Macro Enterprises Inc. Com MCESF

From TD regarding the SA Joint venture

[savyinvestor333]

This highlights the fact that there is still great risk in these contracts. SA is considered a quality contractor but this  one contract could put Somerville in a bad spot. Macro could also see something like this happen as could any other contractor.

Commercial Dispute Update: Aecon provided an update on the commercial dispute between SA Energy Group (SAEG — a 50/50 JV between Aecon and RB Sommerville) and Coastal GasLink (CGL). As a reminder, in late-2018, SAEG was awarded a $526mm contract for Spreads 3 and 4 of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline project. Alongside the Q2/21 results release, Aecon disclosed that the project was delayed and affected by various events (including significant client scope changes), and asserted that SAEG was entitled to additional compensation from CGL. SAEG subsequently commenced an arbitration.

That said, Aecon indicated at that time that it did not expect the resolution of this issue would cause a material impact on its financial position. As part of the Q3/21 results release, Aecon indicated that the difference between the costs being incurred by SAEG and the compensation being agreed to by CGL increased further.

Additionally, Aecon noted that its partner RB Sommerville has expressed that it will be unable to continue funding its share of the project’s cash flow requirements beyond Q1/22 if the situation does not improve (which could necessitate Aecon funding RB Sommerville’s share).

Although Aecon once again noted that the ultimate results cannot be predicted, management provided updated language indicating that the commercial dispute could result in a material negative financial impact on Aecon if not resolved favourably in a timely manner. Aecon’s stock declined 9.5% after the release of Q3/21 results (~$124mm decline in equity value; the vast majority of which we associate with the commercial dispute update). Although financial details regarding the dispute have not been disclosed, we see the decline in Aecon’s stock as already pricing-in a reasonably elevated amount of downside in connection with this matter (i.e., the decline in Aecon’s equity value equates to ~47% of its share of the original contract value, while we understand that the original contract is approaching 50% completion). Further, considering the importance of this pipeline to the overall LNG Canada project, it is our belief that resolving this matter in a timely fashion would be of importance to CGL.