40-F
PRECISION DRILLING Corp (PDS)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 40-F
☐ Registration statement pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or
☒ Annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
Commission file number: 001-14534
PRECISION DRILLING CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Alberta, Canada | 1381 | Not Applicable |
|---|---|---|
| (Province or other jurisdiction of<br><br>incorporation or organization) | (Primary Standard Industrial<br><br>Classification Code Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification) |
800, 525 - 8 Avenue, S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1
(403) 716-4500
(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Precision Drilling (US) Corporation, 10350 Richmond Avenue, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77042
(713) 435-6100
(Name, address, (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Common Shares | PDS | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Information filed with this Form:
| ☒ Annual Information Form | ☒ Audited annual financial statements |
|---|
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 14,336,539 Common Shares outstanding as at December 31, 2023.
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).
☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officer during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
| Auditor Firm Id: | 85 | Auditor Name: | KPMG LLP | Auditor Location: | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
|---|
The documents (or portions thereof) forming part of this Form 40-F are incorporated by reference into the following registration statements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended:
| Form | Registration No. |
|---|---|
| S-8 | 333-194966 |
| S-8 | 333-189046 |
| S-8 | 333-189045 |
| S-8 | 333-221226 |
| S-8 | 333-276158 |
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
For information on disclosure controls and procedures, see “Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures” in the Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed as Exhibit 99.1 (the “Annual Information Form”) and “Disclosure Controls and Procedures” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed as Exhibit 99.2 (“Management’s Discussion and Analysis”).
NOTICES PURSUANT TO REGULATION BTR
None.
INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
For information on internal control over financial reporting, see “Management’s Report to the Shareholders” in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed as Exhibit 99.3. See also “Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
ATTESTATION REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
KPMG LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Registrant’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, has issued an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting. See “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed as Exhibit 99.3.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The board of directors of the Registrant has determined that it has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. Each of Michael R. Culbert, William T. Donovan, Lori A. Lancaster, Steven W. Krablin and David W. Williams has been designated an audit committee financial expert and is independent, as that term is defined by the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards applicable to the Registrant. See “Audit Committee” and “Audit Committee – Relevant Education and Experience” in the Annual Information Form. The Commission has indicated that the designation of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not make them an “expert” for any purpose, impose any duties, obligations or liability on them that is greater than that imposed on members of the audit committee and board of directors who do not carry this designation or affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the audit committee or the board of directors.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Registrant has adopted the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) which applies to every director, officer and employee of the Registrant, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and any person performing similar functions. The Code is available on the Registrant’s website at www.precisiondrilling.com. No waivers have been granted from, and there have been no material amendments to, any provision of the Code during the 2023 fiscal year.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
For information on principal accountant fees and services, see “Audit Committee – Pre-approval Policies and Procedures” and “Audit Committee – Audit Fees” in the Annual Information Form.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Registrant has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
For information on contractual obligations, see “Financial Condition – Contractual Obligations” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis. 2
IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Registrant has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are:
| Chairman: | William T. Donovan |
|---|---|
| Members: | Michael R. Culbert<br><br>Lori A. Lancaster<br><br>Steven W. Krablin<br><br>David W. Williams |
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
NYSE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Registrant’s common shares are listed on the NYSE. A description of the significant ways in which the Registrant’s corporate governance practices differ from those required of domestic companies under NYSE listing standards is provided on the Registrant’s website at www.precisiondrilling.com.
UNDERTAKING
The Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the staff of the Commission, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an Annual Report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities. 3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Calgary, Province of Alberta, Canada.
| Precision Drilling Corporation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Kevin A. Neveu | |||
| Name: | Kevin A. Neveu | |||
| Date: March 4, 2024 | Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
4
EXHIBITS
5
EX-23.1
Exhibit 23.1

KPMG LLP
205 5th Avenue SW
Suite 3100
Calgary AB T2P 4B9
Tel 403-691-8000
Fax 403-691-8008
www.kpmg.ca
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors of Precision Drilling Corporation
We consent to the use of:
• our report dated March 1, 2024 on the consolidated financial statements of Precision Drilling Corporation (the “Entity”) which comprise the consolidated statement of financial position as at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the related consolidated statements of net earnings (loss), comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively the “consolidated financial statements”), and
• our report dated March 1, 2024 on the effectiveness of the Entity’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023
each of which is included in the Annual Report on Form 40-F of the Entity for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
We also consent to the incorporation by reference of such reports in the Registration Statements (Nos. 333-194966, 333-189046, 333-189045, 333-221226, 333-276158) on Forms S-8 of Precision Drilling Corporation.

Chartered Professional Accountants
Calgary, Canada
March 4, 2024 KPMG LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership and member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP.
EX-31.1
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14 OR 15d-14 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Kevin A. Neveu, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 40-F of Precision Drilling Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Precision Drilling Corporation as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. Precision Drilling Corporation’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for Precision Drilling Corporation and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to Precision Drilling Corporation, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of Precision Drilling Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Precision Drilling Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Precision Drilling Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. Precision Drilling Corporation’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to Precision Drilling Corporation’s auditors and the audit committee of Precision Drilling Corporation’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Precision Drilling Corporation’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Precision Drilling Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
Dated: March 4, 2024
| By: | /s/ Kevin A. Neveu |
|---|---|
| Kevin A. Neveu,<br><br>President and Chief Executive Officer<br><br>Precision Drilling Corporation |
EX-31.2
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14 OR 15d-14 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Carey T. Ford, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 40-F of Precision Drilling Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Precision Drilling Corporation as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. Precision Drilling Corporation’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for Precision Drilling Corporation and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to Precision Drilling Corporation, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of Precision Drilling Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Precision Drilling Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Precision Drilling Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. Precision Drilling Corporation’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to Precision Drilling Corporation’s auditors and the audit committee of Precision Drilling Corporation’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Precision Drilling Corporation’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Precision Drilling Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
Dated: March 4, 2024
| By: | /s/Carey T. Ford |
|---|---|
| Carey T. Ford,<br><br>Chief Financial Officer<br><br>Precision Drilling Corporation |
EX-32.1
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY
ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Precision Drilling Corporation on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned President and Chief Executive Officer of Precision Drilling Corporation, hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Precision Drilling Corporation.
Dated: March 4, 2024
| By: | /s/ Kevin A. Neveu |
|---|---|
| Kevin A. Neveu,<br><br>President and Chief Executive<br><br>Officer of Precision Drilling Corporation |
EX-32.2
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY
ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Precision Drilling Corporation on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned Chief Financial Officer of Precision Drilling Corporation, hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Precision Drilling Corporation.
Dated: March 4, 2024
| By: | /s/ Carey T. Ford |
|---|---|
| Carey T. Ford,<br><br>Chief Financial Officer<br><br>Precision Drilling Corporation |
EX-97
Exhibit 97. In this Policy
• We, Us, Our and Precision mean Precision Drilling Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates
• You, Your and Precision Persons mean our employees, officers and contractors
• Board means our Board of Directors
• Policy means this Compensation Recoupment policy
About This Policy
Incentive-based compensation received by an employee of the Corporation or a subsidiary of the Corporation (“Subsidiary”) who currently serves or previously served as an Executive Officer is subject to recoupment in the circumstances set out in this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy. This Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy has been adopted in compliance with the requirements of Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the listing standards of the NYSE (the “Exchange”). It shall apply so long as the Corporation has a class of securities publicly listed on a United States national securities exchange or a national securities association.
Application
“Executive Officer” means the Corporation’s president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer (or if there is no such accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president (or equivalent) of the Corporation or its Subsidiary in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function (such as sales, administration, or finance), any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making functions for the Corporation or its Subsidiary. Policy-making function is not intended to include policy-making functions that are not significant. Identification of an Executive Officer for purposes of this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy would include at a minimum executive officers identified pursuant to 17 CFR 229.401(b).
“Incentive-based compensation” means any compensation that is: (a) granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a financial reporting measure; or (b) determined based on (or otherwise calculated by reference to) compensation in (a) above [(this may include, without limitation, amounts under any long-term disability, life insurance or supplemental retirement or severance plan or agreement, any notional account that is based thereon, as well as any earnings or dividend equivalents accrued thereon)]1.
Notes:
1. The square bracketed language is not prescribed by the U.S. rules but provides helpful guidance on the concept.
“Financial reporting measure” means any (i) measure that is determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Corporation’s financial statements, (ii) stock price, (iii) total shareholder return, and (iv) any measures that are derived wholly or in part from any measure referenced in (i), (ii), or (iii). A financial reporting measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with governmental authorities.
When is Incentive-based Compensation Subject to Recoupment?
In the event that the Corporation is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Corporation with any financial reporting requirement under securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial Precision Drilling Corporation NYSE Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy 1
statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period (a “financial restatement”), then, subject to the below section, the Corporation or a Subsidiary shall recoup reasonably promptly the amount of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation received during or related to the relevant recovery period from a current or former employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary who served as an Executive Officer.
For clarity, this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy shall only apply in situations where a financial restatement is the result of material non-compliance with financial reporting requirements under securities laws. A restatement due to the following circumstances shall not require the application of this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy: (1) an out-of-period adjustment (i.e., the correction of an immaterial error in previously-issued financial statements, provided that such correction is immaterial to the current period), (2) an accounting restatement pursuant to an order issued by an applicable securities regulatory authority (provided such order is unrelated to any material non-compliance of the Corporation with any financial reporting requirement under securities laws), (3) the retrospective application of a change in applicable accounting principles, rules, standards or interpretations, (4) the retrospective revision to reportable segment information due to a change in the structure of the Corporation’s internal organization, (5) a retrospective reclassification due to a discontinued operation, (6) the retrospective application of a change in reporting entity, such as from a reorganization of entities under common control, (7) retrospective adjustments to provisional amounts in connection with a prior business combination, and (8) retrospective revision for stock splits, stock dividends, or other changes in the Corporation’s capital structure.
This Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy applies to all incentive-based compensation received2 by a person on or after October 2, 2023: (a) after beginning service as an Executive Officer; (b) who served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance period for that incentive-based compensation; (c) while the Corporation has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange or a national securities association; and (d) during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date that the Corporation is required to prepare an accounting restatement, plus any transition period (that results from a change in the Corporation’s fiscal year) within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years; provided that, a transition period between the last day of the Corporation’s previous fiscal year end and the first day of its new fiscal year that comprises a period of nine to 12 months would be deemed a completed fiscal year (such total time period, the “relevant recovery period”).
Notes:
2. Incentive-based compensation is deemed received in the Corporation’s fiscal period during which the financial reporting measure specified in the incentive-based compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of the incentive-based compensation occurs after the end of that period.
For purposes of determining the relevant recovery period, the date that the Corporation is required to prepare an accounting restatement is the earlier to occur of: (a) the date the Corporation’s board of directors, a committee of the board of directors, or the officer or officers of Corporation authorized to take such action if board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Corporation is required to prepare an accounting restatement; or (b) the date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Corporation to prepare an accounting restatement. 2 Precision Drilling Corporation NYSE Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy
Determination of Erroneously Awarded Incentive-based Compensation
The amount to be recouped in connection with a financial restatement (the “erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation”) is the amount of incentive-based compensation received that exceeds the amount of incentive-based compensation that otherwise would have been received had it been determined based on the restated amounts in the financial restatement, and must be computed without regard to any taxes paid.
For incentive-based compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of erroneously awarded compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an accounting restatement: (i) the amount must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the accounting restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the incentive-based compensation was received; and (ii) the Corporation or its applicable Subsidiary must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to the applicable stock exchanges.
Determination and Process
Except as set forth in subsection below, the Corporation may not accept an amount that is less than the recoupment amount in satisfaction of the Executive Officer’s obligations under this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy.
To the extent that an Executive Officer has already reimbursed or repaid the Corporation for any recoupment amount received under any duplicative recovery obligations established by the Corporation or applicable law, such amount shall be credited to the recoupment amount that is subject to recovery under this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy.
Discretion
In determining that an individual’s incentive-based compensation is subject to recoupment under this policy and, if so, the amount which is subject to recoupment (the “recoupment amount”), the Corporation’s committee of independent directors responsible for executive compensation decisions, or in the absence of such a committee, a majority of the independent directors serving on the Corporation’s board of directors may take into account the following factors:
• the direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing this policy would exceed the amount to be recovered. Before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of erroneously awarded compensation based on expense of enforcement, the Corporation must make a reasonable attempt to recover such erroneously awarded compensation, document such reasonable attempt(s) to recover, and provide that documentation to the applicable stock exchanges;
• recovery would violate home country law where that law was adopted prior to November 28, 2022. Before concluding that it would be impracticable to recover any amount of erroneously awarded compensation based on violation of home country law, the Corporation must obtain an opinion of home country counsel, acceptable to the applicable stock exchanges, that recovery would result in such a violation, and must provide such opinion to the applicable stock exchanges; and Precision Drilling Corporation NYSE Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy 3
• recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the registrant, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and regulations thereunder.
Determinations and Due Process
An individual whose incentive-based compensation is subject to recoupment under this policy will be provided with written notice of the intention to recoup amounts under this policy and the reasons therefor and the opportunity to be heard (which may be in-person, telephone or in writing, as determined by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof). All determinations by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof with respect to this policy shall be final and binding on all interested parties.
Procedure for Recoupment3
Recoupment of erroneously incentive-based compensation received may include any or all of the following: (i) [withholding], forfeiture or cancellation of unpaid incentive-based compensation (including bonus, options, share appreciation rights, restricted share units, restricted performance share units and all equivalents); (ii) require repayment to the Corporation or Subsidiary of incentive-based compensation amounts previously received by the individual in respect of the relevant recovery period (including any amounts withheld by the Corporation or a Subsidiary in respect of taxes and remitted to an applicable tax authority); (iii) to the extent not subject to forfeiture or cancellation in accordance with (i) above, forfeiture of any pre-tax payments that would be made by the Corporation on behalf of the Executive Officer, which, but for the recoupment under this policy, would be paid by the Corporation on behalf of the Executive Officer for any future amounts owed; and (iv) seeking recovery on any gain realized on the exercise, settlement, sale, transfer or other disposition of any equity received from any option or share appreciation right.
Where recoupment is to be effected by reimbursement or payment of amounts pursuant to any of clause (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, the Corporation or the Subsidiary shall make written demand upon the individual for such amounts. To the extent the recoupment amount is not immediately recovered by forfeiture or cancellation of unpaid incentive-based compensation pursuant to clause (i) above or by payment from the individual following a written demand therefore, the Corporation or the Subsidiary may, subject to applicable law, deduct the recoupment amount, or any unrecovered portion thereof, from salary, wages and/or any other compensation, subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by applicable law,4 whether or not referable to the relevant recovery period owing, awarded or payable by the Corporation or Subsidiary to the individual or withhold, forfeit and/or cancel [or set off against] any incentive compensation not relating to such period [and/or set off against any other amounts payable to the individual] to make up for any unrecovered portion of the recoupment amount, and to bring any other actions against the individual which it may deem necessary or advisable to recover all of the recoupment amount.
Notes:
3. We recommend that this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy provide that the Corporation can recoup the amount from any source. However, recoupment can be limited to just the incentive-based compensation received in respect of the relevant recovery period. We have square bracketed where additional changes can be made in this Subsection 0 based on the Corporation’s preference.
4. Note that authorization in writing from the employee is required to deduct a specific amount from wages. Generally, either the amount or a formula for determining the amount must be included in such authorization. The inclusion of this sentence in the Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy does not likely constitute authorization. If the Corporation intends to deduct all or part of the recoupment amount from an employee’s 4 Precision Drilling Corporation NYSE Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy
wages, consent should be obtained (preferably at the time the amount is known, however, it may be helpful to have the employee sign an authorization in advance concurrently with this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy).
No Indemnification or Compensation for Recoupment
Notwithstanding any provision of the Articles or By-laws of the Corporation or of any agreement between the Corporation and an employee, employees are not entitled to be indemnified for any portion of any incentive-based compensation which is subject to recoupment under this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy or any taxes previously paid or other costs associated with the receipt of such incentive-based compensation or the application of this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy.
General
This Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy is in addition to any other action or remedy available to the Corporation or Subsidiary against the individual under applicable law, up to and including termination of employment and/or legal action for breach of fiduciary duty.
Any employment agreement or incentive award or similar agreement entered into or amended after the effective date of this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy may, as a condition to the grant of any benefit covered by such agreement or award, require the affected employee to contractually agree to abide by the terms of this Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy.
History of This Policy
The Board approved this Policy as a governance practice on October 25, 2023. Precision Drilling Corporation NYSE Stock Exchange Recoupment Policy 5
EX-99.1
Exhibit 99.1

| PRECISION DRILLING ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM |
|---|
Throughout this Annual Information Form (AIF), the terms, we, us, our, Corporation, Company, Precision and Precision Drilling mean Precision Drilling Corporation and, where indicated, all our consolidated subsidiaries and any partnerships of which we and/or our Subsidiaries are a part.
Information in the AIF is as of December 31, 2023 unless specified otherwise. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless specified otherwise.
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | About Precision | |
| 1 | Corporate Governance | |
| 2 | Corporate Structure | |
| 3 | Recent Developments and Three-Year History | |
| 3 | 2023 Accomplishments and Highlights | |
| 5 | 2022 Accomplishments and Highlights | |
| 6 | 2021 Accomplishments and Highlights | |
| 8 | Our Business | |
| 8 | Business Segments Overview | |
| 9 | Contract Drilling Services | |
| 12 | Completion and Production Services | |
| 14 | Corporate Responsibility | |
| 15 | Environmental | |
| 16 | Social | |
| 18 | Governance | |
| 21 | Capital Structure | |
| 21 | Common Shares | |
| 24 | Preferred Shares | |
| 25 | Material Debt | |
| 29 | Risks in Our Business | |
| 42 | Our Directors and Officers | |
| 42 | Board of Directors | |
| 44 | Our Board Committees | |
| 46 | Our Executive Officers | |
| 47 | Other Material Information | |
| 47 | Interests of Experts | |
| 47 | Materials Contracts | |
| 47 | Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Actions | |
| 47 | Management’s Discussion and Analysis | |
| 47 | Transfer Agent and Registrar | |
| 47 | Additional Information About Precision | |
| 47 | About Registered Trademarks | |
| 48 | Financial Measures and Ratios | |
| 48 | Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Information and Statements | |
| 50 | Appendix | |
| 50 | Audit Committee Charter |
| ABOUT PRECISION |
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Precision is a leading provider of safe and environmentally responsible High Performance, High Value services to the energy industry, offering customers access to an extensive fleet of Super Series drilling rigs. Precision has commercialized an industry-leading digital technology portfolio known as AlphaTM technologies that utilizes advanced automation software and analytics to generate efficient, predictable, and repeatable results for energy customers. Additionally, Precision offers well service rigs, camps and rental equipment all backed by a comprehensive mix of technical support services and skilled, experienced personnel. Our drilling services are enhanced by our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, which bolsters our commitment to reducing the environmental impact on our operations.
From our founding as a private drilling contractor in 1951, Precision has grown to become one of the most active drillers in North America. Our High Performance, High Value competitive advantage is underpinned by four distinguishing features:
▪ a high-quality land drilling rig fleet, with AC Super Triple rigs enabled with our AlphaTM technologies and supported by our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions to deliver consistent, repeatable, high-quality wellbores while improving safety, performance, operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact
▪ size and scale of our vertically integrated operations that provide higher margins and better service capabilities
▪ a diverse culture focused on operational excellence, which includes corporate responsibility, safety and field performance, and
▪ a capital structure that provides long-term stability, flexibility and liquidity, allowing us to take advantage of business cycle opportunities.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
At Precision, we integrate financial, environmental, and social responsibility seamlessly into our operations, adhering closely to our core values and corporate governance principles. Guided by these principles and with the support and oversight of our Board of Directors (Board), we are committed to upholding our elevated standards of ethics and integrity. We recognize that governance practices such as board independence, proactive shareholder engagement and risk management help us sustain the trust we have built with our stakeholders.
To deliver results, we focus on operational excellence, top-tier environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and productive stakeholder engagement. We integrate our health, safety and environmental (HSE) commitment into our operations and incorporate HSE and ESG performance goals in our compensation program.
In 2023, we transitioned our ESG performance data to our interactive web page, which serves as the primary platform that highlights the Company’s ESG progress, and provides recurring updates on our ESG performance. We also expanded our reporting to include additional elements from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) guidelines. We invite you to review some of our ESG highlights beginning on page 14 or, for more fulsome information, you can explore our ESG initiatives by visiting our website at www.precisiondrilling.com/esg/.
We remain committed to achieving and maintaining at least 30% of female representation on our Board. We are actively working to incorporate another female nominee candidate to the Board at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and we anticipate that this new member will enhance the Board's existing skill set, if elected. To learn more about our diversity efforts, please read our Management Information Circular for our 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be released in April 2024, or visit our website.
Our directors have a history of achievement and an effective mix of skills, knowledge and business experience. The directors continue to provide oversight in support of future operations and monitor regulatory developments and governance best practices in Canada, the United States (U.S.) and internationally. As part of their oversight, our Board has established three standing committees, comprised of independent directors, to help carry out its responsibilities effectively:
▪ Audit Committee
▪ Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee (CGNRC), and
▪ Human Resources and Compensation Committee (HRCC).
The Board may also create special ad hoc committees from time to time to deal with important matters that arise.
Management has also established internal committees, including the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, the Compliance Committee, the Disclosure Committee and the Health, Safety, Environment and Corporate Responsibility Council (HSE and Corporate Responsibility Council). Two of our directors, Mr. Culbert and Mr. Williams, are active members of the HSE and Corporate Responsibility Council and attend quarterly meetings.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 1
CORPORATE STRUCTURE
Precision was formed by amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). We previously operated as an income trust, known as Precision Drilling Trust, and converted to a corporate entity on June 1, 2010, under a statutory plan of arrangement.
On March 8, 2013, we repealed our old by-laws and adopted new by-laws to provide for, among other things, an advance notice requirement for Precision shareholders nominating directors for election to the Board and an increase in the quorum requirement for our shareholder meetings to 25% from 5%. The amendments were confirmed by our shareholders on May 8, 2013.
Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), under the symbol PD, and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the symbol PDS.
Our principal corporate and registered office is at:
| Suite 800, 525 – 8th Avenue SW<br><br>Calgary, Alberta<br><br>Canada T2P 1G1 | Phone:<br><br>Email:<br><br>Website: | 403.716.4500<br><br>info@precisiondrilling.com<br><br>www.precisiondrilling.com |
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The chart below shows our organizational structure and material subsidiaries or partnerships, including the jurisdiction where each was incorporated, formed or continued and whether we hold the voting securities directly or indirectly. For simplification, non-material subsidiaries are excluded.

2 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND THREE-YEAR HISTORY
In recent years, North American crude oil and and natural gas producers have undergone a noteworthy shift in priorities, transitioning from a primary focus on production growth to a heightened emphasis on delivering value and returning capital to shareholders. We have strategically aligned with this priority by maintaining strict capital discipline. Even with strong customer demand and high utilization of Super Series rigs, we only allocate capital to the most attractive investment opportunities. We are focused on increasing our margins and growing capital returns to shareholders versus gaining market share. This strategic orientation underscores our leadership and commitment to delivering sustained value to Precision's shareholders.
In 2023, Precision delivered one of our most profitable years in the past decade and exceeded our cash flow expectations. During the year, we not only met our debt reduction and shareholder capital return targets but also funded two accretive acquisitions. Our High Performance, High Value strategy along with our Super Series rigs, AlphaTM technologies, and EvergreenTM suite of environmental solutions continue to differentiate our services.
During the year, we reduced our debt by $152 million and allocated 15% of our free cash flow to share repurchases. In 2024, we plan to increase our shareholder capital return program by allocating 25% to 35% of our free cash flow, before debt repayments, to share repurchases. Our focus on our debt reduction strategy remains firmly in place and in 2024, we plan to reduce debt by another $150 million to $200 million. This positions us to achieve our sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) target of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025 and meet our long-term debt reduction target of $500 million between 2022 and 2025. In 2026, we plan to reduce debt by an additional $100 million and increase our shareholder capital return program towards 50% of free cash flow.
Notes:
(1) Non-GAAP measure - see Financial Measures and Ratios on page 48.
Accomplishments and Highlights
We consistently establish annual strategic priorities. As part of our management approach, we hold ourselves accountable by preparing quarterly updates on the progress made towards these priorities, culminating in a comprehensive year-end report highlighting the achieved results. Our enduring commitment is underscored by a robust multi-year track record, showcasing our ability to deliver tangible outcomes in alignment with our stated priorities.
2023 Accomplishments
| 2023 Strategic Priorities | 2023 Results |
|---|---|
| Deliver High Performance, High Value service through operational excellence | ▪<br>Increased our Canadian drilling rig utilization days and well servicing rig operating hours over 2022, maintaining our position as the leading provider of high-quality and reliable services in Canada.<br><br>▪<br>Recertified and reactivated a total of four rigs in the Middle East, exiting 2023 with eight active rigs that represent approximately US$475 million in backlog revenue that stretches into 2028.<br><br>▪<br>Acquired CWC Energy Services Corp. (CWC), expanding our Canadian well servicing business and drilling fleets in both Canada and the U.S.<br><br>▪<br>Upgraded and added the industry's most advanced AC Super Triple rig to our Canadian fleet, equipped with AlphaTM, EverGreenTM, and rig floor robotics.<br><br>▪<br>Coached over 900 rig-based employees through our New Employee Orientation focused on industry-leading safety and performance training at our world-class facilities in Nisku, Alberta and Houston, Texas. |
| Maximize free cash flow by increasing Adjusted EBITDA(1) margins, revenue efficiency, and growing revenue from AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions | ▪<br>Generated cash provided by operations of $501 million, a 111% increase over 2022.<br><br>▪<br>Increased our daily operating margins(2) by approximately 39% in Canada and 69% in the U.S. year over year.<br><br>▪<br>Grew combined Alpha™ and EverGreenTM revenue by over 10% compared to 2022.<br><br>▪<br>Ended the year with 75 AC Super Triple Alpha™ rigs compared to 70 at the beginning of the year.<br><br>▪<br>Scaled our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, ending the year with approximately 65% of our AC Super Triple rigs equipped with at least one EverGreenTM product, including 13 EverGreenTM Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) versus seven a year ago.<br><br>▪<br>Integrated the well servicing assets from our 2022 acquisition of High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (High Arctic), which helped increase our Completion and Production Services’ Adjusted EBITDA(1) 34% in 2023. |
| Reduce debt by at least $150 million and allocate 10% to 20% of free cash flow before debt repayments for share repurchases. Long-term debt reduction target of $500 million between 2022 and 2025 and sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025 | ▪<br>Reduced debt by $152 million and ended the year with more than $600 million of available liquidity(3).<br><br>▪<br>Returned $30 million of capital to shareholders through share repurchases.<br><br>▪<br>Renewed our Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB), allowing purchases of up to 10% of the public float.<br><br>▪<br>Ended the year with a Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) of approximately 1.4 times and remain committed to reaching a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times by end of 2025. |
Notes:
(1) Non-GAAP measure – see Financial Measures and Ratios on page 48.
(2) Revenue per utilization day less operating costs per utilization day.
(3) Available liquidity is defined as cash plus unused credit facility capacity.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 3
2023 Highlights
| Industry Conditions<br><br>In 2023, even though demand for global energy increased, economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability caused energy prices to compress. In the U.S., WTI averaged US$77.62 per barrel, a decrease of 18% from the prior year, and Henry Hub natural gas prices decreased 59% to average US$2.67 per MMBtu. U.S. producers continued to show capital discipline and, with lower prices, moderating but continued-inflation, and climbing interest rates, reduced their drilling activity 21% throughout the year. In Canada, drilling activity was relatively flat year-over-year as imminent hydrocarbon export capacity and favorable oil pricing, due to a weaker Canadian dollar exchange rate and improving heavy oil differentials, supported activity. |
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| Capital Expenditures and Asset Decommissioning<br><br>Our capital spending for the year totaled $227 million, including $164 million for maintenance and infrastructure and $63 million for expansion and upgrades. We decommissioned 20 Canadian and seven U.S. legacy drilling rigs, recognizing an asset decommissioning charge of $10 million.<br><br>See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 48. |
| CWC Energy Services Corp. Acquisition<br><br>On November 8, 2023, Precision acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of CWC for consideration of $14 million in cash and the issuance of 947,807 Precision common shares. Precision expects to deliver approximately $20 million in annual operating synergies. As of March 4, 2024, Precision has achieved headcount and operational annual run-rate synergies of approximately $13 million. |
| International Drilling Contracts<br><br>In 2023, Precision recertified and reactivated a total of four rigs in the Middle East, exited the year with eight active rigs, three in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and five in Kuwait. The majority of these rigs are under five-year term contracts that stretch into 2027 and 2028. |
| Technology Initiatives<br><br>As of December 31, 2023, Precision had 75 AlphaTM rigs throughout North America compared to 70 at the beginning of the year. Our AlphaTM rigs are fully digitally-enabled, pad-walking AC Super Triples equipped with AlphaAutomationTM and a platform to deploy AlphaAppsTM and AlphaAnalyticsTM. To date, Precision’s AlphaTM rigs have drilled over 3,800 wells in the U.S. and Canada and have been fully commercialized in numerous basins since November 2019.<br><br>▪<br>Predictive Maintenance: In 2023, Precision developed, piloted and scaled an industry-leading asset health platform with the first phase focused on mud pump health. This platform leverages operational digital twin technology and Machine Learning models to support field operations.<br><br>▪<br>Rig Floor Robotics: The incorporation of a modular fully automated pipe handling system represents a pioneering achievement in the industry, positioning our land drilling rig at the forefront of technological advancement. By collaborating with AlphaAutomationTM, our rig floor robotics offer a comprehensive and seamless automation solution, optimizing operational efficiency and increasing safety standards. |
| EverGreenTM Suite of Environmental Solutions<br><br>Precision’s EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions encompasses the development and implementation of multiple technologies aimed at quantifying and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the wellsite. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 65% of our AC Super Triple rigs were equipped with at least one EverGreenTM product, including 13 BESS compared to seven at the beginning of the year. As of December 31, 2023, Precision also had over 60 rigs equipped with dual-fuel engines, natural gas engines and/or grid tie-in technology.<br><br>See Environmental - EverGreenTM Suite of Environmental Solutions on page 15. |
| Debt Repayments<br><br>In 2023, we repaid $152 million of debt, meeting our debt reduction target of at least $150 million for the year. In 2023, we agreed with the lenders of our Senior Credit Facility to remove certain non-extending lenders from our facility, thereby reducing the total commitment from US$500 million to US$447 million.<br><br>See Capital Structure – Material Debt on page 25. |
| Normal Course Issuer Bid<br><br>On September 19, 2023, we renewed our NCIB through the facilities of the TSX and NYSE. The NCIB allows us to buyback up to 1,326,321 common shares, or approximately 10% of the public float as of September 5, 2023 for cancellation. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we repurchased and cancelled 412,623 common shares for approximately $30 million. These repurchases were funded from cash flow and accounted for approximately 3% of our available public float. |
| Board of Directors<br><br>In 2023, the Board initiated a search to nominate a third female director to achieve 30% female representation on the Board, as set out in our Diversity Policy. We believe this is an important step to increasing diversity on our Board. |
4 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
2022 Accomplishments
| 2022 Strategic Priorities | 2022 Results |
|---|---|
| Grow revenue through scaling AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions across Precision's Super Series rig fleet and further competitive differentiation through ESG initiatives | ▪<br>Grew AlphaTM revenue by over 60% compared to 2021.<br><br>▪<br>Increased total paid days for AlphaAutomationTM by over 50% from 2021.<br><br>▪<br>Ended the year with 70 AlphaTM rigs, a 49% increase from the beginning of the year.<br><br>▪<br>Expanded our commercial AlphaAppsTM to 21 versus 16 a year ago and increased AlphaAppsTM paid days by 15% from 2021.<br><br>▪<br>Exited 2022 with seven field deployed EverGreenTM BESS, 15 EverGreenTM Integrated Power and Emissions Monitoring Systems and 21 high mast LED lighting systems. |
| Grow free cash flow by maximizing operating leverage as demand for our High Performance, High Value services continues to rebound | ▪<br>Generated cash provided by operations of $237 million, representing a 70% increase over the prior year.<br><br>▪<br>Grew our active rig count by 40% in the U.S. and 30% in Canada as compared with 2021.<br><br>▪<br>Increased our daily operating margins 41% in the U.S. and 36% in Canada.<br><br>▪<br>Acquired High Arctic’s well servicing business and associated rental assets and increased our Completion and Production Services’ Adjusted EBITDA to $38 million versus $6 million in 2021<br><br>▪<br>Awarded four five-year drilling contracts in Kuwait. Our eight long-term contracts will generate steady and reliable cash flow into 2028. |
| Utilize free cash flow to continue strengthening our balance sheet while investing in our people, equipment, and returning capital to shareholders | ▪<br>Reduced debt by $106 million.<br><br>▪<br>Returned $10 million of capital to shareholders through share repurchases.<br><br>▪<br>Reinvested $184 million into our equipment and infrastructure and disposed of non-core and underutilized assets for proceeds of $37 million.<br><br>▪<br>Hired and trained over 1,300 people new to the industry and increased our number of field coaches who conducted 155 site visits and provide over 10,000 hours of training. |
2022 Highlights
| Industry Conditions<br><br>With positive supply-demand fundamentals for energy, oil and natural gas commodity prices were strong in 2022 but dynamic as geopolitical issues, supply chain disruptions, inflation and climbing interest rates increased economic uncertainty. In the U.S., WTI averaged US$94.23 per barrel, an increase of 39% from 2021, and Henry Hub natural gas prices increased 75% to average US$6.51 per MMBtu. |
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| Capital Expenditures<br><br>Our capital spending for 2022 totaled $184 million and by spend category included $121 million for maintenance and infrastructure and $63 million for expansion and upgrades. |
| High Arctic Energy Services, Inc. Acquisition<br><br>On July 27, 2022, we acquired the well servicing business and associated rental assets of High Arctic for an aggregate purchase price of $38 million, payable in cash. The transaction provided Precision with well servicing rigs, related rental assets, ancillary support equipment, inventories and spares, and six additional operating facilities in key basins, four of which are owned. |
| International Drilling Contracts<br><br>On October 19, 2022, we announced Precision was awarded four drilling contracts in Kuwait, each with a five-year term and an optional one-year renewal. The contract awards are for our AC Super Triple 3000 HP rigs. During the year, Precision also signed three rig contracts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to five-year contract extensions. |
| Technology Initiatives<br><br>As of December 31, 2022, Precision had 70 AlphaTM rigs throughout North America, a 49% increase from the beginning of 2022. Our AlphaTM rigs are fully digitally-enabled, pad-walking AC Super Triples equipped with AlphaAutomationTM and a platform to deploy AlphaAppsTM and AlphaAnalyticsTM. Up to December 31, 2022, Precision’s AlphaTM rigs drilled over 2,600 wells in the U.S. and Canada and have been fully commercialized in numerous basins since November 2019. |
| EverGreenTM Suite of Environmental Solutions<br><br>Precision’s EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions encompasses the development and implementation of multiple technologies aimed at quantifying and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the wellsite. As of December 31, 2022, Precision had seven BESS, 15 Integrated Power and Emissions Monitoring Systems and 21 high mast LED lighting systems deployed throughout North America. As of December 31, 2022, Precision also had over 60 rigs equipped with dual-fuel engines, natural gas engines and/or grid tie-in technology. |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 5
| Debt Repayments<br><br>In 2022, we repaid $106 million of debt, exceeding our debt reduction target of $75 million for the year. There were no changes to our Senior Credit Facility in 2022, with the covenant relief period for the Senior Credit Facility ceasing September 30, 2022. |
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| Normal Course Issuer Bid<br><br>On August 29, 2022, we renewed our normal course issuer bid through the facilities of the TSX and NYSE. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we repurchased and cancelled 130,395 common shares for approximately $10 million. These repurchases were funded from cash flow and accounted for approximately 1.1% of our available public float. |
| Board of Directors<br><br>On October 4, 2022, Lori A. Lancaster was appointed to the Board of Directors. |
2021 Accomplishments
| 2021 Strategic Priorities | 2021 Results |
|---|---|
| Grow revenue and market share through our digital leadership position | ▪<br>Increased revenue by 6% as compared with 2020 as we achieved an average market share of 33% in Canada and 9% in the U.S.<br><br>▪<br>Ended the year with 47 AlphaTM rigs, a 21% increase from the beginning of the year.<br><br>▪<br>Increased our paid AlphaAutomationTM days by 123% versus the prior year.<br><br>▪<br>Expanded our commercial AlphaAppsTM to 16 versus six in 2020 and increased AlphaAppsTM paid days by more than 600% year over year.<br><br>▪<br>Negotiated a long-term supply agreement to outfit the balance of the Super Triple rig fleet with AlphaAutomationTM kits, mitigating inflationary pressures and supply chain risk. |
| Demonstrate operational leverage to generate free cash flow and reduce debt | ▪<br>Reduced debt by $115 million, exceeding the midpoint of our targeted range.<br><br>▪<br>Ended the year with more than $530 million in available liquidity.<br><br>▪<br>Returned $4 million of capital to shareholders through share repurchases.<br><br>▪<br>Extended our debt maturities with our earliest maturity date now in 2025 as we:<br><br>▪<br>issued US$400 million of unsecured senior notes due in 2029,<br><br>▪<br>redeemed our 2023 and 2024 unsecured senior notes, and<br><br>▪<br>extended the maturity of our Senior Credit Facility to June 18, 2025.<br><br>▪<br>Disposed of non-core and underutilized assets for proceeds of $13 million, which included divesting the directional drilling assets for an ownership stake in Cathedral Energy Services Ltd. (Cathedral). |
| Deliver leading ESG performance to strengthen customer and stakeholder positioning | ▪<br>Published our second annual Corporate Responsibility Report.<br><br>▪<br>Formed our ‘E-Team’ and ‘S-Team’ to develop and implement certain ESG strategies and tactics.<br><br>▪<br>Launched Precision’s EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions during the year.<br><br>▪<br>Secured customer commitments to deploy three BESS in the first quarter of 2022 and expect several additional commitments by mid-2022. |
2021 Highlights
| Industry Conditions<br><br>In 2021, the return of global energy demand, sustained periods of strong commodity prices and the multi-year period of upstream underinvestment provided a positive backdrop for the oilfield services industry. In Canada, industry activity surpassed pre-pandemic levels as takeaway capacity continued to improve, price differentials shrank and the startup of liquified natural gas (LNG) exports progressed. In the U.S., the active rig count steadily rose throughout the year as producers looked to replenish declining drilled but uncompleted well inventories. |
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| Environmental, Social and Governance<br><br>On July 14, 2021, we published our second annual Corporate Responsibility Report that documented our progress in ESG efforts and provided an outline of our ESG strategies, focus areas and performance. |
| EverGreenTM Suite of Environmental Solutions<br><br>On July 14, 2021, we announced the brand launch of our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, bolstering our commitment to reduce the environmental impact of oilfield operations. |
| Technology Initiatives<br><br>As of December 31, 2021, Precision had 47 AlphaTM rigs throughout North America, a 21% increase from the beginning of 2021. |
| Capital Expenditures<br><br>Our capital spending for 2021 totaled $76 million. Our capital spending by spend category included $57 million for maintenance and infrastructure and $19 million for expansion and upgrades. |
6 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
| Debt Repayment and U.S. Senior Note Offering<br><br>Our 2021 targeted debt reduction range was $100 million to $125 million. We ended 2021 with a total of $115 million of debt reduction. During 2021, we redeemed and retired the outstanding amounts of our 7.75% senior notes due 2023 (2023 Notes) and 5.25% senior notes due 2024 (2024 Notes) using net proceeds from our 2029 Notes that were issued in June 2021 along with drawings on our syndicated senior credit facility (Senior Credit Facility). In June 2021, we completed a US$400 million offering of 6.875% senior unsecured notes due in 2029 (2029 Notes) in a private placement. |
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| Directional Drilling<br><br>On July 23, 2021, we divested our directional drilling business to Cathedral for $6 million. The transaction included the sale of operating assets and personnel from our directional drilling business, including our operations facility in Nisku, Alberta. |
| Normal Course Issuer Bid<br><br>On August 27, 2021, we renewed our NCIB through the facilities of the TSX and NYSE. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we repurchased and cancelled 155,168 common shares for $4 million. These repurchases were funded from cash flow and accounted for approximately 1.2% of our available public float. |
| Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy<br><br>On April 1, 2020, the Government of Canada announced the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program, which subsidized a portion of employee wages for Canadian employers whose businesses had been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CEWS program benefited Precision and our employees throughout 2021 as it allowed us to retain a higher employment level for Canadian positions within our organization. In 2021, we recognized $24 million of CEWS program assistance that was presented as a reduction to operating and general and administrative expense of $21 million and $3 million, respectively. |
| Extensions and Amendments to the Senior Credit Facility<br><br>On June 18, 2021, we extended the maturity of our Senior Credit Facility’s to June 18, 2025, with US$53 million expiring on November 21, 2023. We also extended and amended certain financial covenants during the covenant relief period for the Senior Credit Facility. |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 7
| OUR BUSINESS |
|---|
BUSINESS SEGMENTS OVERVIEW
We have two business segments – Contract Drilling Services and Completion and Production Services, which share business support systems and corporate and administrative services.

The following tables summarize our two business segments and the scope of our services:
| CONTRACT DRILLING SERVICES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operates our drilling rigs in Canada, the U.S. and internationally and provides onshore well drilling services to exploration and production companies in the oil, natural gas and geothermal industries.<br><br>At December 31, 2023, the segment consisted of:<br><br>▪<br>214 land drilling rigs, including:<br><br>▪<br>engineering, manufacturing and repair services, primarily for Precision’s operations<br><br>▪<br>centralized procurement, inventory, and distribution of consumable supplies for our global operations<br><br>▪<br>diverse offerings from our AlphaTM technologies including:<br><br>▪<br>wide array of offerings from our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions:<br><br>– 97 in Canada<br><br>– 104 in the U.S.<br><br>– 6 in Kuwait<br><br>– 4 in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia<br><br>– 2 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq<br><br>– 1 in the country of Georgia<br><br>– 75 AlphaTM rigs with commercial AlphaAutomationTM<br><br>– 26 commercial AlphaAppsTM<br><br>– deployed commercial AlphaAnalyticsTM offering<br><br>– Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and real-time fuel/emissions monitoring capabilities currently offered across North America<br><br>– 63 rigs equipped with dual-fuel engines, natural gas engines and/or power grid tie-in technology | Canada | ▪<br>land drilling services<br><br>▪<br>procurement and distribution of oilfield supplies<br><br>▪<br>manufacture and refurbishment of drilling and service rig equipment |
| U.S. | ▪<br>land drilling services<br><br>▪<br>turnkey drilling services<br><br>▪<br>procurement and distribution of oilfield supplies<br><br>▪<br>manufacture and refurbishment of drilling and service rig equipment | |
| International | ▪<br>land drilling services |
8 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
| COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Providing completion, workover, and ancillary services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in Canada and the U.S.<br><br><br><br>At December 31, 2023, the segment consisted of:<br><br>▪<br>183 registered well completion and workover service rigs, including:<br><br>▪<br>more than 1,900 oilfield rental items, including surface storage, power generation, and solids control equipment, primarily in Canada<br><br>▪<br>102 wellsite accommodation units in Canada<br><br>▪<br>736 drill camp beds, 654 base camp beds and 3 kitchen diners in Canada<br><br>– 173 in Canada<br><br>– 10 in the U.S. | Canada | ▪<br>well completion and workover service rigs<br><br>▪<br>camp and catering services<br><br>▪<br>oilfield surface equipment rental<br><br>▪<br>wellsite accommodations |
| U.S. | ▪<br>well completion and workover service rigs |
Revenue
| Year ended December 31<br><br>(thousands of Canadian dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract Drilling Services | $ | 1,704,265 | $ | 1,436,134 |
| Completion and Production Services | 240,716 | 187,171 | ||
| Inter-segment eliminations | (7,127) | (6,111) | ||
| Total revenue | $ | 1,937,854 | $ | 1,617,194 |
CONTRACT DRILLING SERVICES
Precision Drilling
At the end of 2023, we had a large fleet of land drilling rigs deployed in Canada, the U.S. and internationally:
▪ Canada – We operate the largest fleet of land drilling rigs in the country. At year end, we were marketing 97 drilling rigs located throughout western Canada, accounting for approximately 25% of the industry’s estimated fleet of 386 land drilling rigs.
▪ United States – At year end, we were marketing 104 land drilling rigs, including 66 AC Super Triple rigs. Our fleet is the fifth largest in the U.S. and accounts for approximately 9% of the country’s Super-Spec land drilling rigs.
▪ Internationally – At year end, we were marketing 6 land drilling rigs in Kuwait, 4 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2 in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and 1 in the country of Georgia.
Drilling Contracts
Our contract terms are generally based on the complexity and risk of operations, on-site drilling conditions, the type of equipment used and anticipated duration of work to be performed.
Drilling contracts can be for single or multiple wells and can vary in length from a few days on shallow single-well applications to multiple-year, multiple-well drilling programs for more complex applications. Term drilling contracts typically have fixed utilization rates for a minimum of six months and usually include early termination penalties, escalating costs provisions and contract renewal options. Short-term contracts that provide drilling rigs on a well-to-well basis are typically subject to termination by the customer on short notice or with little or no penalty.
In 2023, we had an average of 62 drilling rigs (34 in the U.S., 22 in Canada and 6 internationally) working under term contracts. Utilization days from term contracts was approximately 50% of our total contract drilling utilization days for the year.
We market our drilling rigs mainly on a regional basis through sales and marketing personnel. We secure contracts to drill wells either through competitive bidding or as a result of business development efforts and negotiations with customers.
Our contracts have been carried out almost exclusively on a daywork basis. Under a daywork contract, we:
▪ provide a drilling rig with required personnel, and the customer supervises the drilling of the well
▪ charge the customer a fixed rate per day regardless of the number of days needed to drill the well
▪ charge the customer a fixed rate per day or a lump sum amount to mobilize the rig to the well site location, rig-up,
rig-down and demobilize the rig to a secure site, and
▪ generally, we do not bear any of the costs arising from downhole risks, underground pollution or loss of reserves.
Seasonality
Drilling and well servicing activity is affected by seasonal weather patterns and ground conditions. In Canada and the northern U.S., wet weather and the spring thaw make the ground unstable, resulting in road restrictions that may limit the movement of heavy oilfield equipment and reduce the level of drilling and well servicing activity primarily during the second quarter of the year.
In northern Canada, some drilling sites can only be accessed in the winter once the terrain is frozen, which usually begins late in the fourth quarter. Our business activity depends, in part, on the severity and duration of the winter drilling season. See Risks in our Business, starting on page 29. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 9
Competition
The land drilling industry is highly competitive with technology increasingly differentiating the market, as customers have transitioned away from vertical wells to more complex directional and horizontal drilling programs. These wells require higher capacity rigs, which typically include AC power, digital control systems, integrated top drives, pad walking systems, highly mechanized pipe handling, and high capacity mud pumps. These rigs have recently been referred to as Super-Spec. Consequently, the rig market has been shedding older, low-technology rigs in favour of Super-Spec rigs as they are more powerful, efficient, and better suited for horizontal wells and resource development programs. Increasingly, digital technologies and rig-based software are becoming enablers of efficiency, and as a result, are in demand from our customers.
In the U.S., the top five land drillers own approximately 85% of the rigs referred to as Super-Spec. In Canada, the top four land drillers own virtually all of these rigs.
Competitive Strategy
The core of our competitive strategy lies in our commitment to provide High Performance, High Value services to our customers. We deliver High Performance through the dedication of our passionate people bolstered by our robust business systems, cutting-edge drilling technology, quality equipment and infrastructure designed to optimize results and mitigate risks. We create High Value by prioritizing safety and sustainability, thereby reducing risks and costs to our customers while enhancing efficiency, developing our people and striving to generate superior financial returns for our investors.
In the early 1990s Precision designed and branded its Super Single rig that is ideally suited for long-term conventional heavy oil development in the oil sands and other heavy oil plays. In 2010, Precision introduced and branded its Super Triple rig, which is well suited for large pad horizontal drilling. Our Super Series fleet meets or exceeds the industry term Super-Spec that was recently adopted.
We keep customer well costs down by maximizing operating efficiency and minimizing environmental impact in several ways:
▪ using innovative and advanced drilling technology, including our AlphaTM and EverGreenTM offerings, that is efficient, reduces costs and minimizes impact on the environment
▪ having equipment that is geographically dispersed, reliable and well maintained
▪ monitoring our equipment to minimize mechanical downtime
▪ managing operations effectively to keep non-productive time to a minimum
▪ staffing well trained crews, with performance measured against defined competencies
▪ incentivizing our executives and eligible employees based on performance against safety, operational, employee retention, strategic, ESG and financial measures, and
▪ employing industry-leading alternative rig energy sources and fuel monitoring to reduce emissions and cost.
We have a footprint in all of the most active North American resource plays, including the Deep Basin, Bakken, Cardium, Duvernay, Montney, Viking, Clearwater, and other heavy oil formations in Canada and Cana Woodford, Eagle Ford, Granite Wash, Haynesville, Marcellus, Mid-Continent, Niobrara, Permian, Powder River, Rocky Mountains, Utica and Williston in the U.S.
Drilling Fleet
Our primary focus revolves around delivering efficient and cost-reducing drilling technologies that are designed to minimize environmental impact. Design innovations and technology improvements, such as multi-well pad capability and rapid mobility between wells, capture incremental time savings during the drilling process. Precision has invested over $3 billion in its drilling rig fleet since 2010, adding over 125 Super Single and Super Triple drilling rigs during the period. With one of the newest and most technically capable fleets in North America and the Middle East, Precision’s Super Series rigs have been designed for industrial-style drilling: highly efficient, mobile, safe, controllable, upgradable, and able to act as a platform for digital and emission-reducing technology delivery to the well location. Precision has completed relatively low-dollar cost upgrades over the past several years, including additions of walking systems, higher pressure and capacity mud pumps, increased torque and setback capacity, AlphaAutomationTM and AlphaAppsTM technology, EverGreenTM solutions, and most recently rig floor robotics. Precision’s Super Series drilling rig fleet meets the industrial-style drilling requirements of our customers in North America and deep, high-pressure/high-temperature drilling projects internationally. On November 8, 2023, we acquired CWC, adding seven marketed drilling rigs in Canada and 11 marketed drilling rigs in the U.S., including seven AC triple rigs. As of December 31, 2023, we had 214 rigs in our fleet including 48 Super Singles and 101 AC Super Triples.
AlphaTM Technologies
Precision is a leading provider of digital technologies that automate key processes of the drilling cycle and significantly improves the efficiency of the downhole function. We partner with various industry leaders to develop a widespread portfolio of technology offerings which include: AlphaAutomationTM, AlphaAppsTM and AlphaAnalyticsTM. To date, Precision has drilled over 3,800 wells with AlphaAutomationTM, which includes approximately 1,200 wells drilled in 2023, enhancing the performance and value of our Super Triple drilling rig fleet. As at December 31, 2023, the Company had 75 AlphaAutomationTM systems commercialized across various basins in the U.S. and Canada, which support an open platform to host multiple in-house, customer-developed or third-party applications. Precision currently has 26 commercial AlphaAppsTM and offers our AlphaAnalyticsTM data services to further enhance the value proposition of our digital offering. 10 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
EverGreenTM Suite of Environmental Solutions
In 2021, we launched our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, bolstering our commitment to reduce the environmental impact of oilfield operations. Our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions is comprised of EverGreenMonitoringTM, EverGreenEnergyTM and EverGreenTM Fuel Cell. We aim to provide the cleanest, most efficient and most cost-effective rig power sources for our customers through our EverGreenEnergyTM offerings, and our EverGreenMonitoringTM systems, which deliver the fuel and emissions data that allow our customers to monitor their gains in real time and track their emissions. We tested, field hardened, and implemented our BESS and fuel monitoring system in 2022. We have multiple commercial agreements in place for our EverGreenTM products as approximately 65% of our Super Triple rigs are equipped with at least one EverGreenTM solution, including 13 BESS and 26 field monitoring systems as of December 31, 2023.
International
Grey Wolf International (Grey Wolf) is our platform and market brand for our international oil and natural gas drilling market. Grey Wolf is currently active in Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and continues to explore opportunities in various additional international markets. International oilfield service operations involve relatively long sales cycles with bidding periods, contract award periods and rig mobilization periods measured in months. Grey Wolf has a regional office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Manufacturing
Based in Calgary, Alberta, Rostel Industries manufactures drilling rigs and equipment and refurbishes components for our drilling and service rigs as well as third-party equipment. Rostel Industries supports our vertical integration, and approximately 76% of its revenue in 2023 was related to Precision business. Having the in-house ability to repair and provide new components for our drilling and service rigs improves the efficiency and reliability of our fleets.
Oilfield Supply
Columbia Oilfield Supply in Canada and Precision Drilling Oilfield Supply in the U.S. utilize general oilfield supply warehouses that procure, package and distribute large volumes of consumable oilfield supplies for our rig sites. Our supply warehouses achieve economies of scale through bulk purchasing and standardized product selection as well as coordinated distribution to Precision rig sites. Columbia Oilfield Supply and Precision Drilling Oilfield Supply play a key role in our supply chain management. In 2023, 99% of Columbia Oilfield Supply and 100% of Precision Drilling Oilfield Supply activities supported Precision operations. These operations leverage our procurement volumes to lower costs and reduce the administrative workload for field personnel, enhancing our competitiveness.
Employees
In the oilfield services industry, the market for experienced personnel is inherently competitive due to the cyclical nature of the work, uncertainty of continuing employment, and generally higher employment rates during periods of high oil and natural gas prices and drilling activities. Our unwavering commitment to safety performance and our established reputation plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining experienced, well-trained employees, including when the industry experiences crew shortages during peak operating periods, ensuring our sustained success in a competitive landscape.
