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ABL Group ASA: Q4 2023 financial results

HIGHLIGHTS Q4 2023

  • Revenues of USD 67.7 million (Q4 22: USD 42.8 million)
  • Operating profit of USD 3.9 million (Q4 22: USD 2.5 million)
  • Adjusted EBIT of USD 5.0 million (Q4 22: USD 3.5 million)
  • Net cash of USD 17.2 million (Q3 23: USD 14.9 million)
  • Proposing semi-annual dividend of NOK 0.4 per share in H1 2024

HIGHLIGHTS FULL YEAR 2023

  • Revenue of USD 251.2 million (2022: USD 167.9 million)
  • Operating profit of USD 16.5 million (2022: USD 12.5 million)
  • Adjusted EBIT of USD 20.8 million (2022: USD 15.3 million)
  • Total dividend of NOK 0.7 per share paid during 2023
  • Completed acquisition of AGR and DWP

Reuben Segal, CEO of ABL Group ASA (“ABL Group” or the “Company”), commented:

“Ending the year with record high operational cash flows, 2023 represents another step change in the development of ABL Group. The acquisition of AGR accounted for a large element of our annual growth of 50%, but we also demonstrated organic growth in all existing parts of the business, led by in renewables consultancy OWC.  We continue our investment in OWC, despite lower utilisation in the quarter, as this is a longer-term play on building a leading renewables consultancy capability.

Our outlook for ABL Group for 2024 is upbeat. A larger share of global oil & gas expenditure is expected to go into offshore execution, where ABL Group’s core capacity lies. The offshore wind industry sentiment is improving ahead of what will be the busiest year of auctions ever in the sector. Finally, activity in the maritime sector remains high and stable, providing a robust base for our more cyclical operations.”

A presentation of the quarterly results will be held today at 08:30 CET at SpareBank 1 Markets’ office at Olav Vs gate 5, 0161 Oslo. The event will be webcast live and available for replay shortly after. To watch the webcast, please visit our Reports and Presentations page.

The quarterly report and a corresponding slide presentation are available on www.newsweb.no and on our Reports and Presentations page.

ABL Group ASA: Invitation to presentation of Q4 2023 results

ABL Group ASA (“ABL Group”) will release its fourth-quarter results on Thursday, 22 February 2024, at approximately 06:00 Central European Time (CET).

A presentation of the quarterly results will be held the same day at 08:30 CET at SpareBank 1 Markets’ office at Olav Vs gate 5, 0161 Oslo. The event will be webcast live and available for replay shortly after.

The webcast can be viewed on our Reports and Presentations page or directly here.

If you would like to attend the event in person, please notify SpareBank 1 Markets at corporateaccess@sb1markets.no.

The earnings release concerning the quarterly results and a corresponding slide presentation will be posted on www.newsweb.no and on our Reports and Presentations page.

Shell target asset management efficiencies across new projects using Effio

“The EffioTM tool has helped accelerate the computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) build by as much as 50% compared to a conventional project. This is done by introducing a novel solution that eliminates many MS Excel heavy activities common in CMMS projects, spanning data preparation, field population, quality checks and complex transmittal package management,” says Stuart Murray, head of technical at ABL’s asset and integrity management team.

As part of ABL’s scope of work with Shell, EffioTM has been deployed on LNG Canada and one of Shell’s Canada-based shale gas projects, ahead of further global deployment across new projects.

EffioTM is a cloud-based master data build, ETL (extract, transform and load) and optimisation software with a proven capability of achieving significant time and cost efficiencies for projects. This software was developed by ABL’s in house software team and is used on all internal new projects for data enhancement, build and optimisation of maintenance, materials and resources load levelling/grouping. EffioTM provides a one-stop solution for controlled, efficient, consistent and connected deployment of an asset management strategy.

ABL – part of Oslo-listed ABL Group ASA – is a marine and engineering consultancy working in renewables, oil and gas and maritime industries. The company’s asset management software is qualified to both the international ISO standard as well as the Norwegian NORSOK offshore standard.

EffioTM captures the learning from projects as rules and governance, enhancing each project delivery by enabling it to run QA checks on data sets before bulk loading into an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system or a CMMS. This allows the automation of some activities within a maintenance build.

The software has been successfully piloted by Shell’s global Technical Asset Operations team in managing Canadian asset projects where standard operate-phased Master Data Management tools are not yet in place.

“Our goal is focusing on getting data right the first time and building trust in the business through applying established industry and data standards such as ISO standard, CFIHOS, etc. We are looking forward to continuing our support as EffioTM adoption expands” adds Stuart Murray.

The EffioTM software has been used successfully on multiple upstream oil and gas projects and clients, including supermajors, international oil companies and FPSO operators, plus for projects in the downstream processing and renewable energy industries. It can be applied to any industry and a large distillery in the UK has recently started using it.

EffioTM is also used by clients to migrate systems for example to move from SAP to SAP S/4HANA and when merging acquired assets into the organisation.

