Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.: Brookfield Infrastructure Announces Solid Third Quarter 2011 Results

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HAMILTON, BERMUDA--(Marketwire - Nov. 4, 2011) - Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE:BIP)(TSX:BIP.UN) Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Brookfield Infrastructure's 2011 third quarter results as well as the Letter to Unitholders and Supplemental Information on the web site under the Investor Relations section at www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com. The 2011 third quarter results conference call can be accessed via webcast on November 4, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. ET at www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com 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#) until midnight on December 4, <a href="http://wk.putianb2b.com/"><strong>北京兼职 </strong></a> 2011. Brookfield Infrastructure today announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. US millions (except per unit amounts) Three months ended Sept. 30 Nine months ended Sept. 302011 2010 2011 2010FFO1 97 55 297 151 – per unit2 0.62 0.52 1.89 1.42Net income 62 33 133 51 – per unit2 0.39 0.31 0.84 0.48 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") yield3 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: US millions, unaudited Three months ended Sept. 30 Nine months ended Sept. 30 2011 2010 2011 2010 Net income (loss) by segment Utilities 56 9 107 38 Transport and energy 9 34 51 46 Timber 32 1 45 7 Corporate (35) (11) (70) (40)Net income (loss) 62 33 133 51 FFO by segment Utilities 77 43 204 102 Transport and energy 39 20 123 72 Timber 5 - 28 9 Corporate (24) (8) (58) (32)FFO 97 55 297 151 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 <a href="http://wk.putianb2b.com/"><strong>网赚教程 </strong></a> 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 A600 million, predominantly invested over the next two years. To date, Brookfield Infrastructure has invested approximately A175 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 US0.35 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 ratio5 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 www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com. 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 www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com. 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. References to Brookfield Infrastructure are to the Partnership together with its subsidiary and operating entities. References to the Partnership are to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. 1FFO is equal to net income plus depreciation, depletion and amortization, deferred taxes and certain other items. A reconciliation of net income to FFO is available in the Partnership's Supplemental Information for the three months ended September 30, 2011 at www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com.2Average number of units outstanding on a fully diluted weighted average basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was approximately 157.4 million (2010 - 106.7 million).3AFFO yield is equal to FFO less maintenance capital expenditures divided by average invested capital, expressed <a href="http://wk.putianb2b.com/"><strong>网赚论坛 </strong></a> on an annualized basis.4AFFO yield at Brookfield Infrastructure's utilities segment excludes impact of developer contributions at our European energy distribution operation.5Payout ratio is defined as distributions to unitholders divided by FFO. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. Statements of Funds from Operations (US millions, except per unit information, unaudited)For the three-month period ended Sept. 30 For the nine-month period ended Sept. 302011 2010 2011 2010 Operating platforms – revenues less direct costs Utilities113 62 312 161 Transport and energy 79 37 241 123 Timber 12 7 49 29 Corporate and other (15) (11) (43) (30)Total operating platforms – revenues less direct costs 189 95 559 283 Financing costs (91) (42) (268) (136)Other (expenses) income (1) 2 6 4 Total funds from operations (FFO) 97 55 297 151 Depreciation and amortization (53) (30) (154) (92)Deferred income taxes and other items 18 8 (10) (8)Net income attributable to partnership62 33 133 51 Fund from operations (FFO) per unit0.62 0.52 1.89 1.42 Net income per unit0.39 0.31 0.84 0.48 Notes:Funds from operations in this statement is on a segmented basis and represents the operations of Brookfield Infrastructure net of charges associated with related liabilities and non-controlling interests. Readers are encouraged to refer to Brookfield Infrastructure's Supplemental Information which is available at www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com. The Statements of Funds from Operations above are prepared on a basis that is consistent with the Partnership's Supplemental Information and differs from net income (loss) as presented in Brookfield Infrastructure's Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations on page 8 of this release, which is prepared in accordance with IFRS. Management uses funds from operations as a key measure to evaluate performance and to determine the underlying value of its businesses. Readers are encouraged to consider both measures in assessing Brookfield Infrastructure's results. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.Statements of Partnership Capital (US millions except per unit information, unaudited)As of Sept. 30, 2011 As of Dec. 31, 2010 Assets Operating Platforms Utilities1,225 1,370 Transport and energy 1,642 1,451 Timber 607 602Cash and cash equivalents — 11Other assets 84 77 3,558 3,511 Liabilities Corporate borrowings312 18Non-recourse borrowings 110 113 422 131Capitalization Partnership capital 3,136 3,380 3,558 3,511 Net book value per unit19.92 21.47 Notes:Partnership capital in these statements represents Brookfield Infrastructure's investments in its operations on a segmented basis, net of underlying liabilities and non-controlling interests. Accordingly, the statements above differ from Brookfield Infrastructure's Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets contained in its financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with IFRS. Readers are encouraged to consider both bases of presentation in assessing Brookfield Infrastructure's financial position and to refer to Brookfield Infrastructure's Supplemental Information, available at www.brookfieldinfrastructure.com. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P.Consolidated and Combined Statements of Financial Position (US millions, unaudited)As of Sept. 30, 2011 As of Dec. 31, 2010 Assets Cash and cash equivalents157 154Accounts receivable 198 187Deferred income taxes and other 97 44Assets classified as held for sale — 1,859Total current assets 452 2,244 Property, plant and equipment 3,333 2,995Intangible assets 2,798 2,903Standing timber 2,723 2,578Investments in associates 1,044 1,069Goodwill 591 591Investment properties 176 175Deferred income taxes and other 669 554Total assets11,786 13,109 Liabilities and partnership capital Accounts payable and other370 269Non-recourse borrowings 41 615Liabilities classified <a href="http://inbookmark.com/mybookmark.php"><strong>北京兼职 </strong></a> as held for sale — 1,859Total current liabilities 411 2,743 Corporate borrowings 312 18Non-recourse borrowings 4,708 3,960Deferred income taxes and other 1,580 1,383Preferred shares 20 20Total liabilities 7,031 8,124 Partnership capital Limited partner's capital 2,881 2,881General partners' capital 19 19Retained earnings 284 302Other comprehensive (loss) income (48) 178Non-controlling interest 1,619 1,605Total partnership capital 4,755 4,985Total liabilities and partnership capital11,786 13,109 Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operating Results (US millions, unaudited)For the three-month period ended Sept. 30 For the nine-month period ended Sept. 30 2011 2010 2011 2010 Revenues414 137 1,232 418 Cost of revenues (232) (94) (669) (264)General and administrative expenses (15) (8) (43) (23)Gross margin 167 35 520 131 Interest expense (85) (35) (250) (98)Income before under noted 82 — 270 33 Earnings from investments in associates 14 31 38 56 Depreciation and amortization expense (34) (5) (90) (15)Fair value adjustments 156 6 133 8 Other income (expense) 5 4 26 (1)Income before income tax 223 36 377 81 Income tax expense (recovery) (67) 1 (92) (10)Net income156 37 285 71 Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests (94) (4) (152) (20)Net income attributable to partnership62 33 133 51 Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows For the three-month period ended Sept. 30 For the nine-month period ended Sept. 30 (US millions, unaudited)2011 2010 2011 2010 Operating Activities Net income156 37 285 71 Adjusted for the following items: Earnings from investments in associates, net of distributions (7) (20) (15) (11) Depreciation and amortization expense 34 5 90 15 Fair value adjustments (156) (6) (133) (8) Deferred tax expense (recovery) 68 (2) 91 7 Impact of foreign exchange on cash (10) — 4 (1)Change in non-cash working capital, net (78) (41) (129) (46)Cash from (used by) operating activities 7 (27) 193 27 Investing Activities Investments in or partial sale of operating assets (7) 36 (20) 25 Investments in long-lived assets (137) (6) (352) (13)Net settlement of foreign exchange contracts (29) — (65) 13 Cash from (used by) investing activities (173) 30 (437) 25 Financing Activities Distribution to unitholders (57) (29) (155) (87)Corporate borrowings 95 17 294 17 Subsidiary borrowings 51 — 108 (18)Cash from (used by) financing activities 89 (12) 247 (88) Cash and cash equivalents Change during the year (77) (9) 3 (36) Balance, beginning of period 234 80 154 107 Balance, end of period157 71 157 71