REG - Ithaca Energy PLC Delek Group - DLEKG - Full Year 2024 Results

Ithaca EnergyAnnouncement

26/03/2025 07:16

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RNS Number : 2686C  Ithaca Energy PLC  26 March 2025

Please see the Full Audited Results in attached PDF

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/2686C_1-2025-3-26.pdf
(http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/2686C_1-2025-3-26.pdf)

 

 

26 March 2025

 

ITHACA ENERGY PLC

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

 

Full Year 2024 Results
Transformational year with continued strategic delivery
Robust 2024 operational and financial performance at the top end of management guidance
Strong Q4 production and EBITDAX, supporting delivery of total 2024 dividend of $500m

 

Ithaca Energy, a leading UK independent production and growth company, today
announces its audited full year results for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Actuals to 31 December 2024 reflect the completion of the Group's business
combination with substantially all of Eni S.p.A's ("Eni") UK upstream oil and
gas assets ("Business Combination") on 3 October 2024 and include
approximately three months contribution from Eni UK's assets. Pro forma 2024
reflects a full year of operations for the enlarged Group.

 

2024 Highlights:

·    Material dividend distributions to shareholders with third interim
2024 dividend of $200 million declared today delivering total 2024 dividends
declared of $500 million, in line with our 2024 target

·    Reaffirming dividend policy for 2025 targeting dividend of 30%
post-tax CFFO, with a dividend target of $500 million for FY 2025

·    Completion of transformational Business Combination with Eni UK in
October 2024

·    Entering 2025 as the largest resource holder in UKCS, with estimated
2P Reserves & 2C Resources of 657 mmboe(1) as at 31 December 2024 (2023:
544 mmboe)

·    Second largest independent producer in UKCS with pro forma 2024
production of 105.5kboe/d(1)

·    Q4 production of 116.0 kboe/d and opex per boe of $14/boe delivering
Q4 Adjusted EBITDAX of $646 million, reflects the transformational nature of
the Business Combination

·    Continued strong production trend into 2025, with average production
from November 2024 to February 2025 of >120 kboe/d

·    Improved safety record with zero Tier 1 or 2 incidents in the year

·    Rosebank project continues to progress in line with multi-year
development timeline, following Judicial Review ruling, towards targeted first
production in 2026/27

·    Successful $2.25 billion refinancing completed in October 2024,
providing material financial firepower with over $1 billion of available
liquidity as at December 2024

·    Eni UK integration activities well-advanced with main IT systems and
office relocations completed in January 2025, and reorganisation and
streamlining process to be fully complete by 1 July 2025

·    Acquisition of JAPEX UK E&P Limited ('JUK') announced 25 March
2025, increasing the Group's stake in the high-quality Seagull field by 15% to
50%, demonstrates continued execution of Ithaca Energy's consolidation
strategy in the UKCS

Yaniv Friedman, Executive Chairman, commented: "2024 was a transformational
year for Ithaca Energy, having made material progress across our strategic
objectives creating value organically and inorganically. We enter our Next Era
of growth, with a proven strategy and a range of strategic options for growth.
Yesterday's announcement of our acquisition of JAPEX UK, increasing our stake
in the high-quality, long-life Seagull field demonstrates continued execution
of our inorganic growth strategy, building further scale in

 our core UKCS market. Our focus in 2025 will continue to be on high-grading investment across our range of growth opportunities, executing in line with our strategy as a value-led investor, to maximise long-term sustainable shareholder value through growth and distributions."

Summary of key financial metrics

 

                                                  2024     2023
 Adjusted EBITDAX(2,) (3) ($m)                    1,405.0  1,722.7
 Net cash flow from operating activities(3) ($m)  853.3    1,290.8
 Available liquidity(2,) (3) ($m)                 1,015.1  1,028.2
 Profit after tax(3) ($m)                         153.2    292.6
 Basic EPS(3) (Cents)                             13.2     29.1
 Unit operating expenditure(2,) (3) ($/boe)       22.4     20.5

Other KPIs

 

 Total production (boe/d)(4)                 80,177   70,239
 Tier 1 and Tier 2 process safety events(3)  -        1
 Serious injury and fatality frequency(3)    -        -
 Scope 1 and 2 emissions (tCO2e)(4)          448,190  435,792
 Greenhouse gas intensity (kgCO2e/boe)(4)    23.9     25.0

 

2024 Corporate Highlights

·    Material dividend distributions to shareholders with third interim
2024 dividend of $200 million declared today delivering a total 2024 dividend
declared of $500 million, in line with our 2024 target

