Northland Power Reports First Quarter 2019 Results

TORONTO, May 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northland Power Inc. (“Northland” or the “Company”) (TSX: NPI) today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

“Our first quarter results are in line with our expectations, setting the stage for a solid 2019 as we continue to execute our strategy,” said Mike Crawley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northland. “In the quarter, we announced the signing of our first PPA for the Hai Long offshore wind project in Taiwan, based on the 300 MW Feed-in-Tariff allocation and are working on securing PPAs for the remaining allocations for Hai Long. Construction of our Deutsche Bucht project remains on track, with completion expected by the end of the year and the project contributing to our financial results in 2020. Lastly, we announced the final investment decision for construction of our 130 MW La Lucha solar project in Mexico, continuing Northland’s tradition of growing through creative, diligent investments that generate sustainable growth and steady returns for our shareholders”.

First Quarter Highlights:

Financial Results

• Sales increased 3% from $486 million in the first quarter of 2018 to $499 million and gross profit increased 1% to $459 million.

• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-IFRS measure) increased 1% from $290 million in the first quarter of 2018 to $294 million.

• Free cash flow per share (a non-IFRS measure) decreased 6% from $0.84 in the first quarter of 2018 to $0.79.

• Net income increased 15% to $204 million from $178 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Sales, gross profit and net income, as reported under IFRS, include consolidated results of entities not wholly-owned by Northland, whereas the above non-IFRS measures, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, only include Northland’s proportionate interest.

Construction and Development Update

• La Lucha – 130 MW solar project, Durango, Mexico – On May 7, 2019, Northland announced the final investment decision approval for the construction of its La Lucha solar project (“La Lucha”) in the State of Durango, Mexico. Northland owns 100% of the 130 MW solar project which will have a total capital cost of approximately $190 million. Northland originated the La Lucha project and has obtained all major permits required for construction. Project completion is expected in the second half of 2020.

• Hai Long – 1,044 MW offshore wind project, Taiwan Strait – On February 26, 2019, Northland and its 40% partner, Yushan Energy, executed a 20-year PPA with Taiwan Power Company (“Taipower”) for the Hai Long 2A offshore wind project, based on the 300 MW Feed-in-Tariff (“FIT”) allocation.

• Deutsche Bucht – 269 MW offshore wind project, North Sea, Germany – The Deutsche Bucht offshore wind project is progressing according to schedule and is on budget. The total estimated project cost remains at approximately €1.4 billion (CAD $2.0 billion) with project completion expected by the end of 2019.

First Quarter Results Summary

Offshore wind facilities

Electricity production was largely in line compared to the same quarter of 2018. Sales of $310 million decreased 2% or $6 million primarily as a result of foreign exchange fluctuations partially offset by higher sales at Nordsee One. Adjusted EBITDA $187 million was in line with the same quarter of 2018 primarily because lower sales were offset by lower plant operating costs.

Thermal facilities

Electricity production increased 17% or 161 GWh compared to the same quarter of 2018 primarily due to favourable market conditions leading to Thorold’s increased dispatching in the Ontario electricity market and favourable operating conditions, particularly colder temperatures, at North Battleford.

Sales of $124 million increased 7% or $8 million compared to the same quarter of 2018 primarily due to gas optimization activities and higher production at Thorold and North Battleford, as described above, as well as payments for higher incremental capacity. The positive variance was partially offset by the effect of higher reported sales for Iroquois Falls in the first quarter of 2018 prior to a retrospective rate reduction by the system operator in the second quarter of 2018. Operating income of $68 million increased 6% or $4 million due to higher gross profit. Adjusted EBITDA of $77 million decreased 1% or $1 million primarily due to a one-time management fee earned in the first quarter of 2018 from assets sold and the factors described above.

On-shore renewable facilities

Electricity production increased 9% or 35 GWh compared to the same quarter of 2018 primarily as a result of higher overall solar and wind resource across the facilities. Sales of $58 million increased 8% or $5 million compared to the same quarter of 2018 primarily due to higher production. Operating income and adjusted EBITDA of $27 million and $38 million, respectively, increased 14% or $3 million and 9% or $3 million due to the same factors that increased sales.

General and administrative (G&A) costs

G&A costs of $18 million were largely in line with the same quarter of 2018 primarily due to the timing of expenditures related to project development activities, offset by lower personnel costs at the offshore wind facilities.

Finance costs

Finance costs, net, decreased 7% or $6 million compared to the same quarter of 2018 primarily due to declining interest costs as a result of scheduled principal repayments on facility-level loans, a lower outstanding balance on corporate credit facilities and the redemption of convertible debentures in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Net income

Net income of $204 million in the first quarter of 2019 was 15% or $26 million higher compared to net income of $178 million for the same quarter of 2018. The increase in net income year over year was primarily due to an increase in gross profit as well as non-cash fair value gain on derivative contracts.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA of $294 million for the first quarter of 2019 was 1% or $3 million higher than the first quarter of 2018 primarily due to a $3 million increase in production and earnings from the on-shore renewable facilities from higher overall solar and wind resource.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow of $142 million for the first quarter of 2019 was 4% or $6 million lower than the first quarter of 2018. The significant factor decreasing free cash flow was a $16 million increase in scheduled principal repayments, primarily for Nordsee One debt. Factors partially offsetting the decrease in free cash flow include:

• $5 million decrease in net interest expense due to declining interest costs as a result of scheduled principal repayments on facility-level loans, lower outstanding balance on corporate credit facilities and redemption of convertible debentures in the fourth quarter of 2018; and

• $2 million increase in overall production and earnings from Northland’s other operating facilities.

