Tag Archives: auctions

Companhia Paranaense de Energia’s (ELP) CEO Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna on Q1 2016 Results – Earnings Call Transcript

Companhia Paranaense de Energia (NYSE: ELP ) Q1 2016 Earnings Conference Call May 13, 2016 2:30 PM ET Executives Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna – Chief Executive Officer Luiz Eduardo da Veiga Sebastiani – Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer Adriano Fedalto – Accounting Superintendent Sergio Luiz Lamy – President of Copel GeT Antonio Sergio de Souza Guetter – President of Copel Distribuição Analysts Miguel Rodrigues – Morgan Stanley Operator Good afternoon and thank you for waiting. Welcome to Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel conference call to discuss the first quarter of 2016 results. We would like to inform you that all participants will be in a listen-only mode during the company’s presentation. Afterwards, we will have a session for questions and answers, when further instructions will be given. [Operator Instructions] Before proceeding, we wish to clarify that forward-looking statements that might be made during the call related to Copel’s business perspectives, operating and financial targets, and projections are beliefs and assumptions of the company’s management as well as information currently available. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as they refer to future events and therefore will depend on circumstances that may or may not occur. General economic conditions, industry conditions, and other operating factors may affect the future performance of Copel leading to results that differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Participating in this call, we have Mr. Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna, CEO of the company; Mr. Luiz Eduardo da Veiga Sebastiani, CFO and Investor Relations Officer; Mr. Gilberto Mendes Fernandes, Business Management Officer; Mr. Jonel Nazareno Iurk, Business Development Officer; Mr. Antonio Sergio de Souza Guetter, President of Copel Distribuição; Mr. Sergio Luiz Lamy, President of Copel GeT; Mr. Ricardo Goldani Dosso, President of Copel Renováveis; Mr. Franklin Kelly Miguel, President of Copel Comercialização; and Mr. Francisco Cesar Farah, CFO of Copel Telecom. The presentation will be made by Copel’s management and it can be followed at the company’s website, www.copel.com/invesor relations. Now, we would like to give the floor to Mr. Luiz Fernando Vianna, CEO of the company. Mr. Vianna, you have the floor. Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] Good afternoon, everyone. My colleagues in the executive committee, all participants, welcome to our call to talk about the results of the first quarter of 2016. I would like to start by talking about important regulatory issues that bring or could bring relevant impact on Copel. The first point and it couldn’t be different, is the 4th Tariff Revision Cycle of Copel Distribuição. We certainly are a company to develop such as a process. As you have already had access to the documents available at the ANEEL website in the number #20 Public Hearing that shows a net remuneration base of R$4.8 billion with the new cycle. This increase means that our distribution company doubled in size in the last four years. However, it’s important to highlight the investment was not made only with extensions. We also invested quite a lot with the improvement in the quality of service that we deliver. And this led us to be recognized as one of the best distribution companies in the country. Now, with the beginning of the 4th cycle, all these investments will be remunerated. And for this reason, we are certain that we have adopted the adequate strategy for the business. The 4th cycle still brings about other important points such as the remuneration of special obligations and the trajectory of costs that will allow us to have a more adequate coverage for the PMSO expenditures within the cycle that starts in 2016. Nevertheless, the most interesting point is that the practices, [the clever strategy] [ph] by Copel Distribuição should suffer a reduction of approximately 10% with the beginning of the new cycle, which is targeted for consumers, because they will be spending less with energy and for the company as well, because it brings a substantial delinquency reduction and growth in consumption, factors that have been impacting our results in the last few quarters. However, it’s important to stress that the process hasn’t been concluded yet. The hearing is still open until May 19 and after this period the prices would be validated and rectified by the ANEEL administration. And conclusion is estimated for the end of June. According – continuing with the regulatory theme, as Resolution 706, coming from Public Hearing 04, will talk about an important advance into the issue of involuntary over-contracting of business. The new rule allowed us to consider part of the energy that we receive through the quota system as involuntary over-contracting, which was enough to mitigate Copel’s distribution risk [negative as seen] [ph]. In transmission, the Ministry of Mines and Energy got the news about the RBSE implementing, which are the transmission assets already existing in May 2000, by means of ordinance 120 of 2016 and ANEEL established the integration of RBSE to the regulatory asset base, the restatement of the value of the assets since 2012 and payments of indemnity by means of RAP since the tariff process of 2017. This is interesting to say that the cost of own capital to be considered in the restatement of the asset value is 10.4% in near-term, which allows us to have this adequate restatement of the amount to be indemnified. In the case of Copel, this amount has not been ratified by ANEEL yet. And I would like to mention that any effect on our results or conditions to the ratification of the final result of the evaluation report by the regulators, ANEEL. Just to remind you, in March 2015, we submitted to ANEEL the evaluation report to the amount of R$882 million referring to RBSE and the date of it was December 31, 2012. On slide number 4, I would like to highlight that we have important achievements related to the projects that we are building. Starting with Colíder, the Supreme Court of Justice in a decision supported by technical studies canceled the injunction that mandated Copel GeT to suppress 100% of the vegetation of the area to be flooded by the reservoir, and confirmed that the suppression of 70% of the area was environmentally adequate. With that, the work is then concentrated in the construction of the transmission line that will be linking the Colíder plants to the interconnected systems, and the electromechanic assembly of the equipment. Commercial operations should start in the first-half of 2017. We also had an important achievement related to the Baixo Iguaçu project in which we hold a 30% stake and we are building in partnership with Araucária [ph] in a recent decision. And they approved an additional 130 days for waiver of responsibility for the plant and the total number of days now is 756, which means at the beginning of the sale to other utilities was postponed to the end of 2018. And this is enough time for us to build the plant and start commercial operations. In the transmission segment, SPC Matrinchã concluded its construction work and over 1,000 kilometers of lines have already been planted and commissioned successfully. And now, we need a confirmation by the regulators in order to officially start operation of these projects. Besides Matrinchã other transmission projects are about to be concluded and start commercial operation. SPC Guaraciaba should start-up by the end of June, whereas SPC Paranaíba has already concluded construction of 346 kilometers of lines and should come on stream by the end of next month. Jointly, these three projects will bring about to Copel around R$158 million. Lastly, I would like to highlight that we have recently held two auctions for the sale of energy in the free market in which we have sold over 6 million megawatt hours in products, where delivery in two to five years, and starting delivery as of June 1, 2016 then January 1, 2017, and then January 1, 2018. Our strategy is to hold additional auctions in order to reduce the amount of energy, whose contracts have been terminated and allows a better predictability for the generation business. It’s important to highlight that the results already obtained allows us to make or give a significant step in order to reach this objective. Now, I give the floor to my colleague, Sebastiani, our CFO, who will talk in detail about the results for the period. Luiz Eduardo da Veiga Sebastiani [Interpreted] Thank you, Mr. Luiz Leone Vianna, our CEO. As he said, we have a participation of all these executives due to this important moment for the company. And thank you very much for participating in this call. As you will see on Slide #5, some events again impacted our results in the first quarter of 2016. We posted over R$120 million in provisions, of which R$84 million are related to labor litigation and R$32 million to civil loses. We posted R$38 million in allowance for doubtful accounts because of the economic crisis that we are going through in Brazil. And that has a direct impact on Copel Distribuição results. Economic crisis has been impacting energy consumption leading to a drop of 4.3% in the capital market of Copel Distribuição, in line with the drop in consumption that we see in the country. The decrease in Copel’s results is also explained by the lower results of Araucária TPP, which represented only [indiscernible] in the first quarter of 2016, accruing R$14 million loss in the period vis-à-vis earnings of over R$150 million in the first quarter of 2015, besides the drop in results which also impacted by the lower allocation of energy at Copel GeT to the short-term market aligned to the lower value of the spot price in the period. Slide #6 now, details of our operating revenue, with the reduction of 27% in the first quarter of 2016, being close to R$3 billion. The main reason for this decrease is the recognition of the result of sectorial assets and liabilities that was negative by R$527 million in the first quarter of 2016, when there was a positive result of R$561 million in the first quarter of 2015 due to the amortization of R$402 million in the period coming mainly from the recovery via tariff of the deferrals realized in 2013 and 2014, and the negative constitution of R$144 million coming from the reduction in the value of the CDE, the economic development account, and the lower cost with the purchase of energy vis-à-vis the current coverage. Revenue from delivery to end customers grew by 19% due to the adjustments of the tariffs to the Copel Distribuição tariff over last year. Nevertheless, these adjustments were affected negatively by the charges and by the slowdown in the captive markets of Copel Distribuição and the free markets of Copel GeT. Revenue from sales to other utility, that means the many of the sales of Copel GeT and all the sales of Araucária TPP had a 47% reduction in the first quarter of 2016, resulting in the lower dispatch of TPP, the lower volume of energy allocated [indiscernible] by Copel GeT, and lower spot price as we mentioned. Revenue from the use of the power grid grew by 44% due to the tariff adjustment applied by Copel Distribuição in June 2015 and also the increase of revenue of the transmission segment coming from the RAP adjustments and the startup of new Copel assets. Other operating revenues items made up by telco revenue, gas distribution and others grew by 6% and reflect mainly the 31% increase in the telco revenue which comes from the increase in the client base. On the next slide, Slide #7, we show the operating costs and expenses that were below R$2.8 billion in 1Q 2016, 23% less than the one that we had in the same period 2015. This can be attributed mostly to the 33% decrease in the cost with the purchase of energy because of the end of existing energy contracts that were replaced by energy contracts coming from the quota system, much cheaper and the reduction of the Itaipu tariff. Regarding the other costs, it’s important to say, that we had higher expenditures with charges for the use of the grid, due to the dispatch of TPP’s results by the order of merit. Manageable costs went up 12% in the first quarter this year due to higher personnel cost and third-party services due to inflation that reached 10% in the period. The provisions and reserves line, as I said before on Slide 5, represented R$121 million was impacted by labor and doubtful accounts provisions. But when compared to the same period in 2015, we see a 45% decrease in the period. But it’s important to highlight that in the first quarter of 2015 we posted R$73 million in allowance for doubtful accounts related to the difference between the contract of Colíder plants and the spot price, which means a higher amount of provisions at the beginning of last year. On Slide 8, we show the EBITDA that was 37% lower year on year, totally R$528 million in the first quarter this year with 17% margin over the operating revenues. The Copel GeT cash generation accounted for 86% of the consolidated EBITDA and Copel Telecom 5%, the other companies in the group accounted for 9% and the main contribution came from Elejor. Copel Distribuição closed the first quarter of 2016 with a negative EBITDA of R$29 million vis-à-vis a positive result of R$49 million in the beginning of 2015. But we have the effect we consider non-recurring, because of that we show on Slide 9, the comparison between the adjusted EBITDA of Copel Distribuição. As we know, the tariff for Copel Distribuição compensate for coverage for delinquency that for the current tariff cycle is of about R$13 million per quarter. However, the tariff increases and the economic stagnation have been contributing to an increase in the level of delinquency that is higher than the tariff coverage and ended up having a negative impact of R$22 million. The results of the distribution company in this sector decide in a non-recurrent fashion, we posted R$38 million in legal claims, provision for legal claims. And in February, we had some organizational adjustments that caused the transfer of part of our fuel cost from the holding company to subsidiaries with higher impact on Copel Distribuição. Considering these adjustments the adjusted EBITDA of the first quarter of 2016, which has been positive in R$38 million, 58% lower than the adjusted EBITDA of the first quarter of 2015, reflecting very clearly the impact from the market downturn, therefore the economic scenario that we have in the country now. On Slide 10, we show the consolidated net income of Copel, which reached R$136 million in the first quarter of 2016, 71% lower than year-on-year. Analyzing the results of the subsidiaries, you can see that Copel Distribuição posted R$39 million of losses in the first quarter of 2016, vis-à-vis a positive result of R$29 million in the first quarter of 2015. Copel GeT ended the period with R$165 million net income, 60% lower on a year-on-year basis, whereas Copel Telecom reached R$11 million net income, dropping 23% year on year. Specifically about Telecom, it’s important to say that the drop that we saw in the quarterly income is directly related to the increase in the financial expense that came from the increase in the debt that’s necessary to support the subsidiary’s expansion of services. Before opening for questions, I would like to talk about the leverage of the company. As you can see on Slide #11, the indebtedness of Copel measured by the net debt to EBITDA ratio grew in the last few years, then closed March at 3.3 times. It’s important to highlight that this ratio is as planned is below the limit imposed by the covenants that also lower than what we see in similar companies. This increase in the leverage was expected, but it has to do with the significant expansion [indiscernible] the company has been going through and will be reduced with the beginning of the cash flows from the different projects that we are building, many of them starting up in the next few months. So these were now our highlights. We are available to you now to answer any questions that you might have. Question-and-Answer Session Operator Thank you. Now, the floor is open for questions. [Operator Instructions] Mr. [Kaikobet Gonzales] [ph] from Citibank. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for the call. Now, talking about provisions, R$84 million related labor claims, could we go more in-depth, what was exactly that? And do you expect this to continue for the remainder of this year? Thank you. Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] Thank you. I will give the floor to the accounting person of Copel. Unidentified Company Representative [Interpreted] Good afternoon, Kaikobet. Referring our provisions for contingencies in the first quarter of 2016, in fact we had a very [non-recurring thing] [ph] that was collected to – from the existing labor union, so very prudently we applied a conservative approach and this event represents about R$45 million in our provision. And with here our allowance for doubtful accounts is coming up because of delinquency represented R$30 million of this R$112 million. And the others are the ones that you are familiar with, R$45 million should be non-recurrent for the next few quarters. And we are monitoring very closely the issue of delinquency in order to maintain or to move down as much as we can this amount of provision for that specific end. Thank you. Operator Mr. [Jimmy Saskenia] [ph] from Credit Suisse. