— Strong Demand and Continued Logistics Enhancements Drive Sale of ~165K Tons of Frac Sand —
— Records 31% Margin on Adjusted EBITDA of $2.9 Million – 255% Higher than $0.8 Million in Q1 2018 —
— Significant Progress on Expansion Project to Boost Production Capacity by 67% to 1 Million Tons Per Year —

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Select Sands Corp. (“Select Sands” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SNS, OTC: SLSDF) today announced record operational and financial results for Q2 of 2018 and the filing of its financial statements and associated management’s discussion and analysis on www.sedar.com. The Company’s financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars to better reflect Select Sands’ operations and to improve investors’ ability to compare the Company’s financial results with other publicly traded silica sand businesses in the U.S. Prior to reporting its Q4 2017 and full year results, Select Sands’ financial statements were stated in Canadian dollars. The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. Central to discuss its Q2 2018 results (see “Conference Call Information” section in this release for access information).

Q2 2018 Operational and Financial Highlights

  • Sold a record 164,872 tons of frac and industrial sand during Q2 of 2018, which was significantly higher than Select Sands’ original outlook for the sale of 120,000 to 140,000 tons;
             
    Q2 2018   Q2 2017   Q1 2018
  Frac sand   164,848     52,480     92,191
  Industrial sand   24     466     24
  Frac and Industrial sand   164,872     52,946     92,215
  Other sand & gravel   1,401     4,164     8,058
      166,273     57,110     100,273
  • Increased sales volumes and pricing drove revenue to $9.5 million – 68% higher than Q1 2018 revenue of $5.7 million;
  • Enhanced production-related and logistics efficiencies pushed gross profit up 130% to $3.0 million from $1.3 million in the Q1 2018, with the related margin increasing to 32.1% from 23.4% in the preceding quarter;
  • Reported record net income of $1.6 million in Q2 2018, or $0.02 per basic and diluted common share, versus Q1 2018 net income of $0.6 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted common share;
  • Generated a 31.0% margin of on adjusted EBITDA(1) of $2.9 million in Q2 2018, which was 255% higher than $0.8 million reported for the first quarter of 2018;
  • As previously announced, during Q2 2018, the Company exercised its option to purchase 223 acres of property in Independence County, Arkansas (the “Independence Property”) and secured a $3.9 million capital expenditure line of credit to fund its near-term expansion project on the Independence Property designed to increase production capacity to 1 million tons per year; and
  • As of June 30, 2018, cash and cash equivalents were $4.2 million, inventory on hand was $1.8 million, accounts receivable was $4.0 million and working capital was $7.0 million.      
    1. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure and is described and reconciled to net loss in the table under “Non-IFRS Financial Measures”.

    Zig Vitols, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are clearly pleased with our record results for the second quarter. Over the past months, we have put significant effort into further improving the efficiency of our production, shipping and inter-plant transportation capabilities. During the second quarter, this allowed our current scope of operations to fully benefit from the strong customer demand for our products. As in the past, I want to thank all of our employees and supporting contract personnel for their hard-work and dedication. Along with the rest of executive leadership, I look forward to continued close collaboration with our outstanding team as we further position Select Sands for long-term success.” 

    Financial Summary

    The following table includes summarized financial results for the three months ended June 20, 2018, June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2018:

               
    Select Sands Corp.        
    Summarized Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)  
    (Expressed in United States Dollars)        
    (Unaudited)        
               
        For the Three Months Ended  
        June 30, June 30, March 31,  
          2018     2017     2018    
               
    Revenue $    9,504,445   $    2,302,048   $    5,655,410    
    Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and depletion)     6,457,938       1,632,054       4,331,344    
    Gross Profit (Loss) $    3,046,507   $    669,994   $    1,324,066    
    General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses (1)     625,164       863,666       396,694    
    Depreciation and depletion     235,293       141,260       225,233    
    Interest on long-term debt     40,741       –        32,169    
    Operating Income (Loss) $    2,145,309   $    (334,932 ) $    669,970    
    Interest income     872       5,968       2,783    
    Foreign exchange gain (loss)      97,073       (474,454 )     (100,866 )  
    Share of (loss) income in equity investee     (51,904 )     (42,200 )     2,171    
    Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes $    2,191,350   $    (845,618 ) $    574,058    
    Provision for income taxes     (586,272 )     –        –     
    Net Income (Loss)  $    1,605,078   $    (845,618 ) $    574,058    
    Foreign currency translation adjustment     (159,991 )     269,299       (4,446 )  
    Comprehensive Income (Loss)  $    1,445,087   $    (576,319 ) $    569,612    
    Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $    0.02   $    (0.01 ) $    0.01    
    Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $    0.02   $    (0.01 ) $    0.01    
    Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding     88,313,316       86,959,360       88,313,316    
    Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding     98,102,429       86,959,360       98,102,429    
               
