TOP NEWS: BP pledges buybacks after meeting net debt target early

(Alliance News) - BP PLC on Tuesday said it expects to meet its net debt target ...

Alliance News 6 April, 2021 | 6:59AM
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(Alliance News) - BP PLC on Tuesday said it expects to meet its net debt target sooner-than-planned as the oil major's balance sheet has been boosted by disposal proceeds.

BP expects to hit its USD35 billion net debt during the first quarter of 2021.

In February, BP had guided that it would get its debt down to USD35 billion by the end of 2021. It had said net debt actually was expected to increase during the first half, due to severance payments, a payment to Noway's Equinor for the completion of their US offshore wind joint venture, and BP's annual USD1.2 billion Gulf of Mexico oil spill redress payment.

Net debt at the end of 2020 was USD38.9 billion.

"We are pleased to announce that we now expect to have reached our USD35 billion net debt target during the first quarter 2021. This is a result of earlier than anticipated delivery of disposal proceeds combined with very strong business performance during the first quarter. We look forward to updating the market at our first quarter results, including further information on share buybacks," Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney said.

It netted USD4.7 billion from disposals during the quarter, the bulk being USD2.4 billion from the sale of a 20% stake in Oman's Block 61 and a USD1.0 billion final payment from the sale of its petrochemicals business Ineos Group Ltd.

Cash from disposals is expected to be at the top end of the USD4 billion and USD6 billion target range for the whole of 2021.

"BP's target of USD25 billion of disposal proceeds between the second half of 2020 and 2025 is now underpinned by agreed or completed transactions of around USD14.7 billion with approximately USD10.0 billion of proceeds received," the company added.

BP said "trading, the price environment and resilient operations" during the period also helped it to meet the net debt target sooner than anticipated.

On reaching its net debt target, BP said it is committed to returning at least 60% of surplus cash flow to shareholders by way of share buybacks, which it announce further details on at its first quarter results on April 27.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

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Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
BP PLC 517.68 GBX -1.82

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