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Good afternoon. I have two questions. The first one about provisions, you explained about the provision regarding expenses that there was a big reversal as well. Maybe you could mention what it was all about, could you point any commitment? And the second question has to do with what Sebastiani shared about the covenants. When we look at Slide #11, I understand that there are many projects that will be coming on-stream in the next few quarters. But when we look at the average for the last 12 months, we see deterioration in generation. And the situation has a negative impact may on the third quarter of last year. As we look ahead, okay, you have new projects coming on stream, but as we look at the average of the 12 months, generations and distribution worsened, because of Araucaria maybe. So do you believe there will be any break of covenant? Are you negotiating any of the covenants that you still have? Adriano Fedalto [Interpreted] Good afternoon, one again. This is Adriano from accounting making brief remarks about contingencies. Regarding this reduction, if I understood correctly vis-à-vis last year in 2015 the provision of R$75 million referring to the difference of price for the Colíder plant. And then, we had complied to the contract fully, but there was still a doubt about the price. We only took the full amount and we provisioned the difference of R$75 million prudently. As soon as this is judged, we will be able to reverse this provision in the future quarter as soon as we have a legal decision about that. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Just to clarify, the reversal of R$15 million, you’re saying that we had provision R$75 million for Colíder, and you reverted R$50.8 million of this amount? Adriano Fedalto [Interpreted] No, no. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. There is some misunderstanding. The comparison that I am making is between 2015 to 2016. This is what represents the variation of minus R$47 million in our results. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] No. My question was about Slide #5. When you talk about the breakdown of provisions et cetera, there are reversals. On Slide #5, was it something specific that was reverted? Adriano Fedalto [Interpreted] Okay, I understand. So in 2015, we had two events that represent the R$50 million, R$24 million in benefits to employees regarding the Copel Foundation and we were able to revert R$24 million. And another one, which is trivial as well, difference of the context of almost R$28 million, almost R$29 million also is something non-recurring and that was reverted during this period. So if you add up these two events, we have this difference of R$50 million… Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Okay, very clear. And the other point is about the covenants. Sergio Luiz Lamy [Interpreted] The President of Copel GeT, good afternoon. Before Mr. Sebastiani make specific remarks about covenants, I would like to make one remark about the result of Copel Generation and Transmission, in the first quarter and the expectation for the second quarter, and of course it is linked to the issue of covenants. As we’ve said before, I would say that three factors came into play that was very relevant in this regard impacting the results of the first quarter. The first one was that last year, we have made an allocation of free energy, which was much stronger in the first quarter, and then this year we made a more linear allocation over the year and this tends to show better results as we evolve over the year. And the second answer was very much impacted also, and this has to do with the spot price with a sensitive recovery and a trend. We believe that the trend would continue to be there for the next few quarters. And we believe there will be more positive impact on our results coming from the increase in the stock price. And then, Araucaria also was a driver as we believe that, at least the second quarter or part of the third quarter. By the end of the second quarter and part of the third quarter, it will come back online due to the Olympics, so we have a positive outlook for better trend. Operator Now, Mr. Sebastiani. Luiz Eduardo da Veiga Sebastiani [Interpreted] One of the most important things that have already been mentioned by Lamy, and the worst moment that we see, which is the beginning of the first quarter and that was already mentioned, because of the economic scenario and the specific reality of this [last year] [ph], and what regards for instance to the non-residential [ph] GDP and the positive outlook that was mentioned by Lamy, so all that leads us to have a positive scenario for the future. The covenants are analyzed on a daily basis, all of the time, we track our covenants, and it was still below the average of the factors, and below the average of the covenants that we see, and that are only posted at the end of the period. So I understand we are concerned which is legitimate, also it is important also to clarify to you and to everybody that we have a permanent monitoring of the covenant, and observing a better scenario from now on for the next few quarters. We’ve driven high degree of comfort with the risk indicator. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] So you expect an improvement in the 12-month EBITDA, offsetting the deterioration of distribution and generation compared to last year, so you believe the situation will not worsen? Luiz Eduardo da Veiga Sebastiani [Interpreted] No. Our outlook as far as that is not negative. We have already established our covenants below the limit and below the average of the sector, and because of all the factors that I mentioned, our outlook is positive as we said. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] One last question. The issue of exceeding it, is it only for one quarter or two quarters? Did you have any type of debate? Luiz Eduardo da Veiga Sebastiani [Interpreted] It’s at the end of the year – the fiscal year. That will conclude the merger of the covenants with the contracts that we have in place. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Thank you. Operator [Mr. Lacio Lusali] [ph] from UBS. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Regarding to volume of energy that you sold, 300 megawatts sold in each year and the comparison with the price cut. So the price cut over time. It becomes more and more difficult to predict the EBITDA for distribution. What will be the record level of EBITDA? Can you have the visibility? And do you expect an improvement because of the next tariff revision? So how much do you believe the EBITDA will be going up? Unidentified Company Representative [Interpreted] This is [Lamy Matialon] [ph] In relation to the sale to commercialization company in 2016, while the generation company should 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. And the amount that we showed, I don’t have the exact figures here with me, but we were rather successful with a sense of selling all the energy that we are making available for this auction. So besides having been able to create all our available energy, we were able to reach average prices that are very satisfactory around R$128 per megawatt hour. I can send you the exact figures for each year later after this conference about the result of the auction, okay. I’ll give them to you later. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Just to the order of magnitude, is there anything – it was reasonably significant, but always within a negotiation strategy? Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] We’re going to the energy during – over several different auctions during the year. It’s an amount that will exceed the annual value as of 2017 of R$200 million, R$250 million just to give you an order of magnitude, okay. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Okay. Operator [Rodrigo Guchelin from Gusachi] [ph]. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Good afternoon. Thank you for the call. My questions were about the covenants, in your [indiscernible] volume of energy sold. It was not so clear to me, I mean, the volume of energy sold, it seems to me that at the beginning you’re having a more aggressive effort around 125 to 130, they’re also megawatt hour. Am I interpreting correctly, what you said? Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] What’s your name please? Could you repeat your name? Unidentified Analyst Vudilu [ph]. Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] Vudilu, good afternoon. The sound is very bad. So I would like to ask you to repeat the question. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] I had two questions, one about the covenant that you have already answered. And the other one, I need some more color about the order of magnitude of your energy sales of the Comitaligadura [ph] company. Is it according to the prices that are acceptable between R$130 and R$125 per megawatt hour, could you clarify this, please? Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] We had a few auctions in place, in which we sold energy from the generation company, in one modality and the Comitaligadura in another modality. So, you are asking about the Comitaligadura company and because of that, I am going to give the floor to the president of this company. Unidentified Company Representative [Interpreted] Good evening. The [indiscernible] it was very concentrated and incentivized and the expectation that we have is attempting around R$165 as of 2017. For 2016, the amount is slightly lower, and with the purchase is more feasible. Within conventional, R$30, R$35 is slightly below this amount. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Thank you. Operator Also Lusali from UBS. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] I had a question about distribution and the recurring EBITDA. How much it will increase with the implementation of the tariff revision? And since the move there R$200, R$250 average megawatts that’s already sold by the generation company is very high volume. So, it slightly better than between R$150 and R$200, that’s all I have just checked, okay. Luiz Eduardo da Veiga Sebastiani [Interpreted] Now, I’ll turn it Antonio Guetter, President of Copel Distribuição who will answer your other question. Antonio Sergio de Souza Guetter [Interpreted] Hello, [Murino. No, Marcelli] [ph], sorry, okay, and everybody, about the reduction in our EBITDA as we have said before, it tends mainly from distributions and also by the problems that we have the distribution company regarding the allowance for doubtful account. Because at the moment that the country is dealing with recession and reduction in consumption, and at the same time here in Paraná as another state, we have an increase in cost of energy, and this results a reduction in the size of our market and the increased delinquency. As a consequence, our allowance for doubtful accounts, we have been working very strongly, and our allowance for doubtful account even increasing our cost to – and also work with a client in order to revert this delinquency cost and we believe that this decision with tariff that we have a trend of change in 10% over June, we would be seeing a reversal in this current – of the EBITDA that was negative this quarter. I believe that the market will continue to be weak, and looking at the scenario that we have for this year, we believe we will not even have R$100 million EBITDA do you agree or may be a little bit more than that? [Indiscernible] as our CFO said, we have already reached the worst point of the year, and now we expect EBITDA – we already see that in terms of delinquency because we see already a reversal in our curve, because we put in place many actions in this regard. And we believe that the level that we will have by the end of this year will depend a lot on what a new administration the new government does, but we believe there will be a positive trend in the market reduction in delinquency whether actions regarding allowance for doubtful accounts, we will start to have the effects. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] How much of your EBITDA would increase because of the carrying provision, how much should we expect? Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] I think you are following that, we expect to be doubled our asset. As a consequence, we believe that we will approximately double our EBITDA. Unidentified Analyst [Interpreted] Thank you very much. Thank you for the answer. Operator Miguel Rodrigues from Morgan Stanley. Miguel Rodrigues [Interpreted] Good afternoon. Two things. First, leverage. Net debt to EBITDA that you delivered it is already addressed by the CDE and what is the exact balance today? Going back to the energy portfolio, what about contracts will now come back on, are you going to accelerate expecting prices to pick up or do you tend to have new auctions and what is your intention regarding this? Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] New covenants, net debt and EBITDA is not part of that calculation, okay. Sergio Luiz Lamy [Interpreted] Good afternoon. This is generation and transmission. Although we have an expectation trend and that’s a trend in the prices of energy from now up until the end of the year. Our strategy, a strategy based on the average price. So we are going to hold many auctions starting next month. So we do have many different auctions during the year not just for us to have an average selling price for the year, okay? Miguel Rodrigues [Interpreted] Let’s say the market conditions worsen, are you expecting R$125 to R$130, and do you expect market price is different from that, are you going to hold back on your auctions? Sergio Luiz Lamy [Interpreted] Our expectation is positive in the phase of having more favorable market prices. Of course, if this does not materialize, then we do have to address the amounts of energy to be sold due to the market prices with the decrease of rate, or increase of rate regarding the market prices and how they develop. Miguel Rodrigues [Interpreted] Thank you. Operator [Operator Instructions] There are no more questions, I would like to give the floor back to the company for the closing remarks. Luiz Fernando Leone Vianna [Interpreted] This is the CEO of Copel speaking. As we have said before, we had not only at Copel, but in the sector as a whole and in the country, we had a very unfavorable first quarter. We understand that the power sector was even better than the average for the country and our outlook, and we are very much convinced when we say we will be back in the second quarter. We will have better results than the first and place our bets on this new moment that the company’s starting to look and expecting a recovery, because of exchange and we are rather hopeful. We believe there would be improvements to the country and we will be able to close 2016 with a much better perspective than we have in the first quarter. Thank you. Operator Copel’s conference call about the results of the first quarter of 2016 is closed. We thank you for participating and wish you all good afternoon. Copyright policy: All transcripts on this site are the copyright of Seeking Alpha. However, we view them as an important resource for bloggers and journalists, and are excited to contribute to the democratization of financial information on the Internet. (Until now investors have had to pay thousands of dollars in subscription fees for transcripts.) So our reproduction policy is as follows: You may quote up to 400 words of any transcript on the condition that you attribute the transcript to Seeking Alpha and either link to the original transcript or to www.SeekingAlpha.com. All other use is prohibited. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IS A TEXTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE APPLICABLE COMPANY’S CONFERENCE CALL, CONFERENCE PRESENTATION OR OTHER AUDIO PRESENTATION, AND WHILE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE TRANSCRIPTION, THERE MAY BE MATERIAL ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INACCURACIES IN THE REPORTING OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE AUDIO PRESENTATIONS. IN NO WAY DOES SEEKING ALPHA ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS MADE BASED UPON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEB SITE OR IN ANY TRANSCRIPT. USERS ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THE APPLICABLE COMPANY’S AUDIO PRESENTATION ITSELF AND THE APPLICABLE COMPANY’S SEC FILINGS BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS. If you have any additional questions about our online transcripts, please contact us at: transcripts@seekingalpha.com . Thank you!

