BP reports $3.3 billion third-quarter profit
Strong underlying results and cash flow underpins continued net debt reduction
Underlying replacement cost profit* was $3.3 billion, compared with $2.8 billion for the previous quarter. This result was driven by higher oil and gas realizations, higher refining availability and throughput enabling the capture of a stronger environment and a stronger gas marketing and trading result, partly offset by a higher underlying tax charge.
Reported loss for the quarter was $2.5 billion, compared with a $3.1 billion profit for the second quarter 2021. This was driven by significant adverse fair value accounting effects* of $6.1 billion pre-tax, primarily due to the exceptional increase in forward gas prices towards the end of the quarter. Under IFRS, reported earnings include the mark-to-market value of the hedges used to risk-manage LNG contracts, but not of the LNG contracts themselves. This mismatch at the end of the third quarter is expected to unwind if prices decline and as the cargoes are delivered. The underlying result is adjusted to remove this mismatch.
Operating cash flow* of $6.0 billion includes a working capital* build of $1.8 billion (after adjusting for inventory holding gains and fair value accounting effects).
bp received $5.4 billion of divestment and other proceeds in the first nine months including $0.3 billion during the third quarter. bp now expects proceeds of $6-7 billion by the end of 2021.
Net debt* fell to $32.0 billion at the end of the third quarter.
Further $1.25 billion share buyback planned – delivering on commitment to distributions
bp is committed to the disciplined execution of its financial frame with a resilient dividend the first priority. For the third quarter bp has announced a dividend of 5.46 cents per ordinary share payable in the fourth quarter – unchanged following the 4% increase announced with second quarter results.
With second quarter results, bp announced an intention to execute a buyback of $1.4 billion from first half 2021 surplus cash flow* of $2.4 billion. This programme was completed on 1 November 2021 with $0.9 billion executed during the third quarter.
Taking into account the cumulative level of and outlook for surplus cash flow and subject to maintaining a strong investment grade credit rating, the board remains committed to using 60% of 2021 surplus cash flow for share buybacks and plans to allocate the remaining 40% to continue strengthening the balance sheet.
Recognizing third quarter surplus cash flow of $0.9 billion and reflecting confidence in the outlook bp intends to execute a further buyback of $1.25 billion prior to announcing its fourth quarter 2021 results. bp expects to outline plans for the final tranche of buybacks from 2021 surplus cash flow at the time of such results.
On average, based on bp’s current forecasts, at around $60 per barrel Brent and subject to the board’s discretion each quarter, bp continues to expect to be able to deliver buybacks of around $1.0 billion per quarter and have capacity for an annual increase in the dividend per ordinary share of around 4% through 2025.
The board will take into account factors including the cumulative level of and outlook for surplus cash flow, the cash balance point* and the maintenance of a strong investment grade credit rating in setting the dividend per ordinary share and the buyback each quarter.
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