Meridian Annual Report - Meridian Energy

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34 Economic Overview and 2007/08 Financial Performance Commentary Meridian’s economic objective is to produce long-term shareholder value. We accomplish this goal by maximising the value from our portfolio of generation assets through well developed asset and risk management plans and optimisation strategies and investment in generation growth by pursuing our renewables strategy. We actively develop and participate in competitive wholesale and retail energy markets and have a major initiative under way to enhance customer value by transforming our customers’ experience and we are making investments that will provide future competitive advantage and commercial value. Meridian’s core business is the generation and retailing of electricity and wider complementary products and services. Meridian owns and operates nine South Island hydro stations and two wind farms, Te Āpiti and White Hill located in the North Island and South Island respectively. These assets provide Meridian with annual average generation capacity of 12,500 GWh. This year we generated 11,908 GWh which is below average and largely attributable to low hydrology in the latter part of the year. Earnings Analysis Meridian typically generates more electricity than it is contracted to sell. However, the 2007/08 year was a challenging year for Meridian with lower-than-average national hydro storage and inflows, coupled with equally as significant systems constraints resulting in exceptionally high spot generation prices, particularly in the last quarter of the year. The system constraints related to: • the unexpected closure of Pole 1 of the HVDC in September 2007; • the unexpected decommissioning of the New Plymouth thermal plant; • other prolonged thermal outages from February to April 2008; • the market impacts of the operation of the Government energy plant at Whirinaki coupled with unprecedented increases in diesel prices for this plant. The hydrology situation in our catchments in the last quarter resulted in significantly lower generation output than anticipated and exposure to net electricity purchases from the market at high prices to meet our contracted retail sales commitments. Operating revenue is predominantly derived from the sale of electricity to the wholesale electricity market and to retail electricity customers. Revenue from energy sales increased significantly for the year largely due to higher annual average generation spot prices of $111/MWh (2007: $53/MWh). The increase in price also impacted the cost of electricity purchased to meet our fixed price commitments to customers. The significant decline in Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Ammortisation and Financial Instruments (“EBITDAF”) ($105.3 million) for the year was predominantly due to: • supplying contracted volumes of electricity at the higher spot prices in the latter part of the year ($356/MWh average in June this year compared to 2007 June average $69/MWh); • higher costs of delivery of energy-related services incurred by South Island generators during the dry hydrology period in the North Island; and • employee costs increasing in areas that reflect our commitment to enhancing customer value and in start-up subsidiaries (Right House and PowerShop) that will provide future competitive advantage and commercial value. Depreciation expense for 2008 has increased as a result of the fair value adjustments to the carrying value of the generation assets in 2007 ($1,455 million). Unrealised net (losses)/gains on financial instruments recognised in the income statement relate to unrealised fair value movements on derivative instruments used for risk management purposes for which Meridian has not adopted hedge accounting. The net movement this year is positive ($31.2 million) but is subject to volatility due to fluctuations in electricity/aluminium prices and interest rates. Underlying profit after tax is presented in order to assist the users’ understanding of the financial information presented, and in particular the Group’s underlying business performance, by removing the volatility of unrealised net (losses)/gains on financial instruments and other one-off items. The increase in net finance costs reflects the cost of additional borrowings and facilities that Meridian has sourced during the year, together with increased interest rates. The effective rate of tax for the year is 35% compared to 28.8% last year. The positive effect of the corporate tax rate reduction on deferred tax of $2.9 million (2007: $16.7 million) was offset by tax on an intercompany dividend that was not deductible. A reduction in the corporate tax rate from 33% to 30% was announced in the 2007 Budget and received Royal Ascent. For Meridian, this reduction is effective from 1 July 2008. Balance Sheet Despite a very challenging year, Meridian’s balance sheet remains in a strong position with shareholders’ funds of $4,204.6 million and a gearing ratio of 18.3%. Given the strength of Meridian’s financial position, the Board approved dividend payments of $297.9 million for the year, bringing the total dividends paid by Meridian since inception in 1999 to $2,100 million. Electricity generation is an asset intensive business as is reflected in the level of investment in property, plant and equipment. Meridian carries these assets at fair value as determined by an external valuer. Since inception, fair value adjustments of $3,953 million have been recognised, impacting return on average equity. Current assets and current liabilities reflect amounts due and payable for electricity sales and purchases. These amounts are significantly higher than in previous years, primarily due to high year-end spot prices of $356/MWh (2007: $69/MWh). Derivative financial instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values in accordance with New Zealand International Financial Reporting Standards (NZ IFRS). Meridian increased its borrowings during the year to fund its capital expenditure programme which included the commencement of construction of the West Wind wind farm in Wellington and a portion of the February 2007 shareholder dividend payment. Deferred tax balances include deferred tax on the fair value adjustments made in respect of the generation assets.