Throughout the year, we conducted ongoing assessments of our workforce, placing a strategic emphasis on the recruitment of skilled personnel to fulfill technical roles essential for advancing our drilling optimization initiatives and AlphaTM suite of technologies. In 2023, our workforce averaged 5,000 employees, reaching a peak of 5,560.
These efforts reflect our commitment to assembling a capable and proficient team to drive innovation and excellence in the deployment of cutting-edge technologies within our operations.
Bench Strength and Recruiting
We utilize proven formal procedures to retain key drilling personnel (including drillers, rig managers, and field superintendents) during reduced drilling activity periods. Drillers are often temporarily repositioned to lower positions and return as a driller once drilling activity increases. This practice allows us to meet drilling demand and retain qualified employees. We also rely on our industry-leading recruiting programs to attract new drilling personnel. Our initial recruiting focus for entry-level positions is outreach to our extensive alumni network, supplemented by job postings and other recruiting efforts that attract industry personnel as well as new people to the oilfield services industry. New drilling personnel receive intensive onboarding and training.
Technical Support Centres
We operate two contract drilling technical centres, one in Nisku, Alberta and one in Houston, Texas, and one completion and production technical centre in Red Deer, Alberta. These centres accommodate our technical service and field training groups and consolidate field support and training for our operations. The Houston and Nisku facilities have fully-functioning training rigs with the latest drilling technologies. Also, our Houston facility accommodates our rig manufacturing group. In 2023, we trained more than 4,300 people at our technical centres. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 11
Our Global Field Competency Program ensures that our field operations employees obtain competency levels for their current position and potential future positions. The program defines specific skills and learning pathways for certain jobs and identifies any skill gaps that an individual employee is required to remedy. The Global Field Competency Program supports our broader corporate vision and strategy by ensuring our drilling personnel provide High Performance, High Value services to our customers. In 2023, we completed over 2,000 competency assessments throughout North America.
COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES
Precision Completion and Production Services
Precision offers a versatile fleet of service rigs for well completion, workover, abandonment, maintenance and re-entry preparation services. The fleet is strategically positioned throughout western Canada and in the northern U.S.
Well Servicing Activities
Well servicing jobs are typically of short duration and generally conducted during daylight hours, so it is important for a service rig to be close to customer demand and be able to move quickly from one site to another. Well servicing requires a unique skill set as crews must deal with the potential dangers and safety concerns of working with pressurized wellbores. Completion and workover services can take a few days to several weeks to complete depending on the depth of the well and the complexity of the completion or workover.
On November 8, 2023, we acquired CWC Energy Services Corp. The acquisition further increased the size and scale of our Canadian well servicing operations, adding 62 marketable well service rigs to our service rig fleet along with ancillary and spare equipment and operating facilities in complimentary operating basins.
At the end of 2023, Precision Well Servicing had an industry leading market share in Canada, based on operating hours, of approximately 25% of total industry operating hours. The total Canadian industry well servicing fleet average is approximately 455 service rigs. Our fleet of 173 service rigs is the largest in western Canada. Precision has an additional 231 well completion and workover service rigs in Canada that are not registered with the industry association.
In 2023, Precision Completion and Production Services operated 10 service rigs in the United States.
Service Rig Fleet
The table below shows the configuration of Precision’s marketed well servicing fleet in Canada, as at December 31, 2023. The fleet’s operating features are detailed on our website.
| Type of Service Rig | Size/Capability | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Rigs | |||
| ▪<br>Highly mobile, efficient rig up and rig down, minimal surface disturbance, freestanding design eliminates anchoring | Single | 96 | |
| Double | 67 | ||
| Slant | 10 | ||
| Total1 | 173 |
1Does not include 231 additional service rigs in Canada that are not registered with the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC).
Service Rig Activities
Well servicing operations have two distinct functions – workovers and abandonments, and completions. The demand for completion services is generally more volatile than for workover services.
Of our total oil and natural gas well service rig activity in Canada in 2023:
▪ workovers and abandonments accounted for approximately 89%, and
▪ completions accounted for approximately 11%.
Workovers and Abandonments – Workover services are generally provided according to customer preventive maintenance schedules or on a call-out basis when a well needs major repairs or modifications. Workover services generally involve remedial work such as repairing or replacing equipment in the well, enhancing production, re-completing a new producing zone, recovering lost equipment or abandoning the well.
Producing oil and natural gas wells generally require some type of workover or maintenance during their life cycle. The demand for production or workover services is based on the total number of existing active wells and their age and producing characteristics.
Completions – Customers often contract a specialized service rig to take over from a larger, more expensive drilling rig to prepare a newly drilled well for initial production. The service rig and crew work jointly with other services to open and stimulate the wellbore producing zones for initial production.
The demand for well completion services is generally related to the level of drilling activity in a region. 12 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
Precision Rentals
Precision Rentals provides more than 1,900 pieces of oilfield rental equipment for rental to customers from three operating centres and 12 stocking points throughout western Canada, supported by a technical service centre in central Alberta.
Precision Rentals has four distinct product categories:
▪ surface equipment (including environmental invert drilling mud storage, hydraulic fracturing fluid storage, production tanks and other fluid handling equipment)
▪ wellsite accommodations (fully equipped units that provide on-site office and lodging for field personnel)
▪ power generation equipment, and
▪ solids control equipment.
Precision Camp Services
Precision Camp Services provides food and accommodation to personnel working at remote locations in western Canada. At the end of 2023, Precision Camp Services had 32 drill camps and base camp dormitories along with kitchen or diners to accommodate 614 people in western Canada. Each drill camp includes six building units that typically accommodate 20 to 25 rig crew members and other personnel.
Precision Camp Services has also configured several camps and dormitories to provide housing and meals for base camps with up to 500 personnel on separate major projects in western Canada. As the oil and natural gas industry searches for new reserves in more remote locations, crews need to stay near the worksite, often in camps, throughout the duration of a drilling program. Precision Camp Services serves Precision and other companies in the oil and natural gas sector and, from time to time, other industries operating in remote locations.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 13
| CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY |
|---|
ESG in All We Do
In 2023, we remained steadfast in our commitment to prioritize key Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects identified as material to Precision through our 2020 materiality assessment. We remain dedicated to adopting proactive and sustainable means to ensure ESG is accounted for in all that we do. Our “E” (Environmental) and “S” (Social) teams, comprised of high-performing employees from throughout the organization, work collaboratively to drive environmental and social initiatives.
In 2023, we transitioned the ESG highlights shared in our annual Corporate Responsibility Report onto our website, where the information represents not just a single snapshot of the year, but portrays a frequently updated view of our ESG efforts.
The expansion of our Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP) goals in 2021 to include ESG goals beyond health, safety, and environmental (HSE) targets, highlighted our focus on accelerating the evaluation, testing, implementation, and commercialization of several lower-carbon energy sources, monitoring systems, and energy-efficient equipment substitutions and modifications. In 2023, we expanded further on those goals, by including social and governance qualitative and initiative-based metrics, creating an even stronger incentive for our employees to contribute toward these efforts. We exceeded the targeted metrics in 2023, resulting in even greater environmental and associated financial gains for us and for our customers.
Our Board plays a pivotal role in overseeing the Corporation’s commitment to ESG. This oversight encompasses the formulation of approaches, strategic planning, performance evaluation, monitoring processes, and disclosure practices. Annually, the Board conducts a thorough review of both Board and committee charters, ensuring alignment with sustainability objectives. Additionally, the Board receives quarterly reports detailing ESG mapping, materiality assessments, and a comprehensive analysis of ESG-related risks.
In 2024, we will continue to share our Corporate Responsibility highlights on our website. We have maintained our alignment with Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) frameworks and will continue to publish ESG performance data for the preceding year. For more detailed information on our ESG efforts, please visit our website.
Our Commitment to Corporate Responsibility
In 2023, we continued to deliver on our multi-year corporate responsibility strategy by developing and completing the following initiatives:
▪ disclosing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions data, including Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions
▪ expanded the impact of our “E” and “S” teams to drive intentional environmental and social efforts across the organization and with our customers
▪ further expanded the ESG goals in our STIP scorecard to incentivize innovation within our own organization and with our customers
▪ increased investment in the EverGreenTM product line, growing and differentiating our products and technologies aimed at reducing environmental impact
▪ partnered with our customers to mobilize 11 additional independent emissions monitoring or reduction systems
▪ conducted our search for a third female director for Precision's Board that will stand for election as a nominated director at Precision's 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
▪ continued expansion and development of relationships with Indigenous Groups, actively participating in collaborative initiatives and offering training opportunities
▪ published our Human Rights Policy and strengthened our supply chain procedures to ensure full compliance with the Forced Labour and Child Labour Act in Canada
▪ continued our long-term strategic alliance with Shock Trauma Air Rescue Services (STARS) in Canada and collaborated with multiple non-profit and industry organizations across North America
▪ increased employee volunteer hours year over year
▪ continued an ongoing formal remote work program for our office-based employees
▪ conducted ransomware drills, identifying and mitigating potential challenges to our response processes, and
▪ continued our summer internship program, employing 51 interns from 28 universities.
14 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
ESG Materiality
In accordance with our 2020 materiality study, the following areas remain our focus for 2023.

ENVIRONMENTAL
Target Zero and Climate Change Stewardship
Our Health, Safety and Environmental strategy continues to guide us toward Target Zero – which is our commitment to minimize any occupational injuries, illnesses and environmental harm from our footprint while conducting business. We recognize climate change is an important global risk and we actively monitor developments that have the potential to impact our business, our customers, and the environment.
We publicly disclose emissions associated with our direct operations and those we conduct on behalf of our customers. This data is being used to identify opportunities to reduce emissions through efficiency gains, alternate forms of energy, and hydrocarbon fuel use reductions across all operations.
While many operational decisions are still within the control of our customers, we continue to commit a significant amount of our internal resources to develop technology to ensure that the safest and most environmentally friendly drilling options are also the best financial options for our customers. In 2023, this focus facilitated the continued increase in adoption of our AlphaTM technologies and our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions such as BESS and real-time fuel consumption and emissions monitoring equipment.
Environmental goals were expanded significantly for 2023, with challenging targets laid out for our operations, technical, and marketing teams. These included:
| STIP Target Area | Results |
|---|---|
| Deploy GHG emission monitoring / quantification systems | 11 Integrated Power & Emissions Fuel Monitoring Systems (Monitoring Systems) deployed in the field, including real-time monitoring dashboards |
| Implement lower carbon / premium green power systems or technologies | 50 lower carbon power systems and technologies deployed in the field, with additional systems contracted for deployment in 2024 |
| Initiate environmental initiatives targeting Company facilities, fleet, or controlled operations | Currently in assessment phase of LED lighting projects for three facilities to reduce energy consumption |
| Commercialize new low carbon / premium green power systems or technologies | 2 systems deployed in the field, Maestro Engine Management System and EverGreenTM Highline Power Package |
EverGreenTM Suite of Environmental Solutions
Precision’s EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions was launched in 2021, differentiating new and existing products specifically aimed at quantifying and reducing the environmental impact of drilling operations at the wellsite.
As part of our EverGreenTM product line, our BESS has now been field hardened and proven to provide significant reductions in hydrocarbon fuel use, and in turn a similar reduction in emissions and fuel cost. A successful launch of this technology in 2021 quickly expanded and we had 13 BESS deployed as of December 31, 2023. Further BESS deployments are scheduled for customer implementation throughout 2024.
We also saw significant adoption of our Monitoring Systems, a part of our EverGreenTM product line, which is capable of measuring and communicating real-time wellsite GHG emissions. 11 Monitoring Systems were installed in 2023, with additional units scheduled to come online throughout 2024. These Monitoring Systems provide us and our customers with real-time insight into the correlation between power demand, fuel consumption, and resulting GHG emissions throughout the well construction process, and allow capture and analysis of this data across different rigs, well profiles, engine types, and geographic areas. This knowledge source is meaningful to help improve both our and our customers’ understanding of the variability of land drilling GHG emissions and help operate power generating equipment with optimal fuel consumption and carbon footprint efficiency. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 15
SOCIAL
Our Corporate Culture
We are committed to cultivating a work environment where employees feel safe, respected, and valued. We recognize the importance of building a culture that will provide us with a competitive advantage over not only our direct peers in the oilfield services industry but also other employers in the areas where we operate. To fortify our culture, the “S” Team which is comprised of a team of our employees from around the globe, surveys our population of employees and brings a wide range of ideas and perspectives for our senior management team and the Board to assess and take action, when necessary.
Our Board actively champions a collaborative and transparent culture fostering an atmosphere where employees are encouraged to express their thoughts freely, and management actively listens to feedback. To gauge and enhance our organizational culture, we regularly conduct focus groups and launch Leadership and Culture surveys with our employees in the field and in our corporate offices. The insights gathered from these surveys are invaluable in understanding our strengths and identifying areas for improvement. Subsequently, we synthesize this information, formulate action plans, and share the feedback with the Board, reinforcing our commitment to continuous improvement and an inclusive workplace.
Our Core Values and Key Beliefs
Our Core Values and Key Beliefs (which can be accessed on our website) successfully promote a culture of integrity and accountability. Our Core Values drive our culture, as they are foundational to how we approach our business. From the top down, the commitment to these values helps ensure we are moving in the right direction with a ‘Down to Earth’ common sense purpose among our employees. Our Key Beliefs are fundamental to how we operate our business every day. They are how we want our employees to act, interact, and be perceived. By creating a feeling of personal ownership and a culture of hard work, innovation and productivity, our Core Values and Key Beliefs encourage an environment that brings out the best in everyone.
Employee Safety and Training
Employee safety is embedded in all that we do at Precision, from job planning and change management to the critical task assessments and safety observations our employees perform every day. We deliver High Performance, High Value service to our customers without compromising the health and safety of our employees or those in the communities where we work.
Precision’s commitment to providing industry-leading comprehensive training and development to our employees can be seen through the extensive instructor-led and virtual courses as well as face-to-face coaching. In 2023, over 63,000 employee training hours were focused on Precision’s culture, rig roles and responsibilities, well control, tools and equipment, HSE standards, leadership and communication at one of our two world-class training facilities, located in Nisku, Alberta and Houston, Texas. Additionally, we increased our rig-site training in the second half of 2023 with over 10,000 employee training hours during 372 rig visits.
A specific focus on new employee development is driven through our Short-Service Employee (SSE) program, which is catered to rig-based employees with low levels of experience to ensure they are well-positioned for long-term success at Precision. During the first six months with Precision, these employees are paired with a mentor and put through various tasks under supervision to ensure they adapt to our culture, develop a safety-first mentality, and enable them to perform their duties to the best of their ability. In 2023, we dedicated over 15,000 SSE-specific training hours to approximately 990 employees who were new to the industry.
Employee Wellness
At Precision, we prioritize the well-being of our employees by providing them with comprehensive tools and support to care for both their mental and physical health. Precision offers competitive benefit packages to all eligible employees throughout the organization, including health, vision, and dental plans. We also offer a multitude of formal programs to assist employees in achieving physical, mental, and financial well-being, including our Employee Assistance Program that provides confidential counseling for personal issues, financial planning resources, beneficiary financial counseling, will preparation, and legal assistance, and telemedicine services to support our employee population located in areas with lesser access to healthcare services.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Employee Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Delivering strong operational and financial results in today’s environment requires the expertise and positive contributions of every member of the Precision Team. Committed to harnessing a diverse range of thoughts, experiences, and points of view; we actively cultivate an inclusive workplace where every employee's unique perspective complements our strategy and decision-making processes. Precision is an inclusive workplace that strives to be free of discrimination, harassment, workplace violence, and retaliation. Our diversity, equity and inclusion policy (Diversity Policy) prohibits discrimination of any kind and promotes diversity and inclusivity among our employees, management, and the Board.
Each year our employees are required to participate in and complete our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Harassment, Discrimination and Workplace Violence courses. In 2023, approximately 4,800 employees across the globe completed these 16 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
courses. This commitment underscores our dedication to creating a workplace where all individuals can thrive and contribute their best to our collective success.
Management Diversity
Recognizing the integral role that diversity plays in sustaining our competitive advantage, Precision places a strategic emphasis on increasing diversity at the management level.
The executive leadership team reviews the talent pool regularly and considers the individual’s development, industry experience, background and race and gender representation, as well as other factors before recommending executive appointments to the Board for approval. The Board also considers the representation of women and other diversity factors in executive positions when reviewing the management succession plan and approving executive appointments. We do not have specific gender targets for management as we believe the skills, qualifications and attributes of the candidate and the needs of the organization are paramount.
Currently, 20% (one out of five) of our executive officers are female and 60% (three out of five) of our executive team self-identify as a Diverse Persons(1).
Board Diversity
When recruiting new directors, the CGNRC meticulously evaluates our vision and business strategy, the skills and competencies of the current directors, gaps in Board skills, and the attributes, knowledge and experience new directors should have to enhance our business plan and strategies. The CGNRC also considers diversity as part of this process, including the level of female representation on the Board. When assessing Board composition or identifying suitable candidates for appointment to the Board, the CGNRC will include a slate of Diverse Persons(1) for all open Board seats.
Currently, 25% (two out of eight) of our Board members are female and 63% (five out of eight) of our Board members self-identify as a Diverse Persons(1).
| Position Title | Total Number | Number of Women | % of Women | Number of Diverse Persons(1) | % of Diverse Persons(1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Directors(2) | 8 | 2 | 25% | 5 | 63% |
| Executive Officers(3) | 5 | 1 | 20% | 3 | 60% |
Notes:
(1) A Diverse Persons includes directors or executives that have self-identified into one or more of the following categories: Racialized Person, Female, LGBTQ2S+, disability and indigenous people (First Nations, Inuit, or Metis). Racialized is derived by the Ontario Human Rights Commission from the concept of “visible minority” defined as person other than Aboriginal Peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in color. We have defined 'Disability’ as a person with a physical or mental condition that is permanent, ongoing, episodic or of some persistence, and is a substantial or significant limit on an individual's ability to carry out some of life’s important functions or activities, such as employment.
(2) Board of Directors currently includes seven independent Board members and the President and Chief Executive Officer.
(3) Executive Officers includes the Chief Financial Officer, President, North American Drilling, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, and Chief Technology Officer.
| The Board remains committed to recruiting a third female director to serve on Precision's Board and achieving 30% female representation on the Board as set out in our Diversity Policy. Upon Shareholders’ approval of our nominated slate of directors at our 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we will fulfill this commitment. To read more about our nominated slate of directors, please refer to our 2024 Management Information Circular. |
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Reporting and Accountability
Our Human Resources department reviews the structure, size, pay equity and composition of our workforce annually and prepares a report for the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief Executive Officer. Similarly, the executive leadership team meets regularly to assess its optimum composition, and annually provides a report to the CGNRC.
Talent Management
As an industry leader, we are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining high-performing, Passionate People at every level of our Company. Precision has developed a strong recruitment marketing strategy both in the field and for our corporate support roles, using standard recruitment practices, grassroots efforts and social media applications. We believe that our pay and benefits remain competitive and engages our employees. We have implemented systems and processes that help us execute our talent management strategy to maintain a well-trained, highly competent, and capable talent pool, both in the field and corporate positions with a broad range of business experience throughout market cycles.
University Internship Programs
During 2023, Precision initiated industry exposure efforts by broadening students’ technical education and familiarity with our industry through Career Days. Every year, Precision hosts students from universities and trade schools in our Intern Program. In 2023, we hosted 51 interns from over 28 universities working in Canada and the U.S., with nationalities represented from North and South America, Western and Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and Northern Europe. We believe our Intern Program provides an important talent pool for our future permanent hires and provides participants with practical experience that cannot be obtained in the classroom and is an excellent introduction to the industry in which we operate.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 17
Community and Industry Engagement
We are proud to invest in causes that are important to our employees, customers, and the communities where we operate. Throughout 2023, our “PD Cares” corporate giving program contributed to several exceptional health and human services organizations and youth programs.
For over 30 years, one of our proudest partnerships in Canada has been with the STARS Foundation which provides rapid and specialized emergency care and transportation for critically ill and injured patients. STARS operates 24/7 bases in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg which are well aligned to provide critical support to remote field operations and employees both on and off the job residing across Western Canada.
In addition to this long-standing partnership, in 2023, Precision employees donated their time and resources to many great organizations, including Camp Kindle, Habitat for Humanity, AutismSpeaks, Alberta Cancer Foundation, City of Houston Parks, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, National MS Society, Texas Children’s Hospital, Inn from the Cold, and EvenStart Calgary.
Our commitment to the energy industry is evidenced by our participation in several non-profit organizations, such as the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC), International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), Business Council of Alberta, the Modern Miracle Network, the Fraser Institute and Enserva.
Indigenous Relationships
Precision recognizes the history and diversity of Indigenous peoples. Our relationships help create opportunities and deliver outcomes beneficial to our Indigenous partners, the communities in which we all live, and our customers. Precision strives to support local Indigenous communities through ongoing engagement, employment, and mutually beneficial business opportunities. Precision currently has several successful business relationships with Indigenous nations across Western Canada, including joint ventures, collaboration, and benefits agreements. In 2023, we also formalized our Indigenous Relations Policy to acknowledge Precision's commitment to upholding the rights of Indigenous Groups, both in our global operations and within our workplace.
GOVERNANCE
Corporate Governance, Ethics & Compliance
As we strive for sustainable operations, we actively pursue financial, environmental, and social responsibility. Our actions are consistently guided by our Core Values, Key Beliefs, and strong corporate governance principles. We remain committed to ethical behavior through our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the Code), along with our comprehensive employment policies and practices. The Board and our external and internal auditors provide oversight and ensure compliance throughout our organization. To maintain the trust of our stakeholders, we promote Board independence, proactively engage with shareholders, assess risk management and uphold principles of ethics and integrity.
Governance Guidelines
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines outline the composition, structure, procedures, and policies that guide our Board. These guidelines undergo an annual review and serve as a guidepost for the Board. Topics pertaining to corporate citizenship, governance and sustainability are also routinely reviewed at meetings of the Board and its committees.
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
At the core of our business practices lies a commitment to ethical behavior. Our Code ensures every director, executive officer, manager, employee, and contractor is aware of Precision’s values. The full text of the Code is available on the Corporate Governance section of our website.
We have a robust, proven corporate governance system that is effective in ensuring a transparent culture. It allows for ethical issues to be reported, assessed, and resolved in a timely manner. This system employs a strong body of policies, enforcement mechanisms and a closed-loop resolution process of issues that are reported.
The Code addresses the following key areas, among others:
| ▪<br>financial reporting and accountability<br><br>▪<br>maintaining confidentiality<br><br>▪<br>avoiding conflicts of interest<br><br>▪<br>complying with laws and regulations<br><br>▪<br>safeguarding corporate assets<br><br>▪<br>reporting illegal or unethical behavior | ▪<br>human rights<br><br>▪<br>disclosure<br><br>▪<br>anti-retaliation<br><br>▪<br>data and privacy security<br><br>▪<br>bribery and corruption, and<br><br>▪<br>harassment and discrimination |
|---|
Annually, each director, executive officer, manager, and employee is required to confirm their understanding and commitment to abide by the Code. Additionally, members of the senior management team must also certify quarterly whether they are aware of any breaches of the Code. Comprehensive in-person and online training sessions are conducted annually for all permanent employees, covering various topics related to business conduct and ethics. 18 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
| PD EthicsLine<br><br>The PD EthicsLine is available for anyone within or outside of Precision, offering a confidential and anonymous platform to report any suspected illegal or unethical conduct or breach of our policies. With the oversight of the Audit and HRCC Committees, there were no ethics incidents in 2023 that required disclosure and 100% of the issues reported through the PD EthicsLine were reviewed and resolved. An independent third party operates the PD EthicsLine and notifies the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) immediately upon receiving a complaint. |
|---|
Internal Policies
We take proactive measures to ensure our workforce and the Board understand their obligations to uphold our standards and the law when it comes to ethics and compliance. In addition to our Code, we have developed internal corporate policies to guide our directors, officers, and employees in meeting our standards and fulfilling our responsibilities to our shareholders, governmental and regulatory authorities, business partners and each other. The following are some of our internal policies that we have put in place to ensure compliance and to reflect our current business practices:
| ▪<br>Human Rights<br><br>▪<br>Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption<br><br>▪<br>International Trade - Sanctions<br><br>▪<br>Insider Trading<br><br>▪<br>Privacy<br><br>▪<br>Compensation Recoupment (Clawback) | ▪<br>Avoiding Conflicts of Interest<br><br>▪<br>Public Policy & Lobbying<br><br>▪<br>Diversity, Equity and Inclusion<br><br>▪<br>Harassment, Discrimination and Workplace Violence<br><br>▪<br>Indigenous Relations, and<br><br>▪<br>Artificial Intelligence |
|---|
Clawbacks
Our senior leadership team is held accountable for their decisions. As such, we have designed our compensation plan so any consequences stemming from our policies, employment agreements and incentive plans align with Precision’s best interests.
Our Clawback Policy entitles us to recoup some, or all, incentive compensation awarded or paid to our senior leadership team, including our Chief Executive Officer, both past and present, if:
▪ there was a restatement of our financial statements for a fiscal year or fiscal quarter when they were with Precision
▪ there was an error in calculating executive compensation during their time with Precision, or
▪ the member of the senior leadership team engaged in misconduct, including fraud, non-compliance with applicable laws and any act or omission that would entitle an employee to be terminated for cause.
The Clawback Policy applies to all forms of incentive awards including bonuses, restricted share units, performance share units and stock options.
In addition to our Clawback Policy, in 2023 we introduced a NYSE-compliant compensation recoupment policy, which provides that in the event of a financial restatement, we must recoup incentive-based compensation received by executive officers, subject to limited exceptions.
Human Rights
In 2024, the Board approved our first report under Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act. Our new processes reinforce our commitment to supply chain transparency, requiring our vendors to go through a rigorous accreditation process, crafted to assess possible modern slavery concerns. Additionally, we are proud to announce the adoption of a new Human Rights policy, a fundamental step in promoting human rights within our organization and in our interactions with partners all over the world. This policy extends throughout our supply chain, actively working to minimize instances of forced and child labor.
Enterprise Risk Management and Sustainability
Precision employs a comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program that proactively assesses material risks to the organization and manages several robust mitigation strategies. This continuous and forward-looking ERM process evaluates enterprise-level risks that impact the organization’s operations. The Company’s designated Risk Committee manages an internally developed Risk Matrix that outlines all identified material risks to the organization and their resulting compounding effects on other related challenges. The Board performs a timely review of all risk related matters, including an assessment of the Company’s internal Risk Matrix. Quarterly updates from the delegated internal Risk Committee and the Chair of CGNRC further enhance the Board's oversight and understanding of the organization's risk landscape.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 19
We acknowledge the Company’s various sustainability-related responsibilities when managing the ERM function. Precision continuously monitors various risks related to its ESG performance, specifically identifying several risks and mitigation opportunities for the following:
▪ Environmental impacts, including climate change, air and water pollution and energy efficiency
▪ Social factors addressing corporate culture, inclusiveness, and our world-class safety program, and
▪ Governance controls throughout the organization to ensure ethical conduct and transparency.
Corporate Governance Material Available on Our Website
Information related to the corporate governance of Precision is available on the Corporate Governance section of our website, including:
| ▪<br>Board of Directors Charter<br><br>▪<br>Audit Committee Charter<br><br>▪<br>HRCC Charter<br><br>▪<br>CGNRC Charter | ▪<br>Corporate Bylaws<br><br>▪<br>Code of Business Conduct and Ethics<br><br>▪<br>PD EthicsLine, and<br><br>▪<br>Policy on Majority Voting |
|---|
ESG Board Oversight and Feedback
Our Board is engaged in overseeing our business strategies and related risks and opportunities, which includes all material ESG topics. Our committee structure facilitates oversight of issues that impact many areas of our business, including ESG. Annually, our Board reviews our Corporate Responsibility strategy, and every quarter management updates the HSE and Corporate Responsibility Council and the Board on our ESG initiatives and performance.
We believe in fostering a feedback-rich culture and encourage ongoing engagement with our employees, shareholders, and other stakeholders. Feel free to reach out and share your feedback by contacting us at investorrelations@precisiondrilling.com with your feedback.
More detailed information regarding our ESG efforts can be found on our website at www.precisiondrilling.com/esg.
20 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
| CAPITAL STRUCTURE |
|---|
COMMON SHARES
We can issue an unlimited number of common shares. At December 31, 2023, there were 14,336,539 common shares issued and outstanding.
The Board holds an annual meeting of common shareholders to elect the directors and appoint the auditors, among other things. It can convene a special meeting of shareholders at any time and for any reason.
Only shareholders of record can attend and vote at shareholder meetings. They can vote in person or by proxy, and their proxyholder does not need to be a shareholder. Each common share entitles the holder to one vote.
Common shareholders have the right to receive dividends as and when declared by the Board. They also have the right to receive our remaining property and assets if Precision is wound up, subject to the prior rights and privileges attached to our other classes of shares.
Market for Securities
The table below summarizes the trading activity for our common shares in 2023 and the monthly high and low price for our shares. Our common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol PD and on the NYSE under the symbol PDS.
| TSX (PD) | NYSE (PDS) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High ($) | Low ($) | Volume | High (US$) | Low (US$) | Volume | |
| January | 114.50 | 95.64 | 1,598,426 | 85.50 | 70.32 | 1,179,285 |
| February | 103.87 | 75.38 | 3,277,058 | 78.29 | 55.57 | 1,878,790 |
| March | 82.15 | 62.15 | 3,034,768 | 60.28 | 45.22 | 1,604,150 |
| April | 72.36 | 67.15 | 1,994,234 | 53.93 | 49.56 | 1,341,263 |
| May | 65.68 | 57.16 | 1,827,409 | 48.64 | 42.07 | 1,209,547 |
| June | 64.67 | 58.78 | 1,244,636 | 48.75 | 43.70 | 995,732 |
| July | 87.57 | 63.87 | 1,826,048 | 66.46 | 47.77 | 1,466,930 |
| August | 90.45 | 85.46 | 1,751,756 | 67.21 | 64.01 | 1,155,632 |
| September | 97.92 | 90.20 | 1,589,231 | 72.59 | 66.75 | 1,291,466 |
| October | 85.98 | 79.96 | 1,940,437 | 63.05 | 57.81 | 2,268,185 |
| November | 82.62 | 77.04 | 2,080,903 | 60.26 | 56.33 | 1,937,801 |
| December | 78.10 | 67.68 | 1,472,988 | 57.77 | 49.73 | 1,546,754 |
For information in respect of incentive awards to purchase common shares and common shares issuable upon exercise of awards, see the Share Based Compensation note to the 2023 audited Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated by reference into this Annual Information Form and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Dividends
Subject to compliance with the Senior Credit Facility and the indentures governing our unsecured senior notes, the declaration and payment of future dividends, if any, and the amount of any dividends, will be in the sole discretion of our Board based on various factors and conditions from time to time, which may include our financial results, operations, outlook for commodity prices, future capital requirements and the satisfaction of the liquidity and solvency tests imposed by the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) for the declaration and payment of dividends.
Our Senior Credit Facility allows the payment of dividends as long as no default or event of default has occurred and if our pro forma senior net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) is less than or equal to 1.75:1.
The Senior Notes Indentures (as defined below) each contain a restricted payments covenant that limits our ability to make payments in the nature of dividends, distributions and for share repurchases, unless otherwise permitted by the applicable indenture. The restricted payments basket grows from a starting point of October 1, 2018 for the 2026 Notes and July 1, 2021 for the 2029 Notes, by, among other things, 50% of cumulative consolidated net earnings, and decreases by 100% of cumulative consolidated net losses as defined in the Senior Note Indentures, and cumulative payments made to shareholders. During 2023, pursuant to the Senior Note Indentures, Precision used its available general restricted payments basket to facilitate the repurchase and cancellation of its common shares.
Based on our consolidated financial results as of December 31, 2023, the relevant restricted payments basket was negative $91 million, which limits our ability to declare and make dividend payments or share repurchases until the governing restricted payments basket becomes positive.
Normal Course Issuer Bid
On August 27, 2019, we implemented a NCIB through the facilities of the TSX and NYSE. We renewed the NCIB on August 27, 2020, August 27, 2021, August 29, 2022 and September 19, 2023. The NCIB allows us to buy back up to 1,326,321 million common shares, representing 10% of our public float, by September 18, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2023, Precision Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 21
repurchased and cancelled 412,623 common shares for approximately $30 million. These repurchases were funded from cash flow and account for 3% of Precision’s available public float.
Shareholder Rights Plan
On June 1, 2010, unitholders of Precision adopted a shareholder rights plan, simultaneously with the approval of the plan of arrangement to convert Precision Drilling Trust to a corporate structure. Precision shareholders confirmed the continuation of and revisions to the plan at the 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022 annual and special meetings of shareholders.
The plan is designed to protect the rights of all shareholders and maximize value if there is ever a take-over bid for Precision. Take-over bids can be coercive or discriminatory, or initiated at a time when it may be difficult for the Board to prepare an adequate response.
Our shareholder rights plan discourages these kinds of offers by creating potential significant dilution to the offeror by issuing contingent rights to all our shareholders to acquire additional Precision shares at a significant discount to the prevailing market price that could, in certain circumstances, be exercised by all our shareholders other than the offeror and its associates, affiliates and joint actors.
An offeror can avoid the potential dilution by making an offer that either:
▪ qualifies as a permitted bid under our shareholder rights plan and therefore meets certain specified conditions (including a minimum deposit period of 105 days) and aims to ensure all shareholders are treated equally, or
▪ does not qualify as a permitted bid but is negotiated with us and is exempted from the shareholder rights plan because the offer can be bargained for agreed terms and conditions that we believe are in the best interests of Precision shareholders.
Term and Expiration
Our Shareholder Rights Plan expires on the Expiration Time, which is defined as the earlier of (i) the date the Rights (as defined below) are redeemed (the Termination Time) or (ii) the termination of the annual meeting of Precision shareholders in the year 2025.
Issue of Rights
Under our Shareholder Rights Plan agreement with Computershare Trust Company of Canada (Computershare) as our rights agent, we issued one right (Right) for each Precision common share that was outstanding at the close of business June 2, 2010, the effective date of our shareholder rights plan (the Effective Date), and one right for each additional common share that was issued after that date, subject to the terms and conditions of the plan.
Issuing Rights is not dilutive and will not affect reported earnings or cash flow per Precision share unless the Rights separate from the underlying Precision shares for which they were issued and become exercisable or are exercised.
Issuing Rights will also not change the way Precision shareholders currently trade their Precision shares and is not intended to interfere with Precision’s ability to undertake equity offerings in the future.
Rights Exercise Privilege
The Rights will be separate from our shares, unless delayed by the Board, and will be exercisable 10 trading days (the Separation Time) after a person has acquired, or commenced a take-over bid to acquire, 20% or more of our shares, other than by an acquisition pursuant to a take-over bid permitted by our shareholder rights plan (a Permitted Bid). The acquisition by any person (an Acquiring Person) of 20% or more of our shares, other than by way of a Permitted Bid, is referred to as a Flip-in Event. Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person will become void if a Flip-in Event occurs.
Each Right (other than those held by an Acquiring Person) entitles its holder to purchase additional Precision shares at a substantial discount to their prevailing market price at that time.
Permitted Bid Requirements
A take-over bid must meet the following requirements to qualify as a Permitted Bid:
▪ the bid must be made by way of a formal take-over bid circular under applicable securities legislation
▪ the bid must be made to all registered holders of Precision shares (other than the offeror)
▪ the bid must be subject to irrevocable and unqualified provisions that:
▪ the bid will remain open for acceptance for at least 105 days from the date of the bid (or a shorter period as permitted by National Instrument 62-104)
▪ the bid will be subject to a minimum tender condition of more than 50% of the Precision shares held by independent shareholders
▪ shares may be deposited to the bid at any time from the date of the bid until the date the shares may be taken up and paid for and shares may be withdrawn until taken up and paid for, and
▪ the bid will be extended for at least 10 days if more than 50% of the Precision shares held by independent shareholders are deposited to the bid (and the offeror shall make a public announcement of that fact). 22 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
A competing take-over bid that is made while a Permitted Bid is outstanding and satisfies all the criteria for Permitted Bid status, except that it may expire on the same date (which may be less than 105 days after the bid has started) as the Permitted Bid that is outstanding, will be considered to be a Permitted Bid for the purpose of our shareholder rights plan.
Permitted Lock-up Agreement
A person will not become an Acquiring Person when entering into an agreement (a Permitted Lock-Up Agreement) with a Precision shareholder where the Precision shareholder (the Locked-Up Person) agrees to deposit or tender its Precision shares to a take-over bid (the Lock-Up Bid) made by that person, provided the agreement meets certain requirements, including that:
▪ the terms of the agreement are publicly disclosed, and a copy is publicly available
▪ the Locked-Up Person can terminate its obligation under the agreement in order to tender its Precision shares to another take-over bid or transaction where:
▪ the offer price or value of the consideration payable is (A) greater than the price or value of the minimum, which cannot be more than 107% of the offer price under the Lock-Up Bid or (B) equal to or greater than a specified minimum, which cannot be more than 107% of the offer price under the Lock-Up Bid
▪ if less than 100% of the number of outstanding Precision shares held by independent shareholders are offered to be purchased under the Lock-Up Bid, the number of Precision shares offered to be purchased under another take-over bid or transaction (at an offer price not lower than pursuant to the Lock-Up Bid) is (A) greater than the number offered to be purchased under the Lock-Up Bid or (B) equal to or greater than a specified number, which cannot be more than 107% of the number offered to be purchased under the Lock-Up Bid, and
▪ if the Locked-Up Person fails to deposit its Precision shares to the Lock-Up Bid, no break fees or other penalties that exceed, in the aggregate, the greater of (A) 2.5% of the price or value of the consideration payable under the Lock-Up Bid and (B) 50% of the increase in consideration resulting from another take-over bid or transaction, shall be payable by the Locked-Up Person.
Certificates and Transferability
Before the Separation Time, a legend imprinted on Precision share certificates representing Precision shares issued after the Effective Date will serve as proof of the Rights. Rights will trade together with, and may not be transferred separately from, the Precision shares.
As of Separation Time, separated certificates will serve as proof of the Rights. Rights may be transferred separately from the Precision shares.
Waiver
The Board, acting in good faith, may, before a Flip-In Event occurs, waive the application of our shareholder rights plan to a particular Flip-In Event where the take-over bid is made by a take-over bid circular to all holders of our shares. If the Board exercises its power to waive one take-over bid, the waiver will also apply to any other take-over bid for our shares made by a take-over bid circular to all holders of our shares before the expiry of any other bid for which our shareholder rights plan has been waived.
The Board may also waive the application of our shareholder rights plan for a Flip-In Event that has occurred inadvertently, as long as the Acquiring Person that inadvertently triggered the Flip-In Event reduces its beneficial holdings below 20% of the outstanding Precision shares within 14 days or another date determined by the Board.
The Board may waive the application of our shareholder rights plan to any other Flip-In Event before it occurs if it has received shareholder approval.
Redemption
Rights are deemed to be redeemed following completion of a Permitted Bid (including a competing Permitted Bid) or any other take-over bid for which the Board has waived the application of our shareholder rights plan.
With shareholder approval, the Board may also, prior to the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, elect to redeem all the then outstanding Rights at a nominal redemption price of $0.00001 per Right.
Exemptions for Investment Advisors, etc.
Investment advisors (for their client accounts), trust companies (acting in their capacity as trustees or administrators), statutory bodies whose business includes the management of funds (for employee benefit plans, pension plans or insurance plans of various public bodies), and administrators or trustees of registered pension plans or funds and agents or agencies of the Crown, which acquire more than 20% of the outstanding Precision shares, are effectively exempted (through the definition of “beneficial ownership” under our shareholder rights plan) from triggering a Flip-In Event provided that they are not in fact making, either alone, jointly or in concert with any other person, a take-over bid. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 23
Directors’ Duties
Our shareholder rights plan will not in any way lessen or affect the duty of the Board to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of Precision. If there is a take-over bid or a similar proposal, the Board will still have the duty to take action and make recommendations to Precision shareholders that it considers appropriate.
If there is a conflict between this summary and the provisions of the shareholder rights plan, as amended and restated the plan, will govern. You can request a copy by contacting our Corporate Secretary:
Precision Drilling Corporation
Suite 800, 525 – 8th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Tel: 403.716.4500
Email: corporatesecretary@precisiondrilling.com
PREFERRED SHARES
The number of preferred shares that may be authorized for issue at any time cannot exceed more than half of the number of issued and outstanding common shares. There are currently no preferred shares issued and outstanding.
We can issue preferred shares in one or more series. The Board must pass a resolution determining the number of shares in each series, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions for each series, before the shares can be issued. This includes the rate or amount of dividends, when and where dividends are paid, the dates dividends accrue from any rights or obligations for us to buy or redeem the shares, and the price, terms and conditions, and any conversion rights.
24 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
MATERIAL DEBT
As at December 31, 2023, we had:
▪ US$nil million drawn and US$391 million available (excluding outstanding letters of credit of US$56 million) under the Senior Credit Facility
▪ US$273 million outstanding under the 2017 offering of 7.125% unsecured senior notes due in 2026 (the 2026 Notes)
▪ US$400 million outstanding under the 2021 offering of 6.875% unsecured senior notes due in 2029 (the 2029 Notes), and
▪ US$8 million and CAD$26 million outstanding under the U.S. and Canadian Real Estate Credit Facilities.
The following is a summary of the material terms of the Senior Credit Facility, operating facilities, real estate credit facilities (collectively, the Real Estate Credit Facilities, and each a Real Estate Credit Facility), the 2026 Notes and the 2029 Notes (the 2026 Notes and the 2029 Notes, collectively, the Senior Notes). Copies of the Senior Credit Facility (including any amendments thereto) and the note indenture governing the 2026 Notes (the 2026 Note Indenture) and the note indenture governing the 2029 Notes (the 2029 Note Indenture) (collectively, the Senior Note Indentures) are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov).
Senior Credit Facility
We entered into the Senior Credit Facility with a syndicate of lenders in 2010.
The Senior Credit Facility is an extendible revolving term credit facility that is used for general corporate purposes and is secured by liens on substantially all our present and future assets and the present and future assets of our material U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (including subsidiaries we have designated material, collectively the Material Subsidiaries, as set out in the Senior Credit Facility). The Senior Credit Facility includes representations and warranties, covenants and events of default that are customary for credit facilities of this nature, including financial ratio covenants that are tested quarterly or prior to certain distributions or junior debt repayments.
In 2023, we agreed with the lenders of our Senior Credit Facility to remove certain non-extending lenders from our facility, thereby reducing the total commitment from US$500 million to US$447 million.
At December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Credit Facility.
The table below sets out the key features of the Senior Credit Facility as of March 4, 2024:
| Key Features of Senior Credit Facility | |
|---|---|
| Amount | ▪<br>provides senior secured financing of up to US$447 million<br><br>▪<br>includes a provision to increase the credit facility limit by up to an additional US$353 million (subject to certain conditions, including obtaining additional lender commitments) |
| Term and repayment | ▪<br>matures and to be repaid in full on the earlier of June 18, 2025 and 90 days inside the maturity of any junior debt<br><br>▪<br>provides us the option to request the lenders to extend the term of the facility at their discretion for up to five years from the date of request |
| Letters of credit | ▪<br>provides for letters of credit (including letters of guarantee) in U.S. or Canadian dollars or other currencies acceptable to the fronting lender up to a total of US$200 million (as a sublimit of the overall commitments) |
| Interest rates and fees | ▪<br>provides us the option to choose the interest rate on loans denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars:<br><br>– either a margin over a U.S. base rate or a margin over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rate for U.S. dollar loans<br><br>– either a margin over the Canadian prime rate or a margin over the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) rate for Canadian dollar loans and banker’s acceptances. The margins are based on the then applicable ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Covenant EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement) (margin ratio)<br><br>▪<br>also provides for:<br><br>– a standby fee for each lender calculated on the unused amount of its commitment at a percentage based on the applicable margin ratio<br><br>– an issue fee on the outstanding amount of the letters of credit equal to the margin applicable to SOFR loans and CDOR rate (subject to reduction in fees for non-financial letters of credit)<br><br>– a fronting fee to be paid to each fronting lender |
| Guarantees and security | ▪<br>we and our Material Subsidiaries have pledged substantially all our respective present and future assets, secured by a perfected first priority lien, subject to certain permitted encumbrances, as security for our obligations (including obligations to cash management providers, operating lenders and swap providers). All Material Subsidiaries have also guaranteed these obligations<br><br>▪<br>if we receive a corporate credit rating of at least BBB- from Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) and Baa3 from Moody’s, we have the option to require the security to be released (with a corresponding obligation to re-grant security if the rating drops below this threshold after the release). We currently have a corporate credit rating of B+ from S&P, a rating of Ba3 from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) and a rating of B+ from Fitch Ratings |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 25
| Key Features of Senior Credit Facility | |
|---|---|
| Certain covenants and events of default | ▪<br>subject to certain exceptions, several covenants restrict our ability and the ability of our Material Subsidiaries to do any of the following, among other things:<br><br>– incur or assume additional debt<br><br>– dispose of assets<br><br>– make or pay dividends, share redemptions, or other distributions if an event of default has occurred<br><br>– change our primary business<br><br>– incur or assume liens on assets<br><br>– enter into mergers, consolidations, or amalgamations<br><br>– enter into speculative swap agreements<br><br>– repay junior debt<br><br>▪<br>also includes customary affirmative covenants and events of default<br><br>▪<br>we must also comply with the following financial covenant ratios, each calculated for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters:<br><br>– a maximum Consolidated Senior Debt to Covenant EBITDA ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) of 2.5:1 (the Consolidated Senior Debt to Covenant EBITDA as defined in the credit agreement ratio may increase to 3:1 for the first three fiscal quarters following a material acquisition that involves total consideration of more than 5% of our consolidated net tangible assets)<br><br>– a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) of 2.5:1<br><br>▪<br>no more than US$250 million in new unsecured debt can be incurred or assumed except where the new unsecured debt is used to refinance existing unsecured debt, or the new unsecured debt is assumed through an acquisition |
Operating Facilities
We have a $40 million secured operating facility, a US$15 million secured operating facility, and a US$40 million secured facility for letters of credit. At December 31, 2023, availability of the $40 million operating facility was reduced by outstanding letters of credit of $20 million. Availability of the US$40 million secured facility for letters of credit was reduced by outstanding letters of credit of US$28 million. No amount was drawn on the US$15 million secured operating facility with the full amount remaining available for drawdown. The facilities are primarily secured by charges on substantially all of our present and future property and Material Subsidiaries. Advances under the $40 million operating facility are available at a margin over the banks’ prime Canadian lending rate, United States base rate, SOFR, or Bankers’ Acceptance rate, or in combination, and under the US$15 million facility at the banks’ prime lending rate. Issuance fees at agreed rates are payable on the amounts of any letters of credit outstanding under the $40 million operating facility and the US$40 million letter of credit facility.
Real Estate Credit Facilities
In November 2020, we established a Real Estate Credit Facility in the amount of US$11 million. It matures in November 2025 and is secured by real property in Houston, Texas. Principal plus interest is due monthly, based on a 15-year straight-line amortization with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a SOFR rate plus margin.
In March 2021, we established a Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility in the amount of $20 million. The facility matures in March 2026 and is secured by real properties in Alberta, Canada. Principal plus interest payments are due quarterly, based on 15-year straight-line amortization with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a CDOR rate plus margin.
In November 2023, we acquired a Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility established for CWC Energy Services Corp. It matures in June 2028 and is secured by real property in Alberta, Canada. Principal and interest is due monthly, based on the 22-year straight-line amortization with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average (CORRA) rate plus margin.
The Real Estate Credit Facilities contain certain affirmative and negative covenants and events of default, customary for these types of transactions. Under the terms of these facilities, Precision must maintain financial covenants in accordance with the Senior Credit Facility, described above, as of the last day of each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters. For the Canadian Real Estate Credit Facilities, in the event the Senior Credit Facility expires, is cancelled or is terminated, financial covenants in effect at that time shall remain in place for the remaining duration of the facility. For the U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility, in the event the consolidated Covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense coverage ratio is waived or removed from the Senior Credit Facility, a minimum threshold of 1.15:1 is required.
26 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
Unsecured Senior Notes
The unsecured senior notes listed below remain outstanding and are denominated in U.S. dollars (all payments on the notes are made in that currency).
| 2026 Notes | 2029 Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Completed November 22, 2017<br><br>Issued under and governed by the 2026 Note Indenture | Completed June 15, 2021<br><br>Issued under and governed by the 2029 Note Indenture | |
| Trustee | ▪<br>Bank of New York Mellon (U.S. Trustee)<br><br>▪<br>Computershare (Canadian Trustee) | ▪<br>Bank of New York Mellon (U.S. Trustee)<br><br>▪<br>Computershare (Canadian Trustee) |
| Principal outstanding as<br><br>of December 31, 2023 | ▪<br>US$273 million | ▪<br>US$400 million |
| Interest | ▪<br>7.125%<br><br>▪<br>paid in cash semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 to holders of record on January 1 and July 1<br><br>▪<br>calculated on a 360-day year of 12 30-day months | ▪<br>6.875%<br><br>▪<br>paid in cash semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 to holders of record on January 1 and July 1<br><br>▪<br>calculated on a 360-day year of 12 30-day months |
| Maturity date | ▪<br>January 15, 2026 | ▪<br>January 15, 2029 |
| Net proceeds | ▪<br>used together with cash on hand to repurchase and redeem the US$372 million outstanding unsecured senior notes due in 2020 and repurchase a portion of our senior notes due in 2021 | ▪<br>used together with cash on hand and our Senior Credit Facility to redeem the US$286 million outstanding 2023 Notes and the US$263 million outstanding 2024 Notes |
| Interest payments | ▪<br>began on July 15, 2019<br><br>▪<br>interest accrues from the most recent date to which interest was paid | ▪<br>began on January 15, 2022<br><br>▪<br>interest accrues from the most recent date to which interest was paid |
| Redemption features | Beginning November 15, 2023<br><br>▪<br>for their principal amount plus accrued interest | Beginning January 15, 2025<br><br>▪<br>in whole or in part at any time before January 15, 2027, at redemption prices ranging between 103.438% and 101.719% of their principal amount plus accrued interest |
| Beginning January 15, 2027<br><br>▪<br>for their principal amount plus accrued interest | ||
| Change of control | ▪<br>each holder of the notes has the right to sell all or a portion of its notes to us for cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase | ▪<br>each holder of the notes has the right to sell all or a portion of its notes to us for cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase |
Subject to certain exceptions, the two note indentures limit our ability and the ability of some of our subsidiaries to do any of the following, among other things:
▪ incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred shares
▪ create liens
▪ make restricted payments, including the payment of dividends and repurchase of shares
▪ create or permit to exist restrictions on our ability (or the ability of certain subsidiaries) to make certain payments and distributions
▪ engage in amalgamations, mergers or consolidations
▪ make certain dispositions and transfers of assets, and
▪ engage in transactions with affiliates.
The Senior Notes require that we comply with certain covenants including an incurrence based Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio test (as defined in the Senior Notes Indentures) of 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters. In the event that our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio is less than 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters, the Senior Notes Indentures restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness. As of December 31, 2023, our Senior Notes Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio was 7.5.
Each of the 2026 Notes and the 2029 Notes are general unsecured obligations and rank senior in right of payment to all our future obligations that are subordinate in right of payment to these notes and equal in right of payment with all our other existing and future obligations.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 27
Our Credit Ratings
Credit ratings affect our ability to obtain short and long-term financing and our ability to engage in certain business activities cost-effectively.
| Understanding Credit Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Moody’s Investors Services Inc. (Moody’s)<br><br>Moody’s credit rating is their opinion of our ability to honour senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts | ▪<br>rating scale from AAA (highest) to C (lowest quality of securities rated)<br><br>▪<br>Moody’s rating of Ba is the fifth highest of nine categories and denotes obligations to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk<br><br>▪<br>a modifier of 1, 2 or 3 after a rating indicates the relative standing within a particular rating category. The modifier 1 indicates that the issue ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category, 2 indicates a mid-range ranking and 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of the generic rating category |
| Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P)<br><br>S&P’s credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about our overall financial capacity (or creditworthiness) to pay our financial obligations | ▪<br>rating scale from AAA to D, which represents the range from highest to lowest quality<br><br>▪<br>a credit rating of B by S&P is the sixth highest of 10 categories<br><br>▪<br>under the S&P rating system, an obligor with debt securities rated B is less vulnerable in the near-term than other lower-rated obligors, but adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s inadequate capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments<br><br>▪<br>the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) designation after the rating indicates the relative standing within a particular rating category |
| Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch)<br><br>Fitch’s credit rating is their opinion of our relative ability to meet financial commitments, such as interest, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations | ▪<br>rating scale from AAA (highest) to D (lowest quality of securities rated)<br><br>▪<br>Fitch’s rating of B is the sixth highest of 11 categories and rating of BB is the fifth highest.<br><br>▪<br>Fitch’s rating of BB indicates an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. A rating of B indicates material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains – financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.<br><br>▪<br>the additional of a plus (+) or minus (-) designated after the rating indirect the relative standing within a particular rating category |
Credit ratings assigned by the rating agencies are not recommendations to buy, hold or sell the debt, and the ratings are not a comment on market price or suitability for a particular investor. There is no assurance that a rating will remain in effect for a given period or that any rating will not be revised or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency in the future if it believes circumstances warrant it. Credit ratings by different agencies are independent of one another and should be evaluated separately. We pay customary fees to credit rating agencies.
| At March 4, 2024 | Moody’s | S&P | Fitch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Credit Rating | Ba3 | B+ | B+ |
| Senior Credit Facility Rating | Not rated | Not Rated | BB+ |
| Unsecured Senior Notes Credit Rating | B1 | B+ | B+ |
28 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
| RISKS IN OUR BUSINESS |
|---|
Investing in Precision securities presents risks. Take time to read about the risks described below and other important information in this AIF and our other disclosure documents before making an investment decision, as these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. You may also want to seek advice from an expert.
