Key achievements
- INA Group’s EBITDA[1] amounted to HRK 3,215 million, 52% above the level in 2016, while net profit amounted to HRK 1,220 million
- Net debt at HRK 1,397 million and gearing at 10.8%
- CAPEX amounted to HRK 1,393 million
- In relation to 2016, both domestic crude production and domestic gas production onshore registered a mild increase of 2 and 3% respectively
Zagreb, February 20, 2018 – INA Group realized an increase in revenues across all segments, with a 20% growth compared to 2016 levels. This increase, together with results of optimization measures from past periods, led to HRK 3,215 million EBITDA, representing a substantial 52% increase from 2016. Such a robust operating performance was also reflected in net profit surging to HRK 1,220 million in 2017, compared to HRK 101 million in 2016.
Exploration & Production benefited from the positive external environment with 24% higher Brent price, which together with higher realised gas prices and a slight increase in domestic on-shore production contributed to the 42% uplift in operating profit to HRK 1,666 million.
Refining & Marketing incl. Retail reported better financial performance, as INA was able to capture the positive external environment of higher crack spreads and increased total sales volumes with CCS EBITDA excl. special items amounting to HRK 806 million, compared to HRK 350 million in 2016. Retail sales volumes increased on the back of the network expansion in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a slight economic rebound together with positive development in premium fuels and non-fuel sales.
CAPEX performance remained strong at HRK 1,393 million, at the 2016 level, with increased spending in Croatia. At the same time net debt decreased to HRK 1,397 million and net gearing at 10.8%.
Statement of Mr. Zoltán Áldott, President of the Management Board of INA:
“In 2017 INA Group posted one of the strongest results in its recent history. We demonstrated our ability to capture the benefit of higher prices delivering strong EBITDA of over HRK 3.2 billion, a 52% increase compared to 2016.
We identified two main pillars of our operations: the first being focus on growth and the second including operational excellence and top efficiency performance. We delivered in both areas. INA’s focus on strengthening sales activities led to an increase of top line revenues by 20% compared to 2016. Thanks to oil derivatives wholesale (12% increase), retail (4% increase), as well as natural gas trading (8% increase) we improved sales value and further positioned INA as a leading player on all our key markets. Continuous efficiency measures implemented in the last two years were the basis on which we were able to deliver new value even in a low price environment. CAPEX spending stayed robust at level of HRK 1.4 billion, in line with the previous year and with an increase on investments in Croatia.
We generated strong free cash flow on the back of our integrated business model, with significant contribution of our Upstream business, which benefited from the positive external environment together with a moderate increase in domestic crude oil production. Although we are faced with natural decline of our mature fields, we made significant efforts in increasing production on our mature domestic oil fields, exploiting the maximum potential by implementing the Full Field Optimization (FFO) concept and performing various well activities with success. This resulted with an increase of domestic crude oil production back to levels seen 10 years ago.
Downstream business generated strong EBITDA with positive cash flow, the strongest result in a decade, demonstrating not only our ability to capture positive environment of higher crack spreads, but also our efforts in number of other operating activities and efficiency measures. These activities resulted in an introduction of two new fuels, a strong position on the Croatian market, increased sales on all markets, record volumes in Rijeka logistics, with strong focus on safety and environment. One of the major challenges in front of us is pursuing options which will make our Refining and marketing business sustainable and profitable in the long run. With that in mind, we need to emphasize Sisak refinery results which continue to burden INA’s R&M performance with a negative operating result of HRK (207) million loss in 2017 and HRK (264) million loss in the previous year.
We believe that having a quality refining portfolio together with high quality services within our retail network is the core to our vertically integrated business model, as it provides optimization opportunities in this highly competitive market. This is why we continually invest in introduction of new and additional services at our service stations, tailored to needs and requirements of our customers.
Although we significantly improved our financial position bringing net debt to a historical year low, it still requires a lot of effort to be continually prepared for quick adjustments and to be able to successfully manage all the businesses in the environment of uncertainty, complexity and volatility.”
[1] EBITDA = EBIT + Depreciation + Impairment + ProvisionsDocuments