ABL’s asset integrity management teams in Aberdeen and London, UK, are managing the project from the supplier side. The company has not disclosed the value of the contract.

ABL Group ASA – Exercise of warrants, new share capital registered

Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement from ABL Group ASA (the “Company”) on 22 January 2024 regarding exercise of warrants.

The share capital increase as a result of the exercise of warrants has now been registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises, and the Company’s share capital has been increased with NOK 100,000.

Following registration of the share capital increase, the Company has an issued share capital of NOK 12,847,786.70 divided on 128,477,867 shares each with a par value of NOK 0.10.

Shares issued on the basis of the warrants will be subject to a lock-up period of 6 months from the date of issue. After the expiry of such period, there shall be no restriction on the transferability of such shares.

ABL Group ASA – Exercise of warrants

As part of the consideration under the agreement from 2020 where ABL Group ASA (the “Company”) acquired 100 percent of the shares in LOC Group, the Company issued warrants at its Extraordinary General Meeting held on 14 December 2020, giving certain funds managed by Bridgepoint Advisers II Limited the right to subscribe for new shares in the Company, subject to certain exercise conditions. In line with the exercise conditions, Bridgepoint has exercised its last 1 million warrants, so that the remaining number of warrants is zero. The 1 million new shares subscribed for at a subscription price of NOK 0.10 per share, will be submitted for registration in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises as soon as possible.

ABL Group ASA: Share capital increase registered

Oslo, Norway, 15 January 2024: Reference is made to the stock exchange release
by ABL Group (“ABL Group” or the “Company”) published on 8 January 2024
regarding a share capital increase following the exercise of share options.

The issuance of 4,127,500 new shares has been registered with the Norwegian
Register of Business Enterprises. Following registration, the share capital of
ABL Group is NOK 12,747,786.70 divided into 127,477,867 shares, each share
having a par value of NOK 0.1.

ABL Group ASA: Sale and purchase of shares under share incentive plan

Oslo, Norway, 8 January 2024: Reference is made to the stock exchange notice issued by ABL Group ASA (“ABL Group” or the “Company”) on 8 January 2024 regarding exercise of employee share options as part of the Company’s long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”).

Pursuant to the sales process conducted by a third party these primary insiders have sold the following number of shares:

  • RV Ahilan, Chief Energy Transition Officer, net sold 10,000 shares at a price of NOK 12.00 per share. Following the transaction, Ahilan will own 887,705 shares and 100,000 share options in the Company.

The following primary insiders have purchased shares:

  • Stuart Jackson, Chief Financial Officer, purchased 65,000 shares at a price of NOK 12.00 per share. Following the transaction, Jackson will own 65,000 shares in the Company.
  • Eiketangen AS, a related party of Synne Syrrist, board member of ABL Group, purchased 20,000 shares at a price of NOK 12.00 per share. Following the transaction, Syrrist and her close associates will own 20,000 shares in the Company.

Further details of the primary insider transactions pursuant to the market abuse regulation article 19 are attached.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

ABL Group ASA: Exercise of employee share options and share capital increase

Oslo, Norway, 8 January 2024: Reference is made to the stock exchange notice
issued by ABL Group ASA (“ABL Group” or the “Company”) on 14 December 2023
regarding vesting of employee share options as part of the Company’s long-term
incentive plan (“LTIP”).

Participants in ABL Group’s share option program have on 8 January 2024
exercised a total of 4,127,500 options distributed as follows:

  • 180,000 options issued as part of the LTIP 2019 program at an exercise price
    of NOK 3.09; and
  • 3,947,500 options issued as part of the LTIP 2020 program at an exercise price
    of NOK 5.26.

Each option gives a right to receive one share in the Company. For more
information on the LTIP and outstanding share options, please see the Company’s
Annual Report as well as the notice to the Annual General Meeting 2023.

Following the exercise, the Board of Directors, pursuant to authorisation
granted at the Company’s Annual General Meeting, has decided to increase the
Company’s share capital by NOK 412,750.00 by issuing 4,127,500 new shares, of
par value NOK 0.1. Subsequent to the transaction and the registration of the new
shares in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises, ABL Group’s share
capital will be NOK 12,747,786.70 divided into 127,477,867 shares, each share
having a par value of NOK 0.1 and carrying one vote in the Company’s general
meeting.

The following options are exercised by primary insiders:

  • 135,000 options are exercised by David Wells, board member. Following the
    transaction, Wells and his close associates will own 1,208,051 shares in the
    Company.
  • 135,000 options are exercised by Svein Staalen, General Counsel. Following the
    transaction, Staalen will own 337,864 shares in the Company.
  • 100,000 options are exercised by Will Cleverly, CEO of OWC. Following the
    transaction, Cleverly will own 278,931 shares in the Company.
  • 160,000 options are exercised by RV Ahilan, Chief Energy Transition Officer.
    Following the transaction, Ahilan will own 897,705 shares and 100,000 share
    options in the Company.

