TSX : AXY
(under IFRS and all amounts in US dollars unless otherwise stated)
VANCOUVER, May 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Alterra Power Corp. (TSX: AXY)
("Alterra" or the "Company") is pleased to report its financial and
operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2014. For
further information on these results please see Alterra's Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management's
Discussion and Analysis.
Alterra consolidates 100% of the results of operations at HS Orka and
Soda Lake, while Alterra's interests in the Toba Montrose run of river
hydro facility and the Dokie 1 wind facility are accounted for as
equity investments. In certain statements in this news release,
Alterra's results are disclosed as Alterra's "net interest", which
means the effective portion of results that Alterra would have reported
if each of HS Orka (66.6%), Toba Montrose (40%), Dokie 1 (25.5%), and
Soda Lake (100%) had been reported in accordance with Alterra's actual
share of ownership at March 31, 2014 and for the three months then
ended. Management believes that net interest reporting provides the
clearest view of Alterra's performance.
Highlights for the current quarter and subsequent period include:
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Increased Revenue and EBITDA: Consolidated revenue increased by 10% to $18.9 million, and consolidated
EBITDA increased by 25% to $7.7 million primarily due to strengthening
of the Icelandic Krona, a decrease in seasonal repair costs at Toba
Montrose and a decrease in general and administrative expenses. Net
interest revenue increased by 8% to $16.0 million and net interest
EBITDA increased by 150% to $5.1 million.
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Reliable power generation: Alterra's fleet of power projects generated 262,107 MWh of clean power
(net interest), achieving 96% of budgeted generation.
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HS Orka dividend: HS Orka declared a dividend of $2.0 million in the first quarter of
2014. The Company's share is 66.6% which is expected to be received in
the second quarter of 2014.
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Jimmie Creek hydro project highlights:
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Partnership update: The Company completed the acquisition of the 49% ownership stake
formerly held by an affiliate of GE Energy Financial Services.
Subsequent to the quarter, Alterra entered into a new partnership
agreement with an affiliate of Fiera Axium Infrastructure, Inc. under
which the partners will own 51% and 49% respectively.
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Current activities: Construction activities have begun onsite, including camp, road and
bridge construction. Alterra is finalizing terms with project lenders
and expects to close project financing later in 2014.
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Shannon wind farm highlights:
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Acquisition completed: Alterra completed the acquisition of 100% of the project on February 13,
2014.
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Interconnection security: Alterra placed a $4.5 million security deposit with the project's
transmission service provider, which has begun the design and equipment
procurement for the project's interconnection substation.
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Current activities: Alterra is finalizing project contracts (turbine supply, operation and
maintenance, etc.), documenting a power hedge for project output, and
finalizing terms with lenders and tax equity investors. The Company has
also entered into an exclusivity with a large energy infrastructure
fund as a potential equity partner for the project.
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Toba Montrose: Subsequent to the quarter, the project settled all insurance matters
relating to the 2012 rockslide-related repairs and is finalizing an
agreement with its lenders to extinguish the insurance-related waiver.
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Mariposa development project: Alterra and its joint venture partner (Energy Development Corporation
(EDC)) performed certain road construction and refurbishment activities
in preparation for the drilling program scheduled to begin in late
2015. This phase of project activity was completed subsequent to the
quarter end.
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Extension of Peru joint venture with EDC: The Company completed a further joint venture with EDC for the remainder
of Alterra's development assets in Peru. EDC obtained a 70% interest in
the development asset portfolio and will be funding 100% of the next
$6.0 million of development costs, in addition to the $8.0 million of
development costs from the previous Peruvian joint venture.
Financial Results
The following table shows Alterra's net interest in selected operating
and financial results for the year, in addition to key financial
information extracted from the consolidated results.
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For the 3 months ended
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HS Orka
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Toba
Montrose
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Dokie 1
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Soda
Lake
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Exploration
and Head
Office
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Net
Interest
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Consolidated
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March 31, 2014 (a)
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(66.6 %)
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(40%)
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(25.5%)
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(100%)
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Total
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Results
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Generation (MWh)
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219,001
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2,156
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22,000
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18,950
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—
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262,107
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347,780
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Total Revenue
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11,453
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230
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2,489
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1,830
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—
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16,002
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18,925
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Gross Profit (Loss)
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3,758
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(1,650)
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1,425
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597
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—
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4,130
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6,239
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EBITDA (c)
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5,287
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(1,299)
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1,860
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798
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(1,563)
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5,083
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7,717
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For the 3 months ended
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HS Orka
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Toba
Montrose
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Dokie 1
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Soda
Lake
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Exploration
and Head
Office
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Net
Interest
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Consolidated
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March 31, 2013 (a)
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(66.6%)
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(40%)
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(25.5%) (b)
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(100%)
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Total
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Results
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Generation (MWh)
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218,652
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556
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23,591
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19,347
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—
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262,146
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285,737
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Total Revenue
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10,482
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64
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2,810
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1,445
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—
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14,801
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17,184
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Gross Profit (Loss)
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3,497
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(2,785)
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1,596
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(254)
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—
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2,054
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4,997
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EBITDA (c)
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4,086
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(2,214)
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2,112
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344
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(2,294)
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2,034
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6,195
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(a)
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All tabular amounts in the table above are expressed in thousands of US
dollars with the exception of generation that is expressed in MWh's.
