PETROFAC LIMITED
RESULTS FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Petrofac today issues its financial
results for the year ended 31 December 2023 and an update on
progress with respect to its review of strategic and financial
options. The Company is in discussions with the Financial Conduct
Authority to seek a reinstatement of trading in its
shares.
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL
PERFORMANCE:
-
Strong order intake
of US$7.1 billion, driving significant backlog growth to US$8.1
billion
-
Group business
performance EBIT loss of US$(393) million
-
Full year cash
outflow of US$223 million, with neutral cash flows in the second
half
-
Year-end net debt
of US$583 million and gross liquidity of US$201 million
|
Year ended 31
December 2023
|
Year ended 31 December 2022
(restated)(4)
|
US$m
|
Business
performance(1)
|
Separately
disclosed items
|
Reported
|
Business
performance(1)
|
Separately disclosed
items
|
Reported
|
Revenue
|
2,496
|
-
|
2,496
|
2,567
|
-
|
2,567
|
EBITDA
|
(310)
|
(30)
|
(340)
|
(150)
|
(12)
|
(162)
|
EBIT
|
(393)
|
(25)
|
(418)
|
(229)
|
(7)
|
(236)
|
Net
loss(3)
|
(485)
|
(20)
|
(505)
|
(294)
|
(26)
|
(320)
|
Tareq Kawash, Petrofac’s Group
Chief Executive, commented:
“2023 was a
challenging year for Petrofac. Our financial results reflect
additional losses on the legacy contract portfolio, in particular
the Thai Oil Clean Fuels contract where we are in negotiations to
seek reimbursement of a proportion of the additional costs. In
addition, the challenges in obtaining guarantees for our new EPC
contracts, and the impact on liquidity, resulted in the business
seeking to deliver a critical financial restructure, which is
ongoing and has the full focus of the Board.
“However, 2023
was also one of the strongest years in the Group’s recent history
with respect to new contract awards, demonstrating Petrofac’s
capability, strong customer relationships, differentiated delivery
model, and competitiveness.
“We are focused
on the restructuring with the aim of materially strengthening the
Group’s financial position and enabling Petrofac to deliver on its
future opportunities. I am grateful to our employees and our
stakeholders for their continued support as we work to deliver a
positive future for Petrofac.”
FINANCIAL AND STRATEGIC
UPDATE
The Group is seeking to implement a
comprehensive financial restructure to materially strengthen its
balance sheet, improve liquidity and secure bank guarantees to
support current and future EPC contracts.
As announced on 29 April 2024, an
ad hoc group of senior secured noteholders, holding approximately
41% of the outstanding notes, made a non-binding proposal to
provide up to US$200 million of new funds and US$100 million of
credit support to help secure performance guarantees. The proposal
is dependent upon, amongst other things, the Company securing
certain performance guarantees and is expected to include the
conversion of a significant proportion of the Group’s existing debt
into equity.
The Company is in discussions with
a range of credit providers to obtain the performance guarantees
required under the proposal from the ad hoc group, which would
release over US$200 million of collateral and retentions and unlock
progress payments on contracts in backlog. It is also in
discussions with the ad hoc group and lending banks in relation to
the proposed terms of the restructure. The successful
implementation of the restructure would require approvals of
shareholders and creditors and would need to be sanctioned by the
Court.
The Company did not make the
payment of the bond coupon due on 15 May 2024 (for which the ad hoc
group provided forbearance until 30 June 2024) and continues to
rely on deferrals of contractual amortisation payments from its
lending banks. Managing these and other payment and contractual
obligations is of critical importance to the Company’s ability to
maintain sufficient liquidity in the short-term while it is working
to implement the financial restructure.
The success and timing of the
implementation of the financial restructure depends on reaching
agreements with, and obtaining approvals from, third parties.
Details of the judgements and assumptions made by the Directors in
respect of the risks associated with the Group’s ability to
maintain liquidity and implement the restructure can be found in
the going concern statement in note 2.5 to the consolidated
financial statements. As a consequence of these uncertainties, the
Group’s auditors have disclaimed their audit opinion for the
financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2023.