Ahilan and certain other option holders have transferred their rights to receive
shares resulting from the exercised options to a third party. Following a sale
of shares, these option holders will receive the net proceeds after deduction of
the exercise price and accrued tax. The sales amount will be finally determined
on the basis of the price subsequently obtained by the third party in the
market. The results of the sales process for Ahilan will be announced in a
separate stock exchange notice when known.

Primary insider notifications pursuant to the market abuse regulation article 19
are attached.

A total of 5,047,500 vested options were not exercised and will be extended by 1
year. After the exercise, the following employee share options remain
outstanding:

  • 450,000 vested share options expiring 11 March 2025, with exercise price NOK
    3.09;
  • 4,597,500 vested share options expiring 14 September 2025, with exercise price
    NOK 5.26; and
  • 848,000 share options, vesting 11 July 2025 and expiring 11 April 2026, with
    exercise price NOK 12.03.

ABL Rig Inspection Team Announce Strategic Alliance with Integrity HSE

ABL is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic partnership between its global rig inspection team (RI) and Aberdeen-based health and safety consultancy Integrity HSE, reinforcing its RI services with an enhanced specialist offering  in health, safety and environmental consultancy (HSE).

Martin Clark

“Our clients demand the best, and that’s what we provide. They choose ABL because of their absolute trust in our rig inspection services, anywhere in the world. This alliance with Integrity HSE reflects our commitment to continually build on our offering to best serve our clients’ needs.”

Martin Clark, Rig Inspection Manager for Europe and West Africa

ABL – the energy and marine consultancy division of global consultancy ABL Group ASA – is a globally recognised provider of rig inspection and auditing (RI) services. Its experienced multi-disciplined teams combine professionals in marine, electrical, electro-technical, subsea, and mechanical engineering. Its track-record includes approximately +250 rig inspections annually across Americas, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and India, and Asia Pacific. ABL’s RI offering cover both onshore and offshore rig inspections.

The strategic alliance with Integrity HSE, enables ABL to offer clients a reinforced capability in HSE inspection services for rigs, further bolstering both company’s leading market position in the global rig inspection market.

Integrity HSE is a premier provider of HSE and training solutions. Its operational footprint extends from Aberdeen to Houston and Riyadh. The strategic partnership will further globalise Integrity HSE’s unique approach.

“We are very protective of our brand and wouldn’t normally consider an alliance of this type. But, when we began exploring the potential alignment with ABL, the fit was impossible to ignore. This partnership successfully established a new standard in HSE excellence within rig inspection, and we are excited to bring it to the market.”

Darrell Lines, Integrity HSE’s Director of Safety & Risk

ABL’s comprehensive RI service offering will be enhanced with Integrity HSE’s tailored onshore and offshore inspection and rig intake solutions. The services will add value to a wide range of drilling and production units from drill ships, DP and moored semi-submersibles, jack-up rigs, and involving everything from legacy manual operated units to the latest 7th generation cyber integrated control systems.

HSE services for RI will comprise of such elements as process safety (major accident prevention), personal safety, occupational health, human factors, training and competence (T&C), dropped object prevention (DROPS), and environmental compliance.

“This alliance is another step in establishing ABL and the wider ABL Group, as the leading technical authority in supporting rigs, wells and reservoirs throughout their lifecycle. Collaborating with Integrity HSE – a leading authority in specialised HSE for rigs – cements our commitment to supporting clients in reaching the very highest standards in safety and efficiency in their future rig operations.”

Steven Lee, Director of Offshore Technical Services in ABL

ABL is part of Oslo-listed ABL Group ASA. ABL Group also includes engineering consultancy and software provider, AGR, which specialises in solutions for wells and reservoir engineering throughout a project’s lifecycle.


Find out more about ABL’s global rig inspection team by submitting an enquiry below:

ABL Group ASA: Vesting under Long-Term Incentive Plan

Oslo, 14 December 2023

With reference to the stock exchange notice by ABL Group ASA (the “Company” or “ABL Group”) dated 4 May 2021, in which it was announced that ABL Group had granted employee share options as part of the Company’s long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”). The vesting date for these options is today, 14 December 2023.

The following share options have vested today:
8,545,000 share options, held by 121 option holders, with an exercise price of NOK 5.26.

In addition, the following share options have previously vested and been extended:
630,000 share options, held by 13 option holders, with an exercise price of NOK 3.09.

The Company has today opened an exercise window in which option holders may exercise the above share options. The exercise window closes on 8 January 2024 and any exercises will take effect only at the end of the window. Option holders who choose not to exercise during the current window will have their options extended for 1 year and will have the opportunity to exercise these in later exercise windows as decided by the Board of Directors.

Following today’s vesting of employee share options, there are 848,000 unvested employee share options outstanding, vesting on 11 July 2025 at an average exercise price of NOK 12.03.

For more information on the LTIP and outstanding share options, please see the Company’s Annual Report.