This news release constitutes a “designated news release” for
the purposes of Emera’s prospectus supplement dated November 14,
2023, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated October 3,
2023.
Emera Inc. (“Emera”) (TSX:EMA) today announced a strategic
update driving long term value for shareholders and enabling the
company to pursue compelling growth opportunities across its
portfolio. As a reflection of this growth profile, Emera is
introducing new three-year average target EPS growth of 5-7 per
cent through 2027(1) and extending its previously discussed
rate-base growth guidance of 7-8 per cent over the next five years
through 2029. As part of a broader strategic initiative to
reallocate capital towards investing in these high-growth
opportunities, beginning today, Emera is adjusting its dividend
growth rate to 1 to 2 per cent per year. This will have the effect
of reducing Emera’s dividend payout ratio of adjusted net income(2)
(payout ratio) to approximately 80 per cent by the end of 2027 with
continued improvement in the following years. This decision
underscores the company’s commitment to driving long-term
shareholder value through focused investments in the robust and
high growth jurisdictions in which it operates.
“We see substantial growth opportunities within our regulated
businesses, and our capital allocation and portfolio optimization
decisions will position Emera to deliver increased value to
shareholders,” said Scott Balfour, Emera Inc. CEO. “By targeting an
average EPS growth rate of 5 to 7 per cent over the next three
years and adjusting our dividend growth rate, we are on a course to
meaningfully reduce our payout ratio over the next five years.”
“Several fundamental trends, including the need to increase
resilience against climate-related challenges as well as
decarbonization and electrification, make this a pivotal time for
regulated utilities. With a stronger balance sheet, a disciplined
capital investment plan, and a premium portfolio of assets, the
majority of which are located in high quality jurisdictions in
North America, Emera is very well positioned to meet this moment,”
Mr. Balfour said.
Strategic Growth and Investment
Approximately 75 per cent of Emera’s capital investments are
planned to be directed towards its two Florida utilities, Tampa
Electric and Peoples Gas. The state represents a dynamic and
rapidly growing market, and its investments are aimed at supporting
a growing customer base, meeting increasing demand from ongoing
electrification trends, as well as customer-focused investments in
reliability and resilience. In addition, Emera will continue to
invest significant investments focused on customer reliability and
government-mandated decarbonization initiatives at Nova Scotia
Power.
The adjustment to its dividend growth rate will free up more
capital for investment in projects that benefit customers in
markets that continue to grow. Emera will provide five-year capital
investment and rate base growth forecasts with its next annual
update later in 2024.
Commitment to Sustainable Dividends
Emera aims to continue to deliver consistent and attractive
returns to investors. The dividend growth rate adjustment will not
affect the current dividend. Emera remains committed to delivering
dependable and growing dividends to its shareholders while
exercising capital allocation discipline in support of investment
and robust growth opportunities to deliver ongoing earnings growth
for shareholders.
Asset Sales
Earlier this month, Emera achieved an important milestone by
concluding the transaction to transfer its equity interest in the
Labrador Island Link (LIL) to KKR, with proceeds to Emera of
CAD$1.19 billion(3) . This transaction will support the company’s
$8.8 billion capital investment plan over the 2024-2026 period,
which will be funded primarily through internally generated cash
flows, debt raised at the operating company level consistent with
regulated capital structures, and common equity sourced from its
Dividend Reinvestment Plan and at-the-market equity program.
In November 2023, Emera committed to funding up to 15 per cent
of its capital plan through asset sales. The transfer of its equity
interest in the LIL, which successfully closed on June 4, 2024,
satisfies this funding objective.
“The successful Labrador Island Link transaction highlights our
dedication to optimizing our asset portfolio, strengthening our
financial position, and funding a pipeline of attractive capital
investment opportunities,” Mr. Balfour said. “Emera proceeds with
asset sales when transactions meet clear return thresholds, align
with our business strategy and will deliver value to shareholders.
The LIL transaction met these criteria well.”
The company will maintain its disciplined approach to capital
allocation and portfolio optimization on an ongoing basis, as it
continues to focus on growth investments and maximizing shareholder
value.
Hybrid Offering
In another move to strengthen its financial position, Emera
announced on June 18, 2024, that it completed a $500 million USD
issuance of hybrid notes. The net proceeds were used to repay its
US$300 million notes that matured on June 15, 2024, and for general
corporate purposes. This financing further reduces holding company
leverage and improves 2024 cash flow to debt metrics by 20 basis
points.
Teleconference Call
Emera will host a teleconference today, Friday, June 28, at 9:30
a.m. Atlantic (8:30 a.m. Eastern) to discuss this announcement.
Analysts and other interested parties in North America are
invited to participate by dialing 1-800-717-1738. International
parties are invited to participate by dialing 1-289-514-5100.
Participants should dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the start
of the call. No pass code is required.
A live and archived audio webcast of the teleconference will be
available on the company's website, www.emera.com. A replay of the
teleconference will be available on the company’s website two hours
after the conclusion of the call.
About Emera
Emera is a geographically diverse energy and services company
headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia with approximately $39
billion in assets and 2023 revenues of $7.6 billion. The company
primarily invests in regulated electricity generation and
electricity and gas transmission and distribution, with a strategic
focus on transformation from high carbon to low carbon energy
sources. Emera has investments in Canada, the United States and the
Caribbean. Emera’s common and preferred shares are listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange and trade respectively under the symbol EMA,
EMA.PR.A, EMA.PR.B, EMA.PR.C, EMA.PR.E, EMA.PR.F, EMA.PR.H,
EMA.PR.J and EMA.PR.L. Depositary receipts representing common
shares of Emera are listed on the Barbados Stock Exchange under the
symbol EMABDR and on The Bahamas International Securities Exchange
under the symbol EMAB. Additional information can be accessed at
www.emera.com or at www.sedarplus.ca.
(1) Based on current consensus for 2024.
(2) Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios Emera uses
financial measures that do not have standardized meaning under
USGAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by
other entities. Emera calculates the non-GAAP measures and ratios
by adjusting certain GAAP measures for specific items. Management
believes excluding these items better distinguishes the ongoing
operations of the business. For further information on the non-GAAP
financial ratios “dividend payout ratio of adjusted net income” and
“adjusted EPS – basic”, refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures
and Ratios" section of the Emera’s Q1 2024 MD&A which is
incorporated herein by reference and can be found on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca.
Other
Rate base is a financial measure specific to rate-regulated
utilities that is not intended to represent any financial measure
as defined by GAAP. The measure is required by the regulatory
authorities in the jurisdictions where Emera's rate-regulated
subsidiaries or equity investments operate, a summary of which can
be found in our MD&A. The calculation of this measure as
presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used
by other companies.
(3) $1.19 billion CAD, made up of $957 million CAD in cash and
$235 million CAD for assuming Emera’s obligation to fund the
remaining initial capital investment
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains forward‐looking information within
the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without
limitation, statements concerning Emera’s: plan to adjust its
future annual dividend growth rate to 1 to 2 percent; capital
reallocation for high-growth opportunities; commitment to enhancing
long-term shareholder value; plans to invest in growth
jurisdictions; expectations for growth opportunities within its
regulated businesses; future capital allocation and portfolio
optimization decisions; plans to target an average adjusted EPS (1)
growth rate of 5 to 7 per cent through 2027; plans to reduce its
dividend payout ratio of adjusted net income (1) to approximately
80 per cent by the end of 2027 with continued improvement in the
following years; plans to direct approximately 75 per cent of its
capital investments towards its two Florida utilities; expectations
that Florida continues to be a growth market with investments that
support a growing customer base, increased electrification demand,
reliability and resilience; views on fundamental industry trends,
including decarbonization, electrification and increased
climate-related resilience; plans to continue to make significant
investments focused on reliability and government-mandated
decarbonization initiatives at Nova Scotia Power; plans to continue
to deliver consistent and attractive returns to investors;
expectations of a 7-8 per cent rate base growth rate; expectations
that rate base growth will be sustained over the next five years
through 2029; intention to provide its five-year capital investment
and rate base growth forecasts with its next annual update later in
2024; commitment to delivering stable and dependable dividends to
its shareholders; continuing approach to prudent financial
management and capital allocation discipline for investment and
business growth opportunities; continuing approach to asset
dispositions that meet clear return thresholds, align with its
business strategy and will deliver value to shareholders;
commitment to maintaining its disciplined approach to capital
allocation and portfolio optimization; and future financial
performance. Undue reliance should not be placed on this
forward-looking information, which applies only as of the date
hereof. By its nature, forward‐looking information requires Emera
to make assumptions and is subject to inherent risks and
uncertainties. These statements reflect Emera management’s current
beliefs and are based on information currently available to Emera
management. There is a risk that predictions, forecasts,
conclusions and projections that constitute forward‐looking
information will not prove to be accurate, that Emera’s assumptions
may not be correct and that actual results may differ materially
from such forward‐looking information. Additional detailed
information about these assumptions, risks and uncertainties is
included in Emera’s securities regulatory filings, including under
the heading “Business Risks and Risk Management” in Emera’s annual
Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and under the heading
“Principal Risks and Uncertainties” in the notes to Emera’s annual
and interim financial statements, which can be found on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240628776387/en/
Media Dina Bartolacci Seely media@emera.com
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