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North American Construction Group Ltd.

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FY2021 Annual Report · North American Construction Group Ltd.
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PROVEN
RESILIENCY
2021
ANNUAL
REPORT

EVERYONE GETS HOME SAFE

TABLE OF 

Contents

Financial Highlights ................................................. 1

Five-Year Trends ...................................................... 2

2021 Business Highlights ........................................ 3

Letter to Shareholders ............................................ 4

Vision for 2022 ........................................................ 6

Board of Directors and Executive Management .... 12

Management’s Discussion & Analysis ................... 14

Consolidated Financial Statements  ......................44

FINANCIAL 

Highlights

ADJUSTED EBITDA

ADJUSTED EPS

UP
+18%

UP
+20%

NET DEBT

DOWN
4%

250

200

150

100

50

0

$207m

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

$2.06

500

400

300

200

100

0

$386m

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

(In millions of Canadian dollars) 
Years ended December 31

(In Canadian dollars) 
Years ended December 31

(In millions of Canadian dollars) 
Years ended December 31

ANNUAL REPORT 2021          1

FIVE-YEAR 

Trends

Revenue ($m) 

Adjusted EBITDA ($m) 

Gross profit ($m) 

Adjusted EBIT ($m) 

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

654.1

207.3

90.4

92.7

498.5

174.3

92.2

81.4

715.1

174.4

94.3

71.0

405.4

288.2

101.8

69.1

43.1

63.1

39.2

17.4

Adjusted EBITDA margin

25.5%

29.9%

23.4%

24.7%

21.6%

Gross profit margin

13.8%

18.5%

13.2%

17.0%

13.6%

Adjusted return on invested capital

11.1 %

10.3%

9.5%

8.0%

4.9%

Total assets ($m) 

Invested capital ($m) 

Net debt ($m) 

Outstanding common shares,  
excluding treasury shares (m) 

Adjusted EPS ($)

Cash dividend declared per share ($)

869.3

647.5

369.0

28.5

2.06

0.16

839.1

793.2

689.6

634.3

385.9

29.2

1.73

0.16

587.0

514.4

406.9

364.7

25.8

1.72

0.12

25.0

1.00

0.08

381.4

277.1

131.2

25.5

0.31

0.08

2          NORTH AMERICAN CONTRUCTION GROUP

2021 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

•  Seventh consecutive year of our total injury frequency being less than our target of 0.50

•  Established and disclosed sustainability framework with issuance of the inaugural report followed by 

the second report, the 2022 Sustainability Report, in February 2022

•  Secured highest contractual backlog in NACG history through both existing core businesses as well 

as diversified longer-term projects

•  Successfully bid & secured the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project with two world-class joint 

venture partners, Acciona S.A. and Shikun & Binui Ltd.

•  Strong execution of earthworks construction and initial site infrastructure at a gold mining project in 

Northern Ontario by our newly formed joint venture with the Nuna Group of Companies

•  Step-change in equipment rebuild activity with the commencement, completion & sale of ultra-class 

haul trucks to the Mikisew joint venture

•  Progression of component remanufacturing catalogue and capabilities with a full year of operations 

proving out the concept and an additional expansion currently underway

•  Acquisition & seamless integration of a vertically integrated supplier, DGI Trading Pty Ltd, for the 

sourcing & procurement of production-critical equipment components

ANNUAL REPORT 2021          3

LETTER TO 

Shareholders

It’s hard to believe that one year has passed since I assumed the CEO role 
and it’s impossible to not start with the talented and dedicated people at 
NACG that I am lucky to work alongside. Their skills and efforts, against a 
tumultuous and unpredictable pandemic headwind, allowed us to achieve not 
only strong financial results but also impressive and important milestones. 
We accomplished a great deal in 2021 and annual reports like this provide an 
opportunity to reflect while also understanding what these accomplishments 
mean for NACG moving forward. Some accomplishments & records achieved 
in the year I’d like to highlight for you, my fellow shareholders: 

•  Achieved our target of 50% of EBIT being generated from outside the oil sands region, a year earlier 

than planned, while generating a record level of free cash flow;

•  Released our inaugural sustainability report in 2021 and followed with a second report released 

at the same time as our 2021 financial results with clear commitment to continuous sustainability 
improvement;

•  Recorded the largest year ever of Indigenous partnership revenue and jointly invested in rebuilt ultra-

class haul trucks with the Mikisew Group of Companies; 

•  Completed our second shop expansion on time and on budget and commenced our third since 

moving into the facility less than four years ago;

•  Effectively ramped up Northern Ontario gold mine project partnership with Nuna and record annual 

financial performance from Nuna;

•  Project award, financial close and initial commencement completed of the Fargo-Moorhead flood 

diversion project, our largest ever infrastructure project;

•  Completed the acquisition of DGI Trading with a smooth integration of the business while being 

restricted from travel to Australia;

•  Lowered risk and improved financial flexibility through issuance of 5.5% convertible debentures and 
closed the 2020 Normal Course Issuer Bid with the maximum number shares purchased; and lastly

•  In a seemingly fitting fashion given the momentum we have, retained earnings turned positive from 

the deficit it’s been in since the Company first became public in 2006.

While I am tremendously proud of this team and the 2021 accomplishments, we are in no mood to 
celebrate. This is because on January 6, 2022, we had an accident when two heavy haul trucks collided 
while they were both driving up a mine haul ramp. The driver of our heavy haul truck did not survive.  
The incident remains under investigation with a focus on the actions required to prevent reoccurrence.

This was an exemplary employee. Skilled, experienced, reliable, friendly and the kind of person everyone 
enjoys working with. Words are not adequate, and it is absolutely gut-wrenching when we know the 
feeling of loss and grief from a friend or coworker perspective pales in comparison to those experienced 
by his family. This tragic event will forever change many lives and we are committed to refocus our efforts, 
support this family as best we can and do everything in our power to ensure it never happens again.

4          NORTH AMERICAN CONTRUCTION GROUP

Our 2022 operational priority is first and foremost to prevent this or any serious injury from reoccurring. 
The following secondary objectives mean nothing without achieving our first priority, but our operations 
teams will be focused on: 

•  Operational excellence and a smooth equipment fleet ramp up at Fargo, North Dakota;

•  Continuing consistent improvement of equipment utilization;

•  Implementing site efficiencies given our line of sight on longer-term continuous projects;

•  Increasing our maintenance capabilities and external service offerings; and 

•  Producing the tangible gains and rewards of our technology projects.

Sincerely,

Joseph Lambert
President & Chief Executive Officer

February 16, 2022

ANNUAL REPORT 2021          5
ANNUAL REPORT 2021          5

2022 

Vision

SAFETY

SUSTAINABILITY

EXECUTION

DIVERSIFICATION

6          NORTH AMERICAN CONTRUCTION GROUP

SAFETY

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) are recognized as an integral part of our core business processes 
and as such are continuously reviewed for improvement opportunities. We believe that every incident 
is preventable, and employees are entitled to a safe workplace, while ensuring the protection of the 
environment. 

Our operations are guided by our principle to promote safe, environmentally responsible operations by 
ensuring that the hazards and environmental impacts associated with our operations and work activities are 
clearly understood and appropriately managed. 

NACG recognizes that to achieve our safety vision, our leaders must create and promote a safe workplace. 
We believe that this can be achieved through active and visible leadership in the field. Leaders must lead by 
example, promoting our core values and communicating the importance of health and safety throughout 
the organization. Visible leadership requires positive interaction with employees, ongoing coaching, and 
encouragement for positive safety behaviours. Leaders must realize that what they value and how they 
behave are the primary methods for communicating a positive health and safety message to our employees.

In 2021, we performed better than our Total Recordable Injury Rate (“TRIR”) target, keeping our results 
under 0.50 for the seventh year in a row. We achieved this by promoting participation and safety excellence 
at all levels starting with leadership. We worked continuously to improve our safety management system and 
improve our process including safe work practices for identified risks and hazards found in the work we do. 

SAFETY PRINCIPLES

•  Health, safety and environment are recognized as an integral part of our business.

•  Our focus on people and relationships, and our uncompromising commitment to health and safety, 

allows us to acquire some of the best talent in the industry.

•  We are committed to elevating the standard of excellence in health, safety and environmental 

protection with continuous improvement along with greater accountability and compliance. Our aim is 
to have zero incidents.

•  NACG wants to be recognized as a progressive contractor and industry leader. We will continue to set 

new standards for safety excellence in the heavy construction and mining sector.

ANNUAL REPORT 2021          7

SUSTAINABILITY 

Since our inception 69 years ago, NACG has touted an ingrained safe and low-cost provider 
culture. We believe this culture is key to our business success. We also believe that adopting 
a strong culture of sustainability, one that balances environmental, social and economic 
performance, is imperative to long-term success as an industry leader. We have the internal 
skill sets, individual and corporate desire, and functional ability to operate sustainably in each 
and every role within our company. Just as cost-consciousness and safe practices are not 
solely the responsibility of our finance and safety teams, sustainability is the responsibility 
of every employee. Over the coming years, we will look to further advance our sustainability 
goals by formally implementing systems and processes that align with our values and meet the 
needs of our customers, partners and key stakeholders.

As part of this objective, we released our 2022 Sustainability Report at the same time as 
our 2021 financial results. This second annual report provides a structured framework for 
environmental, social, and governance initiatives moving forward. We plan to continue to issue 
future reports around this time each year which will allow stakeholders to measure progress in 
a variety of business areas with increasing rigor and metrics. The 2022 Sustainability Report is 
available on the Company’s website at www.nacg.ca/social-responsibility.

8          NORTH AMERICAN CONTRUCTION GROUP

COMMITTED TARGETS

1 DIVERSITY 

We recognize the importance of having a diverse organization, and that 
starts at the top. Therefore, we have committed to 30% gender diversity 
on both the Board of Directors and amongst our senior leadership group. 

2 EMISSIONS REDUCTION 

Our scope 1 emissions are derived from combustion of diesel from our 
off-road heavy equipment fleet. We’ve committed to reduce our scope 1 
emissions intensity by 10% by 2025 and 20% by 2028. 

3 TOTAL RECORDABLE INJURY RATE OF 0.5 OR LESS

We believe all workplace incidents are preventable and will continue to 
strive for ongoing safety excellence through building on process and 
culture. A longstanding core goal of NACG, TRIR will continue to be used 
as one of our benchmarks to measure our safety performance. TRIR is an 
industry and nationally recognized standard safety metric and will keep 
the Company in line with our clients. 

ANNUAL REPORT 2021          9
ANNUAL REPORT 2021          9

EXECUTION

Operational excellence is the key to achieving expected margins & shareholder returns.  We fully 
intend to further enhance our reputation for operational excellence as improving site conditions result 
in the return of long-held operating routines. We will continue to build on our industry leading fleet 
maintenance strategy to maximize fleet availability and utilization by leveraging our reliability programs, 
management systems and expertise. We will leverage technological improvements and innovation to 
improve our operating efficiency, cost structure and component lives.

OPERATIONAL 
PRIORITIES  
FOR 2022 

1 Commitment to refocus safety efforts & prevent serious injuries

2 Maximize operating utilization of our heavy equipment fleet

3

4

5

6

7

Staff, plan, procure & mobilize for successful Fargo-Moorhead 
earthworks commencement in the spring & summer

Implement various site efficiencies given stability and 
predictability of longer-term continuous projects

Increase both external service offerings as well as equipment 
rebuild capacity

Complete component remanufacturing facility expansion and 
continue to improve capabilities

Enhance application of new technologies (telematics project) 
and ensure success of projects to reduce emissions (auto shut-
off, no-burn idle, hydrogen, hybrid equipment) 

10          NORTH AMERICAN CONTRUCTION GROUP

DIVERSIFICATION

A key focus of 2022 will remain diversification – by customer, resource, and geography.

Revenue diversity: We intend to leverage strategic partnerships, our equipment and expertise, and 
our recent investment in Nuna to secure heavy or light civil construction contracts for major resource 
or infrastructure projects across Canada. Our current active bid pipeline has over $3.0 billion worth of 
projects being engineered and estimated.

Service expansion: We intend to increase diversity by marketing our industry leading expertise in 
heavy equipment maintenance services. We intend to continue developing partnerships with parts and 
component rebuild companies that complement our maintenance service strategy, and we intend to 
leverage our purpose designed and built state-of-the-art maintenance facility, which is capable of handling 
the largest of our customers’ equipment assets to grow this service offering over the coming years.

What Organic Diversification means to us
“Leveraging our existing capabilities and competitive advantages to win diversified work”

What we have to achieve this goal
•  Well established Indigenous partnerships

•  Large capacity facilities in Acheson, Alberta ready to maintain & rebuild equipment

•  Mobile heavy equipment fleet ready for service

•  Ability to remanufacture equipment components on a low-cost zero-hour basis

•  World-class ERP system & proven processes available for deployment to remote regions

2021 Diversification Target Exceeded

Diversified Adjusted EBIT 1, 2

2019 Actual

2020 Actual

2021 Target

2021 Actual

26%

35%

45%

50%

1 See 2020 Annual Report for Non-GAAP Financial Measures

2 Adjusted EBIT profile targets exclude potential acquisitions

Diversified EBIT

ANNUAL REPORT 2021          11

BOARD OF 

Directors

Martin Ferron
Chair of the Board
Director Since: June 7, 2012

Joe Lambert
Director Since: January 1, 2021

Ron McIntosh
Director Since: May 20, 2004

Bryan Pinney
Lead Director & Chairman of Audit
Director Since: May 13, 2015

John Pollesel
Director Since: November 23, 2017

Maryse Saint-Laurent
Director Since: August 8, 2019

Thomas Stan
Chairman of Compensation
Director Since: July 14, 2016

Kristina Williams
Director Since: August 8, 2019

12          NORTH AMERICAN CONTRUCTION GROUP

EXECUTIVE 

Management

Joe Lambert
President & Chief  
Executive Officer

Jason Veenstra
Executive Vice President  
& Chief Financial Officer

Barry Palmer 
Chief Operating Officer

Jordan Slator
Vice President & General Counsel

David Kallay
Vice President, Health, Safety, 
Environment and Human Resources

ANNUAL REPORT 2021          13

Management’s Discussion and Analysis
For the year ended December 31, 2021

February 16, 2022

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is as of December 31, 2021 and should be read in
conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 and notes that
follow. These statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (“US”) generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”). Except where otherwise specifically indicated, all summary information contained in
this MD&A has also been prepared in accordance with GAAP and all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian
dollars. The audited consolidated financial statements and additional information relating to our business, including
our most recent Annual Information Form (“AIF”), are available on the Canadian Securities Administrators’ SEDAR
System at www.sedar.com, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and our company
website at www.nacg.ca.

Our MD&A presents non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP ratios, and supplementary financial measures that
provide useful financial information to our investors to better understand our performance. A “non-GAAP financial
measure” is a financial measure that depicts historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash
flows, but excludes amounts included in, or includes amounts excluded from, the most directly comparable GAAP
measure. A “non-GAAP ratio” is a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar expression that has a non-GAAP financial
measure as one or more of its components. Non-GAAP financial measures and ratios do not have standardized
meanings under GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. A
“supplementary financial measure” is a financial measure disclosed, or intended to be disclosed, on a periodic basis
to depict historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that does not fall within the
definition of a non-GAAP financial measure or non-GAAP ratio. In our MD&A, we use non-GAAP financial measures
and ratios such as “adjusted EPS”, “adjusted net earnings”, “total combined revenue”, “adjusted EBIT”, “adjusted
EBITDA”, “adjusted EBITDA margin”, “backlog”, “capital additions”, “capital expenditures, net”, “capital inventory”,
“capital work in progress”, “cash provided by operating activities prior to change in working capital”, “equity
investment depreciation and amortization”, “equity investment EBIT”, “free cash flow”, “gross profit”, “growth capital”,
“invested capital”, “net debt”, “senior debt”, “sustaining capital” and “total debt”. We also use supplementary financial
measures such as “gross profit margin” in our MD&A. We provide tables in this document that reconcile non-GAAP
and capital management measures used to GAAP measures reported on the face of the consolidated financial
statements. A summary of our financial measures is included below under the heading “Financial Measures”.

14

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, except per share amounts)

Year ended December 31,

Revenue

Total combined revenue(i)

Gross profit

Gross profit margin

Operating income

Adjusted EBITDA(i)
Adjusted EBITDA margin(ii)

Net income and comprehensive income available to shareholders
Adjusted net earnings(i)

Cash provided by operating activities
Cash provided by operating activities prior to change in working capital

Free cash flow(i)

Purchase of PPE
Sustaining capital additions(i)
Growth capital additions(i)

Basic net income per share
Adjusted EPS(i)

2021

2020(iii)

Change

$ 654,143

$ 498,468

$ 155,675

812,226

90,417

13.8%

55,128

207,333

25.5%

51,410
58,243

165,180
164,509

67,232

112,563
102,183
6,795

583,463

92,218

18.5%

67,122

174,336

29.9%

49,208
48,746

146,550
149,943

43,506

117,069
98,650
37,665

$
$

1.81
2.06

$
$

1.75
1.73

$
$

228,763

(1,801)

(4.7)%

(11,994)

32,997

(4.4)%

2,202
9,497

18,630
14,566

23,726

(4,506)
3,533
(30,870)

0.06
0.33

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated using adjusted EBITDA over total combined revenue.
(iii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncement and Measures”.

Revenue of $654.1 million represents a $155.7 million (or 31.2%) increase from the full year of 2020 reflecting the
improved operating conditions, particularly the quarter-over-quarter improvements when comparing to Q2 and Q3 of
2020. The primary drivers of this significant increase were the step change in demand for mine support work
equipment rentals at the Kearl mine and the re-mobilized equipment fleet at the Fort Hills mine. Our diversification
efforts continue to drive positive changes as the July 1, 2021 acquisition of DGI (Aust) Trading Pty Ltd. (“DGI”)
provided a half year of revenue on target due to a seamless transition and strong global demand for heavy
equipment parts and components. Lastly, our external maintenance program completed various projects during
second half of 2021 and is growing with increased capacity from recent facility expansions.

Starting in Q3 2021, we began disclosing combined revenue to more thoroughly reflect the growing contribution from
the investments we have in partnerships and joint ventures. Our intention is for reported revenue to reflect our
wholly-owned entities with remaining interests being accounted for in equity earnings. We are confident that this will
improve understanding for the readers of our financial reports.

Combined revenue of $812.2 million in 2021 represents a $228.8 million (or 39.2%) year-over-year increase. Our
share of revenue generated in 2021 by joint ventures and affiliates was $158.1 million compared to $85.0 million in
2020 (an increase of 86.0%). Nuna Group of Companies achieved outstanding top-line performance during the year
driven by the full year activity at the gold mine in Northern Ontario. In addition to Nuna, our share of revenue was
bolstered by the various joint venture initiatives which are all gaining momentum: i) the investments being made by
the Mikisew North American Limited Partnership in ultra-class haul trucks, ii) the consistent progress being made in
the component rebuild programs managed and performed by the Brake Supply North American joint venture, and
lastly iii) the newly formed joint ventures dedicated to the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project. The Fargo-
Moorhead project secured financing and achieved the formal financial close milestone in the quarter which provided
the ability to recognize income in 2021. Costs incurred to year-end were primarily related to the hiring of staff and
initial set-up of certain facilities, equipment and processes in Fargo, North Dakota.

For the full year 2021, gross profit was $90.4 million, or 13.8% of revenue, down from $92.2 million and down from
18.5% of revenue in the previous year. For the entirety of 2021, persistent increases in operating costs from employee

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

15

absenteeism and the costs associated with pandemic risk mitigation measures in place at the mine sites remained
very prevalent. At the same time the favourable impacts of the federal Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”)
program subsided. Equipment maintenance costs and the complex, challenging working conditions at the Millennium
mine also hampered margins in 2021. Partial offsets to these factors were the acquisition of DGI, which yielded
higher margins on component and parts sales, as well as the contributions from operations support contracts at coal
mines in Texas and Wyoming. Included in the gross profit margin for the year was depreciation of $108.0 million, or
16.5% of revenue, which is an increase from our prior year expense of $88.8 million but a decrease from our prior
year rate of 17.8% as more productive operating hours generated higher revenue.

General and administrative expenses (excluding stock-based compensation) were $23.8 million, or 3.6% of revenue,
compared to $22.5 million, or 4.5% of revenue. The decrease as a percentage of revenue reflects higher year-over-
year revenue while gross costs increased as a result of the acquisition of DGI in Q3 2021, generally higher business
activity levels and lower CEWS amounts received in the current year.

In managing the challenges of recovering from a global pandemic, adjusted EBITDA of $207.3 million represents a
18.9% increase from the prior year result of $174.3 million and reflects the recovery in demand that was experienced
during 2021. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 25.5% illustrates solid operating performance across all our various
diversified work sites. Regional isolation protocols, vaccination requirements and the decreased CEWS program in
2021 contributed to the year-over-year decrease in margin but were mitigated through effective change management
and our disciplined approach to site performance. The margin was impacted by increased equipment maintenance
activities, particularly at the Millennium mine, to ensure our fleet is operating at full capacity heading into the
remainder of the 2021/2022 winter season. Offsetting these decreases were the particularly strong operating
performances of the Aurora and Fort Hills mines and, as mentioned above, the strong diversified margin profile from
parts and component sales by DGI.

Net interest expense was $19.0 million for the year including approximately $1.1 million of non-cash interest. Our
average cash cost of debt for the year was 4.3% and was primarily driven by the rates paid on our Credit Facility as
well as the competitive interest rates related to secured equipment financing. Adjusted EPS of $2.06 on adjusted net
earnings of $58.2 million is 19.1% up from the prior year figure of $1.73 and is consistent with the percentage
increase of adjusted EBITDA as depreciation, tax and interest generally tracked consistently with the prior year.
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for the full years of 2021 and 2020 were 28.3 million and
28.2 million, respectively.

Free cash flow of $67.2 million is the culmination of adjusted EBITDA of $207.3 million, mentioned above, less
sustaining capital additions of $102.2 million and cash interest paid during the year of $17.0 million. Changes in
routine working capital balances were minimal for the year with the remaining two drivers for free cash flow
generation being i) the timing impacts of capital work in process and capital inventory which required initial cash
investment as we build our maintenance and component rebuild capabilities and ii) joint venture activity which
required working capital support over full year of 2021.

Impact of and Response to COVID-19

During 2021, the global COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact operations albeit to a much lesser degree than
2020. As with many of our peers in North America, mid-2021 marked a noticeable and positive change with regards
to the pandemic as vaccination rates lowered severe outcomes and hospitalizations, which in turn had the effect of
lowering site operational restrictions we had been subject to. The Fort McMurray region experienced a difficult third
wave with their highest case counts being recorded during that time and a correlating impact on workforce
availability in April and May 2021.

Since the onset in mid-March 2020, we have been aggressive with measures to protect our employees, customers
and our Company. We have worked collaboratively with mine and work sites owners throughout North America as
they tightened site access and made decisions based on their specific and unique circumstances. We provided
essential services to these sites where allowed, and have been able to carry-on operations through the adoption of
enhanced safety and health monitoring protocols.

The safety of our employees is paramount. We believe that every employee is entitled to a safe workplace and the
strict safety policies that put worker health and safety first, were in place prior to this outbreak. Our legacy
commitment to safety has been challenged during this pandemic and we are embracing this challenge by
implementing procedures and practices to keep our employees safe. These actions not only keep our employees
safe, but also their families and friends, as well as our broader provincial, national and global communities.

16

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Five year financial performance

(dollars in thousands except ratios
and per share amounts)

Operating Data

Revenue
Gross profit
Gross profit margin
Operating income
Adjusted EBIT(i)
Adjusted EBITDA(i)
Adjusted EBITDA margin(ii)
Comprehensive income
Adjusted net earnings(i)

Per share information

Basic net income per share
Diluted net income per share
Adjusted EPS(i)

Balance Sheet Data

Total assets

Current portion of financial lease obligations and long-
term debt
Non-current portion of financial lease obligations and
long-term debt

Total debt(i)
Cash

Net debt(i)
Total shareholders’ equity

Invested capital(i)

Year ended December 31,

2021

2020(iii)

2019(iii)

2018(iii)

2017(iii)

$

654,143
90,417

$

498,468
92,218

$

715,110
94,338

$

405,384
69,081

$

288,247
39,247

13.8%

18.5%

13.2%

17.0%

13.6%

55,128
92,661
207,333

25.5%

51,410
58,243

67,122
81,418
174,336

29.9%

49,208
48,746

57,131
70,962
174,379

23.4%

36,878
43,721

30,218
43,072
101,834

24.7%

15,286
24,875

13,783
17,429
63,082

21.6%

5,264
8,197

$
$
$

$

1.81
1.64
2.06

869,278

$
$
$

$

1.75
1.60
1.73

839,063

$
$
$

$

1.45
1.23
1.72

793,152

$
$
$

$

0.61
0.54
1.00

689,554

$
$
$

$

0.20
0.18
0.31

381,409

44,728

43,158

47,680

62,136

28,898

340,898

385,626
(16,601)

369,025
278,463

386,169

429,327
(43,447)

385,880
248,443

364,412

412,092
(5,208)

406,884
180,119

322,006

384,142
(19,450)

364,692
149,721

109,623

138,521
(7,291)

131,230
145,924

$

647,488

$

634,323

$

587,003

$

514,413

$

277,154

Outstanding common shares, excluding treasury
shares
Cash dividend declared per share

28,458,115
0.16

29,166,630
0.16

25,777,445
0.12

25,004,205
0.08

25,452,224
0.08

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
(ii)Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated using adjusted EBITDA over total combined revenue.
(iii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

17

Summary of net income

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Revenue
Project costs
Equipment costs
Depreciation

Gross profit
Gross profit margin
General and administrative expenses (excluding stock based
compensation)
Stock-based compensation expense
Operating income
Interest expense, net
Net income

Adjusted EBITDA(i)
Adjusted EBITDA margin(ii)

Per share information
Basic net income per share
Diluted net income per share
Adjusted EPS(i)

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended December 31,

$

2021

181,001
68,077
60,810
29,050

$

2020(iii)

136,076
39,552
47,708
26,248

2021

654,143
223,537
232,173
108,016

$

2020(iii)

498,468
140,341
177,127
88,782

23,064

$

22,568

$

90,417

$

12.7%

16.6%

13.8%

92,218

18.5%

3,694
1,643
17,464
5,250
15,308

56,285

6,268
4,839
11,439
4,435
10,044

45,192

24.0%

26.6%

23,768
11,606
55,128
19,032
51,408

22,493
1,944
67,122
18,656
49,208

207,333

25.5%

174,336

29.9%

0.54
0.48
0.59

$
$
$

0.34
0.32
0.36

$
$
$

1.81
1.64
2.06

$
$
$

1.75
1.60
1.73

$

$

$
$
$

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated using adjusted EBITDA over total combined revenue.
(iii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Reconciliation of total reported revenue to total combined revenue

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended December 31,

(dollars in thousands)

2021

2020(ii)

2021

2020(ii)

Revenue from wholly-owned entities per financial
statements
Share of revenue from investments in affiliates and joint
ventures
Adjustment for joint ventures

181,001

108,291
(54,394)

136,076

654,143

48,194
(14,293)

332,440
(174,357)

498,468

159,054
(74,059)

Total combined revenue(i)

$

234,898

$

169,977

$

812,226

$

583,463

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
(ii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

18

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Reconciliation of net income to adjusted net earnings, adjusted EBIT and adjusted EBITDA

(dollars in thousands)

Net income
Adjustments:

Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Stock-based compensation expense
Net realized and unrealized gain on derivative financial
instruments
Write-down on asset held for sale
Tax effect of the above items

Adjusted net earnings(i)
Adjustments:

Tax effect of the above items
Interest expense, net
Income tax expense
Equity loss (earnings) in affiliates and joint ventures(i)
Equity investment EBIT(i)

Adjusted EBIT(i)
Adjustments:

Depreciation and amortization
Write-down on asset held for sale
Equity investment depreciation and amortization(i)

Adjusted EBITDA(i)
Adjusted EBITDA margin(ii)

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2021

2020(iii)

2021

$

15,308

$

10,044

$

51,408

$

263
1,643

—
—
(438)

22
4,839

(3,429)
—
(1,118)

(85)
11,606

(2,737)
700
(2,649)

2020(iii)

49,208

659
1,944

(4,266)
1,800
(599)

$

16,776

$

10,358

$

58,243

$

48,746

438
5,250
2,487
(5,581)
5,768

1,118
4,435
319
70
1,284

2,649
19,032
9,285
(21,860)
25,312

$

25,138

$

17,584

$

92,661

$

29,242
—
1,905

56,285

$

26,292
—
1,316

45,192

$

108,333
(700)
7,039

24.0%

26.6%

25.5%

29.9%

$

207,333

$

174,336

599
18,656
11,264
(7,740)
9,893

81,418

89,309
(1,800)
5,409

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated using adjusted EBITDA over total combined revenue.
(iii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Reconciliation of equity earnings in affiliates and joint ventures to equity investment EBIT

(dollars in thousands)

Equity (earnings) loss in affiliates and joint ventures
Adjustments:

Interest expense, net
Income tax expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Equity investment EBIT(i)

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2021

2020(ii)

2021

5,581

$

(70)

$

21,860

$

(73)
294
(34)

5,768

$

149
1,125
80

1,284

168
3,204
80

$

25,312

$

2020(ii)

7,740

376
1,374
403

9,893

$

$

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
(ii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Analysis of three months and year ended December 31, 2021 results

Revenue

For the three months ended December 31, 2021, revenue was $181.0 million, up from $136.1 million in the same
period last year. The majority of this quarter-over-quarter positive variance was generated by the equipment fleet at
the Fort Hills mine which was remobilized in the third quarter of 2021. Additionally, the demand for mine support
work and equipment rental support at the Kearl mine was stronger than the prior quarter. Lastly, the completion of
three haul truck rebuilds by our external maintenance program and the acquisition of the Australian component
supplier DGI bolstered revenue in Q4 2021.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, revenue was $654.1 million, up from $498.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2020. The increase of 31.2% reflects the fourth quarter increases mentioned above combined with a
strong demand for equipment rental support and overburden removal activities at the Millennium mine and an
expanded winter reclamation program at the Aurora mine. The completion of the overburden and ditch construction
work at the Kearl mine also positively impacted revenue in the year.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

19

Gross profit

For the three months ended December 31, 2021, gross profit was $23.1 million or 12.7% of revenue, up from a
gross profit of $22.6 million, but down from a 16.6% gross margin in the same period last year. The improvement in
gross profit in the current period was driven by the variety of increases in demand mentioned above. The gross profit
margin variance quarter-over-quarter was impacted by increased equipment maintenance activities, primarily at the
Millennium mine, as we performed the required maintenance services to ensure the fleet is operating at full capacity
for the large demand of work for the remainder of the important winter season. Furthermore, CEWS impacted the
variance as it was a significant program in place in the prior quarter. Offsetting these decreases was the strong
operational execution of the scopes of work at the Aurora and Fort Hills mines and the diversified margin profile from
component and parts sales by DGI.

There are no amounts related to CEWS receipts included in the three months ended December 31, 2021. Included
in the three months ended December 31, 2020 was $6.5 million of which $6.0 million is included in gross profit.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, gross profit was $90.4 million, or 13.8% of revenue, down from
$92.2 million and 18.5% of revenue in the previous year. The gross profit margin impacts experienced in the fourth
quarter discussed above were largely experienced throughout the year. Increases in operating costs from employee
absenteeism and the costs associated with risk mitigation measures in place at the mine sites remained very
prevalent throughout 2021 as the impact of the CEWS program subsided. Equipment maintenance costs and the
complex working conditions at the Millennium mine hampered margins at that site. Partially offsetting these full year
factors were the consistent operating efficiency on the reclamation scope at the Aurora mine and the strong
performance of the newly awarded scopes at the Fort Hills mine. Our operations support services at the two coal
mines in the U.S. also positively impacted margin given the nature of those mine management contracts.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, results include $13.2 million related to CEWS receipts of which
$12.5 million is included in gross profit. In the same period last year, results include $28.0 million of which
$25.2 million is included in gross profit.

For the three months ended December 31, 2021, depreciation was $29.1 million, or 16.0% of revenue, up from
$26.2 million (or 19.3% of revenue) in the same period last year. Depreciation for the year ended December 31,
2021 was $108.0 million, (16.5% of revenue), up from $88.8 million (17.8% of revenue) for the year ended
December 31, 2020. The increases in gross depreciation are the result of higher operating equipment hours
utilization by the fleet in 2021. The depreciation percentages in 2021 were lower than the comparable periods in
2020 due to more effective and productive use of the fleet when compared to the inefficiencies experienced
especially in Q2 and Q3 of 2020. Furthermore, an increase in the use of rental equipment in 2021 when compared to
2020 was a noticeable factor in the reduction of depreciation as a percentage of revenue.

Operating income

For the three months ended December 31, 2021, operating income was $17.5 million, compared to operating
income of $11.4 million during the same period last year. G&A expense excluding stock-based compensation
expense was $3.7 million, or 2.0% of revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2021, down from
$6.3 million, or 4.6% of revenue in the same period last year. The decrease in the current period expense compared
to prior year was due to recognition of reimbursable bid costs received in excess of amounts capitalized, offset by
the acquisition of DGI in Q3 2021 as well as higher CEWS receipts in the prior year. For the three months ended
December 31, 2021, there are no amounts related to the CEWS program as a reduction in general and
administrative expenses compared to $0.5 million received in the previous period.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, operating income was $55.1 million, down from $67.1 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020. G&A expense, excluding stock-based compensation expense was $23.8 million for the
year ended December 31, 2021, or 3.6% of revenue, up from the $22.5 million, and down from 4.5% of revenue,
recorded in the year ended December 31, 2020. The year-over-year gross increase was due to the acquisition of
DGI in Q3 2021, generally higher business activity levels and lower CEWS receipts received in the current year. For
the year ended December 31, 2021, we received $0.8 million from the CEWS program as a reduction in general and
administrative expenses compared to $2.9 million received in the previous year.

20

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

For the three months and year ended December 31, 2021, stock-based compensation was $1.6 million and
$11.6 million, respectively. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2020, stock- based compensation
was $4.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively. The year-over-year change is primarily due to the impact of the
fluctuating share price on the carrying value of our liability classified award plans.

Non-operating income and expense

(dollars in thousands)

Interest expense
Credit Facility
Convertible debentures
Finance lease obligations
Mortgages
Promissory notes
Financing obligations
Amortization of deferred financing costs
Other interest expense

Interest expense
Other interest expense (income)

Total interest expense
Equity loss (earnings) in affiliates and joint ventures
Net realized and unrealized gain on derivative financial
instruments
Income tax expense

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

$

$

$

$

$

$

2021

1,527
1,733
480
622
126
366
312
88

5,254
(4)

5,250
(5,581)

—
2,487

2020(i)

2,054
691
687
246
115
402
204
154

4,553
(118)

4,435
70

(3,429)
319

$

$

$

2021

6,559
5,148
2,260
1,350
450
1,562
1,064
701

19,094
(62)

19,032
(21,860)

(2,737)
9,285

$

$

$

2020(i)

8,189
3,299
3,176
999
664
1,265
1,091
154

18,837
(181)

18,656
(7,740)

(4,266)
11,264

(i)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.
Total interest expense was $5.3 million during the three months ended December 31, 2021, up from $4.4 million in 
the same period last year. In the year ended December 31, 2021, total interest expense was $19.0 million, up from 
the $18.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in interest expense in both periods can be 
primarily attributed to the addition of 5.50% convertible debentures which was not fully offset by the decrease in 
interest related to our Credit Agreement (“the Credit Facility”).
Cash related interest expense for the three months ended December 31, 2021, calculated as interest expense 
excluding amortization of deferred financing costs of $0.3 million, was $4.9 million and represents an average cost of 
debt of 4.7% when factoring in the Credit Facility balances during the quarter (compared to 4.2% for the three 
months ended December 31, 2020). Cash related interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2021, 
excluding deferred financing cost of amortization of $1.1 million, was $18.0 million and represents an average cost of 
debt of 4.3% (compared to 4.1% for the year ended December 31, 2020).
Equity earnings in affiliates and joint ventures was $5.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, up 
from a loss of $0.1 million in the same period last year. In the year ended December 31, 2021 equity earnings in 
affiliates and joint ventures was $21.9 million up from the $7.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2020. Nuna 
Group of Companies achieved outstanding operational performance during the year driven by the full year activity at 
the gold mine in Northern Ontario. In addition to Nuna, equity earnings was bolstered by the various joint venture 
initiatives which are all gaining momentum: i) the investments being made by the Mikisew North American Limited 
Partnership in ultra-class haul trucks, ii) the consistent progress being made in the component rebuild programs 
managed and performed by the Brake Supply North American joint venture, and lastly iii) the newly formed joint 
ventures dedicated to the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project. The Fargo-Moorhead project secured financing 
and achieved the formal financial close milestone in the quarter which provided the ability to recognize income in 
2021. Costs incurred to year-end were primarily related to the hiring of staff and initial set-up of certain facilities, 
equipment and processes in Fargo, North Dakota.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we realized a gain of $7.1 million (unrealized gain at December 31, 2020 of
$4.3 million) on the swap agreement related to the 5.50% convertible debentures that were issued in 2017 and 
redeemed through issuance of 4,583,655 common shares in April 2020. This swap agreement was completed on 
September 30, 2021.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

21

We recorded income tax expense of $2.5 million and $9.3 million, respectively, during the three months and year
ended December 31, 2021, an increase from the $0.8 million and a decrease from the $11.3 million deferred income
tax expense recorded in the respective prior year periods. The current quarter income tax expense was higher than
Q4 2020 due to higher earnings. The current year income tax expense approximates our combined effective
corporate tax rate of 23%.

A reconciliation of basic net income per share to adjusted EPS is as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

Net income
Interest from convertible debentures (after tax)

Diluted net income available to common shareholders

Adjusted net earnings(i)

Weighted-average number of common shares
Weighted-average number of diluted shares

Basic net income per share
Diluted net income per share

Adjusted EPS(i)

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.

Summary of consolidated quarterly results

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

2021

15,308
1,480

16,788

16,776

28,455,992
35,140,822

0.54
0.48

0.59

$

$

$

$
$

$

2020

10,044
597

10,641

10,358

29,157,143
33,180,912

0.34
0.32

0.36

$

$

$

$
$

$

2021

51,408
4,410

55,818

58,243

28,325,489
33,946,957

1.81
1.64

2.06

$

$

$

$
$

$

2020

49,208
2,370

51,578

48,746

28,165,130
32,300,824

1.75
1.60

1.73

$

$

$

$
$

$

A number of factors contribute to variations in our quarterly financial results between periods, including:

changes in the mix of work from earthworks, with heavy equipment, to more labour intensive, light
construction projects;

seasonal weather and ground conditions;

certain types of work that can only be performed during cold, winter conditions when the ground is frozen;

the timing and size of capital projects undertaken by our customers on large oil sands projects;

the timing of equipment maintenance and repairs;

the timing of project ramp-up costs as we move between seasons or types of projects;

the timing of resolution for claims and unsigned change-orders;

the timing of “mark-to-market” expenses related to the effect of a change in our share price on stock-based
compensation plan liabilities; and

the level of borrowing under our convertible debentures, Credit Facility and finance leases and the
corresponding interest expense recorded against the outstanding balance of each.

22

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
The table, below, summarizes our consolidated results for the eight preceding quarters:

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

Revenue
Gross profit
Adjusted EBITDA(i)
Net income
Basic income per share(ii)
Diluted income per share(ii)
Adjusted EPS(i)(ii)
Cash dividend per share(iii)

Q4
2021

$ 181.0
23.1
56.3
15.3
$ 0.54
$ 0.48
$ 0.59
$ 0.04

Q3
2021(iv)

$ 166.0
21.7
47.5
14.0
$ 0.49
$ 0.44
$ 0.50
$ 0.04

Q2
2021(iv)

$ 139.3
14.5
42.4
2.7
$ 0.10
$ 0.09
$ 0.32
$ 0.04

Q1
2021(iv)

$ 167.8
31.2
61.1
19.4
$ 0.68
$ 0.62
$ 0.65
$ 0.04

Q4
2020(iv)

$ 136.1
22.6
45.2
10.0
$ 0.34
$ 0.32
$ 0.36
$ 0.04

Q3
2020(iv)

Q2
2020(iv)

$ 93.6
14.8
37.1
6.8
$ 0.23
$ 0.22
$ 0.26
$ 0.04

$ 70.6
20.7
32.1
13.3
$ 0.46
$ 0.42
$ 0.45
$ 0.04

Q1
2020(iv)

$ 198.3
34.1
59.9
19.0
$ 0.74
$ 0.67
$ 0.70
$ 0.04

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)Net income and adjusted earnings per share for each quarter have been computed based on the weighted-average number of shares issued
and outstanding during the respective quarter. Therefore, quarterly amounts are not additive and may not add to the associated annual or
year-to-date totals.
(iii)The timing of payment of the cash dividend per share may differ from the dividend declaration date.
(iv)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

All other events being equal, oil sands mine support revenue during the December to March time period of each year
is traditionally highest as ground conditions are most favorable for work requiring frozen ground access. Delays in
the start of the winter freeze required to perform this type of work or an abnormal thaw period during the winter
months will reduce overall revenues or have an adverse effect on project performance in the winter period. Extreme
winter weather conditions, where temperatures dip below minus 30 degrees Celsius, can have an adverse effect on
revenue due to lower equipment performance and reliability.

We generally experience a seasonal decline in our oil sands mine site support revenue, such as reclamation and
muskeg removal services, during the three months ended June 30 of each year as weather conditions make
performance of this heavy equipment intensive work difficult during this period. The oil sands mine support activity
levels decline when frost leaves the ground and access to excavation and dumping areas, as well as associated
roads, are rendered temporarily incapable of supporting the weight of heavy equipment. The duration of this period,
which can vary considerably from year-to-year, is referred to as “spring breakup” and has a direct impact on our
mine support activity levels.

Mine support activities for resource mines outside the oil sands typically are at their peak during the May to October
time period, contrary to the seasonality of an oil sands mine that relies on the cold winter season for effective
material movement.

Overall, full-year results are not likely to be a direct multiple or combination of any one quarter or quarters. In
addition to revenue variability, gross margins can be negatively impacted in less active periods because we are likely
to incur higher maintenance and repair costs due to our equipment being available for servicing.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Summary of consolidated financial position

As at December 31, 2021, our total liquidity was $197.7 million, comprised of $16.6 million in cash and
$181.1 million of unused borrowing availability on the Credit Facility. This is compared to our total liquidity of
$148.0 million at December 31, 2020, comprised of $43.9 million cash, and $104.1 million available and unused
Credit Facility borrowings. Our liquidity is complemented by available borrowings through our equipment leasing
partners. Under the terms of our Credit Facility, our finance lease borrowing is limited to $150.0 million. As at
December 31, 2021, we had $28.6 million in unused finance lease borrowing availability under our Credit Facility,
compared to $29.6 million at December 31, 2020. Borrowing availability under finance lease obligations considers
the current and long-term portion of finance lease obligations and financing obligations, including the finance lease
obligations for the joint ventures that we guarantee. There are no restrictions within the terms of our Credit Facility
relating to the use of operating leases. As at December 31, 2021, our total available capital liquidity was
$226.3 million, comprised of total liquidity plus unused finance lease borrowing availability under our Credit Facility
compared to $177.6 million at December 31, 2020.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

23

A reconciliation of long-term debt to senior, total and net debt is as follows:

(dollars in thousands)

Cash

Working capital assets
Accounts receivable
Contract assets
Inventories
Contract costs
Prepaid expenses and deposits

Working capital liabilities

Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Contract liabilities

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020(iii)

Change

$

$

16,601

68,787
9,759
44,544
2,673
6,828

(76,251)
(33,389)
(3,349)

$

$

43,447

$ (26,846)

36,231
7,008
19,151
1,969
4,977

(41,428)
(19,382)
(1,512)

$

32,556
2,751
25,393
704
1,851

(34,823)
(14,007)
(1,837)

Total net working capital (excluding cash)

$

19,602

$

7,014

$

12,588

Property, plant and equipment
Total assets

Finance lease obligations(i)
Credit Facility(i)
Promissory notes(i)
Financing obligations(i)

Senior debt(ii)

Convertible debentures(i)
Mortgage(i)

Total debt(ii)
Cash

Net debt(ii)
Total shareholders’ equity

Invested capital(ii)

(i)

Includes current portion.

640,950
869,278

54,721
110,000
13,210
47,945

225,876
129,750
30,000

385,626
(16,601)

369,025
278,463

647,488

$

$

$

$

632,210
839,063

69,472
220,000
12,726
50,923

353,121
55,000
21,206

429,327
(43,447)

385,880
248,443

8,740
30,215

(14,751)
(110,000)
484
(2,978)

$ (127,245)
74,750
8,794

$ (43,701)
(26,846)

$ (16,855)
30,020

634,323

$

13,165

$

$

$

$

(ii) See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(iii) The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

As at December 31, 2021, we had $1.4 million in trade receivables that were more than 30 days past due, compared
to $0.2 million as at December 31, 2020. As at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we did not have an
allowance for credit losses related to our trade receivables as we believe that there is minimal risk in the collection of
past due trade receivables. We continue to monitor the credit worthiness of our customers.

Our current working capital is also significantly affected by the timing of the completion of projects and the
contractual terms of the project. In some cases, our customers are permitted to withhold payment of a percentage of
the amount owing to us for a stipulated period of time (such percentage and time period is usually defined by the
contract and in some cases provincial legislation). This amount acts as a form of security for our customers and is
referred to as a “holdback”. Typically, we are only entitled to collect payment on holdbacks if substantial completion
of the contract has been performed, there are no outstanding claims by subcontractors or others related to work
performed by us and we have met the period specified by the contract, usually 45 days after completion of the work.
However, in some cases, we are able to negotiate the progressive release of holdbacks as the job reaches various
stages of completion. As at December 31, 2021, holdbacks totaled $0.4 million, up from the $0.1 million balance as
at December 31, 2020.

The variability of our business through the year due to the timing of construction project awards or the execution of
work that can only be performed during winter months can result in an increase in our working capital requirements
from higher accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances in the early phases of such projects.

24

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Capital resources

Our capital resources consist primarily of cash flow provided by operating activities, cash borrowings under our
Credit Facility and financing through operating leases and capital equipment financing.

