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Disciplined Investment Philosophy
CEO's Report
Aggregated Total Asset Company Revenue 11.4% above 2006
Our success is based entirely on the excellent
performance of the asset companies in our portfolio.
The three electricity distribution businesses in which
Spark Infrastructure has a 49% interest are
acknowledged to be among the most efficient
and reliable in Australia.
Dear security holder,
In 2007 Spark Infrastructure's financial
and operational performance has again
exceeded its Prospectus/PDS forecasts.
This pleasing result reflects the fact that
the businesses in our current portfolio
have continued to go from strength to
strength, while the management teams
which operate them have again proven
their quality.
Our success is based entirely on the
excellent performance of our portfolio
businesses. The three electricity
distribution businesses in which Spark
Infrastructure has a 49% interest are
acknowledged to be among the most
efficient and reliable in Australia. This has
been confirmed by the relevant regulatory
bodies, and affirmed by consumers
through independent feedback
mechanisms.
Just as our success depends on the
performance of our businesses, so their
performance depends upon the quality of
their management teams and employees.
ETSA Utilities, CitiPower and Powercor all
have teams of highly skilled and
extremely motivated employees.
The large geographical areas covered
by their electricity distribution networks
mean that most of these employees
live and work within their local
communities. This leads to a strong
level of commitment to achieving local
results, which inevitably bears fruit for
their customers. I congratulate each of
those employees for their hard work and
wonderful results.
Each of the businesses in our current
portfolio is deeply involved with the urban
and rural communities in which they
operate; supporting essential services,
encouraging local entrepreneurs, and
helping people to build social bonds
with each other. We see this as an
indispensable part of doing business.
Healthy communities mean a growing
demand for our service, positive
recognition from regulators, and
increased motivation and lower turnover
amongst our employees. All of these
factors contribute to defending and
increasing our revenues.
Over seventy percent of the asset
company revenue is derived from their
regulated electricity distribution networks.
The regulators set these revenues every
five years in a consultative process
with the asset companies. This process
provides Spark Infrastucture with long
term revenue security, built in interest
rate and inflation protection and capital
expenditure allowances to continue to
maintain and grow the asset base.
The businesses in our current portfolio
are due for price resets in 2010. For the
first time these will be undertaken by the
recently created Australian Energy
Regulator, following the move away from
State based regulation. The businesses'
preparations for this are already well
underway. Given their current positive
ranking against their peers, I am
confident that they will continue to
meet regulatory expectations.
The total aggregated asset company
revenue for 2007 was $1.56 billion,
leading to EBITDA of $1.08 billion, an
increase of 10.9% over 2006. Over the
course of the year the asset companies
invested a total of $489.7 million in
capital expenditure. $331.7 million of this
was growth capital expenditure to cater
for growing customer demand.
In 2007, 29.7% of aggregated asset
company revenue was derived from
unregulated business activity which
includes customer contribution, public
lighting and construction, maintenance
and asset management of infrastructure
for external parties, compared to 24.4%
in 2006, and 20.35% in 2005. Our
comparative advantage in this field
is a key distinguishing factor for
our businesses.
Spark Infrastructure and the assets in its
current portfolio employ a conservative
hedging program which means the group
is well insulated from any movement in
interest rates. As at 31 December 2007,
90.8% of senior debt was hedged.
Moreover, no major financing is required
in the underlying businesses until 2010.
In addition, ETSA Utilities, CitiPower and
Powercor possess strong investment
grade credit ratings. Taken together,
these measures allow me to report that
Spark Infrastructure and its businesses
are substantially protected from any
refinancing and interest rate risk.
In 2008 our investment strategy will
primarily focus on investing in our existing
assets. We remain firmly of the view that
this is the right path towards achieving
profitable long term growth. While we
will consider suitable acquisitions at
appropriate prices if they arise, we believe
that organic growth which can be achieved
without paying a premium in the market
remains the most attractive option for us.
I am very much looking forward to 2008,
and am confident that we will continue to
grow securityholder value through prudent
investment and profitable growth.
