BP / BPX Energy First Quarter 2020 Results

First quarter 2020 results

• Underlying replacement cost profit for the first quarter was $0.8 billion, compared with $2.4 billion for the same period a year earlier. The result reflected lower prices, demand destruction in the Downstream particularly in March, a lower estimated result from Rosneft and a lower contribution from oil trading. It was also impacted by $0.2 billion non-cash underlying foreign exchange (FX) effects in other businesses and corporate, including FX translation impacts of finance debt in the BP Bunge Bioenergia joint venture.

• Replacement cost loss for the first quarter was $0.6 billion, compared with a profit of $2.1 billion for the same period a year earlier, including a $1.4 billion net adverse impact of non-operating items and fair value accounting effects.

• Inventory holding losses of $3.7 billion, as a result of the dramatic drop in oil prices at the quarter end, were the main driver of the reported historical cost loss of $4.4 billion.

• Operating cash flow for the first quarter, excluding Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments, was $1.2 billion, including a $3.7 billion working capital build (after adjusting for net inventory holding losses) driven by higher Downstream product balances and trading mark-to-market receivable balances at the end of the quarter. Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments in the quarter were $0.3 billion on a post-tax basis.

• Receipts from divestments and other proceeds were $0.7 billion in the first quarter.

• Net debt at the end of the quarter was $51.4 billion, $6.0 billion higher than a quarter earlier. Also reflecting lower equity including FX impacts, gearing at quarter end was 36.2%.

• At the end of the quarter BP had around $32 billion of liquidity available.

• A dividend of 10.5 cents per share was announced for the quarter.

The company commented: "This extraordinary time for the world demands extraordinary responses. And thankfully we are seeing that just about everywhere we look around the world. Our industry has been hit by supply and demand shocks on a scale never seen before, but that is no excuse to turn inward. BP, like many other companies, is stepping up and extending a helping hand to those in need. We do it not because it is expected of us – but because we want to. That is consistent with our purpose.

We are focusing our efforts on protecting our people, supporting our communities and strengthening our finances. I am incredibly proud of the work that our people are doing in all three areas, particularly our colleagues in operations – from rigs to retail and everywhere in between – who are continuing to deliver energy and provide goods in the most difficult of circumstances. At the same time, we are taking decisive actions to strengthen our finances – reinforcing liquidity, rapidly reducing spending and costs, driving our cash balance point lower.

We are determined to perform with purpose and remain committed to delivering our net zero ambition.Bernard Looneychief executive officer RC profit (loss), underlying RC profit, operating cash flow excluding Gulf of Mexico oil spill payments, working capital, organic capital expenditure, net debt and gearing are non-GAAP measures. These measures and inventory holding gains and losses, non-operating items, fair value accounting effects, underlying production, Upstream plant reliability and refining availability are defined in the Glossary on page 30.