·    Completion of transformational Business Combination of Ithaca Energy
and Eni UK, creating a dynamic growth player with the largest resource base in
the UKCS with 2P Reserves and 2C Resources of 657 mmboe(1) providing
significant growth optionality and strong foundations for organic and
inorganic long-term growth while supporting sustainable shareholder returns

·    Strategy to pursue consolidation in core UKCS basin, reflected in
acquisition of JUK post period-end (announced on 25 March 2025), adding 4-4.5
kboe/d to the Group's production base in a well understood, high-quality,
long-life asset and taking the Group's working interest in the Seagull field
to 50%. Estimated completion date of 30 June 2025.

2024 Operational Highlights

Strong Q4 production performance, with positive production trend continuing
into 2025

·    2024 full year production of 80.2 kboe/d(1,4), delivering production
at the upper end of guidance of 76-81 kboe/d for the enlarged group

-      Includes six months production from Eni UK assets from 1 July
economic effective date (legal completion on 3rd October 2024)

-      Production split approximately 60% liquids and 40% gas

·    Pro-forma 2024 production of 105.5 kboe/d(1) placing Ithaca Energy as
the second largest independent operator by production in the UKCS (2023: 70.2
kboe/d)

·    Strong operational performance in Q4, achieving average production of
116.0 kboe/d(1), reaching peak production rates of 138 kboe/d(1) in the final
quarter with continued strong production trend into 2025, with average
production from November to February of >120 kboe/d(1)

Unlocking material organic growth opportunities

·    Rosebank project progressing in line with multi-year development
timeline with estimated first production in 2026/27, including successful
completion of major subsea campaign with the installation of all nine subsea
structures ahead of schedule, in parallel with ongoing FPSO vessel
modification scopes

·    Following the outcome of the Rosebank Judicial Review, the Rosebank
JV partnership will prepare and submit the downstream end user combustion
emissions ('scope 3') assessment after the release of government guidelines,
expected in Spring 2025

·    Successfully awarded licence extension from 31 March 2024 to 31 March
2026 for Cambo field in Q1 2024. Request for further 18-month extension
submitted to the North Sea Transition Authority reflecting the fiscal and
regulatory uncertainty faced by the sector and the impact of the ongoing
Environmental Impact Assessment review

·    First production from Talbot field in November with field delivering
in line with expectations and successful exploration well at Jocelyn South in
the J-Area in December, which has been tied back during Q1 2025 and is now on
production, just three months following the field discovery

·    Fotla development concept completed, supporting a Final Investment
Decision in 2025, subject to regulatory environment

Safe and responsible operator

·    Positive trend in safety performance in 2024, with zero Tier 1 and
Tier 2 process safety events recorded in the year and significant reduction in
total recordable incident frequency

·    Business Combination emissions improvement with reduction in gross
operated CO2e GHG emissions intensity in 2024 to 23.9 kgCO2e/boe (2023: 25.0
kgCO2e/boe)

Sustaining and optimising production to support medium-term production outlook

·    Successfully completed the Captain Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Phase
II project, executed on plan and within budget, with first Phase II polymer
response outperforming expectations

·    Continued high levels of activity at Captain, with commencement of a
topside drilling campaign in Q3 with the campaign extending over a two-year
duration targeting four new production wells, a pilot well and two well
workovers

·    Completed W1 well workover at Erskine during July, reinstating the
fifth production well at the field

·    Infill drilling campaigns progressed at Elgin Franklin, Schiehallion
and Captain during the year

2024 Financial Highlights

Strong financial performance against guidance for enlarged group, with
materially enhanced Q4 2024 results. Key financial highlights in-line with
estimated results provided in FY 2024 Trading Update on 20 February 2025:

·    Material dividend distributions to shareholders with the announcement
of the Group's third interim 2024 dividend declared today of $200 million
payable in April 2025, delivering a total 2024 dividend declared of $500
million, in line with our 2024 target

·    Adjusted EBITDAX of $1,405 million (2023: $1,723 million) on revenues
of $1,982 million (2023: $2,320 million), representing contributions from Eni
UK assets from the completion date of 3 October onwards. Pro forma 2024
Adjusted EBITDAX of $1,985.3 million reflecting a full year contribution of
Eni UK assets

·    Q4 EBITDAX performance of $646 million, reflects transformational
nature of Business Combination

