Brookfield Infrastructure Announces Strong Second Quarter 2011 Results
Distribution Increased 13%
(firmenpresse) - HAMILTON, BERMUDA -- (Marketwire) -- 08/03/11 -- Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP)(TSX: BIP.UN) -
Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Brookfield Infrastructure's 2011 second quarter results as well as the Letter to Unitholders and Supplemental Information on the web site under the Investor Relations section at .
The 2011 second quarter results conference call can be accessed via webcast on August 3, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. ET at or via teleconference at 1-800-319-4610 toll free in North America. For overseas calls please dial 1-412-858-4600, at approximately 8:50 a.m. ET. The teleconference taped rebroadcast can be accessed at 1-800-319-6413 (password: 9245#).
Brookfield Infrastructure today announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.
Brookfield Infrastructure posted strong results for the second quarter of 2011, with funds from operations ("FFO")(2) totalling $102 million ($0.65 per unit) compared to FFO of $52 million ($0.49 per unit) in the second quarter of 2010. The 33% increase in FFO per unit was largely attributable to the merger with Prime Infrastructure (Prime) during the fourth quarter of 2010. Results also reflect a significant increase in FFO from Brookfield Infrastructure's utilities and timber businesses, which offset some weakness in its transport and energy business. Overall, after deducting maintenance capital expenditures, Brookfield Infrastructure generated an adjusted funds from operations ("AFFO") yield(4) of 11% for the quarter.
"In the first half of the year, our financial and operating performances have exceeded expectations and our outlook is strong," said Sam Pollock, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield's Infrastructure Group. "In response, we are increasing our distribution for the second time this year by a further 13% so that our unitholders can benefit from the strong returns being generated in our businesses."
Segment Performance
Brookfield Infrastructure's utilities segment generated FFO of $66 million in the second quarter of 2011, versus $32 million in the second quarter of 2010, with an AFFO yield of 15%(5). In addition to the favourable impact of the Prime merger, this segment's performance increased significantly due to the rate reset at its Australian coal terminal and developer contributions in its U.K. connections business.
The transport and energy segment generated FFO of $39 million, compared to $26 million in the second quarter of 2010, with an AFFO yield of 8%. Aside from the favourable impact of the Prime merger, this segment's performance reflects a higher contribution from its U.K. port operations, offset by weaker results from its North American gas transmission and Australian railroad businesses.
The timber operations reported FFO of $13 million in the second quarter of 2011, compared to $6 million in the second quarter of last year, driven by continued strength in the export market and a sharp increase in pricing in the U.S. domestic market. On average, realized prices increased by 19%, versus the second quarter of 2010. In response, Brookfield Infrastructure increased its harvest levels by 32%, versus the comparable period last year.
The following table presents net income and FFO by segment:
Australian Railroad Update
Brookfield Infrastructure continues to advance the expansion and upgrade of its Australian railroad to serve its customers' growth objectives. This expansion will serve a diverse group of new mines, mine expansions and industrial projects for new and existing customers. There are currently six projects that are advancing and are expected to account for 24 million tons of additional volume on its railroad by the end of 2014.
"These projects are highly value accretive for the business, and we expect to generate attractive returns on this incremental capital, reflecting the significant historical investment that has been made in our rail system," added Mr. Pollock. "We are excited that these growth initiatives have advanced and are nearing their commercial stage. Over the next few quarters we remain focused on ensuring that we deliver the associated upgrades on time and on budget."
To date, long-term commercial track access agreements (CTAAs) have been signed with three of Brookfield Infrastructure's customers, including most recently Karara Mining Limited (KML), the largest of its customers. The 15-year KML contract is subject to a financing condition in Brookfield Infrastructure's favour, which it expects to be in a position to satisfy within 60 days. Commercial terms have been agreed to for the remaining three projects, and Brookfield Infrastructure expects to finalize documentation of CTAAs by the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter.
Over the next three years as these projects achieve commercial production, over 90% of these new volumes will be subject to take-or-pay provisions, providing Brookfield Infrastructure minimum take-or-pay revenues that will total approximately A$65 million in 2012, increasing to approximately A$160 million in 2013 and A$170 million in 2014. With the recent signing of the KML project, Brookfield Infrastructure has now fully contracted approximately 75% of these projected revenues. Due to the operating leverage of this business, Brookfield Infrastructure expects that the minimum take-or-pay revenues will generate approximately A$150 million of incremental EBITDA by 2014. To the extent that volumes exceed minimum levels, it will generate incremental EBITDA above that.
Distribution Declaration
During the first half of the year, Brookfield Infrastructure's distribution implied a payout ratio(6) of 49% of FFO, which is below its targeted range of 60% to 70%. Consequently, the Board of Directors has approved a 13% increase to Brookfield Infrastructure's distribution and has declared a quarterly distribution in the amount of US$0.35 per unit, payable on September 30, 2011 to unitholders of record as at the close of business on August 31, 2011. Brookfield Infrastructure intends to review its distribution rates again in the first quarter of 2012 in the normal course and will continue to target a distribution that will result in a payout ratio of 60-70% of FFO.
Distributions are eligible for reinvestment under the Partnership's Distribution Reinvestment Plan. Information on this Plan and on declared distributions can be found on Brookfield Infrastructure's website under Investor Relations/Distributions.
Additional Information
The Letter to Unitholders and the Supplemental Information for the three months ended June 30, 2011 contain further information on Brookfield Infrastructure's strategy, operations and financial results. Unitholders are encouraged to read these documents, which are available at .
Brookfield Infrastructure operates high quality, long-life assets that generate stable cash flows, require relatively minimal maintenance capital expenditures and, by virtue of barriers to entry and other characteristics, tend to appreciate in value over time. Its current business consists of the ownership and operation of premier utilities, transport and energy, and timber assets in North and South America, Australasia, and Europe. It also seeks acquisition opportunities in other infrastructure sectors with similar attributes. The payout policy targets 3% to 7% annual growth in distributions. Units trade on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges under the symbols BIP and BIP.UN, respectively. For more information, please visit Brookfield Infrastructure's website at .
Note: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations. The words, "will", "continue", "believe", "expect", "target", "tend to" and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters identify the above mentioned and other forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding expansion of Brookfield Infrastructure's business through growth opportunities within its operations, the level of distribution growth over the next several years, and future distribution growth prospects in general. Although Brookfield Infrastructure believes that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward looking statements or information in this news release. The future performance and prospects of Brookfield Infrastructure are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Factors that could cause actual results of the Partnership and Brookfield Infrastructure to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by the statements in this news release include general economic conditions in the jurisdictions in which we operate and elsewhere which may impact the markets for our products, the ability to achieve growth within Brookfield Infrastructure's businesses and in particular completion of various large capital projects at some of the mining customers of our railroad business, which themselves depend on access to capital and continuing favourable commodity prices, the competitive business environment for our timber operations, the fact that success of Brookfield Infrastructure is dependent on market demand for an infrastructure company, which is unknown, the availability of equity and debt financing for Brookfield Infrastructure, the ability to effectively complete new acquisitions in the competitive infrastructure space and to integrate acquisitions into existing operations, and other risks and factors described in the documents filed by Brookfield Infrastructure with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States including under "Risk Factors" in Brookfield Infrastructure's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other risks and factors that are described therein. Except as required by law, Brookfield Infrastructure undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Investors:
Tracey Wise
Vice President, Investor Relations
416-956-5154
Media:
Andrew Willis
Senior Vice President, Communications and Media
416-369-8236
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Datum: 03.08.2011 - 05:30 Uhr
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