REG - Ithaca Energy PLC Delek Group - DLEKG - First Quarter Results

Ithaca EnergyAnnouncement

31/05/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 0896B  Ithaca Energy PLC  31 May 2023

Press release

31 May 2023

ITHACA ENERGY PLC

("Ithaca Energy", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

First Quarter Results for the Three Months to 31 March 2023

 

Q1 production ahead of guidance, continued strategic and operational progress

 

Ithaca Energy, a leading UK independent exploration and production company,
today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended 31
March 2023.

 

 Financial key performance indicators (KPIs)

                                               Q1 2023  Q1 2022
 Group adjusted EBITDAX(1) ($m)                518.1    474.2
 Adjusted net income(1) ($m)                   158.4    161.3
 Net cash flow from operating activities ($m)  351.4    283.7
 Available liquidity (1) ($m)                  650.4    846.9
 Unit operating expenditure(1) ($/boe)         20.3     18.9
 Net debt (1) ($m)                             899.6    703.1
 Net debt/Group adjusted EBITDAX (1)           0.46x    0.55x

 Other KPIs
 Total production (boe/d)                      75,257   70,527
 Tier 1 process safety events                  0        0
 Serious injury and fatality frequency         0        0

 

(1) Non-GAAP measure

 

Q1 2023 Operational highlights

·    Strong safety performance in Q1 2023 with no serious incidents or
Tier 1 or 2 process safety events recorded in the period

·    Production of 75.3 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day
("kboe/d"), ahead of guidance of 70-72 kboe/d, following a positive end to the
quarter

-     Production early in the quarter was impacted by operational issues
at Captain and FPF-1, with FPF-1 partially offline for ~1 month due to a
damaged heat exchanger. Operations resumed in March after a swift resolution,
demonstrating Ithaca Energy's deep operational expertise and production
delivery capabilities

-     Pierce field restarted operations following a major redevelopment to
enable gas production. Gross peak production is expected to reach 30 kboe/d
(Ithaca Energy working interest 7.48%), doubling the field's production prior
to redevelopment

·    Production split 67% liquids and 33% gas

·    Ongoing offshore construction activities continued at Captain
Enhanced Oil Recovery ("EOR") Phase II with engineering close to completion.
B28 well construction mechanically complete, converting the well from water to
polymer injection

·    Commenced preparation for exploration drilling at K2 (Ithaca Energy
operated, working interest 50%), and appraisal drilling at Leverett (Ithaca
Energy working interest 12%) in June 2023. The Leverett field is situated in
close proximity to Britannia, where Ithaca Energy holds a 32.38% non-operated
working interest

·    Captain Electrification Pre-FEED study completed in the quarter,
confirming viability of the concept

·    Pre-FID work continues across the Group's high-value greenfield and
brownfield development portfolio

Q1 2023 Financial highlights

·    Group adjusted EBITDAX up 9% to $518.1 million (Q1 2022: $474.2
million), driven by higher production and despite lower average oil and gas
prices

·    Adjusted net income of $158.4 million broadly flat (Q1 2022: $161.3
million)

·    Net cash flow from operating activities up 24% to $351.4 million (Q1
2022: $283.7 million)

·    Realised oil and gas prices of $83/bbl (Q1 2022: $100/bbl) and
137p/therm before hedging (Q1 2022: 227p/therm)

·    Strong cost control, delivering unit operating costs of $137 million
($20.3/boe (Q1 2022: $18.9/boe)), at the lower end of guidance range of
$130-$150 million for the quarter

·    Producing asset capex of $90 million, at the lower end of guidance
range of $90-$110 million for the quarter

·    Balance sheet remains strong with further deleveraging in the
quarter. Net debt of $899.6 million at 31 March 2023 (31 December 2022: $971.2
million; 31 March 2022: $703.1 million) representing a Group leverage position
of 0.46x net debt to adjusted EBITDAX (31 March 2022: 0.55x) despite material
M&A activity over the past 12 months

·    At 31 March 2023, 10.7 million barrels of oil equivalent (68% oil)
hedged from Q2 2023 into 2025 at an average price floor of $70/bbl for oil and
189p/therm for gas

 

Q1 2023 Corporate highlights

·    On 4 May 2023, Ithaca Energy signed a marketing agreement with Shell
U.K. Limited, representing a meaningful step towards securing an aligned joint
venture partnership that would enable the successful future progression of the
Cambo project towards FID, subject to regulatory and licensing approval
processes and market conditions

·    Initial 2023 interim dividend of $133 million paid in March 2023

·    Targeted total dividend of $400 million reaffirmed for financial year
2023, with two further dividend payments following the first half of the
financial year end and the end of the financial year

 

 

FY 2023 Management Guidance and Outlook for 2023

·    Management reaffirms the previously provided guidance ranges for
currently producing assets for full year 2023, and provides the following
activity updates:

Production guidance:

·        Guidance reaffirmed for the year ended 31 December 2023 of
68-74 kboe/d

Operating cost guidance:

·        Guidance reaffirmed for the year ended 31 December 2023:
$560-$630 million

Producing asset capital cost guidance:

·        Guidance reaffirmed for the year ended 31 December 2023:
$400-$460 million

 

