Canadian Oil Sands Announces First Quarter Financial Results and a $0.35 Per Share Dividend
(firmenpresse) - CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/30/13 -- Canadian Oil Sands Limited (TSX: COS) (OTCQX: COSWF)
All financial figures are unaudited and in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
Highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2013:
"Syncrude production was lower than expected this quarter, as we experienced several unplanned outages in extraction and upgrading. Syncrude has performed the maintenance required to address the extraction issues and is investigating the root cause of the hydrotreating outages in the upgrader. We believe the issues that impacted operations since late 2012 have been resolved, however, to reflect the impact of our first quarter results we have reduced our 2013 production Outlook by about five per cent," said Marcel Coutu, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we believe implementation of ExxonMobil's Global Reliability System at Syncrude is the best course of action to improve performance and reduce unplanned production losses, it is a long-term, comprehensive strategy that is being applied to tens of thousands of pieces of equipment; as such, it will take time to fully implement and become embedded in Syncrude's culture."
"Importantly, COS remains in a strong position to fund our capital program and to maintain our $0.35 per Share quarterly dividend through 2013 based on our Outlook," added Mr. Coutu. "In the first quarter, our Synthetic Crude Oil received a premium to West Texas Intermediate, resulting in a higher than expected average price of $96 per barrel. With the expectation that we will continue to receive a premium to WTI for the first half of the year, we have raised our estimate for our average realized price for SCO in 2013 to $85 per barrel."
Syncrude operations
During the first quarter of 2013, Syncrude produced an average of 260,400 barrels per day (total 23.4 million barrels), down from 294,800 barrels per day (total 26.8 million barrels) during the same 2012 period. Production in the first quarter of 2013 mainly reflects unplanned outages in extraction and hydrotreating units.
2013 Outlook revised
Canadian Oil Sands provides the following key estimates and assumptions for 2013:
More information on the outlook is provided in our MD&A and the April 30, 2013 guidance document, which is available on our web site at under "Investor Centre".
The 2013 Outlook contains forward-looking information and users are cautioned that the actual amounts may vary from the estimates disclosed. Please refer to the "Forward-Looking Information Advisory" in the MD&A section of this report for the risks and assumptions underlying this forward-looking information.
Annual and Special Meeting
COS will hold its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders today, April 30, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. (MDT) in the Ballroom of the Metropolitan Conference Centre, located at 333 Fourth Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta.
A live audio webcast of the meeting can be accessed on COS' website at . An archive of the webcast will be available approximately one hour after the meeting.
Management's Discussion and Analysis
The following Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") was prepared as of April 30, 2013 and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Canadian Oil Sands Limited (the "Corporation") for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, the audited consolidated financial statements and MD&A of the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the Corporation's Annual Information Form ("AIF") dated February 21, 2013. Additional information on the Corporation, including its AIF, is available on SEDAR at or on the Corporation's website at . References to "Canadian Oil Sands", COS" or "we" include the Corporation, its subsidiaries and partnerships. The financial results of Canadian Oil Sands have been prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and are reported in Canadian dollars, unless stated otherwise.
Forward Looking Information Advisory
In the interest of providing the Corporation's shareholders and potential investors with information regarding the Corporation, including management's assessment of the Corporation's future production and cost estimates, plans and operations, certain statements throughout this MD&A and the related press release contain "forward-looking information" under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "plan", "intend" or similar words suggesting future outcomes.
Forward-looking statements in this MD&A and the related press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the expectations regarding the 2013 annual Syncrude forecasted production range of 100 million barrels to 110 million barrels and the single- point Syncrude production estimate of 105 million barrels (38.6 million barrels net to the Corporation); the timing of the Coker 8-1 turnaround; the intention to maintain a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per Share in 2013 based on the assumptions in our 2013 Outlook; future dividends and any increase or decrease from current payment amounts; the establishment of future dividend levels with the intent of absorbing short-term market volatility over several quarters; the level of natural gas consumption in 2013 and beyond; views on North American natural gas production levels and prices; the expected sales, operating expenses, development expenses, Crown royalties, capital expenditures and cash flow from operations for 2013; the anticipated amount of current taxes in 2013; expectations regarding current taxes beyond 2013; expectations regarding the Corporation's cash levels for 2013 and 2014; the expected price for crude oil and natural gas in 2013; the expected foreign exchange rates in 2013; the expected realized selling price, which includes the anticipated differential to West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") to be received in 2013 for the Corporation's product; the expectations regarding net debt; the anticipated impact of increases or decreases in oil prices, production, operating expenses, foreign exchange rates and natural gas prices on the Corporation's cash flow from operations; the expectation that regular maintenance capital costs will average approximately $10 per barrel over the next few years; the expected amount of total major project costs, anticipated target in-service dates and estimated completion percentages for the Mildred Lake mine train replacements, the Aurora North mine train relocations, the composite tails plant at the Aurora North mine and the centrifuge plant at the Mildred Lake mine; the expectation that the Corporation will finance the major projects primarily with existing cash balances and cash flow from operations; the cost estimates for 2013 to 2015 major project spending; the expectation that the volatility in the Synthetic Crude Oil ("SCO") to WTI differential is likely to persist for several years until additional pipeline or other delivery capacity is available to deliver crude oil from Western Canada to Cushing, Oklahoma, the U.S. Gulf Coast or the Canadian East or West Coasts; the belief that the issues that impact Syncrude operations since late 2012 have now been resolved; the expected benefits of ExxonMobil's Global Reliability System; the timing of the Aurora North mine train relocations; and the expectation of uninterrupted bitumen supply during the Aurora North mine train relocation periods.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations represented by such forward- looking statements are reasonable and reflect the current views of the Corporation with respect to future events, there can be no assurance that such assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct.
