Interim Management Statement
Utilico Limited
16 April 2008
Utilico Limited
Interim Management Statement
16 April 2008
Quarterly Management Review
Utilico Limited ('Utilico') published its half yearly accounts on 29 February
2008, including an investment update to 31 December 2007. Further, Utilico has
published monthly fact sheets on its website, www.utilico.bm. Set out below is
the quarterly review for the period 31 December 2007 to 31 March 2008.
Performance
Global stock markets remained volatile throughout the period. The market
weakness continues to be driven by the fall-out from sub-prime lending and the
financial institutions repricing and reassessing risk. These factors have led to
unprecedented concerns over counter party risks and the tightening of credit
availability. This will impact the real economy and may well result in a
recession in the US and a slow down in world economies. The Federal Reserve
continues to defend the US economy and the financial markets by cutting interest
rates and advancing billions to the financial institutions. In contrast, the
Bank of England has held to the position of 'moral hazard'. Both the Federal
Reserve and the Bank of England have had to intervene directly in stabilising
the financial system. Without their intervention on Bear Stearns and Northern
Rock, markets would have spiralled downwards quickly.
The FTSE All Share Index ended the quarter at 2927 down 10.9% from 3287 at 31
December 2007. The Dow Jones Utilities Index (Sterling adjusted) was down 8.6%
over the period. Utilico's undiluted net asset value (cum income) ('NAV') was
289.61p down 20.4% over the three months. Utilico is geared 1.9 times.
Portfolio
The portfolio overall underperformed the market. In the three months to 31 March
2008 the losses were £55.1m, equal to some 12.1% of the opening position. Net
investment was £8.5m resulting in a closing portfolio of £408.9m. This has been
a disappointing result but reflects in the main increasing volatility and a
divergence of views on value.
The ten largest holdings remained relatively unchanged over the period with some
interchange of positions.
The key underperformance in the period has been Infratil. Infratil's share price
declined by 24.3% from NZ$2.80 at 31 December 2007 to NZ$2.12. This decline was
partly offset by the strengthening New Zealand dollar. Overall, the investment
was down just under 20.0% in sterling terms. To put this in perspective,
TrustPower, which is some 50% of Infratil's asset base, share price was NZ$8.65
at 31 December 2007 and ended the quarter at NZ$7.55, down 12.7%. Infratil
remains a long-term strategic investment for Utilico. The quality and nature of
the assets and management of Infratil should enable them to both withstand
market uncertainties and identify investment opportunities going forward.
Utilico Emerging Markets' ('UEM') share price declined by 14.0% reflecting the
decline in the diluted net asset value of 11.0% and a widening of the discount
from a premium of 1.1% to a discount of 2.1%. UEM's NAV performance was in line
with the MSCI (sterling adjusted) index which declined 11.2% over the three
months.
Ecofin Capital Shares declined 21.1% in the three months. Again this was a
result of falling NAVs combined with widening discounts.
Amongst the rest of the top 10 at 31 December 2007 Zurich, Vienna, Renewable
Energy Generation plc and Keytech fell 9.1%, 3.4%, 0.9% and 5.0% respectively
and JEL gained 4.6%.
The top 10 and the geographic and sector analysis have been presented on a look
through basis.
The underlying geographic and sectoral exposure of the portfolio has remained
broadly constant.
The underlying trading performance on most investments remains encouraging,
although ERG continues to be challenging. Utilico has advanced £6.1m to ERG in
the period under review to enable them to meet their working capital needs
following the cancellation of the Sydney contract.
Debt and Cash
During the period Utilico increased its bank facility by £10.0m on a temporary
basis to enable Utilico to take advantage of opportunities in the market. As at
31 March 2008 £7.5m of this temporary facility was drawn and invested. This
temporary facility will be repaid in part from the proceeds arising from the
exercise of the 2008 warrants.
Hedging
Market protection. The market hedges performed well. The hedging position
recorded a profit of £19.9m offsetting 36% of the losses on the portfolio.
Utilico has on balance, started to reduce its absolute level of market
protection. While cautious about the markets generally and the difficulty in
calling the market, much of the risk was priced in at the low points of March.
Increasingly Utilico is moving to put spreads and has also commenced
establishing a call spread position on the market.
The opening market value of the hedge positions were £25.8m. This rose by £19.9m
as a result of gains. Arising from the repositioning through put spreads and
calls £12.8m was released in cash leaving the net market value of the positions
at £32.9m as at 31 March 2008. The position is liquid and provides access to
capital should it be required.
New Zealand dollar ('NZ$'). Utilico has increased its hedge against the NZ$. As
at 31 March 2008, Utilico had sold currency forward to the value of NZ$182.6m
against sterling to neutralise currency movements over £72.2m of New Zealand
denominated assets, equivalent to 77.8% of the value of Utilico's investment in
Infratil.