    Adjusted EBITDA (2) $    2,945,343   $    (200,127 ) $    830,478    
               
    (1)  Includes non-cash share-based compensation of $426,055, $462,031 and 1,189 for the second quarter 2018, second quarter 2017 and
      first quarter 2018.        
    (2)  Excludes depreciation and depletion, non-cash share-based compensation, interest on long-term debt, share of loss (income) in  
      equity investee and provision for income taxes. See table under “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” for reconciliation to net income (loss).
               

    Expansion Project Update

    • Site work for ground stabilization and construction of settling ponds has started, while fabrication of components continues at the Company’s shop location to build items such as conveyors.
    • Highlights and features of the Independence Property include:
      • Sufficient acreage to complete the current expansion, with additional acreage available for future expansion of a new-build facility;
      • Well suited for a future potential build of a 110-150 railcar loop track for efficient and economical loading of finished products;
      • Elevated above the floodplain allowing for uninterrupted operations;
      • Access to natural gas, three-phase electricity and water; and
      • Located next to a large coal power plant and adjacent to a state highway.
    • Select Sands’ expectation is to complete construction of the stand-alone facility by the end of Q4 2018, thereby bringing the Company’s Sandtown operations to its expected total capacity rate of 1 million tons per year.

     Outlook

    Mr. Vitols concluded, “Given our operations at Sandtown only began at the start of 2017, I am pleased with how far we have come.  During this short period of time – and through relatively minimal initial and subsequent capital investment – we converted a brown sand excavation operation to a drill and blast quarry operation focused on processing premium-priced white sand, as well as materially expanded our production and logistics capabilities. Supported by this strong position, we have now embarked on our next phase of growth through our capacity expansion project on the recently acquired Independence property.  This project will result in a material increase in our production capabilities and a lower cost profile for our overall operations, which will also allow us to better capitalize on the strong demand for our high-quality silica products given our strategic location near key oil and gas basins in the U.S.”

    Elliott A. Mallard, PG of Kleinfelder is the qualified person as per the NI-43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

    Conference Call Information

    The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Central (CDT) to discuss its second quarter 2018 results. To access the conference call, callers in North America may dial toll free 1-855-669-9657 and callers outside North America may dial 1-412-542-4135. Please call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time to ensure a proper connection and ask to be joined into the Select Sands call.

    A playback of the conference call will be available in MP3 format by contacting investor relations below.

    About Select Sands Corp.

    Select Sands Corporation is an industrial silica product company, which owns a number of properties in Arkansas and is currently in production at its 100% owned, Tier-1, silica sands property located near Sandtown, Arkansas, U.S.A. Select Sands’ goal is to become a key supplier of premium industrial silica sand and frac sand to North American markets. Select Sands’ Arkansas properties have a significant logistical advantage of being significantly closer to oil and gas markets located in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana than sources of similar sands from the Wisconsin area. The Tier-1 reference above is a classification of frac sand developed by PropTester, Inc., an independent laboratory specializing in the research and testing of products utilized in hydraulic fracturing & cement operations, following ISO 13503-2:2006/API RP19C:2008 standards.