Our primary uses of cash are for capital expenditures, to fulfill debt repayment and interest payment obligations, to
fund operating and finance lease obligations, to finance working capital requirements and to pay dividends. When
prudent, we have also used cash to repurchase our common shares.

We anticipate that we will have enough cash from operations to fund our annual expenses, planned capital spending
program and meet current and future working capital, debt servicing and dividend payment requirements in 2022
from existing cash balances, cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under our Credit Facility.

Reconciliation of capital additions

(dollars in thousands)

Purchase of PPE
Additions to intangibles

Gross capital expenditures
Proceeds from sale of PPE
Change in capital inventory and capital work in
progress(i)(ii)

Capital expenditures, net(i)
Finance lease additions

Capital additions(i)

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

2021

25,937
483

26,420
(1,544)

2,051

26,927
—

26,927

$

$

$

$

$

$

2020(iii)

27,281
1

27,282
(707)

3,360

29,935
—

29,935

$

$

$

$

2021

112,563
1,228

113,791
(17,141)

(6,870)

89,780
19,198

$

108,978

$

2020(iii)

117,069
272

117,341
(2,784)

(6,124)

108,433
27,882

136,315

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)Included in property, plant and equipment on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is $39.2 million (2020 – $32.3 million) of capital inventory and
capital work in progress.
(iii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

(dollars in thousands)

Sustaining
Growth

Capital expenditures, net(i)

Sustaining
Growth

Finance lease additions

Sustaining
Growth

Capital additions(i)

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

2021

20,192
6,735

26,927

—
—

—

20,192
6,735

26,927

$

$

$

$

2020(ii)

26,757
3,178

29,935

—
—

—

26,757
3,178

29,935

$

$

2021

82,985
6,795

89,780

19,198
—

19,198

102,183
6,795

2020(ii)

96,500
11,933

108,433

2,150
25,732

27,882

98,650
37,665

$

108,978

$

136,315

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Sustaining capital additions for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were $20.2 million and were primarily
made up of capitalized maintenance performed on the existing fleet. For the year ended December 31, 2021,
sustaining capital expenditures were $102.2 million and were predominantly comprised of capital expenditures
dedicated to routine capital maintenance activities required to maintain the existing fleet.

Growth capital additions for the three months ended December 31, 2021 were $6.7 million and for the year ended
December 31, 2021 were $6.8 million. This spending was comprised of costs related to the heavy equipment
maintenance facility expansion which recently became available for use. Further to the growth capital additions
above is the acquisition of DGI, totaling $13.7 million.

A portion of our heavy construction fleet is financed through finance leases. We continue to lease our motor vehicle
fleet through our finance lease facilities. Our equipment fleet is currently split among owned (60.0%), finance leased
(33.0%) and rented equipment (7.0%).

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

25

Summary of consolidated cash flows

(dollars in thousands)

Cash provided by operating activities
Cash used by investing activities
Cash (used) provided by financing activities

Net increase (decrease) in cash

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

2021

65,895
(24,301)
(40,022)

$

2020(i)

62,493
(25,158)
(33,685)

$

2021

165,180
(99,269)
(92,759)

$

2020(i)

146,550
(112,827)
4,516

1,572

$

3,650

$

(26,848) $

38,239

$

$

(i) The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Operating activities

(dollars in thousands)

Cash provided by operating activities prior to change in working capital
Net changes in non-cash working capital

Cash provided by operating activities

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

2021

44,872
21,023

65,895

$

$

2020(i)

44,656
17,837

62,493

$

$

2021

164,509
671

165,180

$

$

2020(i)

149,943
(3,393)

146,550

$

$

(i) The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended December 31, 2021 was $65.9 million, compared
to cash provided by operating activities of $62.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Cash
provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $165.2 million, compared to cash
provided by operating activities of $146.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The increase in cash flow in both current year period is a result of improved EBITDA and changes in non-cash
working capital. Cash provided by (used by) the net change in non-cash working capital specific to operating
activities is detailed below.

(dollars in thousands)

Accounts receivable
Contract assets
Inventories
Contract costs
Prepaid expenses and deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Contract liabilities

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

$

2021

(2,360) $
753
4,808
1,580
(252)
5,478
9,559
1,457

$

2020(i)

8,132
(2,913)
896
(79)
(50)
6,155
4,306
1,390

2021

(30,646) $
(2,751)
(11,243)
(704)
(735)
31,232
13,681
1,837

2020(i)

29,162
12,086
2,476
(593)
(953)
(47,398)
338
1,489

$

21,023

$

17,837

$

671

$

(3,393)

(i) The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Investing activities

During the three months ended December 31, 2021, cash used by investing activities was $24.3 million, compared
to $25.2 million in cash used by investing activities in the three months ended December 31, 2020. Current period
investing activities largely relate to $26.4 million for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, offset by
$1.5 million in proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment. Prior year investing activities included
$27.3 million for the purchase of property, plant, equipment offset by $0.7 million in proceeds on disposal of
property, plant and equipment.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used by investing activities was $99.3 million, compared to
$112.8 million used by investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020. Current period investing activities
largely relate to the acquisition of DGI for net cash consideration of $11.4 million and $112.6 million for the purchase of
property, plant and equipment, partially offset by $17.1 million in proceeds from the disposal of property, plant and
equipment and $7.1 million gain from settlement of the derivative financial instrument. Prior year investing activities
included $117.1 million for the purchase of property, plant, equipment offset by $2.8 million in proceeds for the disposal
of property, plant and equipment and $3.5 million of net repayments activity within the Nuna Group of Companies.

26

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Financing activities

Cash used by financing activities during the three months ended December 31, 2021, was $40.0 million, which
included $18.7 million of proceeds of long-term debt offset by $50.3 million of long-term debt repayments, and
$7.3 million in finance lease obligation repayments. Cash used by financing activities for the three months ended
December 31, 2020 was $33.7 million, which included $23.1 million of long-term debt repayments and $8.6 million in
finance lease obligation repayments.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in financing activities was $92.8 million, which included
$135.0 million of proceeds of long-term debt offset by $164.4 million of long-term debt repayments, $33.9 million in
finance lease obligation repayments, $5.5 million of treasury share purchases and $16.5 million in share purchase
program. Cash used by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $4.5 million, driven by
proceeds of long-term debt of $145.2 million offset by $82.3 million of long-term debt repayments, $34.6 million
repayments towards finance lease obligations, $9.9 million of treasury share purchases and $1.0 million in financing
costs.

Free cash flow

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure (see “Explanatory Notes – Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this MD&A).
Below is our reconciliation from the consolidated statement of cash flows (“Cash provided by operating activities”
and “Cash used in investing activities”) to our definition of free cash flow.

(dollars in thousands)

Cash provided by operating activities
Cash used in investing activities
Capital additions financed by leases
Add back:

Growth capital additions
Acquisition of DGI (Aust) Trading Pty Ltd.

Free cash flow(i)

Three months
December 31

$

2021

65,895
(24,301)
—

$

6,735
—

2020(ii)

62,493
(25,158)
—

3,178
—

Year ended
December 31,

2021

2020(ii)

$

$

165,180
(99,269)
(19,198)

146,550
(112,827)
(27,882)

6,795
13,724

37,665
—

43,506

$

48,329

$

40,513

$

67,232

$

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

Free cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $67.2 million driven by strong operating results and
higher profitability with higher cash contributed from non-cash working capital, offset by investment in capital work in
progress and joint ventures. Positive cash flow of $88.1 million was generated by adjusted EBITDA of $207.3 million,
less sustaining capital additions of $102.2 million and cash interest paid of $17.0 million. Sustaining maintenance
expenditures remained consistent with the expectations of the 2021 capital maintenance plan reflecting necessary
maintenance in anticipation of our busy winter season. Changes in routine working capital balances were minimal for
the year. The remaining difference primarily relates to the timing impacts of capital work in process and capital
inventory which require initial cash investment as we continue to build our maintenance and component rebuild
capabilities. The last factor in free cash flow was the timing of joint venture distributions which required working
capital support over full year of 2021.

Free cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $43.5 million. Positive cash flow of $57.2 million was
generated by adjusted EBITDA of $174.3 million, less sustaining capital additions of $98.7 million and cash interest
paid of $18.5 million. The lower free cash flow in 2020 was a result of lower cash contributed from non-cash working
capital and higher capital additions financed by leases.

Contractual obligations and other commitments

Our principal contractual obligations relate to our long-term debt; finance and operating leases; and supplier
contracts. The following table summarizes our future contractual obligations as of December 31, 2021, excluding
interest where interest is not defined in the contract (operating leases and supplier contracts). The future interest
payments were calculated using the applicable interest rates and balances as at December 31, 2021 and may differ
from actual results.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

27

Payments due by fiscal year

(dollars in thousands)

Total

2022

2023

2024

2025

Credit Facility
Convertible debentures
Mortgage
Promissory notes
Finance leases(i)
Operating leases(ii)
Non-lease components of building lease commitments(iii)
Financing obligations
Supplier contracts

$ 120,831 $
168,847
44,588
13,907
51,291
13,502
547
50,379
8,013

3,262 $
6,861
1,783
5,320
23,539
1,207
388
15,236
8,013

4,270 $ 113,299 $
6,861
1,783
5,307
15,413
1,086
159
15,236
—

6,861
1,783
2,500
9,743
878
—
15,573
—

— $

6,861
1,783
780
1,448
1,429
—
4,334
—

2026 and
thereafter

—
141,403
37,456
—
1,148
8,902
—
—
—

Total contractual obligations

$ 471,905 $ 65,609 $ 50,115 $ 150,637 $ 16,635 $ 188,909

(i)Finance leases are net of receivable on heavy equipment operating sublease of $5,718 (2022 – $2,859; 2023 – $2,859).
(ii)Operating leases are net of receivables on subleases of $4,627 (2022 – $2,638; 2023 – $1,496; 2024 – 493).
(iii)Non-lease components of lease commitments are net of receivables on subleases of $2,197 (2022 – $1,467; 2023 – $730). These
commitments include common area maintenance, management fees, property taxes and parking related to operating leases.

Our total contractual obligations of $471.9 million as at December 31, 2021 have decreased from $498.4 million as
at December 31, 2020 primarily related to a decrease of $119.0 million related to our Credit Facility, $8.3 million of
financing obligations and $3.7 million of supplier contracts, offset by an increase in convertible debentures of
$98.7 million and a mortgage of $10.2 million. For a discussion on our Credit Facility see “Credit Facility” below and
for a more detailed discussion of our convertible debentures, see “Capital Structure and Securities” in our most
recent AIF, which section is expressly incorporated by reference into this MD&A.

Credit Facility

On September 29, 2021, we entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Facility”) with a
banking syndicate that allows borrowing under the revolving loan to $325.0 million with the ability to increase the
maximum borrowings by $50.0 million, subject to certain conditions. The amended agreement extended the facility
maturity from October 8, 2023 to October 8, 2024, with an option to extend on an annual basis, subject to certain
conditions. The Credit Facility permits finance lease obligations to a limit of $150.0 million and certain other
borrowings outstanding to a limit of $20.0 million. In the amended agreement, permitted amount of $150.0 million
was expanded to include guarantees provided by us to a permitted joint venture, provided that value of such
obligations shall not exceed the permitted amount.

Our Credit Facility has two financial covenants that must be tested quarterly on a trailing four-quarter basis.

(cid:129) The first covenant is the senior leverage ratio (“Senior Leverage Ratio”) which is Bank Senior Debt

compared to Bank EBITDA.

O

O

“Bank Senior Debt” is defined as the Company’s long-term debt, finance leases and outstanding
letters of credit, excluding convertible debentures, deferred financing costs, mortgages related to
NACG Acheson Ltd. and debt related to investment in affiliates and joint ventures. “Bank EBITDA”
is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, excluding the effects
of unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, realized and unrealized gain or loss on derivative
financial instruments, cash and non-cash stock-based compensation expense, gain or loss on
disposal of property, plant and equipment, and certain other non-cash items included in the
calculation of net income.

The Senior Leverage Ratio must be less than or equal to 3.0:1 at Q4 2021 and thereafter. In the
event we enter into a material acquisition, the maximum allowable Senior Leverage Ratio would
include a step up of 0.50x for four quarters following the acquisition.

(cid:129) The second covenant is the fixed charge coverage ratio (“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”) which is defined

as Bank EBITDA less cash taxes compared to Fixed Charges.

O

O

“Fixed Charges” is defined as cash interest, scheduled payments on debt, unfunded cash
distributions and unfunded capital expenditures.

The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio must be maintained at a ratio greater than 1.15:1.

28

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

(cid:129) The calculation of both financial covenants excludes rental revenue of the wholly-owned subsidiary that

owns our shop and head office complex.

As at December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with our financial covenants. The Senior Leverage Ratio was
1.48:1, in compliance with the maximum of 3.0:1. The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio was 2.06:1, in compliance with
the minimum of 1.15:1.

Borrowing activity under our Credit Facility

As at December 31, 2021, there was $110.0 million borrowed against our Credit Facility along with $33.9 million in
issued letters of credit under our Credit Facility (December 31, 2020 – $220.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively)
and the unused borrowing availability was $181.1 million (December 31, 2020 – $104.1 million).

Guarantee

On December 3, 2021, we entered into an agreement with a financial institution to provide a guarantee on a
revolving equipment lease credit facility of $45.0 million for Mikisew North American Limited Partnership (“MNALP”)
to assist with a growing fleet of equipment in MNALP. This equipment lease credit facility will allow MNALP to avail
the credit through a lease agreement and/or equipment finance contract with appropriate supporting documents. As
at December 31, 2021, the available balance on this facility was $28.1 million. At this time, there have been no
instances or indication that payments will not be made by MNALP. Therefore, no liability has been recorded.

Outstanding share data

Common shares

We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of voting common shares and an unlimited number of non-voting
common shares. On June 12, 2014, we entered into a trust agreement whereby the trustee may purchase and hold
voting common shares, classified as treasury shares on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, until such time that units
issued under the equity classified long-term incentive plans are to be settled. Units granted under such plans
typically vest at the end of a three-year term.

As at February 11, 2022, there were 30,022,928 total voting common shares outstanding, which included 1,568,041
common shares held by the trust and classified as treasury shares on our consolidated balance sheets (30,022,928
common shares, including 1,564,813 common shares classified as treasury shares at December 31, 2021). We had
no non-voting common shares outstanding on any of the foregoing dates.

Options

Effective November 17, 2021, we terminated our Amended and Restated 2004 Share Option Plan. There were no
options issued or outstanding as at the date of termination.

Convertible debentures

5.50% convertible debentures
5.00% convertible debentures

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020

$

$

74,750 $
55,000

—
55,000

129,750 $

55,000

On June 1, 2021, we issued $65.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% convertible unsecured subordinated
debentures. On June 4, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option, in full, purchasing an additional
$9.8 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures.

The summarized terms of these convertible debentures are:

5.50% convertible debentures
5.00% convertible debentures

June 1, 2021

June 30, 2028 $
March 20, 2019 March 31, 2026 $

24.75 $
26.25 $

40.4040 $
38.0952 $

3,531
2,691

Date of issuance

Maturity Conversion price

Share equivalence
per $1000
debenture

Debt issuance
costs

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

29

Interest on the 5.50% convertible debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 of
each year, commencing on December 31, 2021. Interest on the 5.00% convertible debentures is payable semi-
annually on March 31 and September 30 of each year.

The 5.50% convertible debentures are not redeemable prior to June 30, 2024, except under certain exceptional
circumstances. The 5.50% convertible debentures may be redeemed at the option of the Company, in whole or in
part, at any time on or after June 30, 2024 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount provided that the
market price of the common shares is at least 125% of the conversion price; and on or after June 30, 2026 at a
redemption price equal to the principal amount. In each case, we are required to pay accrued and unpaid interest on
the debentures redeemed to the redemption date.

The 5.00% convertible debentures are redeemable under certain conditions after a change in control has occurred. If
a change in control occurs, we are required to offer to purchase all of the 5.00% convertible debentures at a price
equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, we realized a gain of $7.1 million (unrealized gain at December 31, 2020
of $4.3 million) on the swap agreement related to the 5.50% convertible debentures that were issued in 2017 and
redeemed through issuance of 4,583,655 common shares in April 2020. This swap agreement was completed on
September 30, 2021.

Share purchase program

During the year ended December 31, 2021, we completed the Normal-Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”) which had
commenced on March 12, 2020 with purchases and cancellations totaling 1,076,903 common shares, at an average
price of $14.86. The transactions resulted in a decrease to common shares of $8,679 and a decrease to additional
paid-in capital of $7,327 and completed the NCIB with the maximum number of authorized common shares being
purchased and canceled.

On April 9, 2021, we commenced a NCIB under which a maximum number of 2,000,000 common shares were
authorized to be purchased. As at December 31, 2021, we purchased and subsequently cancelled 37,000 shares
under this NCIB, at an average price of $13.86 per share. This resulted in a decrease to common shares of
$0.3 million and an increase to additional paid-in capital of $0.2 million. This NCIB will terminate no later than April 8,
2022.

Backlog

The following summarizes our reconciliation of non-GAAP backlog as at December 31, 2021 and December 31,
2020.

(dollars in thousands)

Performance obligations per financial statements
Add: undefined committed volumes

Backlog(i)

Revenue generated from backlog for the year end

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020 (i)

$

$

$

141,440 $
699,562

126,816
609,736

841,002 $

736,552

355,755 $

309,783

(i)See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
(ii)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

We recognized $355.8 million of revenue from backlog during the year ended December 31, 2021, which included
recognition of $290.5 million of backlog from 2020. Our backlog increased by $104.5 million from December 31,
2020. As at December 31, 2021, we expect that $481.6 million of our backlog reported above will be performed over
2022.

Our equity method investments also have a backlog of which our share was $830.9 million as at December 31, 2021
(December 31, 2020 – $194.9 million), resulting in a combined backlog of $1,671.9 million as at December 31, 2021
(December 31, 2020 – $931.4 million).

30

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Related parties

Accounts payable due to joint ventures and affiliates do not bear interest, are unsecured and without fixed terms of
repayment. Accounts receivable from certain joint ventures and affiliates bear interest at various rates, and all other
accounts receivable amounts are non-interest bearing. The following table provides the material aggregate
outstanding balances with affiliates and joint ventures.

Accounts receivable
Other assets
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020(i)

$

31,050 $

2,162
286

3,808
1,432
5,296

(i)The prior year amounts are adjusted to reflect a change in accounting policy. See “Accounting Estimates, Pronouncements and Measures”.

We enter into transactions with a number of our joint ventures and affiliates that involve providing services primarily
consisting of subcontractor services, management fees, and equipment rental revenue, and equipment and
component sales. These transactions were conducted in the normal course of operations, which were established
and agreed to as consideration by the related parties. The majority of services provided in the oil sands region are
being completed through MNALP. This joint venture performs the role of contractor and sub-contracts work to us.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, revenue earned from these services was $356.6 million and
$191.1 million, respectively.

OUTLOOK

Our strategic focus areas in 2022 remain:

(cid:129) Safety – focus on people and relationships as we emerge from the pandemic, maintain an uncompromising

commitment to health and safety while elevating the standard of excellence in the field.

(cid:129) Sustainability – commitment to the continued development of sustainability targets and consistent measurement

of progress to those targets.

(cid:129) Execution – enhance our record of operational excellence with respect to fleet maintenance, availability and
utilization through leverage of our reliability programs, technical improvements and management systems.

(cid:129) Diversification – continue to pursue further diversification of customer, resource and geography through strategic

partnerships, industry expertise and/or investment in Indigenous joint ventures.

The following table provides projected key measures for 2022 and actual results of 2021. These measures are
predicated on contracts currently in place, including expected renewals, and the heavy equipment fleet that we own
and operate.

Key measures

Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EPS
Sustaining capital
Free cash flow

Capital allocation measures

Growth capital and acquisitions
Deleverage
Shareholder activity(i)

Leverage ratios

Senior debt
Net debt

2021 Actual

2021 Stated

2022 Outlook

$207M
$ 2.06
$102M
$ 67M

$ 25M
$ 17M
$ 31M

$205 – $215M $215 – $245M
$ 1.95 – $2.15
$ 2.15 – $2.55
$ 95 – $105M $110 – $120M
$ 65 – $85M $ 95 – $115M

nil – $35M
$ 25 – $35M $
$ 15 – $35M $ 50 – $80M
$ 15 – $35M

n/a

1.5x
1.8x

1.1x – 1.5x
1.7x – 2.1x

0.9x – 1.4x
1.2x – 1.7x

(i)Shareholder activity includes common shares purchased under a NCIB, dividends paid and the purchase of treasury shares.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

31

ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES, PRONOUNCEMENTS AND MEASURES

Critical accounting estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires us to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

Significant estimates and judgments made by us include:

the assessment of the percentage of completion on time-and-materials, unit-price, lump-sum and cost-plus
contracts with defined scope (including estimated total costs and provisions for estimated losses) and the
recognition of claims and change orders on revenue contracts;

the evaluation of whether we are a primary beneficiary of an entity or has a controlling interest in an
investee and is required to consolidate;

assumptions used in impairment testing; and

estimates and assumptions used in the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the recoverability
of deferred tax assets and the useful lives of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

The accuracy of our revenue and profit recognition in a given period is dependent on the accuracy of the estimates
of the cost to complete each project. Cost estimates for all significant projects use a detailed “bottom up” approach
and we believe our experience allows us to provide reasonably dependable estimates. There are a number of
factors that can contribute to changes in estimates of contract cost and profitability that are recognized in the period
in which such adjustments are determined. The most significant of these include:

the completeness and accuracy of the original bid;

costs associated with added scope changes;

extended overhead due to owner, weather and other delays;

subcontractor performance issues;

changes in economic indices used for the determination of escalation or de-escalation for contractual rates
on long-term contracts;

changes in productivity expectations;

site conditions that differ from those assumed in the original bid;

contract incentive and penalty provisions;

the availability and skill level of workers in the geographic location of the project; and

a change in the availability and proximity of equipment and materials.

The foregoing factors as well as the mix of contracts at different margins may cause fluctuations in gross profit
between periods. With many projects of varying levels of complexity and size in process at any given time, changes
in estimates can offset each other without materially impacting our profitability. Major changes in cost estimates,
particularly in larger, more complex projects, can have a significant effect on profitability.

For a complete discussion of how we apply these critical accounting estimates in our significant accounting policies
adopted, see the “Significant accounting policies” section of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2021 and notes that follow, which sections are expressly incorporated by reference into this MD&A.

Change in significant accounting policy – Basis of presentation

Prior to July 1, 2021, we elected to apply the provision available to entities operating within the construction industry
to apply proportionate consolidation to unincorporated entities that would otherwise be accounted for using the
equity method. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, we elected to change this policy to account for

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these unincorporated entities using the equity method, resulting in a change to the consolidation method for Dene
North Site Services and Mikisew North American Limited Partnership. This change allows for consistency in the
presentation of our investments in affiliates and joint ventures. We have accounted for the change retrospectively
according to the requirements of US GAAP Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 250 by restating the
comparative periods. For full disclosure, refer to note 22 in our Financial Statements for the year ended
December 31, 2021.

Accounting pronouncements recently adopted

(cid:129) Business Combinations

O

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations. The accounting
standard update was issued to improve the accounting for acquired revenue contracts with
customers in a business combination. This update requires that an entity (acquirer) recognize and
measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in according
with Topic 606 – Revenue from Contract with Customers. The adoption of this new standard did
not have an impact to the financial statements.