·    Net cash flow from operating activities of $853 million representing
contributions from Eni UK assets from the completion date of 3 October onwards
(2023: $1,291 million)

·    Profit after tax for the year of $153.2 million (2023: $292.6
million), inclusive of a post-tax impairment of $103m (2023: $154m)

·    Trading performance benefited from the Group's active hedging policy
with $135 million of hedge gains in the year due to realised oil prices of
$81/bbl before hedging (2023: $85/bbl) and $82/bbl after hedging (2023:
$82/bbl) and gas prices of $64/boe before hedging (2023: $76/boe) and

$78/boe after hedging (2023: $111/boe)

·    2024 adjusted net operating costs of $649 million, representing a net
unit opex cost of $22/boe, below management guidance of $650 million to $730
million for the enlarged Group

-      Includes six months operating costs from Eni UK assets from 1 July
economic effective date

·    Q4 cost per barrel of $14.0/boe demonstrating the high netback
capability of the post deal portfolio

·    2024 net producing asset capital cost of $448 million, at mid-point
of management guidance of $410

- $480 million for the enlarged Group

-  Includes six months capital costs from Eni UK assets from 1 July economic
effective date

·    2024 net Rosebank capital spend of $198 million, marginally above
management guidance of $170 million to $195 million, reflecting material
project activity and progress in 2024 supporting a targeted first oil date of
2026/27

·    Tax efficient structure, supplemented by the Business Combination,
with a material ring fence corporate tax and supplementary charge tax loss
position of $5.4 billion and $4.7 billion respectively at year-end 2024

-      Acquisition of JUK includes material tax losses of approximately
US$215 million in both Ring Fence Corporation Tax and Supplementary Charge Tax
as well as approximately US$105 million Energy Profit Levy losses as at 1
January 2024, reflecting JUK's material investment in the field

·    Successful $2.25 billion refinancing completed in Q4, enhancing
balance sheet strength and flexibility with available liquidity of over $1
billion

-      New Senior Notes facility of $750 million with 2029 redemption and
coupon of 8.125%, lengthening the maturity period and lowering the cost of
capital

·    Adjusted net debt of $884.9 million (2023: $571.8 million),
representing a Group pro forma leverage position of 0.45x (2023: 0.33x)

Guidance and Outlook 2025

Management guidance is inclusive of the acquisition of JUK (announced 25
March), assuming a completion date of the transaction of 30 June 2025.

·    We expect full year 2025 production in range of 105-115 kboe/d(1)
reflecting a full year of contributions from the Eni UK assets

·    FY 2025 net operating cost guidance range of $770-850 million

·    FY 2025 net producing asset capital cost guidance range of $560-620
million (excluding pre-FID projects and Rosebank development)

·    FY 2025 net Rosebank project capital cost guidance range of $190-230
million

·    FY 2025 cash tax guidance of $235-265 million

·    Significant gas hedging activity throughout Q1 securing attractive
gas hedge positions during a period of escalating prices. Hedged position at
20 March 2025 of 32.1 mmboe (c.71% gas, c.29% oil) from

2025 into 2027 at an average price floor of $75/bbl, and average collar
ceiling of $82/bbl, and average wide cost collar ceiling of $91/bbl for oil,
and an average price floor of 90p/therm and average collar ceiling of
104p/therm and average wide cost collar ceiling of 133p/therm for gas

·    Reaffirming dividend policy for 2025 targeting dividend of 30%
post-tax CFFO, at the top end of our capital allocation policy range of 15 -
30% post-tax CFFO, with a target of $500 million for FY 2025

Medium-Term

·    Beyond 2025, the Group expects to sustain production above 100 kboe/d
in the medium-term reflecting the full benefit of investment in our Captain
EOR Phase II project, first production from the Rosebank development and
infill drilling programmes at Cygnus, Elgin Franklin and the J Area with
material upside from 2C resources

·    Enlarged portfolio supports a reduction in opex per barrel with a
medium-term forecast to reset towards $20/boe, reflecting increased production
volumes from low opex fields and retirement of mature high-opex assets

·    Sustaining capex supports medium-term production outlook with
continued focus on high grading organic and inorganic investment optionality
across our portfolio while prioritising capital allocation to maximise
sustainable shareholder returns

·    Strong cash flow generation supports the Group's capital allocation
policy with a potential for over

$9 billion of total pre-tax cash flow from operations from 2P Reserves over
the next five years (2025 to 2029) at $80/bbl and 85p/therm

Analyst and Investor Presentation

In addition to a presentation of its Full Year 2024 results, Ithaca Energy
will today provide an investor update outlining its strategy to deliver
long-term value creation following the recent Business Combination with Eni
UK. The presentation will be hosted in person at 09:00 (GMT) today, 26 March
2025,and will be available via a live webcast, accessible via our website:
https://investors.ithacaenergy.com/ (https://investors.ithacaenergy.com/)

A replay will be available on Ithaca Energy's investor relations website
following the event.