    Select Sands’ Sandtown project has NI 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resources of 42.0MM tons (TetraTech Report; February, 2016) and Bell Farm has Inferred Mineral Resources of 49.6MM tons (Kleinfelder Report; April, 2017). Both deposits are considered Northern White finer-grade sand deposits of 40-70 Mesh and 100 Mesh.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company.  Information and statements which are not purely historical fact are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate to comments that include, but are not limited to further capacity expansion, a lower cost profile and continued customer demand for frac sand. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward-looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

    Company Contact

    Please visit www.selectsandscorp.com  or call:

    Zigurds Vitols
    President & CEO
    Phone: (604) 639-4533

    Investor Relations Contact

    Arlen Hansen
    [email protected]
    Phone: (604) 684-6730

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

               
    Select Sands Corp.        
    Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)  
    (Expressed in United States Dollars)        
    (Unaudited)          
        Three months Three months Six months Six months
        ended ended ended ended
        June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
          2018    2017    2018    2017 
               
    Revenue $    9,504,445   $   2,302,048   $    15,159,855   $   3,403,841  
               
    Cost of Goods Sold (excluding depreciation and depletion)     6,457,938       1,632,054       10,789,282       2,966,188  
               
    Gross Profit (Loss)     3,046,507       669,994       4,370,573       437,653  
               
    Operating Expenses        
     Compensation and consulting     204,685       100,902       451,471       301,458  
     Depreciation and depletion     235,293       141,260       460,526       232,882  
     Interest on long-term debt     40,741       –        72,910       –   
     Selling, general and administrative     (5,576 )     300,733       143,143       468,709  
     Share-based compensation     426,055       462,031       427,244       2,121,208  
    Total Operating Expenses     901,198       1,004,926       1,555,294       3,124,257  
               
    Operating Income (Loss)     2,145,309       (334,932 )     2,815,279       (2,686,604 )
               
    Other (Expense) Income        
     Interest income     872       5,968       3,655       13,842  
     Foreign exchange (loss) gain     97,073       (474,454 )     (3,793 )     (345,281 )
     Share of income (loss) in equity investee     (51,904 )     (42,200 )     (49,733 )     (160,843 )
    Total Other (Expense) Income     46,041       (510,686 )     (49,871 )     (492,282 )
               
    Net Income (Loss) before Income Taxes     2,191,350       (845,618 )     2,765,408       (3,178,886 )
               
    Provision for Income Taxes     (586,272 )     –        (586,272 )     –   
               
    Net Income (Loss)      1,605,078       (845,618 )     2,179,136       (3,178,886 )
               
    Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income        
     Foreign currency translation adjustment     (159,991 )     269,299       (164,437 )     36,079  
               
    Comprehensive Income (Loss)  $    1,445,087   $   (576,319 ) $    2,014,699   $   (3,142,807 )
               
    Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $    0.02   $   (0.01 ) $    0.02   $   (0.04 )
    Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $    0.02   $   (0.01 ) $    0.02   $   (0.04 )
               
    Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding     88,313,316       86,959,360       88,313,316       86,226,118  
    Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding     98,102,429       86,959,360       98,102,429       86,226,118  
               

     

           
    Select Sands Corp.    
    Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position  
    (Expressed in United States Dollars)    
    (Unaudited)    
           
          As at
        June 30, December 31,
          2018    2017 
    ASSETS    
    Current    
      Cash and cash equivalents $    4,150,356   $   2,047,515  
      Accounts receivable     3,970,871       3,385,597  
      Inventory     1,776,725       1,961,573  
      Prepaid expenses     89,257       83,223  
    Total Current Assets     9,987,209       7,477,908  
           
    Deposits     344,174       364,580  
    Deferred income taxes     1,987,308       2,356,000  
    Investment in Affiliate     1,266,863       1,275,409  
    Property, Plant and Equipment     15,516,633       13,415,238  
           
    Total Assets $    29,102,187   $   24,889,135  
    LIABILITIES    
    Current    
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $    2,065,149   $   1,418,182  
      Current portion of long-term debt     892,516       778,051  
    Total Current Liabilities     2,957,665       2,196,233  
           
    Long-term Debt     3,293,773       2,284,096  
    Total Liabilities     6,251,438       4,480,329  
           
    EQUITY    
    Share Capital     34,717,344       34,717,344  
    Share-based Payment Reserve     5,301,475       4,874,231  
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income     (106,899 )     57,538  
    Deficit     (17,061,171 )     (19,240,307 )
    Total Equity     22,850,749       20,408,806  
           
    Total Liabilities and Equity $    29,102,187   $   24,889,135  
           

               
    Select Sands Corp.      
    Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows    
    (Expressed in United States Dollars)      
    (Unaudited)      
               