(cid:129) Government assistance

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In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance. The accounting
standard update was issued to increase the transparency of government assistance including the
disclosure of 1) the type of assistance, 2) an entity’s accounting for the assistance, 3) the effect of
the assistance on an entity’s financial statement. The adoption of this new standard did not have a
material impact to the financial statements.

Issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

(cid:129) Debt with conversion and other options

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In September 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other
Options and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s own Equity. This accounting standard
update was issued to address issues identified as a result of the complexity associated with
applying GAAP for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. This
standard is effective January 1, 2022 with early adoption permitted. We are assessing the impact
that the adoption of this standard may have on our consolidated financial statements.

For a complete discussion of accounting pronouncements, see the “Recent accounting pronouncements” section of
our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 and notes that follow, which sections
are expressly incorporated by reference into this MD&A.

Financial measures

Non-GAAP financial measures

We believe that the below Non-GAAP financial measures are all meaningful measures of business performance
because they include or exclude items that are or are not directly related to the operating performance of our
business. Management reviews these measures to determine whether property, plant and equipment are being
allocated efficiently.

“Adjusted net earnings” is defined as net income and comprehensive income available to shareholders excluding the
effects of unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, realized and unrealized gain or loss on derivative financial
instruments, cash and non-cash (liability and equity classified) stock-based compensation expense, gain or loss on
disposal of property, plant and equipment and certain other non-cash items included in the calculation of net income.

“Total combined revenue” is defined as consolidated revenue per the financial statements combined with our share
of revenue from affiliates and joint ventures that are accounted for using the equity method. This measure is
reviewed by management to assess the impact of affiliates and joint ventures’ revenue on our adjusted EBITDA
margin.

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“Adjusted EBIT” is defined as adjusted net earnings before the effects of interest expense, income taxes and equity
earnings in affiliates and joint ventures, but including the equity investment EBIT from our affiliates and joint ventures
accounted for using the equity method.

“Equity investment EBIT” is defined as our proportionate share (based on ownership interest) of equity earnings in
affiliates and joint ventures before the effects of gain or loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, interest
expense and income taxes.

“Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as adjusted EBIT before the effects of depreciation, amortization and equity
investment depreciation and amortization.

“Adjusted EPS” is defined as adjusted net earnings, divided by the weighted-average number of common shares.

“Equity investment depreciation and amortization” is defined as our proportionate share (based on ownership
interest) of depreciation and amortization in other affiliates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method.

As adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures,
our computations may vary from others in our industry. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to
operating income or net income as measures of operating performance or cash flows and they have important
limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as
reported under US GAAP. For example adjusted EBITDA does not:

reflect our cash expenditures or requirements for capital expenditures or capital commitments or proceeds
from capital disposals;

reflect changes in our cash requirements for our working capital needs;

reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments
on our debt;

include tax payments or recoveries that represent a reduction or increase in cash available to us; or

reflect any cash requirements for assets being depreciated and amortized that may have to be replaced in
the future.

“Total debt” is defined as the sum of the outstanding principal balance (current and long-term portions) of: (i) finance
leases; (ii) borrowings under our credit facilities (excluding outstanding Letters of Credit); (iii) convertible unsecured
subordinated debentures; (iv) mortgage; (v) promissory notes; and (vi) financing obligations. We believe total debt is
a meaningful measure in understanding our complete debt obligations.

“Net debt” is defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents recorded on the balance sheets. Net debt is used
by us in assessing our debt repayment requirements after using available cash.

“Senior debt” is defined as total debt, excluding convertible debentures, deferred financing costs, mortgages related
to NACG Acheson Ltd. and debt related to investment in affiliates and joint ventures. Senior debt is used primarily
for our bank covenants contained in the Credit Facility agreement.

“Invested capital” is defined as total shareholders’ equity plus net debt.

“Cash provided by operating activities prior to change in working capital” is defined as cash used in or provided by
operating activities excluding net changes in non-cash working capital.

“Free cash flow” is defined as cash from operations less cash used in investing activities including finance lease
additions but excluding cash used for growth capital. We believe that free cash flow is a relevant measure of cash
available to service our total debt repayment commitments, pay dividends, fund share purchases and fund both
growth capital expenditures and potential strategic initiatives.

“Backlog” is a measure of the amount of secured work we have outstanding and, as such, is an indicator of a base
level of future revenue potential. We define backlog as work that has a high certainty of being performed as
evidenced by the existence of a signed contract or work order specifying expected job scope, value and timing.
Backlog, while not a GAAP term is similar in nature and definition to the “transaction price allocated to the remaining

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performance obligations”, defined under US GAAP and reported in “Note 6 – Revenue” in our financial statements.
When the two numbers differ, the variance relates to expected scope where we have a contractual commitment, but
the customer has not yet provided specific direction.

“Growth capital” is defined as new or used revenue-generating and customer facing assets which are not intended to
replace an existing asset and have been commissioned and are available for use. These expenditures result in a
meaningful increase to earnings and cash flow potential.

“Sustaining capital” is defined as expenditures, net of routine disposals, related to property, plant and equipment
which have been commissioned and are available for use operated to maintain and support existing earnings and
cash flow potential and do not include the characteristics of growth capital.

“Capital expenditures, net” is defined as growth capital and sustaining capital. We believe that capital expenditures,
net and its components are a meaningful measure to assess resource allocation.

“Capital additions” is defined as capital expenditures, net and lease additions.

“Capital inventory” is defined as rotatable parts included in property, plant and equipment held for use in the
overhaul of property, plant and equipment.

“Capital work in progress” is defined growth capital and sustaining capital prior to commissioning and not available
for use.

Non-GAAP ratios

“Margin” is defined as the financial number as a percent of total reported revenue. We will often identify a relevant
financial metric as a percentage of revenue and refer to this as a margin for that financial metric.

“Adjusted EBITDA Margin” is defined as adjusted EBITDA divided by total combined revenue.

We believe that presenting relevant financial metrics as a percentage of revenue is a meaningful measure of our
business as it provides the performance of the financial metric in the context of the performance of revenue.
Management reviews margins as part of its financial metrics to assess the relative performance of its results.

Supplementary Financial Measures

“Gross profit margin” represents gross profit as a percentage of revenue.

INTERNAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information we are
required to disclose is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified under
Canadian and US securities laws. They include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information is
accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

An evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of management, including the Chief
Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as
defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and in National Instrument
52-109 under the Canadian Securities Administrators Rules and Policies. Based on this evaluation, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of December 31, 2021 such disclosure controls and
procedures were effective.

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting

Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with US GAAP. Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer are
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”), as such term
is defined in Rule 13a -15(f) under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and in National Instrument

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52-109 under the Canadian Securities Administrators Rules and Policies. A material weakness in ICFR exists if a
deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, is such that there is reasonable possibility that a material misstatement
of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Because of its inherent limitations, ICFR may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections or any
evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

As of December 31, 2021, we applied the criteria set forth in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) to assess the effectiveness
of our ICFR. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, our internal
control over financial reporting is effective. In accordance with the published guidance of the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC), management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of DGI, which is included in our 2021 consolidated
financial statements and represented approximately 2% of total assets, 2% of revenues and 1% net income,
respectively for the year ended December 31, 2021. Our independent auditor, KPMG LLP, has issued an audit
report stating that we, maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by
COSO. KPMG LLP’s audit of internal controls over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of
the internal controls over financial reporting of DGI.

Material changes to internal controls over financial reporting

In early 2020, many of our corporate office staff and site administrative staff began working remotely from home due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. This change required certain processes and controls that were previously done or
documented manually to be completed and retained in electronic form. Despite the changes required by the current
environment, there have been no significant changes to our internal controls over financial reporting (“ICFR”) for the
period ended December 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect, our ICFR.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Our MD&A is intended to enable readers to gain an understanding of our current results and financial position. To do
so, we provide information and analysis comparing results of operations and financial position for the current period
to that of the preceding periods. We also provide certain forward-looking information, based on current plans and
expectations, for the purpose of assisting the holders of our securities and financial analysts in understanding our
financial position and results of operations as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, as well as our
financial performance objectives, vision and strategic goals. Such forward-looking information may not be
appropriate for other purposes. Our forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and other
factors that may cause future actions, conditions or events to differ materially from the anticipated actions, conditions
or events expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that actual events and
results may vary from the forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is information that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts and can be
identified by the use of the future tense or other forward-looking words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”,
“estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “possible”, “predict”, “project”, “will” or the negative of those terms or other variations of
them or comparable terminology.

Examples of such forward-looking information in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with
respect to the following, each of which is subject to significant risks and uncertainties and is based on a number of
assumptions which may prove to be incorrect:

our expectations that the seasonality of oil sands mine support revenues and non-oil sands mine support
revenues will continue respectively as they have in the past;

our belief that there is minimal risk in the collection of past due trade receivables;

our anticipation that we will have enough cash from operations to fund our annual expenses, planned
capital spending program and meet current and future working capital, debt servicing and dividend
payment requirements in 2022 from existing cash balances, cash provided by operating activities and
borrowings under our Credit Facility;

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statements regarding backlog, including our expectation that $481.6 million of our backlog will be
performed over 2022; and

all financial guidance provided in the “Outlook” section of this MD&A, including projections related to
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS, sustaining capital, free cash flow, deleveraging, growth capital and
acquisitions, share purchases, Senior Debt and Net Debt.

While we anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change, we do not have an
intention to update this forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. This forward-
looking information represents our views as of the date of this document and such information should not be relied
upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this document. We have attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those current
expectations or estimates expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. However, there may be other
factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as expected or estimated and that could cause
actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from current expectations.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those expected or estimated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect us. See “Assumptions” and
“Risk Factors” below and risk factors highlighted in materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities filed in the
United States and Canada from time to time, including, but not limited to, risk factors that appear in the “Forward-
Looking Information, Assumptions and Risk Factors” section of our most recent AIF, which section is expressly
incorporated by reference in this MD&A.

Assumptions

The material factors or assumptions used to develop the above forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to:

consistent or improved site access restrictions related to COVID-19 safety protocols;

oil prices remaining stable and not dropping significantly in 2022;

oil sands production continuing to be resilient to drops in oil prices due to our customer’s desire to lower
their operating cost per barrel;

continuing demand for heavy construction and earth-moving services, including in diversified resources
and geographies;

continuing demand for external heavy equipment maintenance services and our ability to hire and retain
sufficient qualified personnel and to have sufficient maintenance facility capacity to capitalize on that
demand;

our ability to maintain our expenses at current levels in proportion to our revenue;

(cid:129) work continuing to be required under our master services agreements with various customers and such

master services agreements remaining intact;

our customers’ continued willingness and ability to meet their contractual obligations to us;

our customers’ continued economic viability, including their ability to pay us in a timely fashion;

our customers and potential customers continuing to outsource activities for which we are capable of
providing services;

our ability to maintain the right size and mix of equipment in our fleet and to secure specific types of rental
equipment to support project development activity enables us to meet our customers’ variable service
requirements while balancing the need to maximize utilization of our own equipment and that our
equipment maintenance costs are similar to our historical experience;

our continued ability to access sufficient funds to meet our funding requirements;

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our success in executing our business strategy, identifying and capitalizing on opportunities, managing our
business, maintaining and growing our relationships with customers, retaining new customers, competing
in the bidding process to secure new projects and identifying and implementing improvements in our
maintenance and fleet management practices;

our relationships with the unions representing certain of our employees continuing to be positive; and

our success in improving profitability and continuing to strengthen our balance sheet through a focus on
performance, efficiency and risk management.

Risk factors

The following are the key risk factors that affect us and our business. These factors could materially and adversely
affect our operating results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking
statements.

Availability of Skilled Labour. The success of our business depends on our ability to attract and retain
skilled labour. Our industry is faced with a shortage of skilled labour in certain disciplines, particularly in
remote locations that require workers to live away from home for extended periods. The effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting measures taken by governments, customers and by the
Corporation have increased the difficulty in obtaining skilled labour. The resulting competition for labour
may limit our ability to take advantage of opportunities otherwise available or alternatively may impact the
profitability of such endeavors on a going forward basis. We believe that our union status, size and
industry reputation will help mitigate this risk but there can be no assurance that we will be successful in
identifying, recruiting or retaining a sufficient number of skilled workers.

Cashflow, Liquidity and Debt. As of December 31, 2021 we had $385.6 million of total debt outstanding.
While we have achieved a significant improvement in the flexibility to borrow against our borrowing
capacity and a reduction in the cost of our debt over the past three years, our current indebtedness may:

limit our ability to obtain additional financing to fund our working capital, capital expenditures, debt
service requirements, potential growth or other purposes;

limit our ability to use operating cash flow in other areas of our business as such funds are instead
used to service debt;

limit our ability to post surety bonds required by some of our customers;

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors with less debt;

increase our vulnerability to, and reduce our flexibility in planning for, adverse changes in economic,
industry and competitive conditions; and

increase our vulnerability to increases in interest rates because borrowings under our Credit Facility
and payments under our mortgage along with some of our equipment leases and promissory notes are
subject to variable interest rates.

Further, if we do not have sufficient cash flow to service our debt, we would need to refinance all or part of
our existing debt, sell assets, borrow more money or sell securities, none of which we can guarantee we
will be able to achieve on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

Unit-price Contracts. Approximately 41%, 47% and 53% of our revenue for the years ended
December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was derived from unit-price contracts and, to a lesser
degree, lump-sum contracts. Unit-price contracts require us to guarantee the price of the services we
provide and thereby potentially expose us to losses if our estimates of project costs are lower than the
actual project costs we incur and contractual relief from the increased costs is not available. The costs we
actually incur may be affected by a variety of factors including those that are beyond our control, such as:

site conditions differing from those assumed in the original bid;

the availability and cost of skilled workers;

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the availability and proximity of materials;

unfavorable weather conditions hindering productivity;

equipment availability and timing differences resulting from project construction not starting on time;
and

the general coordination of work inherent in all large projects we undertake.

Further, under these contracts any errors in quantity estimates or productivity losses for which contractual
relief is not available, must be absorbed within the price. When we are unable to accurately estimate and
adjust for the costs of unit-price contracts, or when we incur unrecoverable cost overruns, the related
projects may result in lower margins than anticipated or may incur losses, which could adversely affect our
results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.

Project Management. Our business requires effective project management. We are reliant on having
skilled managers to effectively complete our contracted work on time and on budget. Increased costs or
reduced revenues due to productivity issues caused by poor management are usually not recoverable and
will result in lower profits or potential project losses. Project managers also rely on our business
information systems to provide accurate and timely information in order to make decisions in relation to
projects. The failure of such systems to provide accurate and timely information may result in poor project
management decisions and ultimately in lower profits or potential project losses.

Customer Concentration. Most of our revenue comes from the provision of services to a small number of
customers. If we lose or experience a significant reduction of business or profit from one or more of our
significant customers, we may not be able to replace the lost work or income with work or income from
other customers. Certain of our long-term contracts can allow our customers to unilaterally reduce or
eliminate the work that we are to perform under the contract. Additionally, certain contracts allow the
customer to terminate the contract without cause with minimal or no notice to us. The loss of or significant
reduction in business with one or more of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our
business and results of operations. Our combined revenue from our four largest customers represented
approximately 86% and 95% of our total combined revenue for the years ended December 31, 2021 and
2020, respectively.

Large Projects and Joint Ventures. A portion of our revenue is derived from large projects, some of
which are conducted through joint ventures. These projects provide opportunities for significant revenue
and profit contributions but, by their nature, carry significant risk and, as such, can result in significant
losses. The risks associated with such large-scale projects are often proportionate to their size and
complexity, thereby placing a premium on risk assessment and project execution. The contract price on
large projects is based on cost estimates using several assumptions. Given the size of these projects, if
assumptions prove incorrect, whether due to faulty estimates, unanticipated circumstances, or a failure to
properly assess risk, profit may be materially lower than anticipated or, in a worst-case scenario, result in a
significant loss. The recording of the results of large project contracts can distort revenues and earnings on
both a quarterly and an annual basis and can, in some cases, make it difficult to compare the financial
results between reporting periods. Joint ventures are often formed to undertake a specific project, jointly
controlled by the partners, and are dissolved upon completion of the project. We select our joint venture
partners based on a variety of criteria including relevant expertise, past working relationships, as well as
analysis of prospective partners’ financial and construction capabilities. Joint venture agreements spread
risk between the partners and they generally state that companies will supply their proportionate share of
operating funds and share profits and losses in accordance with specified percentages. Nevertheless,
each participant in a joint venture is usually liable to the client for completion of the entire project in the
event of a default by any of its partners. Therefore, in the event that a joint venture partner fails to perform
its obligations due to financial or other difficulties or is disallowed from performing or is otherwise unable to
perform its obligations as a result of the client’s determination, whether pursuant to the relevant contract or
because of modifications to government or agency procurement policies or rules or for any other reason,
we may be required to make additional investments or provide additional services which may reduce or
eliminate profit, or even subject us to significant losses with respect to the joint venture. As a result of the

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complexity and size of such projects that we undertake or are likely to undertake going forward, the failure
of a joint venture partner on a large complex project could have a significant impact on our results.

Cyber Security and Information Technology Systems. We utilize information technology systems for
some of the management and operation of our business and are subject to information technology and
system risks, including hardware failure, cyber-attack, security breach and destruction or interruption of our
information technology systems by external or internal sources. Although we have policies, controls and
processes in place that are designed to mitigate these risks, an intentional or unintentional breach of our
security measures or loss of information could occur and could lead to a number of consequences,
including but not limited to: the unavailability, interruption or loss of key systems applications, unauthorized
disclosure of material and confidential information and a disruption to our business activities. Any such
access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under
laws that protect the privacy of personal information, regulatory penalties or other negative consequences.
We attempt to prevent breaches through the implementation of various technology-based security
measures, contracting consultants and expert third-parties, hiring qualified employees to manage our
systems, conducting periodic audits and reviewing and updating policies, controls and procedures when
appropriate. To date, we have not been subject to a material cyber security breach that has had a serious
impact on its business or operations; however, there is a possibility that the measures we take to protect
our information technology systems may not be effective in protecting against a significant specific breach
in the future.

Competition. We compete for work with other contractors of various sizes and capabilities. New contract
awards and contract margin are dependent on the level of competition and the general state of the
markets in which we operate. Fluctuations in demand may also impact the degree of competition for work.
Competitive position is based on a multitude of factors including pricing, ability to obtain adequate bonding,
backlog, financial strength, appetite for risk, reputation for safety, quality, timeliness and experience. If we
are unable to effectively respond to these competitive factors, results of operations and financial condition
will be adversely impacted.

Customer Outsourcing. Outsourced heavy construction and mining services constitute a large portion of
the work we perform for our customers. The election by one or more of our customers to perform some or
all of these services themselves, rather than outsourcing the work to us, could have a material adverse
impact on our business and results of operations. Certain customers perform some of this work internally
and may choose to expand on the use of internal resources to complete this work if they believe they can
perform this work in a more cost effective and efficient manner using their internal resources.

Equipment Utilization. Our business depends on our fleet being operable and in ready-to-work condition.
We often operate in conditions that inflict a high degree of wear on our equipment. If we are unable to
maintain our fleet so as to obtain our planned utilization rates, or if we are required to expend higher than
expected amounts on maintenance or to rent replacement equipment at high rates due to equipment
breakdowns, our operating revenues and profits will be adversely impacted. We endeavor to mitigate
these risks through our maintenance planning and asset management processes and procedures, though
there is no assurance that we can anticipate our future equipment utilization rates with certainty.

Labour Disputes. The majority of our hourly employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements to
which we are a party or are otherwise subject. Any work stoppage resulting from a strike or lockout could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In order to
minimize this risk, NACG has no strike and no lockout provision in our collective agreements. In addition,
our customers employ workers under collective bargaining agreements. Any work stoppage or labour
disruption experienced by our key customers could significantly reduce the amount of our services that
they need.

Backlog. There can be no assurance that the revenues projected in our backlog at any given time will be
realized or, if realized, that they will perform as expected with respect to margin. Project suspensions,
terminations or reductions in scope do occur from time to time due to considerations beyond our control
and may have a material impact on the amount of reported backlog with a corresponding impact on future
revenues and profitability.

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Foreign Exchange. We regularly transact in foreign currencies when purchasing equipment and spare
parts as well as certain general and administrative goods and services. As such, we are exposed to the
risk of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. These exposures are generally of a short-term nature and
the impact of changes in exchange rates has not been significant in the past. We may fix our exposure in
either the Canadian dollar or the US dollar for these short-term transactions, if material.

Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting. Ineffective internal controls over financial reporting could
result in an increased risk of material misstatements in our financial reporting and public disclosure record.
Inadequate controls could also result in system downtime, give rise to litigation or regulatory investigation,
fraud or the inability to continue our business as presently constituted. We have designed and
implemented a system of internal controls and a variety of policies and procedures to provide reasonable
assurance that material misstatements in the financial reporting and public disclosures are prevented and
detected on a timely basis and that other business risks are mitigated. See the section entitled “Internal
Systems and Processes” in our MD&A for further details.

Health and Safety. We are subject to, and comply with, all health and safety legislation applicable to our
operations. We have a comprehensive health and safety program designed to ensure our business is
conducted in a manner that protects both our workforce and the general public. Despite our past success,
there can be no guarantee that we will be able to maintain our high standards and level of health and
safety performance. An inability to maintain excellent safety performance could adversely affect our
business by customers reducing existing work in response and by hampering our ability to win future work.

Short-notice Reductions in Work. We allocate and mobilize our equipment and hire personnel based on
estimated equipment and service plans supplied by our customers. At the start of each new project, we
incur significant start-up costs related to the mobilization and maintenance configuration of our heavy
equipment along with personnel hiring, orientation, training and housing costs for staff ramp-ups and
redeployments. We expect to recover these start-up costs over the planned volumes of the projects we are
awarded. Significant reductions in our customer’s required equipment and service needs, with short notice,
could result in our inability to redeploy our equipment and personnel in a cost effective manner. In the past,
such short-notice reductions have occurred due to changes in customer production schedules or mine
planning or due to unplanned shutdowns of our customers’ processing facilities due to events outside our
control or the control of our customers, such as fires, mechanical breakdowns and technology failures. Our
ability to maintain revenues and margins may be adversely affected to the extent these events cause
reductions in the utilization of equipment and we can no longer recover our full start-up costs over the
reduced volume plan of our customers.

Resolution of Claims. Changes to the nature or quantity of the work to be completed under our contracts
are often requested by clients or become necessary due to conditions and circumstances encountered
while performing work. Formal written agreement to such changes, or in pricing of the same, is sometimes
not finalized until the changes have been started or completed. As such, disputes regarding the
compensation for changes could impact our profitability on a particular project, our ability to recover costs
or, in a worst-case scenario, result in project losses. If we are not able to resolve claims and undertake
legal action in respect of these claims, there is no guarantee that a court will rule in our favour. There is
also the possibility that we could choose to accept less than the full amount of a claim as a settlement to
avoid legal action. In either such case, a resolution or settlement of the claims in an amount less than the
amount recognized as claims revenue could lead to a future write-down of revenue and profit. Included in
our revenues is a total of $nil relating to disputed claims or unapproved change orders.

