Royal Dutch Shell plc 4th Quarter 2018 and Full Year Unaudited Results

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

Compared with the fourth quarter 2017, CCS earnings attributable to shareholders excluding identified items of $5.7 billion mainly benefited from higher realised oil, gas and LNG prices as well as stronger contributions from crude oil and LNG trading, partly offset by movements in deferred tax positions. Full year earnings of $21.4 billion also reflected higher realised oil, gas and LNG prices, partly offset by movements in deferred tax positions.

Cash flow from operating activities for the fourth quarter 2018 was $22.0 billion, which included positive working capital movements of $9.1 billion, mainly as a result of a fall in crude oil price and lower inventory levels. Excluding working capital movements, cash flow from operations of $12.9 billion mainly reflected increased earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2017.

Total dividends distributed to shareholders in the quarter were $3.9 billion. In January 2019, the second tranche of the share buyback programme was completed, with 83.5 million A ordinary shares bought back for cancellation for an aggregate consideration of $2.5 billion. Today, Shell launches the next tranche of the share buyback programme, with a maximum aggregate consideration of $2.5 billion in the period up to and including April 29, 2019.

Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden commented: 

"Shell delivered a very strong financial performance in 2018, with cash flow from operations of $49.6 billion, excluding working capital movements. We delivered on our promises for the year, including the completion of the $30 billion divestment programme and starting up key growth projects while maintaining discipline on capital investment. We paid our entire dividend in cash, further reduced our debt and launched our share buyback programme, with $4.5 billion in shares repurchased so far.
We will continue with a strong delivery focus in 2019, with a disciplined approach to capital investment and growing both our cash flow and returns. Our strategy to deliver a world-class investment case is working."

Supplementary financial and operational disclosure for this quarter is available at www.shell.com/investor.

FOURTH QUARTER 2018 PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENTS

Integrated Gas

In December, Shell announced that wells had been opened at its Prelude floating LNG facility in Australia (Shell interest 67.5%). During this initial phase of production, gas and condensate are produced and moved through the facility. Once this has concluded, the facility will be prepared for reliable production of LNG and LPG.

During the quarter, Shell completed the sale of its shares in Shell entities in New Zealand.

Upstream

During the quarter, Shell completed the sale of its Upstream interests in Ireland, as well as the disposal of its interests in the Draugen and Gjøa fields in Norway.

In December, Shell and its partners renewed a number of onshore oil mining leases in the Niger Delta for 20 years (Shell interest 30%).

Downstream

In January, Shell announced the start of production of the fourth alpha olefins unit at the Geismar chemicals manufacturing site in the USA (Shell interest 100%). Start-up operations began in December 2018. Shell's Geismar plant is the largest producer of alpha olefins in the world.

PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT

Fourth quarter identified items primarily reflected a gain of $1,034 million on sale of assets, mainly related to the divestment of assets in New Zealand as well as revaluation of assets in India. Identified items also included a gain of $321 million related to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and impairment charges totalling $190 million, mainly related to investments in Trinidad and Tobago.

Compared with the fourth quarter 2017, Integrated Gas earnings excluding identified items benefited from higher realised oil, gas and LNG prices, as well as higher contributions from LNG trading. These were partly offset by movements in deferred tax positions.

Total production remained largely unchanged compared with the fourth quarter 2017, while LNG liquefaction was 3% higher, mainly due to lower maintenance and increased feedgas availability, partly offset by divestments.  

Cash flow from operating activities of $5,786 million included negative working capital movements of $811 million, compared with negative movements of $1,895 million[i] in the same quarter a year ago. Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements increased compared with the same quarter a year ago, mainly as a result of higher earnings and cash margining receipts on derivatives.

Full year identified items primarily reflected a gain of $1,937 million on sale of assets, mainly related to the divestment of assets in Thailand, New Zealand and India. Identified items also comprised a gain of $481 million related to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and impairment charges of $371 million, mainly related to investments in Trinidad and Tobago and Shell's investment in a joint venture. 