Iberdrola’s (IBDRY) CEO Ignacio Galan on Q3 2015 Results – Earnings Call Transcript

Executives Ignacio Galan – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jose Sainz – Chief Financial Officer Francisco Martinez Corcoles – Business Chief Executive Officer Iberdrola S.A. ( OTCPK:IBDRY ) Q3 2015 Earnings Conference Call October 21, 2015 3:30 AM ET Operator Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. First of all we would like to offer a warm welcome to all of you who have joined us this morning. We’re delighted that you are able to be with us for the presentation of our 2015 nine months results. Welcome to the future. The presentation will as usual follow our customary format. Firstly, we will begin with an overview of the results and the main developments during the period given by the two management that usually we have with us. Our Chairman and CEO, Mr. Ignacio Galan; the CFO, Mr. Jose Sainz; and finally Mr. Francisco Martinez Corcoles, our Business CEO. Afterwards we will move on to the Q&A session. We would also like to point out that we are only to take questions submitted via the web. So please ask your question only through our webpage www.iberdrola.es. We expect that the event will last no more than 60 minutes, hoping that you find the presentation both useful and informative. Now, without further ado, I will hand over to our Chairman and CEO, Mr. Ignacio Galan. Thank you very much again. Please, Mr. Chairman. Ignacio Galan Good morning everyone and thank you very much for attending the usual presentation we are holding today through our webcast. Our businesses have continued showing a strong performance along the first month of the year, especially in networks and renewables. Gross margin is up 7.3% up to €9.5 billion driven by 12.1% increase in networks and 19.3% growth in renewables. More over we’ve controlled net operating expenses, which are only 0.2% lower excluding if takes the impact. As a consequence, EBITDA has grown 5.8% to €5.4 billion. Operating cash flow totals €4.3 billion, growing 9.1%, while investments are increased by 6.7% to €2.1 billion of which 61% are litigated to growth. Bottom line recurring net profit has increased 8.5% to €1.7 billion and net profit reaches €1.9 billion, growing 7.8%. EBITDA increase is mainly due to the solid performance of all our regulated activities, which has grown 15.5% and accounts for 75% of total EBITDA to the positive evolution of our international activity, which a 16.2% increase versus 2.1% decline in Spain country in which still we have not reach the result prior of the crisis in 2008. By businesses, network recorded 10.5% growth showing a positive evolution in all regions, thanks to higher asset base, which increased 10% in our UK transmission and distribution activity, 3% in the United States and 6% in Brazil driven by our investment. These higher up will lead to further improvement results in the future. The renewable businesses continued to show a very good performance with EBITDA have been increased by almost 23%. Thanks, to a strong output especially in United Kingdom, which our West of Duddon Sands offshore windfarm, excellent availability and resource expectation. However, in United States wind output was lower than usual due to the impact of that [manual]. On the other hand our regulated generation in Mexico is growing is strongly with the 38.5% greater in EBITDA due to our increased activity within private customers. Finally, liberalised activities in Spain and UK reflect a negative evolution, with a decrease in EBITDA 14.3%. The reason behind Spain reduction is a lower production and higher cost and taxes compared to the last year history in our results. Meanwhile the situation in UK is affected by three main factors. The increase in government obligation the raise of carbon tax in the production implementation to all our new financial integration system reach us require extraordinary cost to successfully maintain our client base and even increasing despite the problem detected during this phase. For the present situation we have established the system and we are not expecting new extra cost in 2016. The result had improved our cash flow generation capacity to almost double-digit growth, operating cash flow has increased 9.1% to €4.3 billion and exceeding investment of growth all businesses. These investments had increased by 6.7% to €2.1 billion, on which 61% are allocated to grow project and massively to regulated activities. I will now proceed to describe the main growth project underway. In offshore we have beginning – under construction in Germany, which is plan investment of €1.35 billion and we expect the commissioning for 2017. We are also starting the construction of East Anglia with a CapEx of €3.6 billion to recommission in 2019. Finally we are progressing on the development of Saint-Brieuc in France which I plan investment of €2.6 million and unexpected commission date by 2022. These three projects together with West of Duddon Sands already in operation 1,800 megawatts of offshore installed capacity in our group. Onshore we will also follows a positive trend with two new projects to be started in UK, which are to the four already under construction. United State we are currently building four windfarm, which have 100% of future production covered under PPA’s, decided to our Brazil and Mexico windfarm under construction result in overall additional onshore capacity or more than 1,200 megawatts. To be commissioning between 2016 and 2017. In Spain after there was a memorandum that Royal Decree published last week established new auction for the wind power that we are analyzing. In Mexico, during this last quarter we have awarded two new projects we regulated our long-term contracts. One combined cycle, and one co-generation plant to be added to the four plants already under construction. Altogether, they will add up to 1,600 megawatt to the operation before the end of 2018. Altogether our installed power in this country will reach more than 7,000 megawatts are the update. The increasing generation through intermittent renewable sources to require a storage capacity to stock energy surplus and supply heat to the system when is needed Iberdrola approach to these needs east to invest in a storage technology in which pumping is a much more efficient and larger scale solution in other more fashionable and highly advertised technologies. We have just finished the construction of Portugal and in Spain the largest of these kind in Europe with 1,800 megawatt of the stories capacity and now in Portugal we had a starting the construction of a new pumping and storage plant on the Támega river with 1,200 megawatt capacity expected to be commissioned in 2023. Altogether, will amount to close 6,000 megawatts of pumping capacity in between Spain, UK and Portugal providing efficient energy supply at peak hours for several million or households. In networks as a result of our agreement with Ofgem in the United Kingdom realty running transmission RIIO-ED1 in distribution are in progress. With a combined topics of nearly €9 billion for the next 6 years to 8 years. In United State we are negotiating several growth opportunities in transmission network in Maine and New York. This project will address reliability and congestion issues and we will provide additional transmission capacity for renewables. In a Spain also we have launched the set of new product to cover the potential demand self-consumption and benefit from our markets. For instance is Smart Solar is a full for self-consumption solar instillation for wholesale holds and companies are plans to A tu medida Taylor made plans these another product had resulted an increase of our customer base. Also in Iberdrola we are aware or the difficulties encountered by some low income household and we are working to offer them our support ensuring power supply to their homes in collaboration with different local and regional public administration. In relation to the merger of UIL Holdings and Iberdrola U.S.A we have received all the federal approvals. The remaining state authorization are in progress after making all the corresponding filings both Massachusetts and Connecticut we have already reached a settlement with the corresponding authorities. The process for the list in New York stock exchange is also on track and we expect to close the transaction before the year end after the approval of real General Assembly. With respect to our financial position we continue improving our main financial ratios. Regarding the FFO our retained cash flow to net debt ratios we achieved 2016 target define or our last U.S. Investor Day in 2014. And our leverage has been reduced also to 41.1%. To benefit from lower internal rate we have continued our active liability management with a positive impact in our net financial expense is down by 8.4%. These results allow us to reiterate our commitment to maintain our annual shareholder remuneration of at least open $0.20 per year. The Board of Directors approved yesterday the implementation of a new edition of the scrip dividend program corresponding to the interim shareholder remuneration for the fiscal year 2015. The warranty purchase price for the free allocation rights will be of at least €0.125 payable in January 2016. Additionally, as usual we expect to distributed complementary dividend in July suggest the approval of annual meeting in April. Also we will continue making share buybacks to compensate the negative effect of our scrip program maintaining the number of shares at 6.24 billion shares. Finally, I would like to reaffirm our guidance for 2015. The growth in networks and renewables together with our operational efficiency and positive financial performance will lead to an increase in EBITDA and recorded net profit compared with 2014. All in all we expect to reach a year in advance. The outlook set for 2016 during our February 2014 Investor Day. Therefore, these results before our strong track record or value creation for our shareholders, driven by three main pillars Growth, Financial Strength and Sustainable Dividend. Thank you very much for the attention and I will [indiscernible] the call to Pepe Sainz, who will present the Group financial results with further detail. Thank you very much. Jose Sainz Thank you, Chairman. And good morning to everybody. As already commented in previous quarters as of January IFRIC 21 and 30 effects changing the timing of the recognition of certain payment of Levies during the year. Nine months 2014 figures have been restated for comparison purposes as you can see in the slide. These does not affect the annual financial statements only the quarterly results. Nine-month results as a stated by the Chairman continued to show a strong operating performance. EBITDA grew 5.8% and recorded net profit 8.5%, while operating cash flow was up 9.1% to €4.3 billion. Average FX rates helped with €1 representing 17.8% and the bond 10.4% more than compensating the real evaluation of 13.1% on an average terms. Revenues grew 6.7% to €23.7 billion while procurements rose 6.3% to €14.2 billion due to higher costs in a worse production mix and price of sale to rising especially in the UK. Gross margin increased 7.3% to €9.5 billion as revenues grew more than procurements. Net operating expenses excluding negative FX impact fell 0.2%, but including it they were up 7.6% to €2.7 billion. Personal expenses grew 9.1% and 2.5% excluding the FX impact. Net external services were up 6.1% decreasing 3% excluding the FX impact affected by non-recurring impacts including €104 million positive non-recurring impact due to favorable legal rulings in Spain. Partially offset by almost €60 million derived from higher non-recurring IT system costs in the UK and costs related to the UIL deal. Levies grew by 13.2% to €1,372 million mainly affected by the FX impact €83 million and €111 favorable Court ruling accounted in 2014. Partially mitigated by a €48 million positive Court ruling accounted for in the first half of 2015 and lower ECO costs in the UK. Analyzing the different businesses and starting by networks it’s reported EBITDA was up 10.5% to €2,684 million with gross margin growing in all countries. Net operating expenses rose 13.9% including non-recurring items and accounting reclassifications in the U.S., Spain accounts for 41% of the networks EBITDA, the UK 31%, the U.S. 21%, and Brazil 7%, by the way Brazil accounts for around 3% of the total EBITDA of the group. In Spain networks EBITDA grew 1.4% to €1,113 million including the negative impact of €40 million positive settlements accounted for in Q3 2014 related to 2012 and 2013 investments. In the UK EBITDA was up 1.1% to £597 million as a result of 0.8% increase in the gross margin due to a higher asset based but decreasing versus previous quarters affected by the profiling of the RIIO-ED1 applicable from April 1. There is 0.2% decrease in net operating expenses. In the U.S. EBITDA by 10.7% down to US$642 million affected by net operating expenses increase related to accounting reclassifications that increase expenses versus the precision but does not have an impact in the final P&L and an additional maintenance cost. As we said in June on favorable IFRS versus U.S. GAAP impacts are decreasing, but still lower the EBITDA in IFRS by US$94 million of which more than US$80 million our taxes to be partially compensated in Q4. Finally Elektro grew 163% to R$614 million us the first nine months in 2015 have not recorded any negative drought impacts. While in the first months of 2014 we included R$298 million of negative impact. These differences will be reversed in Q4 as last year with had a R$441 million positive impact recognizing in [indiscernible] drought impacts. EBITDA growth in Elektro is also helped by the tariff reviews now we had in almost 2014 and 2015. Generation and supply EBITDA fell 7.4% to €1,735 million driven by lower results in Spain, in the UK, and in the U.S. that recorded extraordinary positive gas impacts in last year. While Mexico increase its contribution. Levies also added to the worst performance of the Syria by increasing 9.1%. In Spain EBITDA reach €1,180 million with a 6.8 decreasing gross margin due to the 10% lower output an increased procurement costs due to increased thermal weight of the production mix. Also gas business had a non-recurrent negative comparison versus 2014. Levies are up net €64 million basically due to the already mentioned CO2 allowances accounted for in 2014 compensated by the positive Court ruling in 2015. In the UK EBITDA rates £182 million, wholesale and generation business gross margin decreased by 22% due to higher costs with the carbon tax growing from £9 to £18 from April 1 onwards. Retail business gross margin decreased by 2%, higher volumes in gas with 10% increase in the month do not compensate the 17% lower gross margin in retail power due first to the increase in non-related energy costs play the rocks under transmission and distribution charges. And in addition to that the difficulties in the deployment of a new retail IT system that increased net operating expenses by £32 million. Despite this we have been able to maintain a relatively stable number of customers. In Mexico EBITDA grew 11.5% to $379 million due to the renegotiation of all contracts with the negative impact last year of $66 million. Renewables EBITDA increased by 22.7% to €1,126 million driven by the recovery in Spain and the positive performance in the UK. The U.S. and Spain have been the largest EBITDA contributors in renewables with 32% and 31% followed by the UK with new offshore capacity in operation with 27% share. Gross margin increased 19.3% and net operating expresses rose by 12.7%, 6.6 percentage points below. In Spain, the EBITDA reached €353 million, 13.9% more