Dividend Declaration and Trading Update

RNS Number : 1843Q

Ithaca Energy PLC

16 February 2023

 

Press release

16 February 2023

Ithaca Energy plc ("Ithaca Energy" or the "Group")

FY'22 Trading Update and Announcement of Interim Dividend

FY 2022 Trading Update

The Group provides the following unaudited trading update for the year ended 31 December 2022, ahead of announcing its Full Year Results on 29 March 2023.

· Increased 2022 production of 71.4 kboepd (2021: 56.5 kboepd) reflecting the Group's strong operational efficiency and transactions completed in the year, including the acquisition of Marubeni Oil & Gas UK Limited in Q1 2022 and Summit Exploration and Production Limited and Siccar Point Energy (Holdings) Limited in Q2 2022. The Group achieved an estimated average production for Q4 2022 of 80.8 kboe/d, ahead of management guidance of 77-80 kboe/d

· Q4 2022 estimated net opex[1] of $137 million, toward the lower end of management guidance of $130 to $150 million

· Estimated 2022 net unit opex costs[2] of $19/boe (2021: $18/boe) substantially driven by higher cost of fuel gas and diesel

· Estimated 2022 net capex[3] of $416 million (2021: $188 million) reflecting investment activity across the asset base including the Captain EOR Phase II development; well-work at Erskine and Alba; appraisal drilling at Isabella; and a development drilling campaign at Jade

· Q4 2022 estimated net capex3 of $119 million, in-line with management guidance of $100-$120 million

Interim Dividend Announcement

As outlined in the IPO Prospectus, Ithaca Energy expects to pay a total dividend for FY 2023 of $400 million[4], with an initial interim dividend payable in the first quarter of 2023. In line with that expectation, the Group is pleased to announce an initial interim dividend of $133 million, representing $0.1321 per ordinary share. The initial interim dividend will be paid on 9 March 2023 to shareholders on the share register on 24 February 2023. The initial interim dividend is expected to be followed by two further dividend payments relating to 2023, following the first half of the financial year and end of the financial year.

The dividend is payable in cash in Sterling to holders of the ordinary shares. Sterling dividends payable will be converted from US dollars at an average of the market exchange rate over the three dealing days between 22 and 24 February 2023. Accordingly, the Group will confirm the foreign exchange rate and the amount of the Sterling dividend payable in pence per share on Monday 27 February 2023.

Enquiries

Ithaca Energy
Kathryn Reid - Head of Investor Relations, Corporate Affairs & Communications	[e-mail]
FTI Consulting (PR Advisers to Ithaca Energy)	[phone]
Ben Brewerton / Nick Hennis	[e-mail]

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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[1] Subject to audit and defined as "operating costs (excluding over/underlift) including tariff expense, less tariff income and tanker costs"

[2] Subject to audit and defined as "operating costs (excluding over/underlift) including tariff expense, less tariff income and tanker costs, divided by net total production for the respective period."

[3] Subject to audit

[4] subject to RBL liquidity test, HY Bond restrictions and other customary restrictions

 

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