total current assets 49,011 49,868
Goodwill 7,909 7,909
Intangible assets (net of accumulated
amortization of $1,032 and
$931 at March 31, 2008 and December
31, 2007, respectively) 1,968 2,069
Property, buildings and equipment (net
of accumulated depreciation of
$115,810 and $105,675 at March 31,
2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively) 223,133 217,359
Other assets - 103
Total assets $282,021 $277,308
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $10,430 $13,545
Current portion of notes payable for
equipment 3,137 3,139
Current portion of revolving credit
facility 14,175 -
Current portion of customer advances 3,138 4,530
Accrued expense and other
liabilities 9,557 7,862
Total current liabilities 40,437 29,076
Revolving credit facility - 9,578
Long-term notes payable for equipment 3,816 4,592
Deferred taxes 31,410 30,002
Customer advances and other long-term
liabilities 515 651
Total liabilities 76,178 73,899
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $.01 per
share; 75,000,000 shares authorized;
21,974,884 shares issued and outstanding
at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 220 220
Additional paid in capital 141,947 141,659
Retained earnings 63,676 61,530
Total stockholders' equity 205,843 203,409
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $282,021 $277,308
EBITDA is earnings before net interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and non-cash impairment. The Company believes EBITDA is a useful measure of evaluating its financial performance because it is used by external users, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others, to assess: (1) the financial performance of Union's assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis, (2) the ability of Union's assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and support its indebtedness, and (3) Union's operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other entities in our industry, without regard to financing or capital structure. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. However, EBITDA is a common alternative measure of operating performance used by investors, financial analysts and rating agencies. A reconciliation of EBITDA to net earnings is included below. EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Union Drilling, Inc.
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007
Calculation of EBITDA:
Net income $2,146 $8,500
Interest expense 209 422
Income tax expense 1,180 6,046
Depreciation and amortization 10,582 8,916
EBITDA $14,117 $23,884
Drilling margin represents contract drilling revenues less contract drilling costs. Union Drilling believes that drilling margin is a useful measure for evaluating its financial performance, although it is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. However, drilling margin is a common measure of operating performance used by investors, financial analysts, rating agencies and Union Drilling's management. A reconciliation of drilling margin to operating income is included below. Drilling margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
Union Drilling, Inc.
(in thousands, except day and per day data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007
Calculation of drilling margin:
Operating income $3,385 $14,960
Depreciation and amortization 10,582 8,916
General and administrative 6,794 5,405
Drilling margin $20,761 $29,281
Revenue days 3,691 4,344
Drilling margin per revenue day $5,625 $6,741
Contacts: Union Drilling, Inc.
Christopher D. Strong, CEO
A.J. Verdecchia, CFO
817-735-8793
DRG&E
Ken Dennard / Ben Burnham
713-529-6600
SOURCE Union Drilling, Inc.
http://www.uniondrilling.com
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