Compared with the full year 2017, Integrated Gas earnings excluding identified items benefited from higher realised oil, gas and LNG prices, increased contributions from LNG trading and higher volumes, partly offset by increased operating expenses.

Production volumes were up by 8% compared to the full year 2017, mainly reflecting lower maintenance activity and additional wells from existing fields. LNG liquefaction volumes were 3% higher, largely driven by increased feedgas availability and lower maintenance activities. This more than offset the impact of divestments. 

Cash flow from operating activities of $14,617 million included negative working capital movements of $1,664 million, compared with negative movements of $2,192 million[ii] in 2017. Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements increased compared with the full year 2017, mainly as a result of higher earnings and cash margining receipts on derivatives. 

Fourth quarter identified items primarily reflected a loss of $420 million on sale of assets, mainly related to a negative non-cash cumulative currency translation difference in connection with the divestment in Ireland, partly offset by a gain of $176 million related to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives.

Compared with the fourth quarter 2017, Upstream earnings excluding identified items reflected higher realised oil and gas prices as well as lower well write-offs, partly offset by less favourable movements in deferred tax positions. Total production increased by 1% compared with the same quarter a year ago, mainly driven by new field start-ups and ramp-ups, partly offset by divestments. Excluding portfolio impacts, production was 5% higher.

Cash flow from operating activities of $6,869 million included positive working capital movements of $1,720 million, compared with positive movements of $412 million[iii] in the same quarter a year ago. Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements increased compared with the fourth quarter 2017 as a result of higher earnings and cash margining receipts on derivatives related to the divestment in Denmark, partly offset by higher tax payments.

Full year identified items included a net gain of $886 million on sale of assets, mainly related to the divestments in Iraq, Malaysia, Oman and Ireland, as well as a gain of $149 million related to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives. Identified items also included a $561 million charge related to the impact of the weakening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position and a net impairment charge of $350 million, mainly related to assets in North America and deep-water rig joint ventures.

Compared with the full year 2017, Upstream earnings excluding identified items benefited from higher realised oil and gas prices and lower well write-offs, partly offset by movements in deferred tax positions and lower volumes. Total production was 2% lower compared with the full year 2017, mainly due to divestments and field decline, partly offset by new field start-ups and ramp-ups as well as improved field performance. Excluding portfolio impacts, production was 5% higher than in 2017.

Cash flow from operating activities of $22,661 million included positive working capital movements of $745 million, compared with negative movements of $2 million[iv] in 2017. Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements increased compared with 2017, mainly as a result of higher earnings, partly offset by higher tax payments.

Fourth quarter identified items primarily reflected a gain of $670 million related to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and a gain of $297 million on sale of assets, mainly related to the divestment in Argentina. This was partly offset by impairment charges of $160 million, mainly related to assets in Singapore and the UK.

Compared with the fourth quarter 2017, Downstream earnings excluding identified items benefited from increased contributions from crude oil trading and stronger refining and marketing margins, partly offset by higher operating expenses and lower base chemicals and intermediates margins.

Cash flow from operating activities of $8,794 million included positive working capital movements of $7,570 million, compared with negative movements of $334 million[v] in the same quarter a year ago, mainly as a result of a fall in crude oil price and lower inventory levels. Cash flow from operating activities excluding working capital movements decreased compared with the same quarter a year ago as higher cash cost of sales more than offset the increase in CCS earnings.

Oil Products

• Refining & Trading earnings excluding identified items reflected increased contributions from crude oil trading and improved operational performance. Earnings also benefited from stronger refining margins mainly in Canada, despite lower refining margins in other parts of the portfolio, compared with the fourth quarter 2017. This was partly offset by higher operating expenses.

Refinery availability increased to 94% compared with 89% in the fourth quarter 2017, mainly due to lower downtime.

