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Sonangol. Oil or energy company?

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1- Introduction. Sonangol’s privatization and the oil market

On June 15, 2021, at 16.00, the sale price of Brent oil (which serves as a reference for Angola) was USD 73, 45[1] . A month and a half ago, the price was around USD 66.00, and in recent times there has been a sustained rise in the price, as we had predicted in a previous report[2]. If we notice, when we made this forecast (June 2020), the price of oil was situated at USD 36.6. In practice, in one year the price doubled.

However, the government has put forward more details on Sonangol’s partial privatization. The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, repeated[3] his promise to approve the schedule for the sale of 30% of Sonangol’s capital on the stock exchange during the current presidential term, explaining that it will be a staggered process, and that there will be several available tranches: “stocks for Sonangol workers, stocks for Angolans who are interested and for strategic partners who later want to become partners”, a model that we defend in due course[4].

A third element to consider when analyzing Sonangol’s is the energy transition. In the United States and Western Europe, at least, this has become something of a recurring mantra forcing oil companies to modify their strategies so that they are less dependent on oil and contribute to a “green” economy. Sonangol finds itself at this crossroads between the need to recover its old aura, to be privatized, but not just relying on oil.

This report will analyze the possible solutions that the Angolan oil company has and point out some strategic paths.

2-The two determining forces in Sonangol’s strategy

There are two somewhat opposing forces regarding the strategy Sonangol may adopt in the future.

The first force “glues” the company to the oil price and aims to keep it as an oil company. In this view, what Sonangol must do is focus on its “core business” – oil – and then become efficient. Therefore, in this context, Sonangol’s restructuring is focused on achieving profits in the oil business, making profitable investments in the area and increasing as much as possible, at the lowest cost, in oil production. The essential measures taken by the current government with a view to reorganizing the company are in this direction. As Minister Azevedo said: “The first measure we took was to free (Sonangol) from the concessionary function, which could create conflicts of interest. We could not take a company with a concessionary, regulatory and business function to the stock exchange”, and another measure was create an “attractive” company that “encourages investment”, which involved reducing the number of subsidiaries and selling non-nuclear oil companies[5].

The other, somewhat opposite force is the energy transition (the green economy). Here it is argued that Sonangol should not be overly dependent on oil, and that Sonangol should become, as happens with other companies, for example, BP, Aramco or Galp, a global energy company and not an oil company. To this is added the potential of non-oil natural energy resources that the country has, such as sun, water, etc.

3-China, India and the OPEC gap

Contrary to what one might think in a Eurocentric analysis, the answer to Sonangol’s future characterization is not obvious. Much depends on the markets to which Sonangol wanted to allocate its production and on the country’s development needs. If you look at it, the recent rise in the price of oil was essentially “pulled” by China’s renewed oil appetite. According to the Bloomberg[6] financial agency, it was the strong demand for gasoline in China that boosted the need for crude oil. The truth is that China is among the biggest drivers of fluctuations in oil prices and China has been buying oil like there is no tomorrow, as a result, prices have gone up. The question is whether China will continue to drive this rise in the medium term in a way that allows for a sustainable oil strategy in relation to Sonangol.

There are two broad lines to consider in trying to anticipate China’s future behavior. The first is its economic level, while the second is its commitment to the energy transition.

China is not yet at an economic level that corresponds to a rich and developed country. According to data from the World Bank, in 2019, the Chinese GDP per capita is in the order of USD 10,000. For comparison, Portugal, one of the poorest of the rich countries, has a GDP per capita on the same date of USD 23,000 and the United States is at USD 65,000[7]. Countries with GDP per capita identical to the Chinese are Argentina, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Turkey or Equatorial Guinea. It is easy to see that China still has a long way to go and will need a lot of energy, especially oil.

China’s oil demand has nearly tripled over the past two decades, accounting on average for a third of global oil demand growth each year. From what we have just exposed, China will continue to lead the demand for oil in the coming decades. However, the pace of the country’s oil consumption will not grow as fast, although it will continue to grow. Over the past two decades, China’s oil consumption has grown by more than 9 million barrels per day (mb / d) from 4.7 mb / d in 2000 to 14.1 mb / d in 2019. China’s oil use should continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace, as China is also investing heavily in renewable energy.

China is the world leader in electricity production from renewable energy sources, with more than twice the generation of the second country, the United States. At the end of 2019, the country had a total capacity of 790 GW of renewable energy, mainly hydroelectric, solar and wind power. China’s renewable energy sector is growing faster than that of fossil fuels, as is its nuclear power capacity. China has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 and peak emissions before 2030. By 2030, China aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by more than 65% from the level of 2005, increase the share of non-fossil energy in primary energy use to about 25 percent, and bring the total installed capacity of wind and solar electricity to over 1200 GW. Furthermore, China sees renewable energies as a source of energy security and not just a means of reducing carbon emissions[8][9].

In India, another of the world’s great countries in a process of growth, the situation is as follows: trade relations between Angola and India amount to US$4 billion, of which US$3.7 million correspond to exports from Angola to the Asian country, being 90% related to oil. Angola is currently the third most important African exporter to India, when in 2005 it was not relevant. In 2017, the Ambassador of India issued a statement in which he highlighted: “Trade between Angola and India increased by 100% in 2017.” The thing to remember is that India is becoming a significant partner of Angola through its oil needs.

In terms of GDP per capita, India in 2019 was around USD 2000.00. It is easy to see that the growth that India expects is enormous, even if it does not have China’s ambitions of world leadership, just to reach its current level, it has to multiply its GDP by five. Obviously, this implies a growing need for oil. India was the world’s third largest crude oil importer in 2018, and has an estimated oil import dependency of 82%. India’s economic growth is closely related to its demand for energy, so the need for oil and gas is expected to grow even further, making the sector very investment-friendly. At the same time, India is one of the countries with a large production of energy from renewable sources. As of November 27, 2020, 38% of India’s installed electricity generation capacity came from renewable sources. In the Paris Agreement, India committed to a target of achieving 40% of its total electricity generation from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. The country is aiming for an even more ambitious target of 57% of total electricity capacity from renewable sources by 2027.