As at March 31, 2019, the rolling four quarter free cash flow net payout ratio was 54%, calculated on the basis of cash dividends paid and 64% calculated on the basis of total dividends, compared to 39% and 53%, respectively, in 2018. The increase in the free cash flow payout ratios from 2018 was primarily due to the higher scheduled Nordsee One principal repayments in 2019 combined with an increase in the number of shares due to the redemption of the convertible debentures in December 2018. The free cash flow net payout ratio of 54% calculated on the basis of cash dividends additionally increased due to a drop in the DRIP participation since the discount was reduced to nil.

Outlook

Northland aims to increase shareholder value by creating high-quality projects underpinned by revenue contracts that deliver predictable cash flows. Management actively seeks to invest in technologies and jurisdictions where Northland can benefit from an early-mover advantage and establish a meaningful presence while striving for excellence in managing Northland’s operating facilities by enhancing their performance and value.

As of May 8, 2019, management continues to expect adjusted EBITDA in 2019 to be in the range of $920 to $1,010 million and free cash flow per share in 2019 to be in the range of $1.65 to $1.95. Refer to Northland’s 2018 Annual Report for additional information on Northland’s outlook for 2019.

Earnings Conference Call

Northland will hold an earnings conference call on May 9, 2019, to discuss its 2019 first quarter results. Mike Crawley, Northland’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Paul Bradley, Northland’s Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the financial results and company developments before opening the call to questions from analysts and shareholders.

Conference call details are as follows: 
Thursday, May 9, 2019 10:00 a.m. ET
Toll free (North America):    (844) 284-3434
Toll free (International):       (949) 877-3040

The call will also be broadcast live on the internet, in listen-only mode and may be accessed on northlandpower.com. For those unable to attend the live call, an audio recording will be available on northlandpower.com on May 10, 2019.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Northland will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 11 a.m. ET. Shareholders are invited to attend the meeting at the TSX Conference Centre, Exchange Tower, 130 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario.

Northland’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under Northland’s profile and on northlandpower.com.

ABOUT NORTHLAND POWER

Northland Power is an independent power producer founded in 1987, and publicly traded since 1997. Northland develops, builds, owns and operates sustainable infrastructure assets that produce ‘clean’ (natural gas) and ‘green’ (wind, solar, and hydro) energy, providing stable long-term value to shareholders, stakeholders, and host communities.

The Company owns or has an economic interest in 2,429 MW (net 2,014 MW) of operating generating capacity and 399 MW of generating capacity under construction, representing the Deutsche Bucht offshore wind project in the North Sea and the La Lucha solar project in Mexico, in addition to its 60% equity stake in the 1,044 MW Hai Long projects under development in Taiwan.

Northland’s common shares, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 preferred shares and Series C convertible debentures trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols NPI, NPI.PR.A, NPI.PR.B, NPI.PR.C, and NPI.DB.C, respectively.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

This press release includes references to Northland’s adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow and applicable payout ratio and per share amounts, which are not measures prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow and applicable payout ratio and per share amounts do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and, as presented, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures should not be considered alternatives to net income, cash flow from operating activities or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. Rather, these measures are provided to complement IFRS measures in the analysis of Northland’s results of operations from management’s perspective. Management believes that adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow and applicable payout ratio and per share amounts are widely accepted financial indicators used by investors to assess the performance of a company and its ability to generate cash through operations. Refer to the SECTION 1: OVERVIEW, SECTION 4.4: Adjusted EBITDA, SECTION 4.5: Free Cash Flow and SECTION 5: CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION of the current Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under Northland’s profile and on northlandpower.com, for an explanation of these terms and for reconciliations to the nearest IFRS measure.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management’s current expectations and plans. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “predicts,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “forecasts” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.” These statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding future adjusted EBITDA, free cash flows, dividend payments and dividend payout ratios; the construction, completion, attainment of commercial operations, cost and output of development projects; litigation claims; plans for raising capital; and the future operations, business, financial condition, financial results, priorities, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of Northland and its subsidiaries. These statements are based upon certain material factors or assumptions that were applied in developing the forward-looking statements, including the design specifications of development projects, the provisions of contracts to which Northland or a subsidiary is a party, management’s current plans and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Although these forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current reasonable expectations and assumptions, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Some of the factors that could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, but are not limited to, revenue contracts, counterparty risks, contractual operating performance, variability of revenue from generating facilities powered by intermittent renewable resources, offshore wind concentration, natural gas and power market risks, operational risks, permitting, construction risks, project development risks, financing risks, interest rate and refinancing risks, liquidity risk, credit rating risk, currency fluctuation risk, variability of cash flow and potential impact on dividends, taxation, natural events, environmental, health and worker safety risks, market compliance risk, government regulations and policy risks, international activities, reliance on information technology, labour relations, reputational risk, insurance risk, risks relating to co-ownership, bribery and corruption risk, legal contingencies, and the other factors described in the “Risks Factors” section of Northland’s 2018 Annual Information Form dated February 21, 2019, which can be found at www.sedar.com under Northland’s profile and on Northland’s website at northlandpower.com. Northland’s actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur.

The forward-looking statements contained in this release are based on assumptions that were considered reasonable on May 8, 2019.  Other than as specifically required by law, Northland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Wassem Khalil, Senior Director, Investor Relations, 647-288-1019
investorrelations@northlandpower.com
northlandpower.com