The factors or assumptions on which the forward-looking information is based include, but are not limited to: the assumptions outlined in the Corporation's guidance document as posted on the Corporation's website at as of April 30, 2013 and as subsequently amended or replaced from time to time, including without limitation, the assumptions as to production, operating expenses and oil prices; the successful and timely implementation of capital projects; Syncrude's major project spending plans; the ability to obtain regulatory and Syncrude joint venture owner approval; our ability to either generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our current and future obligations or obtain external sources of debt and equity capital; the continuation of assumed tax, royalty and regulatory regimes and the accuracy of the estimates of our reserves and resources volumes.
Some of the risks and other factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this MD&A and the related press release include, but are not limited to: the impacts of legislative or regulatory changes especially as such relate to royalties, taxation, the environment and tailings; the impact of technology on operations and processes and how new complex technology may not perform as expected; skilled labour shortages and the productivity achieved from labour in the Fort McMurray area; the supply and demand metrics for oil and natural gas; the impact that pipeline capacity and refinery demand have on prices for our product; the unanimous joint venture owner approval for major expansions and changes in product types; the variances of stock market activities generally; global economic conditions/volatility; normal risks associated with litigation, general economic, business and market conditions; the impact of Syncrude being unable to meet the conditions of its approval for its tailings management plan under Directive 074; volatility of crude oil prices; volatility of the SCO to WTI price differential; unsuccessful or untimely implementation of capital or maintenance projects and such other risks and uncertainties described in the Corporation's AIF dated February 21, 2013 and in the reports and filings made with securities regulatory authorities from time to time by the Corporation which are available on the Corporation's profile on SEDAR at and on the Corporation's website at .
You are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this MD&A and the related press release are made as of April 30, 2013, and unless required by law, the Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this MD&A and the related press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Additional GAAP Financial Measures
In this MD&A and the related press release, we refer to additional GAAP financial measures that do not have any standardized meaning as prescribed by Canadian GAAP. Additional GAAP financial measures are line items, headings or subtotals in addition to those required under Canadian GAAP, and financial measures disclosed in the notes to the financial statements which are relevant to an understanding of the financial statements and are not presented elsewhere in the financial statements. These measures have been described and presented in order to provide shareholders and potential investors with additional measures for analyzing our ability to generate funds to finance our operations and information regarding our liquidity. Users are cautioned that additional GAAP financial measures presented by the Corporation may not be comparable with measures provided by other entities.
Additional GAAP financial measures include: cash flow from operations, cash flow from operations per Share, net debt, total net capitalization, total capitalization, net debt-to-total net capitalization and long-term debt-to-total capitalization.
Cash flow from operations is calculated as cash from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital. Cash flow from operations per Share is calculated as cash flow from operations divided by the weighted-average number of Shares outstanding in the period. We believe cash flow from operations and cash flow from operations per Share, which are not impacted by fluctuations in non-cash working capital balances, are more indicative of operational performance than cash from operating activities. With the exception of current tax payable and liabilities for Crown royalties, our non-cash working capital is liquid and typically settles within 30 days.
Cash flow from operations is reconciled to cash from operating activities as follows:
Net debt, total net capitalization, total capitalization, net debt-to-total net capitalization and long-term debt-to-total capitalization are used by the Corporation to manage capital, as discussed in the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section of this MD&A and in Note 12 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Overview
Synthetic Crude Oil ("SCO") production from the Syncrude Joint Venture ("Syncrude") was lower than expected in the first quarter of 2013, reflecting unplanned outages in extraction and hydrotreating units. Syncrude production volumes totalled 23.4 million barrels, or 260,400 barrels per day, compared with 28.0 million barrels, or 311,100 barrels per day in our February 21, 2013 Outlook (included in the 2012 annual MD&A).
Despite lower-than-expected production volumes, cash flow from operations totalled $275 million in the 2013 first quarter, driven largely by a $94 per barrel West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") oil price and an $0.88 per barrel SCO premium relative to WTI. COS realized a $96 per barrel average selling price, 20 per cent higher than the $80 per barrel forecast in our February 21, 2013 Outlook. Operating expenses averaged $41.20 per barrel, reflecting the unplanned outages. Syncrude's major capital projects progressed as planned with $268 million of capital spending (net to COS) in the quarter.