Heavy Equipment Demand. As our work mix changes over time we adjust our fleet to match anticipated
future requirements. This involves both purchasing and disposing of heavy equipment. If the global
demand for mining, construction and earthworks services is reduced, we expect that the global demand for
the type of heavy equipment used to perform those services would also be reduced. While we may be able
to take advantage of reduced demand to purchase certain equipment at lower prices, we would be
adversely impacted to the extent we seek to sell excess equipment. If we are unable to recover our cost
base on a sale of excess heavy equipment, we would be required to record an impairment charge which
would reduce net income. If it is determined that market conditions have impaired the valuation of our
heavy equipment fleet, we also may be required to record an impairment charge against net income.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

41

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
Price Escalators. Our ability to maintain planned project margins on longer-term contracts with contracted
price escalators is dependent on the contracted price escalators accurately reflecting increases in our
costs. If the contracted price escalators do not reflect actual increases in our costs, we will experience
reduced project margins over the remaining life of these longer-term contracts. In strong economic times,
the cost of labour, equipment, materials and sub-contractors is driven by the market demand for these
project inputs. The level of increased demand for project inputs may not have been foreseen at the
inception of the longer-term contracts with fixed or indexed price escalators resulting in reduced margins
over the remaining life of the longer-term contracts.

Shifting Customer Priorities Related to Climate Change. Climate change continues to attract
considerable public and regulatory attention, with greenhouse gas emission regulations becoming more
commonplace and stringent. The transition to a lower-carbon economy has the potential to be disruptive to
traditional business models and investment strategies. Government action intended to address climate
change may involve both economic instruments such as carbon taxation as well as restrictions on certain
sectors such as cap-and-trade schemes. Certain jurisdictions in which we operate impose carbon taxes on
significant emitters and there is a possibility of similar taxation in other jurisdictions in the future. Other
government restrictions on certain market sectors could also adversely impact current or potential clients
resulting in a reduction of available work. Our clients may also alter their long-term plans due to
government regulation, changes in policies of investors or lenders or simply due to changes in public
perception of their business. This risk can be mitigated to an extent by identifying changing market
demands to offset lower demand for some services with opportunities in others, forming strategic
partnerships and pursuing sustainable innovations.

Climate Change Related Financial Risks. As new climate change measures are introduced or
strengthened our cost of business may increase as we incur expenses related to complying with
environmental regulations and policies. We may be required to purchase new equipment to reduce
emissions in order to comply with new regulatory standards or to mitigate the financial impact of carbon
taxation. We may also incur costs related to monitoring regulatory trends and implementing adequate
compliance processes. Our inability to comply with climate change laws and regulations could result in
penalties or reputational damage that may impair our prospects.

Climate Change Related Reputational Risks. Investors and other stakeholders worldwide are becoming
more attuned to climate change action and sustainability matters, including the efforts made by issuers to
reduce their carbon footprint. Our reputation may be harmed if it is not perceived by our stakeholders to be
sincere in our sustainability commitment and our long-term results may be impacted as a result. In
addition, our approach to climate change issues may increasingly influence stakeholders’ views of the
company in relation to its peers and their investment decisions.

Impact of Extreme Weather Conditions and Natural Disasters. Extreme weather conditions or natural
disasters, such as fires, floods and similar events, may cause delays in the progress of our work, which to
the extent that such risk is not mitigated through contractual terms, may result in loss of revenues while
certain costs continue to be incurred. Such delays may also lead to incurring additional non-compensable
costs, including overtime work, that are necessary to meet customer schedules. Delays in the
commencement of a project due to extreme weather or natural disaster may also result in customers
choosing to defer or even cancel planned projects entirely. Such events may also impact the availability
and cost of equipment, parts, labour or other inputs to our business that could have a material adverse
effect on our financial position. If the frequency or severity of such events rises in the future as a result of
climate change, our risk and potential impacts will also rise.

(cid:129) Management. Our continued growth and future success depends on our ability to identify, recruit,

assimilate and retain key management, technical, project and business development personnel. There can
be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying, recruiting or retaining such personnel.

Risk Factors Related to COVID-19. While markets and economies have somewhat stabilized as
governments and industry have implemented measures to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, the
situation continues to evolve. Should the pandemic worsen, we could be subject to additional or continued
adverse impacts, including, but not limited to restrictions or limitations on the ability of our employees,

42

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
contractors, suppliers and customers to conduct business due to quarantines, closures or travel restrictions,
including the potential for deferral or cessation of ongoing or planned projects. The ultimate duration and
magnitude of the pandemic and its financial effect on us is not known at this time. We are continuously
monitoring the situation, however, and working with our customers and suppliers to mitigate its effects.

As required by US GAAP, we review our long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and
identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We detected impairment indicators at March 31,
2020, as a result of the recent uncertainty in the economic environment, relating to the suppression of
commodity prices combined with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We completed an impairment test
comparing the net carrying value of our long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted net cash flows to
be generated from use of those assets and concluded that they are recoverable and, as such, no
impairment was recorded. At December 31, 2021, there were no indicators, as there had been no material
declines in the operating environment or expected financial results as compared to March 31, 2020.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Corporate head office is located at 27287 – 100 Avenue, Acheson, Alberta, T7X 6H8.

Telephone and facsimile are 780-960-7171 and 780-969-5599, respectively.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

43

Management’s Report

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and all of the information in Management’s Discussion and
Analysis (“MD&A”) are the responsibility of management of the Company. The consolidated financial statements
were prepared by management in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Where alternative
accounting methods exist, management has chosen those it considers most appropriate in the circumstances. The
significant accounting policies used are described in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. Certain
amounts in the consolidated financial statements are based on estimates and judgments relating to matters not
concluded by year end. The integrity of the information presented in the consolidated financial statements is the
responsibility of management.

The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibilities and for approval of the
consolidated financial statements. The board carries out this responsibility through its Audit Committee. The Board
has appointed an Audit Committee comprising all independent directors. The Audit Committee meets at least four
times each year to discharge its responsibilities under a written mandate from the Board of Directors. The Audit
Committee meets with management and with external auditors to satisfy itself that they are properly discharging their
responsibilities; reviews the consolidated financial statements, MD&A, and the Independent Auditors’ Report of
Registered Public Accounting Firm on the financial statements; and examines other auditing and accounting matters.
The Audit Committee has reviewed the consolidated financial statements with management and discussed the
appropriateness of the accounting principles as applied and significant judgments and estimates affecting the
consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee has discussed with the external auditors, the
appropriateness of those principles as applied and the judgments and estimates noted above. The consolidated
financial statements and the MD&A have been reviewed by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board of
Directors of North American Construction Group Ltd.

The consolidated financial statements have been examined by the shareholders’ auditors, KPMG LLP, Chartered
Professional Accountants. The Independent Auditors’ Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm on the financial
statements outlines the nature of their examination and their opinion on the consolidated financial statements of the
Company. The external auditors have full and unrestricted access to the Audit Committee.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial
reporting. The 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 U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Management conducted an evaluation
of the effectiveness of the system of internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth in Internal
Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s system of internal
control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021. The details of this evaluation and conclusion
are documented in the MD&A. In accordance with the published guidance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), our management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting did not include the internal controls of DGI, which is included in the 2021 consolidated financial
statements and represented approximately 2% of total assets, 2% of revenues and 1% net income, respectively for
the year ended December 31, 2021.

KPMG LLP, which has audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December
31, 2021, has also issued a report stating its opinion that the Company has maintained effective internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by the COSO. KPMG LLP’s audit of internal controls over financial reporting of the
Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal controls over financial reporting of DGI.

Joseph Lambert
President & Chief Executive Officer
February 16, 2022

Jason Veenstra
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
February 16, 2022

44

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

KPMG LLP

2200, 10175 - 101 Street

Edmonton AB T5J 0H3

Telephone (780) 429-7300

Fax (780) 429-7379

www.kpmg.ca

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of North American Construction Group Ltd.:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited North American Construction Group Ltd. and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, 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 Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2021, 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 balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the
related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and
cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the “consolidated financial statements”), and
our report dated February 16, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

The Company acquired DGI (Aust) Trading Pty Ltd. (“DGI”) during 2021, and management excluded from its
assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021,
DGI’s internal control over financial reporting representing approximately 2% of total assets, 2% of revenues and 1%
net income, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2021. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting
of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of DGI.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’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 on Internal Control over Financial Reporting in the accompanying Management’s Discussion
and Analysis. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’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 Company 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

KPMG LLP is a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated
with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

45

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

Chartered Professional Accountants

Edmonton, Canada
February 16, 2022

KPMG LLP is a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated
with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP

46

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

KPMG LLP

2200, 10175 - 101 Street

Edmonton AB T5J 0H3

Telephone (780) 429-7300

Fax (780) 429-7379

www.kpmg.ca

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of North American Construction Group Ltd.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of North American Construction Group Ltd. and
subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations
and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ 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 Company as of December 31, 2021
and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, 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 February 16, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on the
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’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 Company 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 Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated
financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that:
(1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our
especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. 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 matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the
accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

KPMG LLP is a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated
with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

47

Estimation of total costs to be incurred for unit-price long-term contract revenue

As discussed in note 2(c) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognizes revenues under four
principal types of contracts: lump-sum, unit-price, time-and-materials, and cost-plus. For the year ended
December 31, 2021, total contract revenues recognized by the Company were $654.1 million, including $82.4 million
recognized under unit-price contracts with defined scope that were in-progress at year-end. Under its unit-price
contracts with defined scope, the Company recognizes revenue over time based on the ratio of actual costs incurred
to date divided by the Company’s estimated total costs (ETC).

We identified the evaluation of ETC for in-progress unit-price contracts with defined scope as a critical audit matter.
The evaluation of the ETC for in-progress unit-price contracts with defined scope involved complex auditor
judgement, given these estimates are dependent upon a number of factors, including the accuracy of the estimates
made at the period-end date, primarily consisting of labor hours, equipment usage, and material costs and quantities
to be incurred over the remaining contract periods.

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 within the Company’s revenue recognition process.
This included controls related to the review of the ETC for unit-price contracts with defined scope that were
in-progress at year-end. For a selection of these contracts, we evaluated the reasonableness of the Company’s
determination of ETC for the contract, including tracing a selection of costs in the ETC (material costs and quantities,
labor hours, and equipment usage) to recent forecasts developed by project managers and comparing actual costs
incurred subsequent to year-end for consistency with corresponding amounts included in the ETC at year-end. We
inspected the executed contract with the customer to evaluate the Company’s identification of the performance
obligation and the determined method for measuring contract progress. We conducted interviews with relevant
project personnel to gain an understanding of the status of project activities and factors impacting the ETC of the
selected contract, such as costs associated with scope changes; changes in productivity expectations; extended
overhead due to owner, weather, and other delays; differences in site conditions from the original bid; the availability
and skill level of workers in the geographic location of the project; and changes in the availability and proximity of
equipment and materials. We evaluated the Company’s ability to estimate these amounts by comparing actual
project margins to previous estimates.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1998.

Chartered Professional Accountants

Edmonton, Canada

February 16, 2022

KPMG LLP is a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated
with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP

48

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at December 31
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars)

Note

2021

Assets
Current assets

Cash
Accounts receivable
Contract assets
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and deposits
Assets held for sale
Derivative financial instruments

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation $339,505 (2020 – $302,161)
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Investments in affiliates and joint ventures
Other assets
Goodwill and intangible assets
Deferred tax assets

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities

Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Contract liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt
Current portion of finance lease obligations
Current portion of operating lease liabilities

Long-term debt
Finance lease obligations
Operating lease liabilities
Other long-term obligations
Deferred tax liabilities

Shareholders’ equity
Common shares (authorized – unlimited number of voting common shares; issued and
outstanding – December 31, 2021 – 30,022,928 (December 31, 2020 – 31,011,831))
Treasury shares (December 31, 2021 – 1,564,813 (December 31, 2020 – 1,845,201))
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings (deficit)
Accumulated other comprehensive income

Shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Contingencies

Approved on behalf of the Board

/s/ Joseph Lambert

Joseph Lambert, President and Chief
Executive Officer

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2020
Note 22

43,447
36,231
7,008
19,151
4,977
4,129
4,334

119,277
632,210
18,192
46,263
6,336
378
16,407

$

$

16,601
68,787
9,759
44,544
6,828
660
—

147,179
640,950
14,768
55,974
6,000
4,407
—

$

869,278

$

839,063

$

$

76,251
33,389
3,349
19,693
25,035
3,317

161,034
306,034
29,686
11,461
26,400
56,200

590,815

246,944
(17,802)
37,456
11,863
2

278,463

41,428
19,382
1,512
16,263
26,895
4,004

109,484
341,396
42,577
14,118
18,850
64,195

590,620

255,064
(18,002)
46,536
(35,155)
—

248,443

$

869,278

$

839,063

5,11
6(b)
7

8(b)

9
10
11

12
13

14
6(b)
8
10
10

8
10
10
15
13

17(a)
17(a)

21

/s/ Bryan D. Pinney

Bryan D. Pinney, Lead Director

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

49

Consolidated Statements of Operations and
Comprehensive Income

For the years ended December 31
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, except per share amounts)

Revenue
Project costs
Equipment costs
Depreciation

Gross profit
General and administrative expenses
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Operating income
Interest expense, net
Equity earnings in affiliates and joint ventures
Net realized and unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments

Income before income taxes
Current income tax expense
Deferred income tax expense

Net income
Other comprehensive income
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain

Comprehensive income

Per share information

Basic net income per share
Diluted net income per share

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Note

2021

6 $

2(b)
2(b)

2(b),6(d),12,19

18
11
8(b)

13
13

654,143
223,537
232,173
108,016

90,417
35,374
(85)

55,128
19,032
(21,860)
(2,737)

60,693
1,000
8,285

51,408

(2)

$

51,410

17(b) $
17(b) $

1.81
1.64

2020
Note 22

498,468
140,341
177,127
88,782

92,218
24,437
659

67,122
18,656
(7,740)
(4,266)

60,472
—
11,264

49,208

—

49,208

1.75
1.60

$

$

$
$

50

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’
Equity

(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars)

Common
shares

Treasury
shares

Additional
paid-in
capital

Retained
earnings
(deficit)

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income

Balance at December 31, 2019
Net income
Dividends ($0.16 per share)
Exercise of stock options
Conversion of convertible debentures
Share purchase program
Purchase of treasury shares
Stock-based compensation

$

225,966 $

—
—
895
38,066
(9,863)
—
—

(15,911) $
—
—
—
—
—
(9,893)
7,802

49,919 $
—
—
(358)
—
755
—
(3,780)

(79,855) $
49,208
(4,508)
—
—
—
—
—

Balance at December 31, 2020

$

255,064 $

(18,002) $

46,536 $

(35,155) $

Net income
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain
Dividends ($0.16 per share)
Exercise of stock options
Share purchase programs
Purchase of treasury shares
Stock-based compensation

—
—
—
859
(8,979)
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
(5,500)
5,700

—
—
—
(340)
(7,540)
—
(1,200)

51,408
—
(4,390)
—
—
—
—

— $
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

— $

—
2
—
—
—
—
—

Total

180,119
49,208
(4,508)
537
38,066
(9,108)
(9,893)
4,022

248,443

51,408
2
(4,390)
519
(16,519)
(5,500)
4,500

Balance at December 31, 2021

$

246,944 $

(17,802) $

37,456 $

11,863 $

2 $

278,463

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

51

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars)

Cash provided by
Operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash from operating activities:

Depreciation
Amortization of deferred financing costs
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Net realized and unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments
Stock-based compensation expense
Cash settlement of directors’ deferred share unit plan
Equity earnings in affiliates and joint ventures
Dividends and advances received from affiliates and joint ventures
Other adjustments to cash from operating activities
Deferred income tax expense
Net changes in non-cash working capital

Investing activities:

Acquisition of DGI (Aust) Trading Pty Limited, net of cash acquired
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Additions to intangible assets
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Investment in affiliates and joint ventures
Net repayments of loans to affiliates and joint ventures
Settlement of derivative financial instruments

Financing activities:

Proceeds from long-term debt
Repayment of long-term debt
Financing costs
Repayment of finance lease obligations
Dividend payments
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Share purchase program
Purchase of treasury shares

(Decrease) increase in cash
Effect of exchange rate on changes in cash and cash equivalents
Cash, beginning of year

Cash, end of year

Supplemental cash flow information (note 20(a)).

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Note

2021

2020
Note 22

$

51,408

$

49,208

18

19
19(c)
11
11

13
20(b)

12

11

8
8

17(c)

17(a)

108,016
1,064
(85)
(2,737)
11,606
(2,300)
(21,860)
11,270
(158)
8,285
671
165,180

(11,395)
(112,563)
(1,228)
17,141
(1,959)
3,664
7,071

(99,269)

135,049
(164,369)
(3,567)
(33,949)
(4,423)
519
(16,519)
(5,500)

(92,759)

(26,848)
2
43,447

$

16,601

$

88,782
1,091
659
(4,266)
1,944
(103)
(7,740)
8,621
483
11,264
(3,393)
146,550

—
(117,069)
(272)
2,784
(1,810)
3,540
—

(112,827)

145,227
(82,262)
(965)
(34,649)
(4,371)
537
(9,108)
(9,893)

4,516

38,239
—
5,208

43,447

52

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, except per share amounts or unless otherwise specified)

1. Nature of operations

North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG” or the “Company”), was formed under the Canada Business
Corporations Act. The Company and its predecessors have been operating continuously since 1953 primarily in
western Canada but also in other parts of Canada, the United States and Australia, providing a wide range of mining
and heavy construction services to customers in the resource development and industrial construction sectors.

2. Significant accounting policies

a) Basis of presentation

These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles (“US GAAP”). These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly-owned incorporated subsidiaries in Canada, the United States and Australia. All significant
intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation. The Company also holds ownership
interests in other corporations, partnerships and joint ventures.

The Company consolidates variable interest entities (“VIE”) for which it is considered to be the primary beneficiary as
well as voting interest entities in which it has a controlling financial interest as defined by Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation, and related
standards. Investees and joint ventures over which the Company exercises significant influence are accounted for
using the equity method and are included in “investments in affiliates and joint ventures” within the accompanying
Consolidated balance sheets.

i) Change in significant accounting policy – Basis of presentation

Prior to July 1, 2021, the Company elected to apply the provision available to entities operating within the
construction industry to apply proportionate consolidation to unincorporated entities that would otherwise be
accounted for using the equity method. The Company elected to change this policy to account for these
unincorporated entities using the equity method, resulting in a change to the consolidation method for Dene North
Site Services (“DNSS”) and Mikisew North American Limited Partnership (“MNALP”). This change allows for
consistency in the presentation of the Company’s investments in affiliates and joint ventures (note 11).

The Company has accounted for the change retrospectively according to the requirements of US GAAP Accounting
Standards Codification (“ASC”) 250 by restating the comparative periods. The effect of the change in accounting
policy for the current and comparable periods is summarized in note 22.

b) Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures reported in these consolidated
financial statements and accompanying notes and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Significant estimates and judgments
made by management include:

the assessment of the percentage of completion on time-and-materials, unit-price, lump-sum and cost-plus
contracts with defined scope (including estimated total costs and provisions for estimated losses) and the
recognition of claims and change orders on revenue contracts;

the determination of whether an acquisition meets the definition of a business combination;

the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of an acquisition;

the evaluation of whether the Company is a primary beneficiary of an entity or has a controlling interest in an
investee and is required to consolidate it;

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

53

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
assumptions used in impairment testing; and

estimates and assumptions used in the determination of the allowance for credit losses, the recoverability of
deferred tax assets and the useful lives of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

The accuracy of the Company’s revenue and profit recognition in a given period is dependent on the accuracy of the
estimates of the cost to complete each project. Cost estimates for all significant projects use a detailed “bottom up”
approach and the Company believes its experience allows it to provide reasonably dependable estimates. There are
a number of factors that can contribute to changes in estimates of contract costs and profitability that are recognized
in the period in which such adjustments are determined. The most significant of these include:

the completeness and accuracy of the original bid;

costs associated with added scope changes;

extended overhead due to owner, weather and other delays;

subcontractor performance issues;

changes in economic indices used for the determination of escalation or de-escalation for contractual rates on
long-term contracts;

changes in productivity expectations;

site conditions that differ from those assumed in the original bid;

contract incentive and penalty provisions;

the availability and skill level of workers in the geographic location of the project; and

a change in the availability and proximity of equipment and materials.

The foregoing factors as well as the mix of contracts at different margins may cause fluctuations in gross profit
between periods. With many projects of varying levels of complexity and size in process at any given time, changes
in estimates can offset each other without materially impacting the Company’s profitability. Major changes in cost
estimates, particularly in larger, more complex projects, can have a significant effect on profitability.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Governments
worldwide, including Canada, enacted emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus, including the
implementation of travel bans, quarantine periods and social distancing. These factors created material disruptions
to businesses globally, resulting in an economic slowdown.

The situation continues to evolve while markets and economies have somewhat stabilized, with governments and
industry implementing measures to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. As populations in Canada and many other
countries are being vaccinated, governments have loosened emergency measures. Should the pandemic worsen,
the Company could be subject to additional or continued adverse impacts including, but not limited to, restrictions or
limitations on the ability of employees, contractors, suppliers and customers to conduct business due to quarantines,
closures or travel restrictions, including the potential for deferral or cessation of ongoing or planned projects.

The ultimate duration and magnitude of these impacts on the economy and the financial effect on the Company is
not known. Estimates and judgments made by management in the preparation of these financial statements are
difficult and subject to a higher degree of measurement uncertainty during this period. Management continues to
monitor the situation and has taken steps to mitigate the likelihood of occurrence of the events described above.

In response to the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19, the Government of Canada introduced the Canada
Emergency Wage Subsidy, an employer assistance program. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company
recognized $13,244 of salary and wage subsidies presented as reductions of project costs, equipment costs and
general and administrative expenses of $8,309, $4,180 and $755 respectively. For the year ended December 31,
2020, the Company recognized $28,041 of salary and wage subsidies presented as reduction of project costs,
equipment costs and general and administrative expenses of $16,050, $9,107, and $2,884, respectively.

54

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
c) Revenue recognition

The Company’s revenue source falls into one of three categories: construction services, operations support, or
equipment and component sales.

Construction services are related to mine development or expansion projects and are generally funded from
customers’ capital budgets. The Company provides construction services under lump-sum, unit-price, time-and
materials and cost-plus contracts. When the commercial terms are lump-sum and unit-price, the contract scope and
value is typically defined. Time-and-materials and cost-plus contracts are generally undefined in scope and total
price. Operations support services revenue is mainly generated under long-term site-services agreements with the
customers (master service agreement and multiple use contracts). These agreements clearly define whether
commitment to volume or scope of services over the life of the contract is included or excluded. When excluded,
work under the agreement is awarded through shorter-term work authorizations under the general terms of the
agreement. The Company generally provides operations support services under either time-and-materials or unit-
price contracts depending on factors such as the degree of complexity, the completeness of engineering and the
required schedule. Equipment and component sales revenue is generated from our equipment maintenance and
rebuild activities, along with our mining component supplier business. The commercial terms for equipment and
component sales are generally lump-sum, unit-price, or time-and-materials.

Significant estimates are required in the revenue recognition process including assessment of the percentage of
completion, identification of performance obligations, and estimation of variable consideration, including the extent of
any constraints.

