InfraREIT Reports Second Quarter 2017 and Year-to-Date Results

DALLAS, Aug. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- InfraREIT, Inc. (NYSE: HIFR) ("InfraREIT" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2017 and provided the Company's financial outlook.

InfraREIT reported the following second quarter 2017 financial highlights:

• Net income was $10.1 million
• Net income attributable to InfraREIT, Inc. common stockholders per share was $0.17 per share
• Non-GAAP metrics no longer include an adjustment for percentage rent
• Non-GAAP earnings per share ("Non-GAAP EPS") was $0.20 per share
• Cash available for distribution ("CAD") was $13.6 million
• Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") was $35.8 million
• Quarterly dividend declared of $0.25 per share of common stock, $1.00 per share annualized
• InfraREIT's subsidiary, Sharyland Distribution & Transmission Services, L.L.C. ("SDTS"), closed a $200 million senior secured term loan

Guidance:

• Transmission capital expenditures range of $185 million to $315 million for the period of 2017 through 2019
• Expect to maintain the Company's current quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, or $1.00 per share annualized, through 2017

Recent events:

• On July 21, 2017, SDTS signed an agreement regarding the proposed dismissal of the pending rate case of SDTS and its tenant, Sharyland Utilities, L.P. ("Sharyland").  In connection with the proposed dismissal, SDTS also signed a definitive agreement ("Definitive Agreement") with Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") to exchange SDTS's retail distribution assets for a group of Oncor's transmission assets located in west and central Texas.

"We maintained our solid performance in the second quarter, while investing $39 million in capital expenditures to support the infrastructure needs of Texas," said David A. Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of InfraREIT.  "Our proposed rate case resolution and asset exchange transaction, announced last week, further strengthens our outlook and provides additional clarity to our investors.  When completed, the transaction will allow InfraREIT to focus on an electric utility transmission strategy," added Campbell.

Second Quarter 2017 ResultsLease revenue, consisting only of base rent, increased 20 percent to $40.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $33.8 million of base rent for the same period in 2016.  There was no percentage rent recognized during the second quarter 2017 or 2016 as Sharyland's year-to-date adjusted gross revenue did not exceed the annual specified breakpoints under the Company's leases.  The Company anticipates that revenue will grow over the year with little to no percentage rent recognized in the first and second quarters of each year and with the largest amounts recognized during the third and fourth quarters of each year.

Net income was $10.1 million in the second quarter 2017, compared to net income of $9.2 million in the second quarter 2016.  Net income attributable to InfraREIT, Inc. common stockholders was $0.17 per share during the second quarter 2017 compared to $0.15 per share during the same period in 2016.

The Company is adjusting its non-GAAP performance measures as of June 30, 2017 to exclude the adjustment for percentage rent previously reported by the Company.  Historically, the percentage rent adjustment reflected a quarterly, not annual, adjustment for the difference between the amount of percentage rent payments the Company expected to receive with respect to the applicable period and the amount of percentage rent the Company recognized under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") during the period.  Accordingly, all non-GAAP performance measures for periods previously presented have been adjusted to remove the effects of the percentage rent adjustment for the respective period.  In addition, this quarter, the Company added an adjustment for the transaction costs related to the proposed exchange transaction with Oncor.

Non-GAAP EPS was $0.20 per share for both the second quarter 2017 and 2016.  CAD was $13.6 million for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $12.2 million for the second quarter 2016, representing an increase of $1.4 million, or 11 percent.  Adjusted EBITDA was $35.8 million for the second quarter 2017, an increase of 13 percent, compared to $31.8 million for the same period in 2016.  Funds from Operations ("FFO") was $23.1 million for the second quarter 2017, compared to $20.6 million from the same period in 2016, representing an increase of 12 percent.  For the second quarter 2017, FFO on an adjusted basis ("AFFO") was $25.4 million, compared to $22.4 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of 13 percent.

First Half 2017 PerformanceLease revenue, consisting only of base rent, increased 19 percent to $80.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $67.5 million of base rent for the first half of 2016.  There was no percentage rent recognized during the first half of 2017 or 2016 as Sharyland's year-to-date adjusted gross revenue did not exceed the annual specified breakpoints under the Company's leases.  The Company anticipates that revenue will grow over the year with little to no percentage rent recognized in the first and second quarters of each year and with the largest amounts recognized during the third and fourth quarters of each year.