with a 5.5% lower output compensated by the recovery in prices. In the UK, EBITDA reached £219 million up 60% with 30% higher output due to weather conditions on West of Duddon Sands for windfarm on positive contribution. In the U.S., EBITDA was $396 million, 16% down with a 7% decrease in output due to climate conditions in the west, but in windfarm 200 megawatt in Texas in operation since Q2 will help us to improve our performance in the next months. Latin American EBITDA was €45 million with higher output in Mexico and Brazil offset by the evaluation of the real and lower prices in Mexico. In the rest of the world, EBITDA reached €70 million underpinned by a better load factor that increased production by 13%. EBITDA grew 1.1% to €3,027 million, amortizations rose €234 million driven by the exchange rate impact of €161 million. The new operating capacity and renewable business and the new retail IT systems in the UK. Provisions grew €32 million also affected by FX and non-recurring bad provisions in the UK related to the difficulties in the implementation of the above-mentioned retail system. Problems that we expect will disappear in 2016 as the Chairman has stated. Net financial expenses fell 8.4% to €748 million thanks to the €82 million improvement in debt related costs driven by our cost improvement of 38 basis points from 4.48% to 4.10%. The €96 million gross capital gains from the sale of our stake in EdP accounted for in 2014 has been almost mitigated by several non-recurring positive impacts including the proceeds of the sale of Euskaltel, reversal of several contingencies and interest of legal claims and the favorable evolution on FX hedges especially due to the real. Recurring net profit increased 8.5% to €1,673 million and reported net profit 7.8% to €1,919 million. Corporate tax rate decreased to 18.1% mainly as a consequence of the reversal of a tax provision in Spain accounted for in Q2, 2015 to added €220 million and also due to a lower corporate tax in Spain from 30% to 28% which is sustainable. Those partially compensating the €251 million of lower contribution due to non-recurring results and extraordinary positive equity contribution accounted for in 2014. Passing to the financing, our leverage ratio continue to improve reaching 41% at the end of September 2015 versus 42.2% at the same time last year as our equity continue to increase while our debt decreased slightly. The €939 million FX impact, negative impact on our debt is more than compensated by the €1 billion positive impact due to the stronger cash flow generation and tariff deficit securitization. Our equity increased €1.6 billion with a €1.1 billion positive FX impact and also fell by the €500 million of retained earnings less treasury stock. As a consequence all our financial ratios continued to strengthen as our net debt fall slightly while our EBITDA and cash flows are growing at high single-digit rates. Our net debt to EBITDA reaches 3.6 times. Our FFO net debt is at 22.2% over our 2016 target of 22%. And our retained cash flow net debt improved to 19.7% also above the 18.5% 2016 target. So we have already reached out two out of the three financial ratio targets set for December 2016. The Group while maintaining a very comfortable liquidity position continues to adapt to the new financing scenario, improving financial costs and extending the maturity of our debt. This year we have already negotiated €8.9 billion of debt and credit line as the Chairman has pointed out. At September 30, Iberdrola had available liquidity of €8.2 billion covering 27 months of financing needs, but we will continue monitoring the market, trying to take advantage of possible opportunities that help us to continue reducing our cost of debt and extending our average debt maturity. This is in line with the philosophy of the Group to build a long-term solid financial profile assuring a sustainable low financial cost for the future. And to end this presentation just to tell you that in the Annex you have the calendar for the script dividend in January. Thank you very much. Question-and-Answer Session A – Francisco Martinez Corcoles The first question has to do with the operation with EU – EA. Unidentified Analyst In Connecticut from the regulatory point of view when we expect the timing of the operation and if the counterparts or the addition of things given in this agreements are going to impact it in the profitability of the deal. Ignacio Galan So as I already mentioned I think the things are going on truck. So we have already got all the authorization of the federal authorities and now we have already reached settlement with authorities of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The filing has been presented in both states so here this has already happened and that’s in the defensive now is on progress I think in the last few days even the local authority has already made positive comments about the transaction. So we are expecting as I mentioned once will be completed all the New York Stock Exchange listed to complete the deal before the year end. So there are no changes in our expectation in the respect and related to the profitability of operation I think it continued being quite attractive for those parts. So I think is nothing changing in a major manner in this transaction. Unidentified Analyst Another additional question from Martin Young, Royal Bank of Canada is related in global basis to the United States, we can explain what our ambitions in the U.S. regulated activities as for as the closure of UIL deal and we are hungry for more acquisitions. Ignacio Galan Well, I think our philosophy always [indiscernible] country the main thing when we make a transaction, the main driver now is to integrate. I think we made the transaction of energies few years ago. I think we’ve been already integrating this company, now I can say is almost integrated I think the operation we had before on renewables and now it’s integrated fully with Iberdrola U.S.A. So Iberdrola U.S.A gets its storage and network is really integrated under a single unit which is Iberdrola U.S.A. And now we have already in this process of integration with UIL so I think in the next periods our main drivers should be to integrate, integrate, integrate the existing companies with the new one. So I think it’s a big thing to be done. And nevertheless I think we continue growing this country, I think we have ready, I have already announced this four windfarms we have in construction there are seven and more which are on the byline is expecting them to PTC’s extension and yes we have just completed transmission lining in Maine and we call them MPRP and they are another one we are starting another one announced as well Transco and there are another several ones, which are on the way. So I think we have a lot of organic things to be done together with – so I think should be the main driver for the near future. Unidentified Analyst The next question is related to dividends and is coming from Stefano Bezzato, Credit Suisse. Considering the 8% growth in net earnings reported in the first nine months of the year. Could you consider starting to raise a dividend from this 0.27 level already in relation to the 2015 results? Ignacio Galan So what I can announce now is what has been approved yesterday by the Board is we are going to pay a €0.125 per share in January 2016. We are already taking to pay the complement up to 0.27 in the shareholders meeting approved in July next year and that is our plan. If we have any changes on that one, we will have the opportunity to present to you all our vision and our target and our plan in our outlooks for the future in our Investor Day in February next year in London. So I think if there are any changes I am sure that you will be the first one in knowing that long run, yes we’ll complete the plans and we are working at present and we’ll present to you later, in the beginning of next year. So I think for the time being is 0.215, which is going to be paid in January and a complementary, which is going to be paid in July up to 0.27 that is what the Board has already approved yesterday. Unidentified Analyst A question in Spanish from Alejandro related to the same question asking for a clarification to a statement. Alejandro said with these results could we give some visibility for the close of 2015, 2016 we relating to the guidance for 2015, 2016 if you can clarify what where you mean, when we say we are going to reach the perspective of 2016 one-year ahead of time. So in 2015 if you are going to reach an EBITDA €7.5 billion in net profit this comes from Javier Suarez from Mediobanca, Javier Garrido from JPMorgan and Carolina from Morgan Stanley. Ignacio Galan Well, I will answer this in Spanish and if you want I will translate into English, but what we can say at this point in time is that the profits we have for the first nine months has grown to 8% and this has been due basically to international growth. In the case of Spain we still have a drop of about 2% and this is something that I mentioned before because of higher costs, because of lower production and higher Levies. And the results in Spain do not yet reached those that we had before the crisis, but what I could also state is that in these months we have made investments have totaling more than €2 billion and investments in excess of €2 billion which is about 7% more than what we did last year and we’ve more than 1000 new contracts with our workforce and we’ve given training courses to more than 600 graduate students and we’ve been – and nearly 4,000 Spanish suppliers we spent nearly €3.5 billion on them and this is the investment that the Group is making. What does this growth mean? It means that our prospects for what we delivered on in 2014 is something we’re bringing forward – because at that point in time if I’ve not mistaken we’re talking about EBITDA of about €6.6 billion and we said that we are expecting an average growth of about 4%. And if I multiply these figures this gives me a figure of about €7.1 billion of EBITDA for 2016. As I said before is that this figure be exceeded in this fiscal year in 2015 and the same thing applies to the ratios as the CFO just pointed out, because we are talking about ratios that – we are talking about the different ratios and different impediments and we can say that some of them have already been reached in Q3 and we hope that the third one will also be reached in the fourth quarter and this is what can be said about that. Unidentified Company Representative Like to say in English for everybody is that our expectation is that in year 2014 when we present our plans for the next three years, we had already an EBIT underwriter €6.6 billion and we were saying that we will – a growth in average range of 4%, €6.6 billion and 4% growth increase and [indiscernible] roughly €7.1 billion and that is what we are expecting in EBITDA. Internal ratios what we can say is that as I mentioned already the ratios of cash flow and the ratio has been already achieved in the third quarter. So I think we expect to continue these two and third one as we will to be achieved by the end of the year and with one year in advance. I think our numbers is what we promise we are delivering with one-year in advance. Due of the investment we are already making during this period which is starting providing result as well. Yes, yes, well I think the financial as you are saying the number is 6.6 by 4% increase is 7,100 so what we are expecting is more than that, but I think is the number is more than 7,100 which is the number. So I think we are expecting to overpass this number clearly so it is a good point. Unidentified Analyst Okay, we are now moving to a set of questions to the Spanish generation business coming from Stefano Bezzato, Credit Suisse, Carolina Dores, Morgan Stanley, Javier Suarez, Mediobanca. The first one is how do you justify the €17 per megawatts hour gap between Spain and German power prices considered in that €10 megawatts hour of the gap can be explained with generation taxes what price the rest of the gap. The second question is regarding the regulatory in Spain is covering to revise in the ratio market, when do you expect to review – these reviews going to be completed? And finally, if we are considering the shutdown of the closure of several plants, our several power plants or asset qualities of the economic recovery of the Spain [indiscernible] standby? Ignacio Galan So I think you’ll reply the first one related to prices. Jose Sainz Well, we track continuously the market prices and what I can say is that the actual ones are – do not differ two months from the one that we get from our simulation models. So I must – probably it’s not so simple us to say that we can justify 10 and there is a gap of seven because the German system is a thermal one with a high level of penetration of renewables, the Spanish one is a hydrothermal system with a lot of renewables to so the simulation of all these things are not so easier to just calculate the taxes. So if you use such a type of simulation models and calculate the price is exposed, exactly for sure, but exposed. We find that the differences are no more than 1% and sometimes less or usually less than 1%. What does it mean? Probably that the wholesale markets are working properly in all the countries we are United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. And I think this basically will respond to the question of the prices. Ignacio Galan So I think related to this review of the regulator concerning the generation market, I think that didn’t work. So I think is normal then the regulator revise and all kind of activities in the countries that we are present. I think we’ve to get review of this one in – in Britain is normal to be making in all the country where we are present. So I think that we have to be seen as a normal thing we have to be done. Is there a litigation to revise you know all the rules are already being keep and maintained according with the best practice. So I think we are already absolutely fully collaborate with any doing their job because I think that’s good for their – if transparency is good for the market performance is good for an economy which is already open like a Spanish economy. So I think it will calm this analysis and who would collaborate when as we are doing already with returning the analysis they are making. Related to generation and closing of plants. Ignacio Galan Yes, as you know we asked for the closure permit for Caspian Sea and we finally we didn’t close Caspian. This is because of several reasons. The first one was that the extremely short period or spun that the government gave us for the recognition of the plant. The second and main important is that the energy situation is changing. On Laguna, we have seen a light increase in the CCGT performance in some for instance, on the other hand we have potential regulation for [indiscernible] and this is not yet in place, but these can come in – in coming weeks or I would say months. And on the fair hand we are seeing movements from the CO2. All the commodities are going down with a section of CO2 I mean the carbon is going up slightly, but it’s going up. So what is going to happen if finally after COP21 conference, carbon takes a more role, more foot on itsrole on the markets. In these case probably all the CCGT’s that we have seen in this summer in the Spain will be needed. So it makes no sense at this time to go ahead and try to close our plant that can be, that is going to be needed for sure and that can be needed from the system stability in the coming months. So that’s the reason why we decided not to do with [Caspian Sea] and that’s the reason why we are not proceeding with our plants. Jose Sainz Nevertheless, we have already