Superior Drilling Products Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

Entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Drilling Tools International Corp.

Superior Drilling Products, Inc. (NYSE American: SDPI) (“SDP” or the “Company”), a designer and manufacturer of drilling tool technologies, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023. In a separate news release dated March 7, 2024, Drilling Tools International Corp. (“DTI”) (Nasdaq: DTI) and SDP jointly announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which DTI agreed to acquire SDP for total consideration of approximately $32.2 million. In the transaction, SDP shareholders may elect to receive, subject to the election, proration and adjustment mechanics more fully set forth in such definitive agreement, (i) $1.00 in cash, without interest and subject to withholding, per share of SDP common stock, or (ii) 0.313 shares of DTI common stock per share of SDP common stock. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2024.

Troy Meier, Chairman and CEO, commented, “We are excited to merge with DTI. We have a long history working with them as our North American distributor and believe that together we can drive more value for our shareholders and broader stakeholders. The combination of our patented technology and cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities with DTI’s powerful sales and marketing will enable us to accelerate our growth and bring our drilling solutions to more customers in more parts of the world.

“Ultimately, we believe this transaction will provide our employees with expanded opportunities in a larger organization, allow us to continue to deliver the high-value services and solutions that our customers have come to expect, provide enhanced scale and management depth to accelerate growth and deliver value to our stockholders.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Revenue Review (See at “Definitions” the composition of product/service revenue categories.)

The Company’s North America revenue related to tool sales were down, specifically as it relates to the Drill-N-Ream® (“DNR”), given the timing of orders from the Company’s North American distributor. Lower drilling rig activity impacted demand for contract services. The average U.S. rig count of 621 in the fourth quarter of 2023 was down 154 rigs, or 20%, from the prior-year period, and down 29 rigs, or 4%, sequentially.

International revenue grew 9% as the Company further advances its operations in the Middle East (“ME”) and the ME market continues to build post-pandemic. The international rig count increased from 900 rigs at the end of 2022 to 955 rigs at the end of 2023.

For the fourth quarter of 2023, North America revenue comprised approximately 85% of total revenue, with remaining sales all within the Middle East.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Operating Results

¹Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, non-cash stock compensation expense, and unusual items. See the attached tables for important disclosures regarding SDP’s use of Adjusted EBITDA, as well as a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 13% sequentially, which reflected a $130 thousand decrease in patent infringement related legal fees and a roughly $200 thousand decrease in R&D expense. SG&A expenses increased 10% year-over-year largely due to the Company’s international expansion, which included the hiring of technical sales and business development personnel and significant travel-related expenses in support of the business development activities. Also included in the fourth quarter SG&A was $123 thousand in fees as part of the Company’s strategic review process.

Net income for the 2023 fourth quarter reflected the release of $6.4 million of deferred tax asset valuation allowance.

Full Year 2023 Review

¹Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, non-cash stock compensation expense, and unusual items. See the attached tables for important disclosures regarding SDP’s use of Adjusted EBITDA, as well as a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Revenue in North America, while up 6%, was constrained by the declining rig count and reduced tools sales in the fourth quarter. International revenue growth was 41%, demonstrating the Company’s successful execution of its international strategy, improved staffing within its ME operations, and the increasing rig counts in the ME region.

Full year SG&A expenses increased 32% to $9.6 million largely due to the Company’s international expansion. Included in the full year 2023 SG&A were $1.2 million of legal expenses due to continuing litigation for the Company’s patent infringement lawsuit. This compared with $600 thousand of similar legal expenses in the prior-year period. The Company also incurred $204 thousand in fees as part of its strategic review process in 2023.

Net income for 2023 included the $6.4 million valuation allowance release during the fourth quarter.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Cash generated by operations was $3.2 million in 2023 compared with $3.5 million in 2022. Cash at year-end was $2.7 million, up $0.5 million from the end of 2022.

Capital expenditures of $3.7 million in 2023 were largely in support of the Company’s Middle East operations, which included the DNR rental tool fleet and the new service and technology center that opened in the second quarter.

Total debt at year-end was $2.2 million.

Definitions and Composition of Product/Service Revenue:

Tool (DNR) Revenue is the sum of tool sales/rental revenue and other related tool revenue, which is comprised of royalties and fleet maintenance fees.

Contract Services revenue is comprised of repair and manufacturing services for drill bits and other tools or products for customers.

About Superior Drilling Products, Inc.