Official data indicate that Angola’s oil production reached, in May 2021, only 34 million 887 thousand 890 barrels, less about one million compared to April. In that month, a daily average of one million 125 thousand 416 barrels of oil was obtained, when the forecast was one million 184 thousand 813. This means that Angola is below the target set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). ), which was 1 million 283 thousand barrels per day, in May, with subsequent increases.

4- Conclusion: Sonangol’s challenges

Considering all of the above, it is evident, first of all, that there is a large margin for Sonangol to continue to focus on oil, either because not even the quotas defined by OPEC for Angola are met, ie, Angola is producing less than it should in a tight market situation, either because the large potential oil futures markets such as China and India will need plentiful oil shipments.

To that extent, Sonangol should not make the mistake – as some oil companies are doing – of underestimating the potential for growth in the oil market. In the Western world with mature economies, the demand for oil may not feel as strong as in the past, but in fast-growing economies, more oil will be needed, albeit often not as exponentially as before.

There is space and market for Sonangol, as an oil company, to grow. Therefore, Sonangol’s ongoing strategic structuring should focus on producing more oil more efficiently, both in terms of costs and in terms of the environment.

However, this model focused on oil efficiency has to be matched with the enormous potential that is opening up in renewable energies and the company has to take advantage of energy synergies, as many of its counterparts are doing and also China and India.

At the present time, when the intention is to privatize Sonangol from a global perspective, it seems sensible to commit Sonangol to tasks in the area of ​​renewable energies. In fact, to be an attractive company for the international stock market, Sonangol must present itself as adopting the latest trends in oil companies, i.e., also following the needs of the energy transition.

Not abandoning or belittling oil, Sonangol must boldly explore the combined possibilities brought by renewable energies.

This exploration of renewable energies by Sonangol should not start from scratch, but rather seek some sustainability and economies of scale. One hypothesis, which we have already touched upon in a previous report[10], would be a strategic partnership with Galp for this purpose. As is known, Galp accelerated its energy transition process.

As this hypothesis was not adopted, Sonangol should review the rationality of its permanence at Galp. In fact, at this moment, the Angolan position in Galp is “sandwiched” between Isabel dos Santos and the Amorim family, corresponding to a mere financial investment. This doesn’t make much sense anymore. Either Galp becomes a strategic partner for Sonangol’s energy transition, or a position review becomes required.

The alternative would be for Sonangol to acquire a company that is minimally established in the field and develop its activities based on this new platform. At this time, partnerships have already been announced with ENI and TOTAL to develop projects in renewable energy that will be operational in 2022. Perhaps a strategic focus in this area is more interesting, which would translate into an internal commitment by Sonangol and, as mentioned above, it would go through the purchase or merger with a company operating in the renewable energy sector, to provide initial support for Sonangol.

In short, Sonangol must become a bi-focused company: on oil and renewable energies.

[1] https://www.ifcmarkets.com/pt/market-data/commodities-prices/brent

[2] https://www.cedesa.pt/2020/06/03/angola-petroleo-e-divida-oportunidades-renovadas-2/

[3] https://www.dw.com/pt-002/governo-angolano-admite-privatiza%C3%A7%C3%A3o-gradual-de-30-da-sonangol/a-57879593

[4] https://www.cedesa.pt/2020/01/29/um-modelo-de-privatizacao-da-sonangol/

[5] Idem note 3

[6] https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Chinese-Gasoline-Demand-Is-Driving-Oil-Prices-Higher.html

[7] https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=US

8 Cfr. https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/chinas-oil-demand-in-the-wake-of-covid-19/ and

[9] Deng, Haifeng and Farah, Paolo Davide and Wang, Anna, China’s Role and Contribution in the Global Governance of Climate Change: Institutional Adjustments for Carbon Tax Introduction, Collection and Management in China (24 November 2015). Journal of World Energy Law and Business, Oxford University Press, Volume 8, Issue 6, December 2015.

[10] https://www.cedesa.pt/2021/02/10/sonangol-galp-que-futuro-conjunto/

Sonangol & Galp: what future together?

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0-Introduction. Failure to take advantage of synergies between Sonangol and Galp

It was a recent article in the Jornal de Negócios, by its director Celso Filipe, which drew attention to the lack of synergies between Sonangol and Galp[1] and which serves as a starting point for this note on the topic.

Sonangol is the Angolan oil company and for many years it has been the real core of the country’s economy. In fact, it still is, despite the government’s diversification policy. In technical terms, the group consists of Sonangol E.P. (a public company) and a myriad of subsidiaries[2]. Galp is a Portuguese group also linked to oil, which includes several companies such as Petrogal, Galp Energia etc[3]. Obviously, Sonangol is the giant of the Angolan economy, while Galp is one of the largest companies in Portugal, alongside EDP.

The interesting thing is that since 2005, Sonangol has been a shareholder of Galp, although such participation is not assumed directly, but through a company of the Amorim family. It is known that, in an initial phase, this participation was publicly attributed to Sonangol, but then the daughter of President José Eduardo dos Santos, Isabel dos Santos, emerged as the holder of interests in the same participation, and there was sometimes factual confusion between what belonged to Isabel dos Santos and Sonangol. Today there is a dispute between the position of Sonangol and that of Isabel dos Santos, which led to the investigation of the latter in the Netherlands, where the vehicle company that it uses to control its position is headquartered[4].

Therefore, we have more than 15 years of indirect participation by Sonangol in Galp. The curious thing is that during that time, Sonangol and Galp never really sought to create synergies between the two companies. Sonangol’s participation was limited to being seen as a financial participation. Sonangol invested money and received dividends from that money. Nothing else. As Celso Filipe points out, in the aforementioned article: “Sonangol never sought to create industrial synergies with Galp, which could benefit the activity downstream and upstream of production and even improve its profitability.”

• The approach of Sonangol’s partial privatization requires that its holdings be valued to the maximum and the exploitation of synergies is done in the most efficient way so that the company obtains the best price for the sale of part of its shares.

• In addition, the current Angolan economic crisis requires an additional effort by its largest company to increase profitability.

These two reasons make it imperative to revisit the topic of Sonangol’s participation in Galp in order to see what is the best way to maximize its usefulness.

With this objective in mind, we will start by defining Sonangol’s current position at Galp, and understand its formal justification, suggesting a change, then we will try to find explanations for the purely financial strategic position that the Angolan company adopted in its Portuguese counterpart and finally, we will explore the various options for the future.

1- Sonangol’s position at Galp

What results from Galp’s public corporate documents is that Sonangol does not hold any direct stake in the Portuguese oil company. Galp’s largest shareholder is Amorim Energia, BV with 33.34% of the capital, followed by Parpublica (which holds the Portuguese State’s shareholdings) with 7.48% of the capital and several investment management companies such as Massachusetts Financial Services Company, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. with about 5% each. Then there is Banco New York Mellon and Canada’s Black Creek Investment Management with around 2%[5]. This list of reference shareholders includes a company based in the Netherlands with the name Amorim, the Portuguese State and several American financial institutions. Sonangol does not appear.

In fact, Sonangol’s position is associated with the Dutch company Amorim. Sonangol holds the majority of the capital of a company called Esperaza Holding BV (also based in the Netherlands). In turn, Esperaza participates with 45% of Amorim.

This means that Sonangol has a minority position in Galp’s majority company. If Sonangol represents 45% of Amorim’s capital, it is clear that the Amorim family owns the other 55%. In turn, it seems that even in Esperaza Sonangol’s position is not total, since it shares it with Isabel dos Santos, with a dispute between them that it will not be cured here, since it does not affect the assumption that Sonangol controls Esperaza.

Fig. No. 1- Sonangol’s indirect participation in Galp

In a way, Sonangol’s position appears “sandwiched” between the Amorim and Isabel dos Santos, effectively lacking strategic room for maneuver and not having a decisive role at Galp, since it is always mediated by the Amorim.

Is the doubt that persists one see the reason why Sonangol accepted to participate in Galp in a dependent and submissive position to the Amorim? Was it a political demand from the Socrates government at the time, to avoid an overpowering onslaught by Angola? Was there shyness or ineptitude in negotiations on the part of Angola? Or was it a strategic formulation of Isabel dos Santos to appear unseen? We have no elements to justify this indirect choice.

• What can be said today is that Sonangol’s indirect position is detrimental to the appreciation of its shares as it is always dependent on a third party, in this case the Amorim, and does not have direct access to the company. This does not give value to the position or give it room for strategic maneuver.

What can be seen is that Sonangol’s stance enhances the Amorim’s leading role as they, with a mere 18.33% of the company, control 33,34%. We do not know whether Sonangol receives (or has received) any “prize” from the Amorim for this contribution or if there is any shareholder pact.

If there is no “prize” or shareholder agreement that benefits Sonangol, the truth is that, from Sonangol’s point of view, what will make the most sense is to split its position from Amorim and make its participation in Galp independent. This, as mentioned above, will give financial value to the participation as it becomes direct, and will give the Angolan company more strategic room for maneuver. This element is even more relevant at a time when it seems that strategic differences between the Amorim and the Galp’s CEO, Carlos Gomes da Silva, led to his hasty departure from the helm of the company. We don’t acknowledge the role Sonangol played in this divergence and its resolution, if any.

2- Possible reasons for the “passivity” of Sonangol’s position in Galp

As we have been saying, Sonangol’s role in Galp has been passive, essentially limiting itself to receiving dividends and not looking for any strategic synergy. The question that arises is why such a large and important participation, which  several Sonangol CEOs  consider in their public speeches as strategic, ended up being nothing more than a financial investment?

The first reason to justify such behavior is of a formal nature. Since Sonangol is not a direct Galp shareholder, it did not have the necessary means of influence to propose and create any synergy. This justification seems to us too formalistic and does not necessarily correspond to reality. However, it should be noted that in 2020, regarding several controversies involving Isabel dos Santos, Galp’s CEO, Carlos Gomes da Silva, was not afraid to affirm that “Isabel dos Santos is not a direct or reference shareholder [ of Galp] ”, adding“ The long-term reference shareholder is Amorim Energia, which is controlled by the Amorim family [6]”. Although the context of these statements is perceived, they still represent an effective disregard for the Angolan position, but that basically corresponds to the truth.

A second reason for Sonangol’s passivity is linked to the preponderant role that Isabel dos Santos played in Galp’s Angolan participation. The businesswoman only worked for a short time in Sonangol (2016-2017), in the remaining time, that is, between 2005 and at least until the emergence of several controversies in 2019/2020, her position was that of a private entrepreneur. in constant investment process. Isabel dos Santos did not stop in the extension of her “economic empire”, making purchase after purchase, investment after investment. In Angola, in addition to the initial investment in Unitel (a leading telecommunications company), Isabel dos Santos, as of 2008, enters several sectors such as distribution, banking, and hospitality. In banking, in addition to participation in BFA, the foundation of Banco BIC, in the distribution sector, launched Candando. In Portugal, she participated in BPI, bought BPN, took a stake in what is today NOS, in addition to Galp. She also bought vast real estate.

There is a pattern in Isabel dos Santos’ business activity, that of the investment cascade, using loans or dividends from one company to acquire others, not worrying, at this stage, in strategically integrating her business conglomerate. Now, the behavior observed in the construction of Isabel dos Santos’ “empire” and the possible political control that she assumed for some years over the Angolan participation in Galp, may have implied an option for receiving dividends as a priority. In fact, Isabel dos Santos would need Galp’s dividends to cover her expenses and, without having other relevant oil interests, there would be no focus on building synergies.

This is a working hypothesis that, of course, needs to be confirmed as the documentation on the involvement of Isabel dos Santos in the control of the Angolan position at Galp, between 2006 and 2016, is made public.

