CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - July 27, 2016) - ATCO Ltd.
(TSX:ACO.X)(TSX:ACO.Y) -
ATCO today announced second quarter adjusted earnings for 2016 of $81 million compared to $57 million in 2015.
Higher earnings compared to the second quarter of 2015 were mainly the result of continued capital investment and growth in
rate base within the Regulated Utilities, higher Modular Structures project activity within ATCO Structures & Logistics, and
business-wide cost reduction initiatives. Earnings in the second quarter of 2015 were reduced by a one-time earnings impact
resulting from a retroactive regulatory decision that ATCO Gas Australia received in that quarter.
ATCO invested $387 million in the second quarter and $751 million in the first half of 2016, 82 per cent of which was in
the Company's Regulated Utilities and in long-term contracted capital assets. These investments either earn a return under a
regulatory business model or are commercially secured under long-term contracts.
On July 14, 2016, ATCO declared a third quarter dividend for 2016 of 28.50 cents per Class I Non-Voting and Class II Voting
Share, a 15 per cent increase over the quarterly dividends declared in the same period of 2015. ATCO's annual dividend per share
has increased for 23 consecutive years.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
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In May 2016, ATCO rapidly responded to wildfires in the Fort McMurray region of northern Alberta
by mobilizing teams from across Alberta to provide accommodation for first responders and evacuees, and rebuild utility
infrastructure that was damaged by wildfires. The fires impacted the assets of the Company's Regulated Electricity and
Regulated Pipelines & Liquids businesses located in the region. Insurance coverage applies to the Company's property with
the exception of small diameter natural gas pipelines and meters and electric property outside of transmission substations
including wires, poles, towers, transformers and meters. The estimated net book value of the damaged assets is less than
$10 million. |
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On July 25, 2016, the Government of Alberta commenced legal action to determine the validity and
interpretation of certain terms within the Power Purchase Arrangements (PPAs) and related regulations. The legal
action the Government of Alberta filed seeks to prevent the PPAs from being returned to the Balancing Pool. ATCO has never
been a buyer of a coal PPA. ATCO continues to operate Battle River unit 5 and Sheerness units 1 and 2 under the terms of
their respective PPAs. ATCO will monitor and, in its capacity as a respondent, participate in the proceeding. However, the
proceeding seeks no direct relief against ATCO. |
FINANCIAL SUMMARY AND RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EARNINGS
A financial summary and reconciliation of adjusted earnings to earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares is
provided below:
| |
For the Three Months
Ended June 30 |
For the Six Months
Ended June 30 |
| ($ Millions except share data) |
2016 |
2015 |
2016 |
2015 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Adjusted earnings (1) |
81 |
57 |
202 |
135 |
| Gain on sale of joint operation (2) |
- |
- |
7 |
- |
| Restructuring costs (2) |
- |
(3) |
- |
(3) |
| Impairments (2) |
- |
(13) |
- |
(13) |
| Rate-regulated activities (2) |
(20) |
(33) |
(39) |
(17) |
| Earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares |
61 |
8 |
170 |
102 |
| Weighted average shares outstanding (millions of shares) |
114.3 |
114.8 |
114.5 |
114.8 |
| (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 a result of
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 of the consolidated financial statements for detailed descriptions of
the adjustments. |
Earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares were $61 million in the second quarter of 2016, $53 million
higher compared to the same period in 2015 mainly due to adjusted earnings that were higher in the second quarter by $24 million.
Earnings attributable to Class I and Class II Shares includes timing adjustments related to rate-regulated activities that are
not included in adjusted earnings.
The net impact of timing adjustments made in rate-regulated accounting improved earnings attributable to Class I
and Class II Shares by $13 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. Earnings in the second
quarter of 2015 attributable to Class I and Class II Shares also included $16 million of impairments and restructuring costs.
This news release should be used as a preparation for reading the full disclosure documents. ATCO's consolidated
financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 will be available on the
ATCO website (www.ATCO.com), via SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or can be requested from the Company.
With nearly 8,000 employees and assets of approximately $19 billion, ATCO is a diversified global
corporation delivering service excellence and innovative business solutions in Structures & Logistics (workforce housing,
innovative modular facilities, construction, site support services, and logistics and operations management); Electricity
(electricity generation, transmission, and distribution); Pipelines & Liquids (natural gas transmission, distribution and
infrastructure development, energy storage, and industrial water solutions); and Retail Energy (electricity and natural gas
retail sales). More information can be found at www.ATCO.com.
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's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a
result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic
conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the
Company.
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.