BP today announced a quarterly dividend of 9 cents per ordinary share ($0.54 per ADS), which is expected to be paid on 21 December 2012. The corresponding amount in sterling will be announced on 10 December 2012.
BP's third-quarter replacement cost (RC) profit was $4,687 million, compared with $5,276 million a year ago. After adjusting for a net loss from non-operating items of $321 million and net unfavourable fair value accounting effects of $162 million (both on a post-tax basis), underlying RC profit for the third quarter was $5,170 million, compared with $5,463 million for the same period last year. For the nine months, RC profit was $9,854 million, compared with $16,294 million a year ago. After adjusting for a net loss from non-operating items of $3,475 million and net unfavourable fair value accounting effects of $325 million (both on a post-tax basis), underlying RC profit for the nine months was $13,654 million, compared with $16,672 million for the same period last year. RC profit or loss for the group, underlying RC profit or loss and fair value accounting effects are non-GAAP measures and further information is provided on pages 4,19 and 21.
The group income statement included a net adverse impact relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, on a pre-tax basis, of $59 million for the third quarter and $882 million for the nine months. All amounts relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill have been treated as non-operating items. For further information on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and its consequences see pages 2-3, Note 2 on pages 23-28 and Legal proceedings on pages 32-40.
Finance costs and net finance income or expense relating to pensions and other post-retirement benefits were $198 million for the third quarter, compared with $234 million for the same period last year. For the nine months, the respective amounts were $640 million and $722 million.
Including the impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, net cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter and nine months was $6.3 billion and $14.1 billion respectively, compared with $6.9 billion and $17.1 billion in the same periods of last year. Excluding amounts related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, net cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter and nine months was $6.4 billion and $17.1 billion respectively, compared with $7.8 billion and $22.8 billion for the same periods of last year. Reflecting our proposed transaction with Rosneft, we remain confident in delivering more than 50% growth in net cash provided by operating activities by 2014(d) assuming an oil price of $100 per barrel.
Net debt at the end of the quarter was $31.5 billion, compared with $25.8 billion a year ago. The ratio of net debt to net debt plus equity was 20.9% compared with 18.9% a year ago. Net debt is a non-GAAP measure.
On 22 October 2012, BP announced that it had signed heads of terms for a proposed transaction to sell its 50% share in TNK-BP to Rosneft for cash consideration of $17.1 billion and Rosneft shares representing a 12.84% stake in Rosneft. In addition, BP would use $4.8 billion of the cash consideration to acquire a further 5.66% stake in Rosneft from the Russian government.