• However, what appears to be that the determining interest in this Angolan participation in Galp in the referred period was that of Isabel dos Santos and her main concern was to obtain funds for investment in its expansion and maintenance of its business conglomerate.

Obviously, this hypothesis does not explain the apathy observed after Isabel dos Santos left. Since 2018, there have been no special moves by Sonangol vis-à-vis Galp. At this stage, this inertia can be justified by the strategic uncertainty that has plagued Sonangol and also its participation in Galp.

In one way or another, this is the imperative time to take a rational stand on this participation.

3- Sonangol’s several options vis-à-vis Galp

When the Angolan oil company is in the process of restructuring and intends to privatize part of the capital, it is essential to consider what it will do in relation to its participation in Galp.

There are several hypotheses for action. To better analyze them and discover the most appropriate course, it is pertinent to approach the strategies that each of the companies is following, since both are in a moment of reconfiguration.

Sonangol’s strategy

As for Sonangol, the strategy followed is based on several vectors, of which we highlight[7]:

-Like several of its counterparts, ARAMCO or BP, the oil company wants to become greener. It is also intended to permanently move away from the image of corruption. The plan for the next seven years, focuses on renewable energies and the relaunch of exploration and production in several oil blocks. In particular, Sonangol intends to:

– Increase the capacity of operated production of crude oil, with a target of not less than 10% of national production, instead of the current 2%.

– Invest in several oil blocks in order to increase net rights, with the relaunch of exploration and production in several oil blocks expected this year (blocks 3/05, 3 / 05A, block 5/06, Kon 4, as well as the cooperation, together with Total, of blocks 20 and 21, three years after the first oil).

– Optimize and modernize the Luanda refinery and ensure an increase in refining capacity, with investment in new refineries, in order to reverse the fuel import situation.

– Increase the capacity to distribute LPG [liquefied petroleum gas], monetize LNG [liquefied natural gas] and invest in renewable energy projects.

– Consolidate the company’s position as a reference player in the shipping segment in the region.

– Reinforce the position of trading crude oil and refined products in the international market, thus leveraging additional sources of revenue collection in foreign currencies.

– Increase onshore storage capacity, replacing floating storage.

-Optimize the retail network, aiming to consolidate the position of largest distributor of liquid hydrocarbons in the national market, in an environment that is increasingly liberalized, as well as relaunching the distribution and commercialization activity in other countries in the region, of which we have already the re-entry process is underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Galp’s strategy

Galp is also in a strategic transition phase[8]. Decarbonisation has now become a priority, already manifested in the decision to close the Matosinhos refinery and the Sines Thermoelectric Power Plant. In fact Joana Petiz at Dinheiro Vivo[9], says that it was the Amorim’s commitment to accelerating the energy transition that led to the shortening of Carlos Gomes da Silva’s mandate and the appointment of Andrew Brown. Brown will have a mandate to bring about an intense change in Galp’s business, which is already advanced in its energy transition. In reality, Galp is the largest producer of solar energy in the Iberian Peninsula and invests in lithium, having acquired 10% in the company to which the lithium exploration in Portugal, Savannah Resources, was handed over.

However, despite these movements, oil is the company’s main source of revenue, with a special emphasis on holdings in Brazil, which make a substantial contribution to the company’s sustainability. Apparently, this will be where the financing for new projects “like gas in Mozambique – an intermediate step in the transition to cleaner energy – will come from, as well as the new bets from the oil company, including the exploration of lithium in Portugal[10]”.

Brief comparison between Sonangol and Galp

In 2019, according to the Reports and Accounts, Sonangol obtained total revenues in the order of US $ 10 billion, and an EBITDA of 5 billion. In turn, Galp achieved revenues of more than 19 billion dollars and an EBITDA of just over 2.5 billion dollars. Both companies affirm they are committed to an energy transition, this bet being more visible in Galp, but in terms of revenues both are dependent on oil.

Fig.2- Galp / Sonangol comparative table (source Annual Reports 2019, quot. € / $ to 5-2-2012)

 Billing (2019) (M.USD)EBITDA (2019) (M.USD)Main Source RevenueStrategic Alternative
Sonangol10.2315.550OilGreen/Renewable
Galp20.0662.852OilGreen/Renewable

The various options

Sonangol can choose one of the following options or a combination of several in relation to Galp:

1-Sale of participation;

2-Reinforcement of participation;

3-Maintenance of the strategy as a financial investor;

4-Synergy in the energy transition;

5-Industrial and commercial synergies.

Let’s look at each hypothesis.

Sale of participation

It is clear that lately the price of Galp’s shares has been discouraging. If you notice, throughout 2020 the bonds were losing value, even in October they were below € 7.00. It should be noted that this happened after the start of Covid-19, as in February 2020, the securities were being traded at around € 14.00. At this point, stock trading is slightly above € 8.00. The reality is that it is only after the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is over that it will be possible to assess Galp’s trend market value.

Fig.nº 3. Recent evolution of Galp’s prices (source: https://www.galp.com/corp/pt/investidores/informacao-ao-acionista/acao-da-galp/desemecimento-da-acao)

Consequently, there is nothing to advise a low sale at this time.

Strengthening participation

Alternatively, Sonangol, given the low price of Galp shares, could consider strengthening its position in Galp. This would be justified as long as Sonangol had funds available for such an acquisition and saw an additional strategic interest that would lead it to have a more influential position in the company.

Maintaining the strategy as a financial investor

This has been Sonangol’s position for the past 15 years and, of course, it has borne fruit, being able to choose to maintain its posture. If we analyze Galp’s ROE (return on equity) since 2011, we see different numbers. In 2011, we had a robust number in the order of 14, 73%. In 2013, the number was around 2.86%. 2015, presented 1.91%, 2016, 2.86%. ROE in 2019 was at 6.75%, and recently in September it was negative, -8.19%[11]. This instability is important for Sonangol to evaluate its participation in Galp as it allows the Portuguese company to be qualified in terms of risk and consequent expected profitability.