United States dollar ('US$'). Utilico started the quarter with all its
borrowings in US$. In addition, Utilico held US$ forward currency options over
£27.5m at an average rate of 2.053. These forward currency options expired
during the quarter. At the time the US$ borrowings were rolled over into US$ and
UK£s. Utilico ended the three months with £42.2m drawn in UK£ and £35.3m
(US$68.6m) drawn in US$.
Interest rates. Utilico has entered into US$ interest rate swaps over US$71.5m
for 15 months to 30 months fixing interest rates between 3.0% and 4.4%. The
average US$ swap rate is 3.39%.
ZDP Shares
Over the quarter, Utilico's ZDP shares rose by 1.0%, 4.1% and 1.0% for the 2012,
2014 and 2016 maturities respectively, as a result of which at the period end
the 2012 and 2014 offered reduced yields to maturity of 6.2% and 6.8% and the
2016 offered an increased yield of 7.7%. The cover for all three tranches
remains healthy.
Other
Utilico's share price fell to 240.00p at 31 March 2008 and its discount to
diluted NAV narrowed to 7.6%. A combination of all Utilico's traded instruments
ended March with a 3.3% discount to underlying asset value.
Outlook
We continue to expect the US to be led into a recession by the problems
associated with financial institutions. This in turn is leading to a downturn in
the outlook for world economies. The continued uncertainties and repricing of
risk will impact the underlying real economy. While a number of Utilico's
investments are less correlated to levels of economic activity, the portfolio is
not immune from this repricing. Looking forward we continue to expect volatility
to remain high over the next six months and do not anticipate markets finding a
firm footing during this time.
Capital Structure 31 March 2008 31 December 2007
£m £m
Gross assets less current liabilities 445.7 493.0
Bank debt 76.7 67.2
ZDP shares 2012 59.2 58.2
ZDP shares 2014 39.3 38.6
ZDP shares 2016 39.3 38.6
Shareholders' funds (ordinary shares) 231.2 290.4
445.7 493.0
Effective gearing on ordinary shares 1.93x 1.70x
Ordinary Shares 31 March 2008 31 December 2007
NAV (undiluted, cum income) 289.61p 363.81p
NAV (diluted, cum income) 259.79p 323.83p
Share price 240.00p 288.50p
Discount to diluted NAV 7.6% 10.9%
Annual average compound return (including
dividends) 26.8% 35.3%
Historic dividend yield 0.3% 0.3%
Shares in issue 79,825,388 79,825,388
Warrants at 31 March 2008 2008 2012
Expiry date April 2008 April 2012
Price 179.00p 89.50p
Warrants in issue 12,169,153 3,593,597
Exercise terms 1 ordinary 1 ordinary
share share
per warrant at per warrant at
subscription subscription
price price
of 64.2p of 315p
ZDP Shares at 31 March 2008 2012 2014 2016
Accrued capital entitlement 130.18p 105.71p 105.71p
Share price 134.75p 108.50p 102.25p
(Discount)/premium to NAV 3.5% 2.6% (3.3%)
ZDP cover* 2.83x 2.02x 1.52x
Yield to redemption* 6.2% 6.8% 7.7%
ZDP redemption value 177.52p 167.60p 192.78p
Shares in issue 45,486,200 37,500,000 37,500,000
*based on final redemption values
Performance 31 March 2008 31 December 2007 % change
Utilico NAV (undiluted, cum income) 289.61p 363.81p (20.4%)
FTSE All-Share Index 2927 3287 (10.9%)
Dow Jones World Utilities Index (GBP
adjusted) 126.8 138.7 (8.6%)
Sectoral Split of Investments * 31 March 2008 31 December
2007
Electricity 20% 23%
Airports 19% 20%
Renewable Energy 19% 20%
Telecoms 10% 10%
Other 9% 9%
Road & Rail 8% 4%
Water 5% 5%
Gas 3% 2%
Ports 3% 4%
Investment Funds 2% 2%
Postal 1% 1%
Satellites 1% -%
Geographical Split of Investments * 31 March 2008 31 December 2007
Europe (excluding UK) 33% 31%
Australasia 28% 28%
UK 12% 12%
Asia & Far East 11% 14%
Latin America 8% 8%
North America 8% 7%
* on a look through basis
Top 10 Holdings on a look through basis 31 March 2008
1 (1) TrustPower 11.6%
2 (2) Unique Flughafen Zurich AG 6.9%
3 (4) Flughafen Wien AG 4.9%
4 (6) ERG Limited 4.8%
5 (3) Renewable Energy Generation 4.8%
6 (5) Jersey Electricity Company Limited 3.4%
7 (8) Keytech Limited 3.0%
8 (7) Infratil Airports Europe 2.5%
9 (9) NZ Bus 2.3%
10 (-) Intellect Holdings 2.1%
Total Top 10 46.3%
Figures in brackets 31 December 2007
Enquiries
Charles Jillings
Utilico Limited
+44 1372 271 486
Alistair Moreton
Arbuthnot Securities
+44 207 012 2000
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange