STAVANGER, Norway, July 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Statoil (OSE:STL, NYSE:STO) delivered Adjusted earnings of NOK 22.4 billion and adjusted earnings after tax of NOK 7.2 billion in the second quarter. Statoil reported Net income in accordance with IFRS of NOK 10.1 billion, including gains from divestments.

"In the second quarter, Statoil delivered encouraging operational performance with good production growth and high regularity, whilst continuing to reduce cost. Our financial results were characterised by gains from divestments and lower prices. Also in the second quarter, we report a close to neutral free cash flow after dividend and proceeds", says president and CEO of Statoil ASA, Eldar Saetre.

Adjusted earnings were NOK 22.4 billion in the second quarter compared to NOK 32.3 billion in the same period in 2014. The reduction was primarily a consequence of lower oil prices in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year. Realised average liquids prices in the quarter were down 28% measured in NOK compared to the second quarter last year. Adjusted earnings after tax were NOK 7.2 billion, compared to NOK 9.9 billion in the same period last year.

Statoil's net income according to IFRS for the second quarter was NOK 10.1 billion, compared to NOK 12.0 billion in the same period in 2014. The gain from the divestment of the Shah Deniz project and the South Caucasus Pipeline was NOK 12.3 billion, impacting the IFRS results. Earnings per share were NOK 3.15, down from NOK 3.75 in the same period last year.

"We continue to progress our effort to improve operational and capital efficiency, and reduce cost. Reduced underlying operational expenses both on the Norwegian Continental shelf (NCS) and in our international operations, as well as reduced capital expenditures, demonstrate that our initiatives are effective. In June we announced adjustments to the company's structure and operating model to further strengthen our competitiveness," says Saetre.

Despite divestments, Statoil delivered production of 1,873 mboe per day in the second quarter, up 4% compared to the same period in 2014. The underlying production growth, after adjusting for divestments, was 7% compared to the second quarter last year. The production from the NCS grew 7% in the second quarter of 2015 compared to last year. The increase was mainly due to ramp-up of production on various fields, higher gas sales from the NCS and lower maintenance compared to the second quarter of 2014. Expected natural decline and reduced ownership shares from divestments partially offset the increase. Equity production outside of Norway was 724 mboe per day and represented almost a 4% increase, adjusted for the Shah Deniz divestment.

In the quarter, Statoil made two discoveries on the NCS. In July, Statoil announced a discovery in the Julius prospect in the King Lear area in the North Sea. Three wells are on-going, one on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, one in the Gulf of Mexico and one in Canada. In addition, Statoil has secured access to frontier acreages offshore Nicaragua and Myanmar. The adjusted exploration expense in the quarter was NOK 4.1 billion, up from NOK 2.7 billion in the second quarter of 2014.

Cash flow from operations amounted to NOK 48.0 billion in the first half of 2015. Statoil maintained a strong capital structure, and net debt to capital employed at the end of the quarter is reduced to 22.4%. Organic capital expenditure was USD 7.8 billion in the first half, and the guidance has been revised downwards to USD 17.5 billion for 2015 due to effects of the on-going efficiency program and the USD/NOK exchange rate.

With effect from first quarter of 2016, Statoil will change to USD as presentation currency. The change reflects the company's underlying exposure to the USD as well as better alignment of its reporting to peers. As a consequence of the change in presentation currency, Statoil will also declare its quarterly dividend in USD. The change will be implemented from the second quarter of 2015 and Statoil is announcing the second quarter dividend in both USD and NOK, based on the exchange rate on 27 July 2015. The change in dividends policy implies that dividend will be announced in USD going forward.

The board of directors has decided to pay dividend of USD 0.2201 per ordinary share equivalent to NOK 1.80 for the second quarter and the Statoil share will trade ex-dividend on Oslo Boers 13 November 2015.

The serious incident frequency (SIF) for the 12 months period ending 30 June 2015 was 0.6, compared to 0.7 the same period last year.

Key events since first quarter 2015:

• The construction of the Johan Sverdrup began and so far contracts worth more than NOK 40 billion have been awarded
  
• Statoil made two discoveries on the NCS in the quarter. In July, Statoil announced a discovery in the Julius prospect in the King Lear area in the North Sea. In addition, Statoil announced an oil discovery in the Yeti prospect in the Gulf of Mexico and gained access to acreage offshore Nicaragua and Myanmar
  
• Statoil announced changes in corporate structure and top management team. Torgrim Reitan has been appointed EVP for Development & Production USA (DPUSA) and Hans Jakob Hegge has been appointed new EVP and CFO. Irene Rummelhoff has been appointed EVP for New Energy Solutions (NES) and Jens OEkland has been appointed new EVP for Marketing, Midstream & Processing (MMP)
  
• In June, OEystein Loeseth was elected as the new chairman and Roy Franklin was elected as a new member and deputy chair of Statoil's board of directors

Further information from:

Investor relations
Peter Hutton, Senior vice president Investor relations,
+44 7881 918 792 (mobile)

Press
Jannik Lindbaek jr., Vice president Media relations,
+47 977 55 622 (mobile)

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to #5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)

Financial statements and review 2nd quarter 2015 http://hugin.info/132799/R/1941596/701843.pdf
Press release 2nd quarter results 2015 http://hugin.info/132799/R/1941596/701844.pdf
Presentation 2nd quarter 2015 Torgrim Reitan CFO http://hugin.info/132799/R/1941596/701845.pdf

HUG#1941596