This means that Sonangol will be able to convince itself that there are other more satisfactory alternatives for investing its capital and that they do not bring such large fluctuations, preferring to disinvest. We believe that if this is Sonangol’s option, this will mean that sooner than later, when the price is good, it will eventually sell the position.

Synergy in the energy transition

This is the option that seems most promising to us. With Galp already embarking on an advanced energy transition program and Sonangol wanting to take more firm steps in this direction, as indeed a good part of the large oil companies is already doing, the alliance or cooperation between Sonangol and Galp in this area, namely in solar energy, where Galp, as mentioned, has a prominent position in the Iberian Peninsula, and Sonangol comes from a country with great potential, there is a great possibility for joint action. In this sense, the possibility of creating and implementing common and ambitious projects in the area of energy transition is envisaged, providing Sonangol with the Know-How it does not have yet, and giving Galp a broad market for the development of its already designed strategy.

Industrial and commercial synergies

Obviously, the possibility of industrial and commercial synergies is immense. From oil refining at Galp’s refineries, to derivatives and shipping, in addition to using Galp’s accumulated experience in pre-salt prospecting in Brazil to open up new horizons in Angola, there are a myriad of possibilities that could be explored[12].

4. Conclusions

• The first conclusion reached through this short analysis is the need to legally reformulate the participation of Galp’s Sonangol. This should appear independently and directly in the shareholder body of the Portuguese company.

• The second conclusion is that there is a wide map of possible synergies between Sonangol and Galp, and it is strongly advised to develop them in the areas of energy transition, namely in solar energy.

[1] https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/a-oportunidade-perdida-da-sonangol-na-galp

[2] https://www.sonangol.co.ao/Portugu%C3%AAs/GrupoSonangol/Paginas/Grupo-Sonangol.aspx

[3] https://www.galp.com/corp/pt/sobre-nos/a-galp/organizacao

[4] https://www.dw.com/pt-002/empresa-de-isabel-dos-santos-investigada-na-holanda/a-54948244

[5] https://www.galp.com/corp/pt/investidores/informacao-ao-acionista/estrutura-acionista

[6] https://www.publico.pt/2020/02/18/economia/noticia/galp-isabel-santos-nao-accionista-direta-referencia-1904644

[7] See CEO interview Sebastião  Gaspar Martins in https://www.dn.pt/dinheiro/sebastiao-gaspar-martins-a-sonangol-reitera-o-seu-interesse-estrategico-em-estar-na-galp-13266123.html

[8] https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/empresas/galp-muda-ceo-com-plano-verde-e-litio-em-cima-da-mesa-13224149.html

[9] idem

[10] idem

[11] Study from https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/GLPEY/galp-energia-sgps-sa/roe

[12] We followed Celso Filipe’s suggestions closely at https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/a-oportunidade-perdida-da-sonangol-na-galp

Sonangol & Galp: que futuro conjunto?

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0-Introdução. A falta de aproveitamento de sinergias entre a Sonangol e a Galp

Foi um recente artigo no Jornal de Negócios, do seu diretor Celso Filipe, que chamou a atenção para a falta de aproveitamento de sinergias entre a Sonangol e a Galp[1] e que serve como ponto de partida para esta nota sobre o tema.

A Sonangol é a empresa dos petróleos angolanos e durante muitos anos foi o sustentáculo da economia do país. Na verdade, ainda é, apesar da política de diversificação encetada pelo governo. Em termos técnicos o grupo é constituído pela Sonangol E.P. (empresa pública) e uma miríade de subsidiárias[2]. A Galp é um grupo português também ligado ao petróleo de que fazem parte várias empresas como a Petrogal, Galp Energia etc[3]. Obviamente, a Sonangol é o gigante da economia angolana, enquanto a Galp é uma das maiores empresas de Portugal, a par com a EDP.

O interessante é que desde 2005, que a Sonangol é acionista da Galp, embora, tal participação não seja assumida diretamente, mas através duma sociedade da família Amorim. É sabido que numa fase inicial essa participação foi atribuída publicamente à Sonangol, mas depois surgiu a filha do Presidente José Eduardo dos Santos, Isabel dos Santos, como detentora de interesses na mesma participação, havendo por vezes confusão fática entre o que era de Isabel dos Santos e da Sonangol. Hoje existe uma disputa entre a posição da Sonangol e a de Isabel dos Santos, que levou à investigação desta última na Holanda, onde a sociedade veículo que utiliza para controlar a sua posição tem sede.[4]

Temos, portanto, mais de 15 anos de participação indireta da Sonangol na Galp. O curioso é que durante esse tempo, nunca a Sonangol e a Galp procuraram efetivamente criar sinergias entre as duas companhias. A participação da Sonangol limitou-se a ser encarada como uma participação financeira. A Sonangol investiu dinheiro e recebeu os dividendos desse dinheiro. Nada mais. Como refere Celso Filipe, no artigo supra-citado:” a Sonangol nunca procurou criar sinergias industriais com a Galp, as quais poderiam beneficiar a atividade a jusante e a montante da produção e até melhorar a sua rentabilidade.”

  • A aproximação da privatização parcial da Sonangol exige que as suas participações sejam valorizadas ao máximo e a exploração de sinergias se faça da forma mais eficiente, de forma a que a empresa obtenha o melhor preço pela venda de parte das suas ações.
  • A isto acresce que a presente crise económica angolana exige um esforço adicional da sua maior empresa para aumentar a rentabilidade.

Estas duas razões tornam imperativo que se revisite o tema da participação da Sonangol na Galp de forma a verificar qual a melhor forma de maximizar a sua utilidade.

Com esse objetivo começaremos em primeiro lugar por definir a atual posição da Sonangol na Galp, e perceber a sua justificação formal, sugerindo uma alteração, depois tentaremos encontrar explicações para a posição estratégica meramente financeira que a empresa angolana adoptou na sua congénere portuguesa e finalmente, exploraremos as várias opções para o futuro.

