Independence Contract Drilling, Inc. Reports Unaudited Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2022, Including Record Revenue Per Day and Margin Per Day

HOUSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Contract Drilling, Inc. (the "Company" or "ICD") (NYSE: ICD) today reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

Third quarter 2022 Highlights

• Net loss, as defined below, of $7.2 million, or $0.53 per share.
• Adjusted net loss, as defined below, of $4.8 million, or $0.35 per share.
• Adjusted EBITDA, as defined below, of $12.5 million, representing an approximate 35% sequential improvement from the second quarter of 2022.
• Adjusted net debt, as defined below, of $170.4 million.
• 17.4 average rigs working during the quarter.
• Fully burdened margin per day of $11,341 representing an approximate 27% sequential improvement from the second quarter of 2022.

In the third quarter of 2022, the Company reported revenues of $49.1 million, a net loss of $7.2 million, or $0.53 per share, adjusted net loss (defined below) of $4.8 million, or $0.35 per share, and adjusted EBITDA (defined below) of $12.5 million.  These results compare to revenues of $24.0 million, a net loss of $4.3 million, or $0.59 per share, adjusted net loss of $13.7 million, or $1.87 per share, and adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2021, and revenues of $42.3 million, a net loss of $2.8 million, or $0.21 per share, an adjusted net loss of $9.8 million, or $0.72 per share, and adjusted EBITDA of $9.2 million in the second quarter of 2022.

Chief Executive Officer Anthony Gallegos commented, "ICD achieved significant progress towards its rig reactivation, rig margin and adjusted EBITDA goals during the third quarter of 2022.  The Company achieved quarterly revenue per day and margin per day records during the quarter, buoyed by continued penetration of our 300 series rigs and our marketing strategy of patiently waiting to seek longer-term contracts.  All of this drove sequential improvements in quarterly adjusted EBITDA of 35%. 

Against a backdrop of greater general macroeconomic uncertainty, market conditions for the Company's services have continued to tighten as overall supply and demand fundamentals driven by historically low underinvestment over the past decade have outweighed general economic headwinds.  During the quarter, we began to strategically sign longer-term contracts and have increased our quarter-end backlog by 87% compared to the second quarter.  More importantly, our backlog extending into 2023 is priced at levels that we expect will generate revenue per day over 20% higher than our reported third quarter revenue per day levels and margin per day over 55% higher than third quarter levels.  In addition, we still have the majority of our fleet on shorter-term contracts that will reprice during the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023. 

With this backdrop, we expect to see further sequential improvements in revenues and margin per day during the remainder of this year and into 2023. Our current expectations are that fourth quarter margin per day will exceed reported third quarter levels between 10% and 15%, and first quarter 2023 margin per day will exceed reported third quarter levels between 28% and 32%. Given pricing already imbedded in our 2023 backlog, we are excited about further opportunities for margin expansion beyond these periods.

Operationally, our rig reactivations remain on schedule and our 200-to-300-series conversion program has commenced with our first conversion in process.  Our 19th rig mobilized for operations at the end of October and our 20th rig is scheduled for mobilization at the end of the fourth quarter.  Both of these reactivations are pursuant to one-year contracts at leading edge dayrates where expected margins will earn back reactivation costs well within the contract terms.  Looking forward into 2023, we are marketing our 21st rig for mobilization early-to-mid first quarter of 2023 and our 22nd rig for the end of the first quarter or early second quarter of 2023."

Quarterly Operational Results

In the third quarter of 2022, operating days increased sequentially by 4% compared to the second quarter of 2022.  The Company's marketed fleet operated at 70% utilization and recorded 1,601 revenue days, compared to 1,268 revenue days in the third quarter of 2021, and 1,540 revenue days in the second quarter of 2022.

Operating revenues in the third quarter of 2022 totaled $49.1 million, compared to $24.0 million in the third quarter of 2021 and $42.3 million in the second quarter of 2022.  Revenue per day in the third quarter of 2022 was $28,646, compared to $17,141 in the third quarter of 2021 and $24,875 in the second quarter of 2022.  The sequential increase quarter over quarter in revenue per day was driven by higher dayrates on contract renewals and reactivated rigs.

Operating costs in the third quarter of 2022 totaled $31.4 million, compared to $20.1 million in the third quarter of 2021 and $28.9 million in second quarter of 2022.  Fully burdened operating costs were $17,305 per day in the third quarter of 2022, compared to $13,685 in the third quarter of 2021 and $15,929 in the second quarter of 2022.  Sequential increases in operating costs per day were driven primarily by higher labor costs associated with increases in field-level wages implemented during the latter part of the second quarter of 2022, partially offset by improved cost absorption.

Fully burdened rig operating margins in the third quarter of 2022 were $11,341 per day, compared to $3,456 per day in the third quarter of 2021 and $8,946 per day in the second quarter of 2022.  The Company currently expects per day operating margins in the fourth quarter of 2022 to increase sequentially between 10% and 15% compared to the third quarter of 2022, driven primarily by favorable dayrate momentum as well as the reactivation of the Company's 19th and 20th rigs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2022 were $7.0 million (including $1.7 million of non-cash compensation), compared to $4.1 million (including $0.8 million of non-cash compensation) in the third quarter of 2021 and $4.9 million (including $0.7 million of non-cash compensation) in the second quarter of 2022.  Cash selling, general and administrative expenses increased sequentially during the quarter due to $0.3 million relating to a dispute settlement and higher incentive compensation accruals. Stock-based incentive compensation expense increased sequentially primarily due to full quarter amortization of out-of-the-money stock appreciation rights granted late in the second quarter of 2022.