Notes

1.    Given the increase in gas volumes in Ithaca Energy's portfolio
following the Eni UK Business Combination, the gas conversion factor metric to
boe for reporting purposes has been recalibrated to more accurately reflect
energy equivalence on a combined boe basis using an average calorific value of
all gas streams. Fuel gas has been included in production rates in line with
the Competent Persons Report produced by NSAI

2.    Non-GAAP measure (see pages 84 to 87)

3.    Contributions from Eni UK assets from the completion date of 3
October 2024

4.    Contributions from Eni UK assets from economic effective date of 1
July 2024

 

FY 2024 performance in review 2024 -
 A story of transformational growth

2024 has been a transformational year for the Group, having made material
progress across our strategic objectives. The Group's Business Combination
with substantially all of the upstream assets of Eni SpA in the UK brings
together highly complementary portfolios, offering significant scale, balance
and optionality, creating a powerful platform to deliver material cash flow
generation, organic and inorganic growth and value creation.

The Combination has established Ithaca Energy as a dynamic growth player with
the single largest resource base in the UKCS and the underlying un-risked
growth potential to become the largest producer in the basin by 2030. Through
our Combination and the Group's ongoing investment in key long-life assets, we
have materially grown our 2P Reserves and 2C Resources base to 657 mmboe as at
31 December 2024 (2023: 544 mmboe).

A proven strategy and enhanced platform supports 'Next Era' of growth

As we enter our Next Era of growth, we do so with a proven strategy and an
enhanced platform for organic and inorganic value creation, drawing on the
agility of an independent, the capabilities of a Major and the support of its
committed majority shareholders.

Leveraging our enhanced operational and technical capabilities, we aim to be
the highest-performing operator in the basin, focused on sustaining production
and optimising performance to support our short to medium-term production
outlook and investing in our material organic resource base to generate
long-term sustainable growth and value creation.

With a proven track record for value-accretive M&A, the Group is well
positioned to play a pivotal role in further North Sea consolidation, taking
an agile response to continued market dislocation, while expanding its
inorganic growth strategy internationally. We remain confident that material
opportunity for consolidation exists in the Group's core UKCS market, with the
potential for basin exits and portfolio rationalisation as a result of UK
fiscal policy. Capitalising on our agility and operational robustness, we are
in an ideal position to extract even further value from these opportunities.

By augmenting our proven track record for M&A with our shareholders'
global credentials and relationships, Ithaca Energy now has a credible
platform to broaden its M&A strategy internationally, establishing an
additional option for value creation. The Group will take a disciplined and
targeted approach to its international expansion strategy, focusing on
investing in regions that offer the potential for scale, further M&A
opportunities, and stable fiscal regimes.

With significant organic and inorganic investment optionality, the Group's
focus remains on being a disciplined, value-driven investor, targeting growth
opportunities that maximise value creation for our shareholders.

Material delivery across all strategic pillars in 2024

During the year, the Group has continued to prioritise targeted investment in
high-quality assets across its diverse UK North Sea portfolio.

The Rosebank project, in its first full year of construction activity,
continued to make solid progress against its multi-year development timeline
towards first production in 2026/27, delivering against the Group's strategy
to invest in long-life, low carbon intensity assets supporting long-term
production growth. The development achieved a key milestone in July,
completing the first major subsea campaign ahead of schedule with installation
of all planned structures on the seabed of the field. The Petrojarl Rosebank
FPSO engineering and modification scopes continue to progress and remain
critical to delivering on the targeted first production date.

The Rosebank JV partnership welcomed the court ruling in relation to the
Rosebank Judicial Review in January 2025. The ruling allows the project to
continue in its development phase while the partnership gets ready to apply
for and obtain the new consent based on the expected new regulatory guidance.
We will continue to support Equinor (Operator) as we work closely with the
Regulators and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to progress
the Rosebank project, including submitting a downstream end user combustion
emissions (Scope 3) assessment in full compliance with the Government's new
environmental guidance, which is targeted to be published in spring 2025.

