Presentation
UNIDENTIFIED PARTICIPANT: Our next presenter is Mr. John Chisholm,
CEO of Flotek Industries.
JOHN CHISHOLM, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, CEO, FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC.:
Thank you for the big crowd we have here, folks on the webcast. On
behalf of Flotek, we are delighted to be presenting at the IPAA Oil
and Gas Investment Symposium here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We
appreciate being invited and your interest in the Company. I am John
Chisholm, Chairman, President and CEO of Flotek. Also today with me
is Chris Edmonds, our Senior Director of Corporate Finance and
Strategy. We'll be happy to visit with you after our presentation and
answer any additional questions.
It's simple to blame things on lawyers. We like to do that whenever
we can. So this slide is for them. We note that anything that we say
here involving future projections is subject to the limitations
contained herein, which by itself sounds somewhat legal.
Flotek is at the core of an oilfield renaissance that we believe is
transforming the way our industry operates, especially in
unconventional oil and natural gas resource development. However,
before we discuss the exciting (technical difficulty) for those of
you who may be unfamiliar.
Flotek is first and foremost a specialty oilfield technology company
with a portfolio of goods and services that stand to enhance every
stage of a well's lifecycle from drilling to production, including
intervention in mature wells that require advanced techniques and
technologies to enhance mature production.
Flotek has three primary groups in the energy technology portfolio,
first the energy chemical technologies group which provides specialty
chemicals that add value in the drilling, completion and production
stages of oil and gas wells; second, the drilling technologies group
which provides the solutions during the drilling stages of oil and
gas wells; and third, our production technologies group, which
addresses a number of production challenges for oil and gas
companies.
Additionally, through our acquisition of Florida Chemical, we added a
fourth reporting segment, commercial and industrial chemical
technologies. This segment captures our efforts in the non-energy
space.
We operate in every major producing basin and many key bases around
the globe. Our growth is geographically universal. That is our goal
is to grow as fast internationally if not faster than we are
domestically.
Shortly we'll take a closer look at the business drivers of each
segment. First, however, it seems appropriate to make some general
comments about the current commodity price environment and what it
means to the industry in general and Flotek in particular.
If you look to your left, to your right, I'm certain you'll see
people just like you who are concerned about the future direction of
energy commodity prices. There is little doubt that the recent swoon
in oil prices is as unnerving to you as it can be to companies like
ours. And the most important question today is what happens next.
As far a guess on commodity prices in the short term, our lenses are
clouded just like most folks. There are simply too many variables
that can create short-term volatility in both directions. The value
of the dollar, geopolitical events, political events and economic
surprises all have impacted the price of oil in the past year and can
continue to do so in the future. That said, what we do know are two
very important facts. The incremental price of every new barrel of
oil is more expensive than the last barrel of oil produced. While
there have been amazing discoveries and technology advances that have
created new supply, oil still remains a scarce finite commodity.
Second and to us more important is that each producer over time will
seek to maximize the productivity of their wells and hence the
economic return on their drilling investment. We believe that becomes
even more important as commodity prices experience temporary
pressure. Maximization means better cash flow for each producer at a
time when pricing is challenged.
Quite simply, Flotek's innovative value-added technologies are
critical in today's commodity price environment. Flotek's patented
complex nanofluids provide opportunities for companies to enhance
production and drive capital efficiency.
As we show here, our chemistry is key to maximization of returns on
producer investments. We believe that is why all of our customers
have continued to use CNF in the current environment. That is why we
continue to grow our inventory of validation projects even as oil
prices decline. That is why we continue to penetrate new markets in
this challenging environment. In short, that is the primary reason
why we believe that Flotek is relatively insulated from energy
commodity price volatility that we've seen in recent months.
Flotek recently reported quarterly and full-year results. While I
won't waste your time regurgitating each line item, I will provide
you with an even greater perspective on our progress.
2014 revenues represent an increase of over 300% compared to revenues
of about $112 million in 2009, which equates to nearly 60% average
annual revenue growth since we began this journey nearly five years
ago. While revenue growth is important, profitable growth is even
more impactful to the value of your investment and we've made
profitable growth a consistent goal since 2009. We are very pleased
with our 2014 profitability. While annual revenue growth of 21% is
admirable, profitability as measured by earnings per share grew by
nearly 45%, one indication that our investment in people and
infrastructure is providing positive operating results for our
shareholders. These growth numbers speak for themselves.