closed six plants in the last four, five years. I think we closed few coal power plants and a few oil power plants as well. I think six all together. So I think we are not really not active in the sense I think those one which we consider then one not to be needed for the future. We are closing I think we did the same thing as well in Britain. So I think we are active, analyzing which is their needs in each – in real time which are the needs for the market in terms of our power generation. Unidentified Analyst Next question is coming from Carolina Dores, Morgan Stanley and is related to the distribution business in the Spain. Last summer the Ministry of Industry in Spain sent to the regulatory cost for distribution. When do you expect this process to be finalized? Can this still be approved this year and how do the standard look versus your expectation? Ignacio Galan Well, I think as far as I know all the things are has been completed, all this analysis for all part in both has been already announced and finished. And I think we’re just expecting the final document from the Ministry to publish. So as far as we know I think that our expectationis that will consolidate the current remuneration of our activity. So I think we are not expecting surprises in this respect. So has been making a very professional manner on all theanalysis and we are not expecting any surprise on these respect. Unidentified Analyst Next set of questions is regarding the generation business in the UK. These questions are coming from José Javier Ruiz, Macquarie, Javier Suárez, Mediobanca, Pablo Cuadrado, HSBC. The first one is during Q3 you have recorded an EBITDA loss in the UK generation and supply businesses. Could you provide more details on what is driving the weak performance and the perspectives that you have for these businesses in the following quarter. The second one is on December 8 th ; the second capacity auctions in the UK will take place, do you expect any increasing prices as considered in all the coal plant closure announcement in the UK? Ignacio Galan So you reply the first one and I’ll reply the second one. Jose Sainz You’ll reply one of the auctions? Ignacio Galan Auction I’ll reply now. The weak performance of the third quarter towards the previous one. Francisco Martinez Corcoles Yes, I think we should consider – the key point has been the retail business and is not so because the results of this year, but also because the classification or the accounting reclassification that we did last year as a one off. So the standing points are the incremental external service on cost on – put in place and all of our complaint providence with the new IT system for customer that fits the integrated system. This is the standing point and this has been all over the year affecting us this quarter and two previous one. And it’s going to getting down the next quarter and probably will disappear the next year. So this is their standing or they continue to base load let’s say problem or difference in terms of result that we have got. And together with these we got all our things specially affecting retail margin that comes more from accounting activities or accounting decisions on the previous year than to the let say their main business and I’ll say that the main business has nothing special. On the other hand all you know that the two intermediate quarters of the year Q2 and Q3 are extremely lower in compression with Q1 and Q3 and Q4 excuse me in the United Kingdom, because of the temperatures and all the movements of the markets. So Q4 is going to be completely different in terms of compression of the business with Q3 and all these one-off things that we have got are more or less [indiscernible] of the differences. Ignacio Galan All of it all I think as Francisco mentioning our expectation is in the result in generation retail in UK in 2015 will be slightly in terms of euros, is slightly better than it was previously. So I think we are expecting the certain of the negative impact we’ve been affected during these three quarters and most of them as he mentioned is going to disappear almost disappear. So we have more customers and I think they are struggling because we are already suffering less consequence of the IT system is already been established and that will reduce and our expectation is that we’ll in euros improve our result compared to previous year. And related to the second question of the auctions so I think we are seeing the British system is very good in many, many fields. So I think they are concerned about the need to distinguish between power and energy so which is one of my favorite things now to convince everybody. So they are really making this one for this capacity auction, but they are putting together new and old power plants and nothing in the last ones I think it has been affected for certain ones that Dave says and they are going to make a new one, but that they are saying now is that they are going to make a new one where the production has been already been achieved in the auction. So I don’t what this going to do, but what is clear is that the model for the new have to be different and the model for the existing one. So an action can be affected by someone else which is already dreaming to make by last year what is not made so they are going to sell the product and supplying the country. So that’s why we’ll see what is in terms of that one when I guess is that probably they will use different approach for their old one and for the new one and I think that should be already as always a transparent upturn is which everybody will put their better prices. I cannot say what this is going to be because if I should know that one I should be more clever to do it so I think – but my feeling is and they are going to be a different treatment for building new ones then for the existing power plants. Unidentified Analyst Next question is related to Brazil and it’s given by Javier Suárez in Mediobanca. He likes to know an update on the CO2 recurring these three situation of the distribution companies in Brazil either possibility to pass through the higher cost and the higher rates to the final customer this final higher cost in generation? Ignacio Galan Well, on Brazil I mentioned the CFO represented 3% of our total EBITDA so I think is we are already of course interested in this country, this country as I used to say is not as bad as sometime and some people is saying no it’s not the with us I know the people were saying a few years ago about it. I think our total EBITDA is representing 3% so saying that many, many things has been done in the country, they are truly and suffering a drop is true then they are already passing a crises which is already conducting then the growth of the country has declined tremendously is true then the situation is not as good as it was and already seen this is affected, but in our global account is not much affected in particularly because last year we suffer in our account because of the drop has been fully compensated across this year. So I think our account now is already positive affected because they are already compensating the effect of the problem we suffer at the previous one. So I think in the government they have the mentality then they need then the companies have a good and bad performance, they need to continue already providing the service and providing the service and providing that in the country they are doing the necessary for improving the thing. So I think they are increased heavily their rates and their tariff in most – in all our distribution companies and they are already looking solutions for compensating the power generation companies we have been suffered for the drop of the difference between the entities they have committed and then they are able to reply because of these lack of rain. So now they continue these on the respect, but I think is we are already seeing then the things are moving, but in our case I think they are moving positively that’s fine, they are moving negatively so we are going to change dramatically our result in the company. Unidentified Analyst Next question is Pablo Cuadrado, HSBC and it’s related to Mexico business. Recently you announced that you won an auction to build a new 850 megawatts facility project in Mexico, could you provide more details about the respect IRR that you are willing to making that project and common on value creation is Latin America project against increasing the competitive environment? Ignacio Galan So I don’t know that particular project this one, but I think all together I can say as I mentioned before in this moment we have something like 5,500 megawatts in operation and there is another 1,600 in construction correct me the numbers if not precise. So all together roughly 7,000 megawatts and roughly that in mind is the return we have for really in that one is on the range of one plus 300 basis points. I think it’s a good business and healthy. Our position in the country is very positive, we are well known, we are already – we have made some various solidity and uncertainty so we are really committing what we are delivering what we are committing and the expectation in this country and the things is going to continue and positive. They have already made a reform and the reform which is lower we sell especially for those who present in the countries in the last 15, 16 years that certain opportunities for making already project for private people. So I think we are in this moment completing one in Monterrey so which is complete, all the power is already stored for the next 15 years. So I think I know the two or three we face already as well in the same position so I think for new market has been already opened apart to their market traditional what we have already facing with this regulation with CFE. Unidentified Analyst Next question is coming as well from Pablo Cuadrado and it’s related to debt. The cost of debt has increased almost 40 basis points in the last 12 months to 4.1%, where do you see that cost of debt performing taken into account your future and financial needs and do you think that sustain improvements is a still possible for the next 12 months? Jose Sainz Yes, we think so. We expect to close the year with net cost of around very close to 4% and hopefully by next year we will be below the 4%. As I mentioned we are looking for opportunities to reduce our debt cost and I think that we will be able to maintain our lower cost of debt for the future. Unidentified Analyst And the final question is related to Fashion Technology Laboratories and it’s even from Andrew Moulder of Creditsights. Mr. Galan just said that hydro pump at the storage was a more favorable option than other more fashionable and highly publicized technologies, which I take to refer to the type of batteries being developed by companies like [Tesla]. What is your view on these battery technology? It is a sustainable technology and is it something Iberdrola will be investing in? Ignacio Galan So, well perhaps and already yes something I probably didn’t know then I spent 16 years of my life as engineer, designing, manufacturing and selling batteries, industrial batteries particularly. So I think long-time ago when I was already a battery engineer and battery manufacture, and battery marketing, but I still have some reminds of that time. So I think batteries can be solution, no doubt, it can be a solution for system which isolated. So for areas where they are not to really connection, interconnection grids, no doubt. So I think in certain the new technology is already helping. I think they are longer life, they are already less weight, they are more costly technologies, but this one particularly you all mentioned, but the thing is it can be solution and no doubt and this in certain areas can already represent already an advantage to where another system which can already imply like oil generators or whatever thing which is already in certain remote areas of Africa or America. So saying that I think in the Western world what we have already very interconnected system. We are already putting massive as we are putting intermittent technologies for production of energy. So they are moments, which they are already in excess of offer I think we are already been in windy condition or very rainy condition or very sun condition in the demand is not such which cannot sort all this one, there are two ways for doing these. One is increase interconnection, which I think European commission is in this moment, already promoting just to use these energy producing in one part of Europe to be – in all the part of the Europe, which I think that the solution another one is to store this energy and the third one is to stop the production. I think is when they are already floats, they are already in tremendous range traditionally well two years they open the doors of the dams for not – probably because the system is not able to absorb all the energy what the system can already make. I think they are very windy condition. So an option is to stop, not to continue to produce. So I think why it was stopped, why not produce these resource that the god is already providing to us in this particular moment. So I think the way is to start and to start how in a most efficient manner. In a massy, most efficient manner, when I said massy. So I finis we are talking in pumping storage which we are talking about 1000 megawatt hours, 1000 megawatts we can produce billions of kilowatt hours. So I think the another solution is required millions of batteries to be already located in millions of houses which I already for us – which I think is much more inefficient economically and as well to maintaining to sustain all those one. So saying that I fully, I think I cannot be against my principal, which I was already battery engineer in my beginning of my professional career. So but I think that can be used for certain things in a very good manner same which is already happening with cars, so car is certain rechargeable cars with plugging systems and with battery I think clearly has already clear future and all the car makers already now making those ones, no doubt. So from there all each of us a battery in our kitchen is that to have a fridge I think – is a lot different. So I think if the – another solution that should be fine in IRS what they are not already capabilities of interconnected, but there are areas with this fully interconnected. So let use the most, the cheapest and most massive efficient technology for making so and that is what we are asking making for one-time I think we completed last year with 1,100 megawatt represent equivalent or something less 600,000 batteries in the houses. So I think we are talking about numbers which are absolutely huge. So and that’s the point I think we make that one because it’s four to ten times cheaper system then another alternatives and in country by that one which is fully interconnected saying that I think you have already a remote house in a place which is not already in a kind of interconnection I think that is a great solution is that to put in already yes and generator old generator for the covering the moments in nights when they are not already signed they are not already win and they are no win. Unidentified Company Representative Okay this has been the last one for the time being. If there are more questions to come I would say that from the investor relation department will be delighted to answer all of them as usual. Now Mr. Chairman you can close when you wish it. Ignacio Galan So thank you very much for attending this one. We will be more than delighted to your [indiscernible] all you in our meeting in London for presenting the annual result and the outlook for the next future. Thank you very much for this meeting. Thank you.

