Summary
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) reported a net income of $1.154 billion for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, a decrease from $1.570 billion in 2000, attributed to lower oil prices and chemical segment performance. The company's strategy focuses on shifting assets to long-lived oil and gas reserves, maintaining financial discipline, and generating cash from its chemicals business. Significant capital expenditures were made in oil and gas operations, and the company successfully reduced its total debt by nearly $1.4 billion from its 2000 level to $4.9 billion by year-end 2001, improving its debt-to-capitalization ratio to 46%.
Key Highlights
- 1Occidental Petroleum reported a net income of $1.154 billion for 2001, down from $1.570 billion in 2000.
- 2The company's debt-to-capitalization ratio improved significantly to 46% by the end of 2001, down from 57% in 2000.
- 3Total debt was reduced to $4.9 billion by year-end 2001, a substantial decrease from the $6.356 billion reported in 2000.
- 4Capital expenditures for oil and gas operations were $1.223 billion in 2001, a substantial increase from $791 million in 2000.
- 5The company expects the Lyondell/Equistar transaction to close in the third quarter of 2002.
- 6New accounting standards, SFAS 145 and EITF Issue No. 02-3, are expected to be implemented without significant impact on net income, cash flow, or EPS, though SFAS 145 will reclassify past extraordinary losses.
- 7Occidental adopted SFAS No. 142, 'Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,' in the first quarter of 2002, which resulted in a $95 million after-tax reduction in net income due to goodwill impairment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Occidental's financial health appears to be strengthening. The company reduced its total debt to $4.9 billion by year-end 2001, down from $6.356 billion in 2000. This debt reduction, combined with strategic asset management, improved the debt-to-capitalization ratio to 46%, a significant decrease from 67% at the end of 1997, indicating improved financial discipline.
Occidental's core strategy involves shifting its asset base towards large, long-lived oil and gas assets with growth potential, maintaining strict financial discipline to strengthen the balance sheet, and generating cash flow from its chemicals business. This includes focused exploration and development in core areas and disciplined asset acquisition and disposition.
In 2001, the oil and gas segment showed increased revenues due to higher gas prices and trading volumes, despite lower oil prices. The chemical segment faced challenges with decreased demand and prices, resulting in a net loss for the segment before special items. For 2002, the oil and gas outlook anticipates sustained lower prices, particularly for natural gas, while the chemical segment expects a gradual recovery in industry operating rates, though caustic soda pricing is expected to remain weak.
The company is progressing with its planned sale of its share in Equistar to Lyondell, with the transaction expected to close in the third quarter of 2002. In preparation, Occidental recorded a $240 million after-tax write-down of its Equistar investment in December 2001.