35< Financial Performance Summary — Continuing Operations Jun-08 $m Jun-07 $m Jun-06 * $m Jun-05 * $m Total Operating Revenue 2,603.5 1,790.7 2,184.1 1,563.6 Total EBITDAF 1 371.1 476.4 483.5 490.1 Unrealised Net (Loss)/Gain on Financial Instruments 31.2 24.6 - - Depreciation (139.6) (107.1) (77.5) (81.3) Equity Accounted Earnings of Joint Ventures/Associates (0.1) - (1.4) (0.1) Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment 0.5 1.0 (0.1) (0.9) Amortisation of Intangible Assets (13.1) (10.2) (7.3) (7.7) Net Finance Costs (52.3) (46.0) (37.4) (31.2) Tax (69.1) (97.5) (116.7) (129.7) Profit After Tax 128.6 241.2 243.1 239.2 Underlying Profit After Tax 2 104.5 207.7 243.1 239.2 Share Capital 1,600.0 1,600.0 1,600.0 1,600.0 Reserves 2,716.2 2,762.0 2,477.8 660.1 Retained Earnings (111.6) 39.8 159.6 209.0 Shareholders’ Equity 4,204.6 4,401.8 4,237.4 2,469.1 Current and Other Assets 583.6 303.2 520.8 371.6 Derivative Financial Instruments 139.1 40.9 - - Intangible Assets 42.4 49.6 22.9 180.8 Property Plant and Equipment 6,432.6 6,315.1 4,795.6 3,796.2 Total Assets 7,197.7 6,708.8 5,339.3 4,348.6 Current and Other Liabilities 699.5 217.8 195.2 678.6 Derivative Financial Instruments 170.9 127.7 - - Term Borrowings 793.2 629.7 754.6 1,021.7 Deferred Tax Liability 1,329.5 1,331.8 152.1 179.2 Total Liabilities 2,993.1 2,307.0 1,101.9 1,879.5 Dividends Paid 297.9 367.9 879.4 148.8 Capital Expenditure 264.5 184.0 76.0 110.1 Property Plant and Equipment Revaluations - 1,455.0 1,800.0 - Key Performance Measures Jun-08 Jun-07 Jun-06 Jun-05 Customer Numbers (000’s) 183 182 182 185 Customer Sales (GWh) 11,649 11,137 10,796 11,006 Hydro Generation (GWh) 11,430 12,353 10,976 13,091 Wind Generation (GWh) 478 325 291 273 Average Price of Electricity Generated ($/MWh) 111 51 97 44 June Average Price of Electricity Generated ($/MWh) 356 69 87 79 Average Purchase Price of Electricity ($/MWh) 124 55 101 47 Underlying Profit after Tax to Average Equity (%) 2.4% 4.8% 7.3% 9.8% * Information for years prior to Meridian’s transition to NZIFRS at 1 July 2006 are prepared under the existing NZ FRS 1 EBITDAF – Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortisation and Financial Instruments 2 One off items and unrealised net losses/gains on financial instruments are removed to arrive at Underlying Profit After Tax
Page 1 and 2: Meridian Annual Report for the year
Page 3: 1< Innovation We launched Right Hou
Page 6 and 7: 2 A time of challenge and opportuni
Page 8 and 9: 4 Chairman’s and Chief Executive
Page 10 and 11: 6 Our Operations Meridian is New Ze
Page 12 and 13: 8 Our Operations cont Under Constru
Page 14 and 15: 10 Generation The winter of 2008 wa
Page 16 and 17: 12 Retail Transforming our customer
Page 18 and 19: Our Year in Review >14
Page 20 and 21: 16 Our Year in Review cont Our Peop
Page 22 and 23: 18 Our Year in Review cont Meridian
Page 24 and 25: 20 Our Year in Review cont In addit
Page 26 and 27: 22 Our Year in Review cont Meridian
Page 28 and 29: 24 Our Year in Review cont In the M
Page 30 and 31: Our Subsidiaries >26
Page 32 and 33: 28 Board of Directors Wayne Boyd (C
Page 34 and 35: 30 Tim Lusk (Chief Executive) Prior
Page 36 and 37: Financials >32
Page 40 and 41: 36 Meridian Energy Limited — Stat
Page 42 and 43: 38 Meridian Energy Limited — Inco
Page 44 and 45: 40 Meridian Energy Limited — Bala
Page 46 and 47: 42 Meridian Energy Limited — Note
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84 Report from the Audit Office Aud
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86 Statutory Information Group Dire
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88 Statutory Information (continued
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90 Meridian Energy Management’s i
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92 Tonnes of CO2 Meridian Energy Ag
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94 Notes on tables Notes on electri
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96 GRI Sustainability Reporting Ind
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98 DIRECTORY Registered Office Leve
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Meridian Annual Report - Meridian Energy

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