  1. A posição da Sonangol na Galp

O que resulta dos documentos públicos corporativos da Galp é que a Sonangol não detém qualquer participação direta na companhia petrolífera portuguesa. A maior acionista da Galp é a Amorim Energia, B.V. com 33,34% do capital, a que se segue a Parpública (que detém as participações do Estado português) com 7,48% do capital e várias empresas gestoras de investimentos como a Massachusetts Financial Services Company, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. e BlackRock, Inc. com cerca de 5% cada uma. Depois segue-se o Banco New York Mellon e a canadiana Black Creek Investment Management com cerca de 2%.[5] Nesta lista de acionistas de referência surge uma empresa com sede na Holanda com o nome Amorim, o Estado português e várias instituições financeiras americanas. Não aparece a Sonangol.

Na verdade, a posição da Sonangol surge associada à empresa holandesa dos Amorim. A Sonangol detém a maioria do capital duma sociedade denominada Esperaza Holding BV (também sediada na Holanda). Por sua vez a Esperaza participa com 45% da Amorim.

Isto quer dizer que a Sonangol tem uma posição minoritária na empresa maioritária da Galp. Se a Sonangol representa 45% do capital da Amorim, é evidente que a família Amorim detém os outros 55%. Por sua vez, parece que mesmo na Esperaza a posição da Sonangol não é total, uma vez que a divide com Isabel dos Santos, havendo um diferendo entre ambos de que não se curará aqui, uma vez que não afeta o pressuposto que a Sonangol controla a Esperaza.

Fig. n.º 1- Participação indireta da Sonangol na Galp

De certa forma, a posição da Sonangol surge “ensanduichada” entre os Amorim e Isabel dos Santos, não tendo efetivamente margem de manobra estratégica e não tendo um papel determinante na Galp, uma vez que está sempre mediada pelos Amorim.

A dúvida que assiste é a razão pela qual a Sonangol aceitou participar na Galp numa posição dependente e submissa aos Amorim? Foi uma exigência política do governo Sócrates de então, para evitar uma investida demasiado poderosa de Angola? Houve timidez ou inépcia negocial por parte de Angola? Ou terá sido uma formulação estratégica de Isabel dos Santos para aparecer sem ser vista? Não dispomos de elementos para justificar esta escolha indireta.

  • O que se pode dizer atualmente é que a posição indireta da Sonangol é prejudicial à valorização das suas ações pois está sempre dependente de um terceiro, neste caso os Amorim e não tem acesso direto à empresa. Isso não valoriza a posição nem lhe dá margem de manobra estratégica.

O que se verifica é que a postura da Sonangol potencia o papel líder dos Amorim, pois estes com meros 18,33% da companhia controlam 33,34%. Não sabemos se a Sonangol recebe (ou recebeu) algum “prémio” dos Amorim por esta contribuição ou se existe algum pacto parassocial.

Não havendo “prémio” ou acordo parassocial que beneficie a Sonangol, a verdade, e do ponto de vista desta, o que terá mais sentido é cindir a sua posição dos Amorim e autonomizar a sua participação na Galp. Isto, como acima referido valorizará financeiramente a participação por passar a ser direta, e dará mais margem de manobra estratégica à companhia angolana. Este aspeto é ainda mais relevante neste momento em que parece que divergências estratégicas entre os Amorim e o CEO da Galp, Carlos Gomes da Silva, levaram à partida apressada deste do leme da companhia. Desconhecemos que papel a Sonangol teve nesta divergência e sua resolução, se é que teve algum.

2. Possíveis razões para a “passividade” da posição da Sonangol na Galp

Como temos vindo a referir, o papel da Sonangol na Galp tem sido passivo, limitando-se essencialmente a receber os dividendos e não procurando qualquer sinergia estratégica. A questão que se coloca é porque razão uma participação tão importante e avultada, que os vários CEOs da Sonangol consideram nos seus discursos públicos como estratégica, acabou por não passar mais de um investimento financeiro?

A primeira razão para justificar tal comportamento é de carácter formal. Uma vez que a Sonangol não é acionista direta da Galp, não teve os meios de influência necessários para propôr e criar qualquer sinergia. Esta justificação parece-nos demasiado formalista e não necessariamente correspondendo à realidade. No entanto, é de realçar que em 2020, a propósito das várias controvérsias que envolviam Isabel dos Santos, o CEO da Galp, Carlos Gomes da Silva, não teve pejo em afirmar que “Isabel dos Santos não é accionista directa nem de  referência [da Galp]”, acrescentando “O accionista de referência, de longo prazo, é a Amorim Energia, que é controlada pela família Amorim”.[6] Embora se perceba o contexto destas afirmações, não deixam de representar um menosprezo efetivo da posição angolana, mas que no fundo corresponde à verdade.

Uma segunda razão para a passividade da Sonangol liga-se ao papel preponderante que Isabel dos Santos teve na participação angolana da Galp. A empresária só durante um curto espaço de tempo desempenhou funções na Sonangol (2016-2017), no restante tempo, isto é, entre 2005 e o pelo menos até ao surgimento das várias controvérsias em 2019/2020 a sua postura foi a duma empreendedora privada em processo constante de investimento. Isabel dos Santos não parou no alargamento do seu “império económico”, realizando compra atrás de compra, investimento atrás de investimento. Em Angola, além do investimento inicial na Unitel (empresa de referência nas telecomunicações), Isabel dos Santos, a  partir de 2008, entra em vários setores como a distribuição, a banca, e a hotelaria. Na banca, destaca-se além da participação no BFA a fundação do Banco BIC, no ramo da distribuição, lançou o Candando. Já em Portugal, participou no BPI, comprou o BPN, assumiu uma participação naquela que é hoje a NOS, além da Galp. Também comprou vasto património imobiliário.