Given the first quarter results, we have updated our 2013 Outlook to reflect a higher $85 per barrel realized selling price, and a lower 105 million barrel (gross to Syncrude) production estimate. Our revised 2013 Outlook estimates $1.1 billion of 2013 cash flow from operations, which, combined with our $1.5 billion of cash at March 31, 2013, allows us to fund our $1.3 billion of capital expenditures and maintain the $0.35 per Share quarterly dividend in 2013.
Review of Financial Results
Cash Flow from Operations
To see the Cash Flow from Operations graphic, please select the following link: .
Cash flow from operations decreased to $275 million, or $0.57 per Share, in the first quarter of 2013 from $454 million, or $0.94 per Share, in the first quarter of 2012, primarily reflecting lower sales volumes and higher current taxes, partially offset by lower Crown royalties.
SCO production in the 2013 first quarter totalled 23.4 million barrels, or 260,400 barrels per day, a 13 per cent decrease from first quarter 2012 production of 26.8 million barrels, or 294,800 barrels per day. Production volumes in the first quarter of 2013 reflect unplanned outages in extraction and hydrotreating units, while 2012 first quarter production volumes reflect maintenance on Coker 8-1. Net to the Corporation, sales volumes decreased to 8.6 million barrels, or 95,700 barrels per day, in the 2013 first quarter from 9.8 million barrels, or 108,100 barrels per day, in the 2012 first quarter.
The first quarter 2013 realized selling price averaged $96 per barrel compared with $97 per barrel in the 2012 first quarter, reflecting a lower WTI oil price largely offset by an improvement in the SCO differential to WTI.
Current taxes increased in the first quarter of 2013 primarily because tax pools and the deferral of partnership income sheltered 2012 income from current taxes.
Crown royalties decreased in the first quarter of 2013, reflecting increases in deductible capital expenditures and lower bitumen volumes and prices.
Net Income
Net income decreased to $177 million, or $0.37 per Share, in the first quarter of 2013 from $318 million, or $0.66 per Share, in the first quarter of 2012, primarily reflecting lower sales volumes, partially offset by lower Crown royalties and lower taxes. The Corporation also realized a foreign exchange loss, primarily as a result of revaluations of its U.S. dollar- denominated debt, as opposed to a gain in the first quarter of 2012.
The following table shows the components of net income per barrel of SCO:
Sales Net of Crude Oil Purchases and Transportation Expense
The $128 million, or 13 per cent, decrease in first quarter 2013 sales, net of crude oil purchases and transportation expense, primarily reflects lower sales volumes relative to the 2012 first quarter.
First quarter 2013 sales volumes were impacted by unplanned outages in extraction and hydrotreating units, and averaged 95,700 barrels per day, down from 108,100 barrels per day in the 2012 first quarter.
The first quarter 2013 realized selling price decreased $0.96 per barrel, reflecting a U.S. $8.67 per barrel decrease in WTI oil prices largely offset by a $6.77 per barrel improvement in the weighted-average SCO differential to WTI and a slightly weaker Canadian dollar.
Both WTI and the SCO differential to WTI reflect supply/demand fundamentals for inland North American light crude oil. Increasing North American production of light crude oil, and refinery modifications that enable processing of heavier crude oils, can push light crude sales, including SCO, to more distant refineries, thereby increasing transportation costs and exposing COS' product to supply/demand factors in different markets. A number of pipelines in both Canada and the United States are at, or near, capacity and any pipeline apportionments can exacerbate this situation by restricting the ability of SCO and other crude oils to reach preferred markets. However, strong demand from customers and increases in rail shipments of inland crude to coastal refineries can offset these forces. These supply and demand dynamics create price volatility that is likely to persist for several years until additional pipeline or other delivery capacity is available to deliver crude oil from Western Canada to Cushing, Oklahoma, the U.S. Gulf Coast, or the Canadian East or West Coasts.
Certain of these same fundamentals are also impacting the prices of Canadian heavy oil, such as Western Canadian Select ("WCS"), which is the heavy oil reference price used as a starting point to calculate Syncrude Crown royalties. WCS is priced at a discount to WTI, and this discount increased in the first quarter of 2013 relative to the comparative 2012 quarter, contributing to lower Crown royalties.
The Corporation purchases crude oil from third parties to fulfill sales commitments with customers when there are shortfalls in Syncrude's production and to facilitate certain transportation arrangements. Sales include the sale of purchased crude oil while the cost of these purchases is included in crude oil purchases and transportation expense. Crude oil purchases were higher in the 2013 first quarter relative to the 2012 first quarter, reflecting additional purchased volumes to support unanticipated production shortfalls and to facilitate certain transportation arrangements.
Operating Expenses
The following table breaks down operating expenses into their major components:
The increase in total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2013 reflects:
The increase in per-barrel operating expenses in the first quarter of 2013 also reflects lower sales volumes.
The following table shows operating expenses per barrel of bitumen and SCO. The information allocates costs to bitumen production and upgrading on the basis used to determine Crown royalties.
Crown Royalties
Crown royalties decreased to $23 million, or $2.69 per barrel, in the first quarter of 2013, from $96 million, or $9.71 per barrel, in the first quarter of 2012 due primarily to increases in deductible capital expenditures and lower bitumen volumes and prices in the 2013 first quarter. The higher capital expenditures reflect spending on capital projects to replace or relocate Syncrude mine trains and to support tailings management plans.
The Syncrude Royalty Amending Agreement requires that bitumen be valued by a formula that references the value of bitumen based on a Canadian heavy oil reference price adjusted to reflect quality and location differences between Syncrude's bitumen and the Canadian reference price bitumen. In addition, the agreement provides that a minimum bitumen value, or "floor price", may be imposed in circumstances where Canadian heavy oil prices are temporarily suppressed relative to North American heavy oil prices.
Canadian Oil Sands' share of the royalties recognized for the period from January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2013 reflect management's best estimate of both reasonable quality and transportation deductions and adjustments to reflect the "floor price". However, the Syncrude owners and the Alberta government are disputing the basis for the quality, transportation and "floor price" adjustments. Under alternate assumptions, Canadian Oil Sands' share of Crown royalties for this period could be as much as $60 million (on an after-tax basis) more than the amounts recognized.
The Syncrude owners and the Alberta government continue to discuss these matters, but if such discussions do not result in an agreed upon solution, either party may seek judicial determination of the matter. The cumulative impact, if any, of such discussions or judicial determination, as applicable, would be recognized and impact both net income and cash flow from operations accordingly.
Development Expenses
Development expenses, previously referred to as non-production expenses, totalled $26 million and $24 million in the first quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively. Development expenses consist primarily of expenditures relating to capital programs, which are expensed, such as pre-feasibility engineering, technical and support services, research, evaluation drilling and regulatory and stakeholder consultation expenditures. Development expenses can vary from period to period depending on the number of projects underway and the development stage of the projects.
Depreciation and Depletion Expense
Depreciation and depletion expense increased to $122 million in the first quarter of 2013 from $95 million in the comparative 2012 quarter, reflecting:
Net Finance Expense
Interest costs on long-term debt were higher in the first quarter of 2013 as a result of the U.S. $700 million debt issued on March 29, 2012; however, interest expense was similar because substantially all interest costs were capitalized in both quarters.
Foreign Exchange (Gain) Loss
Foreign exchange gains/losses are primarily the result of revaluations of our U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt caused by fluctuations in U.S./Cdn dollar exchange rates.
The foreign exchange loss on long-term debt in the first quarter of 2013 was the result of a weakening Canadian dollar to U.S. $0.98 at March 31, 2013 from U.S. $1.01 at December 31, 2012. Conversely, the foreign exchange gain in the first quarter of 2012 was the result of a strengthening Canadian dollar to U.S. $1.00 at March 31, 2012 from U.S. $0.98 at December 31, 2011.
The quarter-over-quarter change in foreign exchange also reflects higher outstanding debt levels in the first quarter of 2013, as a result of the U.S. $700 million debt issued on March 29, 2012.
Tax Expense
The quarter-over-quarter decrease in total tax expense from 2012 to 2013 reflects lower earnings before tax in the 2013 quarter.
Current taxes increased in 2013 primarily because:
Asset Retirement Obligation
Canadian Oil Sands decreased its estimated asset retirement obligation from $1,102 million at December 31, 2012 to $1,013 million at March 31, 2013, reflecting a 25 basis point increase in the interest rate used to discount future reclamation and closure expenditures, and reclamation spending during the quarter.
Pension and Other Post-Employment Benefit Plans
The Corporation's share of the estimated unfunded portion of Syncrude Canada Ltd.'s ("Syncrude Canada") pension and other post-employment benefit plans decreased to $408 million at March 31, 2013 from $438 million at December 31, 2012, reflecting contributions to the plans in excess of the current period costs and strong returns on the plan assets during the 2013 first quarter.
Summary of Quarterly Results
During the last eight quarters, the following items have had a significant impact on the Corporation's financial results:
Quarterly variances in net income and cash flow from operations are caused mainly by fluctuations in realized selling prices, production and sales volumes, operating expenses, natural gas prices, and current tax expense. Net income is also impacted by foreign exchange gains and losses, depreciation and depletion, and deferred tax expense. The dividends paid to Shareholders are likewise dependent on the factors impacting cash flow from operations as well as the amount and timing of capital expenditures.
While the supply/demand balance for crude oil affects selling prices, the impact of this relationship has not displayed significant seasonality. Natural gas prices are typically higher in winter months as heating demand rises, but this seasonality is influenced by weather conditions and North American natural gas inventory levels. Technological developments in North American natural gas production have significantly increased production levels and impacted natural gas prices. These conditions may persist for the next several years.