Our enterprise risk management framework operates at the business and functional levels and is designed to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks within each of the risk categories below. It leverages the risk framework in each of our businesses, which includes Precision’s policies, guidelines and review mechanisms.
In the course of our operations, our businesses regularly confront and navigate various risks, some of which have the potential to result in future outcomes that may differ, and at times, be materially different from our current expectations. In this section, we provide a detailed account of certain important strategic, operational, financial, legal and compliance risks. Our response to developments in those risk areas and our reactions to material future developments will affect our future results.
Our operations depend on the prices of oil and natural gas, which are subject to volatility and on the exploration and development activities of oil and natural gas exploration and production companies
We primarily sell our services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. Macroeconomic and geopolitical factors associated with oil and natural gas supply and demand are the primary factors driving pricing and profitability in the oilfield services industry. Generally, we experience high demand for our services when commodity prices are relatively high, and the opposite is true when commodity prices are relatively low. The volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices accounts for much of the cyclical nature of the oilfield services business in recent years. Increased volatility and other factors beyond our control have led to greater uncertainty in the demand for our services.
The markets for oil and natural gas are separate and distinct. Oil is a global commodity with a vast distribution network, although the differential between benchmarks such as West Texas Intermediate, Western Canadian Select, and European Brent crude oil can fluctuate. As in all markets, when supply, demand, inability to access domestic or export markets and other factors change, so can the spreads between benchmarks. The use of natural gas is growing worldwide, with the three most developed demand centers residing in North America, Western Europe and North Asia. These regions have dense pipeline networks and a high demand for natural gas. The world’s largest producers of natural gas are currently the U.S., Russia, Iran, Qatar, Canada, China, Norway and Australia. The most economical way to transport natural gas is in its gaseous state by pipeline, and the natural gas market depends on pipeline infrastructure and regional supply and demand. However, developments in the transportation of LNG in ocean-going tanker ships introduced an element of globalization to the natural gas market. The development of LNG means all the major production centers for natural gas are linked to the world’s major demand centers.
Worldwide military, political, economic conditions and other events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, expectations for global economic growth, inflation, political sanctions, trade disputes, or initiatives by OPEC+, can all affect supply and demand for oil and natural gas. Weather conditions, governmental regulation (in Canada and U.S.), levels of consumer demand, the availability and pricing of alternate sources of energy (including renewable energy initiatives), the availability of pipeline capacity and other transportation for oil and natural gas, global oil and natural gas storage levels, and other factors beyond our control can also affect the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas and lead to future price volatility.
According to Baker Hughes, the Canadian average active rig count in 2023 was flat year over year, while the U.S. average active land drilling rig count declined approximately 6%. In Canada, the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC) reported approximately 5,700 wells were drilled in 2023, compared with 5,500 in 2022 and 4,600 in 2021. For the U.S., Enverus reported approximately 15,600 wells were started onshore in the U.S., compared with approximately 17,600 in 2022 and 14,400 in 2021. Drilling activity in the U.S. began to weaken in early 2023 due to lower natural gas prices and oil price volatility and was exacerbated by drilling and completion efficiencies, consolidation among producers, and continued capital discipline. In Canada, drilling activity is supported by strong fundamentals as additional take away capacity for oil and natural gas becomes available in 2024.
Recently, commodity prices have been negatively affected by a combination of factors, including increased production, the decisions of OPEC+, concerns in respect of a recession and a strengthening in the U.S. dollar relative to most other currencies. Although OPEC+ agreed in November 2023 to additional oil production cuts, there is no assurance that the most recent OPEC+ agreement will be observed by its parties and OPEC+ may change its agreement depending upon market conditions. Oil and natural gas prices are expected to continue to be volatile as a result of conflict in Ukraine, concerns around expansion of conflict in the Middle East, changes in oil and natural gas inventories, sanctions on Russian oil and natural gas exports and prices, global and national economic performance, the actions of OPEC+, and any coordinated releases of oil from strategic reserves by the U.S. (or any other country). Certain of these events and conditions may contribute to decreased exploration and drilling activities and a decrease in confidence in the oil and natural gas industry. These difficulties have been exacerbated in Canada and the U.S. by political and other actions resulting in uncertainty surrounding regulatory, tax, royalty and environmental regulation. Each of these factors have adversely affected, and could continue to adversely affect, the price of oil and natural gas Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 29
and drilling activities by our customers, which would adversely affect the level of capital spending by our customers and in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
As a result of the continued volatility in oil and natural gas prices, regulatory uncertainty, and strategies of certain of our customers to focus on debt reductions, returning cash to shareholders or other capital discipline rather than incurring expenditures on exploration and drilling activities, demand for our services may be lower compared to historic periods when commodity prices were at similar levels. Reductions in commodity prices or factors that impact the supply and demand for oil and natural gas and lead to price volatility may result in reductions in capital budgets by our customers in the future, which could result in cancelled, delayed or reduced drilling programs by our customers and a corresponding decline in demand for our services. Additionally, the availability and pricing of alternative sources of energy, a transition to lower carbon intensive energy sources or a shift to a lower carbon economy, and technological advances may also depress the overall level of oil and natural gas exploration and production activity, similarly impacting the demand for our services.
If a reduction in exploration and development activities, whether resulting from changes in oil and natural gas prices or reductions in capital expenditures and capital budgets as described above or otherwise, continues or worsens, it could materially and adversely affect us further by:
▪ negatively impacting our revenue, cash flow, profitability and financial condition
▪ restricting our ability to make capital expenditures compared to periods prior to the downturn and our ability to meet future contracted deliveries of new-build rigs
▪ affecting the existing fair market value of our rig fleet, which in turn could trigger a write-down for accounting purposes
▪ our customers negotiating, terminating, or failing to honour their drilling contracts with us
▪ making our Senior Credit Facility financial covenants more difficult to maintain, and
▪ negatively impacting our ability to maintain or increase our borrowing capacity, our ability to obtain additional capital to finance our business and our ability to achieve our debt reduction targets.
There is no assurance that demands for our services or conditions in the oil and natural gas and oilfield services sector will remain stable in the future. A significant decline in demand could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Additionally, we have accounts receivable with customers in the oil and natural gas industry and their revenues may be affected by fluctuations in commodity prices. Our ability to collect receivables may be adversely affected by any prolonged weakness in oil and natural gas prices.
Intense price competition and the cyclical nature of the contract drilling industry could have an adverse effect on revenue and profitability
The contract drilling business is highly competitive with many industry participants. In an environment characterized by fierce competition, companies often face pressure to lower prices to secure contracts, potentially eroding profit margins. We compete for drilling contracts that are usually awarded based on competitive bids. We believe pricing, rig availability and technology are the primary factors potential customers consider when selecting a drilling contractor. We believe other factors are also important, such as the drilling capabilities and condition of drilling rigs, the quality of service and experience of rig crews, the safety record of the contractor, the offering of ancillary services, the ability to provide drilling equipment that is adaptable, having personnel familiar with new technologies and drilling techniques, and rig mobility and efficiency.
Historically, contract drilling has been cyclical with periods of low demand, excess rig supply and low day rates, followed by periods of high demand, short rig supply and increasing day rates. Periods of excess drilling rig supply intensify the competition and often result in rigs being idle. There are numerous drilling companies in the markets where we operate, and an oversupply of drilling rigs can cause greater price competition. Contract drilling companies compete primarily on a regional basis, and the intensity of competition can vary significantly from region to region at any particular time. However, if demand for contract drilling and drilling services is better in a region where we operate, our competitors might respond by moving suitable drilling rigs in from other regions with lower demand, reactivating previously stacked rigs or purchasing new drilling rigs. An influx of drilling rigs into a market from any source could rapidly intensify competition and make any improvement in the demand for our drilling rigs short-lived, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition, the development of new drilling technology by competitors has increased in recent years, which could negatively affect our ability to differentiate our services.
Our business results and the strength of our financial position are affected by our ability to strategically manage our costs and capital expenditure program in a manner consistent with industry cycles and fluctuations in the demand for contract drilling services. If we do not effectively manage our costs and capital expenditures or respond to market signals relating to the supply or demand for contract drilling and oilfield services, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Lower activity in the contract drilling industry exposes us to the risk of oversupply of equipment
Periods of low demand often lead to low utilization. The number of drilling rigs competing for work in markets where we operate has remained the same as the industry has seen a decrease in drilling activity relative to periods prior to 2015. The industry supply of drilling rigs may exceed actual demand because of the relatively long-life span of oilfield services equipment as well 30 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
as the typically long time from when a decision is made to upgrade or build new equipment to when the equipment is built and placed into service. Excess supply resulting from industry decline could lead to lower demand for term drilling contracts and for our equipment and services. The additional supply of drilling rigs allows competitors to potentially reallocate rigs to higher demand areas and has intensified price competition in the past and could continue to do so. This could lead to lower day rates in the oilfield services industry generally and lower utilization of existing rigs. If any of these factors materialize, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Pipeline constraints and other regulatory uncertainty in western Canada could have an adverse effect on the demand for our services in Canada
In western Canada, delays and/or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for pipeline projects that would provide additional transportation capacity and access to refinery capacity for our customers has led to downward price pressure on oil and natural gas produced in western Canada, which has depressed, and may continue to depress, the overall exploration and production activity of our customers. Construction is progressing on the Trans Mountain pipeline in western Canada and may be in service in the first half of 2024. Canada generally has also lagged behind other natural gas producing countries in taking advantage of rising global demand and prices for natural gas primarily as a result of Canada’s lack of liquified natural gas facilities and, by extension, export capacity owing to regulatory delay and uncertainty. The Coastal Gas Link pipeline, which will transport natural gas to Kitimat, British Columbia, has been completed; however, the LNG Canada liquefaction facility and export terminal at Kitimat remains under construction, with first exports expected in 2025. Other proposed LNG facilities in Canada are at earlier stages of development, including Woodfibre LNG and Ksi Lisims LNG (completions currently anticipated between 2027 and 2028). There is no assurance that LNG projects in Canada will be completed on their expected timelines, or at all.
The regulatory uncertainty in Canada has impacted some of our customers’ ability to obtain financing as well as their ability to market their oil and natural gas, which has also depressed overall exploration and production activity. These factors could result in a corresponding decline in the demand for our services that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Any difficulty in retaining, replacing, or adding personnel could adversely affect our business
Our ability to provide reliable services depends on the availability of well-trained, experienced crews to operate our field equipment. We must also balance our need to maintain a skilled workforce with cost structures that fluctuate with activity levels. We retain the most experienced employees during periods of low utilization by having them fill lower-level positions on field crews. Many of our businesses experience manpower shortages in peak operating periods, and we may experience more severe shortages if the industry adds more rigs, oilfield services companies expand, and new companies enter the business.
We may not be able to find enough skilled labour to meet our needs, and this could limit growth. We may also have difficulty finding enough skilled and unskilled labour in the future if demand for our services increases. Shortages of qualified personnel have occurred in the past during periods of high demand. The demand for qualified rig personnel generally increases with stronger demand for land drilling services and as new and refurbished rigs are brought into service. Increased demand typically leads to higher wages that may or may not be reflected in any increases in service rates.
Other factors can also affect our ability to find enough workers to meet our needs. Our business requires skilled workers who can perform physically demanding work. Volatility in oil and natural gas activity and the demanding nature of the work, however, may prompt workers to pursue other kinds of jobs that offer a more desirable work environment and wages competitive to ours. Our success depends on our ability to continue to employ and retain skilled technical personnel and qualified rig personnel. If we are unable to, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Internationally, our operations rely on expat crews working in the host country where we operate. Any restriction, delays or embargo on issuance or renewal of work visas by host governments, or regulatory changes, can have a material impact on our ability to conduct operations.
Risks and uncertainties associated with our international operations can negatively affect our business
We conduct some of our business in the Middle East. We may decide to establish operations in other international regions, including countries where the political and economic systems may be less stable than in Canada or the United States.
Our international operations are subject to risks normally associated with conducting business in foreign countries, including, but not limited to, the following:
▪ an uncertain political and economic environment
▪ the loss of revenue, property and equipment as a result of expropriation, confiscation, nationalization, contract deprivation and force majeure
▪ war, terrorist acts or threats, civil insurrection and geopolitical and other political risks
▪ fluctuations in foreign currency and exchange controls
▪ restrictions on the repatriation of income or capital
▪ increases in duties, taxes and governmental royalties
▪ renegotiation of contracts with governmental entities Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 31
▪ changes in laws and policies governing operations of companies
▪ compliance and regulatory challenges, including compliance with anti-corruption and anti-bribery legislation in Canada, the U.S. and other countries
▪ trade restrictions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. or other countries
▪ increasing global scrutiny on environmental practices and the evolving landscape of climate change regulations; and
▪ differences in cultural norms and social expectations
If there is a dispute relating to our international operations, we may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts. In addition, we may not be able to file suits against foreign persons or subject them to the jurisdiction of a court in Canada or the U.S. or be able to enforce judgement or arbitrated awards against state-owned customers.
Government-owned petroleum companies located in some of the countries where we operate now or in the future may have policies, or may be subject to governmental policies, that give preference to the purchase of goods and services from companies that are majority-owned by local nationals. As such, we may rely on joint ventures, license arrangements and other business combinations with local nationals in these countries, which may expose us to certain counterparty risks, including the failure of local nationals to meet contractual obligations or comply with local or international laws that apply to us.
In the international markets where we operate, we are subject to various laws and regulations that govern the operation and taxation of our businesses and the import and export of our equipment from country to country. There may be uncertainty about how these laws and regulations are imposed, applied or interpreted, and they could be subject to change. Since we derive a portion of our revenues from subsidiaries outside of Canada and the U.S., the subsidiaries paying dividends or making other cash payments or advances may be restricted from transferring funds in or out of the respective countries, or face exchange controls or taxes on any payments or advances. We have organized our foreign operations partly based on certain assumptions about various tax laws (including capital gains and withholding taxes), foreign currency exchange, and capital repatriation laws and other relevant laws of a variety of foreign jurisdictions. We believe these assumptions are reasonable; however, there is no assurance that foreign taxing or other authorities will reach the same conclusion. If these foreign jurisdictions change or modify the laws, we could suffer adverse tax and financial consequences.
Diverse regulatory frameworks across countries pose challenges in compliance, with variations in environmental standards, safety regulations, and permitting processes. Adapting to different regulatory environments may result in increased compliance costs, potential legal issues, and delays in project execution.
We are subject to compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the Corruption of Foreign Public Official Act (Canada) (CFPOA), which generally prohibit companies from making improper payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining business. While we have developed policies and procedures designed to achieve compliance with the FCPA, CFPOA and other applicable international laws, we could be exposed to potential civil and criminal claims, economic sanctions or other restrictions for alleged or actual violations of international laws related to our international operations, including anti-corruption and anti-bribery legislation, trade laws and trade sanctions. The Canadian government, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and similar agencies have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for such violations, including injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties and modifications to business practices and compliance programs, among other things. We could also face fines, sanctions and other penalties from authorities in other the relevant foreign jurisdictions, including prohibition of our participating in or curtailment of business operations in those jurisdictions and the seizure of drilling rigs or other assets. While we cannot accurately predict the impact of any of these factors, if any of those risks materialize, it could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Differences in cultural norms and social expectations can influence community relations, workforce dynamics, and stakeholder engagement. Failure to understand and navigate these aspects may lead to reputational damage, community opposition, or challenges in attracting and retaining skilled personnel.
We require sufficient cash flows to service and repay our debt
We will need sufficient cash flows in the future to service and repay our debt. Our ability to generate cash in the future is affected to some extent by general economic, geopolitical, financial, competitive and other factors that may be beyond our control. If we need to borrow funds in the future to service our debt, our ability will depend on covenants in our Senior Credit Facility and in our unsecured senior notes indentures and other debt agreements we may have in the future, and on our credit ratings. We may not be able to access sufficient amounts under the Senior Credit Facility or from the capital markets in the future to pay our obligations as they mature, or to fund other liquidity requirements. If we are not able to generate enough cash flow from operations or borrow a sufficient amount to service and repay our debt, we will need to refinance our debt or we will be in default, and we could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or dispose of material assets or issue equity. We may not be able to refinance or arrange alternative measures on favourable terms or at all. If we are unable to service, repay or refinance our debt, it could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Repaying our debt depends on our ability to generate cash flow and our guarantor subsidiaries generating cash flow and making it available to us by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. Our guarantor subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to allow us to make payments on our debt. Each guarantor subsidiary is a distinct legal entity, 32 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from the subsidiaries. While the agreements governing certain existing debt limits the ability of our subsidiaries to incur consensual restrictions on their ability to pay dividends or make other intercompany payments to us, these limitations are subject to qualifications and exceptions.
A substantial portion of our operations are carried out through subsidiaries, and some of them are not guarantors of our debt. The assets of the non-guarantor subsidiaries represent approximately 17% of Precision’s consolidated assets. These subsidiaries do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the debt or to make funds available for that purpose.
If we do not receive funds from our guarantor subsidiaries, we may be unable to make the required principal and interest payments, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Customers’ inability to obtain credit/financing could lead to lower demand for our services
Many of our customers require reasonable access to credit facilities and debt capital markets to finance their oil and natural gas drilling activity. If the availability of credit to our customers is reduced or the terms of such credit become less favourable to them, they may reduce their drilling and production expenditures, thereby decreasing demand for our products and services. Higher interest rates resulting from actions by central banks in response to inflation may reduce the amount of borrowing by our customers, which would decrease demand for our services. Additionally, certain investors and lenders may discourage investments or lending into the hydrocarbon industry. To the extent that certain institutions implement policies that discourage investments or lending into the hydrocarbon industry, it could have an adverse effect on the cost and terms of capital or availability of capital for our customers, which may result in reduced spending by our customers. A reduction in spending by our customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow as described further under – “Our operations depend on the price of oil and natural gas, which have been subject to increased volatility in recent years, and on the exploration and development activities of oil and natural gas exploration and production companies” on page 29.
Our debt facilities contain restrictive covenants
Our Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facilities and the Senior Notes Indentures contain a number of covenants which, among other things, restrict us and some of our subsidiaries from conducting certain activities (see Capital Structure – Material Debt – Unsecured Senior Notes on page 27). In the event our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in our two Senior Note Indentures) is less than 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters, the Senior Note Indentures restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness. As of December 31, 2023, our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, as calculated per our Senior Note Indentures, was 7.5.
In addition, we must satisfy and maintain certain financial ratio tests under the Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities (see Capital Structure – Material Debt on page 25). Events beyond our control could affect our ability to meet these tests in the future. If we breach any covenants, it could result in a default under the Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities or any of the Senior Note Indentures. If there is a default under our Senior Credit Facility, the applicable lenders could decide to declare all amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facilities or any of the Senior Note Indentures to be due and payable immediately and terminate any commitments to extend further credit under the Senior Credit Facility. If there is an acceleration by the lenders and the accelerated amounts exceed a specific threshold, the applicable noteholders could decide to declare all amounts outstanding under any of the Senior Note Indentures to be due and payable immediately.
At December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with the covenants of our Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities.
New technology could reduce demand for certain rigs or put us at a competitive disadvantage
Complex drilling programs for the exploration and development of conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas reserves demand high performance drilling rigs. The ability of drilling rig service providers to meet this demand depends on continuous improvement of existing rig technology, such as drive systems, control systems, automation, mud systems and top drives, to improve drilling efficiency. Our ability to deliver equipment and services that meet customer demand is essential to our continued success. We cannot guarantee that our rig technology will continue to meet the needs of our customers, especially as rigs age and technology advances, or that our competitors will not develop technological improvements that are more advantageous, timely, or cost effective. Failure to adopt or invest in emerging technologies could place the company at a competitive disadvantage, leading to a decline in market share and profitability. Additionally, new technologies, services or standards could render some of our services, drilling rigs or equipment obsolete, which could reduce our competitiveness and have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Entering new lines of business or technical enhancements to our existing operating capabilities can be subject to risks, including a potential lack of acceptance by consumers and increased capital expenditures
Our AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions use new technologies and are relatively new lines of business for us. Our ability to generate revenue from new business lines is uncertain and there can be no assurance that they will be able to generate significant revenue or be profitable. We may not realize benefits from investments into new business lines or technical enhancements for several years or may not realize benefits from such investments at all. Failure to realize the Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 33
intended benefits from such investments could negatively affect our ability to attract new customers or expand our offerings to existing customers and may adversely affect our results from operations.
We are also introducing artificial intelligence and robotics into some of our offerings. The use of artificial intelligence and robotics on our rigs may not yield materially better results, higher outputs or increased productivity and there is no certainty that we will realize benefits from investments into these technologies. Failure to further adopt or invest in artificial intelligence and robotics could place us at a competitive disadvantage, leading to a decline in market share and profitability. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence throughout our organization is subject to the risk that privacy and other concerns relating to such technology could deter current and potential customers.
The timing and amount of capital expenditures we incur, including those related to our AlphaTM technologies, EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions and implementation of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, will directly affect the amount of cash available to us. The cost of equipment generally escalates as a result of high input costs during periods of high demand for our drilling rigs and oilfield services equipment and other factors. There is no assurance that we will be able to recover higher capital costs through rate increases to our customers.
Public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may impact our business
Local, regional, national or international public health crises, pandemics and epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could have an adverse effect on local economies and potentially the global economy, which may adversely impact the price of and demand for oil and natural gas (and correspondingly, decrease the demand for our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows). Such public health crises, pandemics, epidemics and disease outbreaks are continuously evolving and the extent to which our business operations and financial results continue to be affected depends on various factors, such as the duration, severity and geographic resurgence of the virus; the impact and effectiveness of governmental action to reduce the spread and treat such outbreak, including government policies and restriction; vaccine hesitancy and voluntary or mandatory quarantines; and the global response surrounding any such uncertainty.
The economic climate resulting from the impact of public health crises, pandemics and epidemics and any corresponding emergency measures that may be implemented from time to time by various governments may have significant adverse impacts on Precision including, but not exclusively:
▪ potential interruptions of our business or operations
▪ material declines in revenue and cash flows, as our customers are concentrated in the oil and natural gas industry
▪ future impairment charges to our property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
▪ risk of non-payment of accounts receivable and customer defaults, and
▪ additional restructuring charges as we align our structure and personnel to the dynamic environment.
Additionally, such public health crises, if uncontrolled, may result in temporary shortages of staff to the extent our workforce is impacted and may result in temporary interruptions to our business or operations, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Our and our customers’ operations are subject to numerous environmental laws, regulations and guidelines
In addition to expanded regulations and guidelines related specifically to climate change, we and our customers are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations, including regulations relating to spills, releases and discharges of hazardous substances or other waste materials into the environment, requiring removal or remediation of pollutants or contaminants, and imposing civil and criminal penalties for violations. Some of these regulations apply directly to our operations and authorize the recovery of damages by the government, injunctive relief, and the imposition of stop, control, remediation and abandonment orders. For instance, our land drilling operations may be conducted in or near ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands that are subject to special protective measures, which may expose us to additional operating costs and liabilities for noncompliance with certain laws. Some environmental laws and regulations may impose strict and, in certain cases joint and several, liability. This means that in some situations we could be exposed to liability as a result of conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred, or conditions caused by prior operators or other third parties, including any liability related to offsite treatment or disposal facilities. The costs arising from compliance with these laws, regulations and guidelines may be material. The total costs of complying with environmental protection requirements is unknown, but we may experience increased insurance and compliance costs as further environmental laws and regulations are introduced.
We maintain liability insurance, including insurance for certain environmental claims, but coverage is limited and some of our policies exclude coverage for damages resulting from environmental contamination. We cannot assure that insurance will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, that the possible types of liabilities that we may incur will be covered by insurance, or that the dollar amount of the liabilities will not exceed our policy limits. Even a partially uninsured claim, if successful and of sufficient magnitude, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Governments in Canada and the U.S. may also consider more stringent regulations or restrictions of hydraulic fracturing, a technology used by most of our customers that involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into rock formations to stimulate oil and natural gas production. Increasing regulatory restrictions could have a negative impact on the exploration of unconventional energy resources, which are only commercially viable with the use of hydraulic fracturing. Laws 34 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
relating to hydraulic fracturing are in various stages of development at levels of governments in markets where we operate and the outcome of these developments and their effect on the regulatory landscape and the contract drilling industry is uncertain. Hydraulic fracturing laws or regulations that cause a decrease in the completion of new oil and natural gas wells and an associated decrease in demand for our services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Any regulatory changes that impose additional environmental restrictions or requirements on us, or our customers, could increase our operating costs and potentially lead to lower demand for our services and have an adverse effect. There can also be no guarantee that other laws and other government programs relating to the oil and natural gas industry and the transportation industry will not be changed in a manner that directly and adversely impacts the demand for oil and natural gas which could affect our business, nor can there be any assurances that the laws, regulations or rules governing our customers will not be changed in a manner that adversely affects our customers and, therefore, our business. The potential for increased regulation and oversight may make it more difficult or costly for us to operate.
Major projects that would benefit our customers, such as new pipelines and other facilities, including liquified natural gas export facilities in Canada, may be inhibited, delayed or stopped by a variety of factors, including inability to obtain regulatory or governmental approvals or public opposition.
Effects of climate change, including physical and regulatory impacts, could have a negative impact on our business
The views on climate change are evolving at a regional, national and international level. As a result, political and economic events may significantly affect the scope and timing of climate change measures and regulations that are ultimately put in place, which may challenge the oil and gas industry in a number of ways or result in changes to how companies in the industry operate or spend capital. Additionally, the risks of natural disasters that could impact our business may increase in the future as a result of climate change. Furthermore, consumer demand for alternative fuel sources may continue to rise and incentives to conserve energy may be developed. Our business may be adversely impacted as a result of climate change and its associated impacts, including, without limitation, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, reputation, access to capital, access to insurance, cost of borrowing, access to liquidity, and/or business plans.
Physical Impact
As discussed under “Business in our industry is seasonal and highly variable” on page 39, weather patterns in Canada and the northern U.S. affect activity in the oilfield services industry. Global climate change could impact the timing and length of the spring thaw and the period in which the muskeg freezes and thaws and could impact the severity of winter, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. Furthermore, extreme and evolving climate conditions could result in increased risks of, or more frequent, natural disasters such as flooding or forest fires and may result in delays or cancellation of some of our customer’s operations or could increase our operating costs (such as insurance costs), which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. Extreme weather conditions could also impact the production and drilling of new wells. We cannot estimate the degree to which climate change and extreme climate conditions could impact our business and operating results; however, our insurance costs have increased, partially as a result of recent natural disasters.
Regulatory Impact
In response to climate change and increased focus on environmental protection, environmental laws, regulations and guidelines relating to the protection of the environment, including regulations and treaties concerning climate change or greenhouse gas and other emissions, continue to expand in scope. There has been an increasing focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas and other emissions and a potential shift to lower carbon intensive energy sources or a shift to a lower carbon economy. Laws, regulations or treaties concerning climate change or greenhouse gas and other emissions, including incentives to conserve energy or use alternate sources of energy, can have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas, which could have a material adverse effect on us. Such laws, regulations or treaties are evolving, and it is difficult to estimate with certainty the impact they will have on our business.
Canada and the U.S. are signatories to the Paris Agreement drafted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015. The goals of the Paris Agreement are to prevent global temperature rise from exceeding 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement may provide for climate targets that could result in reduced demand for oil and natural gas in the United States. In Canada, in connection with its commitments under the Paris Agreement, the federal government developed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change in 2016 (the PCF). The PCF requires all provinces and territories to have a carbon price of $30 per tonne in 2020 and rising by $10 per year to $50 per tonne in 2022. In December 2020, the Canadian Government announced proposed $15 per year increases to the carbon price commencing in 2023, to reach a total of $170 per tonne by 2050. Provinces and territories can implement either an explicit price-based system (such as the systems implemented in British Columbia and Alberta) or a cap-and-trade system. Saskatchewan remains the only Canadian jurisdiction that has not joined the national plan set out in the PCF. Saskatchewan released its own output-based performance standards approach, which is applied only to certain large industrial facilities. The proposed system in Saskatchewan only partially meets the PCF standards, therefore the federal carbon pollution pricing system will apply in Saskatchewan to sources not covered by Saskatchewan’s system. Certain Canadian provinces, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, had previously launched constitutional challenges related to the PCF; however, on March 25, 2021, the Supreme Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 35
Court of Canada released its judgment confirming the constitutionality of Canada’s national carbon pricing regime. In November 2021, to conclude the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, nearly 200 countries including Canada signed the Glasgow Climate Pact, which reaffirms the commitments to limiting global temperature rise set out in the Paris Agreement. The Glasgow Climate Pact called for nations to submit new targets to the UNFCCC by the end of 2022 to align with the Paris Agreement’s goals, requests that nations take accelerated actions to reduce emissions by 2030 and asks nations to accelerate the development and adoption of policies to transition towards low-emission energy systems. It also includes the party nations’ agreement on rules under the Paris Agreement to create a global carbon credit market.
In August 2023 the Canadian Federal government published draft Clean Electricity Regulations, which are aimed at achieving net-zero emissions from Canada’s electricity grid by 2035. The regulations would implement measures to limit carbon emissions produced by electricity generated using fossil fuels, which may include natural gas. Certain provinces in Canada have indicated opposition to the Clean Electricity Regulations. If the regulations come into force in their current form, domestic demand for natural gas in Canada may decrease, which may have an adverse effect on the demand for our services.
As of the date hereof, it is not possible to predict the effect of the Paris Agreement, the Glasgow Climate Pact, Clean Electricity Regulations, and climate change-related legislation in Canada, the U.S. and globally on our business or whether additional climate-change legislation, regulations or other measures will be adopted at the federal, state, provincial or local levels in Canada, the U.S. or globally. While some of these regulations are in effect, others remain in various phases of review, discussion or implementation, leading to uncertainties regarding the timing and effects of these emerging regulations, making it difficult to accurately determine the cost impacts and effects on our operations. Further efforts by governments and non-governmental organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions appear likely, which, together with existing efforts, may reduce demand for oil and natural gas and potentially lead to lower demand for our services.
Transition Impact
In addition to the physical and regulatory effects of climate change on our business, an increasing focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a potential shift to lower carbon intensive energy sources or a shift to a lower carbon economy may result in lower oil and natural gas prices and depress the overall level of oil and natural gas exploration and production activity, impacting the demand for our services from the oil and natural gas industry. Additionally, if our reputation is diminished as a result of the industry we operate in or services we provide, it could result in increased operating or regulatory costs, reduce access to capital, lower shareholder confidence or loss of public support for our business. It may also encourage exploration and production companies to diversify and limit drilling to find other more energy efficient/green generating energy alternatives.
Poor safety performance could lead to lower demand for our services
Standards for accident prevention in the oil and natural gas industry are governed by service company safety policies and procedures, accepted industry safety practices, customer-specific safety requirements, and health and safety legislation. Safety is a key factor that customers consider when selecting an oilfield services company. A decline in our safety performance could result in lower demand for services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. A public safety performance issue could also result in reputational damage to us or increased costs of operating and insuring assets.
We are subject to various health and safety laws, rules, legislation and guidelines which can impose material liability, increase our costs or lead to lower demand for our services.
Our business is subject to cybersecurity risks
We rely heavily on information technology systems and other digital systems for operating our business. Threats to information technology systems associated with cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents or attacks continue to grow and are increased by the growing complexity of our information technology systems. Cybersecurity attacks could include, but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data and the unauthorized release, corruption or loss of data and personal information, account takeovers, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in our critical systems. Other cyber incidents may occur as a result of natural disasters, telecommunication failure, utility outages, human error, design defects, and unexpected complications with technology upgrades. Risks associated with these attacks and other incidents include, among other things, loss of intellectual property, reputational harm, leaked information, improper use of our assets, disruption of our and our customers’ business operations and safety procedures, loss or damage to our data delivery systems, unauthorized disclosure of personal information which could result in administrative penalties and increased costs to prevent, respond to or mitigate cybersecurity events. Our increased use of technology, artificial intelligence and robotics in our service offerings could increase the potential impact that a cybersecurity incident or attack could have on our operations. Although we use various procedures and controls to mitigate our exposure to such risk, including cybersecurity risk assessments that are reviewed by our CGNRC, cybersecurity awareness programs for our employees, continuous monitoring of our information technology systems for threats, and insurance that may cover losses incurred as a result of certain cybersecurity attacks or incidents, cybersecurity attacks and other incidents are evolving and unpredictable. The occurrence of such an attack or incident could go unnoticed for a period of time. Any such attack or incident could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. 36 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
Relying on third-party suppliers has risks and shortages in supply of equipment could adversely impact our business
We source certain key rig components, raw materials, equipment and component parts from a variety of suppliers in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. We also outsource some or all construction services for drilling and service rigs, including new-build rigs, as part of our capital expenditure programs. We maintain relationships with several key suppliers and contractors and an inventory of key components, materials, equipment and parts. We also place advance orders for components that have long lead times. We may, however, experience cost increases, delays in delivery due to strong activity or financial hardship of suppliers or contractors, or other unforeseen circumstances relating to third parties. Increased inflation may also result in cost increases for the key components, materials, equipment and parts we use in our business. In times of increased demand for drilling services, there may be shortages of components, materials, equipment, parts and services required for our business. If our current or alternate suppliers are unable to deliver the necessary components, materials, equipment, parts and services we require for our businesses, including the construction of new-build drilling rigs, it can delay service to our customers and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Additionally, new laws in respect of forced labour and other human rights issues throughout the supply chain may result in increased compliance costs for us or a potential need to make changes to our supply chain.
Our business could be negatively affected as a result of actions of activist shareholders and some institutional investors may be discouraged from investing in the industry in which we operate in
Activist shareholders could advocate for changes to our corporate governance, operational practices and strategic direction, which could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business and future operations. In recent years, publicly traded companies have been increasingly subject to demands from activist shareholders advocating for changes to corporate governance practices, such as executive compensation practices, social issues, or for certain corporate actions or reorganizations. There can be no assurances that activist shareholders will not publicly advocate for us to make certain corporate governance changes or engage in certain corporate actions. Responding to challenges from activist shareholders, such as proxy contests, media campaigns or other activities, could be costly and time consuming and could have an adverse effect on our reputation and divert the attention and resources of management and our Board, which could have an adverse effect on our business and operational results. Additionally, shareholder activism could create uncertainty about future strategic direction, resulting in loss of future business opportunities, which could adversely affect our business, future operations, profitability and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.
In addition to risks associated with activist shareholders, some institutional investors are placing an increased emphasis on ESG factors when allocating their capital. These investors may be seeking enhanced ESG disclosures or may implement policies that discourage investment in the hydrocarbon industry. To the extent that certain institutions implement policies that discourage investments in our industry, it could have an adverse effect on our financing costs and term and access to liquidity and capital. Additionally, if our reputation is diminished as a result of the industry we operate in or service, it could result in increased operation or regulatory costs, lower shareholder confidence or loss of public support for our business.
The loss of one or more of our larger customers or consolidation among our customers could have a material adverse effect on our business and our current backlog of contract drilling revenue may decline
In 2023, approximately 40% of our revenue was received from our ten largest drilling customers and approximately 16% of our revenue was received from our three largest drilling customers. The loss of one or more of our larger customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition, financial difficulties experienced by customers could adversely impact their demand for our services and cause them to request amendments to our contracts with them.
Our fixed-term drilling contracts generally provide our customers with the ability to terminate the contracts at their election, with an early termination payment to us if the contract is terminated before the expiration of the fixed term. During depressed market conditions or otherwise, customers may be unable to satisfy their contractual obligations or may seek to terminate or renegotiate or otherwise fail to honor their contractual obligations. In addition, we may not be able to perform under these contracts due to events beyond our control, and our customers may seek to terminate or renegotiate our contracts for various reasons, without paying an early termination payment. As a result, we may not realize all of our contract drilling backlog. In addition, the termination or renegotiation of fixed-term contracts without receiving early termination payments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Our contract drilling backlog may decline, as fixed-term drilling contract coverage over time may not be offset by new or renegotiated contracts or may be reduced by price adjustments to existing contracts, including as a result of the decline in the price of oil and natural gas, capital spending reductions by our customers or other factors.
Further, consolidation among oil and natural gas exploration and production companies may reduce the number of available customers. As exploration and production entities merge, they often seek operational synergies and cost efficiencies. This can lead to a reduction in the number of drilling services required. Also, integrated entities may opt for in-house drilling capabilities or favor established contracts with other service providers. This may result in increased competition for available contracts or contractual termination, potentially impacting pricing dynamics and profitability. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 37
Our operations are subject to foreign exchange risk
Our U.S. and international operations have revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the Canadian dollar and are mostly in U.S. dollars and currencies that are pegged to the U.S. dollar. This means that currency exchange rates can affect our income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flow.
Translation into Canadian Dollars
When preparing our consolidated financial statements, we translate the financial statements for foreign operations that do not have a Canadian dollar functional currency into Canadian dollars. We translate assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the period end date. We translate revenues and expenses using average exchange rates for the month of the transaction. We initially recognize gains or losses from these translation adjustments in other comprehensive income and reclassify them from equity to net earnings on disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation. Changes in currency exchange rates could materially increase or decrease our foreign currency-denominated net assets, which would increase or decrease shareholders’ equity. Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the amount of revenues and expenses we record for our U.S. and international operations, which will increase or decrease our net earnings. If the Canadian dollar strengthens against the U.S. dollar, the net earnings we record in Canadian dollars from our U.S. and international operations will be lower.
Transaction exposure
We have long-term debt denominated in U.S. dollars. We have designated our U.S. dollar denominated unsecured senior notes as a hedge against the net asset position of our U.S. and foreign operations. This debt is converted at the exchange rate in effect at the period end dates with the resulting gains or losses included in the statement of comprehensive income. If the Canadian dollar strengthens against the U.S. dollar, we will incur a foreign exchange gain from the translation of this debt. Similarly, if the Canadian dollar weakens against the U.S. dollar, we will incur a foreign exchange loss from the translation of this debt. The vast majority of our international operations are transacted in U.S. dollars or U.S. dollar-pegged currencies. Transactions for our Canadian operations are primarily transacted in Canadian dollars. We occasionally purchase goods and supplies in U.S. dollars for our Canadian operations, and we maintain U.S. dollar cash in our Canadian operations.
We may be unable to access additional financing
We may need to obtain additional debt or equity financing in the future to support ongoing operations, undertake capital expenditures, repay existing or future debt including the Senior Credit Facility and the Senior Note Indentures, or pursue acquisitions or other business combination transactions. Volatility or uncertainty in the credit markets and inflationary pressure may increase costs associated with issuing debt or equity, and there is no assurance that we will be able to access additional financing when we need it, or on terms we find acceptable or favourable. Such volatility and uncertainty may be adversely impacted by potential negative perception of investing in the hydrocarbon industry. If we are unable to obtain financing to support ongoing operations or to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt repayments, or other business combination transactions, it could limit growth and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow. See also “Our business could be negatively affected as a result of actions of activist shareholders and some institutional investors may be discouraged from investing in the industry we operate in.”
Increasing interest rates may increase our cost of borrowing
Increases to the Canadian or United States benchmark interest rates may have an impact on our cost of borrowing under our Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facilities and any debt financing we may negotiate. Actions by central banks to increase benchmark interest rates in reaction to inflation may increase our cost of borrowing and make the terms of borrowing less favourable to us.
Risks associated with turnkey drilling operations could adversely affect our business
We earn some of our revenue from turnkey drilling contracts. We expect that turnkey drilling will continue to be part of our service offering; however, turnkey contracts pose substantially more risk than wells drilled on a daywork basis. Under a typical turnkey drilling contract, we agree to drill a well for a customer to a specified depth and under specified conditions for a fixed price. We typically provide technical expertise and engineering services, as well as most of the equipment required for the drilling of turnkey wells and use subcontractors for related services. We typically do not receive progress payments and are entitled to payment by the customer only after we have met the full terms of the drilling contract. We sometimes encounter difficulties on wells and incur unanticipated costs, and not all the costs are covered by insurance. As a result, under turnkey contracts, we assume most of the risks associated with drilling operations that are generally assumed by customers under a daywork contract. Operating cost overruns or operational difficulties and higher contractual liabilities on turnkey jobs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Mergers and acquisitions entail numerous risks and may disrupt our business or distract management
We consider and evaluate mergers and acquisitions of, or significant investments in, complementary businesses and assets as part of our business strategy. Mergers and acquisitions involve numerous risks, including unanticipated costs and liabilities, difficulty in integrating the operations and assets of the merged or acquired business, the ability to properly access and maintain an effective internal control environment over a merged or acquired company to comply with public reporting requirements, potential loss of key employees and customers of the merged or acquired companies, and an increase in our expenses and 38 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
working capital requirements. Any merger or acquisition could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
We may incur substantial debt to finance future mergers and acquisitions and also may issue equity securities or convertible securities for mergers and acquisitions. Debt service requirements could be a burden on our results of operations and financial condition. We would also be required to meet certain conditions to borrow money to fund future mergers and acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions could also divert the attention of management and other employees from our day-to-day operations and the development of new business opportunities. Even if we are successful in integrating future mergers and acquisitions into our operations, we may not derive the benefits such as operational, financial, or administrative synergies we expect from mergers and acquisitions, which may result in us committing capital resources and not receiving the expected returns. Additionally, failing to pursue appropriate mergers when opportune may also pose a risk to our competitive positioning and growth potential. We may not be able to continue to identify attractive acquisition opportunities or successfully acquire identified targets.
Our operations face risks of interruption and casualty losses
Our operations face many hazards inherent in the drilling and well servicing industries, including blowouts, cratering, explosions, fires, loss of well control, loss of hole, reservoir damage, loss of directional control, damaged or lost equipment, and damage or loss from inclement weather or natural disasters. Any of these hazards could result in personal injury or death, damage to or destruction of equipment and facilities, suspension of operations, environmental damage, damage to the property of others, and damage to producing or potentially productive oil and natural gas formations that we drill through, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Additionally, unexpected events such as unplanned power outages, natural disasters, supply disruptions, pandemic illness or other unforeseeable circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Our worldwide operations could be disrupted by terrorism, acts of war, political sanctions, earthquakes, telecommunications failures, power or water shortages, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, fires, extreme weather conditions (whether as a result of climate change or otherwise), medical epidemics or pandemics and other natural or manmade disasters or catastrophic events, for some of which may be self-insured. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could result in difficulties in transporting our crews, hiring or managing personnel as well as other significant losses, that may adversely affect our business, financial conditions, results of operations and cash flow, and require substantial expenditures and recovery time in order to fully resume operations.
Generally, drilling and service rig contracts separate the responsibilities of a drilling or service rig company and the customer. We try to obtain indemnification from our customers by contract for some of these risks even though we also have insurance coverage to protect us. We cannot assure, however, that any insurance or indemnification agreements will adequately protect us against liability from all the consequences described above. If there is an event that is not fully insured or indemnified against, or a customer or insurer does not meet its indemnification or insurance obligations, it could result in substantial losses. In addition, we may not be able to get insurance to cover any or all these risks, or the coverage may not be adequate. Insurance premiums or other costs may rise significantly in the future, making the insurance prohibitively expensive or uneconomic. Significant events, including terrorist attacks in the U.S., wildfires, flooding, severe hurricane damage and well blowout damage in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, have resulted in significantly higher insurance costs, deductibles and coverage restrictions. When we renew our insurance, we may decide to self-insure at higher levels and assume increased risk to reduce costs associated with higher insurance premiums.
Business in our industry is seasonal and highly variable
Seasonal weather patterns in Canada and the northern U.S. affect activity in the oilfield services industry. During the spring months, wet weather and the spring thaw make the ground unstable, so municipalities and counties and provincial and state transportation departments enforce road bans that restrict the movement of rigs and other heavy equipment. This reduces activity and highlights the importance of the location of our equipment prior to the imposition of the road bans. The timing and length of road bans depend on weather conditions leading to the spring thaw and during the thawing period.
Additionally, certain oil and natural gas producing areas are located in parts of western Canada that are only accessible during the winter months because the ground surrounding or containing the drilling sites in these areas consists of terrain known as muskeg. Rigs and other necessary equipment cannot cross this terrain to reach the drilling site until the muskeg freezes. Moreover, once the rigs and other equipment have been moved to a drilling site, they may become stranded or be unable to move to another site if the muskeg thaws unexpectedly. Our business activity depends, at least in part, on the severity and duration of the winter season.
Litigation and legal claims could have an adverse impact on our business
We may be subject to legal proceedings and governmental investigations from time to time related to our business and operations. Lawsuits or claims against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. While we maintain insurance that may cover the cost of certain litigation or have indemnity provisions Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 39
in our favor, we cannot assure that any insurance or indemnification agreement will cover the cost of theses liabilities, thus litigation or claims could negatively impact our business, reputation, financial condition and cash flow.
Certain of our offerings use proprietary technology and equipment which can involve potential infringement of a third party’s rights or a third party’s infringement of our rights, including rights to intellectual property. From time to time, we or our customers may become involved in disputes over infringement of intellectual property rights relating to equipment or technology owned or used by us. As a result, we may lose access to important equipment or technology, be required to cease use of some equipment or technology, be forced to modify our drilling rigs or technology, or be required to pay license fees or royalties for the use of equipment or technology. In addition, we may lose a competitive advantage in the event we are unsuccessful in enforcing our rights against third parties, or third parties are successful in enforcing their rights against us. As a result, any technology disputes involving us or our customers or supplying vendors could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Unionization efforts and labor regulations could materially increase our costs or limit our flexibility
Efforts may be made from time to time to unionize portions of our workforce. We may be subject to strikes or work stoppages and other labor disruptions in connection with unionization efforts or renegotiation of existing contracts with unions. Unionization efforts, if successful, new collective bargaining agreements or work stoppages could materially increase our labor costs, reduce our revenues and adversely impact our operations and cash flow.
There are risks associated with increased capital expenditures
The timing and amount of capital expenditures we incur, including those related to our AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, will directly affect the amount of cash available. The cost of equipment generally escalates as a result of high input costs during periods of high demand for our drilling rigs and oilfield services equipment and other factors. There is no assurance that we will be able to recover higher capital costs through rate increases to our customers.
A successful challenge by the tax authorities of expense deductions could negatively affect the value of our common shares
Taxation authorities may not agree with the classification of expenses we or our subsidiaries have claimed, or they may challenge the amount of interest expense deducted. If the taxation authorities successfully challenge our classifications or deductions, it could have a material adverse effect on our business financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Losing key management could reduce our competitiveness and prospects for future success
Our future success and growth depend partly on the expertise and experience of our key management. There is no assurance that we will be able to retain key management. Losing these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Our assessment of capital assets for impairment may result in a non-cash charge against our consolidated net income
We are required to assess our capital asset balance for impairment when certain internal and external factors indicate the need for further analysis. When assessing impairment triggers and calculating impairment it is based on management’s estimates and assumptions. We may consider several factors, including any declines in our share price and market capitalization, lower future cash flow and earnings estimates, significantly reduced or depressed markets in our industry, and general economic conditions, among other things. Any impairment write-down to capital assets would result in a non-cash charge against net earnings, which could be material.
Our credit ratings may change
Credit ratings affect our financing costs, liquidity and operations over the long term and are intended as an independent measure of the credit quality of long-term debt. Credit ratings affect our ability to obtain short and long-term financing and the cost of this financing, and our ability to engage in certain business activities cost-effectively.
If a rating agency downgrades our current corporate credit rating or rating of debt, or changes our credit outlook to negative, it could have an adverse effect on our financing costs and access to liquidity and capital.
The price of our common shares can fluctuate
Several factors can cause volatility in our share price, including increases or decreases in revenue or earnings, changes in revenue or earnings estimates by the investment community, failure to meet analysts’ expectations, changes in credit ratings, and speculation in the media or investment community about our financial condition or results of operations. General market conditions, the perception of the industry we operate in and service and Canadian, U.S. or international economic and social factors and political events unrelated to our performance may also affect the price of our shares. Investors should therefore not rely on past performance of our shares to predict the future performance of our shares or financial results. At times when our share price is relatively low, we may be subject to takeover attempts by certain companies or institutions acting opportunistically.
While there is currently an active trading market for our shares in the United States and Canada, we cannot guarantee that an active trading market will be sustained in either country. There could cease to be an active trading market due to, among other 40 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
factors, minimum listing requirements of stock exchanges. If an active trading market in our shares is not sustained, the trading liquidity of our shares will be limited and the market value of our shares may be reduced.
Selling additional shares could affect share value
While we have a normal course issuer bid in place under which we may acquire our own shares, in the future, we may issue additional shares to fund our needs or those of other entities owned directly or indirectly by us, as authorized by the Board. We do not need shareholder approval to issue additional shares, except as may be required by applicable stock exchange rules, and shareholders do not have any pre-emptive rights related to share issues (see Capital Structure on page 21).
As a foreign private issuer in the U.S., we may file less information with the SEC than a company incorporated in the U.S.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the United States Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) that impose disclosure requirements, as well as procedural requirements, for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. Our directors, officers and principal shareholders are also exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, nor are we generally required to comply with Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material non-public information. As a result, there may be less publicly available information about us than U.S. public companies and this information may not be provided as promptly. In addition, we are permitted, under a multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the U.S. and Canada, to prepare our disclosure documents in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, including preparing our financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which differs in some respects from U.S. GAAP. We are required to assess our foreign private issuer status under U.S. securities laws annually at the end of the second quarter. If we were to lose our status as a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities laws, we would be required to comply with U.S. securities and accounting requirements.
We have retained liabilities from prior reorganizations
We have retained all liabilities of our predecessor companies, including liabilities relating to corporate and income tax matters.
We may become a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. tax consequences to U.S. investors
Management does not believe we are or will be treated as a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) for U.S. tax purposes. However, because PFIC status is determined annually and will depend on the composition of our income and assets from time to time, it is possible that we could be considered a PFIC in the future. This could result in adverse U.S. tax consequences for a U.S. investor. In particular, a U.S. investor would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at ordinary income rates, plus a possible interest charge, for any gain derived from a disposition of common shares, as well as certain distributions by us. In addition, a step-up in the tax basis of our common shares would not be available if an individual holder dies.
An investor who acquires 10% or more of our common shares may be subject to taxation under the controlled foreign corporation (CFC) rules.
Under certain circumstances, a U.S. person who directly or indirectly owns 10% or more of the voting power of a foreign corporation that is a CFC (generally, a foreign corporation where 10% or more U.S. shareholders own more than 50% of the voting power or value of the stock of the foreign corporation) for 30 straight days or more during a taxable year and who holds any shares of the foreign corporation on the last day of the corporation’s tax year must include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of certain income of the CFC even if the income is not distributed to the person. We are not currently a CFC, but this could change in the future.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 41
| OUR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS |
|---|
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our by-laws provide that the Board has full, absolute and exclusive power, control, authority and discretion to manage Precision’s business and affairs, subject to the rights of our shareholders. Directors are elected at each annual meeting of shareholders for a one-year term or, subject to our constating documents and applicable laws, appointed by the Board to hold office until the next annual meeting. The table below provides information about each director, including his or her name, place of residence, current position with Precision and principal occupation during the last five years.
| Name and<br><br>Place of Residence | Position Held with Precision | Principal Occupation<br>During the Last Five Years |
|---|---|---|
| Michael R. Culbert<br><br>Calgary, Alberta<br><br>Canada | Director, since December 2017<br><br>▪<br>Member, Audit Committee<br><br>▪<br>Member, Human Resources and Compensation Committee<br><br>▪<br>Also attends management committee known as the HSE and Corporate Responsibility Council | Currently a corporate director.<br><br>Currently serves on the board of TC Energy.<br><br>Previously Vice Chairman of PETRONAS Energy Canada Ltd. and served on the board of Enerplus Corporation from 2014 to 2020. |
| William T. Donovan<br><br>North Palm Beach, Florida<br><br>United States | Director, since December 2008<br><br>▪<br>Member, Audit Committee<br>(Chair since May 2020)<br><br>▪<br>Member, Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee | Currently a private equity investor and corporate director.<br><br>Currently serves on the board of Silgan Holdings, Inc. |
| Steven W. Krablin<br><br>Houston, Texas<br><br>United States | Director, since May 2015 and Chairman of the Board since May 2017<br><br>▪<br>Member, Audit Committee<br><br>▪<br>Member, Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee<br><br>▪<br>Member, Human Resources and Compensation Committee | Currently a private investor and corporate director.<br><br>Previously served on the boards of Chart Industries Inc. from 2006 to 2022 and Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. from 2005 to 2020. |
| Lori A. Lancaster<br><br>New York, New York<br><br>United States | Director, since October 2022<br><br>▪<br>Member, Audit Committee<br><br>▪<br>Member, Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee | Currently a corporate director.<br><br>Currently serves on the boards of Vital Energy Inc. and Intrepid Potash Inc.<br><br>Previously served on the boards of HighPoint Resources Corporation from 2018 to 2021 and Energen Corporation from 2017 to 2018. |
| Susan M. MacKenzie<br><br>Calgary, Alberta<br><br>Canada | Director, since September 2017<br><br>▪<br>Member, Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee<br>(Chair since May 2020)<br><br>▪<br>Member, Human Resources and Compensation Committee | Currently a corporate director.<br><br>Currently serves on the board of MEG Energy Corporation.<br><br>Previously served on the boards of Freehold Royalties Ltd. from 2014 to 2022, Transglobe Energy from 2014 to 2020 and Enerplus Corporation from 2011 to 2023. |
| Kevin O. Meyers,<br><br>Ph.D.<br><br>Anchorage, Alaska<br><br>United States | Director, since September 2011<br><br>▪<br>Member, Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee<br><br>▪<br>Member, Human Resources and Compensation Committee<br><br>(Chair since May 2012) | Currently an independent energy consultant and corporate director.<br><br>Currently serves on the boards of Denbury Inc. and Hess Corporation.<br><br>Previously served on the boards of Denbury Resources Inc. from 2011 to 2020 and Hornbeck Offshore Resources Inc. from 2011 to 2022. |
| David W. Williams<br><br>Spring, Texas<br><br>United States | Director, since September 2018<br><br>▪<br>Member, Audit Committee<br><br>▪<br>Member, Human Resources and Compensation Committee<br><br>▪<br>Also attends management committee known as the HSE and Corporate Responsibility Council | Currently a corporate director. |
| Kevin A. Neveu<br><br>Houston, Texas<br><br>United States | President and Chief Executive Officer and Director, since August 2007 | Currently President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Precision. |
42 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
Other Important Information About the Directors
No director or executive officer is or has been a director, chief executive officer, or chief financial officer of any company in the last 10 years that during their term or after leaving the role if the triggering event occurred during their term was:
▪ the subject of a cease trade order (or similar order), or
▪ denied access to any exemption under securities legislation (for more than 30 consecutive days).
