STATOIL PROFIT DOWN 71%

"Our financial results were affected by low oil and gas prices in the quarter. We delivered strong operational performance across all business areas, high production efficiency and results in line with expectations from liquids trading and refining. The guidance for 2016 is maintained," says Eldar Sætre, President and CEO of Statoil ASA.

"The industry is facing challenges. However, I am pleased to see progress consistent with the priorities we presented in February. We have a firm plan to improve efficiency and make faster and deeper cost reductions. We are radically improving our project break evens and we are on track to re-set costs and thereby impact the parameters that we can control", says Sætre.

Adjusted earnings were USD 857 million in the first quarter compared to USD 2,945 million in the same period in 2015. The reduction was primarily a consequence of significantly lower liquids and gas prices, partially offset by good operational performance and reduced underlying operating costs. Adjusted earnings after tax were USD 122 million in the first quarter, down from USD 902 million in the same period last year.

IFRS net income was USD 611 million in the first quarter compared to a net loss of USD 4,571 million in the same period of 2015. Net impairment reversals of USD 308 million before tax in the first quarter of 2016 positively impacted the IFRS results compared to net impairment charges of USD 5,935 million before tax in the same period last year.

Statoil delivered equity production of 2,054 mboe per day in the first quarter. The underlying production growth in the quarter, after adjusting for divestments, was 2% compared to the first quarter last year. Production from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) grew 2% in the first quarter of 2016 compared to last year, adjusted for divestments. Equity production outside of Norway was 734 mboe per day, in line with the first quarter last year, adjusted for transactions. In the first quarter Statoil made two small discoveries on the NCS. As of 31 March 2016, Statoil had completed seven wells, with four wells on-going. Adjusted exploration expenses in the quarter were USD 280 million, down from USD 351 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Cash flow from operations amounted to USD 2,205 million in the first quarter compared to USD 3,740 million in the same period last year. In light of the low liquids and gas prices in the quarter, Statoil maintained a strong capital structure, and net debt to capital employed at the end of the quarter was 28.1%. Organic capital expenditure was USD 2.4 billion in the first three months of 2016.