Syncrude production levels may not display seasonal patterns or trends. While maintenance and turnaround activities are typically scheduled to avoid the winter months, the exact timing of unit outages cannot always be precisely scheduled and unplanned outages may occur. The costs of major turnarounds are capitalized as property, plant and equipment and depreciated over the period until the next scheduled turnaround. The costs of all other turnarounds and maintenance activities are expensed in the period incurred, which can result in volatility in quarterly operating expenses. All turnarounds and maintenance activities impact per barrel operating expenses because sales volumes are lower in the periods when this work is occurring.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures increased to $268 million in the first quarter of 2013 from $141 million in the first quarter of 2012, reflecting spending on the major capital projects at Syncrude. More information on the major capital projects is provided in the "Outlook" section of this MD&A.
The increase in regular maintenance capital expenditures in 2013 reflects increased spending on projects to relocate tailings facilities. The increase in capitalized interest costs reflects higher cumulative capital expenditures on qualifying assets.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Canadian Oil Sands' contractual obligations and commitments are summarized in the 2012 annual MD&A and include future cash payments that the Corporation is required to make under existing contractual arrangements entered into directly or as a 36.74 per cent owner in Syncrude. There are no significant new contractual obligations or commitments from the 2012 annual disclosure.
Dividends
On April 30, 2013, the Corporation declared a quarterly dividend of $0.35 per Share for a total dividend of approximately $170 million. The dividend will be paid on May 31, 2013 to shareholders of record on May 24, 2013. During the first quarter of 2013, the Corporation paid dividends to shareholders totalling $170 million, or $0.35 per Share.
Dividend payments are set quarterly by the Board of Directors in the context of current and expected crude oil prices, economic conditions, Syncrude's operating performance, and the Corporation's capacity to finance operating and investing obligations. Dividend levels are established with the intent of absorbing short-term market volatility over several quarters. Dividend levels also recognize our intention to fund the current major projects primarily with cash flow from operations and existing cash balances, while maintaining a strong balance sheet to reduce exposure to potential oil price declines, capital cost increases or major operational upsets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net debt, comprised of current and non-current portions of long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents, increased to $361 million at March 31, 2013 from $241 million at December 31, 2012, as existing cash balances were used to fund capital expenditures and dividend payments in excess of cash flow from operations. As a result, net debt-to-total net capitalization increased to seven per cent at March 31, 2013 from five per cent at December 31, 2012.
Shareholders' equity increased to $4,537 million at March 31, 2013 from $4,515 million at December 31, 2012, as net income exceeded dividends in the first quarter of 2013.
Canadian Oil Sands has a $1,500 million operating credit facility which expires on June 1, 2016 and a $40 million extendible revolving term credit facility which expires on June 30, 2014. No amounts were drawn against these facilities at March 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012.
The U.S. $300 million of Senior Notes, which mature in August 2013, were refinanced with a U.S. $700 million Senior Notes issuance on March 29, 2012.
The Senior Notes indentures and credit facility agreements contain certain covenants that restrict Canadian Oil Sands' ability to sell all or substantially all of its assets or change the nature of its business, and limit long-term debt-to-total capitalization to 55 per cent. Canadian Oil Sands is in compliance with its debt covenants, and with a long-term debt-to-total capitalization of 29 per cent at March 31, 2013, a significant increase in debt or decrease in equity would be required to negatively impact the Corporation's financial flexibility.
We expect cash levels to decrease over the next two years as we fund the major capital projects and repay our August, 2013 debt maturity. As a result, and based on the assumptions in our 2013 Outlook, our net debt levels are expected to rise to $1 billion to $2 billion by the end of 2014, coincident with reduced capital expenditure risk from the substantial completion of our major capital projects.
Shareholders' Capital and Trading Activity
The Corporation's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol COS. On March 31, 2013, the Corporation had a market capitalization of approximately $10.1 billion with 484.6 million shares outstanding and a closing price of $20.94 per Share. The following table summarizes the trading activity for the first quarter of 2013.
Changes in Accounting Policies
In June 2011, the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") amended International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 19, Employee Benefits, addressing the recognition and measurement of defined benefit pension expense and termination benefits and disclosures for all employee benefits. The key amendments are as follows:
Canadian Oil Sands has applied the amendments effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with the applicable transitional provisions. Certain amounts reported in the Corporation's Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income have been adjusted as follows:
2013 Outlook
Canadian Oil Sands has increased estimated 2013 sales, net of crude oil purchases and transportation expense, to $3,280 million, due to an increase in the forecast realized selling price partially offset by a decrease in estimated production volumes.
The forecast realized selling price for 2013 has increased $5 per barrel to $85 per barrel and assumes a U.S. $85 per barrel WTI oil price, no SCO premium/discount to Canadian dollar WTI, and a foreign exchange rate of $1.00 U.S./Cdn.
