Sector News

Anadarko to sell $3 billion in assets this year

March 2, 2016
News

(Bloomberg) — Anadarko Petroleum Corp. rose after announcing plans to sell $3 billion in assets this year while cutting spending on new wells and other projects by almost 50% as the oil and natural gas producer weathers the crude market collapse.

Anadarko’s U.S. onshore activities will be reduced the most, by almost $2.5 billion, The Woodlands, Texas-based Anadarko said in a statement Tuesday. Anadarko will also lower its onshore rig count by 80% to five. Internationally, the producer expects minimal funding in Mozambique in 2016 as it works toward a final decision on a liquefied natural gas project.

“They have a lot of levers to pull, and they’re pulling them all,” Subash Chandra, an analyst at Guggenheim Securities with a neutral rating on the stock, said in a phone interview. “The main risk was the risk of equity dilution, and that is now off the table.”

Anadarko projects 2016 capital expenditures at $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion, almost 50% lower than last year. Nearly half of those investments are slated for onshore U.S. fields. Last month, Anadarko cut its dividend by 81%, the first reduction in company history. The change is expected to save about $450 million a year.

“We intend this year to continue to improve our credit story and doing it without diluting our equity story,” CEO Al Walker said in a conference call to discuss the guidance.

The company will focus more on managing debt than on expansion and acquisitions and doesn’t see a need to issue equity this year, Walker said. Asset sales and lower spending will help Anadarko toward its goal of spending “well within” cash flows and reducing net debt.

Shares rose 1.7% to $38.61 at 10:27 a.m. in New York after earlier gaining 3.5%. Anadarko is down about 53% in the past year.

By Joe Carroll, Meenal Vamburkar

Source: Bloomberg via WorldOil

comments closed

Related News

August 23, 2019

The higher purpose of being a CEO

Borderless Leadership

LinkedIn Twitter Xing EmailWhen I left my second large company experience to become President of a small manufacturing company I did so driven by ego; I fancied the title. Soon […]

August 23, 2019

As Brexit nears, Britain’s drugs, devices and pricing regulators seek the exit

Life sciences

LinkedIn Twitter Xing EmailFirm details on exactly how the U.K. will regulate new medicines is still to be decided after it leaves the EU later this year (caveats on timing […]

August 23, 2019

The Simply Good Foods Company acquires Quest Nutrition for $1bn

Consumer Packaged Goods

LinkedIn Twitter Xing EmailThe Simply Good Foods Company, the owner of Atkins-branded food products, has secured a deal to acquire protein snack maker Quest Nutrition for $1 billion. Quest, which […]

How can we help you?

We're easy to reach