Net income was $21.1 million in the first half of 2017, compared to net income of $18.0 million in the first half of 2016.  Net income attributable to InfraREIT, Inc. common stockholders was $0.35 per share during the first half of 2017 compared to $0.30 per share during the same period in 2016.

Non-GAAP EPS was $0.40 per share for both the first half of 2017 and 2016.  CAD was $26.7 million for the first half of 2017 compared to $24.6 million for the first half of 2016, an increase of 9 percent.  Adjusted EBITDA was $70.4 million for the first half of 2017, an increase of 12 percent, compared to $62.9 million for the same period in 2016.  FFO was $46.8 million for the first half of 2017, compared to $40.4 million from the same period in 2016, representing an increase of 16 percent.  For the first half of 2017, AFFO was $50.0 million, compared to $44.5 million for the same period in 2016, representing an increase of 12 percent.

Liquidity and Capital ResourcesAs of June 30, 2017, the Company had $9.7 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $325.0 million of unused capacity under its revolving credit facilities.

Outlook and GuidanceAssuming the completion of the exchange transaction during the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company estimates transmission footprint capital expenditures in the following ranges over the next three years: $130 million to $160 million for 2017; $45 million to $95 million for 2018; and $10 million to $60 million for 2019.  The Company estimates distribution footprint capital expenditure forecast for the calendar year 2017 in the range of $35 million to $60 million, which is consistent with its previous forecasted amounts.

InfraREIT expects to maintain the Company's current quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, or $1.00 per share annualized, through 2017.

The Company's consolidated debt profile continues to target debt as a percentage of total capitalization at or below 60 percent and AFFO-to-debt of at least 12 percent.

InfraREIT's strategy will continue to focus on owning regulated assets with long lives, low operating risks and stable cash flows consistent with the characteristics of its current portfolio.

The guidance provided above constitutes forward-looking statements, which are based on current economic conditions and estimates, and the Company does not include other potential impacts, such as changes in accounting or unusual items.  Supplemental information relating to the Company's financial outlook is posted in the Investor Relations section of the Company's Web site at www.InfraREITInc.com.

Rate Case UpdateOn December 30, 2016, SDTS and Sharyland filed an amended rate case application and rate filing packages with the Public Utility Commission of Texas ("PUCT") under Docket No. 45414 ("Rate Case").  On July 21, 2017, Sharyland and SDTS entered into an agreement with certain parties to the Rate Case, which, if approved by the PUCT, will result in the dismissal of the Rate Case.  Once the Rate Case is dismissed, SDTS and Sharyland will continue operating under their existing regulatory structure, and the current regulatory parameters will remain in place until the next rate case.  Sharyland and SDTS will be required to file a new rate case in the calendar year 2020 with a test year ending December 31, 2019.

Supplemental information relating to the Rate Case can be found at www.InfraREITInc.com under the "Investor Relations/Rate Regulation" section as well as "About InfraREIT/Sharyland Utilities-Our Tenant" section of the Company's Web site.  InfraREIT will post updates to these sections of the Company's Web site as new information becomes available.

Transaction DetailsUnder the Definitive Agreement, SDTS will exchange approximately $400 million of distribution assets for approximately $380 million of transmission assets located in west and central Texas and approximately $20 million in cash from Oncor.  Sharyland will lease these assets from SDTS and operate them under an amended certificate of convenience and necessity.  Upon closing, SDTS will continue to own and lease to Sharyland certain substations related to its distribution assets but Sharyland will exit the retail distribution business.

Approvals and Closing ConditionsThe effectiveness of the Rate Case dismissal and the closing of the exchange transaction are dependent upon each other and will be subject to a number of closing conditions, including approval by the PUCT of: the exchange transaction, the Rate Case dismissal and Oncor's rate case settlement, in each case on terms consistent with those proposed by the relevant parties.  Under the Definitive Agreement, SDTS, Sharyland and Oncor are required to file a joint Sale-Transfer-Merger application ("STM") with the PUCT no later than August 4, 2017.  Key parties to the Rate Case also support the exchange transaction and are requesting that the PUCT approve the STM.  The closing of the exchange transaction is also contingent upon Oncor's parent company obtaining consent of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and SDTS obtaining certain consents from its lenders, as well as other customary closing conditions.  The exchange transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Dividends and DistributionsOn June 2, 2017, InfraREIT's board of directors declared cash distributions and dividends of $0.25 per unit and share, respectively, to unitholders and stockholders of record on June 30, 2017.  The cash distributions and dividends were paid on July 20, 2017.