·    Material ongoing activity at the Captain EOR Phase II project that
will support near-term production growth and increased reserve recovery, with
first Phase II polymer production expected in 2024 and peak production in
2025, following the success of EOR Phase I

·    FEED activity commenced in April 2023 to explore the potential for
electrification of the Captain field, following pre-FEED studies in Q1 2023,
demonstrating our continued focus on decarbonisation initiatives across our
portfolio

·    Exploration and appraisal activity at K2 and Leverett in Q2/Q3
provides near-term upside potential

·    Continued deleveraging of the Balance Sheet, in line with the Group's
capital allocation policy

·    Near-term focus on maturing high value development projects in our
portfolio towards FID while prioritising capital allocation to maximise
sustainable shareholder returns

 

Chief Executive Officer, Alan Bruce, commented "I am pleased to report a
strong Q1 2023 performance with adjusted EBITDAX of $518.1 million. We remain
focused on delivering safe and environmentally responsible operations as we
execute our value-adding near-term developments such as Captain EORII, K2 and
infill drilling at Alba"

 

Executive Chairman, Gilad Myerson, commented "We delivered another strong
quarter and met our commitments to deliver high operational performance in a
responsible manner, deleverage our balance sheet, and distribute dividends to
our shareholders. We are working constructively with the UK government to
further develop our key development projects and continue to keep a watchful
eye on consolidation opportunities with a focus on maximising shareholder
returns."

 

Webcast and Conference call

Ithaca Energy will host a virtual presentation and Q&A session for
investors and analysts at 09:00 (BST) today, 31 May 2023, and a further
presentation and Q&A session for Bond Holders only, which will be held at
13:00 (BST) today, 31 May 2023. Details of both sessions are accessible via
our website.

Investors and Analysts - Webcast link

https://www.investis-live.com/ithaca-energy/646654b5900ed61400612ad5/meht
(https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.investis-live.com%2Fithaca-energy%2F646654b5900ed61400612ad5%2Fmeht&data=05%7C01%7Ckathryn.reid%40ithacaenergy.com%7C3787a7e84e994abb9cf808db5883c8df%7C91145d135cbe4b90846cfe1cfea471ce%7C0%7C0%7C638201095292492605%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s4GGvlhPX2x6TMgGES0jMGo%2F3HrsDB2fz0s%2BuF9l%2FHU%3D&reserved=0)

Investors and Analysts - Conference call

Operator Assisted Dial-In: United Kingdom (Local): +44 20 3936 2999 United
Kingdom (Toll-Free): +44 800 358 1035 (tel:+448003581035) Global Dial-In
Numbers Access Code: 921827

 

Bond Holders - Webcast link

https://www.investis-live.com/ithaca-energy/646656096ea6bc0e00602d06/bgfd
(https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.investis-live.com%2Fithaca-energy%2F646656096ea6bc0e00602d06%2Fbgfd&data=05%7C01%7Ckathryn.reid%40ithacaenergy.com%7C3787a7e84e994abb9cf808db5883c8df%7C91145d135cbe4b90846cfe1cfea471ce%7C0%7C0%7C638201095292492605%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3aEMz0v89HMN9NDG8W55FnjXM0QIre92Ff3zIbPwx2Y%3D&reserved=0)

Bond Holders - Conference call

Operator Assisted Dial-In: United Kingdom (Local): +44 20 3936 2999 United
Kingdom (Toll-Free): +44 800 358 1035 (tel:+448003581035) Global Dial-In
Numbers Access Code: 707922

 

Enquiries

 

 Ithaca Energy
 Kathryn Reid - Head of Investor Relations, Corporate Affairs &      kathryn.reid@ithacaenergy.com (mailto:kathryn.reid@ithacaenergy.com)
 Communications

 FTI Consulting (PR Advisers to Ithaca Energy)                       +44 (0)203 727 1000
 Ben Brewerton / Nick Hennis                                         ithaca@fticonsulting.com (mailto:ithaca@fticonsulting.com)

 

About Ithaca Energy plc

 

Ithaca Energy is a leading UK independent exploration and production company
focused on the UK North Sea with a strong track record of material value
creation. In recent years, the Company has been focused on growing its
portfolio of assets through both organic investment programmes and
acquisitions and has seen a period of significant M&A driven growth
centred upon two transformational acquisitions in recent years. Today, Ithaca
Energy is one of the largest independent oil and gas companies in the United
Kingdom Continental Shelf (the "UKCS"), ranking second by resources.

 

With stakes in six of the ten largest fields in the UKCS and two of UKCS's
largest pre-development fields, and with energy security currently being a key
focus of the UK Government, the Group believes it can utilise its significant
reserves and operational capabilities to play a key role in delivering
security of domestic energy supply from the UKCS.

 

Ithaca Energy serves today's needs for domestic energy through operating
sustainably. The Group achieves this by harnessing Ithaca Energy's deep
operational expertise and innovative minds to collectively challenge the norm,
continually seeking better ways to meet evolving demands.

 

Ithaca Energy's commitment to delivering attractive and sustainable returns is
supported by a well-defined emissions-reduction strategy with a target of
achieving net zero by 2040.

 

Ithaca Energy plc was admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange (LON:
ITH) on 14 November 2022.

 

-ENDS-

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