Brookfield Infrastructure Announces Solid Third Quarter 2011 Results
(firmenpresse) - HAMILTON, BERMUDA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/04/11 -- Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP)(TSX: BIP.UN)
Brookfield Infrastructure today announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.
Brookfield Infrastructure posted strong results for the third quarter of 2011, with funds from operations ("FFO")(1) totalling $97 million ($0.62 per unit) compared to FFO of $55 million ($0.52 per unit) in the third quarter of 2010. The 19% 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 segment. Overall, after deducting maintenance capital expenditures, Brookfield Infrastructure generated an adjusted funds from operations ("AFFO") yield(3) of 10% for the quarter.
"Our solid results reflect the high quality of our cash flows and the stability of our operations," said Sam Pollock, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield's Infrastructure Group. "With 80% of our cash flows supported by regulatory and contractual frameworks, our business has continued to perform well, despite the economic headwinds we are experiencing in the global economy. Following our recent equity offering, we have over $700 million of corporate liquidity. We are well positioned to grow our business both organically and through acquisitions that capitalize on the opportunities that could materialize in this market."
Segment Performance
Brookfield Infrastructure's utilities segment generated FFO of $77 million in the third quarter of 2011, versus $43 million in the third quarter of 2010, implying an AFFO yield of 19%(4). 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, a favourable Australian dollar and greater developer contributions in its UK connections business.
The transport and energy segment generated FFO of $39 million, compared to $20 million in the third quarter of 2010, implying an AFFO yield of 6%. Aside from the Prime merger, this segment's performance reflects a solid performance from its UK port operations, offset by weaker results from its North American gas transmission and Australian railroad businesses.
The timber operations reported FFO of $5 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $nil in the third quarter of last year. These results were favourable compared to last year but declined compared with the results in the second quarter of 2011. Realized export prices increased by 15% and realized domestic prices increased by 16% versus last year as strong demand from Asian markets supported prices in domestic markets. In response to this price environment, Brookfield Infrastructure increased its harvest by 30% over last year.
The following table presents net income and FFO by segment:
Acquisition of Chilean Toll Roads
During the quarter, Brookfield infrastructure signed agreements to make a $150 million investment in a 33 kilometre toll road and tunnel that are key arteries in the transportation network in Santiago, Chile. This acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.
"We are excited about this investment as it seeds our toll road platform with a high quality asset in a high growth country that has a solid concession regime. We expect this toll road to generate substantial revenue growth as a result of robust economic growth in Chile that will drive significantly higher motorization rates within the country, combined with a tariff regime that allows annual pricing increase" said Pollock.
Brookfield Infrastructure is targeting levered after-tax returns on equity consistent with its long-term investment objectives of 12-15%.
Australian Railroad Update
During the quarter, Brookfield Infrastructure continued to advance the expansion of its Australian railroad with the signing of a 10-year commercial track access agreement (CTAA) with Worsley Alumina and, subsequent to quarter end, a 10-year CTAA with Mineral Resources Ltd (MRL). Brookfield Infrastructure has now signed five of the six CTAAs targeted for 2011, accounting for 93% of the projected revenues of its expansion program. The sixth agreement is expected to be signed in the fourth quarter.
The total capital cost of the Australian railroad's expansion program is estimated to be A$600 million, predominantly invested over the next two years. To date, Brookfield Infrastructure has invested approximately A$175 million of the estimated total cost of the expansion program. Brookfield Infrastructure currently expects to complete the projects on time and on budget.
Equity Offering
On October 26, Brookfield Infrastructure issued 28 million units at $24.75 per unit, under its shelf registrations in the U.S. and Canada. In total, net proceeds of approximately $660 million were raised. As part of the offering, Brookfield Asset Management invested approximately $200 million to maintain its approximate 30% ownership stake. Proceeds from the offering will be used to fund an equity investment in Brookfield Infrastructure's Australian railroad, including the pay down of its corporate credit facility which had been primarily drawn over the past nine months to fund the rail expansion program, and a $150 million investment in its Chilean toll road. Following the equity offering, Brookfield Infrastructure has corporate liquidity of over $700 million.
Distribution Declaration
The Board of Directors has declared the Partnership's quarterly distribution in the amount of US$0.35 per unit, payable on December 30, 2011 to unitholders of record as at the close of business on November 30, 2011. During the third quarter, Brookfield Infrastructure's distribution implied a payout ratio(5) of 56% of FFO. Brookfield Infrastructure's policy is to target a sustainable distribution in the range 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 September 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", "could", "estimate", "tend to", "continue", "believe", "expect", "target" 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, acquisition opportunities materializing, successfully closing the acquisition of interests in the Chilean toll roads, successful completion of capital projects at the Australian railroad on time and within budget 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 on time and on budget 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:
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.
Tracey Wise
Vice President, Investor Relations
416-956-5154
Media:
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.
Andrew Willis
Senior Vice President, Communications and Media
416-369-8236
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Datum: 04.11.2011 - 06:45 Uhr
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