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REG-Petrofac Limited Petrofac Limited: RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

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Petrofac Limited ( PFC)
Petrofac Limited: RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

31-May-2024 / 07:00 GMT/BST

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    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          Separately     Reported       Business          Separately    Reported
               performance(1)     disclosed items              performance(1)    disclosed items
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:

 1 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

 

 2 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

 

 3 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

 1. 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).
 2. Incremental loss is compared to the position announced on 29 April 2024.
 3. Attributable to Petrofac Limited shareholders.
 4. The prior year numbers are restated as detailed in note 2.9 to the consolidated financial statements
 5. 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.
 6. 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.
 7. 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.
 8. 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

 4 James.boothroyd@petrofac.com

 

Sophie Reid, Group Director of Communications

 5 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

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Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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   ISIN:           GB00B0H2K534
   Category Code:  FR
   TIDM:           PFC
   LEI Code:       2138004624W8CKCSJ177
   OAM Categories: 1.1. Annual financial and audit reports
   Sequence No.:   324962
   EQS News ID:    1914935


    
   End of Announcement EQS News Service

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