          For the Six Months Ended  
          June 30, June 30,  
            2018    2017   
    Operating Activities      
      Net income (loss) for the period $    2,179,136   $   (3,178,886 )  
      Adjustments for non-cash items:      
        Depreciation and depletion     460,526       232,882    
        Share-based compensation     427,244       2,121,208    
        Foreign exchange     (7,663 )     36,079    
        Gain on sale of equipment             (1,196 )  
        Share of (income) loss in equity investee     49,733       160,843    
        Accretion on finance leases     29,388       –     
        Provision for income taxes     586,272       –     
      Changes in non-cash operating assets and liabilities:      
        Accounts receivable     (585,274 )     (2,256,048 )  
        Inventory     184,848       (1,751,252 )  
        Prepaid expenses     (6,034 )     (5,437 )  
        Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     331,426       520,383    
    Total Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities     3,649,602       (4,121,424 )  
               
    Investing Activities       
      Deposits     20,406       (208,678 )  
      Investment in affiliate     (100,000 )     –     
      Proceeds for disposal of equipment             5,835    
      Property, plant and equipment     (1,063,426 )     (3,027,898 )  
    Total Cash Used in Investing Activities     (1,143,020 )     (3,230,741 )  
               
    Financing Activities       
      Warrants exercised             780,713    
      Options exercised             291,801    
      Proceeds from short-term loan     900,000       –     
      Repayments of short-term loan     (900,000 )     –     
      Proceeds from long-term debt     266,558       –     
      Principal repayments of long-term debt     (609,542 )     –     
    Total Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities     (342,984 )     1,072,514    
               
    Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash     (60,757 )     127,025    
               
    Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents     2,102,841       (6,152,626 )  
               
    Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period     2,047,515       8,770,627    
               
    Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period $    4,150,356   $   2,618,001    
               

    Non-IFRS Financial Measures

    The following information is included for convenience only.  Generally, a non-IFRS financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, cash flows or financial position that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS.  Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance (nor does it have a standardized meanings) under IFRS.  In evaluating non-IFRS financial measures, investors should consider that the methodology applied in calculating such measures may differ among companies and analysts.

    The Company uses both IFRS and certain non-IFRS measures to assess operational performance and as a component of employee remuneration.  Management believes certain non-IFRS measures provide useful supplemental information to investors in order that they may evaluate Select Sands’ financial performance using the same measures as management.  Management believes that, as a result, the investor is afforded greater transparency in assessing the financial performance of the Company.  These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, nor superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

               
    Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA:      
               
        For the Three Months Ended  
        June 30, June 30, March 31,  
          2018   2017     2018    
               
    Net Income (Loss)  $    1,605,078 $    (845,618 ) $    574,058    
               
    Add Back        
      Depreciation and depletion     235,293     141,260       225,233    
      Share-based compensation     426,055     462,031       1,189    
      Interest on long-term debt     40,741     –        32,169    
      Provision for income taxes     586,272     –        –     
    EBITDA $    2,893,439 $    (242,327 ) $    832,649    
               
    Add Back        
      Share of loss (income) of equity investee     51,904     42,200       (2,171 )  
    Adjusted EBITDA $    2,945,343 $    (200,127 ) $    830,478    
               

    The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash share-based compensation, loss from flooding at its plant, and gain on sale of fixed assets. Select Sands uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental financial measure of its operational performance.  Management believes Adjusted EBITDA to be an important measure as they exclude the effects of items that primarily reflect the impact of long-term investment and financing decisions, rather than the performance of the Company’s day-to-day operations.  As compared to net income according to IFRS, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in the Company’s business, the charges associated with impairments, termination costs or Proposed Transaction costs.  Management evaluates such items through other financial measures such as capital expenditures and cash flow provided by operating activities.  The Company believes that these measurements are useful to measure a company’s ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations or as a valuation measurement.

    Indicated Resources Disclosure

    The Company advises that the production decision on the Sandtown deposit (the Company’s current “Sand Operations”) was not based on a Feasibility Study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit.  Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure.  There is no guarantee that production will occur as anticipated or that anticipated production costs will be achieved.