During the quarter, the Company recorded interest expense of $8.1 million, including $2.0 million, or $0.14 per share, relating to non-cash amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs.  The Company has excluded this non-cash amortization when presenting adjusted net income/loss per share.

The Company recorded a tax benefit of $0.7 million, or $0.05 per share, during the third quarter of 2022, of which $0.1 million relates to cash taxes, attributable to state and local franchise taxes.

Drilling Operations Update

The Company exited the third quarter with 18 rigs operating. Overall, the Company's operating rig count averaged 17.4 rigs during the quarter.  The Company's backlog of drilling contracts with original terms of six months or longer is $101.6 million.  This backlog excludes rigs operating on short term pad-to-pad drilling contracts.  Approximately 31% of this backlog is expected to be realized in 2022.  The Company's 19th rig mobilized for drilling operations on a one-year contract in the Haynesville at the end of October 2022 and the Company's 20th rig is contracted and scheduled for reactivation late in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Capital Expenditures and Liquidity Update

Cash outlays for capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2022, net of asset sales and recoveries, were $9.4 million.  This included $5.6 million associated with prior period deliveries.

As of September 30, 2022, the Company had cash on hand of $7.6 million and a revolving line of credit with availability of $19.9 million. The Company elected to pay in-kind interest due under its convertible notes as of September 30, 2022. Following this payment, $170.2 million principal amount was outstanding under the convertible notes.

Conference Call Details

A conference call for investors will be held today, November 1, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Central Time (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's third quarter 2022 results.

The call can be accessed live over the telephone by dialing (855) 239-3115 or for international callers, (412) 542-4125.  A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 344-7529 or for international callers, (412) 317-0088.  The passcode for the replay is 2879534.  The replay will be available until November 8, 2022.

Interested parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the Company's website at www.icdrilling.com in the Investor Relations section.  A replay of the webcast will also be available for approximately 30 days following the call.

About Independence Contract Drilling, Inc.

Independence Contract Drilling provides land-based contract drilling services for oil and natural gas producers in the United States. The Company constructs, owns and operates a fleet of pad-optimal ShaleDriller rigs that are specifically engineered and designed to accelerate its clients' production profiles and cash flows from their most technically demanding and economically impactful oil and gas properties. For more information, visit www.icdrilling.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "anticipated," "estimated," "expected," "planned," "scheduled," "targeted," "believes," "intends," "objectives," "projects," "strategies" and similar expressions are used to identify such forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements relating to Independence Contract Drilling's operations are based on a number of expectations or assumptions which have been used to develop such information and statements but which may prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and there can be no assurance that actual outcomes and results will not differ materially from those expected by management of Independence Contract Drilling. For more information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC and the information included in subsequent amendments and other filings. These forward-looking statements are based on and include the Company's expectations as of the date hereof. Independence Contract Drilling does not undertake any obligation to update or revise such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which Independence Contract Drilling becomes aware of, after the date hereof.

The following table provides various financial and operational data for the Company's operations for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and June 30, 2022 and the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.  This information contains non-GAAP financial measures of the Company's operating performance.  The Company believes this non-GAAP information is useful because it provides a means to evaluate the operating performance of the Company on an ongoing basis using criteria that are used by the Company's management.  Additionally, it highlights operating trends and aids analytical comparisons.  However, this information has limitations and should not be used as an alternative to operating income (loss) or cash flow performance measures determined in accordance with GAAP, as this information excludes certain costs that may affect the Company's operating performance in future periods.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted net debt, adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management and external users of the Company's financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies.  In addition, adjusted EBITDA is consistent with how EBITDA is calculated under the Company's credit facility for purposes of determining the Company's compliance with various financial covenants.  The Company defines "adjusted net debt" as long-term notes (excluding long-term capital leases) less cash.  The Company defines "adjusted net (loss) income" as net (loss) income before: asset impairment, net; gain or loss on disposition of assets, net; amortization of debt discount; amortization of issuance costs; gain or loss on extinguishment of debt; change in fair value of embedded derivative liability, gain on extinguishment of derivative and other adjustments.  The Company defines "EBITDA" as earnings (or loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and asset impairment, net and the Company defines "adjusted EBITDA" as EBITDA before stock-based compensation, gain or loss on disposition of assets, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt, gain on extinguishment of derivative and other non-recurring items added back to, or subtracted from, net income for purposes of calculating EBITDA under the Company's credit facilities.  Neither adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA is a measure of net income as determined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").

Management believes adjusted net debt, adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are useful because they allow the Company's stockholders to more effectively evaluate the Company's operating performance and compliance with various financial covenants under the Company's credit facility and compare the results of the Company's operations from period to period and against the Company's peers without regard to the Company's financing methods or capital structure or non-recurring, non-cash transactions. The Company excludes the items listed above from net income (loss) in calculating adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within the Company's industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. None of adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA should be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), the most closely comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's return on assets, cost of capital and tax structure. The Company's presentation of adjusted net debt, adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that the Company's results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.  The Company's computations of adjusted net debt, adjusted net (loss) income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

INVESTOR CONTACTS:

Independence Contract Drilling, Inc.
E-mail inquiries to: [email protected]
Phone inquiries: (281) 598-1211

SOURCE Independence Contract Drilling, Inc.