Há um padrão na atividade empresarial de Isabel dos Santos que é o da cascata de investimentos, utilizando empréstimos ou dividendos de uma empresa para adquirir outras, não se preocupando, nesta fase, em integrar estrategicamente o seu conglomerado empresarial. Ora, o comportamento observado na construção do “império” de Isabel dos Santos e o eventual controlo político que ela assumiu durante alguns anos sobre a participação angolana na Galp, pode ter implicado uma opção pelo recebimento de dividendos como prioridade. Na verdade, Isabel dos Santos precisaria dos dividendos da Galp para fazer face às suas despesas e não detendo outros interesses petrolíferos relevantes, não haveria foco na construção de sinergias.

Esta é uma hipótese de trabalho que, naturalmente, tem de ser confirmada à medida que a documentação sobre o envolvimento de Isabel dos Santos no controlo da posição angolana na Galp, entre 2006 e 2016, seja tornada pública.

  • Contudo, o que parece é que o interesse determinante nesta participação angolana na Galp no período referido era o de Isabel dos Santos e a sua preocupação importante era a de obter fundos para investimento na sua expansão e manutenção do seu conglomerado empresarial.

Obviamente, que tal hipótese não explica a apatia verificada após a saída de Isabel dos Santos. Desde 2018, que não tem havido especiais movimentos da Sonangol face à Galp. Nesta fase, essa inércia pode ser justificada pela incerteza estratégica que assolou a Sonangol e também a sua participação na Galp.

De uma forma ou outra, este é o tempo imperioso de tomada de uma posição racional relativamente a esta participação.

3. As várias opções da Sonangol face à Galp

Quando a petrolífera angolana se encontra em processo de reestruturação e pretende privatizar parte do capital é fundamental equacionar o que vai fazer em relação à sua participação na Galp.

Colocam-se várias hipóteses de atuação. Para melhor as analisar e descobrir o rumo mais adequado é pertinente abordar as estratégias que cada uma das empresas está a seguir, uma vez que ambas estão em momento de reconfiguração.

            Estratégia da Sonangol

Quanto à Sonangol, a estratégia seguida assenta em vários vetores, dos quais se destacariam[7]:

-Como várias das suas congéneres, ARAMCO ou BP, a petrolífera quer-se tornar mais verde. Também se pretende afastar em definitivo da imagem de corrupção. O plano para os próximos sete anos, aposta nas energias renováveis e no relançamento da exploração e produção em vários blocos petrolíferos. Em concreto, a Sonangol pretende:

– Aumentar a capacidade de produção operada de petróleo bruto, com uma meta não inferior a 10 % da produção nacional, em vez dos atuais 2 %.

– Investir em diversos blocos petrolíferos com o intuito de aumentar os direitos líquidos, estando previsto já para este ano o relançamento da atividade de exploração e a produção em diversos blocos petrolíferos (blocos 3/05, 3/05A, bloco 5/06, Kon 4, bem como a cooperação, juntamente com a Total, dos blocos 20 e 21, três anos depois do primeiro óleo).

– Otimizar e modernizar a refinaria de Luanda e assegurar o aumento da capacidade de refinação, com investimento em novas refinarias, no sentido de inverter o quadro de importação de combustíveis.

– Aumentar a capacidade de distribuição de LPG [gás de petróleo liquefeito], monetização do LNG [gás natural liquefeito] e investir em projetos de energias renováveis.

– Consolidar da posição da empresa como ator de referência no segmento de shipping na região.

-Reforçar a posição de trading de petróleo bruto e produtos refinados no mercado internacional, alavancando, assim, fontes adicionais de arrecadação de receitas em divisas.

– Aumentar a capacidade de armazenagem em terra, em substituição da armazenagem flutuante.

-Otimizar da rede de retalho, visando consolidar a posição de maior distribuidor de hidrocarbonetos líquidos no mercado nacional, num ambiente que se perspetiva cada vez mais liberalizado, bem como relançamento da atividade de distribuição e comercialização em outros países da região, dos quais já se encontra em curso o processo de reentrada na República Democrática do Congo.

            Estratégia da Galp

A Galp também se encontra numa fase de transição estratégica[8]. A descarbonização tornou-se agora uma prioridade, já manifestada pela decisão do encerramento da refinaria de Matosinhos e da Central Termoelétrica de Sines. Aliás, Joana Petiz no Dinheiro Vivo[9], refere que foi o empenho dos Amorim em acelerar a transição energética que levou ao encurtamento do mandato de Carlos Gomes da Silva e a nomeação de Andrew Brown. Brown terá um mandato para imprimir uma mudança intensa nos negócios da Galp, que já está avançada na sua transição energética. Na realidade, a Galp é a maior produtora de energia solar da Península Ibérica e aposta no lítio, tendo adquirido 10% na companhia a quem foi entregue a exploração de lítio em Portugal, a Savannah Resources.

No entanto, apesar destes movimentos, é o petróleo a maior fonte de receitas da companhia, com especial ênfase nas participações no Brasil, que dão um substancial contributo para a sustentabilidade da companhia. Aparentemente, será daí que virá o financiamento para os novos projetos “como o gás em Moçambique – passo intermédio na transição para energia mais limpa -, bem como as novas apostas da petrolífera, incluindo a exploração de lítio em Portugal”[10].

Breve comparação entre a Sonangol e a Galp

Em 2019, segundo os Relatórios e Contas respetivos, a Sonangol obteve um total de receitas na ordem dos 10 mil milhões de dólares, e um EBITDA de 5 mil milhões. Por sua vez a Galp alcançou receitas de mais de 19 mil milhões de dólares e um EBITDA de pouco mais de 2,5 mil milhões de dólares. Ambas as empresas se afirmam empenhadas numa transição energética, sendo essa aposta mais visível na Galp, mas em termos de receitas ambas estão dependentes do petróleo.

