# BP deliver robust underlying financial performance, with dividend rising by 21%

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/bp-deliver-robust-underlying-financial-performance-with-dividend-rising-by-21/4121104589
- Published: 2023-02-07T07:13:12+00:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**[BP plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/bp-plc/bp.l)** (
LON:BP) has announced its Group results for the fourth quarter and full year 2022.

**Performing while transforming**

| **Financial summary** |   | **Fourth** | Third | Fourth |   |   |   | 
|   |   | **quarter** | quarter | quarter |   | **Year** | Year | 
| $ million |   | **2022** | 2022 | 2021 |   | **2022** | 2021 | 
| Profit (loss) for the period attributable to bp shareholders |   | **10,803** | (2,163) | 2,326 |   | **(2,487)** | 7,565 | 
| Inventory holding (gains) losses*, net of tax |   | **1,066** | 2,186 | (358) |   | **(1,019)** | (2,826) | 
| Replacement cost (RC) profit (loss)* |   | **11,869** | 23 | 1,968 |   | **(3,506)** | 4,739 | 
| Net (favourable) adverse impact of adjusting items*, net of tax |   | **(7,062)** | 8,127 | 2,097 |   | **31,159** | 8,076 | 
| Underlying RC profit* |   | **4,807** | 8,150 | 4,065 |   | **27,653** | 12,815 | 
| Operating cash flow* |   | **13,571** | 8,288 | 6,116 |   | **40,932** | 23,612 | 
| Capital expenditure* |   | **(7,369)** | (3,194) | (3,633) |   | **(16,330)** | (12,848) | 
| Divestment and other proceeds_((a)) |   | **614** | 606 | 2,265 |   | **3,123** | 7,632 | 
| Surplus cash flow* |   | **5,080** | 3,530 | 2,993 |   | **19,289** | 6,308 | 
| Net issue (repurchase) of shares_((b)) |   | **(3,240)** | (2,876) | (1,725) |   | **(9,996)** | (3,151) | 
| Net debt*_((c)) |   | **21,422** | 22,002 | 30,613 |   | **21,422** | 30,613 | 
| Return on average capital employed (ROACE)* (%) |   |   |   |   |   | **30.5%** | 13.3% | 
| Adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA)* |   |   |   |   |   | **60,747** | 37,315 | 
| Adjusted earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBIDA)* |   |   |   |   |   | **45,695** | 30,783 | 
| Announced dividend per ordinary share (cents per share) |   | **6.610** | 6.006 | 5.460 |   | **24.082** | 21.630 | 
| Underlying RC profit per ordinary share* (cents) |   | **26.44** | 43.15 | 20.53 |   | **145.63** | 63.65 | 
| Underlying RC profit per ADS* (dollars) |   | **1.59** | 2.59 | 1.23 |   | **8.74** | 3.82 |

| • Net debt reduced to $21.4bn; 2022 ROACE 30.5% |   | • 10% increase in resilient dividend to 6.61 cents per ordinary share; further $2.75bn share buyback announced  |   | • Delivering resilient hydrocarbons – Cassia C start-up; first LNG cargo loaded at Coral Sul FLNG; 20-year extension to Tangguh PSC* |   | • Continued progress in transformation to an IEC – accelerating biogas strategy with completion of Archaea Energy acquisition; >65% increase in EV charge points in 2022 |

> Throughout 2022, bp continued to focus on delivery of our Integrated Energy Company
> strategy. We are helping provide the energy the world needs today and – at the
> same time – investing with discipline into our transition and the energy transition–
> as demonstrated by the Archaea Energy acquisition. We are strengthening bp, with
> our strongest upstream plant reliability on record and our lowest production costs
> in 16 years, helping to generate strong returns and reducing debt for the 11th
> quarter in a row. Importantly, we are delivering for our shareholders – with buybacks
> and a growing dividend. This is exactly what we said we would do and will continue
> to do – performing while transforming.
> **Bernard Looney, Chief executive officer**

(a) Divestment proceeds are disposal proceeds as per the condensed group cash flow
statement. See page 3 for more information on divestment and other proceeds.
(b)
Full year 2022 excludes the ordinary shares issued as non-cash consideration for
the acquisition of the public units of BP Midstream Partners LP. See Note 8 for 
more information.(c) See Note 10 for more information.

RC profit (loss), underlying RC profit (loss), surplus cash flow, net debt, ROACE,
adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBIDA, underlying RC profit per ordinary share and underlying
RC profit per ADS are non-GAAP measures. Inventory holding (gains) losses and adjusting
items are non-GAAP adjustments.

**Highlights**

**Underlying replacement cost profit\* $4.8 billion**

• Underlying replacement cost profit for the quarter was $4.8 billion, compared 
with $8.2 billion for the previous quarter. Compared to the third quarter, the result
was impacted by a below average gas marketing and trading result after the exceptional
result in the third quarter, lower oil and gas realizations, a higher level of refinery
turnaround and maintenance activity, and lower marketing margins and seasonally 
lower volumes. An underlying ETR* of 40% in the fourth quarter brings the full year
underlying ETR* to 34%.

• Reported profit for the quarter was $10.8 billion, compared with a loss of $2.2
billion for the third quarter 2022. The reported result for the fourth quarter is
adjusted by inventory holding losses net of tax of $1.1 billion and a gain for adjusting
items* net of tax of $7.1 billion to derive the underlying replacement cost profit.
Adjusting items include favourable fair value accounting effects* of $13.2 billion
before tax, primarily due to a decrease in forward gas prices compared to the end
of the third quarter.

**Net debt\* reduced to $21.4 billion; further $2.75 billion share buyback announced**

• Operating cash flow* in the quarter was $13.6 billion including a working capital
release (after adjusting for inventory holding losses*, fair value accounting effects
and other adjusting items) of $4.2 billion (see page 31).

• Capital expenditure* in the fourth quarter and full year was $7.4 billion and 
$16.3 billion respectively. Within this, inorganic spend was $3.5 billion in the
fourth quarter and full year, including $3.0 billion for Archaea Energy, net of 
adjustments, and $0.5 billion for the earlier than expected completion of the acquisition
of EDF Energy Services.

• During the fourth quarter, bp completed share buybacks of $3.2 billion. The $2.5
billion share buyback programme announced with the third quarter results was completed
on 3 February 2023.

• In the fourth quarter, bp generated surplus cash flow* of $5.1 billion and intends
to execute a $2.75 billion share buyback from surplus cash flow prior to announcing
its first-quarter-2023 results. bp has now announced share buybacks from surplus
cash flow equivalent to 60% of cumulative surplus cash flow since the start of 2021.

• Net debt fell for the eleventh successive quarter to reach $21.4 billion at the
end of the fourth quarter.

**Growing distributions; updating disciplined financial frame**

• A resilient dividend remains bp’s first priority within its disciplined financial
frame. It is underpinned by a cash balance point* of $40 per barrel Brent, $11 per
barrel RMM and $3 per mmBtu Henry Hub (all 2021 real).

• For the fourth quarter, bp has announced a dividend per ordinary share of 6.610
cents an increase of around 10%. This increase is underpinned by strong underlying
performance and supported by the confidence we have in delivering higher adjusted
EBITDA* as a result of our updated investment plans.

• bp is committed to maintaining a strong investment grade credit rating, targeting
further progress within an ‘A’ grade credit rating. For 2023 bp intends to allocate
40% of surplus cash flow to further strengthening the balance sheet.

• bp continues to focus on disciplined investment allocation. For 2023 bp expects
capital expenditure of $16-18 billion and for 2024-30 now expects capital expenditure
in a range of $14-18 billion including inorganic capital expenditure*.

• For 2023 and subject to maintaining a strong investment grade credit rating, bp
remains committed to using 60% of surplus cash flow for share buybacks.

• Based on bp’s current forecasts, at around $60 per barrel Brent and subject to
the board’s discretion each quarter, bp expects to be able to deliver share buybacks
of around $4.0 billion per annum, at the lower end of its capital expenditure range,
and have capacity for an annual increase in the dividend per ordinary share of around
4%.

**Continued progress in transformation to an Integrated Energy Company**

• In a separate announcement, bp has today provided an update on the significant
progress made in executing its transformation to an Integrated Energy Company (IEC)
since outlining its new strategy.

• In resilient hydrocarbons bp has accelerated its biogas strategy – part of its
bioenergy Transition Growth Engine – completing the acquisition of Archaea Energy
a leading US biogas company. Delivering on its focus on cost and efficiency, in 
2022 bp delivered its lowest upstream unit production cost* since 2006 and highest
upstream plant reliability* on record.

• In convenience and mobility bp continues to make strategic progress, announcing
an exclusive agreement in the UK with Marks and Spencer (M&S) to install fast(a)
charge points to around 70 of their stores, adding up to 900 charge points within
the next two years; and increasing the number of EV charge points by over 65% versus
2021.

• In low carbon energy bp has continued to make rapid progress building its portfolio
of green hydrogen* projects, signing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with both
Mauritania and Egypt to explore the potential for large scale green hydrogen developments.

During 2022 bp delivered four quarters of robust underlying financial performance.
We have raised our dividend by 21% since 4Q 2021, reduced net debt by $9.2 billion,
invested with discipline and announced $11.25 billion of share buybacks. As we look
to 2023, we remain focused on the disciplined delivery of our financial frame, with
its five priorities, underpinned by a $40/bbl balance point, unchanged.

Murray Auchincloss

Chief financial officer

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