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[News Story] HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Consistent with ConocoPhillips' previously stated strategies and focus on value creation for its shareholders, ConocoPhillips' board of directors has approved pursuing the separation of the company's Refining & Marketing and Exploration & Production businesses into two stand-alone, publicly traded corporations via a tax-free spin of the refining and marketing business to ConocoPhillips shareholders.
Following the completion of the proposed separation, ConocoPhillips will be a large and geographically diverse pure-play exploration and production company with strong returns and investment opportunities. The company's strategy of enhancing returns on capital through developing new resources, growing reserves and production per share, continuing the asset sale program and increasing shareholder distributions will not change.
As a separate company, the Refining and Marketing business of ConocoPhillips will be a leading pure-play independent refiner with a competitive and diverse set of assets. In addition to executing the company's initiatives to improve downstream returns through portfolio rationalization and other operating efficiencies, the new downstream company will be able to further position its portfolio by pursuing transactions and investments across the value chain. Under the contemplated plan, both companies will be well positioned with financial strength and flexibility and experienced management teams committed to continued value creation.
"Consistent with our strategy to create industry-leading shareholder value, we have concluded that two independent companies focused on their respective industries will be better positioned to pursue their individually focused business strategies," said Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive officer. "Both companies will continue to benefit from the size and scale of their significant high-quality asset bases and free cash flow generation, allowing them to invest and create shareholder value in a changing environment."
The separation of the companies is expected to be completed in the first half of 2012. Upon completion of the separation, Mulva intends to retire. Until that point, he will continue to serve as ConocoPhillips' CEO and lead the separation efforts. The work to determine the detailed allocation of assets and liabilities, the management and governance of the companies, and the mechanics of completing the separation will begin immediately. Further details will be disclosed as they are determined over the next several months.
The contemplated separation of ConocoPhillips into two companies does not require a shareholder vote. The separation is subject to market conditions, customary regulatory approvals, the receipt of an affirmative IRS ruling, the execution of separation and intercompany agreements, and final board approval.
ConocoPhillips will hold a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. EDT on July 14. Interested parties can get information regarding the conference call and webcast on the ConocoPhillips Investor Relations website, www.conocophillips.com\investor. Replays of the conference call and a transcript should be available later today.
ConocoPhillips is an integrated energy company with interests around the world. Headquartered in Houston, the company had approximately 29,600 employees, $160 billion of assets, and $226 billion of annualized revenues as of March 31, 2011. For more information, go to www.conocophillips.com.
Source: NASDAQ Stock Exchange
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ConocoPhillips (COP.N) MCap is US$105.2 billion at the last price of US$74.40. The value of US$1,000 invested one year ago is US$1,437 [vs USD1,236 for the Dow Jones Industrials index], including a capital gain of US$398 and dividend reinvested of US$39. The total return to shareholders for 1 year is 43.7%. P/E of 9.3 [13.6]; rank 39 out of 307 stocks with positive earnings. Yield of 2.6% [1.6%]; rank 73 out of 202 stocks with dividends. Return on Equity of 16.6% [11.9%]; rank 85 out of 370 stocks with positive earnings. Return on Assets of 7.3% [5.0%]; rank 99 out of 386 stocks with positive earnings. Debt to Equity of 0.3 [0.6]. Total Liabilities/EBITDA of 2.9 [82.7].
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