Syncrude has performed the maintenance required to address the extraction issues and is investigating the root cause of the hydrotreating outages. While we believe the issues that impacted operations since late 2012 have been resolved, we have reduced our 2013 Syncrude production range to 100 to 110 million barrels and adjusted our single-point production estimate to 105 million barrels (287,700 barrels per day). Net to Canadian Oil Sands, the single-point estimate is equivalent to 38.6 million barrels (105,700 barrels per day). The revised estimate reflects a planned turnaround of Coker 8-1 in the second half of the year.
We estimate 2013 operating expenses of $1,482 million, or $38.41 per barrel, reflecting actual costs incurred to date and a natural gas price assumption of $3.50 per gigajoule.
We estimate 2013 Crown royalties of $109 million. Mainly as a result of capital spending on major projects, allowable deductible costs for royalty purposes in 2013 are anticipated to exceed deemed bitumen revenues. As a result, we are estimating minimum Crown royalties at one per cent of gross deemed bitumen revenues (instead of 25 per cent of net deemed bitumen revenues) in 2013. We continue to recognize the transition and upgrader growth capital recapture royalties.
We estimate current taxes of $350 million for 2013.
Based on these assumptions, we estimate 2013 cash flow from operations of $1,097 million, or $2.26 per Share.
Estimated 2013 capital expenditures have decreased to $1,298 million, due to adjustments to the expected timing of regular maintenance capital spending.
We expect cash levels to decrease over the next two years as we fund major capital projects and repay the debt maturity in August, 2013. As a result, net debt levels are expected to rise to $1 billion to $2 billion by the end of 2014, coincident with reduced capital expenditure risk from the substantial completion of the major capital projects.
Changes in certain factors and market conditions could potentially impact Canadian Oil Sands' Outlook. The following table provides a sensitivity analysis of the key factors affecting the Corporation's performance.
Outlook Sensitivity Analysis (April 30, 2013)
The 2013 Outlook contains forward-looking information and users are cautioned that the actual amounts may vary from the estimates disclosed. Please refer to the "Forward-Looking Information Advisory" section of this MD&A for the risks and assumptions underlying this forward-looking information.
Major Projects
The following tables provide cost and schedule estimates for Syncrude's major projects. Regular maintenance capital costs for years after 2013 will be provided on an annual basis when we disclose the budgets for those years, and are currently estimated to average approximately $10 per barrel over the next few years.
Major Projects - Total Project Cost and Schedule Estimates(1)
Major Projects - Annual Spending Profile(1)
In May, Syncrude will begin the planned relocation of the first mine train at the Aurora North mine. The second mine train is scheduled to be moved in August 2013. Each mine train relocation is anticipated to take about 65 days. Syncrude has enhanced its preventative maintenance program on its mine train fleet in advance of the relocations to support uninterrupted bitumen supply during the relocation periods. Syncrude expects to complete both mine train relocations by the end of the year with close-out and clean-up work continuing into the first quarter of 2014.
Canadian Oil Sands plans to finance the major projects primarily with existing cash balances and cash flow from operations.
The major projects tables contain forward-looking information and users of this information are cautioned that the actual yearly and total major project costs and the actual in-service dates for the major projects may vary from the plans disclosed. The major project cost estimates and major project target in-service dates are based on current spending plans. Please refer to the "Forward-Looking Information Advisory" section of this MD&A for the risks and assumptions underlying this forward-looking information. For a list of additional risk factors that could cause the actual amount of the major project costs and the major project target in-service dates to differ materially, please refer to the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated February 21, 2013 which is available on the Corporation's profile on SEDAR at and on the Corporation's website at .
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(unaudited)
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(unaudited)
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
Supplementary Information (Note 16)
See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
(Tabular amounts expressed in millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise noted)
1) Nature of Operations
Canadian Oil Sands Limited ("Canadian Oil Sands" or the "Corporation") was incorporated in 2010 under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada pursuant to a plan of arrangement effecting the reorganization from an income trust into a corporate structure effective December 31, 2010.
The Corporation indirectly owns a 36.74 per cent interest ("Working Interest") in the Syncrude Joint Venture ("Syncrude"). Syncrude is involved in the mining and upgrading of bitumen from oil sands near Fort McMurray in northern Alberta. The Syncrude Project is comprised of open-pit oil sands mines, utilities plants, bitumen extraction plants, and an upgrading complex that processes bitumen into Synthetic Crude Oil ("SCO"). Syncrude is a joint operation jointly controlled by seven owners. Decisions about Syncrude's relevant activities require unanimous consent of the owners. Each owner takes its proportionate share of production in kind, and funds its proportionate share of Syncrude's operating development and capital costs on a daily basis. The Corporation also owns 36.74 per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of Syncrude Canada Ltd. ("Syncrude Canada"). Syncrude Canada operates Syncrude on behalf of the owners and is responsible for selecting, compensating, directing and controlling Syncrude's employees, and for administering all related employment benefits and obligations. The Corporation's investment in Syncrude and Syncrude Canada represents its only producing asset.
The Corporation's office is located at the following address: 2500 First Canadian Centre, 350 - 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3N9.