• Marketing earnings excluding identified items were higher compared with the fourth quarter 2017, mainly as a result of increased margins.

Compared with the fourth quarter 2017, Oil Products sales volumes increased by 1%, reflecting increased refining and trading volumes.

Chemicals

• Chemicals earnings excluding identified items reflected lower base chemicals and intermediates margins, mainly in Asia, compared with the fourth quarter 2017.

Chemicals manufacturing plant availability was 93%, remaining at a similar level as in the fourth quarter 2017.

Full year identified items included a gain of $233 million related to the fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and a gain of $225 million on sale of assets, mainly related to the divestment in Argentina. This was partly offset by impairment charges totalling $386 million, mainly related to assets in Singapore and the UK.

Compared with the full year 2017, Downstream earnings excluding identified items reflected higher operating expenses, adverse currency exchange rate effects and lower base chemicals and refining margins, partly offset by improved marketing margins.

Cash flow from operating activities of $13,928 million included positive working capital movements of $3,164 million, compared with negative movements of $148 million^[vi] in the full year 2017. Excluding working capital movements, cash flow from operating activities reflected lower earnings and higher cash cost of sales.

Oil Products

• Refining & Trading earnings excluding identified items reflected higher operating expenses, adverse currency exchange rate effects and lower contributions from oil products trading, partly offset by higher contributions from crude oil trading, compared with the full year 2017.

Refinery availability was 91%, remaining at a similar level as in the full year 2017.

• Marketing earnings excluding identified items were at a similar level as in the full year 2017, since the impacts of higher operating expenses and adverse currency exchange rate effects were almost fully offset by improved margins. 

Compared with the full year 2017, Oil Products sales volumes increased by 3% as a result of higher refining and trading volumes.

Chemicals

• Chemicals earnings excluding identified items reflected lower base chemicals margins and higher operating expenses, partly offset by higher intermediates margins, compared with the full year 2017.

Chemicals manufacturing plant availability increased to 93% compared with 92% in 2017.

Fourth quarter identified items primarily reflected a tax charge of $74 million related to the impact of the strengthening Brazilian real on financing positions.

Compared with the fourth quarter 2017, Corporate earnings excluding identified items mainly reflected lower tax credits.

Full year identified items primarily reflected a tax credit of $325 million related to the impact of the weakening Brazilian real on financing positions.

Compared with the full year 2017, Corporate earnings excluding identified items mainly reflected lower tax credits and adverse currency exchange effects, partly offset by higher net interest income.

PRELIMINARY RESERVES UPDATE

When final volumes are reported in the 2018 Annual Report and Form 20-F, Shell expects that SEC proved oil and gas reserves additions before taking into account production will be around 0.7 billion boe, and 2018 production to be 1.4 billion boe. As a result, total proved reserves on an SEC basis are expected to be 11.6 billion boe. Acquisitions and divestments of 2018 reserves are expected to account for a net reduction of 0.2 billion boe.

The proved Reserves Replacement Ratio on an SEC basis is expected to be 53% for the year and 96% for the 3-year average. Excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestments, the reserves replacement ratio is expected to be 66% for the year.

Further information will be provided in the 2018 Annual Report and Form 20-F, which is expected to be filed in March 2019.

OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2019

Compared with the first quarter 2018, Integrated Gas production is expected to decrease by some 140 – 170 thousand boe/d, mainly due to divestments, the transfer of some activities into the Upstream segment as of 2019 and higher maintenance activities. LNG liquefaction volumes are expected to be 0.4 – 0.7 million tonnes lower, mainly as a result of divestments and higher maintenance activities.

Compared with the first quarter 2018, Upstream production is expected to be 10 – 50 thousand boe/d lower, mainly due to divestments and field decline, partly offset by ramp-ups of existing fields. This includes the impact of additional activities previously reported in the Integrated Gas segment in 2018.

