Equinor ASA 6-K, filed Apr 23, 2020

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

April 2020

Commission File Number: 1-15200

Equinor ASA (Translation of registrant's name into English)

FORUSBEEN 50, N-4035, STAVANGER (Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F [ X ]      Form 40-F [   ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

**Note:**Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

**Note:**Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

On April 23, 2020, the Registrant issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Exhibit 99.1. Press release dated April 23, 2020

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

EdgarFiling

EXHIBIT 99.1

Equinor reducing quarterly cash dividend for first quarter 2020 by 67%

The Board of Directors of Equinor (OSE:EQNR, NYSE:EQNR) has decided a cash dividend of USD 0.09 per share for the first quarter 2020, a reduction of 67% compared to fourth quarter 2019.

As stated in Equinor’s dividend policy, the Board of Directors will, when deciding on upcoming dividend payments, take into consideration expected cash flow, capital expenditure plans, financing requirements and appropriate financial flexibility.

Reflecting the current unprecedented market conditions and uncertainties, the Board of Directors has decided to make a significant reduction of the quarterly cash dividend for first quarter 2020.

“Equinor has already taken forceful actions to strengthen our liquidity and financial resilience under the current circumstances. In this extraordinary market situation, we have now also decided to reduce the cash dividend for the first quarter 2020 by 67%, compared to the proposed fourth quarter 2019 dividend,” says Eldar Sætre, president and CEO of Equinor ASA.

Equinor has recently launched several actions to increase financial resilience in response to the current market conditions:

• Suspension of buy-backs under the share buy-back programme
• Launch of a USD 3 billion action plan in 2020 to strengthen financial resilience from capital expenditures, operating costs and exploration expense reductions
• Bond issuance of USD 5 billion

The purpose of the combined efforts, including a reduction in dividend, is to secure balance sheet capacity, strengthen liquidity and support continued investments in a high-quality project portfolio. This provides for long term competitive growth and shareholder value.

With the actions previously announced Equinor can be organic cash flow neutral (1) before capital distribution in 2020 with an average oil price around USD 25 per barrel for the remaining part of the year.

The ex-date for the first quarter dividend will be 14 August 2020. Further information relating to the cash dividend to be paid by for the first quarter 2020 will be provided on 7 May 2020 upon release of the first quarter financial report.

* * * (1) Excluding inorganic investments and potential redetermination. Based on taxes payable * * *

Further information:

Investor relations Peter Hutton, Senior Vice President Investor Relations, +44 7881 918 792 (mobile)

Press Bård Glad Pedersen, Vice President Media Relations, +47 918 01 791 (mobile)

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