BP in $8B Share Buy-back Program - Analyst Blog
March 25 2013 - 10:40AM
Zacks
British energy behemoth BP
plc (BP) announced an $8 billion share repurchase program
to keep its commitment of giving out to shareholders some of the
proceeds it gathered from the recent Russian sale.
This news came just a day after the British oil giant and Russia’s
state-operated oil company, OAO Rosneft, closed their deal related
to TNK-BP. Per the deal, BP divested its 50% stake in TNK-BP in
accordance with the terms announced in Oct 2012 and received a net
amount of $12.48 billion as well as an 18.5% share in Rosneft. As a
result of these transactions, BP has raised its ownership in
Rosneft to 19.75%, taking into consideration its existing minority
stake of 1.25% in the Russian company.
This buyback program, which will likely take 12 to 18 months for
completion, could aid BP’s shareholders to reap future benefits
from its Russian restructuring endeavor. This move would return
shareholders the equivalent amount of BP’s 2003 investment to form
TNK-BP.
BP invested around $8 billion in cash, shares and assets to form
TNK-BP in 2003. Over the decade, the company received $19 billion
in dividends from the corporation. The recent buyback news pushed
BP shares up by 2.8% on Friday to £461.80 in the London stock
exchange, much higher than analysts’ expectations. The balance
$4.48 billion of the proceeds from the Russian sale will be used to
reduce group debt.
BP is facing a trial in New Orleans over the Gulf of Mexico oil
spill that killed 11 workers and poured 4.9 million barrels of oil
into the Gulf over 87 days, polluting shores from Texas to Florida.
The incident compelled BP to cut its dividend in 2010, before
resuming payments in 2011.
BP's shares have also plunged about 30% since the disaster in April
2010 and the company spent over $24 billion as compensation to
individuals, businesses and governments.
Since then, BP has been busy in reshaping its portfolio through the
divestment of smaller non-core properties to pay spill-related
costs, while holding on to potential big resources. The Russian
deal makes Rosneft the world's biggest listed oil company in terms
of market capitalization. On the other hand, BP stands to gain
essential access to hydrocarbon reserves in the remote Arctic belt
of Russia. BP’s sale of TNK-BP’s stake has helped it in simplifying
its operations in Russia via a major strategic shift.
BP carries a Zacks Rank #3 (short-term Hold rating). However, there
are other stocks in the energy sector, namely, Enerplus
Corporation (ERF), Range Resources
Corporation (RRC) and EPL Oil & Gas,
Inc. (EPL) , which carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and
are expected to perform impressively over the next few months.
BP PLC (BP): Free Stock Analysis Report
EPL OIL&GAS INC (EPL): Free Stock Analysis Report
ENERPLUS CORP (ERF): Free Stock Analysis Report
RANGE RESOURCES (RRC): Free Stock Analysis Report
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