2) Basis of Presentation
These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements are prepared and reported in Canadian dollars in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles as set out in the Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants ("CICA Handbook"). The CICA Handbook incorporates International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and publicly accountable enterprises, such as the Corporation, are required to apply such standards. These unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS applicable to the preparation of interim financial statements and International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 34, Interim Financial Reporting, and the accounting policies applied in these interim unaudited consolidated financial statements are based on IFRS as issued, outstanding and effective on April 30, 2013.
Certain disclosures that are normally required to be included in the notes to the annual audited consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Corporation's audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2012.
3) Accounting Policies
The same accounting policies and methods of computation are followed in these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as compared with the most recent audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 except as follows:
Taxes
Current taxes in interim periods are accrued based on our best estimate of the annual tax rate applied to year-to-date earnings. Current taxes accrued in one interim period may be adjusted in a subsequent interim period if the estimate of the annual tax rate changes.
Employee Future Benefits
In June 2011, the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") amended International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 19, Employee Benefits, addressing the recognition and measurement of defined benefit pension expense and termination benefits and disclosures for all employee benefits. The key amendments are as follows:
Canadian Oil Sands has applied the amendments effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with the applicable transitional provisions. Certain amounts reported in the Corporation's Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income have been adjusted as follows:
Consolidation
In May 2011, the IASB issued IFRS 10, Consolidated Financial Statements; IFRS 11, Joint Arrangements, to replace International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 31, Interests in Joint Ventures; IFRS 12, Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities; and amendments to IAS 27, Separate Financial Statements and IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures.
Canadian Oil Sands has applied these new standards effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with the transitional provisions. IFRS 10, which establishes principles for the presentation and preparation of consolidated financial statements, has not impacted Canadian Oil Sands' financial statements or disclosures. IFRS 11 eliminates the accounting policy choice between proportionate consolidation and equity method accounting for joint ventures available under IAS 31 and, instead, mandates one of these two methodologies based on the economic substance of the joint arrangement. Canadian Oil Sands has determined that its investments in Syncrude and Syncrude Canada are considered joint operations under the new standard and continues to recognize its proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and commitments of both. IFRS 12 requires entities to disclose information about the nature of their interests in joint ventures, which has resulted in additional disclosures in Note 1, Nature of Operations.
Fair Value Measurement
In May 2011, the IASB issued IFRS 13, Fair Value Measurements, which establishes a single source of guidance for fair value measurements and related disclosures. Canadian Oil Sands has applied this new standard effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with the transitional provisions, resulting in new fair value disclosures in Note 13, Financial Instruments.
Financial Instruments: Disclosures
In December 2011, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 7, Financial Instruments: Disclosures, requiring entities to disclose information about the effect, or potential effect, of netting arrangements on an entity's financial position. Canadian Oil Sands has applied these amendments effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with their transitional provisions, resulting in additional disclosures in Note 13, Financial Instruments.
Production Stripping Costs
In October 2011, the IASB issued International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") Interpretation 20, Stripping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine, which clarifies the accounting for costs associated with waste removal in surface mining during the production phase of a mine. Canadian Oil Sands has applied this new interpretation effective January 1, 2013 in accordance with the transitional provisions but there has been no impact on Canadian Oil Sands' financial statements or disclosures.
4) Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
For the three months ended March 31, 2013, interest costs of $23 million were capitalized and included in property, plant and equipment (three months ended March 31, 2012 - $20 million) based on a 6.5 per cent interest capitalization rate (7.3 per cent for the three months ended March 31, 2012).
5) Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
6) Other Liabilities
7) Asset Retirement Obligation
The Corporation and each of the other Syncrude owners are liable for their share of ongoing obligations related to the reclamation and closure of the Syncrude properties on abandonment. The Corporation estimates reclamation and closure expenditures will be made progressively over the next 70 years and has applied a risk-free interest rate of 2.50 per cent at March 31, 2013 (December 31, 2012 - 2.25 per cent) in deriving the asset retirement obligation. The risk-free rate is based on the yield for benchmark Government of Canada long-term bonds.
The following table presents the reconciliation of the beginning and ending aggregate carrying amount of the Corporation's share of the obligation associated with the reclamation and closure of the Syncrude properties:
The $62 million decrease in the asset retirement obligation was recorded as a decrease in property, plant and equipment. The $44 million current portion of the asset retirement obligation is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, while the $969 million non-current portion is presented separately as an asset retirement obligation on the March 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheet. The total undiscounted estimated cash flows required to settle Canadian Oil Sand's share of the asset retirement obligation were $2,071 million at March 31, 2013 (December 31, 2012 - $2,104 million).
8) Employee Future Benefits
The Corporation's share of Syncrude Canada's defined benefit and contribution plans' costs for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 is based on its 36.74 per cent working interest. The costs have been recorded in operating expenses, net finance expense and other comprehensive income as follows:
The Corporation's share of the estimated unfunded portion of Syncrude Canada's pension and other post-employment benefit plans decreased to $408 million at March 31, 2013 from $438 million at December 31, 2012, reflecting contributions to the plans and higher than estimated returns on plan assets. The impact of the higher-than-estimated plan asset returns is reflected as a $14 million re-measurement, net of $4 million in taxes, in Other Comprehensive Income. A liability for the $408 million unfunded balance is recognized on the March 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheet.