In addition, except as set out below, no director or executive officer, nor any shareholder holding a sufficient number of Precision shares to materially affect control of Precision, is or has been:
▪ personally, or a director or executive officer of a company in the last 10 years that, during their term or within a year of leaving the role:
▪ became bankrupt
▪ made a proposal under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws
▪ was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or
▪ had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets.
▪ personally:
▪ subject to penalties or sanctions imposed by a court related to Canadian securities legislation or a Canadian securities regulatory authority
▪ party to a settlement with a Canadian securities regulatory authority, or
▪ subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that a reasonable investor would consider important.
Lori A. Lancaster served on the board of HighPoint Resources Corporation (HighPoint Resources). On March 14, 2021, HighPoint Resources filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware as part of a pre-packaged plan of reorganization. On April 1, 2021, HighPoint Resources successfully completed its merger with Bonanza Creek Energy Inc. (Bonanza Creek). Ms. Lancaster no longer sits on the board of HighPoint Resources.
Kevin O. Meyers, Ph.D. has served on the board of Denbury Resources (Denbury). On July 30, 2020, Denbury filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) to pursue a plan of reorganization. On September 18, 2020, Denbury emerged from bankruptcy as Denbury, Inc. Dr. Meyers served on the board of Denbury Inc. until November 2023.
Steven W. Krablin and Kevin O. Meyers served on the board of Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. (Hornbeck). On May 19, 2020, Hornbeck filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division) to pursue a plan of reorganization. On September 4, 2020, Hornbeck emerged from bankruptcy and appointed new directors. Mr. Krablin did not seek reappointment to the Hornbeck board in 2020. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. became a private corporation in September 2020. Dr. Meyers served on the Hornbeck board until August 2022.
Kevin A. Neveu served on the board of Bonanza Creek. On January 4, 2017, Bonanza Creek and certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to pursue a plan of reorganization. On April 28, 2017, Bonanza Creek emerged from bankruptcy proceedings and appointed a new board of directors. Mr. Neveu no longer sits on the board of Bonanza Creek.
Steven W. Krablin served on the board of Penn Virginia Corporation (Penn Virginia). On May 12, 2016, Penn Virginia filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to pursue a plan of reorganization. On September 12, 2016, Penn Virginia emerged from bankruptcy proceedings and appointed a new board of directors. Mr. Krablin no longer sits on the board of Penn Virginia.
Our directors and officers annually disclose any potential conflict of interest. From time to time, directors and officers will face potential conflicts of interest related to our business. Any conflicts are subject to the procedures and remedies set out under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). If directors find themselves in a conflict of interest, they are required to advise the Chair of the Board and abstain from participating in any discussions and voting on the matter or excuse themselves from the meeting.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 43
OUR BOARD COMMITTEES
Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee (CGNRC)
The CGNRC currently has five members, and all are independent directors:
▪ Susan M. MacKenzie (chair), William T. Donovan, Steven W. Krablin, Lori A. Lancaster, and Dr. Kevin O. Meyers
The CGNRC is responsible for overseeing compliance with current governance requirements and monitoring emerging issues, developing and implementing best governance practices, and overseeing our approach to enterprise risk management. It is also responsible for conducting director assessments and developing director compensation programs.
Human Resources and Compensation Committee (HRCC)
The HRCC currently has five members, and all are independent directors:
▪ Dr. Kevin O. Meyers (chair), Michael R. Culbert, Steven W. Krablin, Susan M. MacKenzie, and David W. Williams
The HRCC is responsible for human resources and compensation governance, employee-wide programs and all matters relating to executive compensation.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee currently has five members, and all are independent directors:
▪ William T. Donovan (chair), Michael R. Culbert, Steven W. Krablin, Lori A. Lancaster, and David W. Williams
The Audit Committee is a standing committee appointed by the Board to assist it in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to financial reporting, internal control systems and the external auditors.
Each member of the Audit Committee must be independent and financially literate to meet regulatory requirements in Canada, the U.S. and the NYSE corporate governance standards. The Board looks at the director’s ability to read and understand the financial statements of a business similar in complexity to Precision to determine whether a director is financially literate. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent and financially literate within the meaning of National Instrument 52-110 and the corporate governance standards of the NYSE.
Mr. Culbert, Mr. Donovan, Mr. Krablin, Ms. Lancaster, and Mr. Williams are all considered audit committee financial experts under SEC rules. They meet the requirements because of their training and experience.
Relevant Education and Experience
Each Audit Committee member has general business experience and education relevant to performing their responsibilities as a member of the committee:
▪ William T. Donovan (Chair) is a private equity investor, a director of several private companies and currently serves on the audit committee of another public company. He was Chairman of the Board of Rockland Industrial Holdings, LLC of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from April 2006 until December 2013. He was a director of Grey Wolf, Inc. and served as Chair of the Audit Committee from 1997 until it was acquired by Precision Drilling Trust in December 2008. He was the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Total Logistics, Inc. prior to February 2005, and President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Christiana Companies, Inc. prior to February 1999. Mr. Donovan has a B.Sc. degree and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Donovan was appointed to the Audit Committee in December 2008.
▪ Michael R. Culbert is a corporate director and has over 26 years of experience as a senior executive in the energy sector. He is the former Vice Chairman of PETRONAS Energy Canada Ltd., formerly Progress Energy Canada Ltd. (PECL), a wholly owned subsidiary of PETRONAS, Malaysia’s integrated energy corporation. He was previously President and CEO of PECL and President of Pacific NorthWest LNG and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Encal Energy Ltd. He currently serves on the audit committee of another public company. Mr. Culbert has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Emmanuel College. Mr. Culbert was appointed to the Audit Committee in December 2017.
▪ Steven W. Krablin is a private investor and corporate director and has over 40 years of experience as a corporate executive in the energy industry. He was President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of T-3 Energy Services, Inc. from March 2009 until the sale of the company in January 2011. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of National Oilwell, Inc. and Enterra Corporation. Mr. Krablin received a BSBA (Accounting major) degree from the University of Arkansas and is a retired certified public accountant (CPA). Mr. Krablin was appointed to the Audit Committee in May 2015.
▪ Lori A. Lancaster has over 25 years of experience as a strategic and financial advisor to the global natural resources sector. As a former senior energy investment banker, Ms. Lancaster has extensive knowledge and transaction experience in North American equity and debt capital markets, global corporate and asset level mergers & acquisitions. 44 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
Ms. Lancaster’s energy investment banking career included roles as Managing Director in the Global Energy Groups of both UBS Securities and Nomura Securities International. She has also served as a Managing Director in the Global Natural Resources group of Goldman Sachs & Co. and early in her career held positions with J.P. Morgan & Co. and NationsBank Corporation. Ms. Lancaster received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University and an MBA degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Ms. Lancaster was appointed to the Audit Committee in October 2022.
▪ David W. Williams is a corporate director and has over 35 years of experience in the offshore drilling industry. He was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Corporation from January 2008 until his retirement in January 2018. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. Mr. Williams has served as a member of the Executive Committee and as Chairman of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, and as a board member of the American Petroleum Institute where he was a member of the Executive Committee and served as Chairman of the General Membership Committee from 2012 to 2013. Mr. Williams served as a member of the National Petroleum Council, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Bureau of Shipping. Mr. Williams currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, the Houston Museum of Natural Science Board of Trustees, and the board of The Children’s Assessment Center Foundation. Mr. Williams earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Texas A&M University. Mr. Williams was appointed to the Audit Committee in September 2018.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Under the committee charter, the Audit Committee recommends the external auditors’ terms of engagement and fees to the Board for approval. It must also review and pre-approve all permitted non-audit services that will be provided by the auditors, or any of its affiliated entities, to us or any of our affiliates, subject to minimum approval level exceptions under applicable law.
The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve services to be performed by the external auditors and specified certain services that the auditors are prohibited from performing. Management, together with the external auditors, must prepare a list of the proposed services for the coming year and submit it to the committee for its review and approval. If the list includes services that have not been pre-approved by the committee, the chair of the Audit Committee or other designated member has the authority to pre-approve the services, as long as they are presented to the full committee for ratification at the next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee receives an update on the status of any pre-approved services at each regularly scheduled meeting.
Since these procedures were implemented, 100% of each of the services provided by the external auditors relating to the fees reported as audit, audit-related, tax and all other fees have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee or a designated member.
See Appendix on page 50, for the full text of our Audit Committee Charter.
Audit Fees
The table below shows the fees billed to us and our affiliates for professional services provided by KPMG LLP, our external auditors, in fiscal 2023 and 2022:
| Year ended December 31 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audit fees<br><br>for professional audit services | $ | 1,606,079 | $ | 1,359,189 |
| Audit-related fees<br><br>for assurance and other services that relate to the performance of the<br><br>audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported as<br><br>audit fees | — | — | ||
| Tax fees<br><br>for tax advisory, tax compliance and tax planning services, including<br><br>assistance with preparing Canadian federal and provincial income<br><br>tax returns and international tax advisory services | 431,742 | 260,453 | ||
| All other fees<br><br>for products and services other than those disclosed above | 14,952 | 3,487 | ||
| Total | $ | 2,052,773 | $ | 1,623,129 |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 45
OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The table below provides information about each executive officer, including his or her name, place of residence, current positions and offices with Precision, and principal occupation during the last five years:
| Name and Place of Residence | Current Position with Precision and Positions Held During the Last Five Years |
|---|---|
| Kevin A. Neveu<br><br>Houston, Texas, United States | President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2007. |
| Carey T. Ford<br><br>Houston, Texas, United States | Chief Financial Officer since March 2022.<br><br>Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2016 to March 2022. |
| Veronica H. Foley<br><br>Houston, Texas, United States | Chief Legal and Compliance Officer since March 2022.<br><br>Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from May 2016 to March 2022. |
| Shuja U. Goraya<br><br>Houston, Texas, United States | Chief Technology Officer since July 2018. |
| Darren J. Ruhr<br><br>Houston, Texas, United States | Chief Administrative Officer since July 2018. |
| Gene C. Stahl<br><br>Houston, Texas, United States | President, North American Drilling since February 2023.<br><br>Chief Marketing Officer from May 2019 to February 2023.<br><br>President, Drilling Operations from September 2008 to May 2019. |
As at December 31, 2023, our directors and executive officers as a group beneficially owned, or controlled or directed, directly or indirectly, 345,932 common shares (approximately 2.41% of our issued and outstanding common shares).
None of our directors, executive officers, or any shareholder who beneficially owns, controls or directs, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of our outstanding common shares, or any of their known associates or affiliates, have had a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction affecting us in the three most recently completed financial years or in 2024 to the date of this AIF, or in any proposed transaction that has had or is reasonably expected to have a material effect on Precision.
46 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
| OTHER MATERIAL INFORMATION |
|---|
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS
KPMG LLP (KPMG) is the auditor of Precision. KPMG has confirmed that they are independent from Precision within the meaning of the relevant rules and related interpretations prescribed by the relevant professional bodies in Canada and any applicable legislation or regulations and that they are independent accountants with respect to Precision under all relevant U.S. professional and regulatory standards.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
Other than contracts we entered in the ordinary course of business, we had four material contracts in effect at the end of 2023: Senior Credit Facility Agreement and amendments thereto, 2026 Note Indenture, 2029 Note Indenture, and Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement.
For details of our Senior Credit Facility Agreement and amendments thereto and each of the Note Indentures, see Capital Structure – Material Debt on page 25. For details of our Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement, see Capital Structure – Common Shares – Shareholder Rights Plan on page 22. We filed copies of these contracts on SEDAR and on EDGAR.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATORY ACTIONS
We are not a party to, and our properties are not the subject of, any material legal proceedings. We are also not aware of any potential material legal proceedings. We have not entered into any settlement agreements or been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) of our financial condition and results of operation relating to our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, forms part of our 2023 Annual Report and is incorporated by reference in this AIF. The MD&A appears on pages 2 to 41 of our 2023 Annual Report.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Computershare, located in Calgary, Alberta, is the transfer agent and registrar of our common shares. In the U.S., our co-transfer agent is Computershare Trust Company NA located in Canton, Massachusetts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRECISION
Additional information about Precision is available on our website and on SEDAR. Copies are also available from us free of charge by contacting our Corporate Secretary:
| Precision Drilling Corporation<br><br>800, 525 – 8th Avenue SW<br><br>Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1 | Phone:<br><br>Email: | 403.716.4500<br><br>corporatesecretary@precisiondrilling.com |
|---|
You can find additional information about Precision in the following documents:
▪ our Management Information Circular (including information about director and officer compensation and indebtedness and shares authorized for issuance under Precision’s equity compensation plans) for the most recent annual meeting of shareholders, which was held on May 12, 2023.
▪ our 2023 Annual Report containing our Annual Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023.
ABOUT REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
We own registered trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in our business including, but not limited to, Precision Drilling Corporation, Precision Drilling, PD logo and design, Grey Wolf, Super Series, Precision Super Single, Super Triple, AlphaTM, AlphaAutomationTM, AlphaAppsTM, AlphaAnalyticsTM and EverGreenTM. Although the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this AIF or the documents incorporated by reference may be listed without the ®, SM and TM symbols for convenience, we will assert our rights to them to the fullest extent under the law.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 47
FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS
| NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES | |
|---|---|
| We reference certain additional Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | We believe Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes on acquisition, loss (gain) on investments and other assets, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals, and depreciation and amortization), as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings (Loss), is a useful measure, because it gives an indication of the results from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges.<br><br>The most directly comparable financial measure is net earnings (loss). |
| NON-GAAP RATIOS | |
| We reference certain additional non-GAAP ratios that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. | |
| Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA | We believe that the Net Debt (long-term debt less cash, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to Adjusted EBITDA ratio provides an indication to the number of years it would take for us to repay our debt obligations. See Financial Measures and Ratios in our MD&A for the year-ended December 31, 2023, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. |
| SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL MEASURES | |
| We reference certain supplementary financial measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. | |
| Capital Spending by Spend Category | We provide additional disclosure to better depict the nature of our capital spending. Our capital spending is categorized as expansion and upgrade, maintenance and infrastructure, or intangibles. See Financial Measures and Ratios in our MD&A for the year-ended December 31, 2023, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS
We disclose forward-looking information to help current and prospective investors understand our future prospects.
Certain statements contained in this AIF, including statements that contain words such as could, should, can, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, expect, believe, will, may, continue, project, potential and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, forward-looking information and statements).
Our forward-looking information and statements in this AIF include, but are not limited to, the following:
▪ our outlook on oil and natural gas prices
▪ our expectations about drilling activity in North America and the Middle East and the market demand for drilling rigs
▪ anticipated demand for our drilling rigs
▪ plans for returns of capital to shareholders
▪ customer adoption of AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions
▪ our future debt reduction plans
▪ expectations for implementation of additional EverGreenTM solutions systems
▪ addition of a new female director to our Board in 2024
▪ the potential impact liquified natural gas export development could have on North American drilling activity
▪ our ability to remain compliant with our Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities financial debt covenants
▪ our ability to react to customer spending plans as a result of changes in oil and natural gas prices
▪ target Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA, and
▪ the impact of an increase/decrease in capital spending. 48 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
These forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by Precision in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These include, among other things:
▪ the fluctuation in oil prices may pressure customers into reducing or limiting their drilling budgets
▪ the status of current negotiations with our customers and vendors
▪ customer focus on safety performance
▪ existing term contracts are neither renewed nor terminated prematurely
▪ continued market demand for our drilling rigs
▪ our ability to deliver rigs to customers on a timely basis
▪ the impact of climate change on our business
▪ the general stability of the economic and political environments globally and in the jurisdictions where we operate, and
▪ the impact of an increase/decrease in capital spending.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information and statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
▪ volatility in the price and demand for oil and natural gas
▪ fluctuations in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development activities
▪ fluctuations in the demand for contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services
▪ our customers’ inability to obtain adequate credit or financing to support their drilling and production activity
▪ changes in drilling and well servicing technology, which could reduce demand for certain rigs or put us at a competitive advantage
▪ shortages, delays and interruptions in the delivery of equipment supplies and other key inputs
▪ liquidity of the capital markets to fund customer drilling programs
▪ availability of cash flow, debt and equity sources to fund our capital and operating requirements, as needed
▪ the physical, regulatory and transition impacts of climate change
▪ the impact of weather and seasonal conditions on operations and facilities
▪ competitive operating risks inherent in contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services
▪ ability to improve our rig technology to improve drilling efficiency
▪ public health crises that impact demand for our services and our business
▪ general political, economic, market or business conditions
▪ the availability of qualified personnel and management
▪ a decline in our safety performance which could result in lower demand for our services
▪ business interruptions related to cybersecurity risks
▪ changes to, and new laws or regulations, including changes in environmental laws and regulations such as increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing or restrictions on the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, which could have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas
▪ terrorism, social, civil and political unrest globally or in the foreign jurisdictions where we operate
▪ fluctuations in foreign exchange, interest rates and tax rates, and
▪ other unforeseen conditions which could impact the use of services supplied by Precision and Precision’s ability to respond to such conditions.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. You can find more information about these and other factors that could affect our business, operations or financial results in this AIF under Risks in Our Business, starting on page 29 and in other reports on file with securities regulatory authorities from time to time which you can find in our profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or in our profile on EDGAR (www.sec.gov).
All of the forward-looking information and statements made in this AIF are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. There can be no assurance that actual results or developments that we anticipate will be realized. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information and statements. The forward-looking information and statements made in this AIF are made as of the date hereof. We will not necessarily update or revise this forward-looking information as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless we are required to by securities law.
Forward-looking information and statements in this AIF may also address our sustainability plans and progress. The inclusion of these statements is not an indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors and certain standards for measuring progress for sustainability are still developing (including for emissions disclosures).
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 49
| APPENDIX |
|---|
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to establish the terms of reference of the Audit Committee (the Committee) of Precision Drilling Corporation (the Corporation). The Committee is a permanent committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board of Directors) appointed to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to financial reporting by the Corporation. Responsibility for accounting for transactions and internal control over financial reporting lies with senior management (Management) of the Corporation.
The requirement to have an audit committee is established in Section 171 of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) and, in addition, is required pursuant to National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees, as adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators and the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), as amended for issuers listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE).
The Committee shall assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to:
▪ the integrity of financial reporting to the Shareholders of the Corporation (the Shareholders) and to the Corporation’s other stakeholders including investors, customers, suppliers and employees;
▪ the integrity of the accounting and financial reporting process and system of controls, including the internal and external audit processes;
▪ the Corporation’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial reporting matters;
▪ the external auditor’s qualifications and independence;
▪ the reporting protocol and independence of the internal auditor of the Corporation (Audit Services);
▪ the work and performance of the Corporation’s financial management, Audit Services’ function and its external auditor; any other matter specifically delegated to the Committee by the Board of Directors or mandated under applicable laws, rules and regulations as well as the listing standards of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX) and the NYSE;
▪ the Corporation’s compliance with ethical standards adopted by the Corporation through the oversight of the PD EthicsLine; and
▪ the Corporation’s approach, strategy, performance and reporting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and their impact on the Corporation’s financial statements and related internal controls.
Committee Responsibilities
The Committee shall:
Annual and Quarterly Financial Statements
▪ review and discuss with Management and the external auditor the annual and interim financial statements of the Corporation and related notes and management’s discussion and analysis and make recommendations to the Board of Directors for their approval;
▪ ensure that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Corporation’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Corporation’s financial statements and periodically assess the adequacy of those procedures;
▪ review and oversee the work of the external auditor for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditor's report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation, including the resolution of disagreements between Management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting;
▪ review and discuss with Management and the external auditor, as applicable:
▪ all critical accounting policies and practices to be used in the annual audit;
▪ major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Corporation’s selection or application of accounting principles, and major issues as to the adequacy of the Corporation’s internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies;
▪ analyses prepared by Management or the external auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) methods on the financial statements of the Corporation and any other opinions sought by Management from an independent or other audit firm or advisor with respect to the accounting treatment of a particular item;
▪ any problems, difficulties or differences encountered in the course of the audit work or restrictions on the scope of the external auditor’s activities or access to requested information and Management’s response thereto; 50 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
▪ the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives on the financial statements of the Corporation and other financial disclosures;
▪ any reserves, accruals, provisions or estimates that may have a significant effect upon the financial statements of the Corporation;
▪ the use of any “pro forma” or “adjusted” information not in accordance with IFRS;
▪ discuss with Management and the external auditor any accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the external auditor or Audit Services but were not adopted (as immaterial or otherwise) and Management or internal control letters issued or proposed to be issued by the Corporation’s external auditor and Management’s response to such letters;
▪ review other financial information included in the Corporation’s Annual Report to ensure that it is consistent with the Board of Directors’ knowledge of the affairs of the Corporation and is unbiased and non-selective;
▪ upon the Committee’s request, receive from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Corporation a certificate certifying in respect of each annual and interim report of the Corporation the matters such officers are required to certify in connection with the filing of such reports under applicable securities laws and receive and review disclosures made by such officers regarding any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls or material weaknesses therein and any fraud involving Management or persons who have a significant role in the Corporation’s internal controls;
▪ cause to be prepared any report required by law, regulations or stock exchange requirements to be included in the Corporation’s annual and quarterly reports;
Other Financial Filings and Public Documents
▪ review and recommend to the Board of Directors types of financial information of the Corporation, including any "pro forma," "adjusted" or non-IFRS financial information and earnings guidance, contained in any filings with the securities regulators or news releases related thereto (or provided to analysts or rating agencies). Consideration should be given as to whether the information is consistent with the information contained in the financial statements of the Corporation or any subsidiary with publicly-listed securities. Such review and discussion should occur before public disclosure and may be done generally (consisting of discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of presentations to be made);
Duties Related to Capital Expenditures
▪ review and recommend to the Board of Directors requests from Management for (a) any additional unbudgeted capital and (b) any replenishment of the CEO’s and/or Chairman of the Board’s capital approval authority under the Corporation’s Corporate Policy No. 2 – Authority Levels;
▪ receive and review Authorizations for Expenditures from Management for material capital expenditures on a “Notice of Allocation” basis;
Internal Control Environment
▪ ensure that Management, in conjunction with the external auditor and Audit Services, provides to the Committee an annual assessment on the Corporation's control environment as it pertains to the Corporation's financial reporting process and controls;
▪ in coordination with the Corporate Governance, Nominating and Risk Committee’s oversight of risk, review annually (or as necessary) significant financial risks or exposures and assess the steps Management has taken to monitor, control, report and mitigate such risks to the Corporation, including the Corporation’s risk assessment and risk management policies such as use of financial derivatives and hedging activities;
▪ review significant findings prepared by the external auditor and Audit Services together with Management's responses;
▪ review, in consultation with Audit Services and the external auditor, the audit plans of Audit Services and the external auditor and enquire as to the extent the planned scope can be relied upon to detect weaknesses in internal controls, fraud or other illegal acts. The Committee will assess the coordination of audit efforts to assure completeness of coverage and the effective use of audit resources. Any significant recommendations made by the auditor for the strengthening of internal controls shall be reviewed and discussed with Management;
▪ review annually the administrative reporting protocol for the head of Audit Services;
▪ review annually the performance and compensation of Audit Services;
▪ review and approve the annual Audit Services internal audit plan and all major changes to the plan, the internal auditing budget and staffing;
▪ review the following issues with Management and the head of Audit Services:
▪ significant findings of the Audit Services group as well as Management’s response to them;
▪ any difficulties encountered in the course of their internal audits, including any restrictions on the scope of their work or access to required information; Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 51
▪ compliance with the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing;
▪ review and annually approve the Audit Services Charter;
▪ approve the appointment, replacement or dismissal of the head of the Audit Services;
▪ direct the head of Audit Services to review any specific areas the Committee deems necessary;
▪ confirm and assure annually the independence of Audit Services and the external auditor;
External Auditor
▪ recommend to the Board of Directors the appointment/reappointment of the external auditor;
▪ review with the external auditor and Management the general audit approach and scope of proposed audits of the financial statements of the Corporation, the objectives, staffing, locations, co-ordination and reliance upon Management in the audit, the overall audit plans, the audit procedures to be used and the timing and estimated budgets of the audits;
▪ review the terms of the external auditor’s engagement letter and recommend to the Board of Directors the compensation to be paid by the Corporation to the external auditor;
▪ review the reasons for any proposed change in the external auditor and any other significant issues related to the change, including the response of the incumbent external auditor, and enquire as to the qualifications of the proposed external auditor before making its recommendations to the Board of Directors;
▪ be directly responsible for the retention of (including termination) and oversight of the work of any auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditor’s report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation, including the resolution of disagreements between Management or Audit Services and the auditor regarding financial reporting or the application of any accounting principles or practices;
▪ require the external auditor and Audit Services to report directly to the Committee;
▪ provide the external auditor with notice of every meeting of the Committee and, at the expense of the Corporation, the opportunity to attend and be heard thereat, and if so requested by a member of the Committee, require the external auditor to attend every meeting of the Committee held during the term of the office of the external auditor;
▪ approve all auditing services to be provided by the external auditor and non-audit services to be performed for the Corporation or any affiliated entities by the external auditor or any of their affiliates subject to any de minimus exception allowed by applicable law. The Committee may delegate to one or more designated independent members of the Committee the authority to pre-approve non-audit services, provided that any audit or non-audit services that have been pre-approved by any such delegate of the Committee must be presented to the Committee for ratification at its first scheduled meeting following such pre-approval;
▪ review and approve the disclosure with respect to audit and non-audit services provided by the external auditor;
▪ review with the external auditor and Management the general audit approach and scope of proposed audits of the financial statements of the Corporation, the objectives, staffing, locations, co-ordination and reliance upon Management in the audit, the overall audit plans, the audit procedures to be used and the timing and estimated budgets of the audits;
▪ discuss with the external auditor, without Management being present, (a) the external auditor’s judgment about the quality, integrity and appropriateness of the Corporation’s accounting principles and financial disclosure practices as applied in its financial reporting and (b) the completeness and accuracy of the Corporation’s financial statements;
▪ annually request and review a report from the external auditor regarding (a) the external auditor’s internal quality control procedures, (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality control review, Canadian Public Accountability Board or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or other available peer review of the external auditor, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues;
▪ review and confirm the independence of the external auditor, including all relationships between the external auditor and the Corporation;
▪ evaluate the qualifications and performance of the external auditor;
▪ review and approve hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and former external auditor;
▪ ensure that the lead audit partner of the external auditor and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit are rotated at least every five years as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Regulation S-X, and further consider rotation of the external auditor firm itself;
▪ review the results of the annual external audit, including the auditors’ report to the Shareholders and any other reports prepared by the external auditor and the informal reporting from the external auditor on accounting systems and internal controls, including Management’s response;
Other Review Items
▪ review any legal regulatory or compliance matter, claim or contingency that could have a significant impact on the financial statements of the Corporation, the Corporation’s compliance policies and any material reports, inquiries or 52 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
other correspondence received from regulators or governmental agencies and the manner in which any such legal matter, claim or contingency has been disclosed in the Corporation’s financial statements;
▪ review the treatment for financial reporting purposes of any significant transactions which are not a normal part of the Corporation’s operations;
▪ establish and periodically review procedures for (a) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Corporation regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and (b) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Corporation of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters or other matters that could negatively affect the Corporation, such as violations of the Corporation’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;
▪ review with Management, Audit Services and the external auditor any significant complaints received related to disclosure, financial controls, fraud or other matters;
▪ oversee Management’s process to ensure its disclosure regarding forward looking information is appropriate and thorough;
Committee Governance
▪ annually establish a set of objectives for the Committee for the respective calendar year, with the status of such objectives to be reviewed and evaluated by the Committee on a quarterly basis;
▪ meet in an in-camera session regularly with the external auditor, the head of Audit Services, members of Management and as a Committee alone;
▪ meet in separate non-Management, closed sessions with any other internal personnel or outside advisors, as necessary or appropriate; and
▪ review annually its own performance.
In addition to the foregoing items, the Committee shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time by resolution be assigned to it by the Board of Directors.
Limitation of Committee’s Role
While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in its Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to prepare financial statements, plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Corporation’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with IFRS and applicable rules and regulations. These are the responsibilities of Management and the external auditor.
The Committee, the Chair of the Committee and any Committee members identified as having accounting or related financial expertise are members of the Board of Directors, appointed to the Committee to provide broad oversight of the financial, risk and control-related activities of the Corporation, and are specifically not accountable or responsible for the day-to-day operation or performance of such activities.
Although the designation of a Committee member as having accounting or related financial expertise for disclosure purposes is based on that individual’s education and experience, which that individual will bring to bear in carrying out his or her duties on the Committee, such designation does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the Committee and Board of Directors in the absence of such designation. Rather, the role of a Committee member who is identified as having accounting or related financial expertise, like the role of all Committee members, is to oversee the process, not to certify or guarantee the internal or external audit of the Corporation’s financial information or public disclosure.
Committee Structure and Authority
(a) Composition
The Committee shall consist of not less than three directors as determined by the Board of Directors, and all of whom shall qualify as independent directors pursuant to (i) National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees (as implemented by the Canadian Securities Administrators and as amended from time to time) (NI 52-110); (ii) Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual; (iii) Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act; and (iv) any additional requirements or guidelines for audit committee service under applicable securities laws and the rules of any stock exchange on which the shares of the Corporation are listed for trading.
All members of the Committee shall be financially literate, as defined in NI 52-110, and at least one member shall have "accounting or related financial management expertise". In particular, at least one member shall have: (i) education and experience as a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant or auditor or experience in one or more positions that involve the performance of similar functions; (ii) experience actively supervising a principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, public accountant, auditor or person performing similar functions; (iii) experience overseeing or assessing the performance of companies or public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements; or (iv) other relevant experience: Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 53
▪ an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements;
▪ the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and provisions;
▪ expertise preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Corporation's financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities;
▪ an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and
▪ an understanding of audit committee functions.
Committee members may not, other than in their respective capacities as members of the Committee, the Board of Directors or any other committee of the Board of Directors, accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation, or be an "affiliated person" (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act and the rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder) of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation. For greater certainty, directors' fees and fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the Corporation that are not contingent on continued service should be the only compensation an audit committee member may receive from the Corporation.
No Committee member shall serve on the audit committees of more than three other issuers without prior determination by the Board of Directors that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to serve effectively on the Committee.
(b) Appointment and Replacement of Committee Members
Each member of the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Any member of the Committee may be removed or replaced at any time by the Board of Directors and shall automatically cease to be a member of the Committee upon ceasing to be a Director of the Corporation.
The Board of Directors may fill vacancies on the Committee by appointment from among its number. The Board of Directors shall fill any vacancy if the membership of the Committee is less than three directors. If and whenever a vacancy shall exist on the Committee, the remaining members may exercise all their power so long as a quorum.
Subject to the foregoing, the members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors annually and each member of the Committee shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Corporation after his or her election or until his or her successor shall be duly qualified and appointed.
(c) Quorum
A majority of the Committee present in person or by telephone or other telecommunication device that permits all persons participating in the meeting to speak to each other shall constitute a quorum.
(d) Review of Charter and Position of the Committee Chair
The Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter and the description of the Committee Chair description at least annually and otherwise as it deems appropriate, and recommend changes to the Board of Directors. The Committee shall reference this Charter in establishing its annual goals and meeting objectives.
(e) Delegation
The Committee may delegate from time to time to any person or committee of persons any of the Committee’s responsibilities that lawfully may be delegated.
(f) Reporting to the Board of Directors
The Committee will report through the Chair of the Committee to the Board of Directors on matters considered by the Committee, its recommendations and performance relative to annual objectives and its Charter.
(g) Committee Chair Responsibilities
The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chair of the Committee, who is expected to provide leadership to the Committee to enhance its effectiveness. In such capacity, the Chair of the Committee will perform the duties and responsibilities set forth in the “Position Description - Audit Committee Chair”.
(h) Calling of Meetings
Any member of the Committee, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation or the external auditor of the Corporation may call a meeting. The Committee shall meet at least four times per year and as many additional times as needed to carry out its duties effectively. 54 Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form
(i) Notice of Meetings
Notice of the time and place of every meeting shall be given in writing or electronic communication to each member of the Committee at least 48 hours prior to the time fixed for such meeting. Notice of each meeting shall also be given to the external auditors of the Corporation. A member and the external auditors may in any manner waive notice of a Committee meeting. Attendance of a member at a meeting is a waiver of notice of the meeting except where a member attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting was not lawfully called.
(j) Procedure, Records and Reporting
Subject to any statute or articles or by-laws of the Corporation, the Committee shall fix its own procedures at meetings, keep records of its proceedings and report to the Board of Directors, generally not later than the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors that follows the Committee meeting. In discharging its responsibilities, the Committee shall have full access to any relevant records of the Corporation.
(k) Attendance of Others at Meetings
The Committee shall have the right to determine who shall, and who shall not, be present at any time during a meeting of the Committee. The Committee may request any officer or employee of the Corporation, members of Audit Services, the Corporation’s legal counsel, or any external auditor, to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to the Committee. The Committee shall also have the authority to communicate directly with Audit Services and the external auditor.
(l) Outside Experts and Advisors
The Committee may retain, and set and pay the compensation to, any outside expert or advisor, including but not limited to, legal, accounting, financial or other consultants, at the Corporation's expense, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties. The Committee will assure itself as to the independence of any outside expert or advisor.
Approved effective July 31, 2023
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Information Form 55

EX-99.2
Exhibit 99.2
| ABOUT PRECISION |
|---|
Precision is a leading provider of safe and environmentally responsible High Performance, High Value services to the energy industry, offering customers access to an extensive fleet of Super Series drilling rigs. Precision has commercialized an industry-leading digital technology portfolio known as AlphaTM technologies that utilizes advanced automation software and analytics to generate efficient, predictable, and repeatable results for energy customers. Additionally, Precision offers well service rigs, camps and rental equipment all backed by a comprehensive mix of technical support services and skilled, experienced personnel. Our drilling services are enhanced by our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, which bolsters our commitment to reducing the environmental impact on our operations.
From our founding as a private drilling contractor in 1951, Precision has grown to become one of the most active drillers in North America. Our High Performance, High Value competitive advantage is underpinned by four distinguishing features:
▪ a high-quality land drilling rig fleet, with AC Super Triple rigs enabled with our AlphaTM technologies and supported by our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions to deliver consistent, repeatable, high-quality wellbores while improving safety, performance, operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact
▪ size and scale of our vertically integrated operations that provide higher margins and better service capabilities
▪ a diverse culture focused on operational excellence, which includes corporate responsibility, safety and field performance, and
▪ a capital structure that provides long-term stability, flexibility and liquidity, allowing us to take advantage of business cycle opportunities.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Responsibility is a fundamental element of Precision’s High Performance, High Value strategy and critical to our long-term success. Our foundation was shaped by a commitment to operate with the highest ethical standards, prioritize the health, safety, and diversity of our workforce, and the protection of the environment and the communities where we operate. Our employees, investors and customers reward our commitment to Corporate Responsibility and recognize that it provides us the ability to attract talent, capital, and a premium for our services.
To learn more about Precision’s commitment to Corporate Responsibility, we invite you to review our interactive web page, which serves as the primary platform that highlights the Company’s progress in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts, and provides recurring updates on our ESG efforts and performance. The information on our website represents not just a single snapshot of the year, but portrays a frequently updated view of our continuing ESG efforts.
OUR VISION AND DELIVERING ON OUR 2023 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Precision’s vision is to be globally recognized as the High Performance, High Value provider of land drilling services. We work toward this vision by defining and measuring our results against strategic priorities established at the beginning of each year.
In 2023, Precision focused on three strategic priorities:
▪ Delivering High Performance, High Value service through operational excellence;
▪ Maximizing free cash flow by increasing Adjusted EBITDA(1) margins, revenue efficiency and growing revenue from AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions; and
▪ Reducing debt by at least $150 million and allocating 10% to 20% of free cash flow before debt repayments for shareholder returns. We also increased our long-term debt reduction target to $500 million between 2022 and 2025 and sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025.
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
We successfully delivered on each of these priorities in 2023, reported one of our most profitable years in the past decade and exceeded our cash flow expectations. During the year, we not only met our debt reduction and shareholder capital return targets, but also funded two accretive acquisitions. Our High Performance, High Value strategy along with our Super Series rigs, AlphaTM technologies, and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions continue to differentiate our services.
In Canada, we increased our drilling utilization days and well servicing rig operating hours over 2022 levels, maintaining our position as the leading Canadian service provider of oilfield services. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we acquired CWC Energy Services Corp. (CWC), which increased our marketed service rig count by 36% year over year and enhanced our North America drilling operations. Internationally, we recertified and reactivated four rigs, exiting 2023 with eight active rigs under five-year term contracts that extend into 2027 and 2028. We also completed integrating our 2022 acquisition of High Arctic Energy Services Inc.'s (High Arctic) assets, which helped contribute to increase our year over year Completion and Productions Services' Adjusted EBITDA by 34%.
We generated cash provided by operations of $501 million, a 111% increase over 2022 due to the higher activity in Canada and improved North America day rates and daily operating margins. We continued to scale our AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions across our Super Triple rig fleet, increasing revenue from these offerings year over year. Approximately 75% of our Super Triple fleet is equipped with AlphaTM and the majority of the fleet has at least one EverGreenTM product. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 1
With robust cash flow in 2023, we reduced debt by $152 million and increased direct returns to shareholders, allocating 15% of our free cash flow before debt repayments to share repurchases. In 2024, we plan to increase this allocation to 25% to 35% and reduce debt by another $150 million to $200 million. This positions us to achieve our sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025 and meet our long-term debt reduction target of $500 million between 2022 and 2025. In 2026, we plan to reduce debt by another $100 million and move our direct shareholder capital returns towards 50% of free cash flow.
| MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
|---|
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) contains information to help you understand our business and financial performance. Information is as at March 4, 2024, unless otherwise stated. This MD&A focuses on our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and includes a discussion of known risks and uncertainties relating to our business and the oilfield services sector.
You should read this MD&A with the accompanying audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and with information contained in the Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Information and Statements on page 39. In this MD&A, we reference certain Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) financial measures and ratios that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess our performance as we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. Our Non-GAAP financial measures and ratios are defined on page 40.
The terms we, us, our, Corporation, Company, Precision and Precision Drilling mean Precision Drilling Corporation and our subsidiaries and include any partnerships of which we are a part.
All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
OUR STRATEGY
Our High Performance, High Value competitive advantage is underpinned by four distinguishing features:
▪ a high-quality land drilling rig fleet, with AC Super Triple rigs enabled with our AlphaTM technologies and supported by our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions to deliver consistent, repeatable, high-quality wellbores while improving safety, performance, operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact;
▪ size and scale of our vertically integrated operations that provide higher margins and better service capabilities;
▪ a diverse culture focused on operational excellence, which includes corporate responsibility, safety and field performance; and
▪ a capital structure that provides long-term stability, flexibility and liquidity, allowing us to take advantage of business cycle opportunities.
2 Management's Discussion and Analysis
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
We have two business segments, Contract Drilling Services and Completion and Production Services, which share business support systems and corporate and administrative services.

Precision Drilling Corporation Contract Drilling Services Drilling Rig Operations Canada U.S. International Directional Drilling Operations Canada Completion and Production Services Canada and U.S. Service Rigs Canada Camps and Catering Equipment Rentals Business Support Systems Sales and Marketing Procurement and Distribution Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance and Certification Engineering Corporate Support Information Systems Health, Safety and Environment Human Resources Finance Legal and Enterprise Risk Management
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 3
Contract Drilling Services
We provide onshore drilling services to exploration and production companies in the oil and natural gas and geothermal industries, operating in Canada, the U.S., and internationally. In Canada, we are the largest onshore drilling company, marketing approximately 25% of the industry's land rig fleet. In the U.S., our fleet is the fifth largest and accounts for approximately 9% of the country's Super-Spec land drilling rigs. We also have an international presence with operations in the Middle East.
We offer customers access to an extensive fleet of high-efficiency Super Series drilling rigs ideally suited for development drilling. Our rigs are strategically deployed across the most active drilling regions in North America, including all major unconventional oil and natural gas basins.
At December 31, 2023, our Contract Drilling Services segment consisted of 214 land drilling rigs, including 97 in Canada, 104 in the U.S. and 13 in the Middle East.
During the year, our acquisition of CWC added seven Canadian and 11 U.S. drilling rigs to our fleet. In addition, we decommissioned 20 and seven legacy drilling rigs in Canada and the U.S., respectively.
Our Super Series drilling rigs are further enhanced by our AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions. Our AlphaTM technologies drive performance by integrating data insights, human ingenuity, automation consistency and smart algorithms, increasing drilling performance and cost efficiencies for our customers. Our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions bolsters our commitment to reduce the environmental impact of oilfield operations and offers customers products and applications to measure and reduce their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions during drilling operations. Precision exited the year with 75 AC Super Triple rigs equipped with AlphaTM and the majority equipped with at least one EverGreenTM product.
The below graphs summarize our revenue and utilization days for the last five financial years.
4 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Completion and Production Services
We provide well completion, workover, abandonment, and re-entry preparation services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in Canada and the U.S. In addition, we provide equipment rentals and camp and catering services in Canada.
In 2023, through the acquisition of CWC, we added 62 marketable Canadian service rigs to our fleet as well as ancillary equipment, inventories, spares and operating facilities in key basins in complementary geographic regions supported by skilled and experienced personnel and strong customer relationships.
At December 31, 2023, our Completion and Production Services segment consisted of 183 registered well completion and workover service rigs, including 173 in Canada and 10 in the U.S.
The below graphs summarize our revenue and utilization days for the last five financial years.

and Production Revenue $ Millions $200 $150 $100 $50 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Completion and Production Adjusted EBITDA $ Millions $25 $20 $15 $10 $5 0 -$5 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Completion and Production Service Rig Hours Hou0,000 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 5
strategic priorities
Our 2023 strategic priorities focused on delivering High Performance, High Value services, maximizing free cash flow, and continuing to strengthen our financial position with debt repayments. We successfully delivered on each of these priorities in 2023 and our results are summarized in the table below.
| 2023 Strategic Priorities | 2023 Results |
|---|---|
| Deliver High Performance, High Value service through operational excellence | ▪<br>Increased our Canadian drilling rig utilization days and well servicing rig operating hours over 2022, maintaining our position as the leading provider of high-quality and reliable services in Canada.<br><br>▪<br>Recertified and reactivated a total of four rigs in the Middle East, exiting 2023 with eight active rigs that represent approximately US$475 million in backlog revenue that stretches into 2028.<br><br>▪<br>Acquired CWC, expanding our Canadian well servicing business and drilling fleets in both Canada and the U.S.<br><br>▪<br>Upgraded and added the industry's most advanced AC Super Triple rig to our Canadian fleet, equipped with AlphaTM, EverGreenTM, and rig floor robotics.<br><br>▪<br>Coached over 900 rig-based employees through our New Employee Orientation focused on industry-leading safety and performance training at our world-class facilities in Nisku, Alberta and Houston, Texas. |
| Maximize free cash flow by increasing Adjusted EBITDA(1) margins, revenue efficiency, and growing revenue from AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions | ▪<br>Generated cash provided by operations of $501 million, a 111% increase over 2022.<br><br>▪<br>Increased our daily operating margins(2) by approximately 39% in Canada and 69% in the U.S. year over year.<br><br>▪<br>Grew combined Alpha™ and EverGreenTM revenue by over 10% compared to 2022.<br><br>▪<br>Ended the year with 75 AC Super Triple Alpha™ rigs compared to 70 at the beginning of the year.<br><br>▪<br>Scaled our EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, ending the year with approximately 65% of our AC Super Triple rigs equipped with at least one EverGreenTM product, including 13 EverGreenTM Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) versus seven a year ago.<br><br>▪<br>Integrated the well servicing assets from our 2022 acquisition of High Arctic, which helped increase our Completion and Production Services’ Adjusted EBITDA(1) 34% in 2023. |
| Reduce debt by at least $150 million and allocate 10% to 20% of free cash flow before debt repayments for share repurchases. Long-term debt reduction target of $500 million between 2022 and 2025 and sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025 | ▪<br>Reduced debt by $152 million and ended the year with more than $600 million of available liquidity(3).<br><br>▪<br>Returned $30 million of capital to shareholders through share repurchases.<br><br>▪<br>Renewed our Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB), allowing purchases of up to 10% of the public float.<br><br>▪<br>Ended the year with a Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1) of approximately 1.4 times and remain committed to reaching a sustained Net Debt to Adjust EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025. |
Notes:
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
(2) Revenue per utilization day less operating costs per utilization day.
(3) Available liquidity is defined as cash plus unused credit facility capacity.
We have established the following strategic priorities for 2024:
| 2024 Strategic Priorities |
|---|
| ▪<br>Concentrate organizational efforts on leveraging our scale and generating free cash flow.<br><br>▪<br>Reduce debt by $150 million to $200 million and allocate 25% to 35% of free cash flow before debt repayments for share repurchases, while remaining committed to achieving a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025. Increase long-term debt reduction target to $600 million between 2022 and 2026 and continue to move direct shareholder capital returns towards 50% of free cash flow.<br><br>▪<br>Continue to deliver operational excellence in drilling and service rig operations to strengthen our competitive position and extend market penetration of our AlphaTM and EverGreenTM products. |
6 Management's Discussion and Analysis
| UNDERSTANDING OUR BUSINESS DRIVERS |
|---|
ENERGY INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Precision operates in the energy services business. Our primary customers are oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, who contract our services as part of their exploration and development activities. The economics of their businesses are dictated by the current and expected future margin between their finding and development costs and the eventual market price for the commodities they produce: crude oil, natural gas, and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs).
Commodity Prices
Our customers’ capital expenditures for exploration and development are largely dependent on current and expected future prices of crude oil and natural gas. Crude oil is generally priced in a global market which is influenced by an array of economic and political factors. Natural gas is priced more regionally and, in North America, largely depends on the weather. Colder winter temperatures, and to a lesser extent, warmer summer temperatures, result in greater natural gas demand. Both commodities have historically been, and we expect them to continue to be cyclical and highly volatile.
Historically, there has been a strong correlation between crude oil and natural gas prices and the demand for drilling rigs with the rig count increasing and decreasing with movements in commodity prices. However, beginning in 2021, rig activity has not moved in tandem with crude oil prices to the same extent it has historically, as a large portion of our customers instituted and adhered to a more disciplined approach to their operations and capital spending in order to enhance their own financial returns.
Average Oil and Natural Gas Prices
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | |||||
| West Texas Intermediate (per barrel) (US) | 77.62 | 94.23 | 67.91 | ||
| Western Canadian Select (per barrel) (US) | 58.96 | 78.15 | 54.84 | ||
| Natural gas | |||||
| U.S. | |||||
| Henry Hub (per MMBtu) (US) | 2.67 | 6.51 | 3.72 | ||
| Canada | |||||
| AECO (per MMBtu) (Cdn) | 2.64 | 5.43 | 3.64 | ||
| Source: WTI and Henry; Hub Energy Information Administration, AECO; Gas Alberta Inc. |
All values are in US Dollars.
Drilling Activity
According to Baker Hughes, the Canadian average active rig count in 2023 was nearly flat year over year, while the U.S. average active land drilling rig count declined slightly. In Canada, the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC) reported approximately 5,700 wells were drilled in 2023, compared with 5,500 in 2022 and 4,600 in 2021. For the U.S., Enverus reported approximately 15,600 wells were started onshore in the U.S., compared with approximately 17,600 in 2022 and 14,400 in 2021. Drilling activity began to weaken in early 2023 due to lower natural gas prices and oil price volatility and was exacerbated by drilling and completion efficiencies, consolidation among producers, and continued capital discipline. The bias towards oil-directed drilling in the U.S. continues with approximately 80% of the active industry rig count drilling for oil targets during 2023.
In Canada, drilling activity was supported by strong fundamentals as additional takeaway capacity for oil and natural gas becomes available in 2024. Approximately 60% of the industry’s active rigs were drilling for oil targets in 2023 as producers remained active in the traditional heavy oil regions of Canada, such as the oil sands and the Clearwater. The start-up of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion is expected in the first half of 2024, improving pricing for producers and encouraging additional drilling. Natural gas drilling occurs in the deeper basins of northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia, supporting the production of NGLs required for oil sands development. Natural gas drilling in Canada continues to gain momentum as producers develop drilling programs to support LNG Canada, which is expected to begin start-up operations in 2024.
The following graphs shows oil and natural gas drilling activity since 2019, in both the U.S. and Canada. The Canadian drilling rig activity graph also shows the seasonality of the Canadian drilling activity which fluctuates with spring breakup, a market dynamic that generally is not present in the U.S. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 7

Competition and Competitive Strategy
The land drilling industry is highly competitive with technology increasingly differentiating the market, as customers have transitioned away from vertical wells to more complex directional and horizontal drilling programs. These wells require higher capacity rigs, which typically include AC power, digital control systems, integrated top drives, pad walking systems, highly mechanized pipe handling, and high capacity mud pumps. These rigs have recently been referred to as Super Specification (Super-Spec). Consequently, the rig market has been shedding older, low-technology rigs in favour of Super-Spec rigs as they are more powerful, efficient, and better suited for horizontal wells and resource development programs. Increasingly, digital technologies and rig-based software are becoming enablers of efficiency, and as a result, are in demand from our customers.
In the U.S., the top five land drillers own approximately 85% of the rigs referred to as Super-Spec, while in Canada, the top four land drillers own virtually all of these rigs.
In the early 1990s Precision designed and branded its Super Single rigs that are ideally suited for long-term conventional heavy oil development in the oil sands and other heavy oil plays. In 2010, Precision introduced and branded its Super Triple rigs, which are well suited for large pad horizontal drilling. Our Super Series fleet meets or exceeds the industry term Super-Spec that was recently adopted and as of December 31, 2023, our fleet of 214 rigs included 48 Super Single rigs and 101 AC Super Triple rigs. 8 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Drilling Contracts
We market our drilling rigs mainly on a regional basis through sales and marketing personnel. Our drilling contracts provide for payment on a daywork basis, pursuant to which we provide the drilling rig and crew to the customer. The customer provides the drilling program and is responsible for managing the downhole operation. Our compensation is based on a contracted rate per day (day rate) during the period the drilling rig is utilized. Generally, we do not bear any of the costs arising from downhole risks or loss of oil and natural gas reserves.
Products and services provided by our Alpha™ technologies and EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions earn revenue that is incremental to the contracted day rate.
Seasonality
Drilling and well servicing activity is affected by seasonal weather patterns and ground conditions. In Canada and the northern U.S., wet weather and the spring thaw make the ground unstable resulting in road restrictions that may limit the movement of heavy oilfield equipment and reduce the level of drilling and well servicing activity primarily during the second quarter of the year. In Canada, some drilling sites can only be accessed in the winter once the terrain is frozen, which usually begins late in the fourth quarter. Our business activity depends, in part, on the severity and duration of the winter drilling season.
COMPETITIVE OPERATING MODEL
Providing High Performance, High Value services to our customers represents the core of our competitive strategy. Our competitive advantages include:
▪ High Performance standardized rig fleet that is strategically deployed across the most active drilling regions in North America,
▪ Alpha™ technologies that increase drilling performance and reduce costs,
▪ EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions which includes industry-leading alternative rig energy sources and fuel monitoring to reduce emissions and costs,
▪ systems and scale to deliver highly disciplined, consistent, reliable, and safe operations,
▪ experienced, High Performance crews as we focus on training, development and retaining key leaders, and
▪ culture of teamwork, safety, integrity and desire to be the top tier service provider.
Employees
Our people strategies focus on initiatives that provide a safe and productive work environment, opportunity for advancement, and added wage security. In 2023, we had an average of approximately 5,000 employees, with a high of 5,560.
The market for experienced personnel in the oilfield services industry can be competitive due to the cyclical nature of the work, the uncertainty of continuing employment, and generally higher employment rates during periods of high oil and natural gas prices and drilling activities. We strive to position ourselves for increased activity while maintaining performance excellence through our safety performance and reputation. These factors help us attract and retain experienced, well-trained employees when the industry experiences crew shortages during peak operating periods.
Employee Safety and Training
Employee safety is embedded in all that we do at Precision, from job planning and change management to the critical task assessments and safety observations our employees perform every day. We deliver High Performance, High Value service to our customers without compromising the health and safety of our employees or those in the communities where we work.
Precision’s commitment to providing industry-leading comprehensive training and development to our employees can be seen through the extensive instructor-led and virtual courses, as well as face-to-face coaching. In 2023, over 63,600 employee training hours were focused on Precision’s culture, rig roles and responsibilities, well control, tools, and equipment, HSE standards, leadership and communication at one of our world-class training facilities, located in Nisku, Alberta and Houston, Texas. Additionally, in 2023, we continued our focus on rig-site training with over 18,000 employee training hours during more than 370 rig visits.
