Repsol tuning up

The Spanish major has tightened its belt, lifted its profitability and positioned itself to capitalise on an evolving market

In the headlong race to cut companies back to a size that sits comfortably with a world of $50 a barrel, Repsol chief executive Josu Jon Imaz is doing as well as anybody and possibly better than most. He's been at the helm for three and a half years and the latest six-month numbers show that, if anything, he's speeding up the process of reconfiguration. Under Imaz, the group has taken a more pessimistic view of the long-term outlook than many other companies and is being redesigned for a future of $40/b. The numbers tell the story. First-half net income was €1.056bn ($1.25bn), up 65% over the comparable period in 2016. Adjusted net income rose by 23% and ebitda by 29%. The once struggling up