9) Foreign Exchange
10) Net Finance Expense
11) Tax Expense
12) Capital Management
The Corporation's capital consists of cash and cash equivalents, debt and Shareholders' equity. The balance of each of these items at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was as follows:
Net debt, comprised of current and non-current portions of long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents, increased to $361 million at March 31, 2013 from $241 million at December 31, 2012, as existing cash balances were used to fund capital expenditures and dividend payments in excess of cash flow from operations. As a result, net debt-to-total net capitalization increased to seven per cent at March 31, 2013 from five per cent at December 31, 2012.
Shareholders' equity increased to $4,537 million at March 31, 2013 from $4,515 million at December 31, 2012, as net income exceeded dividends in the first quarter of 2013.
As disclosed in Notes 10 and 11 to the 2012 annual consolidated financial statements, the Corporation's senior notes indentures and credit facility agreements contain certain covenants which restrict Canadian Oil Sands' ability to sell all or substantially all of its assets or change the nature of its business, and limit long-term debt-to-total capitalization to 55 per cent. Canadian Oil Sands is in compliance with its debt covenants, and with a long-term debt-to-total capitalization of 29 per cent at March 31, 2013, a significant increase in debt or decrease in equity would be required to negatively impact the Corporation's financial flexibility.
13) Financial Instruments
The Corporation's financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, investments held in a reclamation trust, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and current and non-current portions of long-term debt. The nature, the Corporation's use of, and the risks associated with these instruments are unchanged from December 31, 2012.
Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
The carrying values of accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued liabilities have each been reduced by $62 million ($25 million at December 31, 2012) as a result of netting agreements with counterparties.
Fair Values
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, reclamation trust investments and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of those instruments. The fair value of long-term debt, based on third-party market indications, is as follows:
14) Commitments
Canadian Oil Sands' commitments are summarized in the 2012 annual consolidated financial statements and include future cash payments that the Corporation is required to make under existing contractual arrangements entered into directly or as a 36.74 per cent owner in Syncrude. There are no significant new commitments relative to the 2012 annual disclosure.
15) Contingencies
Crown royalties include Canadian Oil Sands' share of amounts due under the Syncrude Royalty Amending Agreement with the Alberta government. The Syncrude Royalty Amending Agreement requires that bitumen be valued by a formula that references the value of bitumen based on a Canadian heavy oil reference price adjusted to reflect quality and location differences between Syncrude's bitumen and the Canadian reference price bitumen. In addition, the agreement provides that a minimum bitumen value, or "floor price", may be imposed in circumstances where Canadian heavy oil prices are temporarily suppressed relative to North American heavy oil prices.
Canadian Oil Sands' share of the royalties recognized for the period from January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2013 reflect management's best estimate of both reasonable quality and transportation deductions and adjustments to reflect the "floor price." However, the Syncrude owners and the Alberta government are disputing the basis for the quality, transportation and "floor price" adjustments. Under alternate assumptions, Canadian Oil Sands' share of Crown royalties for this period could be as much as $60 million (on an after-tax basis) more than the amounts recognized.
The Syncrude owners and the Alberta government continue to discuss these matters, but if such discussions do not result in an agreed upon solution, either party may seek judicial determination of the matter. The cumulative impact, if any, of such discussions or judicial determination, as applicable, would be recognized and impact both net income and cash flow from operations accordingly.
16) Supplementary Information
Income taxes paid and the portion of interest costs that is expensed are included within cash from operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The portion of interest costs that is capitalized as property, plant and equipment is included within cash used in investing activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Cash flow from operations per Share is calculated as cash flow from operations, which is cash from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital, divided by the weighted-average number of outstanding Shares in the period.
17) Prior Period Comparative Amounts
During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Corporation completed a review of the presentation of crude oil purchase and sale transactions and it was determined that certain transactions previously reported on a gross basis (sales are presented gross of crude oil purchases and transportation expense) are more appropriately reflected on a net basis (crude oil purchases and transportation expense are netted against sales). Prior period comparative amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The impact is as follows:
Canadian Oil Sands Limited
Marcel Coutu, President & Chief Executive Officer
Shares Listed - Symbol: COS
Toronto Stock Exchange
Contacts:
Canadian Oil Sands Limited
Siren Fisekci
Vice President, Investor & Corporate Relations
(403) 218-6228
Canadian Oil Sands Limited
Alison Trollope
Manager, Investor Relations
(403) 218-6231
Canadian Oil Sands Limited
2500 First Canadian Centre
350 - 7 Avenue S.W.
(403) 218-6200
(403) 218-6201 (FAX)
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Datum: 30.04.2013 - 20:01 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 254704
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contact information:
Town:
CALGARY, ALBERTA
Kategorie:
Oil & Gas
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