Empresas y finanzas

Petroplus Announces First Quarter 2008 Results

Regulatory News:
Petroplus Holdings AG (SWX: PPHN) today reported net income from

continuing operations (excluding discontinued operations) of $86.8

million, or $1.26 per share, as compared to net income from continuing

operations (excluding discontinued operations) of $52.7 million, or

$0.86 per share for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007

respectively. Net income (including discontinued operations) for the

quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $86.7 million and $50.3

million, respectively.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, refining and marketing EBITDA

(refining and marketing "earnings before

interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization")

was approximately $207 million. The first quarter 2008 refining and

marketing EBITDA reflects a full quarter of operations for our five

refineries. Coryton operations were impacted by unplanned maintenance

related to the restart of the refinery following the incident in October

2007, and Cressier operations were impacted by a twelve day maintenance

period originally expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of

2008. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, refining and marketing

EBITDA was approximately $55 million and included the operations for

three refineries, Cressier, Teesside and BRC.
Commenting on the quarter, Robert J. Lavinia, Petroplus´s

Chief Executive Officer, said, "This was a

very difficult market for refining companies. Refined clean product

margins were compressed during most of the first quarter, as the cost of

crude oil increased more rapidly than refined product prices. During the

first quarter, we had the immediate impact of the higher cost of fuel

consumed in production without a correlating uplift in clean product

cracks. Further, there was the overall weakness in the gasoline crack

and a weakening US dollar. It was not until March, that we started to

see the strength in middle distillates, and in April diesel cracks rose

to all time-highs."
With regards to operations, Mr. Lavina commented, "After

completing its start-up early in the quarter, the Coryton refinery had

some remaining maintenance that curtailed crude run rates for most of

the quarter. After completion of the maintenance work, the total

throughput increased to over 200,000 barrels per day. On March 31 we

added the Petit Couronne and Reichstett refineries to our group of

refining assets. The integration of the two French refineries went

exceptionally well and we look forward to their contribution to our

bottom line."
Commenting on the balance sheet at quarter end, Karyn F. Ovelmen

Petroplus´s Chief Financial Officer, said, "We

ended the quarter in a solid financial position, even after taking into

consideration the challenging refining market during the first quarter

and the funding requirements for the two new French refinery

acquisitions. Our net debt-to-net capitalization ratio at March 31 is

approximately 39 percent. We had approximately $96 million in cash, $1.8

billion of debt outstanding and $2.6 billion of shareholders´ equity at quarter end."
Commenting on the capital structure going forward, Ms. Ovelmen said, "Our

production focus, of almost 50% on the middle of the barrel, coupled

with our disciplined capital program should enhance our free cashflows

and capital structure going forward. As the largest producer in the

independent refining sector of middle distillates in Western Europe, our

future cashflows should benefit from the supply-demand tightness in the

distillate market. Further enhancing our future free cashflows is our

disciplined capital program. We have no high dollar, long lead-time

capital return projects. During the first quarter we spent approximately

$60 million for capital maintenance and we continue to expect to meet

our 2008 total capital budget amount of approximately $340 million."
Throughput rates by refinery for the second quarter and full year 2008

including intermediate feedstocks, should average approximately as

follows: Coryton at 200,000 to 210,000 bpd for the second quarter and

195,000 to 205,000 for the year; Ingolstadt at 95,000 to 105,000 bpd for

the second quarter and 90,000 to 100,000 for the year; BRC at 65,000 to

75,000 bpd for the second quarter and 90,000 to 95,000 bpd for the year;

Cressier at 55,000 to 60,000 bpd for the second quarter and 55,000 to

60,000 bpd for the year; Teesside at 90,000 to 95,000 bpd for the second

quarter and 85,000 to 90,000 bpd for the year; Petit Couronne at 120,000

to 130,000 bpd for the second quarter and 120,000 to 130,000 for the

year; and Reichstett at 70,000 to 80,000 bpd for the second quarter and

70,000 to 75,000 for the year. The throughputs for the BRC and Teesside

refineries reflect the scheduled maintenance in the second quarter which

is estimated to last about 30 days and 25 days, respectively.
The company´s conference call concerning the

quarter end results will be webcast live today, May 8, 2008, at 2:00

p.m. CET on the investor relations section of the Petroplus Holdings AG

website at www.petroplusholdings.com.
Petroplus Holdings AG is the largest independent refiner and wholesaler

of petroleum products in Europe. Petroplus focuses on refining and

currently owns and operates seven refineries across Europe: the Coryton

refinery on the Thames Estuary in the United Kingdom, the Ingolstadt

refinery in Ingolstadt, Germany, the Belgium Refining Company refinery

in Antwerp, Belgium, the Petit Couronne refinery in Petit Couronne

France, the Cressier refinery in the canton of Neuchâtel

Switzerland, the Reichstett refinery in Alsace, France and the Teesside

refinery in Teesside, United Kingdom. The refineries have a combined

throughput capacity of approximately 864,000 bpd.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including the

company´s current expectations with respect

to future market conditions, future operating results, the future

performance of its refinery operations, and other plans. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "shall," and

similar expressions typically identify such forward-looking statements.

