Proforma 1999 Results

Total Fina Elf. 29 March 2000 TotalFinaElf proforma 1999 Results Net income excluding non-recurring items : 3.35 billion euros, 24% increase compared to proforma 1998 Net dividend raised to 2.35 euros per share (+17.5%) The merger of TOTALFINA and Elf Aquitaine was approved by the European Commission on February 9, 2000. On March 22, 2000, TOTALFINA, holding more than 95% of the Elf Aquitaine shares, changed its name to TOTAL FINA ELF S.A. and expanded its board by adding 10 directors from Elf Aquitaine's Board. The new TotalFinaElf Board of Directors, chaired by Thierry Desmarest, met on March 28 to review the 1999 consolidated accounts of TOTALFINA and Elf Aquitaine as well as the TotalFinaElf proforma accounts for 1997, 1998 and 1999. The Board also reviewed and closed the accounts of the parent company. TOTAL FINA ELF PROFORMA ACCOUNTS The following information relates to TotalFinaElf. The proforma information is unaudited and has been prepared in accordance with French accounting principles based on Article 215 of the new accounting regulations related to consolidated accounts. Net income (Group share) excluding non-recurring items rose to 3,349 million euros in 1999, a 24% increase as compared to 1998. Net income (Group share) including non-recurring items(1) was 3,496 million euros, a 99% increase as compared to 1998. The 1999 environment was volatile. Oil prices surged to new highs, but refining and petrochemicals margins fell off sharply. The average Brent crude oil price increased by 42% to $18.0/b in 1999 from $12.7/b in 1998. TRCV(2) European refining margins fell by 43% to $9.7/t in 1999 from $16.9/t in 1998. The dollar rose by 4% against the euro, averaging 1.07 in 1999 for the euro/dollar exchange rate. (1) 1999 non-recurring items affecting net income: gains from asset sales (+ 1 132 M euros), FAS 121 (- 453 M euros), early retirement plans (- 31 M euros), restructuring charges (- 295 M euros), and corporate charges (- 206 M euros). (2) TRCV: Topping - Reforming - Cracking - Visbreaking STRONG UPSTREAM PERFORMANCE In the Upstream, TotalFinaElf's hydrocarbon production was 2,065 mboe/d in 1999(3), stable relative to 1998, including 1,468 mb/d of liquids and 3,355 Mcfd of gas. The combined proved reserves continued to grow rapidly, climbing 8.7% in 1999 to 10,455 million boe from 9,615 million boe in 1998. These reserves represent nearly 14 years of production based on the current level of production. The average reserve replacement rate(4) for 1997-1999 was 183%. Over the same three-year period, the reserve replacement cost(4) improved, failing below $4/boe versus $4.3/boe in the 1996-1998 period. Successful exploration results drove finding costs for the 1997-1998 period down to a very competitive level of approximately $0.8/boe. In 1999, TotalFinaElf launched production from several new fields, offsetting the normal decline of mature fields, and recorded some major discoveries: In Europe, the first phase of the Aasgard field (TotalFinaElf 7.65%) started in May 1999. A second phase is scheduled to start by year-end 2000. In the Middle East, the Sirri E field (TotalFinaElf 60%) in Iran started production in February 1999 and rose to a level of 90 mb/d by year end. In Africa, production on the Kuito field (TotalFinaElf 20%) on Block 14 offshore Angola was launched at year end. On Block 17 (TotalFinaElf 40%) in Angola, development of the giant deep-water Girassol field is proceeding as planned with first production expected in mid-2001. The high potential of this block was confirmed by four new discoveries in 1999. In Southeast Asia, gas production continued to grow in 1999 as the Peciko field on the Mahakam Permit (TotalFinaElf 50%) started up in December. Production from Peciko in 2000 will increase TotalFinaElf's share of the gas supplied to the Bontang LNG facility to 60%, ranking the company as the largest gas producer in Indonesia. In South America, TotalFinaElf is present on four permits in southern Bolivia. In 1999, the company made major gas discoveries on Block XX West (TotalFinaElf 41%), San Alberto (15%) and San Antonio (15%). The on-trend location of these discoveries suggests that this may be one of largest gas fields in the Southern Cone. In the US, TotalFinaElf is building up its position in the Gulf of Mexico, launching production from the Virgo field (TotalFinaElf 64%) in water depth of 350 meters. In addition, deep offshore exploration activity yielded discoveries on the Morgus and Matterhorn prospects which are currently being evaluated. Finally, in the Caspian Sea, the company announced very encouraging initial results following its first exploration well on the Shah Deniz permit (TotalFinaElf 10%) in Azerbaijan. Further appraisal will be required to evaluate the size of the discovery. STRONG RESILIENCE OF DOWNSTREAM RESULTS The Downstream segment weathered a weak 1999 environment that was marked by a sharp fall in refining margins. (3) Based on the sum of data published by TotalFina and Elf Aquitaine (4) Consolidated subsidiaries Operating income for 1999, excluding non-recurring items, declined by 16.9% to 1,046 million euros as compared to 1998. The negative impact of low refining margins was partially offset by productivity efforts pursued by both TotalFina and Elf as well as the increase in throughput at the Leuna refinery. The refining breakeven point was substantially reduced to $11/t in 1999. The initial synergies stemming from the merger of TOTAL and PetroFina contributed to this performance. In Marketing, the Group successfully implemented the merger of TOTAL and PetroFina, restructuring all of the subsidiary headquarters by consolidating locations for each country to a single centralised site. In Africa, where TotalFinaElf is the market leader, development continued with new activities launched in several countries. Finally, TotalFinaElf continued to expand its speciality products activities in fast-growing markets, notably in China (LPG, lubricants), Vietnam (marketing, LPG, lubricants), Cambodia (marketing) and Philippines (marketing, LPG). CONTINUED GROWTH FOR CHEMICALS Non-Group sales for the Chemicals segment rose by 6.8% to 17.4 billion euros in 1999 from 16.3 billion euros in 1998. Operating income excluding non-recurring items decreased by 12.0% to 1,189 million euros from 1,351 million euros in 1998 due to a sharp decline in petrochemical margins to a low point in the cycle at mid-year 1999. Cost reduction and volume growth, both through internal and external means, combined to limit the impact of lower petrochemical margins. In 1999, TotalFinaElf sold its Inks business (Coates). This disposal is in keeping with the Group's strategy to concentrate on high-return assets. TotalFinaElf RESULTS The following table presents the principal elements of TotalFinaElf's proforma accounts : 1999 1998 Change m E m E in % Sales 75,035 61,810 +21.4% Operating income from business 6,354 4,696 +35.3% segments* (excluding non-recurring items) Net income (Group share) 3,349 2,703 +23.9% (excluding non-recurring items) Earnings per share (in euros) 4.77 3.86 +23.6% (excluding non-recurring items) Cash flow 10,280 8,501 +20.9% * - excluding health, - 1999 non-recurring items affecting operating income: FAS 121 (- 343 M euros) and restructuring costs (- 252 M euros) - 1998 non-recurring items affecting operating income: FAS 121 (- 961 M euros), charge for negative inventory effect (- 240 M euros) and other (- 185 M euros). OPERATING INCOME FROM BUSINESS SEGMENTS (excluding nonrecurring items) 1999 1998 Change m E m E in % Upstream 4,119 2,087 +97.4% Downstream 1,046 1,258 -16.9% Chemicals 1,189 1,351 -12.0% Operating income from 6,354 4,696 +35.3% business segments 1999 INVESTMENTS Gross investments for the segments (excluding health) were 8.1 billion euros in 1999 as compared to 8.4 billion euros in 1998. - More than 60% of the investments were allocated to the Upstream segment (5.1 billion euros). - Downstream investments were stable at 1.3 billion euros. - Chemical investments were 1.7 billion euros in 1999, slightly greater than in 1998. Consolidated equity before dividend rose to 27.7 billion euros in 1999 as compared to 25.3 billion euros in 1998. The net-debt-to-equity ratio(5) of the Group rose to 49.7% at year-end 1999. PARENT-COMPANY TOTAL FINA ELF S.A. ACCOUNTS AND PROPOSED DIVIDEND The parent company TotalFinaElf reported 1999 earnings of 916 million euros. The Board of TotalFinaElf, after closing the accounts, has decided to propose at the May 25, 2000, General Assembly a dividend of 2.35 euros per share, representing an increase of 17.5% from the previous year, to which will be added the avoir fiscal (French tax credit) pursuant to the terms in force. The payment date for the proposed dividend will be in June 2000. OUTLOOK In the Upstream segment, the proved reserves are well balanced across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the rest of the world. TotaFinaElf holds a portfolio of large projects that should allow it to achieve its ambitious objectives for both production growth and unit cost reduction. Production is expected to grow to 2.8 million boe/d in 2005. In the Downstream segment, the new Group has a competitive refining system and marketing network. The realisation of synergies as well as the implementation of a refining hub system should lead to further reductions in the breakeven point for the Group's European refineries from $11/t in 1999 to $8/t in 2003. TotalFinaElf is the largest marketer in Europe. (5) (Debt - cash - marketable securities) / equity after dividend The Chemicals segment is organised along three product lines : - Petrochemicals and plastics - Intermediates and performance polymers - Specialties Growth in this segment will be focused on high-return assets. Chemicals are expected to provide positive net cash flow to the Group. The first three months of 2000 have been marked by exceptionally high oil prices as well as a strong dollar-euro exchange rate. Refining margins are slightly improved over the 1999 average. Within this context, the performance of the business segments, notably the Upstream, is progressing well.
UK 100

Latest directors dealings