Total Energy Services Inc. Announces Intention to Make a Takeover Bid for the Outstanding Class A Common Shares of Strad Energy Services Ltd.

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Sept. 21, 2015) - Total Energy Services Inc. ("Total" or the "Company") (TSX:TOT) announced today that it currently intends, subject to market conditions and other considerations noted below, to make an offer (the "Offer") to purchase all of the issued and outstanding Class A common shares (the "Strad Shares") of Strad Energy Services Ltd. ("Strad") at a price of $2.90 per Strad Share. Total anticipates that, under the Offer, holders of Strad Shares will have an option to receive, in exchange for each Strad Share, $2.90 cash or $1.35 cash plus 0.10 of a common share of Total.

The $2.90 cash Offer price represents an approximate 18% premium to the weighted average trading price of the Strad Shares on the TSX for the five-day period ended September 18, 2015 and an approximate 19% premium to closing price of the Strad Shares on the TSX on September 18, 2015.

Readers should note that Total has not yet commenced the Offer and should carefully review the cautionary statements set out below in this News Release respecting the status of the Offer and the factors that may cause Total not to make the Offer. Total has determined to announce its intention to make the Offer at this time to, in part, provide the board of directors of Strad with additional time, beyond the statutory minimum bid period, to consider the terms of the Offer in the context of the market and to assess the availability of strategic alternatives.

In this uncertain and challenging environment, Total believes the Offer terms reflect fair value for the Strad Shares. Strad shareholders who elect to receive common shares of Total in partial consideration for the Strad Shares they tender to the Offer will have an opportunity to retain investment exposure to the oilfield services sector (through the ownership of Total common shares).

In accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, the Offer will not be subject to a financing condition. Total expects to fund the non-share portion of the consideration to be paid to Strad shareholders under the Offer with cash on hand and available credit facilities. Provided Total does not uncover or otherwise identify information suggesting that the business, affairs, prospects or assets of Strad have been materially impaired and assuming there is no material adverse change in general market conditions subsequent to today's date, Total intends to mail a take-over bid circular to the registered holders of Strad Shares (as required under applicable Canadian securities laws) on or before October 9, 2015. Total expects that the Offer, when made, will remain open for acceptance for at least 35 calendar days from the date of mailing of its take-over bid circular.

Readers are cautioned that financial markets are currently experiencing significant volatility and that a significant adverse change in market conditions could cause Total to reevaluate the Offer and determine not to make the Offer on the terms noted in this News Release or at all. In addition, Total may determine not to make the Offer if: (i) it identifies material adverse information concerning the business, affairs, prospects or assets of Strad not previously disclosed by Strad; (ii) Strad implements or attempts to implement defensive tactics (such as a shareholder rights plan or the grant of an option (or similar right) to purchase material assets) in relation to the Offer; or (iii) Strad determines to engage with Total to negotiate the terms of a combination transaction and Total and Strad determine to undertake that transaction utilizing a structure other than a takeover bid (a plan of arrangement, for example). Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Offer will be made or that the final terms of the Offer will be as set out in this News Release.

Total anticipates that the Offer will be subject to a number of customary conditions, including: (i) there being deposited under the Offer, and not withdrawn, at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding Strad Shares (calculated on a fully diluted basis), excluding Strad Shares held by Total; (ii) receipt of all governmental, regulatory and third party approvals that Total considers necessary or desirable in connection with the Offer; (iii) no material adverse change having occurred in the business, affairs, prospects or assets of Strad; and (iv) no adverse changes in market conditions.

Total currently owns 3,709,700 Strad Shares, representing approximately 9.95% of the total number of issued and outstanding Strad Shares (calculated on a non-diluted basis). Subject to market conditions and compliance with regulatory requirements, Total may, after the filing of its takeover bid circular, acquire up to an additional 1.86 million Strad Shares (approximately 5% of the outstanding Strad Shares), in the normal course on the TSX and other published markets.

Background to the Proposed Offer

High-level discussions between Total and certain Strad personnel began in August 2013, which culminated in Total submitting a combination proposal to Strad's board of directors in February 2014 (following the engagement of financial advisors by both companies). That proposal contemplated the acquisition of the outstanding Strad Shares by Total for cash consideration. While certain members of the board of directors of Strad had indicated to Total that the concept of combining Total and Strad made strategic sense and that the consideration proposed to be paid by Total for the outstanding Strad Shares was consistent with the pricing expectations of the holders of approximately 35% of the outstanding Strad Shares (at that time), Strad rejected Total's proposal, without explanation, and declined to engage with Total to move the combination discussions forward. In July 2015, Total again approached Strad in an effort to re-engage in combination discussions. On August 21, 2015, Strad's board of directors advised Total, again without explanation, that it was not prepared to direct Strad management to engage with Total.