The Group is progressing its pre-FID projects including Cambo, Fotla, Tornado
and K2 by implementing a fast- track approach in project maturation and
delivery. Following the Business Combination and the Autumn review of the UK
Government's fiscal strategy, we have revitalised the Cambo project, looking
to further enhance the technical and operational features of the project,
leveraging the experience of our shareholders. In the second half of the year,
the Group completed its development concept selection for Fotla, in support of
a FID for the tie-back opportunity.

Farm-down processes remain live for Cambo and Fotla with the processes
experiencing a temporary pause as the industry awaited the outcome of the new
Labour Government's fiscal and regulatory review. The Group has made
representations to the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to remove the
licence milestone in relation to achieving a farm-down prior to 31 March 2025,
to reflect the Group's enhanced strength following the Business Combination
with Eni UK, and to grant an extension of the Cambo licence to 30 September
2027 from 31 March 2026. Engagement with the NSTA in relation to this matter
remains ongoing.

The successful completion of the EOR Phase II project, on schedule and within
budget, at the Group's flagship Captain field, represented a significant
milestone in 2024. The multi-year project builds on the success of the
platform-based EOR Phase I project, with an expansion to the subsea area of
the field. With first polymer injection in the subsea wells achieved in May
2024, the field is already experiencing its first enhanced oil response, which
is exceeding expectations with water cuts reducing by over 10% in four
producers and increasing oil production by over 2,500 kboe/d, relative to the
business plan. The phased response of EOR patterns through 2025 and 2026,
together with the 13th drilling campaign, that extends over a two-year
duration and targets four new production wells, a pilot well and the workover
of two wells, supports Captain's life extension and a strong medium-term
production outlook.

In parallel, the Captain asset is focused on delivering stronger levels of
uptime performance with a flotel secured for a six-month period in support of
optimisation projects and backlog reduction, with an additional 150 Person on
Board (POB) capacity reflecting the scale of ongoing activity at the field.

Across the Group's operated portfolio, a successful well workover reinstated
the fifth production well at the Erskine field and following scheduled
turnaround activity and remediation of compressor issues at the host Lomond
field, the field returned to full production in the second half of the year.

The benefits of our Business Combination became immediately evident as the
Group's increased non- operated stakes and asset additions in the J Area
unlocked near-term value catalysts. In the final quarter, we commenced first
production from the Talbot field, adding high-value barrels to the portfolio.
In addition, the partnership enjoyed exploration success at Jocelyn South,
offering near-term high-value production potential with the field tied back to
existing facilities with first production achieved in March 2025, aligning
with our strategy to invest in high-return tie-back opportunities close to
existing infrastructure to maximise reserve recovery.

Strong operational delivery against 2024 guidance with improved safety record

The Group is proud to report that it continued to deliver a positive trend in
its safety performance in 2024, with zero Tier 1 and Tier 2 process safety
events recorded in the year (2023: recorded one Tier 1 event, 2022: recorded
two Tier 2 events) and a 30% improvement in our Total Recordable Injury Rate,
reducing from 3.31 in 2023 to 2.30 per million hours worked in 2024 (2022:
3.38). In recognition of the need for continued improvement across major
accident prevention we continue to focus on embedding our process safety
fundamentals (supporting greater visibility of our major accident hazard
risks), process safety KPIs and the use of our barrier model.

The Group recorded strong operational performance in the final quarter of the
year with the enlarged group achieving average production of 116 kboe/d in Q4,
reaching peak production rates in the period of 138 kboe/d. A strong final
quarter, with all operational issues across our non-operated joint venture
(NOJV) portfolio and non-operated infrastructure substantially resolved,
supported average 2024 production of 80.2 kboe/d (including six months
production from the Eni UK assets reflecting an economic effective date for
the combination of 1 July 2024). Improved performance in Q4, allowed the Group
to close the year towards the upper end of its revised production guidance
range of 76-81 kboe/d for the enlarged Group. Production was split 60% liquids
and 40% gas with the Group's operated assets accounting for 43% of total 2024
production. On a full year pro-forma basis, the enlarged portfolio achieved
average 2024 production of 105.5 kboe/d (2023: 70.2 kboe/d).

Adjusted net operating costs in 2024 from the effective economic date of 1
July 2024 of $649 million (including six months of ENI UK related operating
costs) (2023: $524 million), representing an adjusted net unit opex cost from
the effective economic date of 1 July 2024 of $22.1/boe (2023: $20.5/boe),
came in marginally below management guidance of $650 million to $730 million
for the enlarged Group. Our aim is to maintain opex per boe in the low $20s to
deliver high net back production, that remains resilient in all commodity
environments.