The Company’s invoicing frequency and payment terms are in accordance with negotiated customer contracts.
Customer invoicing can range between daily and monthly and payment terms generally range between net 15 and
net 60 days. The Company does not typically include extended payment terms in its contracts with customers. Under
these payment terms, the customer pays progress payments based on actual work or milestones completed. When
payment terms do not align with revenue recognition, the variance is recorded to either contract liabilities or contract
assets, as appropriate. Customer contracts do not generally include a significant financing component because the
Company does not expect the period between customer payment and transfer of control to exceed one year. The
Company does not adjust consideration for the effects of a significant financing component if the period of time
between the transfer of control and the customer payment is less than one year.

The Company accounts for a contract when it has approval and commitments from both parties, the rights of the
parties are identified, the payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and the collectability
of consideration is probable. Each contract is evaluated to determine if it includes more than one performance
obligation. This evaluation requires significant judgement and the determination that the contract contains more than
one performance obligation could change the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period. The majority
of the Company’s contracts with defined scope include one significant integrated service, where the Company is
responsible for ensuring the individual goods and services are incorporated into one combined output. Such
contracts are accounted for as one performance obligation. When more than one distinct good or service is
contracted, the contract is separated into more than one performance obligation and the total transaction price is
allocated to each performance obligation based upon stand-alone selling prices. When a stand-alone selling price is
not observable, it is estimated using a suitable method.

The total transaction price can be comprised of fixed consideration and variable consideration, such as profit
incentives, discounts and performance bonuses or penalties. When a contract includes variable consideration, the
amount included in the total transaction price is based on the expected value or the mostly likely amount,
constrained to an amount that it is probable a significant reversal will not occur. Significant judgement is involved in
determining if a variable consideration amount should be constrained. In applying this constraint, the Company
considers both the likelihood of a revenue reversal arising from an uncertain future event and the magnitude of the
revenue reversal if the uncertain event were to occur or fail to occur. The following circumstances are considered to
be possible indicators of significant revenue reversals:

the amount of consideration is highly susceptible to factors outside the Company’s influence, such as judgement
of actions of third parties and weather conditions;

the length of time between the recognition of revenue and the expected resolution;

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

55

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
the Company’s experience with similar circumstances and similar customers, specifically when such items have
predictive value;

the Company’s history of resolution and whether that resolution includes price concessions or changing payment
terms; and

the range of possible consideration amounts.

The Company’s performance obligations for construction services and operations support are typically satisfied by
transferring control over time, for which revenue is recognized using the percentage of completion method,
measured by the ratio of costs incurred to date to estimated total costs. For defined scope contracts, the cost-to-cost
method faithfully depicts the Company’s performance because the transfer of the asset to the customer occurs as
costs are incurred. The costs of items that do not relate to the performance obligation, particularly in the early stages
of the contract, are excluded from costs incurred to date. Pre-construction activities, such as mobilization and site
setup, are recognized as contract costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and amortized over the life of the
project. These costs are excluded from the cost-to- cost calculation. Equipment and component sales are typically
satisfied at a point in time, and revenue is recognized when control of the completed asset has been transferred to
the customer, along with the cost of goods sold (project costs).

The Company has elected to apply the ‘as-invoiced’ practical expedient to recognize revenue in the amount to which
the Company has a right to invoice for all contracts in which the value of the performance completed to date directly
corresponds with the right to consideration. This will be applied to all contracts, where applicable, and the majority of
undefined scope work is expected to use this practical expedient.

The length of the Company’s contracts varies from less than one year for typical contracts to several years for
certain larger contracts. Project costs include all direct labour, material, subcontract and equipment costs and those
indirect costs related to contract performance such as indirect labour and supplies. General and administrative
expenses are charged to expenses as incurred. If a loss is estimated on an uncompleted contract, a provision is
made in the period in which such losses are determined.

Changes in project performance, project conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from profit
incentives, penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and revenue that are
recognized in the period in which such adjustments are determined. Once a project is underway, the Company will
often experience changes in conditions, client requirements, specifications, designs, materials and work schedules.
Generally, a “change order” will be negotiated with the customer to modify the original contract to approve both the
scope and price of the change. Occasionally, disagreements arise regarding changes, their nature, measurement,
timing and other characteristics that impact costs and revenue under the contract. When a change becomes a point
of dispute between the Company and a customer, the Company will assess the legal enforceability of the change to
determine if a contract modification exists. The Company considers a contract modification to exist when the
modification either creates new or changes the existing enforceable rights and obligations.

Most contract modifications are for goods and services that are not distinct from the existing contract due to the
integrated services provided in the context of the contract and are accounted for as part of the existing contract.
Therefore, the effect of a contract modification on the transaction price and the Company’s measure of progress for
the performance obligation to which it relates is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up
basis. If a contract modification is approved in scope and not price, the associated revenue is treated as variable
consideration, subject to constraint. This can lead to a situation where costs are recognized in one period and
revenue is recognized when customer agreement is obtained or claim resolution occurs, which can be in subsequent
periods.

In certain instances, the Company’s long-term contracts allow its customers to unilaterally reduce or eliminate scope
of work without cause. These instances represent higher risk due to uncertainty of total contract value and estimated
costs to complete; therefore, potentially impacting revenue recognition in future periods.

Revenue is measured based on consideration specified in the customer contract, and excludes any amounts
collected on behalf of third parties. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and
concurrent with a specified revenue producing transaction, that are collected by the Company for a customer, are
excluded from revenue.

56

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
d) Balance sheet classifications

A one-year time period is typically used as the basis for classifying current assets and liabilities. However, there is a
possibility that amounts receivable and payable under construction contracts (principally holdbacks) may extend
beyond one year.

e) Cash

Cash includes cash on hand and bank balances net of outstanding cheques.

f) Accounts receivable and contract assets

Accounts receivable are recorded when the Company has an unconditional right to consideration arising from
performance of contracts with customers. Accounts receivable may be comprised of amounts billed to customers
and amounts that have been earned but have not yet been billed. Such unbilled but earned amounts generally arise
when a billing period ends subsequent to the end of the reporting period. When this occurs, revenue equal to the
earned and unbilled amount is accrued. Such accruals are classified as accounts receivable on the balance sheet,
even though they are not yet billed, as they represent consideration for work that has been completed prior to the
period end where the Company has an unconditional right to consideration.

Contract assets include unbilled amounts representing revenue recognized from work performed where the
Company does not yet have an unconditional right to compensation. These balances generally relate to (i) revenue
accruals on contracts where the percentage of completion method of revenue recognition requires an accrual over
what has been billed and (ii) revenue recognized from variable consideration related to unpriced contract
modifications.

The Company records allowance for credit losses using the expected credit loss model upon the initial recognition of
financial assets. The estimate of expected credit loss considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for
current economic and credit conditions. Bad debt expense is charged to project costs in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income in the period the allowance is recognized. The counterparties
to the majority of the Company’s financial assets are major oil producers with a long history of no credit losses.

g) Contract costs

The Company occasionally incurs costs to obtain contracts (reimbursable bid costs) and to fulfill contracts (fulfillment
costs). If these costs meet certain criteria, they are capitalized as contract costs, included within other assets on the
Consolidated Balance Sheets. Capitalized costs are amortized based on the transfer of goods or services to which
the assets relate and are included in project costs. Reimbursable bid costs meet the criteria for capitalization when
these costs will be reimbursed by the owner regardless of the outcome of the bid. Generally, this occurs when the
Company has been selected as the preferred bidder for a project. The Company recognizes reimbursable bid costs
an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the entity would have otherwise recognized is
one year or less. Costs to fulfill a contract meet the criteria for capitalization if they relate directly to a specifically
identifiable contract, they generate or enhance resources that will be used to satisfy future performance obligations
and if the costs are expected to be recovered. The costs that meet this criterion are often mobilization and site
set-up costs. Contract costs are recorded within other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

h) Remaining performance obligations

Remaining performance obligation represents the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are
unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) as of the end of the reporting period. Certain of the Company’s long-term
contracts can allow customers to unilaterally reduce or eliminate the scope of the contracted work without cause.
These long-term contracts represent higher risk due to uncertainty of total contract value and estimated costs to
complete; therefore, potentially impacting revenue recognition in future periods. Excluded from this disclosure are
amounts where the Company recognizes revenue as-invoiced (note 6(c)). Remaining performance obligations are
recorded within contract assets and contract liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

i) Contract liabilities

Contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of costs incurred and estimated earnings on
uncompleted contracts.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

57

j) Inventories

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost and net realizable value, and consist primarily of repair parts, parts and
components held for resale, tires and track frames, fuel and lubricants, and customer rebuild work in progress. Cost
is determined using the weighted-average method.

k) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Equipment under finance lease is recorded at the present value
of minimum lease payments at the inception of the lease.

Major components of heavy construction equipment in use such as engines and drive trains are recorded separately.
The capitalized interest is amortized at the same rate as the respective asset. Depreciation is not recorded until an
asset is available for use. Depreciation is calculated based on the cost, net of the estimated residual value, over the
estimated useful life of the assets on the following bases and rates:

Assets

Heavy equipment

Basis

Rate

Units of production 3,000 – 120,000 hours

Major component parts in use

Units of production 2,500 – 70,000 hours

Other equipment

Licensed motor vehicles

Office and computer equipment

Furnishings, fixtures and facilities

Buildings

Leasehold improvements

Land

Straight-line

Straight-line

Straight-line

Straight-line

Straight-line

Straight-line

5 – 10 years

5 – 10 years

4 – 10 years

10 – 30 years

10 – 50 years

Over shorter of estimated useful life and lease term

No depreciation

No depreciation

The costs for periodic repairs and maintenance are expensed to the extent the expenditures serve only to restore
the assets to their normal operating condition without enhancing their service potential or extending their useful lives.

l) Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of consideration over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible
assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is reviewed annually on October 1st for
impairment or more frequently when there is an indication of potential impairment. Impairment is tested at the
reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount to its fair value. The process of determining fair
values is subjective and requires management to exercise judgment in making assumptions about future results,
including revenue and cash flow projections and discount rates. The annual test was performed on the acquired
goodwill with no impairment identified.

m) Intangible assets

Acquired intangible assets with finite lives are recorded at historical cost net of accumulated amortization and
accumulated impairment losses, if any. The cost of intangible assets acquired in an asset acquisition are recorded at
cost based upon relative fair value as at the acquisition date. Costs incurred to increase the future benefit of
intangible assets are capitalized. Intangible assets are recorded with goodwill on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and assessed for impairment
whenever there is an indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortization period and method for
an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed at the end of each reporting period.

Estimated useful lives of definite lived intangible assets and corresponding amortization method are:

Assets

Internal-use software
Customer relationship

Basis

Straight-line
Straight-line

Rate

4 years
4 years

58

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

n) Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets or asset groups held and used including property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible
assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows
expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of an asset or group of assets is less than its carrying
amount, it is considered to be impaired. The Company measures the impairment loss as the amount by which the
carrying amount of the asset or group of assets exceeds its fair value, which is charged to the Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. In determining whether an impairment exists, the Company
makes assumptions about the future cash flows expected from the use of its long-lived assets, such as: applicable
industry performance and prospects; general business and economic conditions that prevail and are expected to
prevail; expected growth; maintaining its customer base; and, achieving cost reductions. There can be no assurance
that expected future cash flows will be realized, or will be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of long-lived
assets. Furthermore, the process of determining fair values is subjective and requires management to exercise
judgment in making assumptions about future results, including revenue and cash flow projections and discount
rates.

At each reporting period, the Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets for indications of
impairment. At December 31, 2021, there were no impairment indicators identified, as there had been no material
declines in the operating environment or expected financial results.

o) Assets held for sale

Long-lived assets are classified as held for sale when certain criteria are met, which include:

(cid:129) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the assets;

the assets are available for immediate sale in their present condition;

an active program to locate buyers and other actions to sell the assets have been initiated;

the sale of the assets is probable and their transfer is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale
within one year;

the assets are being actively marketed at reasonable prices in relation to their fair value; and

it is unlikely that significant changes will be made to the plan to sell the assets or that the plan will be withdrawn.

Assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs
to sell and are disclosed separately on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These assets are not depreciated.

Equipment disposal decisions are made using an approach in which a target life is set for each type of equipment.
The target life is based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and the Company’s past experience in the various
operating environments. Once a piece of equipment reaches its target life it is evaluated to determine if disposal is
warranted based on its expected operating cost and reliability in its current state. If the expected operating cost
exceeds the target operating cost for the fleet or if the expected reliability is lower than the target reliability of the
fleet, the unit is considered for disposal. Expected operating costs and reliability are based on the past history of the
unit and experience in the various operating environments. Once the Company has determined that the equipment
will be disposed, and the criteria for assets held for sale are met, the unit is recorded in assets held for sale at the
lower of depreciated cost or net realizable value.

p) Foreign currency translation

The functional currency of the Company and the majority of its subsidiaries is Canadian Dollars. Transactions
recorded within these subsidiaries that are denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange
on the transaction date. Monetary assets and liabilities within these subsidiaries denominated in foreign currencies
are translated into Canadian Dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. The resulting
foreign exchange gains and losses are included in the determination of earnings and included within general and
administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

59

(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
Accounts of the Company’s Australia-based subsidiary, which has an Australian Dollar functional currency and US-
based subsidiaries, which have US Dollar functional currency are translated into Canadian Dollars using the current
rate method. Assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date, and
revenue and expense items are translated at the average rate of exchange for the period. The resulting unrealized
exchange gains and losses from these translation adjustments are included as a separate component of
shareholders’ equity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The effect of exchange rate changes on cash
balances held in foreign currencies is separately reported as part of the reconciliation of the change in cash and for
the period.

q) Fair value measurement

Fair value measurements are categorized using a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs used to measure
fair value, which prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels. Fair values included in Level 1 are determined by
reference to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. Fair values included in Level 2 include
valuations using inputs based on observable market data, either directly or indirectly other than the quoted prices.
Level 3 valuations are based on inputs that are not based on observable market data. The classification of a fair
value within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value
measurement.

r) Income taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability
method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities
are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities from a change in
tax rates is recognized in income in the period of enactment. A valuation allowance is recorded against any deferred
tax asset if it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realized.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not (greater
than 50%) of being sustained. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the
change in judgement occurs. The Company accrues interest and penalties for uncertain tax positions in the period in
which these uncertainties are identified. Interest and penalties are included in general and administrative expenses
in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

s) Stock-based compensation

The Company has a Restricted Share Unit (“RSU”) Plan which is described in note 19(a). RSUs are generally
granted effective July 1 of each fiscal year with respect to services to be provided in that fiscal year and the following
two fiscal years. The RSUs generally vest at the end of the three-year term. The Company settles RSUs with
common shares purchased on the open market through a trust arrangement. Compensation expense is calculated
based on the number of vested RSUs multiplied by the fair value of each RSU as determined by the volume
weighted-average trading price of the Company’s common shares for the five trading days immediately preceding
the day on which the fair market value was to be determined. The Company recognizes compensation cost over the
three-year term in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, with a corresponding
increase to additional paid-in capital. When dividends are paid on common shares, additional dividend equivalent
RSUs are granted to all RSU holders as of the dividend payment date. The number of additional RSUs to be granted
is determined by multiplying the dividend payment per common share by the number of outstanding RSUs, divided
by the fair market value of the Company’s common shares on the dividend payment date. Such additional RSUs are
granted subject to the same service criteria as the underlying RSUs.

The Company has a Performance Restricted Share Unit (“PSU”) plan which is described in note 19(b). The PSUs
vest at the end of a three-year term and are subject to the performance criteria approved by the Human Resources
and Compensation Committee at the date of the grant. Such performance criterion includes the passage of time and
is based upon the improvement of total shareholder return (“TSR”) as compared to a defined company Canadian
peer group. TSR is calculated using the fair market values of voting common shares at the grant date, the fair
market value of voting common shares at the vesting date and the total dividends declared and paid throughout the
vesting period. The grants are measured at fair value on the grant date using a Monte Carlo model. At the maturity

60

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

date, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee will assess actual performance against the performance
criteria and determine the number of PSUs that have been earned. The Company intends to settle all PSUs with
common shares purchased on the open market through a trust arrangement. The Company recognizes
compensation cost over the three-year term of the PSU in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and
Comprehensive Income, with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.

The Company has a Deferred Stock Unit (“DSU”) Plan which is described in note 19(c). The DSU plan enables
directors and executives to receive all or a portion of their annual fee or annual executive bonus compensation in the
form of DSUs and are settled in cash. Compensation expense is calculated based on the number of DSUs multiplied
by the fair market value of each DSU as determined by the volume weighted-average trading price of the Company’s
common shares for the 5 trading days immediately preceding the day on which the fair market value is to be
determined, with any changes in fair value recognized in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. Compensation costs related to DSUs are recognized in full
upon the grant date as the units vest immediately. When dividends are paid on common shares, additional dividend
equivalent DSUs are granted to all DSU holders as of the dividend payment date. The number of additional DSUs to
be granted is determined by multiplying the dividend payment per common share by the number of outstanding
DSUs, divided by the fair market value of the Company’s common shares on the dividend payment date. Such
additional DSUs are granted subject to the same service criteria as the underlying DSUs.

The Company had a Share Option Plan which is described in note 19(d). Effective November 17, 2021, this plan
was terminated. The Company accounts for all stock-based compensation payments that are settled by the issuance
of equity instruments at fair value. Compensation cost is measured using the Black-Scholes model at the grant date
and is expensed on a straight-line basis over the award’s vesting period, with a corresponding increase to additional
paid-in capital. Upon exercise of a stock option, share capital is recorded at the sum of proceeds received and the
related amount of additional paid-in capital.

As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and
Comprehensive Income is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated
forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ
from those estimated.

t) Net income per share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-
average number of common shares outstanding during the period (see note 17(b)). Diluted net income per share is
computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares
outstanding during the year, adjusted for dilutive share amounts. The diluted per share amounts are calculated using
the treasury stock method and the if-converted method.

u) Leases

For lessee accounting, the Company determines whether a contract is or contains a lease at inception of the
contract. At the lease commencement date, the Company recognizes a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease
liability. The ROU asset for operating and finance leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets and
property, plant and equipment, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The lease liability for operating
and finance leases are included in operating lease liabilities and finance lease obligations, respectively.

Operating and finance lease assets and liabilities are initially measured at the present value of lease payments at
the commencement date. Subsequently, finance lease liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective
interest rate method and operating lease liabilities are measured at the present value of unpaid lease payments.

As most of the Company’s operating lease contracts do not provide the implicit interest rate, nor can the implicit
interest rate be readily determined, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for
determining the present value of lease payments. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate for a lease is the rate
that the Company would pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a
similar term. The Company uses the lease implicit interest rate when it is determinable.

The lease term for all of the Company’s leases includes the non-cancellable period of the lease plus any period
covered by options to extend (or not to terminate) the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Company will
exercise that option.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

61

Lease payments are comprised of fixed payments owed over the lease term and the exercise price of a purchase
option if the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the option. The ROU assets for both operating and finance
leases are initially measured at cost, which consists of the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease
payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred, less any lease
incentives received. Subsequently, the ROU assets for finance leases are amortized on a straight-line basis from the
lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of its useful life or the end of the lease term. For finance leases,
ROU asset depreciation expense is recognized and presented separately from interest expense on the lease liability
through depreciation and interest expense, net, respectively. The ROU asset for operating leases is measured at the
amortized value of the ROU asset. For operating leases, amortization of the ROU asset is calculated as the current-
period lease cost adjusted by the lease liability accretion to the then outstanding lease balance. Lease expense of
the operating lease ROU asset is recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term through general
and administrative expenses.

ROU assets for operating and finance leases are reduced by any accumulated impairment losses. The Company’s
existing accounting policy for impairment of long-lived assets is applied to determine whether an ROU asset is
impaired, and if so, the amount of the impairment loss to be recognized.

The Company monitors for events or changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of one or more of its
leases. When a reassessment results in the remeasurement of a lease liability, a corresponding adjustment is made
to the carrying amount of the corresponding ROU asset.

The Company generally accounts for contracts with lease and non-lease components separately. This involves
allocating the consideration in the contract to the lease and non-lease components based on each component’s
relative standalone price. For certain leases, the Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to account
for the lease and non-lease components together as a single lease component. Non-lease components include
common area maintenance and machine maintenance. For those leases, the lease payments used to measure the
lease liability include all of the fixed consideration in the contract.

ROU assets and lease liabilities for all leases that have a lease term of 12 months or less (“short-term leases”) are
not recognized. The Company recognizes its short-term lease payments as an expense on a straight-line basis over
the lease term. Short-term lease variable payments are recognized in the period in which the payment is assessed.

For lessor accounting, the Company entered into contracts to sublease certain operating property leases to third
parties and generally accounts for lease and non-lease components of subleases separately. The Company also
entered into agreements as a lessor for equipment leases.

If any of the following criteria are met, the Company classifies the lease as a sales-type lease:

(cid:129) The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term;

(cid:129) The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to

exercise;

(cid:129) The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset. However, if the

commencement date falls at or near the end of the economic life of the underlying asset, this criterion shall not
be used for purposes of classifying the lease;

(cid:129) The present value of the sum of the lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee that is not
already reflected in the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying
asset.

(cid:129) The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at

the end of the lease term.

When none of these criteria are met, the Company classifies the lease as an operating lease unless both of the
following criteria are met, in which case the Company records the lease as a direct financing lease:

(cid:129) The present value of the sum of the lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee that is not
already reflected in the lease payments and/or any other third party unrelated to the lessor equals or exceeds
substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.

62

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

It is probable that the lessor will collect the lease payments plus any amount necessary to satisfy a residual value
guarantee.

For sales-type leases, the Company recognizes the net investment in the lease, and derecognizes the underlying asset
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The interest income over the lease term is recognized in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, with cash received from leases classified as operating cash
flows in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The difference between the cash received from leases and the
interest income is the reduction of the initial net investment. The net investment at the end of the lease term will equate
to the estimated residual value at lease inception. For operating leases, the Company continues to recognize the
underlying asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and lease income is recognized in revenue, straight-line over
the lease term in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. The cash received from
leases are classified as operating cash flows on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

v) Deferred financing costs

Underwriting, legal and other direct costs incurred in connection with the issuance of debt are presented as deferred
financing costs. Deferred financing costs related to the mortgage and the issuance of Convertible Debentures are
included within liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized using the effective interest rate method
over the term to maturity. Deferred financing costs related to revolving facilities under the credit facilities are included
within other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized ratably over the term of the Credit Facility.

w) Investments in affiliates and joint ventures

Upon inception or acquisition of a contractual agreement, the Company performs an assessment to determine
whether the arrangement contains a variable interest in a legal entity and whether that legal entity is a variable
interest entity (“VIE”). Where it is concluded that the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company will
consolidate the accounts of that VIE. Other qualitative factors that are considered include decision-making
responsibilities, the VIE capital structure, risk and rewards sharing, contractual agreements with the VIE, voting
rights and level of involvement of other parties. The Company assesses the primary beneficiary determination for a
VIE on an ongoing basis as changes occur in the facts and circumstances related to a VIE. If an entity is determined
not to be a VIE, the voting interest entity model will be applied. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of
involvement with the VIE is the Company’s share of the investee’s net assets.

The Company utilizes the equity method to account for its interests in affiliates and joint ventures that the Company
does not control but over which it exerts significant influence. The equity method is typically used when it has an
ownership interest of between 15% and 50% in an entity, provided the Company is able to exercise significant
influence over the investee’s operations. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and
operating policy decisions of the investee.