While I am pleased with our efforts to date, I'm not satisfied and as
I've said before, Flotek is not willing to rest comfortably in the
past but rather your company will strive to reach for a future where
our industry-leading innovation can create more value each and every
day for our shareholders.
There is no measure of the success of our people than efficiency, and
we believe Flotek is at or very near the top of just about every
measure of personal productivity. During 2014, revenue generation per
employee increased by 12% when compared to 2013 levels, and operating
income per employee increased by over 21%.
For Flotek and its suite of customized chemistries, drilling and
production technologies, the opportunity is in the fact that more
complex exploration, completion, and production projects require more
advanced, innovative technologies that can help our clients make
better wells and as a result better returns for their shareholders.
As seen on this slide and the next, our fee clients are beginning to
extol the virtues of our oilfield chemistry and other technologies as
they share their views on the growing need for customized chemistry
and innovative technologies to help increase production and drive
greater efficiency in their wells.
Not only do we hear other energy companies talking up the need for
customized chemistry and innovative technologies, but like these
companies, we hear them talking about the validation and operative of
issues of key Flotek chemistries in the quest to maximize production
and economic opportunity. Comments like these would've been only a
dream even a year ago. However, with a concentrated marketing effort,
the use of our FrakMax analytical marketing tool and empirical data
showing the efficacy of our maximization thesis, our clients have
become a key part of our marketing penetration strategy.
In addition to Flotek's belief that our chemistry products are even
more important in a more challenging pricing environment, Flotek's
financial strength should provide investors meaningful comfort
regarding our relative insulation from recent commodity price
volatility.
Our balance sheet is a good place to start. Compared to outstanding
debt on December 31, 2013, Flotek reduced outstanding debt by nearly
40% in 2014 and should have the capacity to reduce debt even further
in 2015 even in a more difficult market environment.
To put our debt repayment in perspective, Flotek carried $88.8
million in debt following the acquisition of Florida Chemical in May
of 2013. As of December 2014, Flotek's debt stood at just $44
million, a reduction of nearly $45 million or 50% debt reduction in
just 18 months.
In addition and to show the power of Flotek's cash generation, Flotek
repurchased over 600,000 shares of its common stock in the fourth
quarter of 2014. Even as we repurchased $10.4 million of Flotek
common shares, we ended the year with a balance on our revolving
credit line and facility of just $8.5 million, a clear sign we
continue to generate significant cash from operations even as the
market slows.
Flotek's cash generation remains the key to such rapid debt
reduction. Cash from operations in 2014 was $48.8 million. That
compares to just $39.5 million of cash from operations for the entire
year of 2013.
Flotek's cash generation prowess combined with a very strong balance
sheet leaves Flotek in an enviable position to consider a wide
variety of options to enhance shareholder value. With strategic
growth opportunities, internal research and innovation initiatives
and share repurchases, we will consider the gamut of opportunities to
optimize returns across this cycle.
Flotek's specialty chemical business is the focal point of many of
you and certainly a key focus of the Flotek leadership team. We
believe that our chemical technologies have and will continue to
transform the way companies complete wells, especially unconventional
wells, and what they expect as a result. Our hallmark product,
Flotek's patented CNF, or complex nanofluids, suite of chemistries
provides a superior environmentally friendly chemical solution to
enhance production beyond other completion methods and technologies.
Not only did we patent this innovative chemistry in 2003, well before
calls for environmental action from the oil and gas industry, our
research efforts continue to produce enhancements to our chemistries
that are customized, proprietary, high-impact, client centered and
environmentally advanced. Flotek is positioned to continue to be the
leader in advanced, on-demand, customized chemistry solutions.
Through Flotek's continued marketing efforts, our chemistry sales
team is acutely focused on the compelling economic benefits of CNF
technology working with both service companies and E&P end users.
As a result, we are seeing increased penetration and adoption of
chemistry technology not only in core completion work but also in
additional areas, including enhanced oil recovery, drilling and
fluids, and advanced production applications. Our recent introduction
of FrakMax validates the efficacy of our CNF completion chemistry and
has helped lead to the most robust prospect book in the history of
the Company.
Our clients and as a result Flotek experienced several key milestones
this year. Our largest client increased chemistry volumes as measured
by revenue by over 25% from 2013 levels and our largest client has
embraced customized chemistry as a key differentiator in well
performance. Additionally, multiple large-scale operators are
planning large-scale validation, something we are very excited about
and feel further supports the efficacy of our customized chemistry
solutions.