Refinery availability is expected to decrease in the first quarter 2019 compared with the same period a year earlier as a result of higher maintenance activity.

Oil Products sales volumes are expected to be 40 – 70 thousand boe/d lower compared with the same period a year earlier, mainly as a result of the divestment in Argentina.

Chemicals manufacturing plant availability in the first quarter 2019 is expected to be at a similar level as in the first quarter 2018.

Corporate earnings excluding identified items are expected to be a net charge of $400 – 450 million in the first quarter 2019 and a net charge of $1,700 – 1,900 million for the full year 2019. This excludes the impact of currency exchange rate effects and the impact of IFRS 16 Leases.

The results and outlook reported in this announcement do not include the impact of the application of the new standard IFRS 16, which is effective as of January 1, 2019. The quantitative impact at transition date will be disclosed in the 2018 Annual Report and Form 20-F.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

The LNG Outlook will be held on February 25, 2019 in London.

Shell will host a webcast covering the impact of IFRS 16 Leases on March 28, 2019.

The Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held on May 21, 2019.

Shell will host Management Day events on June 4, 2019 in London, and on June 5, 2019 in New York.

First quarter 2019 results and dividends are scheduled to be announced on May 2, 2019. Second quarter 2019 results and dividends are scheduled to be announced on August 1, 2019. Third quarter 2019 results and dividends are scheduled to be announced on October 31, 2019.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

^1.    Prior period comparatives within Cash flow from operating activities have been revised to conform with current year presentation. See Note 7 "Change in presentation of Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows".

^2.    Full year 2018 includes $3,307 million from the sale of shares in Canadian Natural Resources Limited, which were received in connection with the oil sands divestment.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  Basis of preparation 

These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Royal Dutch Shell plc ("the Company") and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "Shell") have been prepared on the basis of the same accounting principles as those used in the Annual Report and Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 (pages 142 to 148) as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, except for the adoption of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers on January 1, 2018, and should be read in conjunction with that filing.

IFRS 9 sets out the requirements for recognising and measuring financial assets, financial liabilities and certain contracts to buy or sell non-financial items. Furthermore, this standard facilitates the use of hedge accounting and results in different income recognition upon the sale of certain investments in securities. The adoption of IFRS 9 resulted in a decrease of $83 million in equity at January 1, 2018, mainly representing the recognition of additional provisions for impairment of receivables under the expected loss model. In addition, changing the measurement basis from amortised cost to fair value for certain financial assets resulted in an increase of $33 million in equity at January 1, 2018. Furthermore, a reclassification within equity between other reserves and retained earnings, primarily representing deferred cost of hedging, was recognised. 

IFRS 15 provides a single model of accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers based on the identification and satisfaction of performance obligations, and revenue from contracts with customers that is distinguished from other sources. Shell has adopted IFRS 15 with effect from January 1, 2018 and has elected to apply the modified retrospective transition approach. Although IFRS 15 does not generally represent a change from Shell's current practice, the accounting for certain contracts, such as those with provisional pricing or take-or-pay arrangements, and underlifts and overlifts, has been identified as an area of change. However, these do not have a significant effect on Shell's accounting or disclosures, and therefore no transition adjustment is presented.

IFRS 16 Leases will be applied by Shell with effect from January 1, 2019. Under the new standard, all lease contracts, with limited exceptions, are recognised in the financial statements by way of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities. Shell will apply the modified retrospective transition approach without restating comparative information.

Compared with the existing accounting for operating leases under IAS 17, application of the new standard will have a significant impact on the classification of expenditures and consequently the classification of cash flow from operating activities, cash flow from investing activities and cash flow from financing activities. It will also impact the timing of expenses recognised in the statement of income.