Reasons for the Proposed Offer

Total Expects That a Combination with Strad Will Give Rise to Operational Efficiencies:

Total is of the view that current challenging industry conditions and resultant customer expectations require the North American energy services industry to pursue opportunities to achieve material operating synergies and cost efficiencies and believes that the combination of Strad and Total would give rise to meaningful synergies and efficiencies. Through the elimination of duplicate public company expenses and consolidation of head office and certain Canadian field operations, Total estimates that at least $10.0 million of annual cost savings can be achieved over time. Total's ability to achieve these cost savings is based, in large part, on Total's ownership of a significant number of the properties (and associated facilities) utilized by its Rental and Transportation Services division. The timing of such cost savings is dependent in part on the terms and conditions of the various real estate leases under which Strad or its affiliates occupy operating locations - Total has not had access to the terms and conditions of those leases in light of Strad's determination not to engage in combination discussions. Notwithstanding this uncertainty as to timing, Total believes that significant Strad facility lease and overhead costs may be eliminated by consolidating Strad field locations into locations owned by Total over time as Strad leases expire. As reported in its April 17, 2015 news release, an independent third party report estimated the value of Total's real estate holdings at that time to be approximately $110 million. At December 31, 2014, the net book value of such real estate holdings (as recorded on the audited consolidated financial statements of Total) was $49.9 million.

By leveraging key customer relationships and achieving economies and efficiencies of scale, Total believes that the combined business would be better positioned to compete in the current challenging industry environment.

Liquidity for Strad Shareholders:

The Offer will provide holders of Strad Shares with an option to receive immediate liquidity through the receipt of all cash consideration. In addition, the Offer terms contemplate a cash/share alternative. Holders of Strad Shares who elect the cash/share alternative will be entitled to receive cash as partial payment for their Strad Shares, with the balance of the purchase price of their Strad Shares to be paid through the issuance of Total common shares. Strad shareholders who receive Total common shares, as partial consideration for their Strad Shares, will have an opportunity to retain equity investment exposure to the oilfield services sector - through an investment in a larger and more diverse North American energy services company.

Increased Diversification and Stability:

Management of Total believes the combination of Total and Strad will provide meaningful business and geographical diversification across several key oil and natural gas basins throughout North America. The addition of Strad's estimated 4,100 pieces of surface rental equipment to Total's 10,000 rental pieces is expected to result in a leading North American oilfield equipment rental company. Management of Total expects that utilization of Total's fleet of 120 heavy trucks in Strad's Environmental and Access Matting business would also give rise to revenue synergies and operational efficiencies.

Holders of Strad Shares who elect to receive Total common shares under the Offer (as partial consideration for their Strad Shares) will obtain an investment in the second largest Canadian natural gas compression company (Bidell Gas Compression) and the eighth largest Canadian contract drilling company (Chinook Drilling).

Advisors

Total has retained FirstEnergy Capital Corp. and AltaCorp Capital Inc. as financial advisors in connection with the Offer. Bennett Jones LLP is acting as legal advisor to Total.

About Total

Total is a growth oriented energy services corporation involved in contract drilling services (Chinook Drilling), rentals and transportation services (Total Oilfield Rentals) and the fabrication, sale, rental and servicing of natural gas compression (Bidell Gas Compression) and process equipment (Spectrum Process Systems).

Total has a proven 18 year track record of industry-leading returns on invested capital and has successfully completed over 20 strategic acquisitions since 1997. Total's balance sheet is strong and it has paid a stable dividend to its shareholders. Directors and Officers of Total are aligned with Total's shareholders through their meaningful ownership position in Total, which position has been increasing over the past 12 months. The common shares of Total are listed and trade on the TSX under the symbol "TOT".

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.

This News Release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Cautionary Statement Respecting Strad Information

The information concerning Strad contained in this News Release has been taken from, or is based upon, publicly available information filed by Strad with securities regulatory authorities in Canada prior to the date of this News Release and other public sources. Strad has not reviewed this News Release and has not confirmed the accuracy and completeness of the Strad information contained herein. Neither Total, nor any of the officers or directors of Total, assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such Strad information or any failure by Strad to disclose events or facts that may have occurred, or which may affect the significance or accuracy of any such Strad information, but which are unknown to Total. Total has no means of verifying the accuracy or completeness of any of the Strad information contained in this News Release or whether there has been a failure by Strad to disclose events or facts that may have occurred or may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information.

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

This News Release contains certain forward-looking information (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "scheduled", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", or similar words suggesting future events, circumstances or outcomes. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking information concerning:

(i)	the Offer, various terms of the Offer and the anticipated timing of commencement of the Offer;
(ii)	expectations with respect to the funding of the cash consideration payable to holders of Strad Shares in connection with the Offer;
(iii)	future purchases of Strad Shares by Total following the filing of its takeover bid circular;
(iv)	expectations with respect to synergies and efficiencies that may be achieved upon a combination of the businesses of Total and Strad (including through the elimination of duplicative costs) and other benefits of a combination of the businesses of Total and Strad; and
(v)	expectations with respect to business and geographical diversification.

Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in some cases, information supplied by third parties. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and that information received from third parties is reliable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to specific risk factors noted above in the body of this News Release, these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such things as changes in general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and elsewhere, changes in operating conditions (including as a result of weather patterns), the volatility of prices for oil and natural gas and other commodities, commodity supply and demand, fluctuations in currency and interest rates, availability of financial resources or third-party financing, availability of equipment, materials and personnel, defaults by counterparties under commercial arrangements to which the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) is a party, an inability to procure regulatory approvals in a timely manner or on terms satisfactory to the Company, and new laws and regulations (domestic and foreign). Risks relating specifically to Total's ability to realize perceived benefits from the proposed combination of Total and Strad include Total's inability to successfully integrate the operations of Total and Strad following completion of the Offer, Total's inability to retain key Strad employees following completion of the Offer and Total's inability to negotiate early termination of Strad office and operating location leases on terms reasonably satisfactory to Total following completion of the Offer in cases (if any) where those leases have lengthy terms. Additional risks to which Total is exposed in the conduct of its business are set out under the heading "Risk Factors" on pages 22-26 of Total's Annual Information Form (dated March 12, 2015) for the year ended December 31, 2014, and under the heading "Risk Factors" on pages 22-25 of Total's Management's Discussion and Analysis (dated August 12, 2015) in respect of the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2015, both of which have been filed with various securities regulatory authorities in Canada and are available (under Total's profile) through the SEDAR website at www.SEDAR.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance upon the forward-looking statements contained in this News Release and such forward-looking statements should not be interpreted or regarded as guarantees of future outcomes.

Forward-looking information respecting the Offer, various terms of the Offer and the anticipated timing of commencement of the Offer is based upon various assumptions and factors, including publicly reported financial information concerning Strad, publicly reported information concerning the number of outstanding Class A common shares of Strad and the number of options granted by Strad (entitling holders thereof to acquire Class A common shares of Strad), advice from professional advisors with respect to statutorily mandated time frames for various applications and steps/events associated with the Offer, that Strad has made full and accurate disclosure of all material information concerning Strad in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws (including disclosure of all material contracts and existing and potential contingent liabilities) and that there have been no material changes in the business, affairs, capital, prospects or assets of Strad since June 30, 2015. Forward-looking information respecting the funding of the cash consideration payable to holders of Strad Shares in connection with the Offer is based upon various assumptions and factors, including the aggregate amount that may be borrowed under Total's existing credit facility, current discussions with the Company's principal bankers as to future credit that will be made available to Total and that additional credit will be made available to Total by its principal bankers substantially on the terms outlined in an indicative term sheet delivered to the Company.
Forward-looking information respecting future purchases of Strad Shares by Total (following the filing of its takeover bid circular) is based upon various assumptions and factors, including advice from professional advisors with respect to permissible purchases by an acquiror under applicable securities laws, that Strad has made full and accurate disclosure of all material information concerning Strad in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws (including disclosure of all material contracts and existing and potential contingent liabilities) and that there have been no material changes in the business, affairs, capital, prospects or assets of Strad since June 30, 2015. Forward-looking information concerning possible synergies and efficiencies that may be achieved upon a combination of the businesses of Total and Strad and other benefits of a combination of the businesses of Total and Strad is based upon various assumptions and factors, including (in addition to assumptions and factors noted above in the body of this News Release), financial information of Strad available through publicly filed documents and Total's general industry knowledge and experience. Forward-looking information concerning the business and geographical diversification that may be achieved upon a combination of the businesses of Total and Strad is based upon various assumptions and factors, including (in addition to assumptions and factors noted above in the body of this News Release) publicly available information concerning the location and size of various Strad operating facilities and Total's general industry knowledge and experience.

The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws in force in Canada. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Cautionary Statement Respecting Status of the Offer

TOTAL HAS NOT YET COMMENCED THE OFFER NOTED ABOVE IN THIS NEWS RELEASE. UPON COMMENCEMENT OF THE OFFER, TOTAL WILL FILE A TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR WITH VARIOUS SECURITIES COMMISSIONS IN CANADA AND WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER AND SHOULD BE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY BY STRAD SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHERS TO WHOM THE OFFER IS ADDRESSED. AFTER THE OFFER IS COMMENCED, STRAD SHAREHOLDERS (AND OTHERS) WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN, AT NO CHARGE, A COPY OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, TAKEOVER BID CIRCULAR AND VARIOUS ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE ON THE SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT ANALYSIS AND RETRIEVAL (SEDAR) AT WWW.SEDAR.COM AND AT WWW.SEC.GOV. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE, SUBSCRIBE FOR, SELL, OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF OR ISSUE, OR ANY OTHER SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO SELL, OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF, ISSUE, PURCHASE, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR ANY SECURITY. THE OFFER WILL NOT BE MADE IN, NOR WILL DEPOSITS OF SECURITIES BE ACCEPTED FROM A PERSON IN, ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE MAKING OR ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. HOWEVER, TOTAL MAY, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, TAKE SUCH ACTION AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO EXTEND THE OFFER IN ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.