Under the equity method, the investment in an affiliate or a joint venture is initially recognized at cost. Transaction
costs that are incremental and directly attributable to the investment in the affiliate or joint venture are included in the
cost. The total initial cost of the investment is attributable to the net assets in the equity investee at fair value and
additional assets acquired including intangible assets.

The carrying amount of investment is adjusted to recognize changes in the Company’s share of net assets of the
affiliate or joint venture since the acquisition date.

The aggregate of the Company’s share of profit or loss of affiliates and joint ventures is shown on the face of the
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, representing profit or loss after in the
subsidiaries of the affiliate or joint venture. Transactions between the Company and the affiliate or joint venture are
eliminated to the extent of the interest in the affiliate or joint venture. When the Company earns revenue on
downstream sales to affiliate or joint ventures, it eliminates its proportionate share of profit through revenue and
project or equipment costs.

After application of the equity method, the Company determines whether it is necessary to recognize an impairment
loss on its investment in its affiliate or joint venture. At each reporting date, the Company determines whether there
is objective evidence that the investment in the affiliate or joint venture is impaired. If there is such evidence, the
Company calculates the amount of impairment as the difference between the recoverable amount of the associate or
joint venture and its carrying value, and then recognizes the loss within “equity earnings in affiliates and joint
ventures” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. Upon loss of significant

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

63

(cid:129)
influence over the associate or joint control over the joint venture, the Company measures and recognizes any
retained investment at its fair value. Any difference between the carrying amount of the associate or joint venture
upon loss of significant influence or joint control and the fair value of the retained investment and proceeds from
disposal is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

x) Government assistance

The Company may receive compensation from government-funded assistance, which provides compensation for
expenses incurred. These amounts are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and
Comprehensive Income on a systematic basis in the periods in which the expenses are recognized. These amounts
are presented as a reduction to the related expense.

y) Derivative instruments

The Company may periodically use derivative financial instruments to manage financial risks from fluctuations in
share prices. These instruments included swap agreements related to the conversion of convertible debentures.
Such instruments were only used for risk management purposes. The Company does not hold or issue derivative
financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Derivative financial instruments are subject to standard
terms and conditions, financial controls, management and risk monitoring procedures including Board approval for
all significant transactions. These derivative financial instruments were not designated as hedges for accounting
purposes and were recorded at fair value with realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

z) Business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are
recorded at the acquisition date at their fair values. The Company measures goodwill as the excess of the total cost
of acquisition over the fair value of identifiable net assets of an acquired business at the acquisition date. Any
contingent consideration payable is recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. The current portion of the
consideration payable is recorded in accrued liabilities and long-term portion is recorded in other long-term
obligations on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with any subsequent changes to fair value recorded in other
income in Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income. Acquisition-related costs are
expensed when incurred in general and administrative charges.

3. Accounting pronouncements recently adopted

a) Business Combinations

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations. The accounting standard update was
issued to improve the accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination. This
update requires that an entity (acquirer) recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a
business combination in accordance with Topic 606 – Revenue from Contract with Customers. The adoption of this
new standard did not have an impact to the consolidated financial statements.

b) Government Assistance

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance. The accounting standard update was
issued to increase the transparency of government assistance including the disclosure of 1) the type of assistance,
2) an entity’s accounting for the assistance, and 3) the effect of the assistance on an entity’s financial statements.
The adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements.

4. Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

a) Debt with Conversion and Other Options

In September 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options and Derivatives
and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s own Equity. This accounting standard update was issued to address issues
identified as a result of the complexity associated with applying GAAP for certain financial instruments with
characteristics of liabilities and equity. This standard is effective January 1, 2022 with early adoption permitted. The
Company is assessing the impact that the adoption of this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.

64

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

5. Accounts receivable

Trade
Holdbacks
Accrued trade receivables

Contract receivables
Other

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

Note

11 $

$

$

51,774 $
380
12,266

64,420 $

4,367

68,787 $

23,637
64
8,415

32,116
4,115

36,231

Holdbacks represent amounts up to 10% of the contract value under certain contracts that the customer is
contractually entitled to withhold until completion of the project or until certain project milestones are achieved.
Information about the Company’s exposure to credit risks and impairment losses for trade and other receivables is
included in note 16(d).

6. Revenue

a) Disaggregation of revenue

Year ended December 31,

Revenue by source

Operations support services
Equipment and component sales
Construction services

By commercial terms
Time-and-materials
Unit-price
Lump-sum

Revenue recognition method

As-invoiced
Cost-to-cost percent complete
Point-in-time

b) Contract balances

Contract assets:

Year ended December 31,

Balance, beginning of year
Transferred to receivables from contract assets recognized at the beginning of the period
Increases as a result of changes to the estimate of the stage of completion, excluding amounts transferred in
the period
Increases as a result of work completed, but not yet an unconditional right to consideration

Balance, end of year

Contract liabilities:

Year ended December 31,

Balance, beginning of year
Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period
Increases due to cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period

Balance, end of year

2021

2020
Note 22

600,308 $

28,603
25,232

486,926
4,625
6,917

654,143 $

498,468

388,998 $
253,840
11,305

262,429
225,186
10,853

654,143 $

498,468

407,496 $
218,044
28,603

335,927
157,916
4,625

654,143 $

498,468

2021

7,008 $
(7,008)

8,838
921

9,759 $

2021

1,512 $
(899)
2,736

3,349 $

2020
Note 22

19,094
(19,094)

5,805
1,203

7,008

2020
Note 22

23
(23)
1,512

1,512

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

65

The following table provides information about revenue recognized from performance obligations that were satisfied
(or partially satisfied) in previous periods:

Year ended December 31,

Revenue recognized

2021

$

3,572 $

2020

1,403

These amounts relate to cumulative catch-up adjustments arising from changes in estimated project costs on
cost-to-cost percent complete jobs and final settlement of constrained variable consideration.

c) Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations

The following table includes estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to performance
obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) at the end of the reporting period. Included is all
consideration from contracts with customers, excluding amounts that are recognized using the as-invoiced method
and any constrained amounts of revenue.

For the year ended December 31,

2022
2023
2024
2025

d) Contract costs

$

116,352
10,500
8,362
6,226

$

141,440

The following table summarizes contract costs included within other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Fulfillment costs
Reimbursable bid costs

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020

$

$

2,673 $
—

2,673 $

1,432
537

1,969

During the year ended December 31, 2021, fulfillment costs of $2,909 and reimbursable bid costs of $1,464 were
capitalized (December 31, 2020 – $2,256 and $537, respectively). During the year ended December 31, 2021,
fulfillment costs of $1,668 and reimbursable bid costs of $2,001 were recognized (December 31, 2020 – $1,841 and
$nil, respectively). Reimbursable bid costs received in excess of amounts capitalized have been recognized in
general and administrative expenses as a recovery.

7. Inventory

The following table summarizes the Company’s major classes of inventory:

Repair parts
Parts, equipment and components held for resale
Tires and track frames
Fuel and lubricants
Customer rebuild work in process

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

19,519 $
15,858
2,617
1,832
4,718

$

44,544 $

14,684
—
2,546
1,921
—

19,151

During the year ended December 31, 2021, parts and components held for resale increased upon the acquisition of
DGI (Aust) Trading Pty Ltd. (“DGI”) (note 12).

66

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

8. Long-term debt

Credit Facility
Convertible debentures
Mortgage
Financing obligations
Promissory note
Unamortized deferred financing costs

Less: current portion of long-term debt

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

110,000 $
129,750
30,000
47,945
13,210
(5,178)

325,727 $
(19,693)

220,000
55,000
21,206
50,923
12,726
(2,196)

357,659
(16,263)

306,034 $

341,396

Note

8(a) $
8(b)
8(e)
8(c)
8(d)
8(f)

$

$

The aggregate maturities of long-term debt for each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2021 are:
$19.7 million in 2022, $20.3 million in 2023, $128.4 million in 2024, $5.9 million in 2025 and $156.6 million in 2026
and thereafter.

a) Credit Facility

On September 29, 2021, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit
Facility”) with a banking syndicate that allows borrowing under the revolving loan to $325.0 million with the ability to
increase the maximum borrowings by $50.0 million, subject to certain conditions. The amended agreement extended
the facility maturity from October 8, 2023 to October 8, 2024, with an option to extend on an annual basis, subject to
certain conditions. The Credit Facility permits finance lease obligations to a limit of $150.0 million and certain other
borrowings outstanding to a limit of $20.0 million. In the amended agreement, the permitted amount of $150.0 million
was expanded to include guarantees provided by the Company to a permitted joint venture, provided that value of
such obligations shall not exceed the permitted amount.

As at December 31, 2021, there was $33.9 million (December 31, 2020 – $0.9 million) in issued letters of credit
under the Credit Facility and the unused borrowing availability was $181.1 million (December 31, 2020 – $104.1
million). As at December 31, 2021, there was an additional $28.6 million in borrowing availability under finance lease
obligations (December 31, 2020 – $29.6 million). Borrowing availability under finance lease obligations considers the
current and long-term portion of finance lease obligations and financing obligations, including the finance lease
obligations for the joint venture that the Company guarantees.

The Credit Facility has two financial covenants that must be tested quarterly on a trailing four-quarter basis. As at
December 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with its financial covenants.

(cid:129) The first covenant is the Senior Leverage Ratio which is Bank Senior Debt plus outstanding letters of credit

compared to Bank EBITDA less NACG Acheson Ltd. rental revenue.

O “Bank Senior Debt” is defined as the Company’s long-term debt, finance leases and outstanding

letters of credit, excluding Convertible Debentures, deferred financing costs, mortgages related to
NACG Acheson Ltd. and debt related to investment in affiliates and joint ventures.

O “Bank EBITDA” is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization,

excluding the effects of unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, realized and unrealized gain or
loss on derivative financial instruments, cash and non-cash stock-based compensation expense,
gain or loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, and certain other non-cash items
included in the calculation of net income.

O The Senior Leverage Ratio must be less than or equal to 3.0:1. In the event the Company enters

into a material acquisition, the maximum allowable Senior Leverage Ratio would include a step up
of 0.50x for four quarters following the acquisition.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

67

(cid:129) The second covenant is the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio which is defined as Bank EBITDA less cash

taxes compared to Fixed Charges.

O “Fixed Charges” is defined as cash interest, scheduled payments on debt, unfunded cash

distributions by the Company and unfunded capital expenditures.

O The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is to be maintained at a ratio greater than 1.15:1.

The Credit Facility bears interest at Canadian prime rate, U.S. Dollar Base Rate, Canadian bankers’ acceptance rate
or London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) (all such terms as used or defined in the Credit Facility), plus applicable
margins. Effective December 31, 2021, LIBOR will be discontinued for future contracts; however, it will be available
and published until June 2023 for contracts entered before 2022. During the transition, the Company will either have
the option to use LIBOR until June 2023 or to choose an alternative rate like Secured Overnight Financing Rate
(“SOFR”). The Company is also subject to non-refundable standby fees, 0.40% to 0.75% depending on the
Company’s Total Debt to Bank EBITDA Ratio. Total debt (“Total Debt”) is defined in the Credit Facility as long-term
debt including finance leases and letters of credit, excluding convertible debentures, deferred financing costs, the
mortgage related to NACG Acheson Ltd., and other non-recourse debt. The Credit Facility is secured by a first
priority lien on all of the Company’s existing and after-acquired property excluding the Company’s first securities
interests on the Business Development Bank of Canada (“BDC”) mortgage.

On December 3, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with a financial institution to provide guarantee on a
revolving equipment lease credit facility of $45.0 million for Mikisew North American Limited Partnership, an affiliate
of the Company. This equipment lease credit facility will allow MNALP to avail the credit through a lease agreement
and/or equipment finance contract with appropriate supporting documents. As at December 31, 2021, the available
balance on this facility was $28.1 million. At this time, there have been no instances or indication that payments will
not be made by MNALP. Therefore, no liability has been recorded.

b) Convertible debentures

5.50% convertible debentures
5.00% convertible debentures

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020

$

$

74,750 $
55,000

129,750 $

—
55,000

55,000

On June 1, 2021, the Company issued $65,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.50% convertible unsecured
subordinated debentures. On June 4, 2021, the underwriters exercised the over-allotment option, in full, purchasing
an additional $9,750 aggregate principal amount of 5.50% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures.

The terms of the convertible debentures are summarized as follows:

Date of issuance

Maturity Conversion price

Share equivalence
per $1000
debenture

Debt issuance
costs

5.50% convertible debentures
5.00% convertible debentures

June 1, 2021

June 30, 2028 $
March 20, 2019 March 31, 2026 $

24.75 $
26.25 $

40.4040 $
38.0952 $

3,531
2,691

Interest on the 5.50% convertible debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 of
each year, commencing on December 31, 2021. Interest on the 5.00% convertible debentures is payable semi-
annually on March 31 and September 30 of each year.

The 5.50% convertible debentures are not redeemable prior to June 30, 2024, except under certain exceptional
circumstances. The 5.50% convertible debentures may be redeemed at the option of the Company, in whole or in
part, at any time on or after June 30, 2024 at a redemption price equal to the principal amount provided that the
market price of the common shares is at least 125% of the conversion price; and on or after June 30, 2026 at a
redemption price equal to the principal amount. In each case, the Company will pay accrued and unpaid interest on
the debentures redeemed to the redemption date.

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NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

The 5.00% convertible debentures are redeemable under certain conditions after a change in control has occurred. If
a change in control occurs, the Company is required to offer to purchase all of the 5.00% convertible debentures at a
price equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company realized a gain of $7,071 (unrealized gain for the year
ended December 31, 2020 of $4,334) on the swap agreement related to the 5.50% convertible debentures that were
issued in 2017 and redeemed through issuance of 4,583,655 common shares in April 2020. This swap agreement
was completed on September 30, 2021 and the derivative financial instrument recorded on the Consolidated
Balance Sheet was extinguished at that time.

c) Financing obligations

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded new financing obligations of $11,700. The
financing contract expires on February 9, 2026. The Company is required to make monthly payments over the life of
the contract with an annual interest rate of 2.23%. The financing obligations are secured by the corresponding
property, plant and equipment.

d) Promissory note

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded a new equipment promissory note of $4,300.
The contract expires on August 5, 2025. The Company is required to make monthly payments over the life of the
contract with an annual interest rate of 4.20%. The promissory note is secured by the corresponding property, plant
and equipment. The Company also acquired a new promissory note of $370 upon acquisition of DGI (note 12). The
contract expires in November 2023 and bears interest at 2.90%. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the
Company made payments of $4,185 towards promissory notes.

e) Mortgage

On October 28, 2021, the Company entered into an updated mortgage agreement with BDC which increased the
mortgage amount from $21.1 million to $30.0 million. The updated mortgage includes additional loan of $7.0 million
for a building expansion and a $1.9 million cash advance. The mortgage has a maturity date of November 1, 2046
and bears variable interest at BDC’s floating base rate of 5.60% minus a variance of 2.20%, equal to 3.40%.

f) Deferred financing costs

Cost
Accumulated amortization

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020

$

$

6,351 $
1,173

5,178 $

2,784
588

2,196

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized accelerated amortization of $1,064 due to the
early conversion of convertible debentures.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

69

9. Property, plant and equipment

December 31, 2021

Owned assets

Heavy equipment
Major component parts in use
Other equipment
Licensed motor vehicles
Office and computer equipment
Buildings
Capital inventory
Land

Assets under finance lease

Heavy equipment
Major component parts in use
Other equipment
Licensed motor vehicles

Cost

Accumulated
Depreciation Net Book Value

$

353,037 $
343,048
45,096
15,113
7,002
29,406
24,605
10,472

105,686 $
131,157
30,633
10,838
4,891
3,748
—
—

827,779

286,953

92,690
52,679
4,633
2,674

152,676

28,504
21,996
1,281
771

52,552

247,351
211,891
14,463
4,275
2,111
25,658
24,605
10,472

540,826

64,186
30,683
3,352
1,903

100,124

Total property, plant and equipment

$

980,455 $

339,505 $

640,950

December 31, 2020
Note 22

Owned assets

Heavy equipment
Major component parts in use
Other equipment
Licensed motor vehicles
Office and computer equipment
Buildings
Capital inventory
Land

Assets under finance lease

Heavy equipment
Major component parts in use
Other equipment
Licensed motor vehicles

Cost

Accumulated
Depreciation Net Book Value

$

351,842 $
304,205
41,784
15,747
6,337
22,582
21,817
10,472

102,469 $
111,583
26,918
10,370
4,137
3,040
—
—

774,786

258,517

97,871
52,798
5,287
3,629

159,585

25,454
16,264
966
960

43,644

249,373
192,622
14,866
5,377
2,200
19,542
21,817
10,472

516,269

72,417
36,534
4,321
2,669

115,941

Total property, plant and equipment

$

934,371 $

302,161 $

632,210

10. Finance and operating leases

As a lessee, the Company has finance and operating leases for heavy equipment, shop facilities, vehicles and office
facilities. These leases have terms of 1 to 15 years, with options to extend on certain leases for up to five years. The
Company generates operating lease income from the sublease of certain office facilities and heavy equipment
rentals.

70

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

a) Minimum lease payments and receipts

The future minimum lease payments and receipts from non-cancellable operating leases as at December 31, 2021
for the periods shown are as follows:

For the year ending December 31,

Finance Leases Operating Leases Operating leases

Payments

Receipts

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026 and thereafter

Total minimum lease payments

Less: amount representing interest

Carrying amount of minimum lease payments
Less: current portion of leases

b) Lease expenses and (income)

Year ended December 31,

Short-term lease expense
Operating lease expense
Operating lease income

$

$

$

$

26,398 $
18,272
9,743
1,448
1,148

57,009 $
(2,288)
54,721 $
(25,035)
29,686 $

3,845 $
2,581
1,371
1,429
8,902

18,128 $
(3,350)
14,778
(3,317)
11,461

5,497
4,355
493
—
—
10,345

$

2021

27,421
4,556
(7,074)

$

2020

14,654
4,740
(8,118)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, depreciation of equipment under finance leases was $21,343
(December 31, 2020 – $17,147).

c) Supplemental balance sheet information

Net book value of property, plant and equipment under finance leases
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years):

Finance leases
Operating leases

Weighted-average discount rate:

Finance leases
Operating leases

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

$

100,124

$

115,941

2.5
8.3

3.22%
4.68%

3.0
8.1

3.66%
4.72%

11. Investments in affiliates and joint ventures

On October 13, 2021, the Company entered into the Limited Liability Company Agreement with Concessions Fargo
Holdings, LLC, S&B USA Concessions – Fargo LP to form Red River Valley Alliance, LLC (“RRVA”). On August 19,
2021, RRVA entered into an agreement with the Metro Flood Diversion Authority to design, construct, finance,
operate and maintain a diversion channel and associated infrastructure that will form part of the Fargo-Moorhead
Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project. The Company holds 15% interest in the investment and can
exercise significant influence over the financial and operational policies of the joint venture through its voting rights,
therefore the equity method of accounting is used to account for this investment.

On July 20, 2021, the Company entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with Acciona Construction USA Corp.
(“Acciona”), and Shikun and Binui – America Inc. (“SBA”), to form ASN Constructors. The joint venture formalizes
the relationship in terms of the participation in the Fargo Moorhead Area Diversion Project for which the ASN
Constructors entered into a design and build contract with RRVA for the Fargo project agreement. The agreement
was effective August 19, 2021. The Company holds 30% proportional share of interest and cost sharing through the
joint venture agreement. The Company can exercise influence over the financial and operational policies of the joint
venture through its voting rights, therefore the equity method of accounting is used to account for this investment.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

71

The following is a summary of the Company’s interests in its various affiliates and joint ventures, which it accounts
for using the equity method:

Affiliate or joint venture name:

Nuna Group of Companies

1229181 B.C Ltd.

North American Nuna Joint Venture
Nuna East Ltd.
Nuna Pang Contracting Ltd.
Nuna West Mining Ltd.
NAYL Realty Inc.
BNA Remanufacturing Limited Partnership
Dene North Site Services Partnership
Mikisew North American Limited Partnership
ASN Constructors
Red River Valley Alliance LLC

Interest

49%
50%
37%
37%
49%
49%
50%
49%
49%
30%
15%

The following table summarizes the movement in the investments in affiliates and joint ventures balance during the
year:

Balance, beginning of the year
Investments in affiliates and joint ventures
Share of net income
Dividends and advances received from affiliates and joint ventures
Other adjustments

Balance, end of the year

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

$

46,263
2,321
21,860
(11,270)
(3,200)

45,015
2,790
7,740
(8,621)
(661)

$

55,974

$

46,263

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company invested $1,959 in cash and $362 in property, plant and
equipment for the investments in Mikisew North American Limited Partnership and BNA Remanufacturing Limited
Partnership, respectively.

The financial information for the Company’s share of the investments in affiliates and joint ventures accounted for
using the equity method is summarized as follows:

Balance Sheets

Assets

Current assets
Non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net investments in affiliates and joint ventures

72

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

$

$

$

$

118,371
42,406

160,777

82,926
21,877

104,803

55,974

$

$

$

$

$

55,887
43,020

98,907

27,772
24,872

52,644

46,263

Statements of Operations

Year ended December 31,

Revenue
Gross profit
Income before taxes
Net income

Related parties

$

2021

332,440
33,641
25,064
21,860

2020

$ 159,054
17,220
9,113
7,740

The following table provides the material aggregate outstanding balances with affiliates and joint ventures. Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities due to joint ventures and affiliates do not bear interest, are unsecured and without
fixed terms of repayment. Accounts receivable from certain joint ventures and affiliates bear interest at various rates,
and all other accounts receivable amounts are non-interest bearing.

Accounts receivable
Other assets
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

$

31,050
2,162
286

3,808
1,432
5,296

The Company enters into transactions with a number of its joint ventures and affiliates that involve providing services
primarily consisting of subcontractor services, equipment rental revenue, equipment and component sales, and
management fees. These transactions were conducted in the normal course of operations, which were established
and agreed to as consideration by the related parties. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, revenue
earned from these services was $356,592 and $191,104, respectively. The majority of services provided in the oil
sands region are being completed through the Mikisew North American Limited Partnership. This joint venture
performs the role of contractor and sub-contracts work to the Company.

12. Business acquisition

On July 1, 2021, the Company acquired all the shares and business of DGI (Aust) Trading Pty Ltd., a supplier of
production-critical mining equipment and components based in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia for total
consideration of $18,441, comprised of a cash payment and contingent consideration in the form of an earn-out to
be paid based on the earnings of DGI over the next four annual periods.

The following table summarizes the total consideration paid for DGI shareholders and the fair value of the assets
acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:

Cash consideration
Earn-out at estimated fair value

Total consideration

Purchase price allocation to assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Prepaid expenses and deposits
Property, plant and equipment
Operating lease right-of-use asset
Intangible assets
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Long-term debt
Operating lease liability
Deferred tax liability

Total identifiable net assets at fair value

Goodwill arising on acquisition

July 1, 2021

$

$

$

$

$

13,724
4,717

18,441

2,329
1,910
13,713
971
1,176
749
2,575
(3,560)
(718)
(370)
(749)
(128)

17,898

543

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

73

The fair value of acquired identified intangible assets, consists of $595 in brand with an indefinite useful life and
$1,980 in customer relationships with a useful life of four years.