BOB STOBBE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SPARK INFRASTRUCTURE
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Disciplined Investment Philosophy
CEO's Report
Aggregated Total Asset Company Revenue 11.4% above 2006
Our success is based entirely on the excellent
performance of the asset companies in our portfolio.
The three electricity distribution businesses in which
Spark Infrastructure has a 49% interest are
acknowledged to be among the most efficient
and reliable in Australia.
Dear securityholder,
In 2007 Spark Infrastructure's financial
and operational performance has again
exceeded its Prospectus/PDS forecasts.
This pleasing result reflects the fact that
the businesses in our current portfolio
have continued to go from strength to
strength, while the management teams
which operate them have again proven
their quality.
Our success is based entirely on the
excellent performance of our portfolio
businesses. The three electricity
distribution businesses in which Spark
Infrastructure has a 49% interest are
acknowledged to be among the most
efficient and reliable in Australia. This has
been confirmed by the relevant regulatory
bodies, and affirmed by consumers
through independent feedback
mechanisms.
Just as our success depends on the
performance of our businesses, so their
performance depends upon the quality of
their management teams and employees.
ETSA Utilities, CitiPower and Powercor all
have teams of highly skilled and
extremely motivated employees.
The large geographical areas covered
by their electricity distribution networks
mean that most of these employees
live and work within their local
communities. This leads to a strong
level of commitment to achieving local
results, which inevitably bears fruit for
their customers. I congratulate each of
those employees for their hard work and
wonderful results.
Each of the businesses in our current
portfolio is deeply involved with the urban
and rural communities in which they
operate; supporting essential services,
encouraging local entrepreneurs, and
helping people to build social bonds
with each other. We see this as an
indispensable part of doing business.
Healthy communities mean a growing
demand for our service, positive
recognition from regulators, and
increased motivation and lower turnover
amongst our employees. All of these
factors contribute to defending and
increasing our revenues.
Over seventy percent of the asset
company revenue is derived from their
regulated electricity distribution networks.
The regulators set these revenues every
five years in a consultative process
with the asset companies. This process
provides Spark Infrastucture with long
term revenue security, built in interest
rate and inflation protection and capital
expenditure allowances to continue to
maintain and grow the asset base.
The businesses in our current portfolio
are due for price resets in 2010. For the
first time these will be undertaken by the
recently created Australian Energy
Regulator, following the move away from
State based regulation. The businesses'
preparations for this are already well
underway. Given their current positive
ranking against their peers, I am
confident that they will continue to
meet regulatory expectations.
The total aggregated asset company
revenue for 2007 was $1.56 billion,
leading to EBITDA of $1.08 billion, an
increase of 10.9% over 2006. Over the
course of the year the asset companies
invested a total of $489.7 million in
capital expenditure. $331.7 million of this
was growth capital expenditure to cater
for growing customer demand.
In 2007, 29.7% of aggregated asset
company revenue was derived from
unregulated business activity which
includes customer contribution, public
lighting and construction, maintenance
and asset management of infrastructure
for external parties, compared to 24.4%
in 2006, and 20.35% in 2005. Our
comparative advantage in this field
is a key distinguishing factor for
our businesses.
Spark Infrastructure and the assets in its
current portfolio employ a conservative
hedging program which means the group
is well insulated from any movement in
interest rates. As at 31 December 2007,
90.8% of senior debt was hedged.
Moreover, no major financing is required
in the underlying businesses until 2010.
In addition, ETSA Utilities, CitiPower and
Powercor possess strong investment
grade credit ratings. Taken together,
these measures allow me to report that
Spark Infrastructure and its businesses
are substantially protected from any
refinancing and interest rate risk.
In 2008 our investment strategy will
primarily focus on investing in our existing
assets. We remain firmly of the view that
this is the right path towards achieving
profitable long term growth. While we
will consider suitable acquisitions at
appropriate prices if they arise, we believe
that organic growth which can be achieved
without paying a premium in the market
remains the most attractive option for us.
I am very much looking forward to 2008,
and am confident that we will continue to
grow securityholder value through prudent
investment and profitable growth.
BOB STOBBE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SPARK INFRASTRUCTURE