The Group continues to pursue
non-core asset sales and the disposal process for the Group’s share
in the PM304 Production Sharing Contract in Malaysia is
progressing, with non-binding offers received. This process could
be completed in Q3 2024.
GROUP TRADING
During 2023, the Group continued to
deliver well for its clients and secured significant new awards
which drove strong growth in backlog. However, the Group’s
financial performance in 2023 reflected the ongoing challenges in
closing commercial settlements on legacy Engineering and
Construction (E&C) contracts and accessing guarantees for new
E&C contracts, as well as one-off write downs to protect
cashflows.
Group revenue reduced marginally to
US$2.5 billion (2022: US$2.6 billion), with reduced activity in
E&C being largely offset by growth in Asset Solutions. Full
year business performance EBIT loss was US$393 million (2022
restated(4):
US$229 million), largely due to losses in E&C, partly offset by
profitability in the rest of the business.
DIVISIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Engineering & Construction
(E&C)
2023 was the strongest year for new
awards in E&C in five years, with backlog more than tripling to
US$6.1 billion (2022: US$1.6 billion). We secured US$5.5 billion of
new order intake, split between hydrocarbon and renewable energy
markets. Of the US$6.1 billion backlog at 31 December 2023,
approximately half relates to energy transition contracts,
including the first two offshore wind contracts under the TenneT
Framework Agreement and the ADNOC carbon capture, utilisation and
storage (CCUS) contract.
Operationally, we made further
progress on the completion of legacy contracts and are expecting
all but two of the legacy contracts to be
completed(5)
in 2024. The two contracts that
will continue in execution beyond 2024 are the Thai Oil Clean Fuels
project and the Orlen Refinery Upgrade project in Lithuania. Of the
US$6.1 billion backlog, approximately 90% relates to new contracts
secured in 2023.
With respect to the Thai Oil Clean
Fuels project, good progress continues to be made on the
construction stages. While the estimated costs to complete
increased during the year, as outlined in the Group's April trading
update, discussions with the client and our partners are ongoing in
relation to the reimbursement of a portion of these additional
costs. In the absence of a resolution to these discussions, an
incremental loss in the year of approximately US$190 million is
included in the E&C EBIT loss.
Revenue during the
year was US$0.9 billion (2022 restated(4):
US$1.3 billion), reflecting the low opening backlog and the
maturity of E&C’s legacy contract portfolio. E&C had a
business performance EBIT loss of US$422 million (2022
restated(4):
US$323 million) reflecting losses on the Thai Oil Clean Fuels
project, one-off write-downs to protect cash flows of US$90 million
and adverse operating leverage, due to the lower levels of
activity.
Asset Solutions
Asset Solutions had another
successful year for backlog growth, delivering a strong order
intake of US$1.6 billion, with a closing backlog of US$2.0 billion
at 31 December 2023 (2022: US$1.8 billion), none of which have
performance guarantee requirements pending.
Revenue during 2023 grew 25%
compared with the previous year at US$1.4 billion (2022: US$1.2
billion), primarily driven by growth in Asset Operations. Full year
business performance EBIT was US$2 million (2022: US$60 million),
reflecting the previously guided loss on an Engineering,
Procurement, Construction and Commissioning contract of
approximately US$18 million and a one-off bad debt provision of
approximately US$11 million for a client going into
administration.
Integrated Energy Services
(IES)
Net production during 2023 was
maintained at 1,260 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (kboe)
(2022: 1,261 kboe). IES achieved an emissions reduction of 15% and
an emissions intensity reduction of 14% during 2023. Revenue for
the year was US$121 million (2022: US$137 million), reflecting the
lower realised oil price net of hedging. Business performance
EBITDA was US$90 million (2022: US$109 million) with business performance
EBIT of
US$34 million (2022: US$58 million), principally reflecting the
lower revenue.