The fair value of acquired inventory consists of used mining equipment and related components for resale.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $209 of acquisition related costs associated
with professional and legal advisory fees in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of
Operations and Comprehensive Income.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $12,687 or 2% of revenue and $605 or 1% of
net income from DGI recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

The pro forma disclosures related to the effect of the acquisition have been excluded on the basis of immateriality.

13. Income taxes

Income tax expense differs from the amount that would be computed by applying the federal and provincial statutory
income tax rates to income before income taxes. The reasons for the differences are as follows:

Year ended December 31,

Income before income taxes
Equity earnings in affiliates and joint ventures

Tax rate

Expected expense
Adjustments related to:

Stock-based compensation
Foreign tax rate differential
Other

Total income tax expense

Current income tax expense
Deferred income tax expense

Total income tax expense

The deferred tax assets and liabilities are summarized below:

Deferred tax assets:

Non-capital and net capital loss carryforwards
Finance lease obligations
Stock-based compensation
Other

Subtotal
Less: valuation allowance

Deferred tax liabilities:
Contract assets
Property, plant and equipment
Other

Net deferred income tax liability

Classified as:

Deferred tax asset
Deferred tax liability

74

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

2021

60,693 $
(21,860)

38,833 $
23.00%

2020

60,472
(7,740)

52,732

23.00%

8,932 $

12,128

1,043
233
(923)

(113)
—
(751)

9,285 $

11,264

1,000 $
8,285

9,285 $

—
11,264

11,264

$

$

$

$

$

$

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020

$

$

$

$

$

$

40,367
24,785
4,029
2,093

71,274
—
71,274

932
124,265
2,277
127,474

56,200

$

$

$

$

$

$

40,758
27,736
2,872
1,990

73,356
(391)
72,965

1,524
117,768
1,461
120,753

47,788

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020

$

$

— $

(56,200)

16,407
(64,195)

(56,200) $

(47,788)

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the Canadian federal jurisdiction, multiple provincial
jurisdictions, the U.S. federal jurisdiction, three U.S state jurisdictions and the Australia federal jurisdiction.

At December 31, 2021, the Company has a deferred tax asset of $40,367 resulting from non-capital loss
carryforwards of $175,509, which expire as follows:

2026
2027
2032
2033
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041

14. Accrued liabilities

Payroll liabilities
Income and other taxes payable
Dividends payable
Accrued interest payable
Liabilities related to short-term rentals
Funding obligations
Obligation related to acquisition earn-out liability
Other

15. Other long-term obligations

Directors’ deferred stock unit plan
Deferred gain on sale-leaseback
Obligation related to acquisition earn-out liability
Other

a) Deferred gain on sale-leaseback

December 31,
2021

3
278
176
9,095
1,213
17,799
86,979
37,798
18,188
3,980

$

175,509

December 31,
2020
Note 22

11,869
3,205
1,167
856
730
—
—
1,555

19,382

Note

$

17(c)

December 31,
2021

$

16,888
5,064
1,137
1,331
2,678
3,022
1,571
1,698

$

33,389

$

Note

19(c) $
15(a)
12

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

17,515
2,954
3,098
2,833

$

26,400

$

10,761
4,748
—
3,341

18,850

Changes in deferred gains on sale-leaseback transactions of heavy equipment are summarized below.

Balance, beginning of year
Amortization of deferred gain on sale-leaseback

Balance, end of year

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

$

4,748
(1,794)

2,954

$

$

6,593
(1,845)

4,748

The gain on sale was deferred and is being amortized under depreciation in the Consolidated Statements of
Operations and Comprehensive Income over the expected useful life of the equipment.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

75

16. Financial instruments and risk management

a) Fair value measurements

In determining the fair value of financial instruments, the Company uses a variety of methods and assumptions that
are based on market conditions and risks existing on each reporting date. Standard market conventions and
techniques, such as discounted cash flow analysis are used to determine the fair value of the Company’s financial
instruments. All methods of fair value measurement result in a general approximation of fair value and such value
may never actually be realized.

The fair values of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, contract assets, loans to affiliates and joint ventures
(included in other assets), acquisition earn-out liability, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and contract liabilities
approximate their carrying amounts due to the nature of the instrument or the relatively short periods to maturity for
the instruments. The Credit Facility has a carrying value that approximates the fair value due to the floating rate
nature of the debt. The promissory notes and mortgages have carrying values that are not materially different than
their fair values due to similar instruments bearing similar interest rates.

Financial instruments with carrying amounts that differ from their fair values are as follows:

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Fair Value
Hierarchy Level

Carrying
Amount

Fair
Value

Carrying
Amount

Level 1
Level 2

129,750
47,945

135,963
47,010

55,000
50,923

Fair
Value
Note 22

52,250
49,743

Convertible debentures
Financing obligations

b) Risk management

The Company is exposed to liquidity, market and credit risks associated with its financial instruments. The Company
will from time to time use various financial instruments to reduce market risk exposures from changes in foreign
currency exchange rates and interest rates. Management performs a risk assessment on a continual basis to help
ensure that all significant risks related to the Company and its operations have been reviewed and assessed to
reflect changes in market conditions and the Company’s operating activities.

The Company is also exposed to concentration risk through its revenues which is mitigated by the customers being
large investment grade organizations. The credit worthiness of new customers is subject to review by management
through consideration of the type of customer and the size of the contract. The Company has further mitigated this
risk through diversification of its operations. This diversification has primarily come through investments in joint
ventures which are accounted for using the equity method. Revenues from these investments are not included in
consolidated revenue.

c) Market risk

Market risk is the risk that the future revenue or operating expense related cash flows, the fair value or future cash
flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices such as foreign currency exchange
rates and interest rates. The level of market risk to which the Company is exposed at any point in time varies
depending on market conditions, expectations of future price or market rate movements and composition of the
Company’s financial assets and liabilities held, non-trading physical assets and contract portfolios.

To manage the exposure related to changes in market risk, the Company has used various risk management
techniques. Such instruments may be used to establish a fixed price for a commodity, an interest bearing obligation
or a cash flow denominated in a foreign currency.

The sensitivities provided below are hypothetical and should not be considered to be predictive of future
performance or indicative of earnings on these contracts.

76

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

i) Foreign exchange risk

The Company regularly transacts in foreign currencies when purchasing equipment and spare parts as well as
certain general and administrative goods and services. These exposures are generally of a short-term nature and
the impact of changes in exchange rates has not been significant in the past. The Company may fix its exposure in
either the Canadian Dollar or the US Dollar for these short term transactions, if material.

ii) Interest rate risk

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk from the possibility that changes in interest rates will affect future cash
flows or the fair values of its financial instruments. Interest expense on borrowings with floating interest rates,
including the Company’s Credit Facility, varies as market interest rates change. At December 31, 2021, the
Company held $110.0 million of floating rate debt pertaining to its Credit Facility (December 31, 2020 – $220.0
million). As at December 31, 2021, holding all other variables constant, a 100 basis point change to interest rates on
the outstanding floating rate debt will result in $1.1 million corresponding change in annual interest expense.

The fair value of financial instruments with fixed interest rates fluctuate with changes in market interest rates.
However, these fluctuations do not affect earnings, as the Company’s debt is carried at amortized cost and the
carrying value does not change as interest rates change.

The Company manages its interest rate risk exposure by using a mix of fixed and variable rate debt.

d) Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that financial loss to the Company may be incurred if a customer or counterparty to a financial
instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Company manages the credit risk associated with its cash by
holding its funds with what it believes to be reputable financial institutions. The Company is also exposed to credit
risk through its accounts receivable and contract assets. Credit risk for trade and other accounts receivables and
contract assets are managed through established credit monitoring activities.

The following customers accounted for 10% or more of total revenues:

Year ended December 31,

Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D

2021

38%
27%
17%
10%

2020
Note 22

45%
30%
11%
10%

The concentration risk is mitigated primarily by the customers being large investment grade organizations. The credit
worthiness of new customers is subject to review by management through consideration of the type of customer and
the size of the contract. Where the Company generates revenue under its subcontracting arrangement with MNALP,
the final end customer is represented in the table above and in the table below.

The following customers represented 10% or more of accounts receivable and contract assets:

Customer 1
Customer 2
Customer 3

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

45%
15%
15%

39%
20%
16%

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

77

The Company’s exposure to credit risk for accounts receivable and contract assets is as follows:

Trade accounts receivable
Holdbacks
Accrued trade receivables

Contract receivables, included in accounts receivable
Other receivables

Total accounts receivable
Contract assets

Total

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

$

$

$

51,774 $
380
12,266

64,420 $

4,367

68,787 $

9,759

78,546 $

23,637
64
8,415

32,116
4,115

36,231
7,008

43,239

Payment terms are per the negotiated customer contracts and generally range between net 15 days and net 60
days. As at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, trade receivables and holdbacks are aged as follows:

Not past due
Past due 1-30 days
Past due 31-60 days
More than 61 days

Total

December 31,
2021

December 31,
2020
Note 22

$

31,531 $
19,209
1,250
164

$

52,154 $

21,677
1,814
85
125

23,701

As at December 31, 2021, the Company has recorded an allowance for credit losses of $nil (December 31, 2020 –
$nil).

17. Shares

a) Common shares

Issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019

Issued upon exercise of stock options
Issued upon conversion of convertible debentures
Retired through share purchase program
Purchase of treasury shares
Settlement of certain equity classified stock-based compensation

Issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020

Issued upon exercise of stock options
Retired through share purchase program
Purchase of treasury shares
Settlement of certain equity classified stock-based compensation

Common shares

Treasury shares

27,502,912
109,100
4,622,916
(1,223,097)
—
—

31,011,831
125,000
(1,113,903)
—
—

(1,725,467)
—
—
—
(534,834)
415,100

(1,845,201)
—
—
(21,503)
301,891

Common
shares, net of
treasury shares

25,777,445
109,100
4,622,916
(1,223,097)
(534,834)
415,100

29,166,630
125,000
(1,113,903)
(21,503)
301,891

Issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021

30,022,928

(1,564,813)

28,458,115

Upon settlement of certain equity classified stock-based compensation during the year ended December 31, 2021,
the Company withheld 274,359 shares for $5,134 to satisfy the recipient tax withholding requirements (year ended
December 31, 2020 – 372,628 shares for $3,576).

78

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

b) Net income per share

Year ended December 31,

Net income
Interest from convertible debentures (after tax)

Diluted net income available to common shareholders

Weighted-average number of common shares
Weighted-average effect of dilutive securities

Dilutive effect of treasury shares
Dilutive effect of stock options
Dilutive effect of 5.00% convertible debentures
Dilutive effect of 5.50% convertible debentures

Weighted-average number of diluted common shares

Basic net income per share
Diluted net income per share

2021

51,408
4,410

55,818

$

$

2020

49,208
2,370

51,578

28,325,489

28,165,130

1,707,718
47,767
2,095,236
1,770,747

1,949,717
90,741
2,095,236
—

33,946,957

32,300,824

1.81
1.64

$
$

1.75
1.60

$

$

$
$

For the year ended December 31, 2021, all securities were dilutive (year ended December 31, 2020, all securities
were dilutive).

On April 9, 2021, the Company commenced a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) under which a maximum number of
2,000,000 common shares were authorized to be purchased. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company
purchased and subsequently cancelled 37,000 shares under this NCIB, which resulted in a decrease of common shares
of $300 and an increase to additional paid-in capital of $213. This NCIB will be terminated no later than April 8, 2022.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company completed the NCIB commenced on March 12, 2020 upon
the purchases and cancellation of 1,076,903 common shares. The purchases resulted in a decrease to common
shares of $8,679 and a decrease to additional paid-in capital of $7,327. This completed the NCIB with the maximum
number of authorized common shares purchased.

c) Dividends

Q1 2020
Q2 2020
Q3 2020
Q4 2020
Q1 2021
Q2 2021
Q3 2021
Q4 2021

Date declared

Per share

February 18, 2020
May 5, 2020
July 28, 2020
October 27, 2020
February 16, 2021
April 27, 2021
July 27, 2021
October 26, 2021

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04

Shareholders on
record as of

March 5, 2020
May 29, 2020
August 31, 2020
November 30, 2020
March 4, 2021
May 28, 2021
August 31, 2021
November 30, 2021

Paid or payable
to shareholders

April 3, 2020
July 3, 2020
October 2, 2020
January 8, 2021
April 9, 2021
July 9, 2021
October 8, 2021
January 7, 2022

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

Total paid or payable

18. Interest expense, net

Year ended December 31,

Credit Facility
Convertible debentures
Finance lease obligations
Mortgages
Promissory notes
Financing obligations
Amortization of deferred financing costs
Other interest expense

Interest expense
Other interest income

$

$

$

2021

6,559 $
5,148
2,260
1,350
450
1,562
1,064
701

19,094 $
(62)

18,837
(181)

19,032 $

18,656

1,023
1,162
1,156
1,040
1,123
1,123
1,137
1,137

2020
Note 22

8,189
3,299
3,176
999
664
1,265
1,091
154

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

79

19. Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation expenses included in general and administrative expenses are as follows:

Year ended December 31,

Restricted share unit plan
Performance restricted share unit plan
Deferred stock unit plan

a) Restricted share unit plan

Note

19(a) $
19(b)
19(c)

2021

2,335 $
2,165
7,106

$

11,606 $

2020

1,991
2,031
(2,078)

1,944

Restricted Share Units (“RSU”) are granted each year to executives and other key employees with respect to
services to be provided in that year and the following two years. The majority of RSUs vest at the end of a three-year
term. The Company settles RSUs with common shares purchased on the open market through a trust arrangement.

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2021

Number of units

Weighted-average
exercise price
$ per share

650,077
298,142
(269,484)
(37,264)

641,471
144,383
(220,116)
(12,327)

553,411

9.35
8.55
6.19
8.81

10.34
19.97
8.44
13.01

13.55

At December 31, 2021, there were approximately $4,339 of unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested
share-based payment arrangements under the RSU plan (December 31, 2020 – $3,290) and these costs are expected
to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining contractual life of the RSUs of 1.4 years (December 31, 2020 –
1.6 years). During the year ended December 31, 2021, 220,116 units vested, which were settled with common shares
purchased through a trust arrangement (December 31, 2020 – 269,484 units vested and settled).

b) Performance restricted share unit plan

Performance Restricted Share Units (“PSU”) are granted each year to senior management employees with respect
to services to be provided in that year and the following two years. The PSUs vest at the end of a three-year term
and are subject to performance criteria approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee at the
grant date. The Company settles PSUs with common shares purchased through a trust arrangement.

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

Granted
Vested

Outstanding at December 31, 2021

Number of units

Weighted-average
exercise price
$ per share

481,907
211,754
(201,104)
—

492,557
112,079
(178,067)

426,569

8.85
8.55
8.51
—

8.86
20.04
8.24

12.06

At December 31, 2021, there were approximately $3,702 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested
share-based payment arrangements under the PSU plan (December 31, 2020 – $3,405) and these costs are expected to
be recognized over the weighted-average remaining contractual life of the PSUs of 1.5 years (December 31, 2020 – 1.6
years). During the year ended December 31, 2021, 178,067 units vested, which were settled with common shares
purchased through a trust arrangement at a factor of 2.0 common shares per PSU based on performance against grant
date criteria (December 31, 2020 – 201,104 units at a factor of 2.0 vested and settled).

80

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

The Company estimated the fair value of the PSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions:

Risk-free interest rate
Expected volatility

c) Director’s deferred stock unit plan

2021

0.65%
50.96%

2020

0.30%
48.71%

Prior to January 1, 2021, under the Company’s shareholding guidelines non-officer directors of the Company were
required to receive at least 50% and up to 100% of their annual fixed remuneration in the form of DSUs, at their
election. The shareholding guidelines were amended effective January 1, 2021 to require directors to take at least
60% of their annual fixed remuneration in the form of DSUs if they do not meet shareholding guidelines, and to take
between 0% and 100% of their annual fixed remuneration in the form of DSUs if they do meet shareholding
guidelines. In addition to directors, eligible executives can elect to receive up to 50% of their annual short term
incentive plan compensation in the form of DSUs.

The DSUs vest immediately upon issuance and are only redeemable upon departure, retirement or death of the
participant. DSU holders that are not US taxpayers may elect to defer the redemption date until a date no later than
December 1 of the calendar year following the year in which the departure, retirement or death occurred.

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

Granted
Redeemed

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

Granted
Redeemed

Outstanding at December 31, 2021

Number of units

901,045
114,020
(9,562)

1,005,503
66,265
(139,124)

932,644

At December 31, 2021, the fair market value of these units was $18.78 per unit (December 31, 2020 – $12.42 per
unit). At December 31, 2021, the current portion of DSU liabilities of $nil was included in accrued liabilities
(December 31, 2020 – $1,728) and the long-term portion of DSU liabilities of $17,515 was included in other long-
term obligations (December 31, 2020 – $10,761) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During the year ended
December 31, 2021, there were 139,124 units redeemed and settled in cash for $2,300 (December 31, 2020 – 9,562
units were redeemed and settled in cash for $103). There is no unrecognized compensation expense related to the
DSUs since these awards vest immediately upon issuance.

d) Share option plan

Effective November 17, 2021, the Company terminated 2004 Amended and Restated Share Option Plan, which
became effective in 2006. Under this plan, directors, officers, employees and certain service providers to the
Company were eligible to receive stock options to acquire voting common shares in the Company. Each stock option
provided the right to acquire one common share in the Company and expired ten years from the grant date or on
termination of employment. There were no issued or outstanding options as at the date of termination.

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

Exercised(i)
Forfeited or expired

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

Exercised(i)

Outstanding at December 31, 2021

(i)All stock options exercised resulted in new common shares being issued (note 17(a)).

Number of options

Weighted-average
exercise price
$ per share

238,600
(109,100)
(4,500)

125,000
(125,000)
—

4.61
4.91
10.13

4.16
4.16
—

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

81

Cash received from options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $519 (2020 – $537). For the year
ended December 31, 2021, the total intrinsic value of options exercised, calculated as the market value at the exercise
date less exercise price, multiplied by the number of units exercised, was $1,909 (December 31, 2020 – $535).

At December 31, 2021, the Company had no outstanding exercisable options (December 31, 2020 – 125,000). At
December 31, 2020, the weighted-average remaining contractual life of outstanding options was 1.9 years and the
weighted-average exercise price was $4.16.

20. Other information

a) Supplemental cash flow information

Year ended December 31,

Cash paid during the year for:

Interest

Cash received during the year for:

Interest

Non-cash transactions:

Addition of property, plant and equipment by means of finance leases
Decrease to property, plant and equipment upon investment contribution to affiliates and joint ventures
Increase in assets held for sale, offset by property, plant and equipment

Non-cash working capital exclusions:

Net decrease in accounts receivable relating to other adjustments to investments in affiliates and joint ventures
Net increase in inventory due to transfer from property, plant and equipment
Net decrease in accrued liabilities related to conversion of bonus compensation to deferred stock units
Net decrease (increase) in accrued liabilities related to the current portion of deferred stock unit liability
Net decrease (increase) in accrued liabilities related to dividend payable

Non-cash working capital transactions related to acquisition of DGI: (note 12)

Increase in accounts receivable
Increase in inventory
Increase in prepaid expenses
Increase in accounts payable
Increase in accrued liabilities

b) Net change in non-cash working capital

The table below represents the cash (used in) provided by non-cash working capital:

Year ended December 31,

Operating activities:

Accounts receivable
Contract assets
Inventories
Contract costs
Prepaid expenses and deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Contract liabilities

21. Contingencies

2021

2020
Note 22

$ 17,028

$ 18,518

69

151

19,198
(362)
9,281

—
437
223
1,725
33

1,910
13,713
971
(3,591)
(2,307)

27,882
(980)
6,903

(911)
—
294
(1,727)
(137)

—
—
—
—
—

2021

2020
Note 22

$ (30,646) $ 29,162
12,086
2,476
(593)
(953)
(47,398)
338
1,489

(2,751)
(11,243)
(704)
(735)
31,232
13,681
1,837

$

671

$

(3,393)

During the normal course of the Company’s operations, various disputes, legal and tax matters are pending. In the
opinion of management involving the use of significant judgement and estimates, these matters will not have a
material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

82

NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP

22. Change in significant accounting policy – Basis of presentation

The following tables summarize the effect of the change in accounting policy which updated the consolidation
method of DNSS and MNALP from proportionate to equity method (note 2 (a)(i)).

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(in thousands)

Assets
Current assets
Non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Without
change Adjustments As reported

As originally

reported Adjustments As reported

156,963
727,175

(9,784)
(5,076)

147,179
722,099

119,958
718,970

(681)
816

119,277
719,786

$ 884,138 $ (14,860) $ 869,278 $ 838,928

$ 135

$ 839,063

168,635
437,040

605,675

278,463

(7,601)
(7,259)

161,034
429,781

(14,860)

590,815

—

278,463

109,198
481,287

590,485

248,443

286
(151)

135

—

109,484
481,136

590,620

248,443

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$ 884,138 $ (14,860) $ 869,278 $ 838,928

$ 135

$ 839,063

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(in thousands)

Revenue
Gross profit
Operating income

Equity earnings in affiliates and joint ventures

Income before income taxes

December 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

Without
change Adjustments As reported

As originally

reported Adjustments As reported

$ 658,122
93,927
58,523
(18,475)
60,693

$ (3,979) $ 654,143 $ 500,374
94,382
68,945
(5,942)
60,472

90,417
55,128
(21,860)
60,693

(3,510)
(3,395)
(3,385)
—

$ (1,906) $ 498,468
92,218
67,122
(7,740)
60,472

(2,164)
(1,823)
(1,798)
—

Net income

51,408

—

51,408

49,208

—

49,208

Comprehensive income

$

51,410

$

— $

51,410 $

49,208

$

— $

49,208

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for December 31, 2021 and 2020:

(in thousands)

Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities

Decrease in cash
Effect of exchange rate on changes in cash and
cash equivalents
Cash, beginning of period

December 31, 2021

December 30, 2020

Without
change Adjustments As reported

As originally

reported Adjustments As reported

168,893
(100,604)
(92,547)

(24,258)

2
43,915

(3,713)
1,335
(212)

(2,590)

—
(468)

165,180
(99,269)
(92,759)

(26,848)

2
43,447

147,272
(113,573)
4,672

38,371

5,544

(722)
746
(156)

(132)

—
(336)

146,550
(112,827)
4,516

38,239

—
5,208

Cash, end of period

$

19,659

$ (3,058) $

16,601 $

43,915

$ (468) $

43,447

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

83

Corporate Information

Investor Information

Investor Relations

Jason Veenstra
Phone: 780.960.7171
Fax: 780.969.5599
Email: IR@nacg.ca
Web: www.nacg.ca

Corporate Headquarters

27287-100 Avenue
Acheson, Alberta T7X 6H8
Phone: 780.960.7171
Fax: 780.969.5599

Auditors

KPMG LLP
Edmonton, Alberta

Solicitors

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Houston, Texas
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Toronto, Ontario

Exchange Listings

Toronto Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
Ticker Symbol: NOA

Transfer Agent

Computershare Investor Services Inc.
8th Floor, 100 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Y1
www.computershare.com

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of  
North American Construction Group Ltd.  
will be held:

Wednesday, May 4, 2022
3:00 PM
North American Construction Group
27287-100 Avenue
Acheson, Alberta

Everyone Gets Home Safe

www.nacg.ca