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BP eyes more spending cuts as prices fall

  • : Crude oil, LPG, Natural gas, Oil products
  • 14/12/10

BP is considering further cuts to next year's capital expenditure (capex) budget as falling oil prices squeeze revenue and reinforce the major's drive to improve capital discipline. But the company has warned that measures to restructure the business to reflect its smaller size are likely to result in around $1bn of non-operating charges.

BP reiterated to investors today that it has the flexibility to reduce organic capex next year by $1bn-2bn from its previous $24bn-26bn guidance and that it continues to look for ways "to pare or rephase" investment next year without compromising growth. The firm has not ruled out further spending cuts beyond the potential $1bn-2bn identified in October but says that will depend on how costs evolve in a lower price environment.

BP expects costs to fall but the decline will be lagged. "History shows the strong alignment with industry costs and oil prices, with cost changes generally reacting to oil price movement with a lag of 1-2 years," upstream chief executive Lamar McKay said today at a strategy briefing. "With oil prices where they are today, we expect this natural self-correction mechanism to become self-evident in supply chain deflation."

Much of BP's capex for next year is already committed, but the sharp drop in oil prices since June forced the firm to reassess its discretionary spending plans. BP will not announce its updated 2015 capex budget until the fourth-quarter results are published early next year, giving it extra time to review investment levels in light of Opec's decision last month to keep its 30mn b/d output ceiling unchanged. "A lot depends on the pace of deflation," McKay said.

The firm remains confident that its recent investment decisions will hold up in the current price environment but is likely to raise the bar for future project approvals. "While BP approves projects at $80/bl, it also already tests each at $60/bl to understand the resilience of the portfolio at a range of prices. It will also continue to consider lower price sets as appropriate," the company said.

The firm has played down concerns that a pull-back in spending and potential project deferrals or cancellations will hamper future growth. It said it has a suite of new upstream projects capable of adding over 900,000 b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d) to its production by 2020. "We have already taken final investment decisions and are constructing the projects that are expected to deliver around half of these volumes. We are in the design stage on the rest, and all of these projects are expected to move to the construction phase by 2017 or earlier," McKay said. Those projects already approved include the Clair Ridge oil development in the UK's west of Shetland region and the Khazzan tight gas field in Oman. Both are due on stream in 2017 and will produce a combined 300,000 boe/d at peak.

Falling oil prices have prompted BP to accelerate plans to simplify its corporate structure to better reflect its post-Macondo portfolio. The firm has already spent several months reviewing how to take out unnecessary overheads and avoid duplication but admitted earlier this week that "the oil price has focused minds". The simplification process will result in an unspecified number of job losses.

BP expects to incur around $1bn of non-operating charges over the next five quarters, including the current quarter, as a result of the restructuring. "We have already been working very hard over these past 18 months or so to right-size our organisation as a result of completing more than $43bn of divestments," chief executive Bob Dudley said. "The simplification work we have already done is serving us well as we face the tougher external environment. We continue to seek opportunities to eliminate duplication and stop unnecessary activity that is not fully aligned with the group's strategy."

BP reiterated today that it is prepared to increase debt or tap its cash reserves in the short term to weather the downturn, saying that its strong balance sheet "provides time and flexibility to adjust to changes in the environment".

jk/ts

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25/05/05

Mexico's manufacturing contraction deepens in April

Mexico's manufacturing contraction deepens in April

Mexico City, 5 May (Argus) — Activity in Mexico's manufacturing sector shrank for a 13th straight month in April, with declines accelerating in production and new orders, according to a survey of purchasing managers. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 45.5 in April from 46.9 in March, finance executives' association IMEF said, moving further below the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction. US tariffs imposed since March are adding pressure to Mexico's manufacturing sector, which makes up about a fifth of the national economy. The auto industry, responsible for roughly 18pc of manufacturing GDP, may be the hardest hit by the new measures, including a 25pc tariff on auto parts that took effect 3 May. Mexico remains the top exporter of vehicles to the US, supplying 23pc of all US auto imports in 2024. But IMEF said tariffs compound broader, mostly domestic headwinds, including reduced public spending and investor uncertainty stemming from sweeping legal and regulatory reforms. New investment has stalled since late 2024. The PMI index for new orders fell by 2.5 points to 41.8, the lowest since June 2020. Production dropped by 2.5 points to 43.6, while employment fell by 0.6 point to 46.4. New orders and production have now been in contraction for 14 straight months, and employment for 15. Inventories saw the steepest drop in April, falling 4 points to 46.3 — sliding from expansion to contraction — as manufacturers accelerated shipments after tariff implementation dates were confirmed. IMEF's non-manufacturing PMI — which covers services and commerce — remained in contraction for a fifth consecutive month but edged up by 0.5 points to 49.0 in April. Within that index, new orders rose by 0.6 points to 48.1, employment increased 1.3 points to 48.6 and production held steady at 47.5. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Alcmene withdraws ExxonMobil Miro shares offer


