Category Archives: Energy

Energy

Over 1.2 Billion Chinese can’t be wrong

Energy, On the cover, Sin categoría,
20091125112611china1
(Published in Cotizalia in Spanish on Nov 26th 2009). Chart shows monthly car sales in USA vs China.

“Data from China is not credible.” This phrase and similar ones have led many funds, especially traditional ones, to miss part of the rally in stocks and commodities, to give just one example. It seems to me that in 2009 many suffered from a bit of excess of caution and a lot of looking at the growth data in the wrong places (USA, Europe). And it’s already more than a year since the launch of China’s economic stimulus program and the data continue to surprise on the rise.

In 2010, China’s GDP will grow c9%. But more importantly, it is likely to do so with very moderate inflation, around 2.5%, thanks to the fact that OECD countries will continue to be in a difficult economic environment and therefore, prices of products imported by China will probably not increase dramatically, as has happened with oil, coal and gas between 2008 and 2009.

Remember that China imports 3.6 million barrels per day of oil, and growing. Well, that consumption is only 2 barrels a year per capita, c4% of global demand. Meanwhile the U.S. remains about 24 barrels a year per capita, 24% of the total, but falling. This scenario, moderate rise in prices of imported commodities as high domestic growth is financed, is ideal for China to deliver long term economic growth and credit expansion without causing major inflationary moves, and that will likely generate the next local stock market rally. Do you remember Europe in 1950? The same.

Investments in fixed assets in the country will continue growing by c30% in 2010. Over 300 projects implemented on a large scale in 2009 lead me to think that we will see an increase in infrastructure investment over several years. This investment will force Chinese authorities to keep the current loose monetary policy at least for the medium term. Thus, according to several analysts, the figure of bank loans will double in three years. And this expansion of credit obviously generates a massive increase in consumption and spending power of families. The increase in disposable income is what is leading car sales to exceed U.S. figures, and we will see the same for other assets.

The important thing to remember is that the figures for 2009 are the result of a recovery from a downward cycle, and do not include the results of credit expansion and domestic demand, so China will be able to harness the greatest growth in its history without depending so much on exports and with relatively moderate inflation.
And what keeps me comfortably optimistic about Chinese stocks and those companies exposed to the growth of the country is this period of expansion, which coincides with the decline of the OECD, which makes it impossible for Western Central Banks to raise rates in a relevant way, and which will likely make investors increase exposure to risk assets. Alternatively we might lose the other 50% rally worrying about data from mature economies in decline.

Dragon Oil… A cool 11.5% return to December

Energy, On the cover, Sin categoría

chartDragon Oil and its takeover bid (rejected by big shareholders) is set to deliver a minimum 11.5% return.

The critical step is the Court Meeting and EGM of Dragon shareholders which are scheduled for 10.00 and 10.15 on December 11th respectively, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

ENOC needs to achieve 75% of the minority votes by weighting and 50% of the number of votes cast. While the decision to hold the meeting in London rather than in Ireland may appear to place an obstacle in the way of smaller Irish retail investors, voting may be done by proxy up to 48 hours before the Court Meeting. I believe that the vote will be tight, as already indicated by the statements of rejection issued by some of the major shareholders, and the failure of ENOC to respond by even a small increase in the bid strongly confirms that the 455p reflects what ENOC can afford to pay, not what the assets are worth.

The statement repeats that ENOC has undertaken not to sell its shares in Dragon until at least August 2009. If the offer lapses, ENOC could sell its stake at a higher price. So 11.5% is a minimum to make,

China, Exxon and the war for resources

Energy, On the cover, Sin categoría,

ep valuations

Graph above shows the valuation of independent E&Ps (EV/Core NAV) compared to Brent.

(Published in Cotizalia on November 19th 2009)

What an incredible week. Warren Buffett buys $60 million in Exxon shares, the independent E&P stocks (Dana, Dragon) rose to near-all-year highs on takeover speculation and we witness the evidence of what PetroChina said recently: the war for natural resources has only just begun. And the EU is losing.

While large European oil companies still fail to know what they will do to keep their businesses afloat if prices fall $1 or $2/bbl, the world is experiencing a revolution. So far in 2009, China has invested $16.5 billion to acquire oil assets. And what some disdained as excessive valuations has proven very reasonable, as PetroChina, Sinopec and CNOOC have demonstrated an exquisite discipline buying, but also by refusing opportunities.