CASH FLOW, NET DEBT AND
LIQUIDITY
Free cash outflow for the year of
US$223 million (2022: US$188 million) primarily reflected the
operating outflows and higher interest payments in the year
attributable to the increase in the Group’s average net debt
levels. The liquidity conservation measures taken by management and
unwinding of historic working capital of approximately US$180
million, offset by collateral requirements for guarantees, resulted
in broadly neutral free cash flow in the second half.
Net debt, excluding net finance
leases, was US$583 million at 31 December 2023 (2022: US$349
million), reflecting the free cash outflow in the year. The Group
had US$201 million of gross liquidity(7)
available at 31 December 2023
(2022: US$506 million).
Net debt, excluding net finance
leases, was approximately US$570 million at 30 April 2024, with
gross liquidity(8)
of approximately US$215 million at
the same date.
ORDER BACKLOG
The Group's
backlog(6)
more than doubled to US$8.1 billion
at 31 December 2023 (2022: US$3.4 billion), reflecting the
exceptional order intake in both E&C and Asset Solutions.
Overall, Group order intake for the year was US$7.1 billion (2022:
US$1.9 billion), representing a book-to-bill of 2.8x.
|
31 December
2023
|
31 December 2022
|
|
US$
billion
|
US$ billion
|
Engineering &
Construction
|
6.1
|
1.6
|
Asset Solutions
|
2.0
|
1.8
|
Group
backlog
|
8.1
|
3.4
|
OUTLOOK
The outlook for the business is
predicated on the Group maintaining sufficient liquidity and
successfully implementing a financial restructuring which
strengthens the Group’s balance sheet, improves liquidity and
provides access to guarantees on normal commercial terms. Further
details, including with respect to the significant risks associated
with achieving this, can be found in the going concern assessment
in note 2.5 to the financial statements.
Notwithstanding these challenges,
we entered 2024 with an order backlog of US$8.1 billion, 90% won in
2023 and largely comprising contracts in our core markets, and a
Group pipeline of US$60 billion scheduled for award in the next
18-months. Within this, E&C’s addressable pipeline is US$48
billion, of which 58% is in our core MENA markets and 18% in energy
transition sectors. Asset Solutions’ addressable pipeline is US$12
billion, of which 70% is in target geographies outside the UK &
Europe.
Operating activity in E&C in
2024 is expected to be higher than in 2023, but still sub-scale, as
the portfolio transitions from legacy to new contracts. With
continued backlog growth expected, supported by the strong pipeline
of opportunities and further contracts under the TenneT Framework
Agreement, the cumulative impact of these new contracts is expected
to provide continued revenue growth in the medium-term. Margin in
the E&C business is expected to improve as new contracts reach
margin recognition thresholds and onerous contracts are completed,
with the impact of growing revenues improving the business
operating leverage.
In Asset Solutions, the business is
expected to maintain or grow its activity levels in the medium
term, driven by its focus on Asset Operations and Wells &
Decommissioning service lines, including further expansion into new
geographies. Margin expansion is expected to be underpinned by the
higher margin prospects in these new geographies. These ambitions
are supported by the brought forward backlog of US$2.0 billion and
approximately US$0.5 billion of contracts awarded in 2024 to
date.
In IES, the production sharing
contract (PSC) for Block PM304 in Malaysia expires in September
2026, and we are no longer pursuing an extension. As disclosed on
29 April 2024, non-binding offers have been received for the
Group’s share in the PSC, and the disposal could be completed in Q3
2024. Offers are broadly in line with the value of anticipated
cashflows (subject to oil price and oil premium assumptions) over
the remaining term of the PSC.
TRADING OF THE COMPANY’S
SHARES
As a consequence of having
published its results, the Company is in discussions with the
Financial Conduct Authority to seek a reinstatement of trading in
its shares and will provide an update on timing shortly.