Even though Petroplus believes the expectations reflected in such

forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can

give no assurance that its expectations will be attained.

= = = = = = = = = = =

Petroplus Holdings AG and Subsidiaries
- - - - - -

Earnings Release
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(in millions of USD, except for per share amounts)

For the Quarters Ended March 31

- - - - - -

2008

2007
- - - - - -

INCOME STATEMENT DATA:

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Revenue

$

5,422.1

$

1,715.1
- - - - - -

Materials cost

5,041.1

1,588.2
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Gross Margin

$

381.0

$

126.9
- - - - - -

Personnel expenses

80.9

32.0
- - - - - -

Operating expenses

101.1

35.9
- - - - - -

Depreciation and amortization

53.5

19.1
- - - - - -

Other administrative expenses

12.8

9.8
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Operating income

$

132.7

$

30.1
- - - - - -

Financial income/(expense), net

(30.0)

3.5
- - - - - -

Foreign currency exchange gains/(losses)

(6.2)

1.6
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Profit before income taxes

$

96.5

$

35.2
- - - - - -

Income tax benefit/(expense)

(9.7)

17.5
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Net Income from continuing operations

$

86.8

$

52.7
- - - - - -

Discontinued operations, net of tax

-

(2.4)
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Net income

$

86.8

$

50.3
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Minority Interest

$

(0.1)

$

-
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Net income attributable to shareholders of parent

$

86.7

$

50.3
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Net income per common share:

- - - - - -

Basic

- - - - - -

Income from continuing operations

$

1.26

$

0.86
- - - - - -

Discontinued operations

-

(0.04)
- - - - - -

Net income

$

1.26

$

0.82
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Weighted average shares outstanding (in millions)

68.7

61.0
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Diluted:

- - - - - -

Income from continuing operations

$

1.14

$

0.84
- - - - - -

Discontinued operations

-

(0.04)
- - - - - -

Net income

$

1.14

$

0.80
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Weighted average shares outstanding (in millions)

76.4

62.9
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:

- - - - - -

Hedging gain(1)

$

-

$

8.5
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(1)

Represents the gains and losses on refining margin commodity

instruments recorded to materials cost
- - - - - -

= = = = = = = = = = =

Petroplus Holdings AG and Subsidiaries
- - - - - -

Earnings Release
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

For the Quarters Ended March 31

- - - - - -

2008

2007
- - - - - -

Selected Volumetric and Per Barrel Data

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Total Production (Mbbls per day)

535.7

244.3
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Total crude unit throughput (Mbbls per day):

- - - - - -

Coryton (3)

124.0

**
- - - - - -

Ingolstadt (3)

92.8

**
- - - - - -

BRC

96.9

83.9
- - - - - -

Cressier

51.5

57.7
- - - - - -

Teesside

83.8

93.8
- - - - - -

Total crude unit throughput (Mbbls per day)

449.0

235.4
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Total other throughput (Mbbls per day):

- - - - - -

Coryton (3)

53.9

**
- - - - - -

Ingolstadt (3)

5.1

**
- - - - - -

BRC

15.5

5.8
- - - - - -

Cressier

2.0

1.9
- - - - - -

Teesside

-

0.1
- - - - - -

Total other throughput (Mbbls per day)

76.5

7.8
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Total throughput (millions of barrels)

47.8

21.9
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Gross margin (USD per barrel of total throughput):(1)

- - - - - -

North Sea Refining System (2,3)

7.20

4.69
- - - - - -

Inland Refining System (2,3)

7.67

3.41
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Operating expenses (USD per barrel of total throughput):(1)

- - - - - -

North Sea Refining System (2,3)

2.98

1.68
- - - - - -

Inland Refining System (2,3)

3.11

2.41
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(1)

The Company manages its refinery business, including feedstock

acquisition and product marketing, on an integrated basis; however

for analytical purposes the business results shown here have been

allocated to our two refinery systems. Since crude oil is often

purchased and priced well in advance of the time that it is consumed

and the value of refinery production can be fixed before or after it

is produced, our actual results may significantly vary from those

that would be determined with reference to benchmark market

indicators. We manage this price risk on a total Company basis and

may purchase futures contracts that correspond volumetrically with

all or a portion of our fixed price purchase and sale commitments.