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(b)
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For comparison purposes, the 2013 operating results shown here for Dokie
1 have been adjusted to show a pro forma 25.5% interest for the
comparative quarter (actual ownership during the comparative quarter
was 51.0%).
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(c)
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Here and elsewhere, Adjusted EBITDA ("EBITDA") is defined by Alterra as
earnings before interest, taxes, foreign exchange, depreciation and
amortization, as well as before deductions for change in fair value of
bonds payable and derivatives, foreign exchange gain (loss), write off
of development costs and goodwill and other income (expense) except
business interruption proceeds, amortization of below market contracts,
and value assigned to options granted less share of income (loss) of
equity accounted investees plus the Company's interest in EBITDA of its
equity accounted investees. Alterra discloses EBITDA as it is a measure
used by analysts and by management to evaluate Alterra's performance.
As EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure, it may not be comparable to EBITDA
calculated by others. In addition, as EBITDA is not a substitute for
net earnings, readers should consider net earnings in evaluating
Alterra's performance. For a reconciliation of consolidated EBITDA to
Alterra's consolidated financial statements refer to the Company's
Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March
31, 2014.
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Consolidated Results
Revenue was up 10% at $18.9 million due to the strengthening of the
Icelandic Krona and gross profit improved to $6.2 million ($5.0 million
at March 31, 2013).
Net loss was $9.7 million, an improvement against the comparative
quarter loss ($11.9 million) resulting from strengthening of the
Icelandic Krona, a decrease in seasonal repair costs at Toba Montrose,
and a reduction in general and administrative expenses as well as
certain non-cash items including:
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A $5.7 million non-cash loss resulting from a 14% decrease in projected
aluminum prices, which caused a reduction in the value of PPA-related
"embedded derivatives" and a modest gain in the fair value of bonds
payable ($0.6 million).
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A $3.9 million loss on foreign exchange was recorded, due to unfavorable
movements in exchange rates.
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2014 were $39.9
million ($41.7 million at March 31 31, 2013) of which $36.5 million is
held in the Company's Icelandic subsidiary.
Net Interest Results
Alterra's net interest in revenue increased 8% to $16.0 million, and
EBITDA increased by 150% to $5.1 million per the improved operating
results as described above.
The net interest cash position at March 31, 2014 was $31.6 million.
Operating Results
For the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company's fleet wide
generation was 96% of budget on a net interest basis.
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Generation (MWh)
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Facility
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Q1 2014 Budget
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Q1 2014 Actual
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Net Interest
Budget
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Net Interest Actual
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% of Budget
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Reykjanes
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206,208
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197,669
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137,335
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131,648
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96 %
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Svartsengi
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125,186
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131,161
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83,374
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87,353
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105 %
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Soda Lake
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19,575
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18,950
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19,575
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18,950
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97 %
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Toba Montrose
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24,354
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5,390
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9,742
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2,156
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22 %
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Dokie 1
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90,872
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86,273
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23,172
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22,000
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95 %
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TOTAL
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466,195
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439,443
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273,198
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262,107
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96 %
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Outlook
John Carson, Alterra's CEO, said, "I'm pleased to report another solid
quarter of operations for Alterra, which complements our advancements
on the Jimmie Creek and Shannon projects. 2014 will be an important
year of growth for the company as we work toward our goal of closing on
project financings for both projects later this year."
Alterra Power will host a conference call to discuss financial and
operating results on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 11:30 am ET (8:30 am PT).
North American participants dial 1-888-390-0546 and International
participants dial 1-416-764-8688; the conference ID is 1935649.
The call will also be broadcast live on the Internet at
http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/detail/1343123/1484865
The call will be available for replay for one week after the call by
dialing 1-416-764-8677 and entering replay PIN 935649.
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information
Certain statements included in this news release may contain information
that is forward-looking within the meaning of certain securities laws,
including information and statements regarding prospective results of
operations, financial position, cash flows or growth potential. These
statements are based on factors or assumptions that were applied in
drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including
assumptions based on historical trends, current conditions and expected
future developments. Since forward-looking statements relate to future
events and conditions, by their very nature they require making
assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Alterra
cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are
reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give
rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from
the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. Material
risk factors include those set out in the management's discussion and
analysis section of Alterra's most recent annual report and quarterly
report, and in Alterra's Annual Information Form. Given these risks,
undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking
statements, which apply only as of their dates. Other than as
specifically required by law, Alterra undertakes no obligation to
update any forward-looking statements or information to reflect new
information, subsequent or otherwise.
SOURCE Alterra Power Corp.