PRESENTATION
Our full year results presentation
will be held at 8:30 am today and will be webcast live
via:
https://stream.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/665740a19259bd888e9a67f9
SEGMENTAL PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL
REVIEW
Click on, or paste the following
link into your web browser, to view our Segmental performance and
Financial review for the year ended 31 December 2023
https://www.petrofac.com/media/1w4p25q3/petrofac-fy-2023-segmental-performance-and-financial-review.pdf
GROUP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Click on, or paste the following
link into your web browser, to view the Group financial statements
of Petrofac Limited for the year ended 31 December 2023
https://www.petrofac.com/media/zn5er2nz/petrofac-fy-2023-financial-statements.pdf
The linked documents are extracts
from the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31
December 2023. Page number references refer to the full Annual
Report when available.
NOTES
-
Business performance before separately disclosed items. This
measurement is shown by Petrofac as a means of measuring underlying
business performance (see note 4 to the consolidated financial
statements).
-
Incremental loss is compared to the position announced on 29
April 2024.
-
Attributable to Petrofac Limited shareholders.
-
The prior year numbers are restated as detailed in note 2.9
to the consolidated financial statements
-
Completed and substantially completed
contracts: contracts where (i) a Provisional Acceptance Certificate
(PAC) has been issued by the client, or (ii) transfer of care and
custody (TCC) to the client has taken place, or (iii) PAC or TCC
are imminent, and no substantive work remains to be performed by
Petrofac.
-
Backlog consists of: the estimated revenue attributable to
the uncompleted portion of Engineering & Construction division
projects; and, for the Asset Solutions division, the estimated
revenue attributable to the lesser of the remaining term of the
contract and five years.
-
Gross liquidity of US$201 million on 31 December 2023
consisted of gross cash with no undrawn committed facilities. Gross
cash included US$12 million held in certain countries whose
exchange controls significantly restrict or delay the remittance of
these amounts to foreign jurisdictions. It also included US$71
million in joint operation bank accounts which are generally
available to meet the working capital requirements of those joint
operations, but which can only be made available to the Group for
its general corporate use with the agreement of the joint operation
partners.
-
Gross liquidity of US$220 million on 30 April 2024 consisted
of gross cash with no undrawn committed facilities. Gross cash
included US$10 million held in certain countries whose exchange
controls significantly restrict or delay the remittance of these
amounts to foreign jurisdictions. It also included US$69 million in
joint operation bank accounts which are generally available to meet
the working capital requirements of those joint operations, but
which can only be made available to the Group for its general
corporate use with the agreement of the joint operation
partners.
ENDS
Disclaimer:
This announcement contains forward-looking
statements relating to the business, financial performance and
results of Petrofac and the industry in which Petrofac
operates. These statements may be identified by words such as
"expect", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "target", or "forecast"
and similar expressions, or by their context. These statements are made on the basis of
current knowledge and assumptions and involve risks and
uncertainties. Various factors could cause actual future
results, performance or events to differ materially from those
expressed in these statements and neither Petrofac nor any other person accepts any
responsibility for the accuracy of the opinions expressed in this
presentation or the underlying assumptions. No obligation is
assumed to update any forward-looking statements.
For further
information contact:
Petrofac
Limited
+44 (0) 207 811
4900
James Boothroyd, Head of Investor
Relations
James.boothroyd@petrofac.com
Sophie Reid, Group Director of
Communications
Sophie.reid@petrofac.com
Teneo (for
Petrofac)
+44 (0) 207 353
4200
petrofac@teneo.com
NOTES TO
EDITORS
Petrofac
Petrofac is a leading international
service provider to the energy industry, with a diverse client
portfolio including many of the world's leading energy
companies.
Petrofac designs, builds, manages
and maintains oil, gas, refining, petrochemicals and renewable
energy infrastructure. Our purpose is to enable our clients to meet
the world's evolving energy needs. Our four values - driven, agile,
respectful and open - are at the heart of everything we
do.
Petrofac's core markets are in the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the UK North Sea,
where we have built a long and successful track record of safe,
reliable and innovative execution, underpinned by a cost effective
and local delivery model with a strong focus on in-country value.
We operate in several other significant markets, including India,
South East Asia and the United States. We have 8,600 employees
based across 31 offices globally.
Petrofac is quoted on the London
Stock Exchange (symbol: PFC).
For additional information, please
refer to the Petrofac website at www.petrofac.com