25/05/05
25/05/05

Alcmene withdraws ExxonMobil Miro shares offer

Hamburg, 5 May (Argus) — Austrian company Alcmene has withdrawn from its plans to buy ExxonMobil's share in German refining joint venture Miro. Alcmene told ExxonMobil of the withdrawal on 29 April, putting an end to a drawn-out sales process. ExxonMobil agreed in October 2023 to sell its 25pc stake in Miro, which operates the 310,000 b/d Karlsruhe refinery in Germany. The sale was initially put on hold by a court order following a petition by fellow shareholder Shell in April 2024. The court in Karlsruhe dismissed ExxonMobil's appeal in the final instance in July, prohibiting the company from selling its stakes without prior agreement by Shell. Shell holds 32.25pc in the venture, Russian state-controlled Rosneft has 24pc and US firm Phillips 66 has 18.75pc. Rosneft's German business has been under state trusteeship since September 2022. Rosneft plans to sell all of its German assets. By Natalie Müller and Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland:Update


25/05/05
25/05/05

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland:Update

Adds details on proxy fight, other background. Houston, 5 May (Argus) — US infrastructure operator and fuel distributor Sunoco said it will buy Canadian refiner and fuel retailer Parkland in a $9.1bn cash and stock deal. The deal comes as Parkland faces a proxy fight from its largest shareholder Simpson Oil, which was calling for a vote to change the board of directors at a now-cancelled 6 May shareholder meeting. The agreement with Sunoco "creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas," said Michael Jennings, executive chairman of Parkland. The transaction will further diversify Sunoco's portfolio and geographic footprint and increase cash flow generation for reinvestment and distribution growth, Sunoco and Parkland said. Parkland owns about 4,000 retail and commercial locations in Canada, the US and the Caribbean region, as well as the 55,000 b/d refinery in Burnaby, British Columbia. The refinery produces conventional oil products and has 4,000 b/d of co-processing capacity, meaning both petroleum and biogenic feedstocks are used. Sunoco said it is committed to continue investment in the refinery which supplies fuel to southwestern BC, including the Vancouver area. Under the deal, Sunoco will keep a Canadian headquarters in Calgary and "significant employment levels" in Canada, the companies said. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year. Sunoco is part of the Dallas-based Energy Transfer family of companies but is publicly traded under its own ticker symbol. Parkland has planned a special meeting of its shareholders on 24 June, to approve the transaction. The annual general meeting of Parkland shareholders, which was originally scheduled for 6 May has been cancelled. Proxy fight building before deal Parkland in March said it was conducting a review of strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the company. The review was led by a special committee of the board of directors. Parkland long-time chief executive Bob Espey announced on 16 April that he would step down sometime this year with the timing depending on the completion of the strategic review or the appointment of a new chief executive. Simpson Oil, which holds about 20pc of Parkland shares, called for a strategic review of Parkland in 2024 and re-iterated its concerns in a letter to the Parkland board of directors in February. Parkland and Simpson Oil have been mired in a dispute related to a 2019 governance agreement. Simpson Oil said on 2 May that it had the support of more than 60pc of Parkland's shareholders which would enable it to take control of the Parkland board of directors. An official vote would have taken place at the now-cancelled shareholders meeting. Simpson Oil on Monday urged Parkland to "respect the democratic process" and allow the 6 May shareholders meeting to proceed as scheduled. "Delaying the meeting and pushing forward with any transaction ahead of board transition represents a clear breach of fiduciary duty—an obvious attempt to cling to power and sidestep shareholder will," Simpson Oil said in a press release. Simpson Oil also called for all 11 incumbent directors to resign immediately. In 2023, activist investor hedge fund Engine Capital said that Parkland should consider shedding assets "that create unnecessary complexity and detract from its underlying value." Engine Capital said at the time that the Burnaby refinery is a "volatile and more capital-intensive refinery" that should be sold or spun off. Parkland last year sold its Canadian commercial propane business to Avenir Energy for C$115mn. Sunoco, meanwhile, has been growing its footprint in North America. The company [last year acquired] (https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2530270) pipeline and terminal operator NuStar Energy for $7.3bn. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Alcmene zieht sich aus Miro-Kauf von Esso zurück