In total, we have over 40 commercial scale validation projects on the
board today. Our penetration in North American markets has reached
every key production basin. Moreover, the acceptance of CNF
chemistries has reached the tipping point in key basins such as the
Niobrara, the Eagle Ford and in key production plays in Canada.
I want to spend just a couple of minutes on our core technology
complex in nanofluid technologies. Our patented chemistry is for
simple, a special formulation of solvents, surfactants and other
liquids designed to enhance hydrocarbon production.
The cartoon on this slide provides a molecular view of our complex
nanofluid. A surfactant is designed to modify services and interfaces
of a producing target that allows for better flow of hydrocarbons
from the source rock. In very basic terms, the original surfactant
was soap or detergent. Think about what happens when you put soap on
a tabletop or as a kid around a wrist or an ankle that might've been
stuck in a fence. The soap or simple surfactant reduces the tension
and makes the surface slicker, allowing for better movement of the
subject matter. Very simply, that's what a surfactant does to the
surface of the producing rock. A solvent, in our case technical grade
d-limonene made from citrus, is used to dissolve various oilfield
deposits and changes the wettability of the formation. As you'll see
next, the combination of these items with other fluids creates a
nanoscopic the chemistry that reaches far into tight formations that
materially improves well productivity.
As we note here, CNF technology involves the proprietary combination
of surfactants, solvents and other chemistry into tiny droplets. With
the core citrus chemistry as the hub, we customize our CNF completion
fluids by basin and application that maximizes the benefits based on
rock characteristics, hydrocarbon focus, and other unique facets of
that project.
The key to the efficacy of the chemistry is the combination of the
d-limonene solvent with the right surfactant and other chemistry
specific to the basin. In short, the nanoscopic droplets allow the
solvent to permeate the source rock more deeply, which in turn allows
the surfactant to cover a greater surface area, resulting in better
productivity with flow area of oil and gas wells. Our data shows this
unique patented proprietary chemistry that results in significant
productivity uplift and unconventional production when compared to
common surfactants.
As noted earlier, the key to the efficacy of our next generation
chemistry is d-limonene, a citrus-based solvent that has ubiquitous
applications in the drilling, completion, and production of oil and
gas wells. Not only do we believe d-limonene provides a number of key
benefits to completion and production for our clients, it also
improves the environmental stewardship of our industry. Quite simply,
when compared to other solvents such as Zilene, d-limonene is an
environmental champion that is generally regarded as safe by the FDA
and designed for the environment by the EPA. Moreover, as an
agricultural byproduct, it is both sustainable and bio renewable.
However, we've said in the past it isn't good enough to be green. If
a product doesn't perform, its environmental attributes are of little
value. In this case, the proven efficacy of d-limonene in the
oilfield truly does make it both great and green.
While I won't spend much time talking about individual clients, I
want to provide you with a glimpse into our growing client base of
users of innovative chemistry solutions. While maybe just short of
revolutionary, the introduction of FrakMax, the Company's
patent-pending application for comparing the performance of wells
using Flotek's advanced next-generation CNF completion fluids versus
those that use conventional surfactants, has been key to accelerating
interest in Flotek's innovative completion chemistries. As noted,
Flotek has added meaningful commercial chemistry validation projects
with dozens of prospective clients across multiple domestic basins,
many of which are a direct result of FrakMax.
The concept and theory behind FrakMax is fundamental using publicly
reported data from E&P companies themselves to verify the impact
of CNF on production results by location. Very simply, using data
from FracFocus and various state production databases, we take
E&P companies' self-reported data and compare well production in
the aggregate by basin from wells that use Flotek's CNF chemistry and
those that don't. While innovative E&P brethren made buy into the
story more rapidly than others, Flotek firmly believes operators will
ultimately find it hard to ignore data which conclusively validate
the economic advantage of using CNF chemistry in completions.
In just its first year, FrakMax has become the premier analytical
tool in determining optimal completion methods. The latest version of
this powerful statistical software can demonstrate production per
lateral foot and changes in such production over time as well as the
predictive productivity of a well based on its location within a
basin, not to mention an analysis of the efficacy of various
proppants and other additives with and without the use of CNF
completion chemistries.
Through data sourced from operator provided completion data, Flotek
is able to compare production from both wells that use CNF technology
and wells that do not. The FrakMax database continues to grow, now
with data from over 75,000 wells across the US. Not only does such a
large database give us a compelling evidence of the impact of CNF on
production, but it also allows us to estimate the aggregate benefit
of CNF usage for our clients. Based on data derived from FrakMax, we
estimate the use of Flotek's CNF completion chemistries has added at
least $8 billion in aggregate value for operators when compared to
those operators that have not adopted CNF chemistry.