Total net producing asset capital expenditure (excluding decommissioning) of
$448 million (including six months of ENI UK capital costs) (2023: $393
million), came in at the mid-point of the Group's management guidance range of
$410 million to $480 million. Net capital expenditure on the progression of
the Rosebank development totalled $198 million, compared to management
guidance of $170 million to $195 million reflecting the material scopes of
project activity completed in the year in line with the multi-year development
timeline.

Group cash tax paid in the year of $351 million was below the Group's
management guidance range of $390 million to $410 million due primarily to
cash tax payments made by the acquired Eni UK business prior to the economic
effective date of the Business Combination that will be offset in the final
deal working capital settlement. The significant majority of tax payments
related to the Energy Profits Levy, including all of the Ithaca Energy legacy
business cash tax payments.

Creating an optimised organisation to drive our next phase of growth

In the first half of the year, and in preparation for the Combination, the
Group made several changes to its Board of Directors and Executive Management
team to enhance its leadership and operational capabilities. These
appointments, including a new Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Operating Officer, reflect the Group's growth ambitions and the
operational expertise and rigour required to deliver its next phase of growth.
Post completion, the Leadership Team was further augmented by new senior
leaders, bringing together a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds,
reflecting both our agility and strength.

Having completed the Combination in October 2024, integration activities are
now well-advanced, recognising the significant benefits a swift and
well-executed integration process provides. The respective workforces of
Ithaca Energy and Eni UK have been consolidated into two main offices,
primarily at our Aberdeen headquarters, with the migration of all main IT
systems completed in early January. The Group has initiated a restructuring
process aimed at creating an optimised organisation to support its next phase
of growth. The restructuring exercise is expected to impact a small portion of
our workforce, with the intention to complete this process by 1 July 2025.

Responsible operator

Our commitment to ESG serves as our licence to operate. We balance the need to
supply reliable long-term hydrocarbons, critical to delivering domestic energy
security and affordability for the end user, with the necessity to lower our
emissions footprint, while doing so safely, creating value for our people,
shareholders, partners and communities.

With a clear focus and commitment to value-led decarbonisation, we have
embedded a strong ESG mindset across our operations. Our ambitions are
supported by a well-defined ESG strategy to acquire assets that benefit the
emissions profile of our portfolio, invest in low emission intensity assets
that have the ability to materially transition our portfolio in the long-term,
and deliver meaningful optimisation activities across our current portfolio in
the short term that are economically viable.

Through the addition of Eni UK assets, we have lowered the Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emission intensity of our operated portfolio, bringing our gross
operated emissions intensity to 23.9 kgCO2e/boe from 25.0 kgCO2e/boe in 2023
and an exit rate below 20 kgCO2e/boe reflecting the full benefit of the
combination to our emissions profile. Whilst our gross operated absolute Scope
1 and 2 emissions have increased to 448,190 tCO2e in 2024 (2023: 435,792
tCO2e), reflecting a greater number of contributing assets, the carbon
intensity of our operated portfolio has been reduced.

Since 2020, we have held a target of 25% emissions reduction by 2025 from our
2019 levels, on a gross operated basis. This was an industry leading ambition,
set before the NSTD was signed, to drive emissions reduction and a GHG
conscience in the business. This target has led to a significant reduction
from our 2019 baseline and the initiation of several meaningful emission
reduction projects, reducing our Scope 1 operated emissions by 23% between
2019 and 2023.

The Group has changed significantly since 2020, including our recent Business
Combination with Eni UK in 2024. As a result of portfolio changes, the target
no longer has the same impact and benefit as it once did and is not
representative of where we are today. The Group now operates the Cygnus field
and considerable increased non-operated production, therefore it is more
representative for us to track and report on net equity emissions reduction,
in alignment with the UK government through the NSTD. As we enter 2025, we
have retired our original target and now focus on a net equity absolute
emissions target of 25% reduction from 2018 levels by 2027, as set out by the
NSTD. In 2024, we re-baselined our Scope 1 absolute emissions and emissions
intensity to include the combined business portfolio as it was in 2018. This
allows us to track progress towards the targets outlined above. In 2024, our
net equity emissions intensity was 20.7 kgCO2e/boe. From 2025, we will report
on percentage change from the baseline year, 2018.

Our enlarged portfolio benefits from low intensity assets such as Cygnus and
Seagull. As the single largest producing gas field in the UK, Cygnus is a key
contributor to UK energy security operating as a low intensity asset, emitting
approx. 7 kgCO2e/boe, meaningfully below the current UK average of 24
kgCO2e/boe and significantly below the average emission intensity of importing
LNG at 79 kgCO2e/boe.

Across our portfolio, we continued to make material progress with notable
emissions reduction projects completed at FPF-1 (single train operation), Alba
(gas compressor) and Cygnus (TEG system) and ongoing progress made to deliver
flare gas recovery projects at Captain and Cygnus and pump replacement
projects and export compressor projects at Captain in the year.

Work on the Captain electrification FEED study was completed in the second
half of the year, however continued fiscal and regulatory uncertainty in the
year meant that the project did not mature to a final investment decision in
2024. Work continues to be progressed to support the project, however the
project risks, increasing abatement costs and continued coupling of the
decarbonisation allowance to the Energy Profits Levy regime creates
significant economic uncertainty to the project. The Board will determine in
2025 if there is sufficient certainty on the availability of allowances to
determine investment viability, with the project also competing for capital
across our portfolio.

Enhanced financial firepower supports growth ambitions and material shareholder returns

We remain disciplined in our capital allocation priorities, investing to
sustainour base production, protecting our financial position through
maintaining a low leverage position, proactively hedging and optimising our
tax positions and delivering material returnsto shareholders, while retaining
the financial flexibility to evolve our business through investing in organic
and inorganic growth opportunities.

Maintaining a robust Balance Sheet, with significant available liquidity and
financial flexibility remains of critical importance to the Group as we
continue to pursue our growth aspirations. Our recent Business Combination
with Eni UK has strengthened the Group's financial position, with increased
scale and diversification and the addition of Eni UK's unlevered asset
creating additional debt capacity.

The immediate benefits of the Combination were reflected in the Group's
successful $2.25 billion refinancing and credit rating upgrades. The
refinancing, including $750 million Senior Notes and $1.5 billion amended and
restated floating rate Reserve Based Lending (RBL), including $500 million
letters of credit facility, has been further enhanced by a RBL accordion
facility of over $700 million and a new $400 million unsecured letter of
credit facility secured in November.

The successful refinancing has unlocked significant financial synergies,
including lengthening the Group's debt maturity profile, reducing the Group's
cost of capital and increasing the Group's liquidity position. With a low pro
forma 2024 leverage position of 0.45x (2023: 0.33x) and a robust available
liquidity position of over

$1 billion at 31 December 2024 (2023: $1 billion), the Group has material
financial firepower and flexibility to support further investment in growth.

The Group's net current liability position has increased from $226 million at
31 December 2023 to $467 million at 31 December 2024, largely as a result of
the deferred consideration payable on the business combination. The Group
expects that the net current liability position will be addressed through a
combination of operating cash flows, available liquidity and the realisation
of out-of-the-money commodity hedges.

Once again, the importance of our robust hedging policy has been highlighted
in the year, recording $135 million of hedging gains. The Group's pro-active
approach to hedging recognises the importance of balancing upside exposure to
commodity prices while managing downside protection of our cash flows,
protecting shareholder returns. The Group has generated over $400 million of
hedging gains in respect of financial years 2023 and 2024, the equivalent of
our 2023 dividend of $400 million. Following a material build to our hedge
book post completion of our Business Combination, the Group ended the year
with a hedged position of

21.65 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) (25% oil) from 2025 into 2026
at an average price floor of

$77/bbl and average ceiling of $85 for oil and an average price floor of
88p/therm and average collar ceiling of 102p/therm and average wide cost
collar ceiling of 132p/therm for gas.

The Group's cash flows continue to be protected by our tax efficient
structure, supplemented by the Business Combination, with a material ring
fence corporate tax and supplementary charge tax loss position of $5.4 billion
and $4.7 billion respectively at year-end. The current tax charge for 2024,
representing mainly Energy Profits Levy (EPL) of circa $210 million is payable
in October 2025. In addition, following the further amendments to the EPL
regime in October 2024, that included a rate increase to 38% and the removal
of EPL Investment Allowances, the Group incurred a tax charge of $58 million.
Profit after tax for the year of $153.2 million (2023: $292.6 million), was
further impacted by a $263.0 million (2023: 557.9 million) pre-tax impairment
charge, post-tax $102.7 million (2023: $154.0 million), principally in
relation to the Greater Stella Area and Pierce. Profit for the year was lower
than 2023 principally due to a higher tax charge in 2024 due to the enactment
of the increase in EPL from 35% to 38% and a reduction in Ring Fenced
Expenditure Supplement due to some Group tax loss positions reaching their
claim limit in 2023.

In 2024, our enlarged portfolio delivered adjusted EBITDAX of $1.4 billion
(2023: $1.7 billion), representing contributions from Eni UK assets from the
completion date of 3 October onwards. 2024 adjusted EBITDAX was impacted by
lower production volumes and realised prices in comparison to 2023.

EBITDAX performance of $646.5 million in the final quarter, reflects the truly
transformational nature of our Combination, when compared to the previous
quarter EBITDAX of $225.5 million. In fact, Q4 2024 represents the highest
quarterly EBITDAX performance since the Group's listing in November 2022,
during a significantly more advantageous commodity price environment.

Our robust operating cash flow generation in the year of $0.9 billion (2023:
$1.3 billion), supported material shareholder distributions in line with the
Group's capital allocation policy, returning a total of $433 million to
shareholders during the year, $300 million declared in relation to Financial
Year 2024. The Board has today declared an interim dividend of $200 million in
respect of the 2024 financial year to be paid in April 2025, bringing our
total 2024 dividends declared to $500 million. Since our IPO in November 2022,
we have built a strong track record of delivering material returns to
shareholders with $900 million of dividends declared and returned to
shareholders in respect of 2023 and 2024 calendar years.

Outlook

We enter 2025 in a position of greater strength, strategically, operationally
and financially. The transformational Business Combination with Eni UK has
solidified Ithaca Energy's position as a leading UKCS operator and highlights
our ongoing commitment to value-driven growth.

With a portfolio of scale, balance and optionality and material financial
firepower, following the Group's successful refinancing, the Group has an
enhanced strategic platform to unlock both organic and inorganic growth
through the execution of our strategy. Our focus remains on high-grading
investment in our diverse range of growth opportunities to maximise
sustainable shareholder value.

Management provides the following guidance for the year, inclusive of the
acquisition of Japex UK E&P Limited (announced 25 March), assuming a
completion date of the transaction of 30 June 2025, and medium-term outlook:

Our 2025 production guidance of 105-115 kboe/d reflects a full year's
contribution from the enlarged portfolio and increasing production from the
Captain field as we begin to see the early benefits of our Captain EOR Phase
II project.

Beyond 2025, the Group expects to maintain production above 100 kboe/d in the
medium-term from its existing producing asset base and the start-up of the
Rosebank development.

Our operating cost guidance for 2025 of $770-850 million reflects high netback
capability of enlarged portfolio with opex/boe estimated to reduce. We expect
to maintain a relatively flat unit operating cost per barrel in the low
$20/boe range in the short to medium-term, reflecting our stringent focus on
cost control.

Our producing asset capital cost guidance of $560-620 million (excluding
capital investment for projects awaiting Final Investment Decision and
Rosebank), reflects our continued high levels of activity at Captain, J- Area,
Elgin Franklin and Cygnus in support of sustaining our medium-term outlook.

Rosebank development to be in the range of $190-230 million reflecting
significant project activity in line with the multi-year development timeline.

Estimated 2025 cash tax payments of $235-265million, primarily EPL related.

The Group continues to proactively hedge in the first quarter of the year,
securing attractive gas hedge positions during a period of escalating prices
with a hedged position of 32.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) (29%
oil) from 2025 into 2027 at an average price floor of $75/bbl, and average
collar ceiling of

$82/bbl, and average wide cost collar ceiling of $91/bbl for oil, and an
average price floor of 90p/therm and average collar ceiling of 104p/therm and
average wide cost collar ceiling of 133p/therm for gas as at 20 March 2025.

The Group retains its target for 2025 dividends of $500 million, in line with
our capital allocation policy of 15 - 30% post-tax cash flow from operations
(CFFO), and our commitment to distributing 30% post-tax CFFO in 2025.

Strong cash flow generation over the next five years (2025 to 2029) with a
potential for over $9bn of total pre-tax cash flow from operations from 2P
Reserves at $80/bbl and 85p/therm.

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 three transformational acquisitions in recent years, including
the recent Business Combination with Eni UK. Today, Ithaca Energy is one of
the largest independent oil and gas companies in the United Kingdom
Continental Shelf (the "UKCS"), ranking second largest independent by
production with the largest resource base.

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 ahead of targets set out in the North Sea Transition Deal.

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

ENDS-

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