Differences between the operating lease commitments under the current standard and the additional lease liabilities recognised on balance sheet at January 1, 2019 are expected to be mainly driven by the impact of discounting lease payments, short-term leases, the use of hindsight to assess options to extend or terminate leases and commencement of lease contracts after January 1, 2019. The detailed analysis, which will determine the impact upon application of the new standard, is close to completion. The quantitative impact at transition date will be disclosed in the 2018 Annual Report and Form 20-F. No impact is expected in relation to lease contracts previously classified as finance leases.

The financial information presented in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 ("the Act"). Statutory accounts for the year ended December 31, 2017 were published in Shell's Annual Report and Form 20-F and a copy was delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales. The auditor's report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report and did not contain a statement under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Act.

2.  Segment information 

Segment earnings are presented on a current cost of supplies basis ("CCS earnings"), which is the earnings measure used by the Chief Executive Officer for the purposes of making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. On this basis, the purchase price of volumes sold during the period is based on the current cost of supplies during the same period after making allowance for the tax effect. CCS earnings therefore exclude the effect of changes in the oil price on inventory carrying amounts. Sales between segments are based on prices generally equivalent to commercially available prices.

3.  Earnings per share

4.  Share capital

At Royal Dutch Shell plc's Annual General Meeting on May 22, 2018, the Board was authorised to allot ordinary shares in Royal Dutch Shell plc, and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert, any security into ordinary shares in Royal Dutch Shell plc, up to an aggregate nominal amount of €194 million (representing 2,771 million ordinary shares of €0.07 each), and to list such shares or rights on any stock exchange. This authority expires at the earlier of the close of business on August 22, 2019, and the end of the Annual General Meeting to be held in 2019, unless previously renewed, revoked or varied by Royal Dutch Shell plc in a general meeting.

5.  Other reserves

The merger reserve and share premium reserve were established as a consequence of Royal Dutch Shell plc becoming the single parent company of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company, p.l.c., now The Shell Transport and Trading Company Limited, in 2005. The merger reserve increased in 2016 following the issuance of shares for the acquisition of BG Group plc. The capital redemption reserve was established in connection with repurchases of shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc. The share plan reserve is in respect of equity-settled share-based compensation plans.

6.  Derivative financial instruments and debt excluding finance lease liabilities

As disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, presented in the Annual Report and Form 20-F for that year, Shell is exposed to the risks of changes in fair value of its financial assets and liabilities. The fair values of the financial assets and liabilities are defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values at December 31, 2018 are consistent with those used in the year ended December 31, 2017, and the carrying amounts of derivative financial instruments measured using predominantly unobservable inputs have not changed materially since that date.

With effect from 2018, current and non-current derivative assets and liabilities are no longer presented as part of "Trade and other receivables" and "Trade and other payables", but separately disclosed on the Balance Sheet to provide more insight. 

The table below provides the comparison of the fair value with the carrying amount of debt excluding finance lease liabilities, disclosed in accordance with IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures.

7.  Change in presentation of Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

With effect from 2018, the reconciliation from "Income for the period" to "Cash flow from operating activities" has been revised to provide more insight and improve correlation with the Balance Sheet and Statement of Income. "Cash flow from operating activities" itself remains unchanged.

Exploration well write-offs, previously presented under "Other", are shown separately. Changes in current and non-current derivative financial instruments, previously presented under "Decrease/(increase) in working capital" and "Other", are presented under a new line item "Derivative financial instruments". Changes in current retirement benefits and decommissioning provisions, previously included in "Increase/(decrease) in payables", are presented under "Deferred tax, retirement benefits, decommissioning and other provisions", together with changes in non-current balances. The impact of these changes is presented below.

DEFINITIONS

A.   Identified items

Identified items comprise: divestment gains and losses, impairments, fair value accounting of commodity derivatives and certain gas contracts, redundancy and restructuring, the impact of exchange rate movements on certain deferred tax balances, and other items. These items, either individually or collectively, can cause volatility to net income, in some cases driven by external factors, which may hinder the comparative understanding of Shell's financial results from period to period. The impact of identified items on Shell's CCS earnings is shown below.