Our ability to run virtually limitless production comparison to our
FrakMax Analytics subsidiary is not only helping our clients better
understand the compelling benefit of using CNF chemistry in the
completion process but also assisting clients in developing a better
understanding of completion best practices validated through an
analysis of data derived from the FrakMax database.
Most important, FrakMax has materially broadened the reach of
Flotek's marketing efforts. As a direct result of FrakMax, the
Company has converted approximately 20 exploration companies from
validation clients to ongoing commercial users. Currently, the
Company has an additional 15 to 20 companies in the process of
conducting or designing validations.
In addition, there are approximately a dozen other unique validations
that are in the scheduling process. As such, in total we are at a
record number of validations on the board, largely a result of the
compelling data contained in our FrakMax analytical software. As a
result of FrakMax, we know that 234 unique operators have employed
CNF in various projects in the US.
Early this year, Flotek also announced the introduction of FrakMax
Canada. With approximately 10,000 wells, the Company's penetration
into Canada continues to accelerate with nearly every Canadian-based
pressure pumping company now pumping CNF completion chemistries in a
number of projects.
Based on the current data set, Canadian wells with CNF perform at
levels superior those without, very similar to results obtained from
the US data set. We look forward to continue building this powerful
platform in the coming months.
If you all had a chance to be here in the morning and listen to Bob
Watson with Abraxas, he talked about how in the Eagle Ford they were
fortunate to have wells that many times were three times as
productive as bigger companies that surrounded them, and that
information is all confirmed in the FrakMax database because Abraxas
in fact uses complex nanofluid. So in many cases where there are
wells and he talked about not having initial production reporting but
over a 30-day period many of their wells will produce 18,000 to
20,000 barrels a month. Many of the larger E&P companies aside
them produce in the neighborhood of 3,000 to 4,000 barrels a month
that do not use the complex nanofluid validated by the FrakMax
database.
In addition to our chemistry offerings, our drilling technologies
group is also a key component of Flotek's success. This group
provides a plethora of tools to assist our clients in successfully
and efficiently reaching its downhole objective. The star of our
drilling business remains Teledrift, our measurement while drilling
product line, and the product has best in class market penetration
and margins, and we continue to add technology to make the tool
superior to its competition. Teledrift continues to grow in key
domestic basis as well as expanding in international markets,
including South America and the Middle East. In fact, Teledrift is
now working on nearly 40% of all Saudi Aramco rigs. Additionally,
Teledrift continues to expand its presence in Argentina with
Teledrift working on over 55% of all the rigs in that South American
nation.
In addition, we recently introduced a stimulator, a new technology
that accelerates drilling the lateral portion of a horizontal well.
We believe this tool will contribute meaningfully to Flotek revenue
and more so bottom line results as we move forward into 2015 and
beyond.
I'm also pleased to announce that our final validation work with
TelePulse was an overwhelming success and we've started accepting
commercial jobs, which is a horizontal measurement while drilling
technology.
Flotek's reach in the North American market is significant. At least
one component of Flotek's drilling technology portfolio can be found
on nearly 1/3 of all the rigs drilling in the United States today.
This graphic is illustrative of Flotek's reach in the US market.
While our production technologies business has traditionally been gas
focused, our future we believe is much more balanced with a focus on
new niche technologies and a level of service unmatched by any other
company in the business. While traditionally a small part of Flotek's
business, we're very excited about the future of our artificial lift
efforts.
Our business will focus on niche technologies that should boost
margins and market share in the future. As evidence to our recent
announcement, this week to purchase substantially all of the assets
of International Artificial Lift LLC, which we'll discuss shortly.
Moreover, our patented Petrovalve mechanical production valves
continue to attract significant interest internationally. We believe
these markets will provide additional opportunities for growth when
managed appropriately.
Last week or -- yes, last week, we announced the acquisition of
International Artificial Lift, a developmental stage hydraulic lift
company based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The company founded
and led by Larry Best, an expert developer of hydraulic and
electronic controls for over four decades, provides Flotek with a
growth -- with a proven proprietary hydraulic lift system that
through its patented and patent pending designs will allow for more
efficient production. We believe that production technologies and
innovative lift systems will become more and more important in a
world where unconventional production continues to accelerate. And we
believe that our next-generation designs focused on increasing
production and improving operating efficiencies will become a
standard by which hydraulic lift systems are judged.
