By Francesca Landini
MILAN (Reuters) – Italian energy group Eni will increase its share buyback programme to 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion), it said on Friday, after beating third-quarter profit expectations.
The state-controlled group had indicated in July that it could raise the 1.6-billion-euro programme to up 2.1 billion if the macroeconomic situation improved.
It reported an adjusted net profit of 1.27 billion euros, topping the 1.08 billion expected by analysts in a poll compiled by the company but down from 1.82 billion last year.
Despite lower oil price expectations, Eni said on Friday that it would increase rewards for investors as progress on its disposal plan and cost controls help keep its debt in check.
Analysts have warned that a drop in oil prices after more than two years of bumper profits could push big energy companies to borrow to maintain shareholder payouts or force them to cut buybacks.
Eni announced on Thursday that U.S. fund KKR would buy a 25% stake in its biofuel business Enilive for 2.9 billion euros, continuing efforts to spin off growth businesses to fund its energy transition.
With Eni expecting the Brent crude oil price to drop to an average of $83 a barrel this year, down from a previous estimate of $86, the company trimmed its full-year guidance for underlying cashflow from operations and operating profit.
Third-quarter underlying cashflow from operations (CFFO) at 2.9 billion euros was in line with consensus.
The group's leverage ratio, which measures total debt in relation to equity, was stable compared with the second quarter at 22% and is now expected to fall towards the lower end of a 15%-20% range.
Its four-year disposal plan is proceeding faster than expected with excellent visibility for almost all the 8 billion euros in net proceeds planned, Eni said in a statement.
"Overall, Eni continues to deliver on its strategic objectives, and the nudge up in distributions is likely to be welcomed by investors," Royal Bank of Canada analyst Biraj Borkhataria wrote in a note for clients.
($1 = 0.9238 euros)
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