25/05/05
25/05/05

Alcmene zieht sich aus Miro-Kauf von Esso zurück

Hamburg, 5 May (Argus) — Das österreichische Mineralölunternehmen Alcmene hat sich aus der geplanten Übernahme von Essos Anteilen an der Miro in Karlsruhe zurückgezogen. Bereits zuvor wurde der Kauf durch eine gerichtliche Verfügung auf Eis gelegt. Alcmene hat Esso am 29. April über ihre Entscheidung, von ihrem Rücktrittsrecht Gebrauch zu machen, informiert. Damit findet die Übernahme endgültig nicht statt. Esso, das deutsche Tochterunternehmen von ExxonMobil, gab den Verkauf ihres 25 %-gen Anteils an der Miro (310.000 bl/Tag) im Oktober 2023 bekannt, mit geplanter Übernahme durch Liwathon-Tochter Alcmene im ersten Quartal 2024. Die Übernahme verzögerte sich zunächst, nachdem Anteilseigner Shell dagegen eine einstweilige Verfügung beantragte. Der Widerspruch von Esso wurde vom Oberlandesgericht in Karlsruhe im Juli 2024 abgelehnt und der Verkauf an Alcmene ohne Zustimmung von Shell in letzter Instanz verboten. Seitdem war unklar, ob und wie die Übernahme voranschreiten könnte. Shell hält 32,25 % an der Miro, gefolgt von Rosneft Deutschland mit 24 % und Phillips 66 mit 18,75 %. Rosneft Deutschland, das deutsche Tochterunternehmen der russischen Rosneft, befindet sich seit September 2022 unter der Treuhand der Bundesnetzagentur. Rosneft plant, alle seine deutschen Vermögenswerte zu verkaufen. Von Natalie Müller und Fenella Rhodes Senden Sie Kommentare und fordern Sie weitere Informationen an feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland


25/05/05
25/05/05

Sunoco to buy Canadian fuel distributor Parkland

Houston, 5 May (Argus) — US firm Sunoco agreed to buy Canadian fuel distributor and retailer Parkland in a deal valued at $9.1bn, the companies said Monday. Sunoco, an energy infrastructure and fuel distribution company, will acquire all outstanding shares of Parkland in a cash and equity transaction. This deal "creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas," said Michael Jennings, executive chairman of Parkland. The transaction will further diversify Sunoco's portfolio and geographic footprint and increase cash flow generation for reinvestment and distribution growth, the companies said. Parkland owns a 55,000 b/d refinery in Burnaby, British Columbia, which produces conventional oil products and has 4,000 b/d of co-processing capacity, meaning both petroleum and biogenic feedstocks are used. Sunoco said it is committed to continue investment in the refinery which supplies fuel to southwestern BC, including the Vancouver area. Parkland owns about 4,000 retail and commercial locations in Canada, the US and the Caribbean region. Under the deal, Sunoco will keep a Canadian headquarters in Calgary and "significant employment levels" in Canada, the companies said. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year. Parkland has planned a special meeting of its shareholders on 24 June, to approve the transaction. The annual general meeting of Parkland shareholders, which was originally scheduled for 6 May has been cancelled. Parkland in March said it was conducting a review of strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the company. The review was led by a special committee of the board of directors. Parkland last year sold its Canadian commercial propane business to Avenir Energy for C$115mn. By Eunice Bridges Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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