Iberdrola’s (IBDSF) CEO Ignacio Galan on Q3 2015 Results – Earnings Call Transcript

Executives Ignacio Galan – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jose Sainz – Chief Financial Officer Francisco Martinez Corcoles – Business Chief Executive Officer Iberdrola S.A. ( OTCPK:IBDSF ) Q3 2015 Earnings Conference Call October 21, 2015 3:30 AM ET Operator Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. First of all we would like to offer a warm welcome to all of you who have joined us this morning. We’re delighted that you are able to be with us for the presentation of our 2015 nine months results. Welcome to the future. The presentation will as usual follow our customary format. Firstly, we will begin with an overview of the results and the main developments during the period given by the two management that usually we have with us. Our Chairman and CEO, Mr. Ignacio Galan; the CFO, Mr. Jose Sainz; and finally Mr. Francisco Martinez Corcoles, our Business CEO. Afterwards we will move on to the Q&A session. We would also like to point out that we are only to take questions submitted via the web. So please ask your question only through our webpage www.iberdrola.es. We expect that the event will last no more than 60 minutes, hoping that you find the presentation both useful and informative. Now, without further ado, I will hand over to our Chairman and CEO, Mr. Ignacio Galan. Thank you very much again. Please, Mr. Chairman. Ignacio Galan Good morning everyone and thank you very much for attending the usual presentation we are holding today through our webcast. Our businesses have continued showing a strong performance along the first month of the year, especially in networks and renewables. Gross margin is up 7.3% up to €9.5 billion driven by 12.1% increase in networks and 19.3% growth in renewables. More over we’ve controlled net operating expenses, which are only 0.2% lower excluding if takes the impact. As a consequence, EBITDA has grown 5.8% to €5.4 billion. Operating cash flow totals €4.3 billion, growing 9.1%, while investments are increased by 6.7% to €2.1 billion of which 61% are litigated to growth. Bottom line recurring net profit has increased 8.5% to €1.7 billion and net profit reaches €1.9 billion, growing 7.8%. EBITDA increase is mainly due to the solid performance of all our regulated activities, which has grown 15.5% and accounts for 75% of total EBITDA to the positive evolution of our international activity, which a 16.2% increase versus 2.1% decline in Spain country in which still we have not reach the result prior of the crisis in 2008. By businesses, network recorded 10.5% growth showing a positive evolution in all regions, thanks to higher asset base, which increased 10% in our UK transmission and distribution activity, 3% in the United States and 6% in Brazil driven by our investment. These higher up will lead to further improvement results in the future. The renewable businesses continued to show a very good performance with EBITDA have been increased by almost 23%. Thanks, to a strong output especially in United Kingdom, which our West of Duddon Sands offshore windfarm, excellent availability and resource expectation. However, in United States wind output was lower than usual due to the impact of that [manual]. On the other hand our regulated generation in Mexico is growing is strongly with the 38.5% greater in EBITDA due to our increased activity within private customers. Finally, liberalised activities in Spain and UK reflect a negative evolution, with a decrease in EBITDA 14.3%. The reason behind Spain reduction is a lower production and higher cost and taxes compared to the last year history in our results. Meanwhile the situation in UK is affected by three main factors. The increase in government obligation the raise of carbon tax in the production implementation to all our new financial integration system reach us require extraordinary cost to successfully maintain our client base and even increasing despite the problem detected during this phase. For the present situation we have established the system and we are not expecting new extra cost in 2016. The result had improved our cash flow generation capacity to almost double-digit growth, operating cash flow has increased 9.1% to €4.3 billion and exceeding investment of growth all businesses. These investments had increased by 6.7% to €2.1 billion, on which 61% are allocated to grow project and massively to regulated activities. I will now proceed to describe the main growth project underway. In offshore we have beginning – under construction in Germany, which is plan investment of €1.35 billion and we expect the commissioning for 2017. We are also starting the construction of East Anglia with a CapEx of €3.6 billion to recommission in 2019. Finally we are progressing on the development of Saint-Brieuc in France which I plan investment of €2.6 million and unexpected commission date by 2022. These three projects together with West of Duddon Sands already in operation 1,800 megawatts of offshore installed capacity in our group. Onshore we will also follows a positive trend with two new projects to be started in UK, which are to the four already under construction. United State we are currently building four windfarm, which have 100% of future production covered under PPA’s, decided to our Brazil and Mexico windfarm under construction result in overall additional onshore capacity or more than 1,200 megawatts. To be commissioning between 2016 and 2017. In Spain after there was a memorandum that Royal Decree published last week established new auction for the wind power that we are analyzing. In Mexico, during this last quarter we have awarded two new projects we regulated our long-term contracts. One combined cycle, and one co-generation plant to be added to the four plants already under construction. Altogether, they will add up to 1,600 megawatt to the operation before the end of 2018. Altogether our installed power in this country will reach more than 7,000 megawatts are the update. The increasing generation through intermittent renewable sources to require a storage capacity to stock energy surplus and supply heat to the system when is needed Iberdrola approach to these needs east to invest in a storage technology in which pumping is a much more efficient and larger scale solution in other more fashionable and highly advertised technologies. We have just finished the construction of Portugal and in Spain the largest of these kind in Europe with 1,800 megawatt of the stories capacity and now in Portugal we had a starting the construction of a new pumping and storage plant on the Támega river with 1,200 megawatt capacity expected to be commissioned in 2023. Altogether, will amount to close 6,000 megawatts of pumping capacity in between Spain, UK and Portugal providing efficient energy supply at peak hours for several million or households. In networks as a result of our agreement with Ofgem in the United Kingdom realty running transmission RIIO-ED1 in distribution are in progress. With a combined topics of nearly €9 billion for the next 6 years to 8 years. In United State we are negotiating several growth opportunities in transmission network in Maine and New York. This project will address reliability and congestion issues and we will provide additional transmission capacity for renewables. In a Spain also we have launched the set of new product to cover the potential demand self-consumption and benefit from our markets. For instance is Smart Solar is a full for self-consumption solar instillation for wholesale holds and companies are plans to A tu medida Taylor made plans these another product had resulted an increase of our customer base. Also in Iberdrola we are aware or the difficulties encountered by some low income household and we are working to offer them our support ensuring power supply to their homes in collaboration with different local and regional public administration. In relation to the merger of UIL Holdings and Iberdrola U.S.A we have received all the federal approvals. The remaining state authorization are in progress after making all the corresponding filings both Massachusetts and Connecticut we have already reached a settlement with the corresponding authorities. The process for the list in New York stock exchange is also on track and we expect to close the transaction before the year end after the approval of real General Assembly. With respect to our financial position we continue improving our main financial ratios. Regarding the FFO our retained cash flow to net debt ratios we achieved 2016 target define or our last U.S. Investor Day in 2014. And our leverage has been reduced also to 41.1%. To benefit from lower internal rate we have continued our active liability management with a positive impact in our net financial expense is down by 8.4%. These results allow us to reiterate our commitment to maintain our annual shareholder remuneration of at least open $0.20 per year. The Board of Directors approved yesterday the implementation of a new edition of the scrip dividend program corresponding to the interim shareholder remuneration for the fiscal year 2015. The warranty purchase price for the free allocation rights will be of at least €0.125 payable in January 2016. Additionally, as usual we expect to distributed complementary dividend in July suggest the approval of annual meeting in April. Also we will continue making share buybacks to compensate the negative effect of our scrip program maintaining the number of shares at 6.24 billion shares. Finally, I would like to reaffirm our guidance for 2015. The growth in networks and renewables together with our operational efficiency and positive financial performance will lead to an increase in EBITDA and recorded net profit compared with 2014. All in all we expect to reach a year in advance. The outlook set for 2016 during our February 2014 Investor Day. Therefore, these results before our strong track record or value creation for our shareholders, driven by three main pillars Growth, Financial Strength and Sustainable Dividend. Thank you very much for the attention and I will [indiscernible] the call to Pepe Sainz, who will present the Group financial results with further detail. Thank you very much. Jose Sainz Thank you, Chairman. And good morning to everybody. As already commented in previous quarters as of January IFRIC 21 and 30 effects changing the timing of the recognition of certain payment of Levies during the year. Nine months 2014 figures have been restated for comparison purposes as you can see in the slide. These does not affect the annual financial statements only the quarterly results. Nine-month results as a stated by the Chairman continued to show a strong operating performance. EBITDA grew 5.8% and recorded net profit 8.5%, while operating cash flow was up 9.1% to €4.3 billion. Average FX rates helped with €1 representing 17.8% and the bond 10.4% more than compensating the real evaluation of 13.1% on an average terms. Revenues grew 6.7% to €23.7 billion while procurements rose 6.3% to €14.2 billion due to higher costs in a worse production mix and price of sale to rising especially in the UK. Gross margin increased 7.3% to €9.5 billion as revenues grew more than procurements. Net operating expenses excluding negative FX impact fell 0.2%, but including it they were up 7.6% to €2.7 billion. Personal expenses grew 9.1% and 2.5% excluding the FX impact. Net external services were up 6.1% decreasing 3% excluding the FX impact affected by non-recurring impacts including €104 million positive non-recurring impact due to favorable legal rulings in Spain. Partially offset by almost €60 million derived from higher non-recurring IT system costs in the UK and costs related to the UIL deal. Levies grew by 13.2% to €1,372 million mainly affected by the FX impact €83 million and €111 favorable Court ruling accounted in 2014. Partially mitigated by a €48 million positive Court ruling accounted for in the first half of 2015 and lower ECO costs in the UK. Analyzing the different businesses and starting by networks it’s reported EBITDA was up 10.5% to €2,684 million with gross margin growing in all countries. Net operating expenses rose 13.9% including non-recurring items and accounting reclassifications in the U.S., Spain accounts for 41% of the networks EBITDA, the UK 31%, the U.S. 21%, and Brazil 7%, by the way Brazil accounts for around 3% of the total EBITDA of the group. In Spain networks EBITDA grew 1.4% to €1,113 million including the negative impact of €40 million positive settlements accounted for in Q3 2014 related to 2012 and 2013 investments. In the UK EBITDA was up 1.1% to £597 million as a result of 0.8% increase in the gross margin due to a higher asset based but decreasing versus previous quarters affected by the profiling of the RIIO-ED1 applicable from April 1. There is 0.2% decrease in net operating expenses. In the U.S. EBITDA by 10.7% down to US$642 million affected by net operating expenses increase related to accounting reclassifications that increase expenses versus the precision but does not have an impact in the final P&L and an additional maintenance cost. As we said in June on favorable IFRS versus U.S. GAAP impacts are decreasing, but still lower the EBITDA in IFRS by US$94 million of which more than US$80 million our taxes to be partially compensated in Q4. Finally Elektro grew 163% to R$614 million us the first nine months in 2015 have not recorded any negative drought impacts. While in the first months of 2014 we included R$298 million of negative impact. These differences will be reversed in Q4 as last year with had a R$441 million positive impact recognizing in [indiscernible] drought impacts. EBITDA growth in Elektro is also helped by the tariff reviews now we had in almost 2014 and 2015. Generation and supply EBITDA fell 7.4% to €1,735 million driven by lower results in Spain, in the UK, and in the U.S. that recorded extraordinary positive gas impacts in last year. While Mexico increase its contribution. Levies also added to the worst performance of the Syria by increasing 9.1%. In Spain EBITDA reach €1,180 million with a 6.8 decreasing gross margin due to the 10% lower output an increased procurement costs due to increased thermal weight of the production mix. Also gas business had a non-recurrent negative comparison versus 2014. Levies are up net €64 million basically due to the already mentioned CO2 allowances accounted for in 2014 compensated by the positive Court ruling in 2015. In the UK EBITDA rates £182 million, wholesale and generation business gross margin decreased by 22% due to higher costs with the carbon tax growing from £9 to £18 from April 1 onwards. Retail business gross margin decreased by 2%, higher volumes in gas with 10% increase in the month do not compensate the 17% lower gross margin in retail power due first to the increase in non-related energy costs play the rocks under transmission and distribution charges. And in addition to that the difficulties in the deployment of a new retail IT system that increased net operating expenses by £32 million. Despite this we have been able to maintain a relatively stable number of customers. In Mexico EBITDA grew 11.5% to $379 million due to the renegotiation of all contracts with the negative impact last year of $66 million. Renewables EBITDA increased by 22.7% to €1,126 million driven by the recovery in Spain and the positive performance in the UK. The U.S. and Spain have been the largest EBITDA contributors in renewables with 32% and 31% followed by the UK with new offshore capacity in operation with 27% share. Gross margin increased 19.3% and net operating expresses rose by 12.7%, 6.6 percentage points below. In Spain, the EBITDA reached €353 million, 13.9% more