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Petrofac News 1700X397
03 November 2020

Completion of sale of 51% interest in Mexican operations

Further to its statement on 19 September 2019, Petrofac Limited (“Petrofac”) announces that the Group has completed the sale of its remaining 51% interest in its upstream IES operations in Mexico, including Santuario, Magallanes and Arenque, to Perenco Energies International Limited (“Perenco”). Perenco now owns 100% of the operations in Mexico. This transaction largely completes the Group’s programme to dispose of non-core assets.

Gross cash consideration received on completion was US$82.7 million. In total, Petrofac has received US$120.2 million to date from the sale of its 51% interest in its Mexican operations. Proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce gross debt.

Further consideration of up to US$155.8 million is potentially receivable, comprising:

  • US$80.2 million plus interest payable on completion, which is disputed by Perenco. Petrofac will initiate formal legal proceedings against Perenco to recover this balance; and
  • Up to US$75.6 million contingent on future milestones, including field development, commercial, service contract transition and fiscal terms.

The uncertainty surrounding the Mexican Energy Reform programme and the outcome of other events is expected to result in a material non-cash impairment charge to be recognised at 31 December 2020. This exceptional impairment charge will take into account management’s assessment of the fair value of future consideration receivable.


NOTES

  1. On completion, cash and short-term deposits of US$65.2 million associated with the Group’s operations in Mexico will be deconsolidated from the Group’s balance sheet.
  2. The gross assets being disposed of had a carrying amount of US$630 million at 31 December 2019. The net assets being disposed of had a carrying amount of US$510 million at 31 December 2019. Related non-controlling interest as at 31 December 2019 stood at $268 million. The assets being disposed of made an underlying business performance net profit of US$7 million for the year ended 31 December 2019 (51% share equals approximately US$4 million).