Fig.2- Quadro comparativo Galp/Sonangol (fonte Relatórios e Contas 2019, cot. €/$ a 5-2-2012)

 Faturação (2019) (M.USD)EBITDA (2019) (M.USD)Fonte fundamental de receitasAlternativa estratégica
Sonangol10.2315.550PetróleoVerde/Renovável
Galp20.0662.852PetróleoVerde/Renovável

            As várias opções

A Sonangol pode optar por uma das seguintes opções ou combinação de várias em relação à Galp:

1-Venda da participação;

2-Reforço da participação;

3-Manutenção da estratégia como investidor financeiro;

4-Sinergia na transição energética;

5-Sinergias industriais e comerciais.

Vamos ver cada uma das hipóteses.

Venda da participação

É evidente que ultimamente o preço das ações da Galp tem sido desanimador. Se repararmos, ao longo de 2020 os títulos foram perdendo valor, inclusivamente em outubro estiveram abaixo dos € 7,00. Note-se que tal aconteceu depois do início da Covid-19, pois em Fevereiro de 2020, os títulos estavam a ser negociados na casa dos € 14,00. Nesta altura a negociação das ações anda em valores ligeiramente acima dos € 8,00. A realidade, é que só depois de finalizado o combate contra a pandemia Covid-19 é que se poderá aferir o valor de mercado tendencial da Galp, até lá será precipitado vender a posição num momento em que se encontra desvalorizada fruto dos impactos externos.

Fig.n.º 3. Evolução recente das cotações da Galp (fonte: https://www.galp.com/corp/pt/investidores/informacao-ao-acionista/acao-da-galp/desempenho-da-acao)

Consequentemente, nada aconselha uma venda em baixa neste momento.

Reforço da participação

Alternativamente, a Sonangol, atendendo ao preço baixo das ações Galp, poderia equacionar o reforço da sua posição na Galp. Tal teria justificação desde que a Sonangol tivesse fundos disponíveis para tal aquisição e visse um interesse estratégico adicional que lhe levasse a ter uma posição mais influente na companhia.

Manutenção da estratégia como investidor financeiro

Esta tem sido a posição da Sonangol ao longo dos últimos 15 anos e naturalmente, tem-lhe dado frutos, podendo optar por manter a postura. Se analisarmos o ROE (return on equity) da Galp desde 2011 observamos números díspares. Em 2011, tínhamos um número robusto na ordem dos 14, 73%. Já em 2013, o número rondava os 2,86%. 2015, apresentava 1,91%, 2016, 2,86%. Saltando para a atualidade, o ROE em 2019 estava em 6,75%, e recentemente em setembro era negativo, -8,19%.[11] Esta instabilidade é importante para a Sonangol avaliar a sua participação na Galp pois permite qualificar a empresa portuguesa em termos de risco e consequente rendibilidade esperada.

Quer isto dizer que a Sonangol poderá convencer-se que existem outras alternativas mais satisfatórias para aplicação dos seus capitais e que não tragam oscilações tão grandes, preferindo desinvestir. Acreditamos que se esta for a opção da Sonangol, tal quererá dizer que mais cedo do que tarde, quando o preço for bom, acabará por vender a posição.

Sinergia na transição energética

Esta é a opção que nos parece mais promissora. Tendo a Galp já embarcado num avançado programa de transição energética e estando a Sonangol a querer dar passos mais firmes nesse sentido, como aliás uma boa parte das grandes petrolíferas está já a fazer, a aliança ou cooperação entre a Sonangol e a Galp nesta área, designadamente na energia solar, onde a Galp, como se referiu, tem uma posição de destaque na Península Ibérica, e a Sonangol vem dum país com grande potencialidade, há uma grande possibilidade de atuação conjunta.
Nesse sentido vislumbra-se a possibilidade de criação e concretização de projetos comuns e ambiciosos na área da transição energética dotando a Sonangol do Know-How que não possui ainda, e conferindo à Galp um mercado amplo para desenvolvimento da sua estratégia já desenhada.

Sinergias industriais e comerciais

Obviamente, que a possibilidade de sinergias industriais e comerciais são imensas. Desde a refinação de petróleo nas refinarias da Galp, aos derivativos e ao shipping, além da utilização da experiência acumulada pela Galp na prospeção no pré-sal no Brasil para abrir novos horizontes em Angola, há uma miríade de possibilidades que poderia ser explorada[12].

4. Conclusões

A primeira conclusão a que se chega através desta curta análise é a necessidade de reformular juridicamente a participação da Sonangol da Galp. Esta deve surgir autónoma e diretamente no corpo acionista da empresa portuguesa.  
A segunda conclusão é que existe um mapa alargado de sinergias possíveis entre a Sonangol e a Galp, sendo vivamente aconselhado o desenvolvimento das mesmas nas áreas da transição energética, nomeadamente, na energia solar.

[1] https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/a-oportunidade-perdida-da-sonangol-na-galp

[2] Sobre a estrutura do grupo Sonangol ver https://www.sonangol.co.ao/Portugu%C3%AAs/GrupoSonangol/Paginas/Grupo-Sonangol.aspx

[3] Sobre o grupo Galp ver https://www.galp.com/corp/pt/sobre-nos/a-galp/organizacao

[4] Cfr. https://www.dw.com/pt-002/empresa-de-isabel-dos-santos-investigada-na-holanda/a-54948244

[5] Cfr. https://www.galp.com/corp/pt/investidores/informacao-ao-acionista/estrutura-acionista

[6] Cfr. https://www.publico.pt/2020/02/18/economia/noticia/galp-isabel-santos-nao-accionista-direta-referencia-1904644

[7] Ver a entrevista do CEO Sebastião  Gaspar Martins em https://www.dn.pt/dinheiro/sebastiao-gaspar-martins-a-sonangol-reitera-o-seu-interesse-estrategico-em-estar-na-galp-13266123.html

[8] Cfr. https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/empresas/galp-muda-ceo-com-plano-verde-e-litio-em-cima-da-mesa-13224149.html

[9] Idem

[10] Idem.

[11] Análise de https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/GLPEY/galp-energia-sgps-sa/roe

[12] Seguimos de perto as sugestões de Celso Filipe em https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/a-oportunidade-perdida-da-sonangol-na-galp