with a 5.5% lower output compensated by the recovery in prices. In the UK, EBITDA reached £219 million up 60% with 30% higher output due to weather conditions on West of Duddon Sands for windfarm on positive contribution. In the U.S., EBITDA was $396 million, 16% down with a 7% decrease in output due to climate conditions in the west, but in windfarm 200 megawatt in Texas in operation since Q2 will help us to improve our performance in the next months. Latin American EBITDA was €45 million with higher output in Mexico and Brazil offset by the evaluation of the real and lower prices in Mexico. In the rest of the world, EBITDA reached €70 million underpinned by a better load factor that increased production by 13%. EBITDA grew 1.1% to €3,027 million, amortizations rose €234 million driven by the exchange rate impact of €161 million. The new operating capacity and renewable business and the new retail IT systems in the UK. Provisions grew €32 million also affected by FX and non-recurring bad provisions in the UK related to the difficulties in the implementation of the above-mentioned retail system. Problems that we expect will disappear in 2016 as the Chairman has stated. Net financial expenses fell 8.4% to €748 million thanks to the €82 million improvement in debt related costs driven by our cost improvement of 38 basis points from 4.48% to 4.10%. The €96 million gross capital gains from the sale of our stake in EdP accounted for in 2014 has been almost mitigated by several non-recurring positive impacts including the proceeds of the sale of Euskaltel, reversal of several contingencies and interest of legal claims and the favorable evolution on FX hedges especially due to the real. Recurring net profit increased 8.5% to €1,673 million and reported net profit 7.8% to €1,919 million. Corporate tax rate decreased to 18.1% mainly as a consequence of the reversal of a tax provision in Spain accounted for in Q2, 2015 to added €220 million and also due to a lower corporate tax in Spain from 30% to 28% which is sustainable. Those partially compensating the €251 million of lower contribution due to non-recurring results and extraordinary positive equity contribution accounted for in 2014. Passing to the financing, our leverage ratio continue to improve reaching 41% at the end of September 2015 versus 42.2% at the same time last year as our equity continue to increase while our debt decreased slightly. The €939 million FX impact, negative impact on our debt is more than compensated by the €1 billion positive impact due to the stronger cash flow generation and tariff deficit securitization. Our equity increased €1.6 billion with a €1.1 billion positive FX impact and also fell by the €500 million of retained earnings less treasury stock. As a consequence all our financial ratios continued to strengthen as our net debt fall slightly while our EBITDA and cash flows are growing at high single-digit rates. Our net debt to EBITDA reaches 3.6 times. Our FFO net debt is at 22.2% over our 2016 target of 22%. And our retained cash flow net debt improved to 19.7% also above the 18.5% 2016 target. So we have already reached out two out of the three financial ratio targets set for December 2016. The Group while maintaining a very comfortable liquidity position continues to adapt to the new financing scenario, improving financial costs and extending the maturity of our debt. This year we have already negotiated €8.9 billion of debt and credit line as the Chairman has pointed out. At September 30, Iberdrola had available liquidity of €8.2 billion covering 27 months of financing needs, but we will continue monitoring the market, trying to take advantage of possible opportunities that help us to continue reducing our cost of debt and extending our average debt maturity. This is in line with the philosophy of the Group to build a long-term solid financial profile assuring a sustainable low financial cost for the future. And to end this presentation just to tell you that in the Annex you have the calendar for the script dividend in January. Thank you very much. Question-and-Answer Session A – Francisco Martinez Corcoles The first question has to do with the operation with EU – EA. Unidentified Analyst In Connecticut from the regulatory point of view when we expect the timing of the operation and if the counterparts or the addition of things given in this agreements are going to impact it in the profitability of the deal. Ignacio Galan So as I already mentioned I think the things are going on truck. So we have already got all the authorization of the federal authorities and now we have already reached settlement with authorities of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The filing has been presented in both states so here this has already happened and that’s in the defensive now is on progress I think in the last few days even the local authority has already made positive comments about the transaction. So we are expecting as I mentioned once will be completed all the New York Stock Exchange listed to complete the deal before the year end. So there are no changes in our expectation in the respect and related to the profitability of operation I think it continued being quite attractive for those parts. So I think is nothing changing in a major manner in this transaction. Unidentified Analyst Another additional question from Martin Young, Royal Bank of Canada is related in global basis to the United States, we can explain what our ambitions in the U.S. regulated activities as for as the closure of UIL deal and we are hungry for more acquisitions. Ignacio Galan Well, I think our philosophy always [indiscernible] country the main thing when we make a transaction, the main driver now is to integrate. I think we made the transaction of energies few years ago. I think we’ve been already integrating this company, now I can say is almost integrated I think the operation we had before on renewables and now it’s integrated fully with Iberdrola U.S.A. So Iberdrola U.S.A gets its storage and network is really integrated under a single unit which is Iberdrola U.S.A. And now we have already in this process of integration with UIL so I think in the next periods our main drivers should be to integrate, integrate, integrate the existing companies with the new one. So I think it’s a big thing to be done. And nevertheless I think we continue growing this country, I think we have ready, I have already announced this four windfarms we have in construction there are seven and more which are on the byline is expecting them to PTC’s extension and yes we have just completed transmission lining in Maine and we call them MPRP and they are another one we are starting another one announced as well Transco and there are another several ones, which are on the way. So I think we have a lot of organic things to be done together with – so I think should be the main driver for the near future. Unidentified Analyst The next question is related to dividends and is coming from Stefano Bezzato, Credit Suisse. Considering the 8% growth in net earnings reported in the first nine months of the year. Could you consider starting to raise a dividend from this 0.27 level already in relation to the 2015 results? Ignacio Galan So what I can announce now is what has been approved yesterday by the Board is we are going to pay a €0.125 per share in January 2016. We are already taking to pay the complement up to 0.27 in the shareholders meeting approved in July next year and that is our plan. If we have any changes on that one, we will have the opportunity to present to you all our vision and our target and our plan in our outlooks for the future in our Investor Day in February next year in London. So I think if there are any changes I am sure that you will be the first one in knowing that long run, yes we’ll complete the plans and we are working at present and we’ll present to you later, in the beginning of next year. So I think for the time being is 0.215, which is going to be paid in January and a complementary, which is going to be paid in July up to 0.27 that is what the Board has already approved yesterday. Unidentified Analyst A question in Spanish from Alejandro related to the same question asking for a clarification to a statement. Alejandro said with these results could we give some visibility for the close of 2015, 2016 we relating to the guidance for 2015, 2016 if you can clarify what where you mean, when we say we are going to reach the perspective of 2016 one-year ahead of time. So in 2015 if you are going to reach an EBITDA €7.5 billion in net profit this comes from Javier Suarez from Mediobanca, Javier Garrido from JPMorgan and Carolina from Morgan Stanley. Ignacio Galan Well, I will answer this in Spanish and if you want I will translate into English, but what we can say at this point in time is that the profits we have for the first nine months has grown to 8% and this has been due basically to international growth. In the case of Spain we still have a drop of about 2% and this is something that I mentioned before because of higher costs, because of lower production and higher Levies. And the results in Spain do not yet reached those that we had before the crisis, but what I could also state is that in these months we have made investments have totaling more than €2 billion and investments in excess of €2 billion which is about 7% more than what we did last year and we’ve more than 1000 new contracts with our workforce and we’ve given training courses to more than 600 graduate students and we’ve been – and nearly 4,000 Spanish suppliers we spent nearly €3.5 billion on them and this is the investment that the Group is making. What does this growth mean? It means that our prospects for what we delivered on in 2014 is something we’re bringing forward – because at that point in time if I’ve not mistaken we’re talking about EBITDA of about €6.6 billion and we said that we are expecting an average growth of about 4%. And if I multiply these figures this gives me a figure of about €7.1 billion of EBITDA for 2016. As I said before is that this figure be exceeded in this fiscal year in 2015 and the same thing applies to the ratios as the CFO just pointed out, because we are talking about ratios that – we are talking about the different ratios and different impediments and we can say that some of them have already been reached in Q3 and we hope that the third one will also be reached in the fourth quarter and this is what can be said about that. Unidentified Company Representative Like to say in English for everybody is that our expectation is that in year 2014 when we present our plans for the next three years, we had already an EBIT underwriter €6.6 billion and we were saying that we will – a growth in average range of 4%, €6.6 billion and 4% growth increase and [indiscernible] roughly €7.1 billion and that is what we are expecting in EBITDA. Internal ratios what we can say is that as I mentioned already the ratios of cash flow and the ratio has been already achieved in the third quarter. So I think we expect to continue these two and third one as we will to be achieved by the end of the year and with one year in advance. I think our numbers is what we promise we are delivering with one-year in advance. Due of the investment we are already making during this period which is starting providing result as well. Yes, yes, well I think the financial as you are saying the number is 6.6 by 4% increase is 7,100 so what we are expecting is more than that, but I think is the number is more than 7,100 which is the number. So I think we are expecting to overpass this number clearly so it is a good point. Unidentified Analyst Okay, we are now moving to a set of questions to the Spanish generation business coming from Stefano Bezzato, Credit Suisse, Carolina Dores, Morgan Stanley, Javier Suarez, Mediobanca. The first one is how do you justify the €17 per megawatts hour gap between Spain and German power prices considered in that €10 megawatts hour of the gap can be explained with generation taxes what price the rest of the gap. The second question is regarding the regulatory in Spain is covering to revise in the ratio market, when do you expect to review – these reviews going to be completed? And finally, if we are considering the shutdown of the closure of several plants, our several power plants or asset qualities of the economic recovery of the Spain [indiscernible] standby? Ignacio Galan So I think you’ll reply the first one related to prices. Jose Sainz Well, we track continuously the market prices and what I can say is that the actual ones are – do not differ two months from the one that we get from our simulation models. So I must – probably it’s not so simple us to say that we can justify 10 and there is a gap of seven because the German system is a thermal one with a high level of penetration of renewables, the Spanish one is a hydrothermal system with a lot of renewables to so the simulation of all these things are not so easier to just calculate the taxes. So if you use such a type of simulation models and calculate the price is exposed, exactly for sure, but exposed. We find that the differences are no more than 1% and sometimes less or usually less than 1%. What does it mean? Probably that the wholesale markets are working properly in all the countries we are United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. And I think this basically will respond to the question of the prices. Ignacio Galan So I think related to this review of the regulator concerning the generation market, I think that didn’t work. So I think is normal then the regulator revise and all kind of activities in the countries that we are present. I think we’ve to get review of this one in – in Britain is normal to be making in all the country where we are present. So I think that we have to be seen as a normal thing we have to be done. Is there a litigation to revise you know all the rules are already being keep and maintained according with the best practice. So I think we are already absolutely fully collaborate with any doing their job because I think that’s good for their – if transparency is good for the market performance is good for an economy which is already open like a Spanish economy. So I think it will calm this analysis and who would collaborate when as we are doing already with returning the analysis they are making. Related to generation and closing of plants. Ignacio Galan Yes, as you know we asked for the closure permit for Caspian Sea and we finally we didn’t close Caspian. This is because of several reasons. The first one was that the extremely short period or spun that the government gave us for the recognition of the plant. The second and main important is that the energy situation is changing. On Laguna, we have seen a light increase in the CCGT performance in some for instance, on the other hand we have potential regulation for [indiscernible] and this is not yet in place, but these can come in – in coming weeks or I would say months. And on the fair hand we are seeing movements from the CO2. All the commodities are going down with a section of CO2 I mean the carbon is going up slightly, but it’s going up. So what is going to happen if finally after COP21 conference, carbon takes a more role, more foot on itsrole on the markets. In these case probably all the CCGT’s that we have seen in this summer in the Spain will be needed. So it makes no sense at this time to go ahead and try to close our plant that can be, that is going to be needed for sure and that can be needed from the system stability in the coming months. So that’s the reason why we decided not to do with [Caspian Sea] and that’s the reason why we are not proceeding with our plants. Jose Sainz Nevertheless, we have already