Each one in plain English, with the numbers worked through for a shareholder.
19 Mar 2012other● Neutral
Contact Energy (Origin 52.76%) February data: Haywards wholesale price averaged $129/MWh, South Island hydro storage 69% of mean (from 72%), North Island 131%. Q2 2012 futures fell to $117/MWh by 13 March from $132/MWh at end-February.
Contact Energy (Origin 52.76%) set its interim bonus share strike price at $4.955, a ratio of 0.0222 bonus shares per share held. It will buy back up to 15,732,514 shares issued on 30 March 2012.
Contact Energy (Origin 52.76%) sent shareholders its interim distribution of 11c per share, paid 30 March 2012 as bonus shares with an optional cash buy-back; the acceptance deadline is 23 March. Routine shareholder mailing.
Geodynamics, operator of the Innamincka Deeps JV (Origin 30%), has all approvals to spud Habanero 4 within about a week, targeting 4,170m over roughly four months. The JV sold Rig 100 to Weatherford for $16.8m, so future wells will use hired rigs.
Contact Energy (Origin 52.76%) January data: average wholesale price $73/MWh, South Island hydro storage down to 72% of mean (from 85%), North Island 130%. Futures for the first quarter of 2012 rose to $115/MWh by 24 February.
Origin's underlying profit rose 61% to $489m, with underlying EBITDA up 41% to $1,157m, mostly from the NSW energy businesses bought in March 2011 and lower exploration expense. Interim dividend 25c, 55% of underlying profit. Statutory profit $794m included a gain on APLNG dilution.
Origin reported its subordinated notes ratios at 31 December 2011: interest cover 6.6 times (minimum 3.5) and leverage 1.2 times (maximum 4.0). No Mandatory Deferral Event has started, so interest on the December-issued notes is not deferred.
The 25c fully franked interim dividend, payable 30 March 2012 (record date 5 March), will have a dividend reinvestment plan with no discount and no underwriting. Pricing period is 7 to 20 March.
Presentation accompanying the half-year result, with management reviewing performance, finances, operations and outlook. Repeats the figures already released the same day; no new information is visible in the text provided.
Origin's half-year to 31 December 2011: revenue $6,499m (+42%), statutory profit $794m against a $136m loss a year earlier, interim dividend 25c fully franked. Full accounts and management discussion; the media release carries the headline detail.
Contact Energy (Origin 52.76%) reported half-year EBITDAF of $231m (+$5m) and underlying profit of $76m (-$2m), with hydro output down 16%. Interim distribution held at 11c. Te Mihi remains on schedule for mid-2013; Oakey exit gain of about $28m to come at full year.
Origin revised its reporting segments to Energy Markets, Exploration and Production, Australia Pacific LNG, Contact Energy and Corporate, ahead of the 23 February interim result. Prior-period profit is not changed; December 2010 segment figures are restated.
Contact Energy, 52.76% owned by Origin, will give a recorded overview of its half-year results around 2pm NZT on 21 February 2012 instead of a webcast. The results release time is unchanged. Administrative notice.
Beach's January drilling report covers its own Cooper Basin wells. Santos-operated gas wells, in which Origin has 13.19% via the Cooper JV, saw four drilled, three cased and suspended as future producers. No Origin-specific results.
Contact Energy, 52.76% owned by Origin, reported December data: the average Haywards wholesale price was $75/MWh, with Benmore at $56. South Island hydro storage fell to 85% of mean and North Island rose to 120%. Half-year results are due 21 February 2012.
APLNG and Sinopec signed binding agreements: 3.3 mtpa more LNG to 2035 (Sinopec total 7.6 mtpa) and Sinopec subscribing US$1.1bn for 10% more equity. Origin's stake falls to 37.5% on completion, which still needs Train 2 FID and Chinese and FIRB approvals.
Contact Energy, 52.76% owned by Origin, completed its exit from the 25% Oakey Power Holdings stake for about A$31m, resolving the December talks. Operations and maintenance duties move to ERM Power; Contact's CEO calls it positive alongside the Whirinaki purchase.
Geodynamics, operator of the Innamincka Deeps JV (Origin 30%), says Habanero 4 is on track to spud in February 2012, refining the earlier Q1 target. It will drill to about 4,170 metres over roughly four months.
Drillsearch reports wet gas from the Middleton pilot is flowing and being sold to the Cooper Basin joint venture, in which Origin holds 13.19%. Expected rate is 25 MMscf/d raw gas, about 15 TJ/d of sales gas. Follows the 28 November sales agreement.
Beach announced first gas from the Middleton project, sold to the Cooper Basin joint venture (Origin 13.19%) under the agreement covering at least 3 bcf. Same project and rates as Drillsearch's release; a five-well drilling campaign nearby has started.
The first of two units at Origin's 550MW Mortlake gas power station is now available to dispatch into the Victorian market. The second unit is delayed for a generator inspection after a switchyard fault, to be done in the March quarter.
Contact Energy, 52.76% owned by Origin, is in talks to sell its 25% stake in Oakey Power Holdings back to the company for about A$31m via a capital reduction. A further announcement is expected in mid-January 2012.
ASX said Origin's subordinated notes (code ORGHA) will start trading on a deferred settlement basis from 12:00pm on 23 December 2011, with normal trading from 29 December. Administrative notice.
22 Dec 2011capital raising announcement▲ GoodMajor
Origin closed its subordinated notes offer at $900m, up from $800m allocated in the bookbuild on 1 December, after $82.2m of shareholder and $17.8m of general demand. First-period interest is 8.47% a year; proceeds help fund its APLNG contribution.
Contact Energy (52.76% owned by Origin) reported November data: average wholesale price $59/MWh, down from $94 in October, with hydro storage at 101% of mean in the South Island and 105% in the North. A Huntly outage on 13 December is not expected to hurt EBITDAF materially.
Contact Energy, 52.76% owned by Origin, closed its capital bond offer and allotted $200m of bonds at 8.00% a year to 15 February 2017, the minimum rate. First interest payment is 15 February 2012.
APLNG signed a non-binding heads of agreement for Sinopec to buy a further 3.3 mtpa of LNG to 2035, completing Train 2 marketing, and to lift its stake from 15% to 25%. Origin's stake would fall from 42.5% to 37.5%. Binding deals need approvals and Train 2 FID.
Carbon Conscious said Origin completed its plantation review, so the 2012 plantings of 10 million Mallee trees are now unconditional. It resolves the review condition; Origin's options for 2013-2015 remain open and will be discussed.