CALGARY, ALBERTA — (Marketwired) — 10/29/14 — ATCO Ltd. (TSX: ACO.X) (TSX: ACO.Y)
ATCO today reported third quarter adjusted earnings of $85 million in 2014 compared to $84 million in 2013. The major driver of these earnings was continued capital investment in Alberta–s utility infrastructure.
During the quarter, ATCO continued to invest in electricity and natural gas transmission and distribution facilities to support growth in the province and replace aging infrastructure. Additionally, the third quarter was impacted by an interim Alberta Utilities Commission decision that allowed the company to recognize certain prudent capital expenditures dating back to the start of 2013. ATCO Electric, ATCO Gas and ATCO Pipelines collectively invested $548 million in the third quarter, bringing the total for the nine months of 2014 to $1.6 billion.
The increase in earnings for the quarter was partly offset by a 23 per cent decline in the average Alberta Power Pool price, increased natural gas prices and increased availability of coal-fired generation in the province, resulting in decreased earnings for ATCO Power over the same period in 2013.
ATCO Structures & Logistics also saw lower third quarter earnings over the same period in 2013. Earnings for this company are significantly influenced by the cyclical nature of large natural resource project activity. The Company–s lower earnings in the quarter were the result of lower year-over-year manufacturing activity and profit margins, lower fleet rental utilization and the expiry of a Kandahar Airfield Logistics and Facility O&M services contract in December 2013.
Adjusted earnings were $257 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $293 million for the same period of 2013. Major drivers of this decrease were unfavourable market conditions in the Company–s power generation business, and lower earnings from ATCO Structures & Logistics, partly offset by continued growth in rate base of the Utilities.
Earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares were $133 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 compared to $132 million in the same period of 2013. Earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares were $326 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $347 million in the same period of 2013. The Company completed the sale of its information technology business for gross proceeds of $204 million in the third quarter resulting in a one-time gain of $74 million (after non-controlling interests). The sale is part of the Company–s ongoing focus on the optimal allocation of capital across the ATCO Group. Proceeds are being redeployed to finance the Company–s growth initiatives, including the significant capital expenditure program underway in the Utilities.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
FINANCIAL SUMMARY AND RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EARNINGS
A financial summary and reconciliation of adjusted earnings to earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares is provided below:
(1) Adjusted earnings are earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares after adjusting for the timing of revenues and expenses associated with rate-regulated activities. Adjusted earnings also exclude one-time gains and losses, significant impairments and items that are not in the normal course of business or day-to-day operations. Adjusted earnings present earnings on the same basis as was used prior to adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) – that basis being the U.S. accounting principles for rate-regulated entities – and they are a key measure used to assess segment performance, to reflect the economics of rate regulation and to facilitate comparability of ATCO–s earnings with other Canadian rate-regulated companies.
(2) Refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for descriptions of the adjustments for rate-regulated activities and the timing of their recovery from or refund to customers.
(3) Refer to Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for an explanation of the gain on sale of information technology services.
(4) Refer to Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for an explanation of the gain on sale of Tecno Fast ATCO S.A.
(5) Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements for an explanation of ATCO Power Australia–s Bulwer Island power station impairment.
(6) This measure is cash flow from operations before changes in non-cash working capital. It does not have standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.
The increase in revenues in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2014 was due primarily to increased rate base in the Utilities segment, particularly attributable to the significant ongoing capital investment in transmission infrastructure in Alberta.
The decrease in funds generated by operations for the third quarter and nine months ending September 30, 2014 was due primarily to lower earnings and lower contributions from utility customers, which are used by the Company to provide utility services to customers.
ATCO–s consolidated financial statements and management–s discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, will be available on the ATCO website (), via SEDAR () or can be requested from the Company.
With more than 9,000 employees and assets of approximately $18 billion, ATCO is a diversified global corporation delivering service excellence and innovative business solutions through leading companies engaged in Structures & Logistics (manufacturing, logistics and noise abatement), Utilities (pipelines, natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution) and Energy (power generation and sales, industrial water infrastructure, natural gas gathering, processing, storage and liquids extraction). More information can be found at .
Forward-Looking Information:
Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon.
Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company–s expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.
Contacts:
ATCO Ltd.
B.R. (Brian) Bale
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(403) 292-7502