A specific focus on new employee development is driven through our Short-Service Employee (SSE) program, which is catered to rig-based employees with low levels of experience to ensure they are well-positioned for long-term success at Precision. During the first six months with Precision, these employees are paired with a mentor and put through various tasks under supervision to ensure they adapt to our culture, develop a safety-first mentality, and enable them to perform their duties to the best of their ability. In 2023, we dedicated over 15,000 SSE-specific training hours to approximately 990 employees who were new to the industry.
Technology and Innovation
In 2023, we upgraded and added the industry's most advanced AC Super Triple rig to our Canadian fleet, which is not only equipped with AlphaTM and EverGreenTM technologies but also includes rig floor robotics. The incorporation of a modular fully automated pipe handling system represents a pioneering achievement in the industry, positioning this land drilling rig at the forefront of technological advancement. By collaborating with AlphaAutomationTM, our rig floor robotics provides a comprehensive and seamless automation solution, optimizing operational efficiency and increasing safety standards. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 9
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Delivering strong operational and financial results in today’s environment requires the expertise and positive contributions of every Precision employee. We are committed to developing a diverse range of thoughts, experiences, and points of view to complement our strategy and decision-making processes. Precision is an inclusive workplace that strives to be free of discrimination, harassment, workplace violence, and retaliation. Our diversity, equity and inclusion policy prohibits discrimination of any kind and promotes diversity and inclusivity among our employees, management, and Board of Directors (Board).
Each year our employees are required to complete our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Discrimination and Harassment courses. In 2023, approximately 5,800 employees globally completed these courses.
Talent Management
As an industry leader, we are committed to recruiting and retaining high-performing, Passionate People at every level of our Company. Precision has developed a strong recruitment marketing strategy both in the field and for our corporate support roles. We ensure the value proposition we provide in the ways of pay and benefits remains competitive and engages our employees. We have implemented systems and processes that help us execute our talent management strategy to maintain a well-trained, highly competent and capable talent pool, both in the field and corporate positions with a broad range of business experience throughout market cycles. Our Talent Management and Field Training & Development departments have been successful implementing new and inventive technology platforms and internal learning systems to provide learning and development opportunities, leveraging our in-house technical expertise while maintaining the necessary in-person interactions to develop appropriate levels of understanding and strong professional networks.
10 Management's Discussion and Analysis
| OUTLOOK |
|---|
Contracts
Term customer contracts provide a base level of activity and revenue. In 2023, we had an average of 62 drilling rigs working under term contracts: 34 in the U.S., 22 in Canada and 6 internationally. Utilization days from these contracts was approximately 50% of our total contract drilling utilization days for the year. As at March 4, 2024, we had term contracts in place for an average of 44 rigs: 14 in the U.S., 22 in Canada and 8 internationally for 2024. In most regions in the U.S. and internationally, term contracts normally generate 365 utilization days per rig year. In Canada, term contracted rigs normally generate 250 utilization days per rig year because of the seasonal nature of wellsite access.
Pricing, Demand and Utilization
Energy industry fundamentals continue to support drilling activity for oil and natural gas despite economic uncertainty and the continued presence of global conflict. Today, oil prices are supported by increasing global demand and limited supply growth as OPEC+ continues to honor its lower production quotas and producers remain committed to returning capital to shareholders versus increasing production.
Natural gas has demonstrated price weaknesses since early 2023; however, this lower-carbon energy source is becoming increasingly favored as countries around the world stress the importance of sustainability, decarbonization and energy security. Even with the U.S. pausing approvals of new U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminals, we still expect North American LNG export capacity (including LNG Canada) to increase by more than 14 bcf/d over the next three years from projects currently under construction. We therefore anticipate a sustained period of elevated North America natural gas drilling activity.
In Canada, Precision’s drilling activity remained strong throughout 2023 and we expect high activity levels to continue into 2024 due to strong oil prices, tight supply of Super-Spec drilling rigs, and increases in hydrocarbon export capacity. The Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion, which is expected to increase Canada’s tidewater takeaway capacity for crude oil by approximately 590,000 barrels per day, is expected to start-up in the first half of 2024. The Coastal GasLink pipeline achieved mechanical completion in late 2023 and will deliver gas to LNG Canada, which is expected to begin start-up activities in 2024. We expect near full utilization in the Canadian Super-Spec rig market in 2024, which should support high average day rates and demand for additional term contracts as customers secure rigs to ensure fulfillment of their development programs.
In the U.S., drilling activity began to weaken in early 2023 due to lower natural gas prices and oil price volatility and was exacerbated by drilling and completion efficiencies, consolidation among producers, and continued capital discipline. As a result, the U.S. active land rig count declined by approximately 21% throughout 2023, according to Baker Hughes. If oil prices remain stable and around today’s level, we expect drilling demand to begin to improve in the second quarter and gain momentum through the remainder of 2024 as customers embark on a new budget cycle, seek to maintain or possibly increase production levels, and replenish reserve inventories.
Internationally, as at March 4, 2024, we had eight rigs working on term contracts, five in Kuwait and three in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During 2023, we recertified and reactivated four rigs, which is expected to increase our annual activity by approximately 40% in 2024. The majority of these rigs are under five-year term contracts that extend into 2027 and 2028, providing predictable cash flow for the next several years. We continue to bid our remaining idle rigs within the region and remain optimistic in our ability to secure rig reactivations.
High Performance Rig Fleet
The industry trend toward more complex drilling programs has accelerated the retirement of older generation, less capable drilling rigs. Over the past several years, we and some of our competitors have been upgrading our drilling rig fleets primarily through upgrading existing rigs and decommissioning lower capacity rigs. In more recent years, drilling rigs have been equipped with automation systems and emission reduction technologies to further drive time and cost efficiencies and environmental performance in the well construction process. We believe this retooling of the industry-wide fleet has made legacy rigs virtually obsolete in North America.
Capital Spending and Free Cash Flow Allocation
Capital spending in 2024 is expected to be $195 million and by spend category(1) includes $155 million for maintenance, infrastructure, and intangibles and $40 million for expansion and upgrades. We expect to spend $177 million in the Contract Drilling Services segment, $13 million in the Completion and Production Services segment and $5 million in the Corporate segment. At December 31, 2023, Precision had capital commitments of $175 million with payments expected through 2026.
We remain committed to our debt reduction plans and in 2024 expect to reduce debt by $150 million to $200 million and allocate 25% to 35% of free cash flow before debt repayments for share repurchases, while remaining committed to achieving a sustained Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of below 1.0 times by the end of 2025. In 2026, we plan to reduce debt another $100 million and move our direct shareholder capital returns towards 50% of free cash flow.
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 11
| 2023 RESULTS |
|---|
Financial Highlights
| Year ended December 31(in thousands of dollars, except where noted) | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2022 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2021 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,937,854 | 19.8 | 1,617,194 | 63.9 | 986,847 | 5.5 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 611,118 | 96.1 | 311,605 | 61.6 | 192,772 | (26.8 | ) | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue(1) | 31.5 | % | 19.3 | % | 19.5 | % | |||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | 289,244 | (943.4 | ) | (34,293 | ) | (80.7 | ) | (177,386 | ) | 47.7 | |||||||
| Cash provided by operations | 500,571 | 111.1 | 237,104 | 70.3 | 139,225 | (38.4 | ) | ||||||||||
| Funds provided by operations(1) | 533,409 | 88.5 | 282,994 | 85.9 | 152,243 | (10.8 | ) | ||||||||||
| Cash used in investing activities | 214,784 | 48.7 | 144,415 | 155.1 | 56,613 | 39.7 | |||||||||||
| Capital spending by spend category(1) | |||||||||||||||||
| Expansion and upgrade | 63,898 | 0.9 | 63,305 | 233.1 | 19,006 | (29.2 | ) | ||||||||||
| Maintenance, infrastructure and intangibles | 162,851 | 34.6 | 120,945 | 112.4 | 56,935 | 64.2 | |||||||||||
| Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment | (23,841 | ) | (35.9 | ) | (37,198 | ) | 184.3 | (13,086 | ) | (38.0 | ) | ||||||
| Net capital spending(1) | 202,908 | 38.0 | 147,052 | 134.0 | 62,855 | 55.2 | |||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) per share () | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 21.03 | (931.2 | ) | (2.53 | ) | (81.0 | ) | (13.32 | ) | 52.1 | |||||||
| Diluted | 19.53 | (871.9 | ) | (2.53 | ) | (81.0 | ) | (13.32 | ) | 52.1 |
All values are in US Dollars.
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
Operating Highlights
| Year ended December 31 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2022 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2021 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract drilling rig fleet | 214 | (4.9 | ) | 225 | (0.9 | ) | 227 | — | ||||||
| Drilling rig utilization days | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. | 17,961 | (11.9 | ) | 20,396 | 40.7 | 14,494 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Canada | 21,156 | 3.1 | 20,519 | 30.0 | 15,782 | 46.2 | ||||||||
| International | 2,132 | (2.6 | ) | 2,190 | — | 2,190 | (13.3 | ) | ||||||
| Revenue per utilization day | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. (US) | 35,040 | 28.3 | 27,309 | 28.7 | 21,213 | (19.0 | ) | |||||||
| Canada (Cdn) | 33,151 | 22.6 | 27,037 | 28.1 | 21,105 | (2.3 | ) | |||||||
| International (US) | 50,840 | (0.8 | ) | 51,242 | (3.0 | ) | 52,837 | (3.6 | ) | |||||
| Operating cost per utilization day | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. (US) | 20,401 | 9.5 | 18,635 | 23.8 | 15,048 | 2.6 | ||||||||
| Canada (Cdn) | 19,225 | 13.0 | 17,007 | 23.8 | 13,734 | 1.4 | ||||||||
| Service rig fleet | 183 | 35.6 | 135 | 9.8 | 123 | — | ||||||||
| Service rig operating hours | 201,627 | 18.4 | 170,362 | 34.3 | 126,840 | 54.8 |
All values are in US Dollars.
Financial Position and Ratios
| (in thousands of dollars, except ratios) | December 31,<br>2023 | December 31,<br>2022 | December 31,<br>2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital(1) | 145,239 | 60,641 | 81,637 | |||
| Working capital ratio(1) | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 | |||
| Long-term debt(2) | 914,830 | 1,085,970 | 1,106,794 | |||
| Total long-term financial liabilities(3) | 1,004,216 | 1,206,619 | 1,185,858 | |||
| Total assets | 3,019,035 | 2,876,123 | 2,661,752 | |||
| Enterprise Value(1)(4) | 1,892,305 | 2,470,538 | 1,660,781 | |||
| Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | |||
| Long-term debt to cash provided by operations(1) | 1.8 | 4.6 | 7.9 | |||
| Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 1.4 | 3.4 | 5.5 |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
(2) Net of unamortized debt issue costs.
(3) Non-current liabilities less deferred tax liabilities.
(4) See page 23 for more information.
12 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings (Loss) Summary
| Year ended December 31 (in thousands of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | ||||||
| Contract Drilling Services | 1,704,265 | 1,436,134 | 877,943 | |||
| Completion and Production Services | 240,716 | 187,171 | 113,488 | |||
| Inter-segment elimination | (7,127 | ) | (6,111 | ) | (4,584 | ) |
| 1,937,854 | 1,617,194 | 986,847 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | ||||||
| Contract Drilling Services | 630,761 | 397,753 | 231,532 | |||
| Completion and Production Services | 51,224 | 38,147 | 23,807 | |||
| Corporate and Other | (70,867 | ) | (124,295 | ) | (62,567 | ) |
| 611,118 | 311,605 | 192,772 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 297,557 | 279,035 | 282,326 | |||
| Gain on asset disposals | (24,469 | ) | (29,926 | ) | (8,516 | ) |
| Loss on asset decommissioning | 9,592 | — | — | |||
| Foreign exchange | (1,667 | ) | 1,278 | 393 | ||
| Finance charges | 83,414 | 87,813 | 91,431 | |||
| Loss (gain) on investments and other assets | 6,810 | (12,452 | ) | 400 | ||
| Gain on acquisition | (25,761 | ) | — | — | ||
| Loss (gain) on redemption and repurchase of unsecured senior notes | (137 | ) | — | 9,520 | ||
| Earnings (loss) before income tax | 265,779 | (14,143 | ) | (182,782 | ) | |
| Income taxes | (23,465 | ) | 20,150 | (5,396 | ) | |
| Net earnings (loss) | 289,244 | (34,293 | ) | (177,386 | ) |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
Results by Geographic Segment
| Year ended December 31 (in thousands of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | |||
| U.S. | 861,915 | 745,630 | 398,024 |
| Canada | 929,639 | 725,560 | 443,772 |
| International | 146,300 | 146,004 | 145,051 |
| 1,937,854 | 1,617,194 | 986,847 | |
| Total assets | |||
| U.S. | 1,226,256 | 1,376,413 | 1,247,173 |
| Canada | 1,246,069 | 1,056,093 | 959,163 |
| International | 546,710 | 443,617 | 455,416 |
| 3,019,035 | 2,876,123 | 2,661,752 |
2023 COMPARED WITH 2022
In the U.S., West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices averaged US$77.62 per barrel and Henry Hub natural gas prices averaged US$2.67 per MMBtu, representing an decreases of 18% and 59% from 2022, respectively. In Canada, Western Canadian Select (WCS) and AECO natural gas prices averaged US$58.96 and $2.64 in 2023, respectively. Average WCS pricing was 25% lower than 2022 while AECO decreased by 51%.
As compared with 2022, our revenue increased by 20% to $1,938 million. Our higher revenue was primarily the result of increased North American drilling revenue per utilization day rates and increased service rig activity and revenue rates, partially offset by lower U.S. drilling activity. We recognized Adjusted EBITDA in 2023 of $611 million, 96% higher than 2022. Our higher Adjusted EBITDA in 2023 was primarily due to increased drilling and well service revenue rates, stronger Canadian drilling and well service activity and lower share-based compensation, partially offset by lower U.S. drilling activity. As compared with 2022, our U.S. drilling activity decreased 12%, Canadian activity increased 3% and international activity decreased 3%. Our service rig operating hours increased 18% compared with 2022. Net earnings in 2023 were $289 million, or $21.03 per share, compared with a net loss of $34 million, or $2.53 per share, in 2022.
Debt Repayments and Shareholder Returns
In 2023, we reduced debt by $152 million through the full repayment of our Senior Credit Facility of $60 million, $100 million of repurchases and redemptions of our 2026 unsecured senior notes and $2 million of repayments of our Real Estate Credit Facilities, partially offset by the assumption of the $10 million CWC Real Estate Credit Facility. Pursuant to our NCIB, we repurchased and cancelled 412,623 common shares for $30 million.
In addition, we assumed a $51 million syndicated loan in connection with our CWC acquisition that was fully repaid and cancelled upon closing.
CWC Acquisition
We acquired CWC for cash of $14 million and the issuance of 947,807 common shares for total consideration of $89 million plus the assumption of $61 million of CWC long-term debt. The acquisition further increased the size and scale of our Canadian well Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 13
servicing operations, adding 62 marketable well service rigs to our service rig fleet along with ancillary and spare equipment and operating facilities in complimentary operating basins. The acquisition also added seven Canadian and 11 U.S. drilling rigs to our drilling fleet. We recognized a gain on acquisition of $26 million.
Finance Charges
Finance charges were $83 million as compared with $88 million in 2022. Our decreased finance charges in 2023 were the result of our lower debt balance, partially offset by the impact of higher variable interest rates and higher translated U.S. dollar-denominated interest charges due to the weakening of the Canadian dollar.
Capital Spending and Long-Lived Assets
Capital expenditures for the purchase of property, plant and equipment were $227 million, an increase of $42 million from 2022. Capital spending by spend category included $64 million for expansion and upgrades and $163 million for the maintenance of existing assets, infrastructure and intangibles. Capital expenditures were $12 million higher than guidance due to the timing of equipment deliveries.
We decommissioned 20 and seven legacy drilling rigs in Canada and the U.S., respectively, recognizing an asset decommissioning charge of $10 million.
Through the completion of normal course business operations, we sold non-core assets for proceeds of $24 million resulting in a gain on asset disposal of $24 million. Included in the gain on asset disposal was a $7 million gain from the non-cash swap of drill pipe.
In accordance with IFRS, we review the carrying value of our long-lived assets for indications of impairment at the end of each reporting period. At December 31, 2023, we reviewed each of our cash-generating units (CGUs) and did not identify indications of impairment and, therefore, did not test our CGUs for impairment.
Investments and Other Assets
During 2023, we exercised 2 million warrants for $1 million in exchange for 2 million common shares of Cathedral Energy Services Ltd. (Cathedral). We subsequently divested 11 million Cathedral common shares for net proceeds of $10 million. In addition, we completed a $5 million equity investment in CleanDesign Income Corp. (CleanDesign). CleanDesign is a key supplier of Precision’s EverGreenTM BESS and this investment provides access to key BESS and power management technologies.
Income Taxes
In 2023, we recognized an income tax recovery of $23 million as compared with an income tax expense of $20 million in 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2023, we recorded a deferred income tax asset of $73 million for the expected future use of certain Canadian operating losses. We continue to not recognize deferred income tax assets for certain international locations.
2022 COMPARED WITH 2021
2022 was highlighted by increasing industry activity, supported by strengthening commodity prices, as global oil and natural gas demand approached pre-pandemic levels and customers sought to replenish depleted well inventories. In the U.S., the WTI oil price averaged US$94.23 per barrel and Henry Hub natural gas prices averaged US$6.51 per MMBtu, representing an increase of 39% and 75% from 2021, respectively. In Canada, the WCS oil price and AECO natural gas prices averaged US$78.15 and $5.43 in 2022, respectively. Average WCS pricing was 43% higher than 2021 while AECO increased by 49%.
As compared with 2021, our revenue increased by 64% to $1,617 million. Our higher revenue in the year was primarily the result of higher North American activity and revenue per utilization day. We recognized Adjusted EBITDA in 2022 of $312 million, 62% higher than in 2021. Our higher Adjusted EBITDA in 2022 was primarily due to increased activity and day rates, partially offset by higher share-based compensation. As compared with 2021, U.S. drilling activity increased 41%, Canadian activity increased 30% and international activity remained consistent. In addition, service rig operating hours increased 34% compared with the prior year. Our net loss in 2022 was $34 million, or $2.53 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $177 million, or $13.32 per diluted share, in 2021.
Debt Repayments and Shareholder Returns
During 2022, we reduced debt by $106 million through repayments on our Senior Credit and Real Estate Credit Facilities. Pursuant to our NCIB, we repurchased and cancelled 130,395 common shares for $10 million.
Finance Charges
Finance charges were $88 million, a decrease of $4 million from 2021 due to lower debt issue costs, partially offset by the impact of higher variable interest rates on our Senior Credit and Real Estate Credit Facilities. In 2021, we accelerated the amortization of issue costs associated with fully redeemed unsecured senior notes. 14 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Capital Spending and Long-Lived Assets
Capital expenditures for the purchase of property, plant and equipment were $184 million in 2022, an increase of $108 million from 2021. Capital spending by spend category included $63 million for expansion and upgrades and $121 million for the maintenance of existing assets and infrastructure.
During 2022, we acquired the well servicing business and associated rental assets of High Arctic for consideration of $38 million. On the date of acquisition, we made a $10 million cash payment with the remaining balance of $28 million paid in 2023. The acquisition increased the size and scale of our operations within the Canadian well servicing industry, adding well-service rigs to our fleet along with related rental assets, ancillary support equipment, inventories, spares and operating facilities in key operating basins.
Under IFRS, we review the carrying value of our long-lived assets for indications of impairment at the end of each reporting period. At December 31, 2022, we reviewed each of our cash-generating units and did not identify indications of impairment and, therefore, did not test our CGUs for impairment.
Through the completion of normal course business operations, we sold non-core assets for proceeds of $37 million resulting in a gain on asset disposal of $30 million.
Income Taxes
In 2022, we recognized an income tax expense of $20 million as compared with an income tax recovery of $5 million in 2021. In 2022, we continued to not recognize the benefit of Canadian and certain international deferred tax assets resulting in a higher income tax expense as compared with 2021.
SEGMENTED RESULTS
Contract Drilling Services
Financial Results
| Year ended December 31<br>(in thousands of dollars, except where noted) | 2023 | % of<br>revenue | 2022 | % of<br>revenue | 2021 | % of<br>revenue | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 1,704,265 | 1,436,134 | 877,943 | |||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||
| Operating | 1,030,053 | 60.4 | 988,885 | 68.9 | 618,327 | 70.4 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 43,451 | 2.5 | 49,496 | 3.4 | 28,084 | 3.2 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 630,761 | 37.0 | 397,753 | 27.7 | 231,532 | 26.4 |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
Operating Statistics
| Year ended December 31 | 2023 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2022 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2021 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of drilling rigs (year-end) | 214 | (4.9 | ) | 225 | (0.9 | ) | 227 | — | |||||||
| Drilling utilization days (operating and moving) | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. | 17,961 | (11.9 | ) | 20,396 | 40.7 | 14,494 | 20.0 | ||||||||
| Canada | 21,156 | 3.1 | 20,519 | 30.0 | 15,782 | 46.2 | |||||||||
| International | 2,132 | (2.6 | ) | 2,190 | — | 2,190 | (13.3 | ) | |||||||
| Drilling revenue per utilization day | |||||||||||||||
| U.S. | 35,040 | 28.3 | 27,309 | 28.7 | 21,213 | (19.0 | ) | ||||||||
| Canada | 33,151 | 22.6 | 27,037 | 28.1 | 21,105 | (2.3 | ) | ||||||||
| International | 50,840 | (0.8 | ) | 51,242 | (3.0 | ) | 52,837 | (3.6 | ) |
2023 Compared with 2022
Revenue from Contract Drilling Services was $1,704 million, 19% higher than 2022 due to higher North America revenue per utilization day rates, increased Canadian drilling activity, partially offset by lower U.S. and international activity. As compared to 2022, our drilling rig utilization days increased 3% in Canada while U.S. and international decreased by 12% and 3%, respectively.
Operating expenses in 2023 were 60% of revenue, 9% lower than the prior year, representing our revenue efficiency as our strengthening North American revenue per utilization day outpaced operating cost increases. On a per utilization day basis, in the U.S., operating costs were 10% higher than 2022 primarily due to higher rig operating expenses and repairs and maintenance and the impact of fixed operating overheads spread over fewer utilization days. Operating costs on a per day basis in our Canadian drilling rig division were 13% higher than in 2022, primarily due to higher rig operating expenses and repairs and maintenance. In both the U.S. and Canada, higher rig operating expenses primarily related to increased wages.
General and administrative expenses for 2023 decreased by 12% due to lower share-based compensation resulting from our lower share price. We recognized share-based compensation of $4 million as compared with $13 million in 2022. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 15
Our Adjusted EBITDA was $631 million as compared with $398 million in 2022. The increase was primarily due to the impact of stronger North America revenue per utilization day, higher Canadian drilling activity and lower share-based compensation, partially offset by decreased U.S. drilling activity.
U.S. Drilling
Revenue from U.S. drilling was US$629 million, 13% higher than 2022. Drilling rig activity, as measured by utilization days, was down 12% while average revenue per utilization day increased 28% compared with 2022. Adjusted EBITDA was US$242 million, 53% higher than 2022 and was the result of higher revenue per utilization day, partially offset by lower drilling and turnkey activity.
Our higher U.S. drilling revenue per utilization days was primarily due to higher average day rates spurred by the tightening of available Super-Spec rigs and revenue from idle but contracted rigs, partially offset by lower turnkey revenue. In 2023, we recognized turnkey revenue of US$7 million which accounted for 1% of our U.S. drilling revenue as compared with US$25 million and 4% in 2022, respectively. During the year, we recognized US$18 million of revenue from idle but contracted rigs as compared with $2 million in 2022.
Drilling Statistics – U.S.
We ended the year with a U.S. rig count of 104. We averaged 49 rigs working in 2023, 13% lower than 2022 due to lower industry activity. The average number of active land rigs for the industry was 670 as compared with 699 rigs in 2022.
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision | Industry (1) | Precision | Industry (1) | Precision | Industry (1) | |||||||
| Average number of active land rigs<br> for quarters ended: | ||||||||||||
| March 31 | 60 | 744 | 51 | 603 | 33 | 378 | ||||||
| June 30 | 51 | 700 | 55 | 687 | 39 | 437 | ||||||
| September 30 | 41 | 631 | 57 | 746 | 41 | 485 | ||||||
| December 31 | 45 | 603 | 60 | 761 | 45 | 545 | ||||||
| Annual average | 49 | 670 | 56 | 699 | 40 | 461 |
(1) Source: Baker Hughes.
Canadian Drilling
Revenue from Canadian drilling was $701 million, 26% higher than 2022. Drilling rig activity, as measured by utilization days, was up by 3% while average revenue per utilization day increased 23% as compared with 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA was $279 million, 45% higher than 2022 and was the result of higher drilling activity and day rates.
Drilling Statistics – Canada
We ended the year with a Canadian rig count of 97. Our average active rig count increased to 58 rigs in 2023, up from 56 rigs in 2022, and was consistent with increased industry activity as the average active land rigs increased from 176 to 177.
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision | Industry (1) | Precision | Industry (1) | Precision | Industry (1) | |||||||
| Average number of active land rigs<br> for quarters ended: | ||||||||||||
| March 31 | 69 | 221 | 63 | 205 | 42 | 145 | ||||||
| June 30 | 42 | 117 | 37 | 113 | 27 | 72 | ||||||
| September 30 | 57 | 188 | 59 | 199 | 51 | 151 | ||||||
| December 31 | 64 | 181 | 66 | 187 | 52 | 160 | ||||||
| Annual average | 58 | 177 | 56 | 176 | 43 | 132 |
(1) Source: Baker Hughes.
COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES
Financial Results
| Year ended December 31<br>(in thousands of dollars, except where noted) | 2023 | % of<br>revenue | 2022 | % of<br>revenue | 2021 | % of<br>revenue | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 240,716 | 187,171 | 113,488 | |||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||
| Operating | 181,622 | 75.5 | 141,827 | 75.8 | 84,401 | 74.4 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 7,870 | 3.3 | 7,197 | 3.8 | 5,280 | 4.7 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 51,224 | 21.3 | 38,147 | 20.4 | 23,807 | 21.0 |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report. 16 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Operating Statistics
| Year ended December 31 | 2023 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2022 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | 2021 | % increase/<br>(decrease) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of service rigs (end of year) | 183 | 35.6 | 135 | 9.8 | 123 | — | ||||||
| Service rig operating hours | 201,627 | 18.4 | 170,362 | 34.3 | 126,840 | 54.8 |
2023 Compared with 2022
Revenue from Completion and Production Services was $241 million, 29% higher than 2022, resulting from increased well service activity and stronger hourly service rates. Our current year service rig operating hours rose by 18% versus 2022.
Operating expenses were 76% of segment revenue, largely consistent with 2022, as industry-wide wage increases were offset by increased hourly service rates. General and administrative expenses increased 9% due higher fixed overheads associated with our High Arctic and CWC acquisitions, partially offset by lower share-based compensation.
Adjusted EBITDA increased by 34% from 2022 as a result of increased activity and higher service rates.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
Financial Results
| Year ended December 31<br>(in thousands of dollars, except where noted) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expenses | ||||||
| General and administrative | 70,867 | 124,295 | 62,567 | |||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | (70,867 | ) | (124,295 | ) | (62,567 | ) |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
2023 Compared with 2022
Our Corporate and Other segment contains support functions that provide assistance to our business segments. It includes costs incurred in corporate groups in both Canada and the U.S.
Corporate general and administrative expenses were $71 million, $53 million lower than 2022. The decrease was mainly related to lower share-based compensation resulting from our decreased share price in the current year. Corporate general and administrative costs were 4% of consolidated revenue as compared with 8% in 2022.
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS
| 2023 – Quarters Ended<br>(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts) | March 31 | June 30 | September 30 | December 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 558,607 | 425,622 | 446,754 | 506,871 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 203,219 | 142,093 | 114,575 | 151,231 | ||||
| Net earnings (loss) | 95,830 | 26,900 | 19,792 | 146,722 | ||||
| per basic share | 7.02 | 1.97 | 1.45 | 10.42 | ||||
| per diluted share | 5.57 | 1.63 | 1.45 | 9.81 | ||||
| Funds provided by operations(1) | 159,653 | 136,959 | 91,608 | 145,189 | ||||
| Cash provided by (used in) operations | 28,356 | 213,460 | 88,500 | 170,255 |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
| 2022 – Quarters Ended<br>(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts) | March 31 | June 30 | September 30 | December 31 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 351,339 | 326,016 | 429,335 | 510,504 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 36,855 | 64,099 | 119,561 | 91,090 | ||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | (43,844 | ) | (24,611 | ) | 30,679 | 3,483 | ||||
| per basic share | (3.25 | ) | (1.81 | ) | 2.26 | 0.27 | ||||
| per diluted share | (3.25 | ) | (1.81 | ) | 2.03 | 0.27 | ||||
| Funds provided by operations(1) | 29,955 | 60,373 | 81,327 | 111,339 | ||||||
| Cash provided by operations | (65,294 | ) | 135,174 | 8,142 | 159,082 |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2022
We recorded net earnings of $147 million or $10.42 per share as compared with net earnings of $3 million or $0.27 per share in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Fourth quarter revenue of $507 million was largely consistent with 2022 as increased drilling and service revenue rates were offset by lower North America activity. Drilling rig utilization days decreased 25% and 3% in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, while international activity increased 26% as we reactivated rigs in the Middle East. Fourth quarter revenue from our Contract Drilling Services was largely consistent with 2022, whereas revenue from our Completion and Production Services segment increased 5%. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 17
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $151 million, $60 million higher than 2022. Our increased Adjusted EBITDA in 2023 was primarily due to lower share-based compensation. Share-based compensation for the quarter was $13 million, $62 million lower than 2022 as a result of our lower share price appreciation during the current year quarter.
Contract Drilling Services
Revenue from Contract Drilling Services was $447 million, largely consistent with 2022, while Adjusted EBITDA increased 18% to $162 million. The increased Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to higher daily operating margins and international activity, partially offset by lower North America drilling activity.
Drilling rig utilization days in the U.S. were 4,138, 25% lower than 2022. Drilling rig utilization days in Canada were 5,909, 3% lower than 2022. The movement in utilization days in both the U.S. and Canada was largely consistent with changes in industry activity. Drilling rig utilization days in our international business increased 26% to 693, as we reactivated rigs in Kuwait.
As compared with 2022, our U.S. fourth quarter revenue per utilization day increased 10% to US$34,452. The increase was primarily the result of higher fleet average day rates and idle but contracted rig revenue, partially offset by lower turnkey revenue. We recognized revenue from idle but contracted rigs and turnkey activity of US$7 million and nil, respectively, as compared with nil and US$4 million in 2022. Compared with the same quarter in 2022, drilling rig revenue per utilization day in Canada increased 16% to $34,616 due to higher average day rates and customer cost recoveries. Our international revenue per utilization day for the quarter was consistent with 2022.
In the U.S., operating costs per utilization day were $21,039, 9% higher than in 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher rig operating costs and repairs and maintenance and the impact of fixed costs being spread over fewer activity days. Our Canadian operating costs on a per day basis increased 9% to $19,191 and was due to higher field wages and recoverable costs, partially offset by lower repairs and maintenance.
Our general and administrative expenses decreased $5 million as compared with 2022 and was primarily the result of lower share-based compensation, partially offset by the impact of higher translated U.S. dollar-denominated costs.
Completion and Production Services
Completion and Production Services revenue increased to $62 million as compared with $59 million in 2022. The higher revenue was primarily due to increased average service rates and activity. Our fourth quarter service rig operating hours were 56,683 an increase of 15% from 2022.
Operating costs as a percentage of revenue were 77%, consistent with 2022. As compared to 2022, our fourth quarter general and administrative expenses increased 9%, primarily due to overhead charges associated with the CWC acquisition.
Adjusted EBITDA was $12 million, consistent with 2022.
Corporate and Other
Our Corporate and Other segment provides support functions to our operating segments. The Corporate and Other segment had negative Adjusted EBITDA of $23 million as compared with negative $58 million in 2022. Our improved Adjusted EBITDA was due to lower share-based compensation, partially offset by $4 million in transaction costs and severance.
18 Management's Discussion and Analysis
| FINANCIAL CONDITION |
|---|
The oilfield services business is inherently cyclical. To manage this variability, we focus on maintaining a strong financial position to have the financial flexibility we need to continue to manage our capital expenditures and cash flows, no matter where we are in the business cycle.
We apply a disciplined approach to managing and tracking the results of our operations to keep costs down. We maintain a variable cost structure so we can respond to changing market demand. We also invest in our fleet to make sure we remain competitive. Our maintenance capital expenditures are tightly governed and highly responsive to activity levels with additional cost savings generated through the operating leverage provided by our internal manufacturing and supply divisions. Term contracts on expansion capital for new-build rig programs help provide more certainty of future revenues and return on our growth capital investments.
LIQUIDITY
During 2023, we maintained our strong liquidity position, exiting the year with a cash balance of $54 million and more than $600 million of available liquidity. We expect cash provided by operations and our sources of financing, including our Senior Credit Facility, to be sufficient to meet our unsecured senior note obligations and to fund future capital expenditures.
At December 31, 2023, excluding letters of credit, we had approximately $929 million (2022 – $1,103 million) outstanding under our secured and unsecured credit facilities and $11 million (2022 – $15 million) in unamortized debt issue costs. Our Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facility include financial ratio covenants that are tested quarterly.
The current blended cash interest cost of our debt is approximately 7.0%.
Key Financial Indicators and Ratios
We evaluate the relative strength of our financial position by monitoring our working capital, debt ratios and liquidity. We also monitor returns on capital and link our executives’ incentive compensation to certain long-term strategic targets as well as the returns of our shareholders relative to the shareholder returns of our peers. Please refer to page 12 for our summary of Financial Position and Ratios.
Credit Rating
Credit ratings affect our ability to obtain short and long-term financing, the cost of this financing, and our ability to engage in certain business activities cost-effectively.
| At March 4, 2024 | Moody’s | S&P | Fitch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate credit rating | Ba3 | B+ | B+ |
| Senior Credit Facility rating | Not rated | Not rated | BB+ |
| Unsecured senior notes credit rating | B1 | B+ | B+ |
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
To maintain and grow our business, we invest in growth, upgrade and sustaining capital. We base expansion and upgrade capital decisions on return of capital employed and payback. We mitigate the risk that we may not be able to fully recover our capital, by requiring term contracts for new-build rigs.
We base our maintenance capital decisions on actual activity levels, using key financial indicators that we express as per operating day or per operating hour. Sourcing internally (through our manufacturing and supply divisions) helps keep our maintenance capital costs as low as possible.
Foreign Exchange Risk
Our U.S. and international operations have revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the Canadian dollar (mostly in U.S. dollars and currencies that are pegged to the U.S. dollar). This means that changes in currency exchange rates can materially affect our income statement, statement of financial position and statement of cash flow. We manage this risk by matching the currency of our debt obligations with the currency of cash flows generated by the operations that the debt supports.
Hedge of Investments in Foreign Operations
We utilize foreign currency long-term debt to hedge our exposure to changes in the carrying values of our net investment in certain foreign operations as a result of changes in foreign exchange rates. During 2023, we continued to designate our U.S. dollar Senior Credit Facility and unsecured senior notes as a net investment hedge in our U.S. dollar denominated foreign operations. To be accounted for as a hedge, the foreign currency denominated long-term debt must be designated and documented as such and must be effective at inception and on an ongoing basis. We recognize the effective amount of this hedge (net of tax) in other comprehensive income. We recognize ineffective amounts in earnings. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 19
SOURCES AND USES OF CASH
| At December 31 (in thousands of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash provided by operations | 500,571 | 237,104 | 139,225 | |||
| Cash used in investing activities | (214,784 | ) | (144,415 | ) | (56,613 | ) |
| Surplus | 285,787 | 92,689 | 82,612 | |||
| Cash used in financing activities | (251,966 | ) | (113,171 | ) | (149,913 | ) |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | (1,226 | ) | 1,481 | (883 | ) | |
| Net cash movement | 32,595 | (19,001 | ) | (68,184 | ) |
Cash Provided by Operations
In 2023, cash provided by operations was $501 million compared with $237 million in 2022. The increase was driven by our revenue efficiency, as average drilling and service revenue rate increases outpaced operating cost increases, and lower share-based compensation, partially offset by lower U.S. and international drilling activity.
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Our 2023 capital spending of $227 million by spend category was comprised of:
▪ $64 million on upgrade and expansion capital, and
▪ $163 million on maintenance and infrastructure capital.
The $227 million in capital expenditures in 2023 was split between our segments as follows:
▪ $214 million in Contract Drilling Services,
▪ $10 million in Completion and Production Services, and
▪ $3 million in Corporate and Other.
Expansion and upgrade capital includes the cost of long-lead items purchased for our capital inventory, such as integrated top drives, drill pipe, control systems, engines, and other items we can use to complete new-build projects or upgrade our rigs in North America and internationally.
We sold underutilized capital assets for proceeds of $24 million in 2023 compared with $37 million in 2022.
Our business combination activities included:
▪ The acquisition of CWC in which we made a cash payment of $14 million on November 8, 2023 which was offset by the acquired CWC cash balance of $13 million, and
▪ The payment of $28 million in connection with our 2022 acquisition of High Arctic that was deferred until 2023.
Our investments and other assets activities included:
▪ The sale of Cathedral common shares for proceeds of $10 million, and
▪ Our investment in CleanDesign for $5 million.
Cash Used in Financing Activities
In 2023, cash used in financing activities was $252 million as compared with $113 million in 2022. Our 2023 financing activities were comprised of:
▪ $213 million of long-term debt repayments, which included the repayment of CWC's $51 million syndicated loan that was assumed upon acquisition,
▪ $30 million of NCIB share repurchases, and
▪ $9 million of lease payments.
20 Management's Discussion and Analysis
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Material Debt
| Amount | Availability | Used for | Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Credit Facility (secured) | |||
| US$447 million (extendible, revolving<br>term credit facility with US$353 million<br>accordion feature) | Nil drawn and US$56 million in <br>outstanding letters of credit | General corporate purposes | June 18, 2025 |
| Real estate credit facilities (secured) | |||
| US$8 million | Fully drawn | General corporate purposes | November 19, 2025 |
| $16 million | Fully drawn | General corporate purposes | March 16, 2026 |
| $10 million | Fully drawn | General corporate purposes | June 30, 2028 |
| Operating facilities (secured) | |||
| $40 million | Undrawn, except $20 million<br>in outstanding letters of credit | Letters of credit and general<br>corporate purposes | |
| US$15 million | Undrawn | Short term working capital<br>requirements | |
| Demand letter of credit facility (secured) | |||
| US$40 million | Undrawn, except US$28 million<br>in outstanding letters of credit | Letters of credit | |
| Unsecured senior notes (unsecured) | |||
| US$273 million – 7.125% | Fully drawn | Debt redemption and repurchases | January 15, 2026 |
| US$400 million – 6.875% | Fully drawn | Debt redemption and repurchases | January 15, 2029 |
Covenants
At December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with the covenants of our Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facility and unsecured senior notes.
| Covenant | At December 31, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Credit Facility | |||
| Consolidated senior debt to consolidated covenant EBITDA(1) | ≤ 2.50 | 0.07 | |
| Consolidated covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense | ≥ 2.50 | 6.92 | |
| Real Estate Credit Facility | |||
| Consolidated covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense | ≥ 2.50 | 6.92 | |
| Unsecured Senior Notes | |||
| Consolidated interest coverage ratio | ≥ 2.00 | 7.50 |
(1) For purposes of calculating the leverage ratio consolidated senior debt only includes secured indebtedness.
Senior Credit Facility
The senior secured revolving credit facility (Senior Credit Facility) provides Precision with senior secured financing for general corporate purposes, including for acquisitions, of up to US$447 million with a provision for an increase in the facility of up to an additional US$353 million. The Senior Credit Facility is secured by charges on substantially all of the present and future assets of Precision, its material U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries and, if necessary, to adhere to covenants under the Senior Credit Facility, certain subsidiaries organized in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the U.S.
The Senior Credit Facility requires Precision comply with certain restrictive and financial covenants including a leverage ratio of consolidated senior debt to consolidated Covenant EBITDA (as defined in the debt agreement) of less than 2.5:1. For purposes of calculating the leverage ratio consolidated senior debt only includes secured indebtedness. It also requires the Corporation maintain a ratio of consolidated Covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense for the most recent four consecutive quarters of greater than 2.5:1.
Distributions under the Senior Credit Facility are subject to a pro-forma senior net leverage covenant of less than or equal to 1.75:1. The Senior Credit Facility also limits the redemption and repurchase of junior debt subject to a pro-forma senior net leverage covenant test of less than or equal to 1.75:1.
Under the Senior Credit Facility, amounts can be drawn in U.S. dollars and/or Canadian dollars. At December 31, 2023, the facility was undrawn (2022 – US$44 million). Up to US$200 million of the Senior Credit Facility is available for letters of credit denominated in U.S. and/or Canadian dollars and other currencies acceptable to the fronting lender. As at December 31, 2023, outstanding letters of credit amounted to US$56 million (2022 – US$56 million).
The interest rate on loans that are denominated in U.S. dollars is, at the option of Precision, either a margin over a U.S. base rate or a margin over Term SOFR. The interest rate on loans denominated in Canadian dollars is, at the option of Precision, either a margin over the Canadian prime rate or a margin over the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR); such margins will be based on the then applicable ratio of consolidated total debt to EBITDA. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 21
In 2023, we agreed with the lenders of our Senior Credit Facility to remove certain non-extending lenders from our facility, thereby reducing the total commitment from US$500 million to US$447 million.
Real Estate Credit Facilities
In 2023, we assumed a $10 million Canadian Real Estate Facility from our acquisition of CWC. The facility matures in June 2028 and is secured by real properties in Alberta, Canada. Principal plus interest payments are due monthly, based on a 22-year amortization period with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a CORRA rate plus margin.
Our $16 million Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility is secured by real properties in Alberta, Canada. Principal plus interest payments are due quarterly, based on 15-year straight-line amortization with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a CDOR rate plus margin.
Our U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility is secured by real property located in Houston, Texas. Principal plus interest payments are due monthly, based on 15-year straight-line amortization with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a LIBOR rate plus margin.
Our Real Estate Credit Facilities contain certain affirmative and negative covenants and events of default, customary for these types of transactions. Under the terms of these facilities, we must maintain financial covenants in accordance with the Senior Credit Facility, described above, as of the last day of each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters. For the Canadian Real Estate Credit Facilities, in the event the Senior Credit Facility expires, is cancelled, or is terminated, financial covenants in effect at that time shall remain in place for the remaining duration of the facility. For the U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility, in the event the consolidated Covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense coverage ratio is waived or removed from the Senior Credit Facility, a minimum threshold of 1.15:1 is required.
Unsecured Senior Notes
The unsecured senior notes require we comply with an incurrence based consolidated interest coverage ratio test of consolidated cash flow, as defined in the senior note agreements, to consolidated interest expense of greater than 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters. In the event our consolidated interest coverage ratio is less than 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters, the senior notes restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness.
The unsecured senior notes contain a restricted payment covenant that limits our ability to pay dividends, make distributions or repurchase shares from shareholders. This restricted payment basket grows from a starting point of October 1, 2017 for the 2026 senior notes and July 1, 2021 for the 2029 senior notes by, among other things, 50% of consolidated cumulative net earnings and decreases by 100% of consolidated cumulative net losses, as defined in the senior note agreements, and payments made to shareholders. The governing net restricted payments basket is currently negative, limiting our ability to declare and make dividend payments and repurchase shares until such time as the restricted payments baskets become positive. During 2023, pursuant to the indentures governing the unsecured senior notes, Precision used the available general restricted payments basket to facilitate the repurchase and cancellation of its common shares.
In addition, the unsecured senior notes contain certain covenants that limit our ability, and the ability of certain subsidiaries, to incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred shares; create liens; create or permit to exist restrictions on our ability or certain subsidiaries to make certain payments and distributions; engage in amalgamations, mergers or consolidations; make certain dispositions and engage in transactions with affiliates.
For further information, please see the unsecured senior note indentures which are available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations include both financial obligations (long-term debt and interest) and non-financial obligations (new-build rig commitments, leases, and equity-based compensation for key executives and officers). The table below shows the amounts of these obligations and when payments are due for each.
| Payments due (by period) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At December 31, 2023<br>(in thousands of dollars) | Less than<br>1 year | 1-3 years | 4-5 years | More than<br>5 years | Total | |||||
| Long-term debt(1) | 2,848 | 388,441 | 7,854 | 529,904 | 929,047 | |||||
| Interest on long-term debt(1) | 65,030 | 103,255 | 73,543 | 1,518 | 243,346 | |||||
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment(1)(2) | 88,263 | 86,374 | — | — | 174,637 | |||||
| Leases(1) | 17,540 | 28,009 | 14,451 | 10,748 | 70,748 | |||||
| Contractual incentive plans(1)(3) | 67,117 | 34,656 | — | — | 101,773 | |||||
| Total | 240,798 | 640,735 | 95,848 | 542,170 | 1,519,551 |
(1) U.S. dollar denominated balances are translated at the period end exchange rate of Cdn$1.00 equals US$0.7549.
(2) Balance primarily relates to cost of rig equipment with flexible delivery schedule wherein we can take delivery between 2024 and 2026.
(3) Includes amounts not yet accrued but are likely to be paid at the end of the contract term. Our long-term incentive plans compensate officers and key employees through cash payments when their awards vest. Equity-based compensation amounts are shown based on the closing share price on the TSX of $71.96 at December 31, 2023. 22 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Shareholders Capital
| March 4,<br>2024 | December 31,<br>2023 | December 31,<br>2022 | December 31,<br>2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shares outstanding | 14,478,582 | 14,336,539 | 13,558,525 | 13,304,425 | ||||
| Deferred shares outstanding | 1,470 | 1,470 | 1,470 | 1,470 | ||||
| Share options outstanding | 87,983 | 151,453 | 164,803 | 383,448 |
During 2024, we settled certain vesting RSUs and PSUs through the issuance of 265,143 common shares and, pursuant to our NCIB, repurchased and cancelled 123,100 common shares for $10 million.
More information about our capital structure can be found in our Annual Information Form, available on our website and on SEDAR+.
Common Shares
Our articles of amalgamation allow us to issue an unlimited number of common shares.
Preferred Shares
We can issue preferred shares in one or more series. The Board must pass a resolution determining the number of shares in each series, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions for each series, before the shares can be issued. This includes the rate or amount of dividends, when and where dividends are paid, the dates dividends accrue from any rights or obligations for us to buy or redeem the shares, and the price, terms and conditions, and any conversion rights.
Enterprise Value
| (in thousands of dollars, except shares outstanding and per share amounts) | December 31,<br>2023 | December 31,<br>2022 | December 31,<br>2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shares outstanding | 14,336,539 | 13,558,525 | 13,304,425 | ||||||
| Year-end share price on the TSX | 71.96 | 103.71 | 44.69 | ||||||
| Shares at market | 1,031,657 | 1,406,155 | 594,575 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 914,830 | 1,085,970 | 1,106,794 | ||||||
| Less cash | (54,182 | ) | (21,587 | ) | (40,588 | ) | |||
| Enterprise Value(1) | 1,892,305 | 2,470,538 | 1,660,781 |
(1) See Financial Measures and Ratios on page 40 of this report.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 23
| ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES |
|---|
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS
Because of the nature of our business, we are required to make estimates about the future that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Estimates are based on our past experience, our best judgement and assumptions we think are reasonable.
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We believe the following are the most difficult, subjective or complex judgements, and are the most critical to how we report our financial position and results of operations:
▪ impairment of long-lived assets
▪ business combination
▪ income taxes.
Climate-related risks and opportunities may have a future impact on the Corporation and its estimates and judgements, including but not limited to the useful life and residual value of its property, plant and equipment and the measurement of projected cash flows when identifying impairment triggers, performing tests for impairment or impairment recoveries of non-financial assets.
The Corporation evaluated the remaining useful lives and residual values of its property, plant and equipment, concluding they remain reasonable given the current estimate of the demand period for oil and natural gas extractive services well exceeds their remaining useful lives. In addition, the Corporation’s property, plant and equipment, including drill rig equipment, adapts to numerous low-carbon projects, including but not limited to, geothermal drilling, carbon capture and storage and the extraction of helium and hydrogen gas.
In future periods, if indications of impairment of non-financial assets exist, the Corporation’s measurement of projected cash flows may be exposed to higher estimation uncertainty, including but not limited to the Corporation’s continued capital investment required to lower the carbon intensity of its property, plant and equipment, period and growth expectations used to calculate terminal values and the Corporation’s weighted average cost of capital.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment and intangibles, comprise the majority of our assets. The carrying value of these assets is reviewed for impairment periodically or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The Corporation’s analysis is based on relevant internal and external factors that indicate a CGU may be impaired such as the obsolescence or planned disposal of significant assets, the financial performance of the CGU compared to forecasts and consideration of the Corporation’s market capitalization.
The recoverability of long-lived assets requires a calculation of the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit or groups of CGUs to which assets have been allocated. A CGU is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. Judgement is required in the aggregation of assets into CGUs. The recoverability calculation requires an estimation of the future cash flows from the CGU or group of CGUs, and judgement is required in projecting cash flows and selecting the appropriate discount rate. We use observable market data inputs to develop a discount rate that we believe approximates the discount rate from market participants. For property, plant and equipment, this requires us to forecast future cash flows to be derived from the utilization of our assets based on assumptions about future business conditions and technological developments. Significant, unanticipated changes to these assumptions could require a provision for impairment in the future.
In deriving the underlying projected cash flows, assumptions must also be made about future drilling activity, margins and market conditions over the long-term life of the assets or CGUs. We cannot predict if an event that triggers impairment will occur, when it will occur or how it will occur, or how it will affect reported asset amounts. Although we believe the estimates are reasonable and consistent with current conditions, internal planning, and expected future operations, such estimations are subject to significant uncertainty and judgement.
Business Combinations
The determination of fair value is estimated based on information available at the date of acquisition and requires management to make assumptions and estimates about future events. The assumptions and estimates with respect to determining the fair value of property, plant and equipment generally requires significant judgment. The measurement of the estimated fair value of acquired property, plant, and equipment is based on a combination of approaches, including the market approach, which applies significant assumptions related to the price at which comparable assets would be sold. Minor changes to these assumptions could have resulted in a significant impact to the fair value of property, plant and equipment acquired.
Income Taxes
Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations, changes in tax laws, and the amount and timing of future taxable income. Differences arising between the actual results and the assumptions made, or future changes to such assumptions, could necessitate future adjustments to taxable income and expenses already recorded. We establish provisions, based on reasonable estimates, for possible consequences of audits by the tax authorities of the respective countries in which 24 Management's Discussion and Analysis
we operate. The amount of such provisions is based on various factors, such as our experience with previous tax audits and differing interpretations of tax regulations by the taxable entity and the responsible tax authority.
| RISKS IN OUR BUSINESS |
|---|
Investing in Precision securities presents risks. Take time to read about the risks described below and other important information in this MD&A and our other disclosure documents before making an investment decision, as these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. You may also want to seek advice from an expert.
Our enterprise risk management framework operates at the business and functional levels and is designed to identify, evaluate and mitigate risks within each of the risk categories below. It leverages the risk framework in each of our businesses, which includes Precision’s policies, guidelines and review mechanisms.
In the course of our operations, our businesses regularly confront and navigate various risks, some of which have the potential to result in future outcomes that may differ, and at times, be materially different from our current expectations. In this section, we provide a detailed account of certain important strategic, operational, financial, legal and compliance risks. Our response to developments in those risk areas and our reactions to material future developments will affect our future results.
Our operations depend on the prices of oil and natural gas, which are subject to volatility and on the exploration and development activities of oil and natural gas exploration and production companies
We primarily sell our services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. Macroeconomic and geopolitical factors associated with oil and natural gas supply and demand are the primary factors driving pricing and profitability in the oilfield services industry. Generally, we experience high demand for our services when commodity prices are relatively high, and the opposite is true when commodity prices are relatively low. The volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices accounts for much of the cyclical nature of the oilfield services business in recent years. Increased volatility and other factors beyond our control have led to greater uncertainty in the demand for our services.
The markets for oil and natural gas are separate and distinct. Oil is a global commodity with a vast distribution network, although the differential between benchmarks such as West Texas Intermediate, Western Canadian Select, and European Brent crude oil can fluctuate. As in all markets, when supply, demand, inability to access domestic or export markets and other factors change, so can the spreads between benchmarks. The use of natural gas is growing worldwide, with the three most developed demand centers residing in North America, Western Europe and North Asia. These regions have dense pipeline networks and a high demand for natural gas. The world’s largest producers of natural gas are currently the U.S., Russia, Iran, Qatar, Canada, China, Norway and Australia. The most economical way to transport natural gas is in its gaseous state by pipeline, and the natural gas market depends on pipeline infrastructure and regional supply and demand. However, developments in the transportation of LNG in ocean-going tanker ships introduced an element of globalization to the natural gas market. The development of LNG means all the major production centers for natural gas are linked to the world’s major demand centers.
Worldwide military, political, economic conditions and other events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, expectations for global economic growth, inflation, political sanctions, trade disputes, or initiatives by OPEC+, can all affect supply and demand for oil and natural gas. Weather conditions, governmental regulation (in Canada and U.S.), levels of consumer demand, the availability and pricing of alternate sources of energy (including renewable energy initiatives), the availability of pipeline capacity and other transportation for oil and natural gas, global oil and natural gas storage levels, and other factors beyond our control can also affect the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas and lead to future price volatility.