Senior Secured Term LoanOn June 5, 2017, SDTS closed a new $200 million senior secured term loan credit facility ("2017 Term Loan").  The 2017 Term Loan will mature on June 5, 2020.  The pricing of the term loan is LIBOR plus 125 basis points for LIBOR-based loans or a base rate plus 25 basis points for base-rate loans, at SDTS's discretion.  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, New York Branch serves as the administrative agent for the facility.

Hunt Project Quarterly UpdatesInfraREIT's quarterly "Hunt Project Updates" can be found on the Company's Web site (www.InfraREITInc.com) under the "Hunt Transmission-Our Developer" and "Investor Relations" sections and in the "Q2 2017 Results & Supplemental Information" presentation posted on the Company's Web site.

Conference Call and WebcastAs previously announced, management will host a teleconference call on August 2, 2017, at 10 a.m. U.S. Central Time (11 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time).  David A. Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, and Brant Meleski, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss InfraREIT's results and financial outlook.

Investors and analysts are invited to participate in the call by phone at 1-855-560-2576, or internationally at 1-412-542-4162 (access code: 10098423) or via the Internet at www.InfraREITInc.com.  A replay of the call will be available on the Company's Web site or by phone at 1-877-344-7529, or internationally at 1-412-317-0088 (access code: 10098423), for a seven-day period following the call.

Non-GAAP MeasuresThis press release contains certain financial measures that are not recognized under GAAP.  In particular, InfraREIT uses Non-GAAP EPS, CAD, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO as important supplemental measures of the Company's operating performance.  For example, management uses the CAD measurement when recommending dividends to its board of directors.  The Company also presents non-GAAP performance measures because management believes they help investors understand InfraREIT's business, performance and ability to earn and distribute cash to its stockholders by providing perspectives not immediately apparent from net income.  InfraREIT has a diverse set of investors, including investors that primarily focus on utilities, yieldcos, MLPs or REITs.  InfraREIT's management believes that each of these different classes of investors focuses on different types of metrics in their evaluation of InfraREIT.  For instance, many utility investors focus on earnings per share and management believes the Company's presentation of Non-GAAP EPS enables a better comparison to other utilities.  InfraREIT's management believes it is appropriate to calculate and provide these measures in order to be responsive to these investors.  Reporting on these measures in InfraREIT's public disclosures also ensures that this information is available to all of InfraREIT's investors.  The non-GAAP measures presented in this press release are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, InfraREIT's method of calculating these measures may be different from methods used by other companies, and, accordingly, may not be comparable to similar measures as calculated by other companies that do not use the same methodology as InfraREIT.  Reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the Schedules to this press release.

About InfraREIT, Inc.InfraREIT is a real estate investment trust that is engaged in owning and leasing rate-regulated electric transmission and distribution assets in the state of Texas.  The Company is externally managed by Hunt Utility Services, LLC, an affiliate of Hunt Consolidated, Inc. (a diversified holding company based in Dallas, Texas, and managed by the Ray L. Hunt family).  The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HIFR."  Additional information on InfraREIT is available at www.InfraREITInc.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  These statements give InfraREIT management's current expectations and include projections of results of operations or financial condition or forecasts of future events.  Words such as "could," "will," "may," "assume," "forecast," "strategy," "guidance," "outlook," "target," "expect," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "project" and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release include InfraREIT's expectations regarding anticipated financial and operational performance, including projected or forecasted financial results, distributions to stockholders, capital expenditures, AFFO-to-debt ratios, capitalization matters and other forecasted metrics as well as the dismissal of the Rate Case and the closing of the exchange transaction with Oncor.  The assumptions and estimates underlying the forward-looking statements included in this press release are inherently uncertain and, though considered reasonable by InfraREIT's management team as of the date of its preparation, are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in this press release.  Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (a) the inability to complete the exchange transaction or achieve the dismissal of the Rate Case due to the failure to obtain required approvals or other unsatisfied closing conditions; (b) the incurrence of unexpected liabilities or failures to achieve the expected benefits of the exchange transaction; (c) the amount of available investment to grow the Company's rate base; (d) decisions by regulators or changes in governmental policies or regulations with respect to the Company's organizational structure, lease arrangements, capitalization, acquisitions and dispositions of assets, recovery of investments, the Company's authorized rate of return and other regulatory parameters; (e) the Company's current reliance on its tenant for all of its revenues and, as a result, its dependence on the tenant's solvency and financial and operating performance; (f) the effects of existing and future tax and other laws and governmental regulations; (g) the Company's failure to qualify or maintain its status as a REIT or changes in the tax laws applicable to REITs; and (h) insufficient cash available to meet distribution requirements.  These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Company's filings with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  For the above reasons, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be indicative of the Company's future performance or that actual results will not differ materially from those presented.  In no event should the inclusion of forecasted financial information in this press release be regarded as a representation by any person that the results contained in the forecasted financial information will be achieved.

Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this press release is based only on information currently available to InfraREIT and speaks only as of the date on which it is made.  InfraREIT undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable law.

 

 

 

 

Changes to Non-GAAP MeasuresThe Company is adjusting its non-GAAP performance measures as of June 30, 2017 to exclude the adjustment for percentage rent previously reported by the Company.  Historically, the percentage rent adjustment reflected a quarterly, not annual, adjustment for the difference between the amount of percentage rent payments the Company expected to receive with respect to the applicable period and the amount of percentage rent the Company recognized under GAAP during the period.  Accordingly, all non-GAAP performance measures for periods previously presented have been adjusted to remove the effects of the percentage rent adjustment for the respective period.  In addition, this quarter, the Company added an adjustment for the transaction costs related to the proposed exchange transaction with Oncor.

Schedule 1InfraREIT, Inc.Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP EPS

Non-GAAP EPSInfraREIT defines non-GAAP net income as net income (loss) adjusted in a manner the Company believes is appropriate to show its core operational performance, which includes an adjustment for the difference between the amount of base rent payments that the Company receives with respect to the applicable period and the amount of straight-line base rent recognized under GAAP and an adjustment for the transaction costs related to the proposed exchange transaction with Oncor.  The Company defines Non-GAAP EPS as non-GAAP net income (loss) divided by the weighted average shares outstanding calculated in the manner described in the footnotes below.

The following tables set forth a reconciliation of net income attributable to InfraREIT, Inc. per diluted share to Non-GAAP EPS:

 

 

Schedule 2InfraREIT, Inc.Explanation and Reconciliation of CAD

CADThe Company defines CAD in a manner that it believes is appropriate to show its core operational performance, which includes a deduction of the portion of capital expenditures needed to maintain its net assets.  This deduction equals depreciation expense within the applicable period.  The portion of the capital expenditures in excess of depreciation, which the Company refers to as growth capital expenditures, will increase the Company's net assets.  The CAD calculation also includes various other adjustments from net income, as outlined below and described in more detail on Schedules 1, 3 and 4.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to CAD:

 

Schedule 3InfraREIT, Inc.Explanation and Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAInfraREIT defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, net; income tax expense; depreciation and amortization.  Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted in a manner the Company believes is appropriate to show its core operational performance, including: (a) an adjustment for the difference between the amount of base rent payments that the Company receives with respect to the applicable period and the amount of straight-line base rent recognized under GAAP; (b) an adjustment for the transaction costs related to the proposed exchange transaction with Oncor; and (c) adjusting for other income (expense), net.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

 

Schedule 4InfraREIT, Inc.Explanation and Reconciliation of FFO and AFFO

FFO and AFFOThe National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains and losses from sales of property (net) and impairments of depreciated real estate, plus real estate depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs) and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.  Applying the NAREIT definition to the Company's consolidated financial statements, which is the basis for the FFO presented in this press release and the reconciliations below, results in FFO representing net income (loss) before depreciation, impairment of assets and gain (loss) on sale of assets.  FFO does not represent cash generated from operations as defined by GAAP and it is not indicative of cash available to fund all cash needs, including distributions.

AFFO is defined as FFO adjusted in a manner the Company believes is appropriate to show its core operational performance, including: (a) an adjustment for the difference between the amount of base rent payments that the Company receives with respect to the applicable period and the amount of straight-line base rent recognized under GAAP; (b) an adjustment for the transaction costs related to the proposed exchange transaction with Oncor; and (c) adjusting for other income (expense), net.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to FFO and AFFO:

 

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SOURCE InfraREIT, Inc.