Cash Flow Performance
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to EUR 4,056 mn, down by EUR (340) mn compared to 2018, significantly impacted by negative working capital effects.
Cash flow from investing activities showed an outflow of EUR (4,638) mn in 2019 compared to EUR (3,353) mn in 2018, containing a cash outflow of EUR (460) mn related to the acquisition of a 50% interest in the new company SapuraOMV and a cash outflow of EUR (2,095) mn related to the acquisition of a 15% stake in the ADNOC Refining business (including related transaction costs and FX hedging impacts). 2018 included the acquisition of a 20% stake in an offshore concession in Abu Dhabi that led to an outflow of USD (1.5) bn and the acquisition of Shell’s Upstream business in New Zealand that led to a cash outflow of EUR (350) mn. Cash flow from investing activities in 2019 included a cash outflow of EUR (113) mn related to the financing agreements for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project (2018: EUR (275) Mio).
Free cash flow declined to EUR (583) mn (2018: EUR 1,043 mn).
Cash flow from financing activities showed an outflow of EUR (484) mn compared to EUR (975) mn in 2018. In 2019 the issuance of bonds totaling EUR 1.3 bn was only partially offset by repayments of long-term debt, while in 2018 the issuance of new bonds was more than offset by the repayment of long-term debt.
Free cash flow after dividends decreased to EUR (1,441) mn in 2019 (2018: EUR 263 mn).