As a result, the refining systems realized gross margins presented

here do not reflect the results that would be reported if separately

accounted for in accordance with IFRS. The Company believes that

this refinery information is helpful in understanding our overall

operating results.
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(2)

The North Sea Refining System consists of the Coryton Refinery, the

BRC Refinery and the Teesside Refinery. The Inland Refining System

consists of the Ingolstadt Refinery and the Cressier Refinery.
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(3)

We acquired the Ingolstadt refinery on March 31, 2007. We acquired

the Coryton refinery on May 31, 2007. Information above reflects the

applicable periods for each acquisition.
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

**

Not relevant

- - - - - -

= = = = = = = = = = =

Petroplus Holdings AG and Subsidiaries
- - - - - -

Earnings Release
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Market Indicators (USD per barrel)

- - - - - -

2004 to-date (1)
Q4 2007

Q1 2008

Apr-08
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Crude oil

- - - - - -

Dated Brent (2)

60.96

88.77

96.48

110.19
- - - - - -

Urals (3)

(3.89)

(2.85)

(2.89)

(4.05)
- - - - - -

Ekofisk (3)

0.32

1.00

1.98

2.12
- - - - - -

CPC (3)

(0.21)

1.03

1.39

0.41
- - - - - -

Forties (3)

0.43

0.14

0.38

(0.71)
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Products (2)

- - - - - -

95 Gasoline FOB

8.95

4.47

2.07

5.67
- - - - - -

10 ppm ULSD FOB

17.27

22.83

24.10

34.69
- - - - - -

Heating Oil FOB

12.51

16.29

20.12

27.57
- - - - - -

3.5% Fuel Oil FOB

(18.59)

(19.40)

(26.27)

(33.38)
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Benchmark Refining Margins (2,4)

- - - - - -

5-2-2-1 (Coryton)

6.77

7.04

5.21

9.47
- - - - - -

10-1-3-5-1 (Ingolstadt)

9.55

10.95

9.84

14.83
- - - - - -

6-1-2-2-1 (BRC)

1.16

1.34

2.24

3.70
- - - - - -

7-2-4-1 (Cressier)

7.31

8.42

9.45

14.21
- - - - - -

5-1-2-2 (Teesside)

3.79

5.53

6.34

7.80
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(1)
Represents the average from 1/1/2004 to 4/30/2008
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(2)
Source: Bloomberg

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(3)
Source: Platt´s

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(4)

Per barrel margin indicator for the conversion of crude oil into

finished products. For the Coryton refinery, the 5-2-2-1

represents five barrels of Dated Brent crude oil converted into

two barrels of gasoline, two barrels of heating oil and one barrel

of 3.5% fuel oil. For the Ingolstadt refinery, the 10-1-3-5-1

represents 10 barrels of Dated Brent crude oil converted into one

barrel of naphtha, three barrels of gasoline, five barrels of ULSD

and one barrel of 3.5% fuel oil. For the BRC refinery, the

6-1-2-2-1 represents six barrels of Dated Brent crude oil

converted into one barrel of premium 95 gasoline, two barrels of

heating oil, two barrels of VGO and one barrel of 3.5% fuel oil.

For the Cressier refinery, the 7-2-4-1 represents seven barrels of

Dated Brent crude oil converted into two barrels of premium 95

octane gasoline, four barrels of heating oil and one barrel of 1%

fuel oil. For the Teesside refinery, the 5-1-2-2 represents five

barrels of Dated Brent crude oil converted into one barrel of

naphtha, two barrels of ULSD and two barrels of straight-run fuel

oil (low sulfur higher-value fuel oil).

- - - - - -

= = = = = = = = = = =

Petroplus Holdings AG and Subsidiaries
- - - - - -

Earnings Release
- - - - - -

- - - - - -

(in millions of USD)

March 31, 2008

December 31, 2007
- - - - - -

BALANCE SHEET DATA: (end of period)

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Cash and short-term deposits

$

95.8

$

62.5
- - - - - -

Total assets

$

8,629.6

$

7,466.8
- - - - - -

Total interest-bearing loans and short-term borrowings

$

1,763.0

$

1,333.1
- - - - - -

Shareholder´s equity

$

2,639.4

$

2,501.5
- - - - - -

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