While we discussed details of our international efforts earlier, this
map is worth a quick look as it shows the continued expansion of our
global footprint. Our international efforts are continuing to provide
great opportunities to create value for Flotek shareholders as Flotek
continues to grow its international footprint.
In Canada, Flotek's presence continues to accelerate. The Company's
monthly Canadian revenue was four times 2013 levels this year, and
growth should continue with solid partnerships with Canadian service
companies. Moreover, we are beginning to see an increase in demand
for xylene replacement technology as Canadian operators become more
focused on environmental stewardship.
Halfway around the world, we continue to grow our chemistry business
in both the Middle East and South America. Flotek Gulf, our Omani
joint venture, continues to progress with Flotek and Gulf Energy
completing negotiations with an engineering and construction company
for the development of Flotek Gulf's chemistry manufacturing facility
in Oman. Completion of the facility is expected in the first half of
this year. Moreover, our presence in the Middle East has resulted in
increased chemistries sales across the region, including into Saudi
Arabia.
South of the border, Flotek continues to make progress in Mexico with
a CNF validation underway with major energy company. We expect the
multiple well validation project to continue through the early part
of this year and believe there are meaningful revenue opportunities
towards the end of 2015.
These next four slides highlight some of our Canadian and
international clients. As we noted earlier, we work with both service
companies as well as the E&P end-user. Our service companies work
with some of the largest and most innovative clients north of the
border. I'm very pleased with our growth in Canada.
Like Canada, we work with some of the largest international and
regional service companies around the globe, a list that continues to
grow. As indicated by these newer clients, both service companies
around the world as production companies are now enjoying the
benefits of working with Flotek. We are very proud of the number of
companies we have grown to touch over the course of the past five
years.
As I conclude today, I want to discuss and take a minute the
importance of corporate responsibility, a core tenet of Flotek's
business. Flotek extends support to numerous charitable organizations
and believes giving back to the community is not only a
responsibility but indeed it's a privilege. We are proud of the
organizations we support and the difference we make in the
communities in which we work. We also feel corporate responsibilities
extends into being good stewards of the environment and Flotek has
positioned itself as the environmental leader in this energy
industry. Flotek believes through emerging chemistry, technology and
commitment to research and innovation, that the oil and gas industry
can stand side-by-side to embrace a new paradigm of exploration that
allows traditional energy production and environmental advocacy to
coexist.
I want to provide you with a look inside Flotek's mantra. In short,
Flotek wants to make a difference for its clients and its
communities, its employees and the environments in which they live.
Most importantly, we want to make a difference for you, our
shareholders.
We've covered a lot of ground in 25 plus minutes, and we hope our
continued work on your behalf is the most important message of all.
We want to make a difference for you, our shareholders.
Thank you to the IPAA for the opportunity and for being terrific
hosts here in Fort Lauderdale. And I think we still have some -- a
little bit of time to answer a few questions.
Questions and Answers
UNIDENTIFIED AUDIENCE MEMBER: I think you said that one of your
clients or largest client increased its purchase by 25%.
JOHN CHISHOLM: That's correct.
UNIDENTIFIED AUDIENCE MEMBER: Was it because they were using more per
well or they started to use it on more wells?
JOHN CHISHOLM: It was actually a little bit of both, but more wells.
UNIDENTIFIED AUDIENCE MEMBER: And the last question is that huge
increase in revenues, how much of that was from acquisitions?
JOHN CHISHOLM: We don't break that out specifically, but the growth,
we did talk about it in the fourth-quarter earnings call that the
chemistry growth all internally generated was 30% up year-over-year
in the fourth quarter. If that kind of helps you.
UNIDENTIFIED AUDIENCE MEMBER: Did you have a handout -- did you bring
handouts with you?
JOHN CHISHOLM: We have the slides on the website that you can go to
FlotekNVE.com and be able to bring them down from there.
UNIDENTIFIED AUDIENCE MEMBER: How many employees do you have?
JOHN CHISHOLM: 600 and change, right around 600.
UNIDENTIFIED AUDIENCE MEMBER: And most are in Texas?
JOHN CHISHOLM: You know, again, I don't know that we actually break
that out between -- you would expect that oil-producing states are
the biggest part of the Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, North Dakota.
Probably now close to just under 10% are overseas internationally, to
give you an idea. Anything else?
Okay, good stuff. Thank you.
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