Following are the Top-10 acquisitions by Chinese companies in the oil and gas sector so far in 2009. (Billions of US dollars)

RANK VALUE ACQUIRER TARGET

  1. 7.15 Sinopec Addax Petroleum Corp
  2. 3.30 China National PC OAO MangistauMunaiGaz
  3. 1.73 PetroChinaAthabasca Oil Sands
  4. 1.30 CNOOC, SinopecBlock 32 Offshore, Angola
  5. 0.93 China Investment CKazMunaiGas Expl & Prodn
  6. 0.87 Sinochem ResourcesEmerald Energy PLC
  7. 0.41 Petrochina South Oil E&D Co Ltd
  8. 0.31 CNOOC Talisman Energy Inc (gas)
  9. 0.27 XinjiangNew Energy
  10. 0.13 XinAo Gas Holdings Various oil reserves

You see, Europe’s efforts to invest in alternative energy and the electric car are very laudable and very necessary, but also very expensive, and even in the best case we should not lose sight of the importance of increasing access to natural resources . Especially when the International Energy Agency estimated that the use of electric vehicles in 2050 will not reach 35% of the worldwide fleet.

For me the problem is that the major oil companies are losing the best chance they ever had to buy relatively cheap assets and businesses in the OECD (see graph). For years we heard from Big Oil that E&P companies were too expensive, that they should wait for lower valuations to acquire assets. But that moment came in 2009, with the big oil companies full of cash and independents trading at historical lows … and they missed it.

However, China is demonstrating belief in the value of increasing its resources. But Exxon is now armed and ready. It has already placed a bid, rumoured at $ 4 billion for the assets of Kosmos in the Jubilee field in Ghana and continues to pursue attractive assets. As Rex Tillerson said, the company does not pursue crazy acquisitions, does not invest in political occurrences or areas that do not generate superior returns. And history shows it in their focus on the core business, a return on capital employed of 35%, share buyback of “only” $ 55 billion between 2008 and 2009 ($ 2 billion this fourth quarter!) And no debt, $2.9 billion net cash.

As Warren Buffett, Exxon knows that investing in cyclical assets with high debt clouds the ability to create long term value. And that’s what Warren Buffett has bought: a dirt-cheap stock, as he pays the total resources (72 billion barrels) at $4/bbl and pays zero for the chemical and refining businesses … but especially with the option to grow and buy without destroying the balance sheet.

In 2010 the figure of mergers and acquisitions, according to several companies and analysts, will reach $35 billion and may exceed $50 billion. Between PetroChina and Exxon they already have more reserves than all European listed companies together. The large integrated oil companies from France’s Total to Russia’s Rosneft, are unable to replace their reserves. 80% of global proven reserves are held by the producing countries. The little, very little that is left available, the independent companies with high exploration potential, will gradually fall inexorably. Those companies that lose this opportunity should not complain afterwards.

Happy Birthday, Oil

Energy, On the cover, Sin categoría
(published on August 28)
The modern oil industry began as a result of the search for inexpensive lighting. Until 1859, most people obtained artificial light by burning animal fats in the form of beeswax candles or whale oil.
In order to take advantage of the high prices of illumination, a group of investors hired a railroad conductor named Edwin Drake to head to a location close to where traces of crude oil had been observed on the surface. After a nervous few weeks in rural Pennsylvania, Drake struck oil on August 27, 1859. The 69 foot deep well on a salt dome rock formation yielded around 15 barrels a day.
The petroleum that flowed from this well in what became known as Oil Creek, near Titusville, Pennsylvania, started the modern oil industry we know today (oil had been produced in other parts of the world, but the Titusville well kicked off industry on a large scale).
The new industry was gradually consolidated and monopolized by the Standard Oil Company. In 1911, Standard Oil was split by anti-monopoly legislation into several competing firms. Esso (“S. O.” for Standard Oil), which later became Exxon and then ExxonMobil, remains the most well known of the Standard Oil children and the largest company in the S&P 500.
A few statistics:
Global oil production reached its highest figure in 2006.
Two companies, Exxon and Petrochina, control more oil and gas reserves than the entire rest of the quoted oil and utility companies.
OPEC and Russia control 77% of global oil reserves (including oil sands).
In 1991 global years of demand covered by proven reserves was 15 years. In 2009 it is roughly 12.
In 2009, c$198 billion will be invested in E&P to produce c81,820kbpd (oil). The highest figure (inflation adjusted) ever spent.
In 2008 global proven reserves fell 0.2% despite the addition of Tupi to proven status. Global reserve replacement ratio has been below 100% since 2004.
Global oil discoveries have declined steadily since the early 1960s despite periods of high prices and advances in exploration and production technology. The deficit has grown such that around the world we are now consuming roughly three times the amount of oil we are discovering each year.
The discovery deficit is now so large that the IEA estimates an equivalent of six additional Saudi Arabias need to be found and developed, requiring cumulative investments of US$26 trillion, to meet its expected 2030 global oil demand.