MURPHY OIL ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL RESULTS 

 

EL DORADO, Arkansas, January 30, 2013 – Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE: MUR) announced today that its net income in the fourth quarter of 2012 was $158.7 million ($0.82 per diluted share) compared to a net loss of $113.9 million ($0.59 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2011. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2012 was improved over the same 2011 quarter principally due to lower impairment expenses and income tax benefits associated with operating losses in two foreign countries in the current period. The just completed quarter included total impairment charges of $261.0 million ($239.6 million after taxes) associated with both oil production operations in Republic of the Congo and ethanol production operations in Hereford, Texas. The Congo impairment related primarily to unsuccessful drilling operations in the fourth quarter and the removal of proved oil reserves at year-end 2012 at the Azurite field. The field continues to produce while we evaluate future options. Operating results in the fourth quarter of the prior year included an impairment charge for Azurite of $368.6 million. The Hereford ethanol plant was deemed impaired at year-end 2012 due to an expectation of weak future ethanol crush spreads. Income tax benefits in the upstream business totaled 

$108.3 million associated with tax deductions for operating losses in Republic of the Congo and Suriname. The 2012 fourth quarter included a loss from discontinued operations of $3.7 million ($0.02 per diluted share), compared to income from discontinued operations of $4.0 million ($0.02 per diluted share) in the 2011 quarter. Income from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2012 was $162.4 million ($0.84 per diluted share), but was a loss of $117.9 million ($0.61 per diluted share) a year ago. 

 

For the year of 2012, net income totaled $970.9 million ($4.99 per diluted share) compared to $872.7 million ($4.49 per diluted share) in 2011. Net income included income from discontinued operations of $6.8 million ($0.04 per diluted share) in 2012 and $143.2 million ($0.74 per diluted share) in 2011. Income from continuing operations for the years of 2012 and 2011 totaled $964.1 million ($4.95 per diluted share) and $729.5 million ($3.75 per diluted share), respectively.