closed six plants in the last four, five years. I think we closed few coal power plants and a few oil power plants as well. I think six all together. So I think we are not really not active in the sense I think those one which we consider then one not to be needed for the future. We are closing I think we did the same thing as well in Britain. So I think we are active, analyzing which is their needs in each – in real time which are the needs for the market in terms of our power generation. Unidentified Analyst Next question is coming from Carolina Dores, Morgan Stanley and is related to the distribution business in the Spain. Last summer the Ministry of Industry in Spain sent to the regulatory cost for distribution. When do you expect this process to be finalized? Can this still be approved this year and how do the standard look versus your expectation? Ignacio Galan Well, I think as far as I know all the things are has been completed, all this analysis for all part in both has been already announced and finished. And I think we’re just expecting the final document from the Ministry to publish. So as far as we know I think that our expectationis that will consolidate the current remuneration of our activity. So I think we are not expecting surprises in this respect. So has been making a very professional manner on all theanalysis and we are not expecting any surprise on these respect. Unidentified Analyst Next set of questions is regarding the generation business in the UK. These questions are coming from José Javier Ruiz, Macquarie, Javier Suárez, Mediobanca, Pablo Cuadrado, HSBC. The first one is during Q3 you have recorded an EBITDA loss in the UK generation and supply businesses. Could you provide more details on what is driving the weak performance and the perspectives that you have for these businesses in the following quarter. The second one is on December 8 th ; the second capacity auctions in the UK will take place, do you expect any increasing prices as considered in all the coal plant closure announcement in the UK? Ignacio Galan So you reply the first one and I’ll reply the second one. Jose Sainz You’ll reply one of the auctions? Ignacio Galan Auction I’ll reply now. The weak performance of the third quarter towards the previous one. Francisco Martinez Corcoles Yes, I think we should consider – the key point has been the retail business and is not so because the results of this year, but also because the classification or the accounting reclassification that we did last year as a one off. So the standing points are the incremental external service on cost on – put in place and all of our complaint providence with the new IT system for customer that fits the integrated system. This is the standing point and this has been all over the year affecting us this quarter and two previous one. And it’s going to getting down the next quarter and probably will disappear the next year. So this is their standing or they continue to base load let’s say problem or difference in terms of result that we have got. And together with these we got all our things specially affecting retail margin that comes more from accounting activities or accounting decisions on the previous year than to the let say their main business and I’ll say that the main business has nothing special. On the other hand all you know that the two intermediate quarters of the year Q2 and Q3 are extremely lower in compression with Q1 and Q3 and Q4 excuse me in the United Kingdom, because of the temperatures and all the movements of the markets. So Q4 is going to be completely different in terms of compression of the business with Q3 and all these one-off things that we have got are more or less [indiscernible] of the differences. Ignacio Galan All of it all I think as Francisco mentioning our expectation is in the result in generation retail in UK in 2015 will be slightly in terms of euros, is slightly better than it was previously. So I think we are expecting the certain of the negative impact we’ve been affected during these three quarters and most of them as he mentioned is going to disappear almost disappear. So we have more customers and I think they are struggling because we are already suffering less consequence of the IT system is already been established and that will reduce and our expectation is that we’ll in euros improve our result compared to previous year. And related to the second question of the auctions so I think we are seeing the British system is very good in many, many fields. So I think they are concerned about the need to distinguish between power and energy so which is one of my favorite things now to convince everybody. So they are really making this one for this capacity auction, but they are putting together new and old power plants and nothing in the last ones I think it has been affected for certain ones that Dave says and they are going to make a new one, but that they are saying now is that they are going to make a new one where the production has been already been achieved in the auction. So I don’t what this going to do, but what is clear is that the model for the new have to be different and the model for the existing one. So an action can be affected by someone else which is already dreaming to make by last year what is not made so they are going to sell the product and supplying the country. So that’s why we’ll see what is in terms of that one when I guess is that probably they will use different approach for their old one and for the new one and I think that should be already as always a transparent upturn is which everybody will put their better prices. I cannot say what this is going to be because if I should know that one I should be more clever to do it so I think – but my feeling is and they are going to be a different treatment for building new ones then for the existing power plants. Unidentified Analyst Next question is related to Brazil and it’s given by Javier Suárez in Mediobanca. He likes to know an update on the CO2 recurring these three situation of the distribution companies in Brazil either possibility to pass through the higher cost and the higher rates to the final customer this final higher cost in generation? Ignacio Galan Well, on Brazil I mentioned the CFO represented 3% of our total EBITDA so I think is we are already of course interested in this country, this country as I used to say is not as bad as sometime and some people is saying no it’s not the with us I know the people were saying a few years ago about it. I think our total EBITDA is representing 3% so saying that many, many things has been done in the country, they are truly and suffering a drop is true then they are already passing a crises which is already conducting then the growth of the country has declined tremendously is true then the situation is not as good as it was and already seen this is affected, but in our global account is not much affected in particularly because last year we suffer in our account because of the drop has been fully compensated across this year. So I think our account now is already positive affected because they are already compensating the effect of the problem we suffer at the previous one. So I think in the government they have the mentality then they need then the companies have a good and bad performance, they need to continue already providing the service and providing the service and providing that in the country they are doing the necessary for improving the thing. So I think they are increased heavily their rates and their tariff in most – in all our distribution companies and they are already looking solutions for compensating the power generation companies we have been suffered for the drop of the difference between the entities they have committed and then they are able to reply because of these lack of rain. So now they continue these on the respect, but I think is we are already seeing then the things are moving, but in our case I think they are moving positively that’s fine, they are moving negatively so we are going to change dramatically our result in the company. Unidentified Analyst Next question is Pablo Cuadrado, HSBC and it’s related to Mexico business. Recently you announced that you won an auction to build a new 850 megawatts facility project in Mexico, could you provide more details about the respect IRR that you are willing to making that project and common on value creation is Latin America project against increasing the competitive environment? Ignacio Galan So I don’t know that particular project this one, but I think all together I can say as I mentioned before in this moment we have something like 5,500 megawatts in operation and there is another 1,600 in construction correct me the numbers if not precise. So all together roughly 7,000 megawatts and roughly that in mind is the return we have for really in that one is on the range of one plus 300 basis points. I think it’s a good business and healthy. Our position in the country is very positive, we are well known, we are already – we have made some various solidity and uncertainty so we are really committing what we are delivering what we are committing and the expectation in this country and the things is going to continue and positive. They have already made a reform and the reform which is lower we sell especially for those who present in the countries in the last 15, 16 years that certain opportunities for making already project for private people. So I think we are in this moment completing one in Monterrey so which is complete, all the power is already stored for the next 15 years. So I think I know the two or three we face already as well in the same position so I think for new market has been already opened apart to their market traditional what we have already facing with this regulation with CFE. Unidentified Analyst Next question is coming as well from Pablo Cuadrado and it’s related to debt. The cost of debt has increased almost 40 basis points in the last 12 months to 4.1%, where do you see that cost of debt performing taken into account your future and financial needs and do you think that sustain improvements is a still possible for the next 12 months? Jose Sainz Yes, we think so. We expect to close the year with net cost of around very close to 4% and hopefully by next year we will be below the 4%. As I mentioned we are looking for opportunities to reduce our debt cost and I think that we will be able to maintain our lower cost of debt for the future. Unidentified Analyst And the final question is related to Fashion Technology Laboratories and it’s even from Andrew Moulder of Creditsights. Mr. Galan just said that hydro pump at the storage was a more favorable option than other more fashionable and highly publicized technologies, which I take to refer to the type of batteries being developed by companies like [Tesla]. What is your view on these battery technology? It is a sustainable technology and is it something Iberdrola will be investing in? Ignacio Galan So, well perhaps and already yes something I probably didn’t know then I spent 16 years of my life as engineer, designing, manufacturing and selling batteries, industrial batteries particularly. So I think long-time ago when I was already a battery engineer and battery manufacture, and battery marketing, but I still have some reminds of that time. So I think batteries can be solution, no doubt, it can be a solution for system which isolated. So for areas where they are not to really connection, interconnection grids, no doubt. So I think in certain the new technology is already helping. I think they are longer life, they are already less weight, they are more costly technologies, but this one particularly you all mentioned, but the thing is it can be solution and no doubt and this in certain areas can already represent already an advantage to where another system which can already imply like oil generators or whatever thing which is already in certain remote areas of Africa or America. So saying that I think in the Western world what we have already very interconnected system. We are already putting massive as we are putting intermittent technologies for production of energy. So they are moments, which they are already in excess of offer I think we are already been in windy condition or very rainy condition or very sun condition in the demand is not such which cannot sort all this one, there are two ways for doing these. One is increase interconnection, which I think European commission is in this moment, already promoting just to use these energy producing in one part of Europe to be – in all the part of the Europe, which I think that the solution another one is to store this energy and the third one is to stop the production. I think is when they are already floats, they are already in tremendous range traditionally well two years they open the doors of the dams for not – probably because the system is not able to absorb all the energy what the system can already make. I think they are very windy condition. So an option is to stop, not to continue to produce. So I think why it was stopped, why not produce these resource that the god is already providing to us in this particular moment. So I think the way is to start and to start how in a most efficient manner. In a massy, most efficient manner, when I said massy. So I finis we are talking in pumping storage which we are talking about 1000 megawatt hours, 1000 megawatts we can produce billions of kilowatt hours. So I think the another solution is required millions of batteries to be already located in millions of houses which I already for us – which I think is much more inefficient economically and as well to maintaining to sustain all those one. So saying that I fully, I think I cannot be against my principal, which I was already battery engineer in my beginning of my professional career. So but I think that can be used for certain things in a very good manner same which is already happening with cars, so car is certain rechargeable cars with plugging systems and with battery I think clearly has already clear future and all the car makers already now making those ones, no doubt. So from there all each of us a battery in our kitchen is that to have a fridge I think – is a lot different. So I think if the – another solution that should be fine in IRS what they are not already capabilities of interconnected, but there are areas with this fully interconnected. So let use the most, the cheapest and most massive efficient technology for making so and that is what we are asking making for one-time I think we completed last year with 1,100 megawatt represent equivalent or something less 600,000 batteries in the houses. So I think we are talking about numbers which are absolutely huge. So and that’s the point I think we make that one because it’s four to ten times cheaper system then another alternatives and in country by that one which is fully interconnected saying that I think you have already a remote house in a place which is not already in a kind of interconnection I think that is a great solution is that to put in already yes and generator old generator for the covering the moments in nights when they are not already signed they are not already win and they are no win. Unidentified Company Representative Okay this has been the last one for the time being. If there are more questions to come I would say that from the investor relation department will be delighted to answer all of them as usual. Now Mr. Chairman you can close when you wish it. Ignacio Galan So thank you very much for attending this one. We will be more than delighted to your [indiscernible] all you in our meeting in London for presenting the annual result and the outlook for the next future. Thank you very much for this meeting. Thank you.