Highlights
Strong results, driven by delivery of marketing growth, overall production expansion and synergies from the acquisitions of Xstrata and Viterra.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $6.5 billion, up 8% compared to pro forma H1 2013 and Adjusted EBIT up 14% to $3.6 billion:
o Marketing Adjusted EBITDA up 23% to $1.6 billion and Adjusted EBIT up 27% to $1.5 billion, as a result of generally increased volumes and improved market / procurement conditions, notably in grains, copper, zinc and nickel.
o Industrial Adjusted EBITDA up 3% to $4.8 billion and Adjusted EBIT up 6% to $2.2 billion, a period in which the positive impact of higher volumes, notable copper, offset the generally weaker net commodity price / exchange rate environment. Metals and minerals' Adjusted EBITDA mining margin improved from 29% to 32%, while Energy Adjusted EBITDA margin was stable at 29%, reflecting the higher overall industrial profitability and improving asset quality.
• Healthy cash flow generation with FFO of $4.9 billion (up 15% compared to pro forma H1 2013) and rolling 12 month FFO to net debt (adjusted for the disposal of Las Bambas and acquisition of Caracal in July 2014, subsequent to period end) improving to 33.8% from 29%.
o Net debt at period end was $37.6 billion. After adjusting for the net Las Bambas / Caracal transactions noted above, adjusted net debt was down 9% to $32.6 billion.
o Strong and flexible balance sheet, with over $9 billion of committed available liquidity.
• The Board has declared an interim distribution of $0.06 per share, an 11% increase over the 2013 interim distribution, reflecting our confidence in the prospects and strength of our underlying commodities and business and cashflow profile.
• Board enhancements continued with Tony Hayward being appointed non-executive chairman, Peter Grauer as the senior independent director and Patrice Merrin as a new independent non-executive director.
• Subsequent to period end, Glencore completed the sale of Las Bambas for approximately $6.5 billion (net of tax) and the acquisition of Caracal, the majority partner in our oil exploration and development operations in the Republic of Chad for consideration of approximately $1.6 billion.
• We will also commence a share repurchase or buy-back programme of up to $1 billion (the "Programme") in the period to 31 March 2015. This Programme will be effected in accordance with the terms of the authority granted by shareholders at the 2014 AGM. It is currently intended that any shares purchased will be held as treasury shares. The market will be notified in accordance with applicable listing rules and regulations if and when purchases are made.
Glencore's Chief Executive Officer, Ivan Glasenberg, commented:
Glencore continued to make decisive progress in delivering on the potential created by the Xstrata acquisition over the first half of 2014. We remain the most diversified natural resources company by activity, commodity and geography, providing us with a stable operating platform as well as a high degree of optionality to underlying prices and bolt-on or brownfield development opportunities. We look to the future with optimism based on our strong starting point and our culture of entrepreneurialism and hard work to leverage tightening commodity fundamentals.
