France: Total Announces 72% Profit Increase Compared to 2nd Q 2009

The Board of Directors of Total, led by Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie, met on July 29, 2010 to review the Group’s second quarter and first half 2010 accounts.

Adjusted net income for the second quarter 2010 was 2,961 million euros (M€), an increase of 72% compared to the second quarter 2009 and 29% compared to first quarter 2010. Expressed in dollars, the increases were 60% and 19%, respectively.

The Board of Directors approved the 2010 interim dividend of 1.14 €/share for payment in November5, at the same level as the interim and final dividend payments for 2009.

Commenting on the results, Christophe de Margerie said :

«Our industry was marked by the accident in the second quarter on the Macondo welt in the Gulf of Mexico. We are reminded once again that safety and the environment must remain our top priorities in this business. Total reacted immediately by launching a complete revievv of all its existing procedures and drilling operations, including the procedures to be implemented in the event of an accident. More generally, the Group is pursuing a particularly strict policy to put in place the necessary means to define and apply rigorous processes, by emphasizing the proper training and management of our teams.

In the second quarter, the economic environment for our activities ivas globally favorable with Brent trading around 75 S/b, refining margins at slightly higher levels and improved Chemicals environment compared to the first quarter 2010. However, natural gas prices were still depressed.

In this context, adjusted net income rose to 3.8 billion dollars (B$) in the second quarter 2010, a 60% increase compared to the second quarter 2009 and a 19% increase compared to the first quarter 2010, which is at the level of the best among the majors. In euros, the increase in adjusted net income was 72% and 29%, respectively, due to the appreciation of the dollar this quarter.

Cash flow from operations increased to 6.3 billion dollars, more than twice the level of the same quarter last year. As of June 30, 2010, the Group’s net-debt-to-equity ratio ivas 23%.

In addition to the generally favorable environment, these results reflect our strong operational performance and the growth in our activities. In particular, Upstream production grew by 8% compared to the second quarter 2009 and by 6% in the first half 2010 compared to the first half last year; essentially due to the ramp-ups on major projects started up in 2009.

In addition, the Group continued to expand its asset portfolio : in the Upstream, the agreement with UTS should allow Total to acquire 20% of the Fort Hills project in Canada and reconfigure its heavy oil portfolio there. The Group also acquired several exploration permits in Brazil, Indonesia, Yemen and the joint development zone between Nigeria, Sao Tomé and Principe. In the Downstream and Chemicals, completing the financing for the Jubail refinery and starting up the Qatofin cracker in Qatar are new steps in progressively repositioning the portfolio, with projects that are particularly robust and oriented toward growing markets. In new energies, the Group expanded its portfolio notably through an equity interest and strategic partnership in biomass and by launching the construction of a concentrated solar energy plant in Abu Dhabi.

Based on strong operational performance, a capacity to adapt to changes in the environment and a solid balance sheet, the Group approaches the second half of 2010 confidant in its outlook and its strategy for growth as an integrated major.»

[mappress]

Source: Total, July 30, 2010: