AKITA Drilling Ltd. was formed in January of 1993 through a Plan of Arrangement with our predecessor, ATCO Drilling Ltd. At its inception, AKITA operated 26 drilling rigs in Canada. In addition to Canadian operations, AKITA also conducted drilling operations in the United States.--In 2000, AKITA re-established significant operations in Canadas northern territories. As technology evolved, we were among the earliest adopters of pad rigs, including their use in the development of heavy oil and shale gas resources. This quickly became a market strength for AKITA, and today pad rigs make up approximately half of our deep capacity fleet. In 2018, AKITA Drilling Ltd. and Xtreme Drilling Corp. combined the two companies through a Plan of Arrangement to create a leading intermediate North American land drilling contractor. The combined company, operating under the AKITA Drilling name, has a fleet of 40 high-spec drilling rigs with operations in major resource basins in the US and Canada.--Aboriginal Partnerships: A Company Cornerstone--Mutually beneficial joint ventures with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are a pillar of our history and have been a significant point of pride from the very beginning of AKITAs operations.--The companys initial joint venture was already in place at the time of AKITAs formation and in the decades since, additional joint ventures have been established that include key geographic locations in Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.--Our joint venture partners assist AKITA in accessing drilling opportunities in their areas of influence. In turn, we bring technical, management and economic resources crucial for efficient and safe long-term operations.--Together, AKITA and our partners directly benefit economically through joint equity in rig ownership, and today more than 20 different Aboriginal groups hold equity investments in our rigs.--Our Future: Integrity, Diversity & Growth--While the nature of our operations has continued to evolve over the years, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing the highest quality of service to every one of our customers.--For us, that means employing a well-trained, multicultural workforce, operating first-class equipment and enforcing the highest possible quality standards in all areas of business.