According to Baker Hughes, the Canadian average active rig count in 2023 was flat year over year, while the U.S. average active land drilling rig count declined approximately 6%. In Canada, the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC) reported approximately 5,700 wells were drilled in 2023, compared with 5,500 in 2022 and 4,600 in 2021. For the U.S., Enverus reported approximately 15,600 wells were started onshore in the U.S., compared with approximately 17,600 in 2022 and 14,400 in 2021. Drilling activity in the U.S. began to weaken in early 2023 due to lower natural gas prices and oil price volatility and was exacerbated by drilling and completion efficiencies, consolidation among producers, and continued capital discipline. In Canada, drilling activity is supported by strong fundamentals as additional take away capacity for oil and natural gas becomes available in 2024.
Recently, commodity prices have been negatively affected by a combination of factors, including increased production, the decisions of OPEC+, concerns in respect of a recession and a strengthening in the U.S. dollar relative to most other currencies. Although OPEC+ agreed in November 2023 to additional oil production cuts, there is no assurance that the most recent OPEC+ agreement will be observed by its parties and OPEC+ may change its agreement depending upon market conditions. Oil and natural gas prices are expected to continue to be volatile as a result of conflict in Ukraine, concerns around expansion of conflict in the Middle East, changes in oil and natural gas inventories, sanctions on Russian oil and natural gas exports and prices, global and national economic performance, the actions of OPEC+, and any coordinated releases of oil from strategic reserves by the U.S. (or any other country). Certain of these events and conditions may contribute to decreased exploration and drilling Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 25
activities and a decrease in confidence in the oil and natural gas industry. These difficulties have been exacerbated in Canada and the U.S. by political and other actions resulting in uncertainty surrounding regulatory, tax, royalty and environmental regulation. Each of these factors have adversely affected, and could continue to adversely affect, the price of oil and natural gas and drilling activities by our customers, which would adversely affect the level of capital spending by our customers and in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
As a result of the continued volatility in oil and natural gas prices, regulatory uncertainty, and strategies of certain of our customers to focus on debt reductions, returning cash to shareholders or other capital discipline rather than incurring expenditures on exploration and drilling activities, demand for our services may be lower compared to historic periods when commodity prices were at similar levels. Reductions in commodity prices or factors that impact the supply and demand for oil and natural gas and lead to price volatility may result in reductions in capital budgets by our customers in the future, which could result in cancelled, delayed or reduced drilling programs by our customers and a corresponding decline in demand for our services. Additionally, the availability and pricing of alternative sources of energy, a transition to lower carbon intensive energy sources or a shift to a lower carbon economy, and technological advances may also depress the overall level of oil and natural gas exploration and production activity, similarly impacting the demand for our services.
If a reduction in exploration and development activities, whether resulting from changes in oil and natural gas prices or reductions in capital expenditures and capital budgets as described above or otherwise, continues or worsens, it could materially and adversely affect us further by:
▪ negatively impacting our revenue, cash flow, profitability and financial condition
▪ restricting our ability to make capital expenditures compared to periods prior to the downturn and our ability to meet future contracted deliveries of new-build rigs
▪ affecting the existing fair market value of our rig fleet, which in turn could trigger a write-down for accounting purposes
▪ our customers negotiating, terminating, or failing to honour their drilling contracts with us
▪ making our Senior Credit Facility financial covenants more difficult to maintain, and
▪ negatively impacting our ability to maintain or increase our borrowing capacity, our ability to obtain additional capital to finance our business and our ability to achieve our debt reduction targets.
There is no assurance that demands for our services or conditions in the oil and natural gas and oilfield services sector will remain stable in the future. A significant decline in demand could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Additionally, we have accounts receivable with customers in the oil and natural gas industry and their revenues may be affected by fluctuations in commodity prices. Our ability to collect receivables may be adversely affected by any prolonged weakness in oil and natural gas prices.
Intense price competition and the cyclical nature of the contract drilling industry could have an adverse effect on revenue and profitability
The contract drilling business is highly competitive with many industry participants. In an environment characterized by fierce competition, companies often face pressure to lower prices to secure contracts, potentially eroding profit margins. We compete for drilling contracts that are usually awarded based on competitive bids. We believe pricing, rig availability and technology are the primary factors potential customers consider when selecting a drilling contractor. We believe other factors are also important, such as the drilling capabilities and condition of drilling rigs, the quality of service and experience of rig crews, the safety record of the contractor, the offering of ancillary services, the ability to provide drilling equipment that is adaptable, having personnel familiar with new technologies and drilling techniques, and rig mobility and efficiency.
Historically, contract drilling has been cyclical with periods of low demand, excess rig supply and low day rates, followed by periods of high demand, short rig supply and increasing day rates. Periods of excess drilling rig supply intensify the competition and often result in rigs being idle. There are numerous drilling companies in the markets where we operate, and an oversupply of drilling rigs can cause greater price competition. Contract drilling companies compete primarily on a regional basis, and the intensity of competition can vary significantly from region to region at any particular time. However, if demand for contract drilling and drilling services is better in a region where we operate, our competitors might respond by moving suitable drilling rigs in from other regions with lower demand, reactivating previously stacked rigs or purchasing new drilling rigs. An influx of drilling rigs into a market from any source could rapidly intensify competition and make any improvement in the demand for our drilling rigs short-lived, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition, the development of new drilling technology by competitors has increased in recent years, which could negatively affect our ability to differentiate our services.
Our business results and the strength of our financial position are affected by our ability to strategically manage our costs and capital expenditure program in a manner consistent with industry cycles and fluctuations in the demand for contract drilling services. If we do not effectively manage our costs and capital expenditures or respond to market signals relating to the supply or demand for contract drilling and oilfield services, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. 26 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Lower activity in the contract drilling industry exposes us to the risk of oversupply of equipment
Periods of low demand often lead to low utilization. The number of drilling rigs competing for work in markets where we operate has remained the same as the industry has seen a decrease in drilling activity relative to periods prior to 2015. The industry supply of drilling rigs may exceed actual demand because of the relatively long-life span of oilfield services equipment as well as the typically long time from when a decision is made to upgrade or build new equipment to when the equipment is built and placed into service. Excess supply resulting from industry decline could lead to lower demand for term drilling contracts and for our equipment and services. The additional supply of drilling rigs allows competitors to potentially reallocate rigs to higher demand areas and has intensified price competition in the past and could continue to do so. This could lead to lower day rates in the oilfield services industry generally and lower utilization of existing rigs. If any of these factors materialize, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Pipeline constraints and other regulatory uncertainty in western Canada could have an adverse effect on the demand for our services in Canada
In western Canada, delays and/or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for pipeline projects that would provide additional transportation capacity and access to refinery capacity for our customers has led to downward price pressure on oil and natural gas produced in western Canada, which has depressed, and may continue to depress, the overall exploration and production activity of our customers. Construction is progressing on the Trans Mountain pipeline in western Canada and may be in service in the first half of 2024. Canada generally has also lagged behind other natural gas producing countries in taking advantage of rising global demand and prices for natural gas primarily as a result of Canada’s lack of liquified natural gas facilities and, by extension, export capacity owing to regulatory delay and uncertainty. The Coastal Gas Link pipeline, which will transport natural gas to Kitimat, British Columbia, has been completed; however, the LNG Canada liquefaction facility and export terminal at Kitimat remains under construction, with first exports expected in 2025. Other proposed LNG facilities in Canada are at earlier stages of development, including Woodfibre LNG and Ksi Lisims LNG (completions currently anticipated between 2027 and 2028). There is no assurance that LNG projects in Canada will be completed on their expected timelines, or at all.
The regulatory uncertainty in Canada has impacted some of our customers’ ability to obtain financing as well as their ability to market their oil and natural gas, which has also depressed overall exploration and production activity. These factors could result in a corresponding decline in the demand for our services that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Any difficulty in retaining, replacing, or adding personnel could adversely affect our business
Our ability to provide reliable services depends on the availability of well-trained, experienced crews to operate our field equipment. We must also balance our need to maintain a skilled workforce with cost structures that fluctuate with activity levels. We retain the most experienced employees during periods of low utilization by having them fill lower-level positions on field crews. Many of our businesses experience manpower shortages in peak operating periods, and we may experience more severe shortages if the industry adds more rigs, oilfield services companies expand, and new companies enter the business.
We may not be able to find enough skilled labour to meet our needs, and this could limit growth. We may also have difficulty finding enough skilled and unskilled labour in the future if demand for our services increases. Shortages of qualified personnel have occurred in the past during periods of high demand. The demand for qualified rig personnel generally increases with stronger demand for land drilling services and as new and refurbished rigs are brought into service. Increased demand typically leads to higher wages that may or may not be reflected in any increases in service rates.
Other factors can also affect our ability to find enough workers to meet our needs. Our business requires skilled workers who can perform physically demanding work. Volatility in oil and natural gas activity and the demanding nature of the work, however, may prompt workers to pursue other kinds of jobs that offer a more desirable work environment and wages competitive to ours. Our success depends on our ability to continue to employ and retain skilled technical personnel and qualified rig personnel. If we are unable to, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Internationally, our operations rely on expat crews working in the host country where we operate. Any restriction, delays or embargo on issuance or renewal of work visas by host governments, or regulatory changes, can have a material impact on our ability to conduct operations.
Risks and uncertainties associated with our international operations can negatively affect our business
We conduct some of our business in the Middle East. We may decide to establish operations in other international regions, including countries where the political and economic systems may be less stable than in Canada or the United States.
Our international operations are subject to risks normally associated with conducting business in foreign countries, including, but not limited to, the following:
▪ an uncertain political and economic environment
▪ the loss of revenue, property and equipment as a result of expropriation, confiscation, nationalization, contract deprivation and force majeure
▪ war, terrorist acts or threats, civil insurrection and geopolitical and other political risks Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 27
▪ fluctuations in foreign currency and exchange controls
▪ restrictions on the repatriation of income or capital
▪ increases in duties, taxes and governmental royalties
▪ renegotiation of contracts with governmental entities
▪ changes in laws and policies governing operations of companies
▪ compliance and regulatory challenges, including compliance with anti-corruption and anti-bribery legislation in Canada, the U.S. and other countries
▪ trade restrictions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. or other countries
▪ increasing global scrutiny on environmental practices and the evolving landscape of climate change regulations; and
▪ differences in cultural norms and social expectations
If there is a dispute relating to our international operations, we may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts. In addition, we may not be able to file suits against foreign persons or subject them to the jurisdiction of a court in Canada or the U.S. or be able to enforce judgement or arbitrated awards against state-owned customers.
Government-owned petroleum companies located in some of the countries where we operate now or in the future may have policies, or may be subject to governmental policies, that give preference to the purchase of goods and services from companies that are majority-owned by local nationals. As such, we may rely on joint ventures, license arrangements and other business combinations with local nationals in these countries, which may expose us to certain counterparty risks, including the failure of local nationals to meet contractual obligations or comply with local or international laws that apply to us.
In the international markets where we operate, we are subject to various laws and regulations that govern the operation and taxation of our businesses and the import and export of our equipment from country to country. There may be uncertainty about how these laws and regulations are imposed, applied or interpreted, and they could be subject to change. Since we derive a portion of our revenues from subsidiaries outside of Canada and the U.S., the subsidiaries paying dividends or making other cash payments or advances may be restricted from transferring funds in or out of the respective countries, or face exchange controls or taxes on any payments or advances. We have organized our foreign operations partly based on certain assumptions about various tax laws (including capital gains and withholding taxes), foreign currency exchange, and capital repatriation laws and other relevant laws of a variety of foreign jurisdictions. We believe these assumptions are reasonable; however, there is no assurance that foreign taxing or other authorities will reach the same conclusion. If these foreign jurisdictions change or modify the laws, we could suffer adverse tax and financial consequences.
Diverse regulatory frameworks across countries pose challenges in compliance, with variations in environmental standards, safety regulations, and permitting processes. Adapting to different regulatory environments may result in increased compliance costs, potential legal issues, and delays in project execution.
We are subject to compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the Corruption of Foreign Public Official Act (Canada) (CFPOA), which generally prohibit companies from making improper payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining business. While we have developed policies and procedures designed to achieve compliance with the FCPA, CFPOA and other applicable international laws, we could be exposed to potential civil and criminal claims, economic sanctions or other restrictions for alleged or actual violations of international laws related to our international operations, including anti-corruption and anti-bribery legislation, trade laws and trade sanctions. The Canadian government, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and similar agencies have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for such violations, including injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties and modifications to business practices and compliance programs, among other things. We could also face fines, sanctions and other penalties from authorities in other the relevant foreign jurisdictions, including prohibition of our participating in or curtailment of business operations in those jurisdictions and the seizure of drilling rigs or other assets. While we cannot accurately predict the impact of any of these factors, if any of those risks materialize, it could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Differences in cultural norms and social expectations can influence community relations, workforce dynamics, and stakeholder engagement. Failure to understand and navigate these aspects may lead to reputational damage, community opposition, or challenges in attracting and retaining skilled personnel.
We require sufficient cash flows to service and repay our debt
We will need sufficient cash flows in the future to service and repay our debt. Our ability to generate cash in the future is affected to some extent by general economic, geopolitical, financial, competitive and other factors that may be beyond our control. If we need to borrow funds in the future to service our debt, our ability will depend on covenants in our Senior Credit Facility and in our unsecured senior notes indentures and other debt agreements we may have in the future, and on our credit ratings. We may not be able to access sufficient amounts under the Senior Credit Facility or from the capital markets in the future to pay our obligations as they mature, or to fund other liquidity requirements. If we are not able to generate enough cash flow from operations or borrow a sufficient amount to service and repay our debt, we will need to refinance our debt or we will be in default, and we could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or dispose of material assets or issue equity. We may not be able to refinance or arrange alternative measures on favourable terms or at all. If we are unable to service, repay or refinance our debt, it could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. 28 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Repaying our debt depends on our ability to generate cash flow and our guarantor subsidiaries generating cash flow and making it available to us by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. Our guarantor subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to allow us to make payments on our debt. Each guarantor subsidiary is a distinct legal entity, and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from the subsidiaries. While the agreements governing certain existing debt limits the ability of our subsidiaries to incur consensual restrictions on their ability to pay dividends or make other intercompany payments to us, these limitations are subject to qualifications and exceptions.
A substantial portion of our operations are carried out through subsidiaries, and some of them are not guarantors of our debt. The assets of the non-guarantor subsidiaries represent approximately 17% of Precision’s consolidated assets. These subsidiaries do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the debt or to make funds available for that purpose.
If we do not receive funds from our guarantor subsidiaries, we may be unable to make the required principal and interest payments, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Customers’ inability to obtain credit/financing could lead to lower demand for our services
Many of our customers require reasonable access to credit facilities and debt capital markets to finance their oil and natural gas drilling activity. If the availability of credit to our customers is reduced or the terms of such credit become less favourable to them, they may reduce their drilling and production expenditures, thereby decreasing demand for our products and services. Higher interest rates resulting from actions by central banks in response to inflation may reduce the amount of borrowing by our customers, which would decrease demand for our services. Additionally, certain investors and lenders may discourage investments or lending into the hydrocarbon industry. To the extent that certain institutions implement policies that discourage investments or lending into the hydrocarbon industry, it could have an adverse effect on the cost and terms of capital or availability of capital for our customers, which may result in reduced spending by our customers. A reduction in spending by our customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow as described further under – “Our operations depend on the price of oil and natural gas, which have been subject to increased volatility in recent years, and on the exploration and development activities of oil and natural gas exploration and production companies” on page 25.
Our debt facilities contain restrictive covenants
Our Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facilities and the Senior Notes Indentures contain a number of covenants which, among other things, restrict us and some of our subsidiaries from conducting certain activities (see Capital Structure – Material Debt – Unsecured Senior Notes on page 22). In the event our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in our two Senior Note Indentures) is less than 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters, the Senior Note Indentures restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness. As of December 31, 2023, our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, as calculated per our Senior Note Indentures, was 7.5.
In addition, we must satisfy and maintain certain financial ratio tests under the Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities (see Capital Structure – Material Debt on page 21). Events beyond our control could affect our ability to meet these tests in the future. If we breach any covenants, it could result in a default under the Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities or any of the Senior Note Indentures. If there is a default under our Senior Credit Facility, the applicable lenders could decide to declare all amounts outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facilities or any of the Senior Note Indentures to be due and payable immediately and terminate any commitments to extend further credit under the Senior Credit Facility. If there is an acceleration by the lenders and the accelerated amounts exceed a specific threshold, the applicable noteholders could decide to declare all amounts outstanding under any of the Senior Note Indentures to be due and payable immediately.
At December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with the covenants of our Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities.
New technology could reduce demand for certain rigs or put us at a competitive disadvantage
Complex drilling programs for the exploration and development of conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas reserves demand high performance drilling rigs. The ability of drilling rig service providers to meet this demand depends on continuous improvement of existing rig technology, such as drive systems, control systems, automation, mud systems and top drives, to improve drilling efficiency. Our ability to deliver equipment and services that meet customer demand is essential to our continued success. We cannot guarantee that our rig technology will continue to meet the needs of our customers, especially as rigs age and technology advances, or that our competitors will not develop technological improvements that are more advantageous, timely, or cost effective. Failure to adopt or invest in emerging technologies could place the company at a competitive disadvantage, leading to a decline in market share and profitability. Additionally, new technologies, services or standards could render some of our services, drilling rigs or equipment obsolete, which could reduce our competitiveness and have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Entering new lines of business or technical enhancements to our existing operating capabilities can be subject to risks, including a potential lack of acceptance by consumers and increased capital expenditures
Our AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions use new technologies and are relatively new lines of business for us. Our ability to generate revenue from new business lines is uncertain and there can be no assurance that they Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 29
will be able to generate significant revenue or be profitable. We may not realize benefits from investments into new business lines or technical enhancements for several years or may not realize benefits from such investments at all. Failure to realize the intended benefits from such investments could negatively affect our ability to attract new customers or expand our offerings to existing customers and may adversely affect our results from operations.
We are also introducing artificial intelligence and robotics into some of our offerings. The use of artificial intelligence and robotics on our rigs may not yield materially better results, higher outputs or increased productivity and there is no certainty that we will realize benefits from investments into these technologies. Failure to further adopt or invest in artificial intelligence and robotics could place us at a competitive disadvantage, leading to a decline in market share and profitability. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence throughout our organization is subject to the risk that privacy and other concerns relating to such technology could deter current and potential customers.
The timing and amount of capital expenditures we incur, including those related to our AlphaTM technologies, EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions and implementation of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, will directly affect the amount of cash available to us. The cost of equipment generally escalates as a result of high input costs during periods of high demand for our drilling rigs and oilfield services equipment and other factors. There is no assurance that we will be able to recover higher capital costs through rate increases to our customers.
Public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may impact our business
Local, regional, national or international public health crises, pandemics and epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could have an adverse effect on local economies and potentially the global economy, which may adversely impact the price of and demand for oil and natural gas (and correspondingly, decrease the demand for our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows). Such public health crises, pandemics, epidemics and disease outbreaks are continuously evolving and the extent to which our business operations and financial results continue to be affected depends on various factors, such as the duration, severity and geographic resurgence of the virus; the impact and effectiveness of governmental action to reduce the spread and treat such outbreak, including government policies and restriction; vaccine hesitancy and voluntary or mandatory quarantines; and the global response surrounding any such uncertainty.
The economic climate resulting from the impact of public health crises, pandemics and epidemics and any corresponding emergency measures that may be implemented from time to time by various governments may have significant adverse impacts on Precision including, but not exclusively:
▪ potential interruptions of our business or operations
▪ material declines in revenue and cash flows, as our customers are concentrated in the oil and natural gas industry
▪ future impairment charges to our property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
▪ risk of non-payment of accounts receivable and customer defaults, and
▪ additional restructuring charges as we align our structure and personnel to the dynamic environment.
Additionally, such public health crises, if uncontrolled, may result in temporary shortages of staff to the extent our workforce is impacted and may result in temporary interruptions to our business or operations, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Our and our customers’ operations are subject to numerous environmental laws, regulations and guidelines
In addition to expanded regulations and guidelines related specifically to climate change, we and our customers are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations, including regulations relating to spills, releases and discharges of hazardous substances or other waste materials into the environment, requiring removal or remediation of pollutants or contaminants, and imposing civil and criminal penalties for violations. Some of these regulations apply directly to our operations and authorize the recovery of damages by the government, injunctive relief, and the imposition of stop, control, remediation and abandonment orders. For instance, our land drilling operations may be conducted in or near ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands that are subject to special protective measures, which may expose us to additional operating costs and liabilities for noncompliance with certain laws. Some environmental laws and regulations may impose strict and, in certain cases joint and several, liability. This means that in some situations we could be exposed to liability as a result of conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred, or conditions caused by prior operators or other third parties, including any liability related to offsite treatment or disposal facilities. The costs arising from compliance with these laws, regulations and guidelines may be material. The total costs of complying with environmental protection requirements is unknown, but we may experience increased insurance and compliance costs as further environmental laws and regulations are introduced.
We maintain liability insurance, including insurance for certain environmental claims, but coverage is limited and some of our policies exclude coverage for damages resulting from environmental contamination. We cannot assure that insurance will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, that the possible types of liabilities that we may incur will be covered by insurance, or that the dollar amount of the liabilities will not exceed our policy limits. Even a partially uninsured claim, if successful and of sufficient magnitude, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Governments in Canada and the U.S. may also consider more stringent regulations or restrictions of hydraulic fracturing, a technology used by most of our customers that involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into rock 30 Management's Discussion and Analysis
formations to stimulate oil and natural gas production. Increasing regulatory restrictions could have a negative impact on the exploration of unconventional energy resources, which are only commercially viable with the use of hydraulic fracturing. Laws relating to hydraulic fracturing are in various stages of development at levels of governments in markets where we operate and the outcome of these developments and their effect on the regulatory landscape and the contract drilling industry is uncertain. Hydraulic fracturing laws or regulations that cause a decrease in the completion of new oil and natural gas wells and an associated decrease in demand for our services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Any regulatory changes that impose additional environmental restrictions or requirements on us, or our customers, could increase our operating costs and potentially lead to lower demand for our services and have an adverse effect. There can also be no guarantee that other laws and other government programs relating to the oil and natural gas industry and the transportation industry will not be changed in a manner that directly and adversely impacts the demand for oil and natural gas which could affect our business, nor can there be any assurances that the laws, regulations or rules governing our customers will not be changed in a manner that adversely affects our customers and, therefore, our business. The potential for increased regulation and oversight may make it more difficult or costly for us to operate.
Major projects that would benefit our customers, such as new pipelines and other facilities, including liquified natural gas export facilities in Canada, may be inhibited, delayed or stopped by a variety of factors, including inability to obtain regulatory or governmental approvals or public opposition.
Effects of climate change, including physical and regulatory impacts, could have a negative impact on our business
The views on climate change are evolving at a regional, national and international level. As a result, political and economic events may significantly affect the scope and timing of climate change measures and regulations that are ultimately put in place, which may challenge the oil and gas industry in a number of ways or result in changes to how companies in the industry operate or spend capital. Additionally, the risks of natural disasters that could impact our business may increase in the future as a result of climate change. Furthermore, consumer demand for alternative fuel sources may continue to rise and incentives to conserve energy may be developed. Our business may be adversely impacted as a result of climate change and its associated impacts, including, without limitation, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, reputation, access to capital, access to insurance, cost of borrowing, access to liquidity, and/or business plans.
Physical Impact
As discussed under “Business in our industry is seasonal and highly variable” on page 35, weather patterns in Canada and the northern U.S. affect activity in the oilfield services industry. Global climate change could impact the timing and length of the spring thaw and the period in which the muskeg freezes and thaws and could impact the severity of winter, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. Furthermore, extreme and evolving climate conditions could result in increased risks of, or more frequent, natural disasters such as flooding or forest fires and may result in delays or cancellation of some of our customer’s operations or could increase our operating costs (such as insurance costs), which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. Extreme weather conditions could also impact the production and drilling of new wells. We cannot estimate the degree to which climate change and extreme climate conditions could impact our business and operating results; however, our insurance costs have increased, partially as a result of recent natural disasters.
Regulatory Impact
In response to climate change and increased focus on environmental protection, environmental laws, regulations and guidelines relating to the protection of the environment, including regulations and treaties concerning climate change or greenhouse gas and other emissions, continue to expand in scope. There has been an increasing focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas and other emissions and a potential shift to lower carbon intensive energy sources or a shift to a lower carbon economy. Laws, regulations or treaties concerning climate change or greenhouse gas and other emissions, including incentives to conserve energy or use alternate sources of energy, can have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas, which could have a material adverse effect on us. Such laws, regulations or treaties are evolving, and it is difficult to estimate with certainty the impact they will have on our business.
Canada and the U.S. are signatories to the Paris Agreement drafted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015. The goals of the Paris Agreement are to prevent global temperature rise from exceeding 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement may provide for climate targets that could result in reduced demand for oil and natural gas in the United States. In Canada, in connection with its commitments under the Paris Agreement, the federal government developed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change in 2016 (the PCF). The PCF requires all provinces and territories to have a carbon price of $30 per tonne in 2020 and rising by $10 per year to $50 per tonne in 2022. In December 2020, the Canadian Government announced proposed $15 per year increases to the carbon price commencing in 2023, to reach a total of $170 per tonne by 2050. Provinces and territories can implement either an explicit price-based system (such as the systems implemented in British Columbia and Alberta) or a cap-and-trade system. Saskatchewan remains the only Canadian jurisdiction that has not joined the national plan set out in the PCF. Saskatchewan released its own output-based performance standards approach, which is applied only to certain large industrial facilities. The proposed system in Saskatchewan only partially meets the PCF standards, therefore the federal carbon pollution pricing system will apply in Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 31
Saskatchewan to sources not covered by Saskatchewan’s system. Certain Canadian provinces, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, had previously launched constitutional challenges related to the PCF; however, on March 25, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada released its judgment confirming the constitutionality of Canada’s national carbon pricing regime. In November 2021, to conclude the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, nearly 200 countries including Canada signed the Glasgow Climate Pact, which reaffirms the commitments to limiting global temperature rise set out in the Paris Agreement. The Glasgow Climate Pact called for nations to submit new targets to the UNFCCC by the end of 2022 to align with the Paris Agreement’s goals, requests that nations take accelerated actions to reduce emissions by 2030 and asks nations to accelerate the development and adoption of policies to transition towards low-emission energy systems. It also includes the party nations’ agreement on rules under the Paris Agreement to create a global carbon credit market.
In August 2023 the Canadian Federal government published draft Clean Electricity Regulations, which are aimed at achieving net-zero emissions from Canada’s electricity grid by 2035. The regulations would implement measures to limit carbon emissions produced by electricity generated using fossil fuels, which may include natural gas. Certain provinces in Canada have indicated opposition to the Clean Electricity Regulations. If the regulations come into force in their current form, domestic demand for natural gas in Canada may decrease, which may have an adverse effect on the demand for our services.
As of the date hereof, it is not possible to predict the effect of the Paris Agreement, the Glasgow Climate Pact, Clean Electricity Regulations, and climate change-related legislation in Canada, the U.S. and globally on our business or whether additional climate-change legislation, regulations or other measures will be adopted at the federal, state, provincial or local levels in Canada, the U.S. or globally. While some of these regulations are in effect, others remain in various phases of review, discussion or implementation, leading to uncertainties regarding the timing and effects of these emerging regulations, making it difficult to accurately determine the cost impacts and effects on our operations. Further efforts by governments and non-governmental organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions appear likely, which, together with existing efforts, may reduce demand for oil and natural gas and potentially lead to lower demand for our services.
Transition Impact
In addition to the physical and regulatory effects of climate change on our business, an increasing focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a potential shift to lower carbon intensive energy sources or a shift to a lower carbon economy may result in lower oil and natural gas prices and depress the overall level of oil and natural gas exploration and production activity, impacting the demand for our services from the oil and natural gas industry. Additionally, if our reputation is diminished as a result of the industry we operate in or services we provide, it could result in increased operating or regulatory costs, reduce access to capital, lower shareholder confidence or loss of public support for our business. It may also encourage exploration and production companies to diversify and limit drilling to find other more energy efficient/green generating energy alternatives.
Poor safety performance could lead to lower demand for our services
Standards for accident prevention in the oil and natural gas industry are governed by service company safety policies and procedures, accepted industry safety practices, customer-specific safety requirements, and health and safety legislation. Safety is a key factor that customers consider when selecting an oilfield services company. A decline in our safety performance could result in lower demand for services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. A public safety performance issue could also result in reputational damage to us or increased costs of operating and insuring assets.
We are subject to various health and safety laws, rules, legislation and guidelines which can impose material liability, increase our costs or lead to lower demand for our services.
Our business is subject to cybersecurity risks
We rely heavily on information technology systems and other digital systems for operating our business. Threats to information technology systems associated with cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents or attacks continue to grow and are increased by the growing complexity of our information technology systems. Cybersecurity attacks could include, but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data and the unauthorized release, corruption or loss of data and personal information, account takeovers, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in our critical systems. Other cyber incidents may occur as a result of natural disasters, telecommunication failure, utility outages, human error, design defects, and unexpected complications with technology upgrades. Risks associated with these attacks and other incidents include, among other things, loss of intellectual property, reputational harm, leaked information, improper use of our assets, disruption of our and our customers’ business operations and safety procedures, loss or damage to our data delivery systems, unauthorized disclosure of personal information which could result in administrative penalties and increased costs to prevent, respond to or mitigate cybersecurity events. Our increased use of technology, artificial intelligence and robotics in our service offerings could increase the potential impact that a cybersecurity incident or attack could have on our operations. Although we use various procedures and controls to mitigate our exposure to such risk, including cybersecurity risk assessments that are reviewed by our CGNRC, cybersecurity awareness programs for our employees, continuous monitoring of our information technology systems for threats, and insurance that may cover losses incurred as a result of certain cybersecurity attacks or incidents, cybersecurity attacks and other incidents are evolving and unpredictable. The occurrence of such an attack or incident could go unnoticed for a period of time. Any such attack or incident could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. 32 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Relying on third-party suppliers has risks and shortages in supply of equipment could adversely impact our business
We source certain key rig components, raw materials, equipment and component parts from a variety of suppliers in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. We also outsource some or all construction services for drilling and service rigs, including new-build rigs, as part of our capital expenditure programs. We maintain relationships with several key suppliers and contractors and an inventory of key components, materials, equipment and parts. We also place advance orders for components that have long lead times. We may, however, experience cost increases, delays in delivery due to strong activity or financial hardship of suppliers or contractors, or other unforeseen circumstances relating to third parties. Increased inflation may also result in cost increases for the key components, materials, equipment and parts we use in our business. In times of increased demand for drilling services, there may be shortages of components, materials, equipment, parts and services required for our business. If our current or alternate suppliers are unable to deliver the necessary components, materials, equipment, parts and services we require for our businesses, including the construction of new-build drilling rigs, it can delay service to our customers and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Additionally, new laws in respect of forced labour and other human rights issues throughout the supply chain may result in increased compliance costs for us or a potential need to make changes to our supply chain.
Our business could be negatively affected as a result of actions of activist shareholders and some institutional investors may be discouraged from investing in the industry in which we operate in
Activist shareholders could advocate for changes to our corporate governance, operational practices and strategic direction, which could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business and future operations. In recent years, publicly traded companies have been increasingly subject to demands from activist shareholders advocating for changes to corporate governance practices, such as executive compensation practices, social issues, or for certain corporate actions or reorganizations. There can be no assurances that activist shareholders will not publicly advocate for us to make certain corporate governance changes or engage in certain corporate actions. Responding to challenges from activist shareholders, such as proxy contests, media campaigns or other activities, could be costly and time consuming and could have an adverse effect on our reputation and divert the attention and resources of management and our Board, which could have an adverse effect on our business and operational results. Additionally, shareholder activism could create uncertainty about future strategic direction, resulting in loss of future business opportunities, which could adversely affect our business, future operations, profitability and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.
In addition to risks associated with activist shareholders, some institutional investors are placing an increased emphasis on ESG factors when allocating their capital. These investors may be seeking enhanced ESG disclosures or may implement policies that discourage investment in the hydrocarbon industry. To the extent that certain institutions implement policies that discourage investments in our industry, it could have an adverse effect on our financing costs and term and access to liquidity and capital. Additionally, if our reputation is diminished as a result of the industry we operate in or service, it could result in increased operation or regulatory costs, lower shareholder confidence or loss of public support for our business.
The loss of one or more of our larger customers or consolidation among our customers could have a material adverse effect on our business and our current backlog of contract drilling revenue may decline
In 2023, approximately 40% of our revenue was received from our ten largest drilling customers and approximately 16% of our revenue was received from our three largest drilling customers. The loss of one or more of our larger customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition, financial difficulties experienced by customers could adversely impact their demand for our services and cause them to request amendments to our contracts with them.
Our fixed-term drilling contracts generally provide our customers with the ability to terminate the contracts at their election, with an early termination payment to us if the contract is terminated before the expiration of the fixed term. During depressed market conditions or otherwise, customers may be unable to satisfy their contractual obligations or may seek to terminate or renegotiate or otherwise fail to honor their contractual obligations. In addition, we may not be able to perform under these contracts due to events beyond our control, and our customers may seek to terminate or renegotiate our contracts for various reasons, without paying an early termination payment. As a result, we may not realize all of our contract drilling backlog. In addition, the termination or renegotiation of fixed-term contracts without receiving early termination payments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Our contract drilling backlog may decline, as fixed-term drilling contract coverage over time may not be offset by new or renegotiated contracts or may be reduced by price adjustments to existing contracts, including as a result of the decline in the price of oil and natural gas, capital spending reductions by our customers or other factors.
Further, consolidation among oil and natural gas exploration and production companies may reduce the number of available customers. As exploration and production entities merge, they often seek operational synergies and cost efficiencies. This can lead to a reduction in the number of drilling services required. Also, integrated entities may opt for in-house drilling capabilities or favor established contracts with other service providers. This may result in increased competition for available contracts or contractual termination, potentially impacting pricing dynamics and profitability. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 33
Our operations are subject to foreign exchange risk
Our U.S. and international operations have revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the Canadian dollar and are mostly in U.S. dollars and currencies that are pegged to the U.S. dollar. This means that currency exchange rates can affect our income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flow.
Translation into Canadian Dollars
When preparing our consolidated financial statements, we translate the financial statements for foreign operations that do not have a Canadian dollar functional currency into Canadian dollars. We translate assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the period end date. We translate revenues and expenses using average exchange rates for the month of the transaction. We initially recognize gains or losses from these translation adjustments in other comprehensive income and reclassify them from equity to net earnings on disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation. Changes in currency exchange rates could materially increase or decrease our foreign currency-denominated net assets, which would increase or decrease shareholders’ equity. Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the amount of revenues and expenses we record for our U.S. and international operations, which will increase or decrease our net earnings. If the Canadian dollar strengthens against the U.S. dollar, the net earnings we record in Canadian dollars from our U.S. and international operations will be lower.
Transaction exposure
We have long-term debt denominated in U.S. dollars. We have designated our U.S. dollar denominated unsecured senior notes as a hedge against the net asset position of our U.S. and foreign operations. This debt is converted at the exchange rate in effect at the period end dates with the resulting gains or losses included in the statement of comprehensive income. If the Canadian dollar strengthens against the U.S. dollar, we will incur a foreign exchange gain from the translation of this debt. Similarly, if the Canadian dollar weakens against the U.S. dollar, we will incur a foreign exchange loss from the translation of this debt. The vast majority of our international operations are transacted in U.S. dollars or U.S. dollar-pegged currencies. Transactions for our Canadian operations are primarily transacted in Canadian dollars. We occasionally purchase goods and supplies in U.S. dollars for our Canadian operations, and we maintain U.S. dollar cash in our Canadian operations.
We may be unable to access additional financing
We may need to obtain additional debt or equity financing in the future to support ongoing operations, undertake capital expenditures, repay existing or future debt including the Senior Credit Facility and the Senior Note Indentures, or pursue acquisitions or other business combination transactions. Volatility or uncertainty in the credit markets and inflationary pressure may increase costs associated with issuing debt or equity, and there is no assurance that we will be able to access additional financing when we need it, or on terms we find acceptable or favourable. Such volatility and uncertainty may be adversely impacted by potential negative perception of investing in the hydrocarbon industry. If we are unable to obtain financing to support ongoing operations or to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt repayments, or other business combination transactions, it could limit growth and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow. See also “Our business could be negatively affected as a result of actions of activist shareholders and some institutional investors may be discouraged from investing in the industry we operate in.”
Increasing interest rates may increase our cost of borrowing
Increases to the Canadian or United States benchmark interest rates may have an impact on our cost of borrowing under our Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facilities and any debt financing we may negotiate. Actions by central banks to increase benchmark interest rates in reaction to inflation may increase our cost of borrowing and make the terms of borrowing less favourable to us.
Risks associated with turnkey drilling operations could adversely affect our business
We earn some of our revenue from turnkey drilling contracts. We expect that turnkey drilling will continue to be part of our service offering; however, turnkey contracts pose substantially more risk than wells drilled on a daywork basis. Under a typical turnkey drilling contract, we agree to drill a well for a customer to a specified depth and under specified conditions for a fixed price. We typically provide technical expertise and engineering services, as well as most of the equipment required for the drilling of turnkey wells and use subcontractors for related services. We typically do not receive progress payments and are entitled to payment by the customer only after we have met the full terms of the drilling contract. We sometimes encounter difficulties on wells and incur unanticipated costs, and not all the costs are covered by insurance. As a result, under turnkey contracts, we assume most of the risks associated with drilling operations that are generally assumed by customers under a daywork contract. Operating cost overruns or operational difficulties and higher contractual liabilities on turnkey jobs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Mergers and acquisitions entail numerous risks and may disrupt our business or distract management
We consider and evaluate mergers and acquisitions of, or significant investments in, complementary businesses and assets as part of our business strategy. Mergers and acquisitions involve numerous risks, including unanticipated costs and liabilities, difficulty in integrating the operations and assets of the merged or acquired business, the ability to properly access and maintain an effective internal control environment over a merged or acquired company to comply with public reporting requirements, potential loss of key employees and customers of the merged or acquired companies, and an increase in our expenses and 34 Management's Discussion and Analysis
working capital requirements. Any merger or acquisition could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
We may incur substantial debt to finance future mergers and acquisitions and also may issue equity securities or convertible securities for mergers and acquisitions. Debt service requirements could be a burden on our results of operations and financial condition. We would also be required to meet certain conditions to borrow money to fund future mergers and acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions could also divert the attention of management and other employees from our day-to-day operations and the development of new business opportunities. Even if we are successful in integrating future mergers and acquisitions into our operations, we may not derive the benefits such as operational, financial, or administrative synergies we expect from mergers and acquisitions, which may result in us committing capital resources and not receiving the expected returns. Additionally, failing to pursue appropriate mergers when opportune may also pose a risk to our competitive positioning and growth potential. We may not be able to continue to identify attractive acquisition opportunities or successfully acquire identified targets.
Our operations face risks of interruption and casualty losses
Our operations face many hazards inherent in the drilling and well servicing industries, including blowouts, cratering, explosions, fires, loss of well control, loss of hole, reservoir damage, loss of directional control, damaged or lost equipment, and damage or loss from inclement weather or natural disasters. Any of these hazards could result in personal injury or death, damage to or destruction of equipment and facilities, suspension of operations, environmental damage, damage to the property of others, and damage to producing or potentially productive oil and natural gas formations that we drill through, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Additionally, unexpected events such as unplanned power outages, natural disasters, supply disruptions, pandemic illness or other unforeseeable circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Our worldwide operations could be disrupted by terrorism, acts of war, political sanctions, earthquakes, telecommunications failures, power or water shortages, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, typhoons, fires, extreme weather conditions (whether as a result of climate change or otherwise), medical epidemics or pandemics and other natural or manmade disasters or catastrophic events, for some of which may be self-insured. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could result in difficulties in transporting our crews, hiring or managing personnel as well as other significant losses, that may adversely affect our business, financial conditions, results of operations and cash flow, and require substantial expenditures and recovery time in order to fully resume operations.
Generally, drilling and service rig contracts separate the responsibilities of a drilling or service rig company and the customer. We try to obtain indemnification from our customers by contract for some of these risks even though we also have insurance coverage to protect us. We cannot assure, however, that any insurance or indemnification agreements will adequately protect us against liability from all the consequences described above. If there is an event that is not fully insured or indemnified against, or a customer or insurer does not meet its indemnification or insurance obligations, it could result in substantial losses. In addition, we may not be able to get insurance to cover any or all these risks, or the coverage may not be adequate. Insurance premiums or other costs may rise significantly in the future, making the insurance prohibitively expensive or uneconomic. Significant events, including terrorist attacks in the U.S., wildfires, flooding, severe hurricane damage and well blowout damage in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, have resulted in significantly higher insurance costs, deductibles and coverage restrictions. When we renew our insurance, we may decide to self-insure at higher levels and assume increased risk to reduce costs associated with higher insurance premiums.
Business in our industry is seasonal and highly variable
Seasonal weather patterns in Canada and the northern U.S. affect activity in the oilfield services industry. During the spring months, wet weather and the spring thaw make the ground unstable, so municipalities and counties and provincial and state transportation departments enforce road bans that restrict the movement of rigs and other heavy equipment. This reduces activity and highlights the importance of the location of our equipment prior to the imposition of the road bans. The timing and length of road bans depend on weather conditions leading to the spring thaw and during the thawing period.
Additionally, certain oil and natural gas producing areas are located in parts of western Canada that are only accessible during the winter months because the ground surrounding or containing the drilling sites in these areas consists of terrain known as muskeg. Rigs and other necessary equipment cannot cross this terrain to reach the drilling site until the muskeg freezes. Moreover, once the rigs and other equipment have been moved to a drilling site, they may become stranded or be unable to move to another site if the muskeg thaws unexpectedly. Our business activity depends, at least in part, on the severity and duration of the winter season.
Litigation and legal claims could have an adverse impact on our business
We may be subject to legal proceedings and governmental investigations from time to time related to our business and operations. Lawsuits or claims against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. While we maintain insurance that may cover the cost of certain litigation or have indemnity provisions in our favor, we cannot assure that any insurance or indemnification agreement will cover the cost of theses liabilities, thus litigation or claims could negatively impact our business, reputation, financial condition and cash flow. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 35
Certain of our offerings use proprietary technology and equipment which can involve potential infringement of a third party’s rights or a third party’s infringement of our rights, including rights to intellectual property. From time to time, we or our customers may become involved in disputes over infringement of intellectual property rights relating to equipment or technology owned or used by us. As a result, we may lose access to important equipment or technology, be required to cease use of some equipment or technology, be forced to modify our drilling rigs or technology, or be required to pay license fees or royalties for the use of equipment or technology. In addition, we may lose a competitive advantage in the event we are unsuccessful in enforcing our rights against third parties, or third parties are successful in enforcing their rights against us. As a result, any technology disputes involving us or our customers or supplying vendors could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Unionization efforts and labor regulations could materially increase our costs or limit our flexibility
Efforts may be made from time to time to unionize portions of our workforce. We may be subject to strikes or work stoppages and other labor disruptions in connection with unionization efforts or renegotiation of existing contracts with unions. Unionization efforts, if successful, new collective bargaining agreements or work stoppages could materially increase our labor costs, reduce our revenues and adversely impact our operations and cash flow.
There are risks associated with increased capital expenditures
The timing and amount of capital expenditures we incur, including those related to our AlphaTM technologies and EverGreenTM suite of environmental solutions, will directly affect the amount of cash available. The cost of equipment generally escalates as a result of high input costs during periods of high demand for our drilling rigs and oilfield services equipment and other factors. There is no assurance that we will be able to recover higher capital costs through rate increases to our customers.
A successful challenge by the tax authorities of expense deductions could negatively affect the value of our common shares
Taxation authorities may not agree with the classification of expenses we or our subsidiaries have claimed, or they may challenge the amount of interest expense deducted. If the taxation authorities successfully challenge our classifications or deductions, it could have a material adverse effect on our business financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Losing key management could reduce our competitiveness and prospects for future success
Our future success and growth depend partly on the expertise and experience of our key management. There is no assurance that we will be able to retain key management. Losing these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Our assessment of capital assets for impairment may result in a non-cash charge against our consolidated net income
We are required to assess our capital asset balance for impairment when certain internal and external factors indicate the need for further analysis. When assessing impairment triggers and calculating impairment it is based on management’s estimates and assumptions. We may consider several factors, including any declines in our share price and market capitalization, lower future cash flow and earnings estimates, significantly reduced or depressed markets in our industry, and general economic conditions, among other things. Any impairment write-down to capital assets would result in a non-cash charge against net earnings, which could be material.
Our credit ratings may change
Credit ratings affect our financing costs, liquidity and operations over the long term and are intended as an independent measure of the credit quality of long-term debt. Credit ratings affect our ability to obtain short and long-term financing and the cost of this financing, and our ability to engage in certain business activities cost-effectively.
If a rating agency downgrades our current corporate credit rating or rating of debt, or changes our credit outlook to negative, it could have an adverse effect on our financing costs and access to liquidity and capital.
The price of our common shares can fluctuate
Several factors can cause volatility in our share price, including increases or decreases in revenue or earnings, changes in revenue or earnings estimates by the investment community, failure to meet analysts’ expectations, changes in credit ratings, and speculation in the media or investment community about our financial condition or results of operations. General market conditions, the perception of the industry we operate in and service and Canadian, U.S. or international economic and social factors and political events unrelated to our performance may also affect the price of our shares. Investors should therefore not rely on past performance of our shares to predict the future performance of our shares or financial results. At times when our share price is relatively low, we may be subject to takeover attempts by certain companies or institutions acting opportunistically.
While there is currently an active trading market for our shares in the United States and Canada, we cannot guarantee that an active trading market will be sustained in either country. There could cease to be an active trading market due to, among other factors, minimum listing requirements of stock exchanges. If an active trading market in our shares is not sustained, the trading liquidity of our shares will be limited and the market value of our shares may be reduced. 36 Management's Discussion and Analysis
Selling additional shares could affect share value
While we have a normal course issuer bid in place under which we may acquire our own shares, in the future, we may issue additional shares to fund our needs or those of other entities owned directly or indirectly by us, as authorized by the Board. We do not need shareholder approval to issue additional shares, except as may be required by applicable stock exchange rules, and shareholders do not have any pre-emptive rights related to share issues (see Capital Structure on page 21).
As a foreign private issuer in the U.S., we may file less information with the SEC than a company incorporated in the U.S.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the United States Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) that impose disclosure requirements, as well as procedural requirements, for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. Our directors, officers and principal shareholders are also exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, nor are we generally required to comply with Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material non-public information. As a result, there may be less publicly available information about us than U.S. public companies and this information may not be provided as promptly. In addition, we are permitted, under a multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the U.S. and Canada, to prepare our disclosure documents in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, including preparing our financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which differs in some respects from U.S. GAAP. We are required to assess our foreign private issuer status under U.S. securities laws annually at the end of the second quarter. If we were to lose our status as a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities laws, we would be required to comply with U.S. securities and accounting requirements.
We have retained liabilities from prior reorganizations
We have retained all liabilities of our predecessor companies, including liabilities relating to corporate and income tax matters.
We may become a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. tax consequences to U.S. investors
Management does not believe we are or will be treated as a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) for U.S. tax purposes. However, because PFIC status is determined annually and will depend on the composition of our income and assets from time to time, it is possible that we could be considered a PFIC in the future. This could result in adverse U.S. tax consequences for a U.S. investor. In particular, a U.S. investor would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at ordinary income rates, plus a possible interest charge, for any gain derived from a disposition of common shares, as well as certain distributions by us. In addition, a step-up in the tax basis of our common shares would not be available if an individual holder dies.
An investor who acquires 10% or more of our common shares may be subject to taxation under the controlled foreign corporation (CFC) rules.
Under certain circumstances, a U.S. person who directly or indirectly owns 10% or more of the voting power of a foreign corporation that is a CFC (generally, a foreign corporation where 10% or more U.S. shareholders own more than 50% of the voting power or value of the stock of the foreign corporation) for 30 straight days or more during a taxable year and who holds any shares of the foreign corporation on the last day of the corporation’s tax year must include in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of certain income of the CFC even if the income is not distributed to the person. We are not currently a CFC, but this could change in the future.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 37
| EVALUATION OF CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
|---|
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We maintain internal control over financial reporting that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a – 15(f) and 15d – 15(f) under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and under National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuer’s Annual and Interim Filings (NI 52-109).
Management, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO 2013).
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting in 2023 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting. Based on management’s assessment as at December 31, 2023, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as at December 31, 2023 was audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, which is included in this annual report.
Due to its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our financial statements would be prevented or detected. Further, the evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting was made as of a specific date, and continued effectiveness in future periods is subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our interim and annual filings is reviewed, recognized and disclosed accurately and in the appropriate time period.
Management, including the CEO and CFO, carried out an evaluation, as at December 31, 2023, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Precision’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Exchange Act and NI 52-109. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the design and operation of Precision’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act or Canadian securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms therein.
It should be noted that while the CEO and CFO believe that our disclosure controls and procedures provide a reasonable level of assurance that they are effective, they do not expect that these disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
38 Management's Discussion and Analysis
| ADVISORIES |
|---|
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS
We disclose forward-looking information to help current and prospective investors understand our future prospects.
Certain statements contained in this MD&A, including statements that contain words such as could, should, can, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, expect, believe, will, may, continue, project, potential and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, forward-looking information and statements).
Our forward-looking information and statements in this MD&A include, but are not limited to, the following:
▪ our strategic priorities for 2024
▪ our capital expenditures, free cash flow allocation and debt reduction plan for 2024
▪ anticipated activity levels in 2024
▪ anticipated demand for our drilling rigs
▪ plans for returns of capital to shareholders
▪ the average number of term contracts in place for 2024
▪ customer adoption of Alpha™ technologies and EverGreen™ suite of environmental solutions
▪ potential commercial opportunities and rig contract renewals
▪ our future debt reduction plans
▪ our outlook on oil and natural gas prices
▪ target Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
▪ the potential impact liquefied natural gas export development could have on North American drilling activity
▪ our expectations that new or newer rigs will enter the markets we currently operate in, and
▪ our ability to remain compliant with our Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facility financial debt covenants.
The forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analysis made by Precision in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These include, among other things:
▪ the fluctuation in oil prices may pressure customers into reducing or limiting their drilling budgets
▪ the status of current negotiations with our customers and vendors
▪ customer focus on safety performance
▪ existing term contracts are neither renewed or terminated prematurely
▪ continued market demand for our drilling rigs
▪ our ability to deliver rigs to customers on a timely basis
▪ the impact of climate change on our business
▪ the general stability of the economic and political environment in the jurisdictions in which we operate, and
▪ the impact of an increase/decrease in capital spending.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information and statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
▪ volatility in the price and demand for oil and natural gas
▪ fluctuations in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development activities
▪ fluctuations in the demand for contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services
▪ our customers’ inability to obtain adequate credit or financing to support their drilling and production activity
▪ changes in drilling and well servicing technology, which could reduce demand for certain rigs or put us at a competitive advantage
▪ shortages, delays and interruptions in the delivery of equipment supplies and other key inputs
▪ liquidity of the capital markets to fund customer drilling programs
▪ availability of cash flow, debt and equity sources to fund our capital and operating requirements, as needed
▪ the physical, regulatory and transition impacts of climate change
▪ the impact of weather and seasonal conditions on operations and facilities
▪ competitive operating risks inherent in contract drilling, well servicing and ancillary oilfield services
▪ ability to improve our rig technology to improve drilling efficiency
▪ disease outbreaks which could impact demand for our services or impact our operations
▪ public health crises that impact demand for our services and our business
▪ general political, economic, market or business conditions
▪ the availability of qualified personnel and management
▪ a decline in our safety performance which could result in lower demand for our services
▪ business interruptions related to cybersecurity risks
▪ changes to, and new laws or regulations, including changes in environmental laws and regulations such as increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing or restrictions on the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, which could Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 39
have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas
▪ terrorism, social, civil and political unrest globally or in the foreign jurisdictions where we operate
▪ fluctuations in foreign exchange, interest rates and tax rates, and
▪ other unforeseen conditions which could impact the use of services supplied by Precision and Precision’s ability to respond to such conditions.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. You can find more information about these and other factors that could affect our business, operations or financial results in this MD&A under the section titled “Risks in our Business” and in reports on file with securities regulatory authorities from time to time, including but not limited to our Annual Information Form (AIF) for the year ended December 31, 2023, which you can find in our profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or in our profile on EDGAR ( www.sec.gov).
All of the forward-looking information and statements made in this MD&A are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. There can be no assurance that actual results or developments that we anticipate will be realized. We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information and statements. The forward-looking information and statements made in this MD&A are made as of the date hereof. We will not necessarily update or revise this forward-looking information as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless we are required to by securities law.
Forward-looking information and statements in this MD&A may also address our sustainability plans and progress. The inclusion of these statements is not an indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors and certain standards for measuring progress for sustainability are still developing (including for emissions disclosures).