Superior Drilling Products, Inc. is an innovative, cutting-edge drilling tool technology company providing cost saving solutions that drive production efficiencies for the oil and natural gas drilling industry. The Company designs, manufactures, repairs, and sells drilling tools. SDP drilling solutions include the patented Drill-N-Ream® well bore conditioning tool and the patented Strider™ oscillation system technology. In addition, SDP is a manufacturer and refurbisher of PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact) drill bits for leading oil field service companies. SDP operates a state-of-the-art drill tool fabrication facility, where it manufactures its solutions for the drilling industry, as well as customers’ custom products. The Company’s strategy for growth is to leverage its expertise in drill tool technology and innovative, precision machining in order to broaden its product offerings and solutions for the oil and gas industry.

Additional information about the Company can be found at: www.sdpi.com.

Additional Information for Superior Drilling Products, Inc. Shareholders and Where to Find It

This press release relates to a proposed acquisition of Superior Drilling Products, Inc. (“SDP”) by Drilling Tools International Corporation (“DTI”). In connection with the transaction, DTI will file a registration statement on Form S-4 which will include a document that serves as a prospectus of DTI and a proxy statement of SDP (the “joint proxy statement/prospectus”), and each party will file other relevant documents regarding the transaction with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, INCLUDING THE SCHEDULE 13E-3, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. A definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to shareholders of SDP. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by DTI will be available free of charge on the DTI website at www.drillingtools.com or by contacting DTI by email at InvestorRelations@drillingtools.com or by mail at 3710 Briarpark Drive, Suite 150, Houston, TX 77042. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by SDP will be available free of charge on the SDP website at https://sdpi.com or by contacting SDP by email at dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com or by mail at 1583 S. 1700 E., Vernal UT 84078.

Participants in the Solicitation

DTI and SDP and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the SDP shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of DTI is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on March 21, 2023, its Proxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on May 18, 2023 and in other documents filed with the SEC by DTI and its executive officers and directors. Information about the directors and executive officers of SDP is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023, its Proxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on June 30, 2023, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023, and in other documents filed with the SEC by SDP and its executive officers and directors.

These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and Schedule 13e-3 and other relevant materials in connection with the transaction to be filed with the SEC when they become available. Information concerning the interests of the participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of SDP’s shareholders generally, will be set forth in the joint prospectus/proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction and the Schedule 13e-3 when they become available. Investors should read the proxy statement/prospectus and Schedule 13e-3 carefully before making any voting or investment decisions.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the proposed transaction, the Company’s strategy, future operations, success at developing future tools, the Company’s effectiveness at executing its business strategy and plans, financial position, estimated revenue and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, and ability to outperform are forward-looking statements. The use of words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential,” “project”, “forecast,” “should,” “plan or “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward -looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements reflect the beliefs and expectations of the Company and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among other factors, the effectiveness of success at expansion in the Middle East, options available for market channels in North America, the deferral of the commercialization of the Strider technology, the success of the Company’s business strategy and prospects for growth; the market success of the Company’s specialized tools, effectiveness of its sales efforts, its cash flow and liquidity; financial projections and actual operating results; the amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures; the availability and terms of capital; competition and government regulations; the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and related impact on the oil and natural gas industry; general economic conditions; the conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction, including obtaining Company shareholder approval and the regulatory approvals required for the transaction on the anticipated schedule or at all, financing for the transaction may not be obtained by DTI on favorable terms or at all, the closing of the proposed transaction may not occur or could be delayed, either as a result of litigation related to the transaction or otherwise or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification, and liability, the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized by DTI or may take longer or cost more to be realized than expected, including that the transaction may not be accretive to DTI within the expected timeframe or the extent anticipated, completing the transaction may distract DTI and Company management from other important matters, the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals from any applicable governmental entities (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals), the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals for the Company will be made, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the definitive transaction agreement relating to the proposed transaction, including in circumstances, which would require a party to pay a termination fee, the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transaction on the Company’s ability to attract, motivate or retain key executives and employees, its ability to maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and other business counterparties, or its operating results and business generally, risks related to the proposed transaction diverting management’s attention from the Company’s or DTI’s ongoing business operations, the amount of costs, fees and expenses related to the proposed transaction, the risk that the Company’s or DTI’s stock price may decline significantly if the proposed transaction is not consummated, the risk of shareholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction, including resulting expense or delay. These and other risks and uncertainties separately provided to you and indicated from time to time described in filings and potential filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the Company’s plans and described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

¹ Adjusted EBITDA represents net income adjusted for income taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization and other items as noted in the reconciliation table. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is an important supplemental measure of operating performance and uses it to assess performance and inform operating decisions. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a GAAP financial measure. The Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be used as a substitute for GAAP measures of performance, including net cash provided by operations, operating income, and net income. The Company’s method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may vary substantially from the methods used by other companies and investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on it.

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