FINANCIAL MEASURES AND RATIOS
| NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We reference certain additional Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | We believe Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before income taxes, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, gain on acquisition, loss (gain) on investments and other assets, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals, and depreciation and amortization ), as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings (Loss), is a useful measure, because it gives an indication of the results from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges.<br><br>The most directly comparable financial measure is net earnings (loss). | |||||
| Funds provided by (used in) operations | We believe funds provided by (used in) operations, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, is a useful measure because it provides an indication of the funds our principal business activities generate prior to consideration of working capital changes, which is primarily made up of highly liquid balances.<br><br>The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) operations. | |||||
| Net capital spending | We believe net capital spending is a useful measure as it provides an indication of our primary investment activities.<br><br>The most directly comparable financial measure is cash provided by (used in) investing activities.<br><br>Net capital spending is calculated as follows: | |||||
| Year ended December 31 (in thousands of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Capital spending by spend category | ||||||
| Expansion and upgrade | 63,898 | 63,305 | 19,006 | |||
| Maintenance and infrastructure | 162,851 | 120,945 | 56,935 | |||
| 226,749 | 184,250 | 75,941 | ||||
| Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment | (23,841 | ) | (37,198 | ) | (13,086 | ) |
| Net capital spending | 202,908 | 147,052 | 62,855 | |||
| Business acquisitions | 28,646 | 10,200 | — | |||
| Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets | (10,013 | ) | — | — | ||
| Purchase of investments and other assets | 5,343 | 617 | 3,500 | |||
| Receipt of finance lease payments | (255 | ) | — | — | ||
| Changes in non-cash working capital balances | (11,845 | ) | (13,454 | ) | (9,742 | ) |
| Cash used in investing activities | 214,784 | 144,415 | 56,613 |
40 Management's Discussion and Analysis
| Working capital | We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.<br><br>Working capital is calculated as follows: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31 (in thousands of dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Current assets | 510,881 | 470,670 | 319,757 | |||
| Current liabilities | (365,642 | ) | (410,029 | ) | (238,120 | ) |
| Working capital | 145,239 | 60,641 | 81,637 | |||
| NON-GAAP RATIOS | ||||||
| --- | --- | |||||
| We reference certain additional non-GAAP ratios that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA % of Revenue | We believe Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of consolidated revenue, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Net Earnings (Loss), provides an indication of our profitability from our principal business activities prior to consideration of how our activities are financed and the impact of foreign exchange, taxation and depreciation and amortization charges. | |||||
| Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA | We believe the Net Debt (long-term debt less cash, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position) to Adjusted EBITDA ratio provides an indication to the number of years it would take for us to repay our debt obligations. | |||||
| SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL MEASURES | ||||||
| We reference certain supplementary financial measures that are not defined terms under IFRS to assess performance because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. | ||||||
| Capital spending by spend category | We provide additional disclosure to better depict the nature of our capital spending. Our capital spending is categorized as expansion and upgrade, maintenance and infrastructure, or intangibles. | |||||
| Enterprise Value | We calculate our Enterprise Value as our market capitalization (outstanding common shares multiplied by our share price at the reporting date) plus our long-term debt less cash, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. | |||||
| Long-term debt to cash provided by (used in) operations | We calculate our long-term debt, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, to cash provided by (used in) operations, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. | |||||
| Working capital ratio | We define our working capital ratio as current assets divided by current liabilities, as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 41
EX-99.3
Exhibit 99.3
| MANAGEMENT’S REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS |
|---|
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and all information in this Annual Report are the responsibility of management. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by management in accordance with the accounting policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. When necessary, management has made informed judgements and estimates in accounting for transactions that were not complete at reporting date. In the opinion of management, the Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared within acceptable limits of materiality and are in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and appropriate in the circumstances. The financial information elsewhere in this Annual Report has been reviewed to ensure consistency with that in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Management has prepared the Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A). The MD&A is based on the financial results of Precision Drilling Corporation (the Corporation) prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The MD&A compares the audited financial results for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Corporation’s financial reporting and is supported by an internal audit function that conducts periodic testing of these controls. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision of, and with direction from, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. Management’s evaluation of internal control over financial reporting was based on the Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO 2013). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023. Also, management determined that there were no material weaknesses in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.
KPMG LLP (KPMG), a Registered Public Accounting Firm, was engaged, as approved by a vote of shareholders at the Corporation’s most recent annual meeting, to audit the Consolidated Financial Statements and provide an independent professional opinion.
KPMG also completed an audit of the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, as stated in its report included in this Annual Report and has expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which is comprised of five independent directors who are not employees of the Corporation, provides oversight to the financial reporting process. Integral to this process is the Audit Committee’s review and discussion with management and KPMG of the quarterly and annual financial statements and reports prior to their respective release. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and discussing with management and KPMG major issues as to the adequacy of the Corporation’s internal controls. KPMG has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee to discuss its audit and related matters. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been approved by the Board of Directors and its Audit Committee.
| /s/ Kevin A. Neveu | /s/ Carey T. Ford |
|---|---|
| Kevin A. Neveu | Carey T. Ford |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | Chief Financial Officer |
| Precision Drilling Corporation | Precision Drilling Corporation |
| March 4, 2024 | March 4, 2024 |
42 Consolidated Financial Statements
| REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
|---|
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Precision Drilling Corporation:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Precision Drilling Corporation and subsidiaries (the Corporation) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of net earnings (loss), comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Corporation as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 1, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Corporation in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgements. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Assessment of indicators of impairment for the Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services cash generating units (CGUs)
As discussed in notes 3(f), 3(p) and 7(a) to the consolidated financial statements, the Corporation reviews the carrying amount of each of the CGUs at each reporting date to determine whether an indicator of impairment exists based on an analysis of relevant internal and external factors. The Corporation analyzes indicators that a CGU may be impaired such as financial performance of the CGU compared to historical results and forecasts and consideration of the Corporation’s market capitalization. The Corporation did not identify an indicator of impairment within the Corporation’s Contract Drilling or Completion and Production Services CGUs as at December 31, 2023. Accordingly, no impairment tests were performed on the Contract Drilling or Completion and Production Services CGUs as at December 31, 2023. Total assets recognized in the Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services CGUs at December 31, 2023 were approximately $2,565,495 thousand and $272,724 thousand, respectively.
We identified the assessment of indicators of impairment for the Corporation’s Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services CGUs as a critical audit matter. Complex auditor judgement was required in evaluating the amount of earnings before income taxes, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, gain on acquisition, loss (gain) on investments and other assets, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals and depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) budgeted for 2024 for the Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services CGUs, used in the indicator of impairment assessment for comparison to the Adjusted EBITDA for 2023 and consideration of the Corporation’s market capitalization on the Corporation’s impairment indicator assessment. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 43
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the internal control related to this critical audit matter. This included controls related to the Corporation’s identification and evaluation of indicators that the Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services CGUs may be impaired, which includes the comparison of the Adjusted EBITDA budgeted for 2024 to the Adjusted EBITDA for 2023 and past impairment tests, and the assessment of the Corporation’s market capitalization.
We evaluated the Corporation’s 2024 budgeted Adjusted EBITDA for the Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services CGUs by comparing it to historical results considering the impact of changes in conditions and events affecting the Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services CGUs. We compared the Corporation’s 2023 budgeted Adjusted EBITDA for the Contract Drilling and Completion and Production Services CGUs to actual results in 2023 to assess the Corporation’s ability to accurately forecast. We evaluated the changes in market capitalization over the year and its impact on the Corporation’s impairment indicator analysis.
Assessment of acquisition-date fair value measurement of Rig Equipment included in Property, Plant and Equipment in a business combination
As discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the Corporation acquired CWC Energy Services Corp. (CWC) in a business combination that was completed on November 8, 2023 (the acquisition-date). As a result of the transaction, the Corporation acquired Rig Equipment included in property, plant and equipment (PP&E) with an acquisition-date fair value of $120,965 thousand. The measurement of the estimated fair value of the Rig Equipment included in PP&E is based on a combination of approaches, including the market approach and cost approach, which applies significant assumptions related to the price at which comparable assets would transact at in the secondary market, or the estimate of depreciated replacement cost for comparable assets.
The Corporation engaged an independent third-party valuator to estimate the acquisition-date fair value over a portion of the Rig Equipment included in PP&E. The Corporation used the appraisal findings of the third-party valuator for comparable assets in estimating the acquisition-date fair value of the remaining Rig Equipment included in PP&E.
We identified the evaluation of the acquisition-date fair value of Rig Equipment included in PP&E acquired through business combinations as a critical audit matter. Significant auditor judgment was required regarding the application of the approach and significant assumptions with respect to the estimated acquisition-date fair value of Rig Equipment included in PP&E. Additionally, the evaluation of the acquisition-date value of Rig Equipment included in PP&E required specialized skills and knowledge.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to this critical audit matter. This included controls related to the Corporation’s determination of the fair value measurement of Rig Equipment included in PP&E, and the Corporation’s analysis of the appraisal report assumptions and resulting appraised value over a portion of the Rig Equipment, and the application of the appraisal to comparable assets, included in PP&E.
We evaluated the competence, capabilities and objectivity of the independent third-party valuator engaged by the Corporation.
We involved our valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge who assisted in assessing the appropriateness of the application of the valuation approach and the appropriateness of the significant assumptions with respect to the acquisition-date fair value of Rig Equipment included in PP&E estimated by the Corporation by comparing the Corporation’s estimate of acquisition-date fair value of Rig Equipment included in PP&E to market and cost approach for comparable assets.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
We have served as the Corporation’s auditor since 1987.
Calgary, Canada
March 1, 2024 44 Consolidated Financial Statements
| REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
|---|
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Precision Drilling Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Precision Drilling Corporation’s (and subsidiaries’) (the Corporation) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Corporation as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of net earnings (loss), comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 1, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report to the Shareholders. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Corporation in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Calgary, Canada
March 1, 2024
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 45
| CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES |
|---|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
| (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) | December 31,<br>2023 | December 31,<br>2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash | $ | 54,182 | $ | 21,587 | |||
| Accounts receivable | (Note 23) | 421,427 | 413,925 | ||||
| Inventory | 35,272 | 35,158 | |||||
| Total current assets | 510,881 | 470,670 | |||||
| Non-current assets: | |||||||
| Income taxes recoverable | 682 | 1,602 | |||||
| Deferred tax assets | (Note 13) | 73,662 | 455 | ||||
| Property, plant and equipment | (Note 7) | 2,338,088 | 2,303,338 | ||||
| Intangibles | (Note 8) | 17,310 | 19,575 | ||||
| Right-of-use assets | (Note 11) | 63,438 | 60,032 | ||||
| Finance lease receivables | 5,003 | — | |||||
| Investments and other assets | 9,971 | 20,451 | |||||
| Total non-current assets | 2,508,154 | 2,405,453 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 3,019,035 | $ | 2,876,123 | |||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (Note 23) | $ | 342,382 | $ | 392,053 | ||
| Income tax payable | 3,026 | 2,991 | |||||
| Current portion of lease obligations | 17,386 | 12,698 | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | (Note 9) | 2,848 | 2,287 | ||||
| Total current liabilities | 365,642 | 410,029 | |||||
| Non-current liabilities: | |||||||
| Share-based compensation | (Note 12) | 25,122 | 60,133 | ||||
| Provisions and other | (Note 15) | 7,140 | 7,538 | ||||
| Lease obligations | 57,124 | 52,978 | |||||
| Long-term debt | (Note 9) | 914,830 | 1,085,970 | ||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | (Note 13) | 73,515 | 28,946 | ||||
| Total non-current liabilities | 1,077,731 | 1,235,565 | |||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||
| Shareholders’ capital | (Note 16) | 2,365,129 | 2,299,533 | ||||
| Contributed surplus | 75,086 | 72,555 | |||||
| Deficit | (1,012,029 | ) | (1,301,273 | ) | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | (Note 18) | 147,476 | 159,714 | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 1,575,662 | 1,230,529 | |||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 3,019,035 | $ | 2,876,123 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Approved by the Board of Directors:
| /s/ William T. Donovan | /s/ Steven W. Krablin |
|---|---|
| William T. Donovan<br><br>Director | Steven W. Krablin<br><br>Director |
46 Consolidated Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF Net Earnings (Loss)
| Years ended December 31,<br> (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | (Note 5) | $ | 1,937,854 | $ | 1,617,194 | ||
| Expenses: | |||||||
| Operating | (Note 23) | 1,204,548 | 1,124,601 | ||||
| General and administrative | (Note 23) | 122,188 | 180,988 | ||||
| Earnings before income taxes, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes,<br> gain on acquisition, loss (gain) on investments and other assets, <br> finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on <br> asset disposals, and depreciation and amortization | 611,118 | 311,605 | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | (Note 7, 8, 11) | 297,557 | 279,035 | ||||
| Gain on asset disposals | (Note 7) | (24,469 | ) | (29,926 | ) | ||
| Loss on asset decommissioning | (Note 7) | 9,592 | — | ||||
| Foreign exchange | (1,667 | ) | 1,278 | ||||
| Finance charges | (Note 10) | 83,414 | 87,813 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on investments and other assets | 6,810 | (12,452 | ) | ||||
| Gain on acquisition | (Note 4) | (25,761 | ) | — | |||
| Gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes | (137 | ) | — | ||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 265,779 | (14,143 | ) | ||||
| Income taxes: | (Note 13) | ||||||
| Current | 4,494 | 4,362 | |||||
| Deferred | (27,959 | ) | 15,788 | ||||
| (23,465 | ) | 20,150 | |||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | 289,244 | $ | (34,293 | ) | ||
| Net earnings (loss) per share: | (Note 17) | ||||||
| Basic | $ | 21.03 | $ | (2.53 | ) | ||
| Diluted | $ | 19.53 | $ | (2.53 | ) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE Income (Loss)
| Years ended December 31,<br> (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | 289,244 | $ | (34,293 | ) | |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on translation of assets and liabilities of operations <br> denominated in foreign currency | (33,433 | ) | 106,669 | |||
| Foreign exchange gain (loss) on net investment hedge with U.S. denominated<br> debt | 21,195 | (81,735 | ) | |||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 277,006 | $ | (9,359 | ) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 47
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWs
| Years ended December 31,<br> (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash provided by (used in): | |||||||
| Operations: | |||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | 289,244 | $ | (34,293 | ) | ||
| Adjustments for: | |||||||
| Long-term compensation plans | 6,659 | 60,094 | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 297,557 | 279,035 | |||||
| Gain on asset disposals | (24,469 | ) | (29,926 | ) | |||
| Loss on asset decommissioning | 9,592 | — | |||||
| Foreign exchange unrealized | (866 | ) | 638 | ||||
| Finance charges | 83,414 | 87,813 | |||||
| Income taxes | (23,465 | ) | 20,150 | ||||
| Other | (229 | ) | 542 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on investments and other assets | 6,810 | (12,452 | ) | ||||
| Gain on acquisition | (25,761 | ) | — | ||||
| Loss on redemption and repurchase of unsecured senior notes | (137 | ) | — | ||||
| Income taxes paid | (3,103 | ) | (3,263 | ) | |||
| Income taxes recovered | 24 | 24 | |||||
| Interest paid | (83,037 | ) | (85,678 | ) | |||
| Interest received | 1,176 | 310 | |||||
| Funds provided by operations | 533,409 | 282,994 | |||||
| Changes in non-cash working capital balances | (Note 23) | (32,838 | ) | (45,890 | ) | ||
| Cash provided by operations | 500,571 | 237,104 | |||||
| Investments: | |||||||
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (Note 7) | (224,960 | ) | (184,250 | ) | ||
| Purchase of intangibles | (Note 8) | (1,789 | ) | — | |||
| Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment | 23,841 | 37,198 | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of investments and other assets | 10,013 | — | |||||
| Business acquisitions, net | (Note 4) | (28,646 | ) | (10,200 | ) | ||
| Purchase of investments and other assets | (5,343 | ) | (617 | ) | |||
| Receipt of finance lease payments | 255 | — | |||||
| Changes in non-cash working capital balances | (Note 23) | 11,845 | 13,454 | ||||
| Cash used in investing activities | (214,784 | ) | (144,415 | ) | |||
| Financing: | |||||||
| Issuance of long-term debt | (Note 9) | 162,649 | 144,889 | ||||
| Repayment of long-term debt | (Note 9) | (375,237 | ) | (250,749 | ) | ||
| Repurchase of share capital | (Note 16) | (29,955 | ) | (10,010 | ) | ||
| Lease payments | (9,423 | ) | (7,134 | ) | |||
| Issuance of common shares from the exercise of options | — | 9,833 | |||||
| Cash used in financing activities | (251,966 | ) | (113,171 | ) | |||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | (1,226 | ) | 1,481 | ||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash | 32,595 | (19,001 | ) | ||||
| Cash, beginning of year | 21,587 | 40,588 | |||||
| Cash, end of year | $ | 54,182 | $ | 21,587 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
48 Consolidated Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
| (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) | Shareholders’<br>Capital<br>(Note 16) | Contributed<br>Surplus | Accumulated<br>Other<br>Comprehensive<br>Income<br>(Note 18) | Deficit | Total Equity | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at January 1, 2023 | $ | 2,299,533 | $ | 72,555 | $ | 159,714 | $ | (1,301,273 | ) | $ | 1,230,529 | |||
| Net earnings | — | — | — | 289,244 | 289,244 | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | (12,238 | ) | — | (12,238 | ) | |||||||
| Acquisition share consideration | 75,588 | — | — | — | 75,588 | |||||||||
| Settlements of Executive Performance<br> and Restricted Share Units | 19,206 | — | — | — | 19,206 | |||||||||
| Share repurchases | (29,955 | ) | — | — | — | (29,955 | ) | |||||||
| Redemption of non-management<br> directors share units | 757 | — | — | — | 757 | |||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 2,531 | — | — | 2,531 | |||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | 2,365,129 | $ | 75,086 | $ | 147,476 | $ | (1,012,029 | ) | $ | 1,575,662 | |||
| (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) | Shareholders’<br>Capital<br>(Note 16) | Contributed<br>Surplus | Accumulated<br>Other<br>Comprehensive<br>Income<br>(Note 18) | Deficit | Total Equity | |||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Balance at January 1, 2022 | $ | 2,281,444 | $ | 76,311 | $ | 134,780 | $ | (1,266,980 | ) | $ | 1,225,555 | |||
| Net loss | — | — | — | (34,293 | ) | (34,293 | ) | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | — | 24,934 | — | 24,934 | |||||||||
| Share-based payment reclassification | 14,083 | (219 | ) | — | — | 13,864 | ||||||||
| Share repurchase | (10,010 | ) | — | — | — | (10,010 | ) | |||||||
| Share options exercised | 14,016 | (4,183 | ) | — | — | 9,833 | ||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | — | 646 | — | — | 646 | |||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | 2,299,533 | $ | 72,555 | $ | 159,714 | $ | (1,301,273 | ) | $ | 1,230,529 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 49
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts are stated in thousands of Canadian dollars except share numbers and per share amounts)
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Precision Drilling Corporation (Precision or the Corporation) is incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada and is a provider of contract drilling and completion and production services primarily to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in Canada, the United States and certain international locations. The address of the registered office is 800, 525 – 8th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 1G1.
NOTE 2. BASIS OF PREPARATION
(a) Statement of Compliance
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
These consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on March 1, 2024.
(b) Basis of Measurement
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost basis and are presented in thousands of Canadian dollars.
(c) Use of Estimates and Judgements
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingencies. These estimates and judgements are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The estimation of anticipated future events involves uncertainty and, consequently, the estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements may change as future events unfold, more experience is acquired, or the Corporation’s operating environment changes. The Corporation reviews its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Adjustments that result from a change in estimate are recorded in the period in which they become known. Estimates are more difficult to determine, and the range of potential outcomes can be wider, in periods of higher volatility and uncertainty. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery therefrom coupled with several factors including higher levels of uncertainty due the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on energy markets, rising interest and inflation rates, and constrained supply chains have created a higher level of volatility and uncertainty. Management has, to the extent reasonable, incorporated known facts and circumstances into the estimates made, however, actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be material. Significant estimates and judgements used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are described in Note 3(a), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (o), and (p).
Climate-related risks and opportunities may have a future impact on the Corporation and its estimates and judgements, including but not limited to the useful life and residual value of its property, plant and equipment and the measurement of projected cash flows when identifying impairment triggers, performing tests for impairment or impairment recoveries, when available, of non-financial assets.
The Corporation evaluated the remaining useful lives and residual values of its property, plant and equipment, concluding they remain reasonable given the current estimate of the demand period for oil and natural gas extractive services well exceeds their remaining useful lives. In addition, the Corporation’s property, plant and equipment, including drill rig equipment, adapts to numerous low-carbon projects, including but not limited to, geothermal drilling, carbon capture and storage and the extraction of helium and hydrogen gas.
In future periods, if indications of impairment of non-financial assets exist, the Corporation’s measurement of projected cash flows may be exposed to higher estimation uncertainty, including but not limited to the Corporation’s continued capital investment required to lower the carbon intensity of its property, plant and equipment, period and growth expectations used to calculate terminal values and the Corporation’s weighted average cost of capital.
(d) Environmental Reporting Regulations
Environmental reporting continues to evolve and the Corporation may be subject to additional future disclosure requirements. The International Sustainability Standards Board issued two IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards with the objective to develop a global framework for environmental sustainability disclosure. The Canadian Securities Administrators have also issued a proposed National Instrument 51-107 Disclosure of Climate-related Matters which sets forth additional reporting requirements for Canadian Public Companies. Precision continues to monitor developments on these reporting requirements as it progresses with its determination of the financial implications of complying with these regulations. 50 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 3. MATERIAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Basis of Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Corporation and all of its subsidiaries and partnerships, substantially all of which are wholly owned. The consolidated financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same period as the parent entity, using consistent accounting policies. All significant intercompany balances and transactions and any unrealized gains and losses arising from intercompany transactions, have been eliminated.
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Corporation. Control exists when Precision has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that currently are exercisable are considered. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
An associate is an entity for which the Corporation has significant influence and thereby has the power to participate in the financial and operational decisions but does not control or jointly control the investee. Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are recognized at cost and subsequently adjusted for the proportionate share of the investee's net assets. The Corporation's consolidated financial statements include its share of the investee's net earnings (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss) until the date that significant influence ceases.
Precision does not hold interests in any special-purpose entities.
The acquisition method is used to account for acquisitions of subsidiaries and assets that meet the definition of a business under IFRS. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued, and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized immediately in the statements of net earnings (loss). Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issuance of debt or equity securities, that the Corporation incurs in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.
(b) Cash
Cash consists of cash and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less.
(c) Inventory
Inventory is primarily comprised of operating supplies and carried at the lower of average cost, being the cost to acquire the inventory, and net realizable value. Inventory is charged to operating expenses as items are sold or consumed at the amount of the average cost of the item.
(d) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses.
Cost includes an expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. The cost of self-constructed assets includes the cost of materials and direct labour, any other costs directly attributable to bringing the assets to a working condition for their intended use, and borrowing costs on qualifying assets.
The cost of replacing a part of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognized in the carrying amount of the item if it is probable that the future economic benefits embodied within the part will flow to the Corporation, and its cost can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. The costs of the day-to-day servicing of property, plant and equipment (repair and maintenance) are recognized in net earnings as incurred.
Property, plant, and equipment are depreciated as follows:
| Expected Life | Salvage Value | Basis of<br>Depreciation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drilling rig equipment: | |||
| – Power & Tubulars | 5 years | – | straight-line |
| – Dynamic | 10 years | – | straight-line |
| – Structural | 20 years | 10% | straight-line |
| Service rig equipment | 20 years | 10% | straight-line |
| Drilling rig spare equipment | up to 15 years | – | straight-line |
| Service rig spare equipment | up to 15 years | – | straight-line |
| Rental equipment | up to 15 years | 0 to 25% | straight-line |
| Other equipment | 3 to 10 years | – | straight-line |
| Light duty vehicles | 4 years | – | straight-line |
| Heavy duty vehicles | 7 to 10 years | – | straight-line |
| Buildings | 10 to 20 years | – | straight-line |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 51
Property, plant and equipment are depreciated based on estimates of useful lives and salvage values. These estimates consider data and information from various sources including vendors, industry practice, and Precision’s own historical experience and may change as more experience is gained, market conditions shift, or technological advancements are made.
Gains and losses on disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal to the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment, and are recognized in the consolidated statements of net earnings (loss).
Determination of which parts of the drilling rig equipment represent significant cost relative to the entire rig and identifying the consumption patterns along with the useful lives of these significant parts, are matters of judgement. This determination can be complex and subject to differing interpretations and views, particularly when rig equipment comprises individual components for which different depreciation methods or rates are appropriate.
The estimated useful lives, residual values and method and components of depreciation are reviewed annually, and adjusted prospectively, if appropriate.
(e) Intangibles
Intangible assets that are acquired by the Corporation with finite lives are initially recorded at estimated fair value and subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses.
Subsequent expenditures are capitalized only when they increase the future economic benefits of the specific asset to which they relate.
Intangible assets are amortized based on estimates of useful lives. These estimates consider data and information from various sources including vendors and Precision’s own historical experience and may change as more experience is gained or technological advancements are made.
Amortization is recognized in net earnings using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Precision’s loan commitment fees are amortized over the term of the respective facility. Software is amortized over its expected useful life of up to 10 years.
The estimated useful lives and methods of amortization are reviewed annually and adjusted prospectively if appropriate.
(f) Impairment of Non-Financial Assets
The carrying amounts of the Corporation’s non-financial assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets, are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets (the cash-generating unit or CGU). Judgement is required in the aggregation of assets into CGUs.
If any such indication exists, then the asset or CGU’s recoverable amount is estimated. Judgement is required when evaluating whether a CGU has indications of impairment.
The recoverable amount of an asset or a CGU is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using an after-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Value in use is generally computed by reference to the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from the CGU.
An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset or a CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognized in net earnings. Impairment losses recognized in respect of CGUs are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the CGU and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the CGU on a pro-rata basis.
An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognized in prior years are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized.
(g) Income Taxes
Income tax expense is recognized in net earnings except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in equity, in which case it is recognized in equity.
Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable earnings or loss for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.
Deferred tax is recognized using the asset and liability method, providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred tax is not recognized on the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination. In addition, deferred tax is not recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and 52 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
liabilities is recognized in net earnings in the period that includes the date of enactment or substantive enactment. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset and they relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority on the same taxable entity, or on different tax entities that are expected to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis or their tax assets and liabilities will be realized simultaneously.
A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary difference can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.
The Corporation is subject to taxation in numerous jurisdictions. Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations and require significant judgement. Differences arising between the actual results and the assumptions made, or future changes to such assumptions, could necessitate future adjustments to taxable income and expense already recorded. The Corporation establishes provisions, based on reasonable estimates, for possible consequences of audits by the tax authorities of the respective countries in which it operates. The amount of such provisions are based on various factors, such as the experience of previous tax audits and differing interpretations of tax regulations by the taxable entity and the responsible tax authority.
(h) Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Precision recognizes revenue from a variety of sources. In general, customer invoices are issued upon rendering all performance obligations for an individual well-site job. Under the Corporation’s standard contract terms, customer payments are to be received within 28 days of the customer’s receipt of an invoice.
Contract Drilling Services
The Corporation contracts individual drilling rig packages, including crews and support equipment, to its customers. Depending on the customer’s drilling program, contracts may be for a single well, multiple wells or a fixed term. Revenue from contract drilling services is recognized over time from spud to rig release on a daily basis. Operating days are measured through industry standard tour sheets that document the daily activity of the rig. Revenue is recognized at the applicable day rate for each well, based on rates specified in the drilling contract.
The Corporation provides services under turnkey contracts, whereby Precision is required to drill a well to an agreed upon depth under specified conditions for a fixed price, regardless of the time required or problems encountered in drilling the well. Revenue from turnkey drilling contracts is recognized over time using the input method based on costs incurred to date in relation to estimated total contract costs, as that most accurately depicts the Corporation’s performance.
Completion and Production Services
The Corporation provides a variety of well completion and production services including well servicing. In general, service rigs do not involve long-term contracts or penalties for termination. Revenue is recognized daily upon completion of services. Operating days are measured through daily tour sheets and field tickets. Revenue is recognized at the applicable daily or hourly rate, as stipulated in the contract.
The Corporation offers its customers a variety of oilfield equipment for rental. Rental revenue is recognized daily at the applicable rate stated in the rental contract. Rental days are measured through field tickets.
The Corporation provides accommodation and catering services to customers in remote locations. Customers contract these services either as a package or individually for a fixed term. For accommodation services, the Corporation supplies camp equipment and revenue is recognized over time on a daily basis, once the equipment is on-site and available for use, at the applicable rate stated in the contract. For catering services, the Corporation recognizes revenue daily according to meals served. Accommodation and catering services provided are measured through field tickets.
(i) Provisions
Provisions are recognized when the Corporation has a present obligation as a result of a past event, when it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and when a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
The amount recognized as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.
Precision maintains a provision for the deductible and uninsured portions of workers’ compensation and general liability claims. The amount accrued for the provision for losses incurred varies depending on the number and nature of the claims outstanding at the dates of the statements of financial position. In addition, the accrual includes management’s estimate of the future cost to settle each claim such as future changes in the severity of the claim and increases in medical costs. Precision uses third parties to assist in developing the estimate of the ultimate costs to settle each claim, which is based on historical experience associated with the type of each claim and specific information related to each claim. The specific circumstances of each claim may change over time prior to settlement and, as a result, the estimates made as of the reporting dates may change. The current portion of the provision is presented within accounts payables and accrued liabilities. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 53
(j) Share-Based Incentive Compensation Plans
The Corporation has established several cash-settled share-based incentive compensation plans for non-management directors, officers, and other eligible employees. The estimated fair value of amounts payable to eligible participants under these plans are recognized as an expense with a corresponding increase in liabilities over the period that the participants become unconditionally entitled to payment. The recorded liability is re-measured at the end of each reporting period until settlement with the resultant change to the fair value of the liability recognized in net earnings for the period. When the plans are settled, the cash paid reduces the outstanding liability.
The Corporation has an employee share purchase plan that allows eligible employees to purchase common shares through payroll deductions.
Prior to January 1, 2012, the Corporation had an equity-settled deferred share unit plan whereby non-management directors of Precision could elect to receive all or a portion of their compensation in fully-vested deferred share units. Compensation expense was recognized based on the fair value price of the Corporation’s shares at the date of grant with a corresponding increase to contributed surplus. Upon redemption of the deferred share units into common shares, the amount previously recognized in contributed surplus is recorded as an increase to shareholders’ capital. The Corporation continues to have obligations under this plan.
The Corporation has a share option plan for certain eligible employees. Under this plan, the fair value of share purchase options is calculated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and that value is recorded as compensation expense over the grant’s vesting period with an offsetting credit to contributed surplus. A forfeiture rate is estimated on the grant date and is adjusted to reflect the actual number of options that vest. Upon exercise of the equity purchase option, the associated amount is reclassified from contributed surplus to shareholders’ capital. Consideration paid by employees upon exercise of the equity purchase options is credited to shareholders’ capital.
(k) Foreign Currency Translation
Transactions of the Corporation’s individual entities are recorded in the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates (its functional currency). Transactions in currencies other than the entities’ functional currency are translated at rates in effect at the time of the transaction. At each period end, monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the prevailing period-end rates. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated. Gains and losses are included in net earnings except for gains and losses on translation of long-term debt designated as a hedge of foreign operations, which are deferred and included in other comprehensive income.
For the purpose of preparing the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements, the financial statements of each foreign operation that does not have a Canadian dollar functional currency are translated into Canadian dollars. Assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the period end date. Revenues and expenses are translated using average exchange rates for the month of the respective transaction. Gains or losses resulting from these translation adjustments are recognized initially in other comprehensive income and reclassified from equity to net earnings on disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation.
Change in functional currency
On July 1, 2023, as a result of changing facts and circumstances in the current year, a subsidiary of the Corporation changed its functional currency from U.S. Dollars (USD) to Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) to reflect the business activities within the primary economic environment in which the subsidiary operates. The changes in facts and circumstances that led to this determination included, but were not limited to, the expiration of multiple material USD denominated customer drilling contracts and the execution of multiple material KWD denominated customer drilling contracts. The change in functional currency was applied prospectively, in accordance with IAS 21, The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates, on July 1, 2023, with the assets and liabilities of the subsidiary being converted into KWD from USD at a fixed exchange rate of USD1 : KWD
3.24
.
(l) Per Share Amounts
Basic per share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted per share amounts are calculated by using the treasury stock method for equity-based compensation arrangements. The treasury stock method assumes that any proceeds obtained on exercise of equity-based compensation arrangements would be used to purchase common shares at the average market price during the period. The weighted average number of shares outstanding is then adjusted by the difference between the number of shares issued from the exercise of equity-based compensation arrangements and shares repurchased from the related proceeds. 54 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(m) Financial Instruments
i) Non-Derivative Financial Instruments:
Financial assets and liabilities are classified and measured at amortized cost, fair value through other comprehensive income or fair value through net earnings. The classification of financial assets and liabilities is generally based on the business model in which the asset or liability is managed and its contractual cash flow characteristics. Financial assets held within a business model whose objective is to collect contractual cash flows and whose contractual terms give rise to cash flows on specified dates that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding are measured at amortized cost. After their initial fair value measurement, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities and long-term debt are classified and measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.
Upon initial recognition of a non-derivative financial asset, a loss allowance is recorded for Expected Credit Losses (ECL). Loss allowances for trade receivables are measured based on lifetime ECL that incorporates historical loss information and is adjusted for current economic and credit conditions.
ii) Derivative Financial Instruments:
The Corporation may enter into certain financial derivative contracts in order to manage the exposure to market risks from fluctuations in interest rates or exchange rates. These instruments are not used for trading or speculative purposes. Precision has not designated its financial derivative contracts as effective accounting hedges, and thus has not applied hedge accounting, even though it considers certain financial contracts to be economic hedges. As a result, financial derivative contracts are classified as fair value through net earnings and are recorded on the statements of financial position at estimated fair value. Transaction costs are recognized in net earnings when incurred.
Derivatives embedded in financial assets are never separated. Rather, the financial instrument as a whole is assessed for classification. Derivatives embedded in financial liabilities are separated from the host contract and accounted for separately when their economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to the host contract. Embedded derivatives in financial liabilities are recorded on the statements of financial position at estimated fair value and changes in the fair value are recognized in earnings.
(n) Hedge Accounting
The Corporation utilizes foreign currency long-term debt to hedge its exposure to changes in the carrying values of the Corporation’s net investment in certain foreign operations from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. To be accounted for as a hedge, the foreign currency long-term debt must be designated and documented as a hedge and must be effective at inception and on an ongoing basis. The documentation defines the relationship between the foreign currency long-term debt and the net investment in the foreign operations, as well as the Corporation’s risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction. The Corporation formally assesses, both at inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the changes in fair value of the foreign currency long-term debt is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value of the net investment in the foreign operations. The portion of gains or losses on the hedging item determined to be an effective hedge is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax, and is limited to the translation gain or loss on the net investment, while ineffective portions are recorded through net earnings.
A reduction in the fair value of the net investment in the foreign operations or increase in the foreign currency long-term debt balance may result in a portion of the hedge becoming ineffective. If the hedging relationship ceases to be effective or is terminated, hedge accounting is not applied to subsequent gains or losses. The amounts recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to net earnings and the corresponding exchange gains or losses arising from the translation of the foreign operation are recorded through net earnings upon dissolution or substantial dissolution of the foreign operation.
(o) Leases
At inception, Precision assesses whether its contracts contain a lease. A contract contains a lease if it conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The assessment of whether a contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset considers whether:
▪ the contract involves the use of an identified asset and the substantive substitution rights of the supplier. If the supplier has a substantive substitution right, then the asset is not identified;
▪ the lessee’s right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset; and
▪ the lessee’s right to direct the use of the asset, including decision-making to change how and for what purpose the asset is used.
At inception or on reassessment of a contract that contains a lease component, Precision allocates the consideration in the contract to each lease component on the basis of their relative stand-alone prices.
Leases in which Precision is a lessee
Precision recognizes a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease obligation at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease obligation adjusted for lease payments made on or before the commencement date, incurred initial direct costs, estimated site retirement costs and any lease incentives received. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 55
The right-of-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term. The estimated useful lives of right-of-use assets are consistent with those of property, plant and equipment. In addition, the right-of-use asset is reduced by impairment losses, if any, and adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease obligation.
The lease obligation is initially measured at the present value of the minimum lease payments not paid at the commencement date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, Precision’s incremental borrowing rate. Generally, Precision uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for those leases in which it is the lessee.
Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease obligation comprise the following:
▪ fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments;
▪ variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the commencement date;
▪ amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee; and
▪ the exercise price under a purchase option that Precision is reasonably certain to exercise, lease payments in an optional renewal period if Precision is reasonably certain to exercise an extension option, and penalties for early termination of a lease unless Precision is reasonably certain not to terminate early.
The lease obligation is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The measurement of lease obligations requires the use of certain estimates and assumptions including discount rates, exercise of lease term extension options, and escalating lease rates. It is remeasured when there is a change in:
▪ future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate;
▪ the estimated amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee; or
▪ the assessment of whether Precision will exercise a purchase, extension or termination option.
When the lease obligation is remeasured in this way, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset, or is recorded in net earnings if the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset has been reduced to zero.
Leases in which Precision is a lessor
When Precision acts as a lessor, at inception, Precision evaluates the classification as either a finance or operating lease.
To classify each lease, Precision makes an overall assessment of whether the lease transfers substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset. If this is the case, then the lease is a finance lease, if not, then it is an operating lease.
When acting as a sub-lessor, Precision accounts for its interests in the head lease and the sub-lease separately. It assesses the lease classification of a sub-lease with reference to the right-of-use asset arising from the head lease, not with reference to the underlying asset. If a head lease is a short-term lease then Precision classifies the sub-lease as an operating lease.
If an arrangement contains lease and non-lease components, Precision applies IFRS 15 to allocate the consideration in the contract. Precision recognizes lease payments received under operating leases for drilling rigs as income on a systematic basis, drilling days, over the lease term as part of revenue.
(p) Critical Accounting Assumptions and Estimates
i) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
At each reporting date, the Corporation reviews the carrying amount of assets in each CGU to determine whether an indicator of impairment exists. The Corporation’s analysis is based on relevant internal and external factors that indicate a CGU may be impaired such as the obsolescence or planned disposal of significant assets, financial performance of the CGU compared to forecasts, and past impairment tests, with a focus upon earnings before income tax, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, gain on acquisition, loss (gain) on investments and other assets, finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals, and depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA), and consideration of the Corporation’s market capitalization.
When indications of impairment exist within a CGU, a recoverable amount is determined which requires assumptions to estimate future discounted cash flows. These estimates and assumptions include future drilling activity and margins and the resulting estimated Adjusted EBITDA associated with the CGU and the discount rate used to present value the estimated cash flows. In selecting a discount rate, the Corporation uses observable market data inputs to develop a rate that the Corporation believes approximates the discount rate of market participants.
Although the Corporation believes the assumptions and estimates are reasonable and consistent with current conditions, internal planning, and expected future operations, such assumptions and estimations are subject to significant uncertainty and judgement. 56 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
ii) Income Taxes
Significant estimation and assumptions are required in determining the provision for income taxes. The recognition of deferred tax assets in respect of deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses and credits is based on the Corporation’s estimation of future taxable profit against which these differences, losses and credits may be used. The assessment is based upon existing tax laws and estimates of the Corporation’s future taxable income. These estimates may be materially different from the actual final tax return in future periods.
iii) Business Combinations
The determination of fair value is estimated based on information available at the date of acquisition and requires management to make assumptions and estimates about future events. The assumptions and estimates with respect to determining the fair value of property, plant and equipment generally requires significant judgement.
The measurement of the estimated fair value of acquired property, plant, and equipment is based on a combination of approaches, including the market approach, which applies significant assumptions related to the price at which comparable assets would be sold. Minor changes to these assumptions could have resulted in a significant impact to the fair value of property, plant and equipment acquired.
(q) Accounting Standards Adopted January 1, 2023
i) Material accounting policy information
The Corporation adopted Disclosure of Accounting Policies (Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2) from January 1, 2023. Although the amendments did not result in any changes to the accounting policies themselves, they impacted the accounting policy information disclosed in the financial statements.
The amendments require the disclosure of 'material', rather than 'significant', accounting policies. The amendments also provide guidance on the application of materiality to disclosure of accounting policies, assisting entities to provide useful, entity-specific accounting policy information that users need to understand other information in the financial statements.
Management reviewed the accounting policies and made updates to the information disclosed in certain instances in line with the amendments.
(ii) Global minimum top-up tax
The Corporation adopted the International Tax Reform – Pillar Two Model Rules (Amendments to IAS 12) upon their release on May 23, 2023. The amendments provide a temporary mandatory exception from deferred tax accounting for the top-up tax, which is effective immediately, and require new disclosures about the Pillar Two exposure.
The mandatory exception applies retrospectively. However, because no new legislation to implement the top-up tax was enacted or substantively enacted at December 31, 2023 in any jurisdiction in which Precision operates and no related deferred tax was recognized at that date, the retrospective application has no impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.
(r) Accounting Standards and Amendments not yet Effective
The IASB has issued several new standards and amendments to existing standards that will become effective for periods subsequent to December 31, 2023. Accordingly, these new standards and amendments were not applied when preparing these consolidated financial statements. For each standard, Precision has assessed or is in the process of assessing the impact these new standards and amendments will have on its consolidated financial statements.
| Standards and Amendments | Effective for periods beginning on or after | Impact to Precision Drilling Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Non-current Liabilities with Covenants | January 1, 2024 | Review in-progress |
| Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback (Amendments to IFRS 16) | January 1, 2024 | Review in-progress |
| Supplier Finance Arrangements (Amendments to IAS 7 and IFRS 7) | January 1, 2024 | Review in-progress |
| Lack of Exchangeability (Amendments to IAS 21) | January 1, 2025 | Review in-progress |
NOTE 4. BUSINESS COMBINATION
(a) CWC Energy Services Corp.
On November 8, 2023, Precision acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of CWC Energy Services Corp. (CWC) for consideration of $89 million, which included the issuance of 947,807 Precision common shares and cash of $14 million.
With this acquisition, Precision substantially increased the size and scale of its Canadian well servicing operations and expanded its geographic footprint into complementary regions. Precision added 62 marketable service rigs to its fleet along with experienced crews and field personnel and operating facilities. Precision also added 18 high-quality drilling rigs to its fleet, Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 57
including seven drilling rigs in Canada and 11 drilling rigs in the U.S. The addition of the U.S. drilling rigs expanded the Corporation's operations into Wyoming, further diversifying its serviceable U.S. basins.
Precision incurred $3 million of various transaction costs related to the business combination, which were recognized as an expense in the statements of net earnings (loss). These costs were primarily related to advisory, legal, consulting and other transaction costs.
The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price:
| (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Consideration: | |||
| Number of shares issued | 947,807 | ||
| Share price at issuance | $ | 79.75 | |
| Common shares | $ | 75,588 | |
| Cash | 13,726 | ||
| Total consideration | $ | 89,314 | |
| Allocation of purchase price | |||
| Cash | 13,080 | ||
| Accounts receivable | 41,641 | ||
| Property, plant and equipment | 140,965 | ||
| Intangibles | 3,000 | ||
| Right-of-use assets | 1,466 | ||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (22,260 | ) | |
| Long-term debt | (60,387 | ) | |
| Lease obligations | (1,466 | ) | |
| Deferred tax liabilities | (964 | ) | |
| Gain on acquisition | (25,761 | ) | |
| Total | $ | 89,314 |
The Corporation recognized a gain on acquisition of $26 million (2022 – nil) in the statements of net earnings (loss) that was primarily attributable to movements in the fair value of common share consideration between the date of transaction announcement and date of closing.
The acquired CWC business contributed revenue of $20 million and net earnings of $3 million for the period of November 8, 2023 to December 31, 2023. Had the acquisition occurred on January 1, 2023, it is estimated that the consolidated pro-forma revenue and net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2023 would have been $182 million and $18 million, respectively.
Since the date of acquisition, depreciation of the acquired property, plant and equipment was recognized in the statements of net earnings (loss) in accordance with Precision’s existing depreciation policies for similar equipment types.
The Corporation accounted for the acquisition as a business combination and used the acquisition method to record the net assets and liabilities assumed at fair value. Precision engaged an independent third-party valuator to estimate the acquisition-date fair value over a portion of the Rig Equipment included in property, plant and equipment. The Corporation used the appraisals available for comparable assets in estimating the remaining acquisition-date fair value of Rig Equipment included in property, plant and equipment.
(b) High Arctic Energy Services Inc.
On July 27, 2022, Precision acquired the well servicing business and associated rental assets of High Arctic Energy Services Inc. for consideration of $38 million. On the date of acquisition, Precision made a $10 million cash payment with the remaining balance of $28 million, included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities at December 31, 2022, and subsequently paid in the first quarter of 2023.
Included in the Completion and Production Services operating segment, the acquisition increased the size and scale of Precision’s operations within the Canadian well servicing industry, adding well-service rigs to its fleet along with related rental assets, ancillary support equipment, inventories, spares and operating facilities in key operating basins.
The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination, using the acquisition method, whereby the Acquired Assets and Assumed Liabilities (Acquired Net Assets) were recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Precision relied on a third-party appraisal when determining the fair value of the Acquired Net Assets.
Precision incurred $1 million of various transaction costs related to the business combination, which were recognized as an expense in the statements of net earnings (loss). These costs were primarily related to advisory, legal, consulting and other transaction costs.
58 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price:
| (Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $ | 10,200 | |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 27,300 | ||
| Fair value of consideration transferred | $ | 37,500 | |
| Acquired Assets | |||
| Rig equipment | $ | 32,796 | |
| Vehicles | 900 | ||
| Buildings | 1,457 | ||
| Land | 2,347 | ||
| Right-of-use assets | 6,990 | ||
| Assumed Liabilities | |||
| Lease obligations | (6,990 | ) | |
| Fair value of Acquired Net Assets | $ | 37,500 |
Since the date of acquisition, depreciation of the acquired property, plant and equipment was recognized in the statements of net earnings (loss) in accordance with Precision’s existing depreciation policies for similar equipment types.
NOTE 5. REVENUE
The following table includes a reconciliation of disaggregated revenue by reportable segment (Note 6). Revenue has been disaggregated by primary geographical market and type of service provided.
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Contract<br>Drilling<br>Services | Completion<br>and<br>Production<br>Services | Corporate<br>and Other | Inter-<br>Segment<br>Eliminations | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ | 848,262 | $ | 13,683 | $ | — | $ | (30 | ) | $ | 861,915 |
| Canada | 709,703 | 227,033 | — | (7,097 | ) | 929,639 | |||||
| International | 146,300 | — | — | — | 146,300 | ||||||
| $ | 1,704,265 | $ | 240,716 | $ | — | $ | (7,127 | ) | $ | 1,937,854 | |
| Day rate/hourly services | $ | 1,661,762 | $ | 240,716 | $ | — | $ | (537 | ) | $ | 1,901,941 |
| Shortfall payments/idle but contracted | 24,602 | — | — | — | 24,602 | ||||||
| Turnkey drilling services | 8,988 | — | — | — | 8,988 | ||||||
| Other | 8,913 | — | — | (6,590 | ) | 2,323 | |||||
| $ | 1,704,265 | $ | 240,716 | $ | — | $ | (7,127 | ) | $ | 1,937,854 | |
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | Contract<br>Drilling<br>Services | Completion<br>and<br>Production<br>Services | Corporate<br>and Other | Inter-<br>Segment<br>Eliminations | Total | ||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| United States | $ | 727,544 | $ | 18,129 | $ | — | $ | (43 | ) | $ | 745,630 |
| Canada | 562,586 | 169,042 | — | (6,068 | ) | 725,560 | |||||
| International | 146,004 | — | — | — | 146,004 | ||||||
| $ | 1,436,134 | $ | 187,171 | $ | — | $ | (6,111 | ) | $ | 1,617,194 | |
| Day rate/hourly services | $ | 1,394,394 | $ | 187,171 | $ | — | $ | (748 | ) | $ | 1,580,817 |
| Shortfall payments/idle but contracted | 2,153 | — | — | — | 2,153 | ||||||
| Turnkey drilling services | 31,723 | — | — | — | 31,723 | ||||||
| Other | 7,864 | — | — | (5,363 | ) | 2,501 | |||||
| $ | 1,436,134 | $ | 187,171 | $ | — | $ | (6,111 | ) | $ | 1,617,194 |
NOTE 6. SEGMENTED INFORMATION
The Corporation operates primarily in Canada, the United States and certain international locations, in two industry segments; Contract Drilling Services and Completion and Production Services. Contract Drilling Services includes drilling rigs, procurement and distribution of oilfield supplies, and the manufacture, sale and repair of drilling equipment. Completion and Production Services includes service rigs, oilfield equipment rental, and camp and catering services. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 59
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | Contract<br>Drilling<br>Services | Completion<br>and<br>Production<br>Services | Corporate<br>and Other | Inter-<br>Segment<br>Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $ | 1,704,265 | $ | 240,716 | $ | — | $ | (7,127 | ) | $ | 1,937,854 | ||||
| Earnings before income taxes, gain on<br> repurchase of unsecured senior notes,<br> gain on acquisition, loss (gain) on<br> investments and other assets, finance<br> charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset <br> decommissioning, gain on asset disposals<br> and depreciation and amortization | 630,761 | 51,224 | (70,867 | ) | — | 611,118 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 269,133 | 14,654 | 13,770 | — | 297,557 | ||||||||||
| Gain on asset disposals | (23,378 | ) | (973 | ) | (118 | ) | — | (24,469 | ) | ||||||
| Loss on asset decommissioning | 9,592 | — | — | — | 9,592 | ||||||||||
| Total assets | 2,565,495 | 271,724 | 181,816 | — | 3,019,035 | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | 213,660 | 9,984 | 3,105 | — | 226,749 | ||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | Contract<br>Drilling<br>Services | Completion<br>and<br>Production<br>Services | Corporate<br>and Other | Inter-<br>Segment<br>Eliminations | Total | ||||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Revenue | $ | 1,436,134 | $ | 187,171 | $ | — | $ | (6,111 | ) | $ | 1,617,194 | ||||
| Earnings before income taxes, gain on<br> repurchase of unsecured senior notes,<br> gain on acquisition, loss (gain) on<br> investments and other assets, finance<br> charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset <br> decommissioning, gain on asset disposals<br> and depreciation and amortization | 397,753 | 38,147 | (124,295 | ) | — | 311,605 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 255,286 | 14,381 | 9,368 | — | 279,035 | ||||||||||
| Gain on asset disposals | (25,495 | ) | (3,233 | ) | (1,198 | ) | — | (29,926 | ) | ||||||
| Total assets | 2,574,867 | 179,226 | 122,030 | — | 2,876,123 | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | 177,844 | 5,325 | 1,081 | — | 184,250 | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes, gain on repurchase <br> of unsecured senior notes, gain on acquisition, <br> loss (gain) on investments and other assets, <br> finance charges, foreign exchange, loss on<br> asset decommissioning, gain on asset disposals<br> and depreciation and amortization | $ | 611,118 | $ | 311,605 | |||||||||||
| Deduct: | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 297,557 | 279,035 | |||||||||||||
| Gain on asset disposals | (24,469 | ) | (29,926 | ) | |||||||||||
| Loss on asset decommissioning | 9,592 | — | |||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | (1,667 | ) | 1,278 | ||||||||||||
| Finance charges | 83,414 | 87,813 | |||||||||||||
| Loss (gain) on investments and other assets | 6,810 | (12,452 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Gain on acquisition | (25,761 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
| Gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes | (137 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
| Income taxes | (23,465 | ) | 20,150 | ||||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | 289,244 | $ | (34,293 | ) |
The Corporation’s operations are carried on in the following geographic locations:
| Year ended December 31, 2023 | United States | Canada | International | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $ | 861,915 | $ | 929,639 | $ | 146,300 | $ | 1,937,854 |
| Total assets | 1,226,256 | 1,246,069 | 546,710 | 3,019,035 | ||||
| Year ended December 31, 2022 | United States | Canada | International | Total | ||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Revenue | $ | 745,630 | $ | 725,560 | $ | 146,004 | $ | 1,617,194 |
| Total assets | 1,376,413 | 1,056,093 | 443,617 | 2,876,123 |
60 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 7. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $ | 6,918,765 | $ | 6,906,771 | ||
| Accumulated depreciation | (4,580,677 | ) | (4,603,433 | ) | ||
| $ | 2,338,088 | $ | 2,303,338 | |||
| Rig equipment | 2,094,510 | 2,083,446 | ||||
| Rental equipment | 16,066 | 15,977 | ||||
| Other equipment | 9,236 | 11,465 | ||||
| Vehicles | 2,333 | 3,380 | ||||
| Buildings | 45,827 | 38,949 | ||||
| Assets under construction | 126,872 | 117,535 | ||||
| Land | 43,244 | 32,586 | ||||
| $ | 2,338,088 | $ | 2,303,338 |
Cost
| Rig<br>Equipment | Rental<br>Equipment | Other<br>Equipment | Vehicles | Buildings | Assets<br>Under<br>Construction | Land | Total | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 5,968,316 | $ | 103,181 | $ | 178,717 | $ | 34,680 | $ | 119,519 | $ | 67,884 | $ | 31,424 | $ | 6,503,721 | ||||||||
| Additions | 63,058 | 587 | 517 | — | 141 | 122,271 | — | 186,574 | ||||||||||||||||
| Acquisitions | 32,796 | — | — | 900 | 1,457 | — | 2,347 | 37,500 | ||||||||||||||||
| Disposals | (71,912 | ) | (7,538 | ) | (8,358 | ) | (873 | ) | (9,461 | ) | 2 | (2,187 | ) | (100,327 | ) | |||||||||
| Reclassifications | 74,148 | — | 188 | — | — | (74,336 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | 268,056 | 224 | 4,345 | 1,295 | 2,667 | 1,714 | 1,002 | 279,303 | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 6,334,462 | 96,454 | 175,409 | 36,002 | 114,323 | 117,535 | 32,586 | 6,906,771 | ||||||||||||||||
| Additions | 24,158 | 102 | 151 | — | 612 | 199,937 | — | 224,960 | ||||||||||||||||
| Acquisitions | 118,965 | — | 1,500 | 500 | 8,960 | — | 11,040 | 140,965 | ||||||||||||||||
| Disposals | (127,979 | ) | — | (9,681 | ) | (3,058 | ) | (214 | ) | (39 | ) | (10 | ) | (140,981 | ) | |||||||||
| Reclassifications | 172,300 | — | 6,038 | — | 2,038 | (180,376 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Asset decommissioning | (78,367 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | — | (78,367 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | (119,329 | ) | (75 | ) | (2,988 | ) | (748 | ) | (886 | ) | (10,185 | ) | (372 | ) | (134,583 | ) | ||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 6,324,210 | $ | 96,481 | $ | 170,429 | $ | 32,696 | $ | 124,833 | $ | 126,872 | $ | 43,244 | $ | 6,918,765 |
Accumulated Depreciation
| Rig<br>Equipment | Rental<br>Equipment | Other<br>Equipment | Vehicles | Buildings | Assets<br>Under<br>Construction | Land | Total | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 3,894,131 | $ | 82,584 | $ | 161,629 | $ | 31,476 | $ | 75,510 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,245,330 | ||||||
| Depreciation expense | 250,885 | 5,196 | 6,894 | 875 | 4,252 | — | — | 268,102 | ||||||||||||||
| Disposals | (66,452 | ) | (7,522 | ) | (8,357 | ) | (873 | ) | (5,793 | ) | — | — | (88,997 | ) | ||||||||
| Foreign exchange | 172,452 | 219 | 3,778 | 1,144 | 1,405 | — | — | 178,998 | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 4,251,016 | 80,477 | 163,944 | 32,622 | 75,374 | — | — | 4,603,433 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation expense | 268,532 | 12 | 9,070 | 924 | 4,237 | — | — | 282,775 | ||||||||||||||
| Disposals | (122,823 | ) | — | (9,681 | ) | (2,788 | ) | (133 | ) | — | — | (135,425 | ) | |||||||||
| Asset decommissioning | (68,775 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | — | (68,775 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | (98,250 | ) | (74 | ) | (2,140 | ) | (395 | ) | (472 | ) | — | — | (101,331 | ) | ||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 4,229,700 | $ | 80,415 | $ | 161,193 | $ | 30,363 | $ | 79,006 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,580,677 |
(a) Impairment
Precision reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets for indications of impairment at the end of each reporting period. At December 31, 2023, Precision reviewed each of its cash-generating units and did not identify indications of impairment and, therefore, did not test its CGUs for impairment.
(b) Asset Additions
In 2023, Precision purchased $225 million (2022 – $184 million) of property, plant and equipment and completed nil (2022 – $2 million) non-cash equipment swaps resulting in total asset additions of $225 million (2022 – $187 million).
(c) Asset Disposals
Through the completion of normal course business operations, the Corporation sold used assets incurring gains or losses on disposal resulting in a net gain on asset disposal of $24 million (2022 – $30 million). Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 61
(d) Asset Decommissioning
In 2023, the Corporation incurred a $10 million (2022 – nil) loss on asset decommissioning relating to certain drilling and ancillary equipment, contained within the Contract Drilling Services segment, that no longer met the Corporation's High Performance technology standards.
NOTE 8. INTANGIBLES
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $ | 59,952 | $ | 55,111 | ||
| Accumulated amortization | (42,642 | ) | (35,536 | ) | ||
| $ | 17,310 | $ | 19,575 | |||
| Loan commitment fees related to Senior Credit Facility | $ | 843 | $ | 1,408 | ||
| Software | 16,467 | 18,167 | ||||
| $ | 17,310 | $ | 19,575 |
Cost
| Loan<br>Commitment<br>Fees | Software | Brand Names | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 17,081 | $ | 38,027 | $ | — | $ | 55,108 |
| Additions | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Foreign exchange | — | 3 | — | 3 | ||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 17,081 | 38,030 | — | 55,111 | ||||
| Additions | — | 1,789 | — | 1,789 | ||||
| Acquisition | — | — | 3,000 | 3,000 | ||||
| Foreign exchange | — | 52 | — | 52 | ||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 17,081 | $ | 39,871 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 59,952 |
Accumulated Amortization
| Loan<br>Commitment<br>Fees | Software | Brand Names | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 15,014 | $ | 16,179 | $ | — | $ | 31,193 |
| Amortization expense | 659 | 3,668 | — | 4,327 | ||||
| Foreign exchange | — | 16 | — | 16 | ||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 15,673 | 19,863 | — | 35,536 | ||||
| Amortization expense | 565 | 3,465 | 3,000 | 7,030 | ||||
| Foreign exchange | — | 76 | — | 76 | ||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 16,238 | $ | 23,404 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 42,642 |
NOTE 9. LONG-TERM DEBT
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Denominated Facilities | Canadian Facilities and Translated <br>U.S. Facilities | |||||||||||
| Current Portion of Long-Term Debt | ||||||||||||
| Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility | US | $ | — | US | $ | — | $ | 1,915 | $ | 1,333 | ||
| U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility | 704 | 704 | 933 | 954 | ||||||||
| US | $ | 704 | US | $ | 704 | $ | 2,848 | $ | 2,287 | |||
| Long-Term Debt | ||||||||||||
| Senior Credit Facility | US | $ | — | US | $ | 44,000 | $ | — | $ | 59,620 | ||
| Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility | — | — | 24,018 | 16,334 | ||||||||
| U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility | 7,685 | 8,389 | 10,181 | 11,368 | ||||||||
| Unsecured Senior Notes: | ||||||||||||
| 7.125% senior notes due 2026 | 273,330 | 347,765 | 362,096 | 471,225 | ||||||||
| 6.875% senior notes due 2029 | 400,000 | 400,000 | 529,904 | 542,004 | ||||||||
| US | $ | 681,015 | US | $ | 800,154 | 926,199 | 1,100,551 | |||||
| Less net unamortized debt issue costs | (11,369 | ) | (14,581 | ) | ||||||||
| $ | 914,830 | $ | 1,085,970 |
62 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
| Senior Credit<br>Facility | Unsecured<br>Senior<br>Notes | Canadian<br>Real<br>Estate<br>Credit<br>Facility | U.S. Real<br>Estate Credit<br>Facility | CWC<br>Syndicated<br>Loan | Debt Issue<br>Costs and<br>Original<br>Issue<br>Discount | Total | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance December 31, 2021 | $ | 149,206 | $ | 945,519 | $ | 19,000 | $ | 12,388 | $ | — | $ | (17,096 | ) | $ | 1,109,017 | ||||||
| Changes from financing cash flows: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from Senior Credit<br> Facility | 144,889 | — | — | — | — | — | 144,889 | ||||||||||||||
| Repayment of Senior Credit<br> Facility | (248,500 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (248,500 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Repayment of Real Estate Credit<br> Facility | — | — | (1,333 | ) | (916 | ) | — | — | (2,249 | ) | |||||||||||
| Non-cash changes: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issue costs | — | — | — | — | — | 2,528 | 2,528 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | 14,025 | 67,710 | — | 850 | — | (13 | ) | 82,572 | |||||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2022 | $ | 59,620 | $ | 1,013,229 | $ | 17,667 | $ | 12,322 | $ | — | $ | (14,581 | ) | $ | 1,088,257 | ||||||
| Current | — | — | 1,333 | 954 | — | — | 2,287 | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term | 59,620 | 1,013,229 | 16,334 | 11,368 | — | (14,581 | ) | 1,085,970 | |||||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2022 | $ | 59,620 | $ | 1,013,229 | $ | 17,667 | $ | 12,322 | $ | — | $ | (14,581 | ) | $ | 1,088,257 | ||||||
| Changes from financing cash flows: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from Senior Credit<br> Facility | 162,649 | — | — | — | — | — | 162,649 | ||||||||||||||
| Acquired long-term debt | — | — | 9,697 | — | 50,690 | — | 60,387 | ||||||||||||||
| Repayment of long-term debt | — | — | — | — | (50,690 | ) | — | (50,690 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Repayment of unsecured senior<br> notes | — | (99,950 | ) | — | — | — | — | (99,950 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Repayment of Senior Credit<br> Facility | (222,216 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | (222,216 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Repayment of Real Estate Credit<br> Facility | — | — | (1,431 | ) | (950 | ) | — | — | (2,381 | ) | |||||||||||
| Non-cash changes: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on repurchase of unsecured<br> senior notes | — | (137 | ) | — | — | — | — | (137 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Debt issue costs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issue costs | — | — | — | — | — | 3,210 | 3,210 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | (53 | ) | (21,142 | ) | — | (258 | ) | — | 2 | (21,451 | ) | ||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2023 | $ | — | $ | 892,000 | $ | 25,933 | $ | 11,114 | $ | — | $ | (11,369 | ) | $ | 917,678 | ||||||
| Current | — | — | 1,915 | 933 | — | — | 2,848 | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term | — | 892,000 | 24,018 | 10,181 | — | (11,369 | ) | 914,830 | |||||||||||||
| Balance December 31, 2023 | $ | — | $ | 892,000 | $ | 25,933 | $ | 11,114 | $ | — | $ | (11,369 | ) | $ | 917,678 |
Precision’s current and long-term debt obligations at December 31, 2023 will mature as follows:
| 2024 | $ | 2,848 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12,096 | |
| 2026 | 376,345 | |
| 2027 | 582 | |
| Thereafter | 537,176 | |
| $ | 929,047 |
(a) Senior Credit Facilities:
The senior secured revolving credit facility (Senior Credit Facility) provides Precision with senior secured financing for general corporate purposes, including for acquisitions, of up to US$447 million with a provision for an increase in the facility of up to an additional US$353 million. The Senior Credit Facility is secured by charges on substantially all of the present and future assets of Precision, its material U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries and, if necessary, to adhere to covenants under the Senior Credit Facility, certain subsidiaries organized in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the U.S. The Senior Credit Facility has a term of four years, with an annual option on Precision’s part to request that the lenders extend, at their discretion, the facility to a new maturity date not to exceed five years from the date of the extension request.
The Senior Credit Facility requires Precision comply with certain restrictive and financial covenants including a leverage ratio of consolidated senior debt to consolidated Covenant EBITDA (as defined in the debt agreement) of less than 2.5:1. For purposes of calculating the leverage ratio consolidated senior debt only includes secured indebtedness. It also requires the Corporation to maintain a ratio of consolidated Covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense for the most recent four consecutive quarters, of greater than 2.5:1, subject to the amendments noted below. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 63
Distributions under the Senior Credit Facility are subject to a pro-forma senior net leverage covenant of less than or equal to 1.75:1. The Senior Credit Facility also limits the redemption and repurchase of junior debt subject to a pro-forma senior net leverage covenant test of less than or equal to 1.75:1.
During 2023, Precision agreed with the lenders to remove certain non-extending lenders from the facility, thereby reducing the total commitment from US$500 million to US$447 million.
Under the Senior Credit Facility, amounts can be drawn in U.S. dollars and/or Canadian dollars. At December 31, 2023, US$nil was drawn under this facility (2022 – US$44 million) as all amounts borrowed under this facility were fully repaid during 2023. Up to US$200 million of the Senior Credit Facility is available for letters of credit denominated in U.S and/or Canadian dollars and other currencies acceptable to the fronting lender. As at December 31, 2023 outstanding letters of credit amounted to US$56 million (2022 – US$56 million).
The interest rate on loans that are denominated in U.S. dollars is, at the option of Precision, either a margin over a U.S. base rate or a margin over LIBOR. The interest rate on loans denominated in Canadian dollars is, at the option of Precision, either a margin over the Canadian prime rate or a margin over the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR); such margins will be based on the then applicable ratio of consolidated total debt to EBITDA.
(b) Real Estate Credit Facilities
In November 2020, Precision established a Real Estate Term Credit Facility. The facility matures in November 2025 and is secured by real property located in Houston, Texas. Principal plus interest payments are due monthly, based on 15-year straight-line amortization with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a LIBOR rate plus margin.
In March 2021, Precision established a Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility. The facility matures in March 2026 and is secured by real properties in Alberta, Canada. Principal plus interest payments are due quarterly, based on 15-year straight-line amortization with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a CDOR rate plus margin.
In November 2023, Precision assumed a $10 million Canadian Real Estate Facility from the acquisition of CWC Energy Services. The facility matures in June 2028 and is secured by real properties in Alberta, Canada. Principal plus interest payments are due monthly, based on a 22-year amortization period with any unpaid principal and accrued interest due at maturity. Interest is calculated using a CORRA rate plus margin. In connection with this Canadian Real Estate Facility, Precision acquired an interest rate swap agreement to exchange the floating rate interest payments for fixed rate interest payments, which fixes the Bankers Acceptance-Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average components of its interest payment in the outstanding Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility. Under the interest rate swap agreement, Precision pays a fixed rate of 4.7%. The fair value of the interest rate swap arrangement is the difference between the forward interest rates and the discounted contract rate and are classified as Level II on the fair value hierarchy. As at December 31, 2023, the mark-to-market value of the interest rate swap was not material and was included within accounts receivable in the consolidated statements of financial position.
The Real Estate Credit Facilities contain certain affirmative and negative covenants and events of default, customary for these types of transactions. Under the terms of these facilities, Precision must maintain financial covenants in accordance with the Senior Credit Facility, described above, as of the last day of each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters. For the Canadian Real Estate Credit Facility, in the event the Senior Credit Facility expires, is cancelled or is terminated, financial covenants in effect at that time shall remain in place for the remaining duration of the facility. For the U.S. Real Estate Credit Facility, in the event the consolidated Covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense coverage ratio is waived or removed from the Senior Credit Facility, a minimum threshold of 1.15:1 is required.
(c) Unsecured Senior Notes:
Precision has the following unsecured senior notes outstanding:
7.125% US$ senior notes due 2026
These unsecured senior notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 7.125% per annum and mature on January 15, 2026. Interest is payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 2018.
Any time on or after November 15, 2023, these notes can be redeemed for their principal amount plus accrued interest. Upon specified change of control events, each holder of a note will have the right to sell to Precision all or a portion of its notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase.
6.875% US$ senior notes due 2029
These unsecured senior notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.875% per annum and mature on January 15, 2029. Interest is payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2022. These unsecured senior notes were issued at a price equal to 99.253% of the face value, resulting in a US$3 million original issue discount. The original issue discount will be amortized over the life of the notes using the effective interest rate method.
Prior to June 15, 2024, Precision may redeem up to 35% of the 6.875% unsecured senior notes due in 2029 with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 106.875% of the principal amount plus accrued interest. Prior to January 15, 2025, Precision may redeem these notes in whole or in part at 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest and the greater of 1.0% of the principal amount of the note to be redeemed and the excess, if any, of the 64 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
present value of the January 15, 2025 redemption price plus required interest payments through January 15, 2025 (calculated using the U.S. Treasury rate plus 50 basis points) over the principal amount of the note. As well, Precision may redeem these notes in whole or in part at any time on or after January 15, 2025 and before January 15, 2027, at redemption prices ranging between 103.438% and 101.719% of their principal amount plus accrued interest. Any time on or after January 15, 2027, these notes can be redeemed for their principal amount plus accrued interest. Upon specified change of control events, each holder of a note will have the right to sell to Precision all or a portion of its notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase.
The unsecured senior notes require Precision to comply with certain restrictive and financial covenants including an incurrence based test of Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, as defined in the senior note agreements, of greater than or equal to 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters. In the event the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio is less than 2.0:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters the senior notes restrict Precision’s ability to incur additional indebtedness.
The unsecured senior notes also contain a restricted payments covenant that limits Precision’s ability to make payments in the nature of dividends, distributions and for repurchases from shareholders. These restricted payments baskets grow by, among other things, 50% of cumulative consolidated net earnings, and decrease by 100% of cumulative consolidated net losses as defined in the note agreements, and cumulative payments made to shareholders. At December 31, 2023, the governing net restricted payments basket was negative $91 million (2022 – negative $363 million), therefore limiting us from making any further dividend payments or share repurchases until the governing restricted payments basket once again becomes positive. During 2023, pursuant to the indentures governing the unsecured senior notes, Precision used the available general restricted payments basket to facilitate the repurchase and cancellation of its common shares.
Precision’s unsecured senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by all U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries that guaranteed the Senior Credit Facility (Guarantor Subsidiaries). These Guarantor Subsidiaries are directly or indirectly 100% owned by the parent company. Separate financial statements for each of the Guarantor Subsidiaries have not been provided; instead, the Corporation has included in Note 25 summarized financial information and expanded qualitative non-financial disclosures based on Rule 3-10 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation S-X.
(d) Covenants:
At December 31, 2023, Precision was in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Credit Facility, Real Estate Credit Facilities and unsecured senior notes.
| Covenant | At December 31, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Credit Facility | |||
| Consolidated senior debt to consolidated covenant EBITDA(1) | ≤ 2.50 | 0.07 | |
| Consolidated covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense | ≥ 2.50 | 6.92 | |
| Real Estate Credit Facility | |||
| Consolidated covenant EBITDA to consolidated interest expense | ≥ 2.50 | 6.92 | |
| Unsecured Senior Notes | |||
| Consolidated interest coverage ratio | ≥ 2.00 | 7.50 |
(1) For purposes of calculating the leverage ratio consolidated senior debt only includes secured indebtedness.
NOTE 10. FINANCE CHARGES
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest: | ||||||
| Long-term debt | $ | 76,591 | $ | 81,060 | ||
| Lease obligations | 3,784 | 2,934 | ||||
| Other | 685 | 968 | ||||
| Income | (1,392 | ) | (323 | ) | ||
| Amortization of debt issue costs | 3,746 | 3,174 | ||||
| Finance charges | $ | 83,414 | $ | 87,813 |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 65
NOTE 11. LEASES
(a) As a lessee
Precision recognizes right-of-use assets primarily from its leases of real estate and vehicles and equipment.
| Real Estate | Vehicles and Equipment | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 40,463 | $ | 10,977 | $ | 51,440 | |||
| Additions | 1,662 | 5,410 | 7,072 | ||||||
| Acquired | 6,990 | — | 6,990 | ||||||
| Depreciation | (3,730 | ) | (3,535 | ) | (7,265 | ) | |||
| Lease remeasurements | (372 | ) | 189 | (183 | ) | ||||
| Effect of foreign currency exchange differences | 1,483 | 495 | 1,978 | ||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | 46,496 | $ | 13,536 | $ | 60,032 | |||
| Additions | 1,217 | 15,811 | 17,028 | ||||||
| Acquired | 574 | 892 | 1,466 | ||||||
| Derecognition | (5,947 | ) | (685 | ) | (6,632 | ) | |||
| Depreciation | (3,559 | ) | (4,741 | ) | (8,300 | ) | |||
| Lease remeasurements | (789 | ) | 1,314 | 525 | |||||
| Effect of foreign currency exchange differences | (480 | ) | (201 | ) | (681 | ) | |||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 37,512 | $ | 25,926 | $ | 63,438 |
Precision’s real estate lease contracts often contain renewal options which may impact the determination of the lease term for purposes of calculating the lease obligation. If it is reasonably certain that a renewal option will be exercised, the renewal period is included in the lease term. When entering a lease, Precision assesses whether it is reasonably certain renewal options will be exercised. Reasonable certainty is established if all relevant facts and circumstances indicate an economic incentive to exercise the renewal option. For the majority of its real estate leases, Precision is reasonably certain it will exercise its renewal option. Accordingly, the renewal period has been included in the lease term used to calculate the lease obligation.
For the period ended December 31, 2023, Precision had interest and payments of $13 million (2022 – $10 million) in relation to its lease obligations.
The Corporation has commitments under various lease agreements, primarily for real estate and vehicles and equipment. Terms of Precision’s real estate leases run for a period of one to 10 years while vehicle and equipment leases are typically for terms of between three and four years. Expected non-cancellable undiscounted operating lease payments are as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than one year | $ | 17,540 | $ | 10,985 |
| One to five years | 42,460 | 28,977 | ||
| More than five years | 10,748 | 8,628 | ||
| $ | 70,748 | $ | 48,590 |
(b) As a lessor
Precision leases its rig equipment under long-term drilling contracts with terms ranging from one to five years. At December 31, 2023, the net book value of the underlying rig equipment subject to long-term drilling contracts was $554 million (2022 – $774 million).
The following table sets out a maturity analysis of lease payments, showing the undiscounted lease payments to be received subsequent to December 31, 2023: .
| Operating Leases | Finance Leases | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than one year | $ | 430,702 | $ | 764 | |
| One to five years | 540,906 | 3,176 | |||
| More than five years | 57,061 | 3,473 | |||
| Total undiscounted lease receipts | $ | 1,028,669 | $ | 7,413 | |
| Unearned finance income on lease receipts | (1,639 | ) | |||
| Net investment in the lease | $ | 5,774 |
NOTE 12. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
Precision’s omnibus equity incentive plan (Omnibus Plan) allows the Corporation to settle short-term incentive awards (annual bonus) and long-term incentive awards (share options, performance share units and restricted share units) issued on or after February 8, 2017 in voting shares of Precision (either issued from treasury or purchased in the open market), cash, or a combination of both. Precision intends to settle all short-term incentive, restricted share unit and performance share unit awards issued under the Omnibus Plan in cash and to settle options in voting shares. 66 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Liability Classified Plans
| Restricted<br> Share Units | Performance<br>Share Units | Executive Performance Share Units | Non-<br>Management<br>Directors’ DSUs | Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | $ | 18,050 | $ | 21,524 | $ | 16,507 | $ | 4,674 | $ | 60,755 | |||||
| Expensed during the year | 34,555 | 87,297 | 4,172 | 7,623 | 133,647 | ||||||||||
| Settlement in shares | — | — | (14,083 | ) | — | (14,083 | ) | ||||||||
| Reclassification from equity-settled plans | — | — | (406 | ) | — | (406 | ) | ||||||||
| Payments | (14,372 | ) | (7,960 | ) | (6,190 | ) | — | (28,522 | ) | ||||||
| Foreign exchange | (43 | ) | (3 | ) | — | — | (46 | ) | |||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 38,190 | 100,858 | — | 12,297 | 151,345 | ||||||||||
| Expensed during the year | 6,594 | 28,256 | — | (2,787 | ) | 32,063 | |||||||||
| Settlement in shares | (2,101 | ) | (17,104 | ) | — | (758 | ) | (19,963 | ) | ||||||
| Payments | (26,524 | ) | (47,971 | ) | — | (385 | ) | (74,880 | ) | ||||||
| Foreign exchange | (45 | ) | 3 | — | — | (42 | ) | ||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 16,114 | $ | 64,042 | $ | — | $ | 8,367 | $ | 88,523 | |||||
| Current | 12,484 | 50,917 | — | — | 63,401 | ||||||||||
| Long-term | 3,630 | 13,125 | — | 8,367 | 25,122 | ||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 16,114 | $ | 64,042 | $ | — | $ | 8,367 | $ | 88,523 |
(a) Restricted Share Units and Performance Share Units
Precision has various cash-settled share-based incentive plans for officers and other eligible employees. Under the Restricted Share Unit (RSU) incentive plan, shares granted to eligible employees vest annually over a three-year term. Vested shares are automatically paid out in cash at a value determined by the fair market value of the shares at the vesting date. Under the Performance Share Unit (PSU) incentive plan, shares granted to eligible employees vest at the end of a three-year term. Vested shares are automatically paid out in cash in the first quarter following the vested term at a value determined by the fair market value of the shares at the vesting date and based on the number of performance shares held multiplied by a performance factor that ranges from zero to two times. The performance factor is based on Precision’s share price performance compared to a peer group over the three-year period, repayment of debt and leverage ratio.
A summary of the RSUs and PSUs outstanding under these share-based incentive plans is presented below:
| RSUs<br>Outstanding | PSUs<br>Outstanding | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021 | 598,156 | 983,734 | ||||
| Granted | 180,710 | 311,579 | ||||
| Redeemed | (266,876 | ) | (143,659 | ) | ||
| Forfeited | (16,822 | ) | (14,983 | ) | ||
| December 31, 2022 | 495,168 | 1,136,671 | ||||
| Granted | 66,032 | 121,690 | ||||
| Redeemed | (266,744 | ) | (438,612 | ) | ||
| Forfeited | (18,362 | ) | (25,006 | ) | ||
| December 31, 2023 | 276,094 | 794,743 |
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, Precision elected to settle certain vesting RSUs and PSUs through the issuance of 265,143 common shares.
(b) Non-Management Directors
Precision has a deferred share unit (DSU) plan for non-management directors whereby fully vested DSUs are granted quarterly based on an election by the non-management director to receive all or a portion of his or her compensation in DSUs. These DSUs are redeemable in cash or for an equal number of common shares upon the director’s retirement. The redemption of DSUs in cash or common shares is solely at Precision’s discretion. Non-management directors can receive a lump sum payment or two separate payments any time up until December 15 of the year following retirement. If the non-management director does not specify a redemption date, the DSUs will be redeemed on a single date six months after retirement. The cash settlement amount is based on the weighted average trading price for Precision’s shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five days immediately prior to payout. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 67
A summary of the DSUs outstanding under this share-based incentive plan is presented below:
| Deferred Share Units | Outstanding | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance December 31, 2021 | 104,591 | ||
| Granted | 14,183 | ||
| Balance December 31, 2022 | 118,774 | ||
| Granted | 16,336 | ||
| Redeemed | (18,830 | ) | |
| Balance December 31, 2023 | 116,280 |
During 2023, 18,830 DSUs were redeemed upon the retirement of a non-management director. Precision elected to settle the redemption of DSUs through a combination of cash and common shares.
Equity Settled Plans
(c) Executive Restricted Share Units Plan
Precision grants Executive RSUs to certain senior executives with the intention of settling them in voting shares of the Corporation either issued from treasury or purchased in the open market. Granted units vest annually over a three-year term.
| Executive Restricted Share Units | Outstanding | Weighted Average <br>Fair Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2022 | - | $ | - | |
| Granted | 46,740 | 96.90 | ||
| December 31, 2023 | 46,740 | 96.90 |
Included in net earnings (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2023 was an expense of $3 million (2022 – nil).
(d) Option Plan
Under this plan, the exercise price of each option equals the fair market value of the option at the date of grant determined by the weighted average trading price for the five days preceding the grant. The options are denominated in either Canadian or U.S. dollars, and vest over a period of three years from the date of grant, as employees render continuous service to the Corporation, and have a term of seven years.
A summary of the status of the equity incentive plan is presented below:
| Canadian Share Options | Options<br>Outstanding | Range of<br>Exercise Prices | Weighted<br> Average<br>Exercise Price | Options <br>Exercisable | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021 | 115,605 | 87.00 – 146.40 | $ | 123.35 | 115,605 | |||
| Exercised | (26,705 | ) | 87.00 – 89.20 | 88.62 | ||||
| Forfeited | (65,845 | ) | 89.20 – 286.20 | 141.05 | ||||
| December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023 | 23,055 | 87.00 – 145.97 | $ | 113.01 | 23,055 | |||
| U.S. Share Options | Options<br>Outstanding | Range of<br>Exercise Prices<br>(US$) | WeightedAverageExercise Price(US) | Options <br>Exercisable | ||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
| December 31, 2021 | 267,843 | 51.20 – 115.80 | 257,854 | |||||
| Exercised | (93,890 | ) | 51.20 – 68.80 | |||||
| Forfeited | (32,205 | ) | 115.80 – 115.80 | |||||
| December 31, 2022 | 141,748 | 51.20 – 111.47 | 141,748 | |||||
| Forfeited | (13,350 | ) | 64.20 – 100.40 | |||||
| December 31, 2023 | 128,398 | 51.20 – 111.47 | 128,398 |
All values are in US Dollars.
| Canadian Share Options | Options Exercisable | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range of Exercise Prices: | Weighted<br> Average<br> Exercise Price | Weighted Average<br>Remaining<br>Contractual Life<br>(Years) | Number | Weighted<br>Average<br> Exercise Price | |||||
| 87.00 | 12,885 | $ | 87.00 | 1.15 | 12,885 | $ | 87.00 | ||
| 145.97 | 10,170 | 145.97 | 0.13 | 10,170 | 145.97 | ||||
| 87.00 – 145.97 | 23,055 | $ | 113.01 | 0.70 | 23,055 | $ | 113.01 |
All values are in US Dollars.
68 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
| U.S. Share Options | Options Exercisable | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range of Exercise Prices (US): | WeightedAverageExercise Price(US) | Weighted Average<br>Remaining<br>Contractual Life<br>(Years) | Number | WeightedAverage Exercise Price(US) | |||
| 51.20 - 79.80 | 74,118 | 1.27 | 74,118 | ||||
| 111.47 | 54,280 | 0.13 | 54,280 | ||||
| 51.20 – 111.47 | 128,398 | 0.79 | 128,398 |
All values are in US Dollars.
No options were granted during 2022 and 2023.
(e) Non-Management Directors
Prior to January 1, 2012, Precision had a deferred share unit plan for non-management directors. Under the plan, fully vested deferred share units were granted quarterly based on an election by the non-management director to receive all or a portion of his or her compensation in deferred share units. These deferred share units are redeemable into an equal number of common shares any time after the director’s retirement.
As at December 31, 2023, there were 1,470 (2022 – 1,470) deferred share units outstanding.
NOTE 13. INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes differs from that which would be expected by applying statutory Canadian income tax rates.
A reconciliation of the difference for the years ended December 31, is as follows:
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 265,779 | (14,143 | ) | |||
| Federal and provincial statutory rates | 24 | % | 24 | % | ||
| Tax at statutory rates | 63,787 | (3,394 | ) | |||
| Adjusted for the effect of: | ||||||
| Non-deductible expenses | 2,426 | 1,146 | ||||
| Non-taxable capital gains | (2,551 | ) | (379 | ) | ||
| Gain on acquisition | (6,222 | ) | — | |||
| Impact of foreign tax rates | (2,450 | ) | (2,559 | ) | ||
| Withholding taxes | 337 | 1,026 | ||||
| Taxes related to prior years | (4,945 | ) | 1,718 | |||
| Tax assets not recognized | 8,629 | 22,592 | ||||
| Deferred tax assets recognized | (82,476 | ) | ||||
| Income tax expense (recovery) | (23,465 | ) | 20,150 |
All values are in US Dollars.
The net deferred tax liability is comprised of the tax effect of the following temporary differences:
| Deferred tax liability: | ||||||
| Property, plant and equipment and intangibles | 358,170 | 364,278 | ||||
| Debt issue costs | 928 | 1,303 | ||||
| Partnership deferrals | — | 21,768 | ||||
| Other | 6,741 | 6,284 | ||||
| 365,839 | 393,633 | |||||
| Offsetting of assets and liabilities | (292,324 | ) | (364,687 | ) | ||
| 73,515 | 28,946 | |||||
| Deferred tax assets: | ||||||
| Losses (expire from time to time up to 2042) | 332,192 | 318,967 | ||||
| Long-term incentive plan | 21,770 | 36,542 | ||||
| Other | 12,024 | 9,633 | ||||
| 365,986 | 365,142 | |||||
| Offsetting of assets and liabilities | (292,324 | ) | (364,687 | ) | ||
| 73,662 | 455 | |||||
| Net deferred tax liability | (147 | ) | 28,491 |
All values are in US Dollars.
The Corporation has loss carry forwards in the U.S. and certain international locations and capital loss carry forwards in Canada and other deductible temporary differences in certain international locations for which it is unlikely that sufficient future taxable income will be available. Accordingly, the Corporation has not recognized a deferred tax asset for the following items:
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 69
| Tax losses (Capital) | 17,247 | 29,255 | ||
| Tax losses (Income) | 23,446 | 134,588 | ||
| Deductible temporary differences | 5,246 | 5,224 | ||
| Total | 45,939 | 169,067 |
All values are in US Dollars.
The movement in temporary differences is as follows:
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | 359,383 | 11,082 | 6,221 | (340,406 | ) | 1,457 | (14,264 | ) | (12,121 | ) | 11,352 | |||||||||||||
| Recognized in net earnings (loss) | (10,047 | ) | 10,686 | 51 | 33,827 | (154 | ) | (21,583 | ) | 3,008 | 15,788 | |||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | 14,942 | — | 12 | (12,388 | ) | — | (695 | ) | (520 | ) | 1,351 | |||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 364,278 | 21,768 | 6,284 | (318,967 | ) | 1,303 | (36,542 | ) | (9,633 | ) | 28,491 | |||||||||||||
| Recognized in net earnings (loss) | (11,063 | ) | (21,768 | ) | (231 | ) | (6,792 | ) | (375 | ) | 14,583 | (2,313 | ) | (27,959 | ) | |||||||||
| Acquisition | 9,865 | — | 694 | (9,358 | ) | — | — | (237 | ) | 964 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange | (4,910 | ) | — | (6 | ) | 2,925 | — | 189 | 159 | (1,643 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | 358,170 | — | 6,741 | (332,192 | ) | 928 | (21,770 | ) | (12,024 | ) | (147 | ) |
All values are in US Dollars.
In December 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development issued model rules for a new global minimum tax framework (Pillar Two). Under Pillar Two legislation, Precision is liable to pay a top-up tax for differences between its Global Anti-Base Erosion effective tax rate and the 15% minimum tax rate. In May 2023, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 12, Income Taxes to address Pillar Two, which provided clarity on the impacts and additional disclosure requirements once legislation is substantively enacted. For jurisdictions where Precision operates that have substantially enacted the Pillar Two legislation, there is no material impact to the Company. Precision also operates in jurisdictions where it is expected that Pillar Two legislation will be enacted in the future. For these jurisdictions, Precision has assessed its exposure to the Pillar Two legislation and foresees no material impact to the Company.
NOTE 14. BANK INDEBTEDNESS
At December 31, 2023, Precision had available $40 million (2022 – $40 million) and US$15 million (2022 – US$15 million) under secured operating facilities, and a secured US$40 million (2022 – US$40 million) facility for the issuance of letters of credit and performance and bid bonds to support international operations. In 2022, Precision increased the capacity of our secured demand letter of credit facility from US$30 million to US$40 million to allow for the issuance of additional letters of credit after securing certain international drilling contracts. As at December 31, 2023 and 2022, no amounts had been drawn on any of the facilities. Availability of the $40 million and US$40 million facilities was reduced by outstanding letters of credit in the amount of $20 million (2022 – $28 million) and US$28 million (2022 – US$31 million), respectively. The facilities are primarily secured by charges on substantially all present and future property of Precision and its material subsidiaries. Advances under the $40 million facility are available at the bank’s prime lending rate, U.S. base rate, U.S. LIBOR rate plus applicable margin, or applicable margin for Banker’s Acceptances, or in combination, and under the US$15 million facility at the bank’s prime lending rate.
NOTE 15. PROVISIONS AND OTHER
| Workers’<br>Compensation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance December 31, 2021 | $ | 8,718 | ||
| Expensed during the year | 7,615 | |||
| Payment of deductibles and uninsured claims | (5,229 | ) | ||
| Foreign exchange | 643 | |||
| Balance December 31, 2022 | 11,747 | |||
| Expensed during the year | 5,261 | |||
| Payment of deductibles and uninsured claims | (6,124 | ) | ||
| Foreign exchange | (248 | ) | ||
| Balance December 31, 2023 | $ | 10,636 | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Current | $ | 3,496 | $ | 4,209 |
| Long-term | 7,140 | 7,538 | ||
| $ | 10,636 | $ | 11,747 |
70 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 16. SHAREHOLDERS’ CAPITAL
| (a) Authorized | – | unlimited number of voting common shares | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | unlimited number of preferred shares, issuable in series, limited to an amount equal to one half of the issued and outstanding common shares | |||||
| (b) Issued | ||||||
| Common shares | Number | Amount | ||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | 13,304,425 | $ | 2,281,444 | |||
| Share repurchase | (130,395 | ) | (10,010 | ) | ||
| Settlement of Executive PSUs | 263,900 | 14,083 | ||||
| Share options exercised | 120,595 | 14,016 | ||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 13,558,525 | $ | 2,299,533 | |||
| Settlement of PSUs and RSUs | 230,336 | 19,206 | ||||
| Issue of shares on business acquisition (Note 4) | 947,807 | $ | 75,588 | |||
| Share repurchases | (412,623 | ) | (29,955 | ) | ||
| Redemption of non-management directors share units | 12,494 | 757 | ||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | 14,336,539 | $ | 2,365,129 |
(c) Normal Course Issuer Bid
In 2023, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) approved Precision’s application to renew its Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB). Under the terms of the NCIB, Precision may purchase and cancel up to a maximum of 1,326,321 common shares, representing 10% of the public float of common shares as of September 5, 2023. Purchases under the NCIB were made through the facilities of the TSX, the New York Stock Exchange and various other designated exchanges in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements at a price per common share representative of the market price at the time of acquisition. The NCIB will terminate no later than September 18, 2024.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, Precision repurchased and cancelled a total of 412,623 (2022 – 130,395) common shares for $30 million (2022 – $10 million). Subsequent to December 31, 2023, Precision repurchased and cancelled 123,100 common shares for $10 million.
NOTE 17. PER SHARE AMOUNTS
The following tables reconcile the net loss and weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic and diluted loss per share:
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net earnings (loss) – basic | $ | 289,244 | $ | (34,293 | ) |
| Effect of share options and other equity compensation plans | 9,235 | — | |||
| Net earnings (loss) – diluted | $ | 298,479 | $ | (34,293 | ) |
| (Stated in thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Weighted average shares outstanding – basic | 13,754 | 13,546 | |||
| Effect of share options and other equity compensation plans | 1,533 | — | |||
| Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted | 15,287 | 13,546 |
NOTE 18. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| Unrealized<br>Foreign Currency<br>Translation Gains (Losses) | Foreign Exchange<br>Gain (Loss) on Net<br>Investment Hedge | Tax Benefit<br>Related to Net<br>Investment Hedge <br>of Long-Term Debt | Accumulated<br>Other<br>Comprehensive<br>Income | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021 | $ | 472,401 | $ | (343,019 | ) | $ | 5,398 | $ | 134,780 | ||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | 106,669 | (81,735 | ) | — | 24,934 | ||||||
| December 31, 2022 | 579,070 | (424,754 | ) | 5,398 | 159,714 | ||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | (33,433 | ) | 21,195 | — | (12,238 | ) | |||||
| December 31, 2023 | $ | 545,637 | $ | (403,559 | ) | $ | 5,398 | $ | 147,476 |
Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 71
NOTE 19. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Compensation of Key Management Personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries and other benefits | $ | 9,966 | $ | 6,132 |
| Equity-settled share-based compensation | 1,541 | 441 | ||
| Cash-settled share-based compensation | 17,660 | 60,796 | ||
| $ | 29,167 | $ | 67,369 |
Key management personnel are comprised of the directors and executive officers of the Corporation. Certain executive officers have entered into employment agreements with Precision that provide termination benefits of up to 24 months base salary plus up to two times targeted incentive compensation upon dismissal without cause.
NOTE 20. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
At December 31, 2023, the Corporation had commitments to purchase property, plant and equipment totaling $175 million (2022 – $184 million). Payments of $88 million for these commitments are expected to be made in 2024, $72 million in 2025 and $15 million in 2026.
NOTE 21. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Financial Risk Management
The Board of Directors is responsible for identifying the principal risks of Precision’s business and for ensuring the implementation of systems to manage these risks. With the assistance of senior management, who report to the Board of Directors on the risks of Precision’s business, the Board of Directors considers such risks and discusses the management of such risks on a regular basis.
Precision has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:
(a) Credit Risk
Accounts receivable includes balances from customers primarily operating in the oil and natural gas industry. The Corporation manages credit risk by assessing the creditworthiness of its customers before providing services and on an ongoing basis, and by monitoring the amount and age of balances outstanding. In some instances, the Corporation will take additional measures to reduce credit risk including obtaining letters of credit and prepayments from customers. When indicators of credit problems appear, the Corporation takes appropriate steps to reduce its exposure including negotiating with the customer, filing liens and entering into litigation. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, Precision did not have any customers with revenue from transactions exceeding 10% of consolidated revenue. In addition, Precision’s most significant customer accounted for $24 million of the trade receivables balance at December 31, 2023 (2022 – $24 million).
The movement in the expected credit loss allowance during the year was as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, January 1, | $ | 1,732 | $ | 585 | ||
| Impairment loss recognized | 437 | 1,167 | ||||
| Amounts written-off as uncollectible | (1,784 | ) | (23 | ) | ||
| Impairment loss reversed | (53 | ) | (31 | ) | ||
| Effect of movement in exchange rates | 6 | 34 | ||||
| Balance, December 31, | $ | 338 | $ | 1,732 |
The ageing of trade receivables at December 31 was as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross | Provision for<br>Impairment | Gross | Provision for<br>Impairment | |||||
| Not past due | $ | 214,897 | $ | 1 | $ | 224,872 | $ | 2 |
| Past due 0 – 30 days | 70,398 | 3 | 54,578 | 16 | ||||
| Past due 31 – 120 days | 17,465 | 273 | 18,845 | 1,400 | ||||
| Past due more than 120 days | 2,719 | 61 | 766 | 314 | ||||
| $ | 305,479 | $ | 338 | $ | 299,061 | $ | 1,732 |
72 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(b) Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that future cash flows will fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates. Precision has exposure to interest rate fluctuations on amounts drawn on its Senior Credit Facility and certain Real Estate Credit Facilities, as they are subject to floating rates of interest.
At December 31, 2023, Precision had drawn US$nil on its Senior Credit Facility (2022 – US$44 million) and $27 million (2022 – $30 million) on its Real Estate Credit Facilities subject to variable interest rates. As at December 31, 2023, a 1% change to the interest rate would have less than a $1 million impact on net earnings (loss) (2022 – $1 million). The interest rate on Precision’s unsecured senior notes is fixed and is not subject to interest rate risk.
(c) Foreign Currency Risk
The Corporation is primarily exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in relation to the working capital of its foreign operations and certain long-term debt facilities of its Canadian operations. The Corporation has no significant exposures to foreign currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Corporation monitors its foreign currency exposure and attempts to minimize the impact by aligning appropriate levels of U.S. denominated debt with cash flows from U.S. based operations.
The following financial instruments were denominated in U.S. dollars:
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian<br>Operations | Foreign<br>Operations | Canadian<br>Operations | Foreign<br>Operations | ||||||||||||
| Cash | $ | 9,539 | US | $ | 16,459 | US | $ | 264 | US | $ | 13,421 | ||||
| Accounts receivable | 17 | 148,885 | 215 | 175,543 | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (26,706 | ) | (120,416 | ) | (28,041 | ) | (101,531 | ) | |||||||
| Long-term liabilities, excluding long-term incentive plans (1) | — | (13,708 | ) | — | (14,542 | ) | |||||||||
| Net foreign currency exposure | $ | (17,150 | ) | US | $ | 31,220 | US | $ | (27,562 | ) | US | $ | 72,891 | ||
| Impact of 0.01 change in the U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate on net earnings (loss) | $ | (172 | ) | $ | — | $ | (276 | ) | $ | — | |||||
| Impact of 0.01 change in the U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate on comprehensive loss | $ | — | $ | 312 | $ | — | $ | 729 |
All values are in US Dollars.
(1) Excludes U.S. dollar long-term debt that has been designated as a hedge of the Corporation’s net investment in certain self-sustaining foreign operations.
(d) Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the exposure of the Corporation to the risk of not being able to meet its financial obligations as they become due. The Corporation manages liquidity risk by monitoring and reviewing actual and forecasted cash flows to ensure there are available cash resources to meet these needs. The following are the contractual maturities of the Corporation’s financial liabilities and other contractual commitments as at December 31, 2023:
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Thereafter | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 342,382 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 342,382 |
| Share-based compensation | 67,117 | 23,523 | 11,133 | — | — | — | 101,773 | |||||||
| Long-term debt | 2,848 | 12,096 | 376,345 | 582 | 7,272 | 529,904 | 929,047 | |||||||
| Interest on long-term debt (1) | 65,030 | 64,950 | 38,305 | 36,885 | 36,658 | 1,518 | 243,346 | |||||||
| Commitments | 105,803 | 87,116 | 27,267 | 8,651 | 5,800 | 10,748 | 245,385 | |||||||
| Total | $ | 583,180 | $ | 187,685 | $ | 453,050 | $ | 46,118 | $ | 49,730 | $ | 542,170 | $ | 1,861,933 |
(1) Excludes amortization of long-term debt issue costs.
Fair Values
The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity of the instruments. Amounts drawn on the Senior Credit Facility and Real Estate Credit Facilities, measured at amortized cost, approximate fair value as this indebtedness is subject to floating rates of interest. The fair value of the unsecured senior notes at December 31, 2023 was approximately $867 million (2022 – $965 million).
Financial assets and liabilities recorded or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated statements of financial position are categorized based on the level of judgement associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels are based on the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs in the fair determination and are as follows:
Level I – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
Level II – Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level I) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life.
Level III – Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 73
The estimated fair value of Unsecured Senior Notes is based on level II inputs. The fair value is estimated considering the risk free interest rates on government debt instruments of similar maturities, adjusted for estimated credit risk, industry risk and market risk premiums.
NOTE 22. CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
The Corporation’s strategy is to carry a capital base to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain the future development of the business. The Corporation seeks to maintain a balance between the level of long-term debt and shareholders’ equity to ensure access to capital markets to fund growth and working capital given the cyclical nature of the oilfield services sector. The Corporation strives to maintain a conservative ratio of long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity.
As at December 31, 2023 and 2022, these ratios were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt | $ | 914,830 | $ | 1,085,970 |
| Shareholders’ equity | 1,575,662 | 1,230,529 | ||
| Total capitalization | $ | 2,490,492 | $ | 2,316,499 |
| Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity ratio | 0.37 | 0.47 |
As at December 31, 2023, liquidity remained sufficient as Precision had $54 million (2022 – $22 million) in cash and access to the US$447 million Senior Credit Facility (2022 – US$500 million) and $115 million (2022 – $115 million) secured operating facilities. As at December 31, 2023, US$nil (2022 – US$44 million) was drawn on the Senior Credit Facility with available credit further reduced by US$56 million (2022 – US$56 million) of outstanding letters of credit. Availability of the $40 million secured operating facility and US$40 million secured facility for the issuance of letters of credit and performance and bid bonds were reduced by outstanding letters of credit of $20 million (2022 – $28 million) and US$28 million (2022 – US$31 million), respectively. No amounts were drawn on the US$15 million (2022 – nil) secured operating facility.
NOTE 23. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Components of changes in non-cash working capital balances were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts receivable | $ | 30,431 | $ | (143,832 | ) | |
| Inventory | (637 | ) | (10,482 | ) | ||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (50,787 | ) | 121,878 | |||
| $ | (20,993 | ) | $ | (32,436 | ) | |
| Pertaining to: | ||||||
| Operations | $ | (32,838 | ) | $ | (45,890 | ) |
| Investments | 11,845 | 13,454 |
The components of accounts receivable were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade | $ | 305,141 | $ | 297,329 |
| Accrued trade | 29,363 | 25,446 | ||
| Prepaids and other | 86,923 | 91,150 | ||
| $ | 421,427 | $ | 413,925 |
The components of accounts payable and accrued liabilities were as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts payable | $ | 151,348 | $ | 136,360 |
| Accrued liabilities: | ||||
| Payroll | 82,257 | 153,932 | ||
| Other | 108,777 | 101,761 | ||
| $ | 342,382 | $ | 392,053 |
74 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Precision presents expenses in the consolidated statements of net earnings (loss) by function with the exception of depreciation and amortization and gain on asset disposals, which are presented by nature. Operating expense and general and administrative expense would include $269 million (2022 – $241 million) and $14 million (2022 – $8 million), respectively, of depreciation and amortization and gain on asset disposals, if the statements of net earnings (loss) were presented purely by function. The following table presents operating and general and administrative expenses by nature:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wages, salaries and benefits | $ | 846,216 | $ | 735,566 |
| Purchased materials, supplies and services | 445,927 | 436,356 | ||
| Share-based compensation | 34,593 | 133,667 | ||
| $ | 1,326,736 | $ | 1,305,589 | |
| Allocated to: | ||||
| Operating expense | $ | 1,204,548 | $ | 1,124,601 |
| General and administrative | 122,188 | 180,988 | ||
| $ | 1,326,736 | $ | 1,305,589 |
NOTE 24. CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES
The business and operations of the Corporation are complex and the Corporation has executed a number of significant financings, business combinations, acquisitions and dispositions over the course of its history. The computation of income taxes payable as a result of these transactions involves many complex factors as well as the Corporation’s interpretation of relevant tax legislation and regulations. The Corporation’s management believes that the provision for income tax is adequate and in accordance with IFRS and applicable legislation and regulations. However, there are tax filing positions that have been and can still be the subject of review by taxation authorities who may successfully challenge the Corporation’s interpretation of the applicable tax legislation and regulations, with the result that additional taxes could be payable by the Corporation.
The Corporation, through the performance of its services, product sales and business arrangements, is sometimes named as a defendant in litigation. The outcome of such claims against the Corporation is not determinable at this time; however, their ultimate resolution is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation.
The Corporation has entered into agreements indemnifying certain parties primarily with respect to tax and specific third-party claims associated with businesses sold by the Corporation. Due to the nature of the indemnifications, the maximum exposure under these agreements cannot be estimated. No amounts have been recorded for the indemnities as the Corporation’s obligations under them are not probable or determinable.
NOTE 25. LONG-TERM DEBT GUARANTORS
Precision Drilling Corporation (Parent) issued registered unsecured senior notes in 2017 and 2021 which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by certain U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries (Guarantor Subsidiaries) that also guaranteed the Senior Credit Facility. These Guarantor Subsidiaries are directly or indirectly wholly owned by the Parent. The following is a description of the terms and conditions of the guarantees with respect to the unsecured senior notes for which Precision is the Parent issuer and Guarantor Subsidiaries (Obligor Group) and provides a full and unconditional guarantee.
As at December 31, 2023, Precision had $892 million principal amount of unsecured senior notes outstanding, $362 million due in 2026 and $530 million due in 2029, all of which is guaranteed by the Guarantor Subsidiaries.
The Guarantor Subsidiaries jointly and severally, fully, unconditionally, and irrevocably guarantees the payment of the principal and interest on the unsecured senior notes when they become due, whether at maturity or otherwise. The guarantee is unsecured and ranks senior with all of the Guarantor Subsidiaries’ other unsecured obligations.
The Guarantor Subsidiaries will be released and relieved of their obligations under the guarantees after the obligations to the holders are satisfied in accordance with the applicable indentures.
Summarized Financial Information
The following tables include summarized financial information for the Obligor Group on a combined basis after the elimination of (i) intercompany transactions and balances within the Obligor Group; (ii) equity in earnings from investments in the non-guarantor subsidiaries; and (iii) intercompany dividend income. Precision Drilling Corporation 2023 Annual Report 75
Statements of Net Earnings (Loss)
| Parent and Guarantor Subsidiaries | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| Revenue | $ | 1,784,797 | $ | 1,474,824 | |
| Expenses | 1,206,180 | 1,196,168 | |||
| Earnings before income taxes, gain on repurchase of unsecured senior notes, <br> gain on acquisition, loss (gain) on investments and other assets, finance<br> charges, foreign exchange, loss on asset decommissioning, gain on asset <br> disposals, and depreciation and amortization | 578,617 | 278,656 | |||
| Net earnings (loss) | 276,931 | (25,780 | ) |
Statements of Financial Position
| Parent and Guarantor Subsidiaries | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Current assets | $ | 363,987 | $ | 378,740 |
| Property, plant and equipment | 2,008,758 | 1,959,329 | ||
| Other non-current assets | 138,121 | 97,691 | ||
| Parent and Guarantor Subsidiaries | ||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 283,242 | $ | 365,025 |
| Long-term debt | 905,811 | 1,085,970 | ||
| Other non-current liabilities | 161,134 | 144,477 |
Excluded from the statements of net earnings (loss) and statements of financial position above are the following intercompany transactions and balances that the Obligor Group had with the non-guarantor subsidiaries:
| Parent and Guarantor Subsidiaries | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Accounts receivable, intercompany | $ | 53,939 | $ | 52,649 |
| Short-term advances to affiliates | 62,519 | 11,753 | ||
| Parent and Guarantor Subsidiaries | ||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, intercompany | $ | 206,340 | $ | 41,202 |
| Long-term advances from affiliates | 170,316 | 183,330 |
NOTE 26. SUBSIDIARIES
Significant Subsidiaries
| Ownership Interest | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country of<br>Incorporation | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Precision Limited Partnership | Canada | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Precision Drilling Canada Limited Partnership | Canada | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Precision Diversified Oilfield Services Corp. | Canada | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Precision Drilling (US) Corporation | United States | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Precision Drilling Holdings Company | United States | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Precision Drilling Company LP | United States | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Precision Completion & Production Services Ltd. | United States | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Grey Wolf Drilling Limited | Barbados | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||
| Grey Wolf Drilling (Barbados) Ltd. | Barbados | 100 | % | 100 | % |
76 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
EX-99.4
Exhibit 99.4
| SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION |
|---|
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Stock Exchange Listings
Our shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol PD and on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol PDS.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare Trust Company of Canada, Calgary, Alberta
Transfer Point
Computershare Trust Company NA Canton, Massachusetts
Account Questions
Our transfer agent can help you with shareholder related services, including:
▪ change of address
▪ lost share certificates
▪ transferring shares to another person, and
▪ estate settlement.
Computershare Trust Company of Canada
100 University Avenue, 9th Floor, North Tower Toronto
Ontario, M5J 2Y1
Canada
Telephone: 1.800.564.6253 (toll free in Canada and the U.S.)
1.514.982.7555 (international direct dialing)
Email: service@computershare.com
Online Information
To receive news releases by email, or to view this report online, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website at www.precisiondrilling.com.
You can find additional information about Precision, including our annual information form and management information circular, under our profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca and on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.
Published Information
Please contact us if you would like additional copies of this annual report, or copies of our 2023 annual information form as filed with the Canadian securities commissions and under Form 40-F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:
Investor Relations
Suite 800, 525 – 8th Avenue SW Calgary
Alberta, T2P 1G1
Canada
Telephone: 403.716.4500
Lead Bank
Royal Bank of Canada
Calgary, Alberta
Auditors
KPMG LLP
Calgary, Alberta
Supplemental Information 77