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Infratil Market Update

Operational Update7 February 2017IFTUtilities

Infratil Market Update
February 2017


Over the last two years Infratil has increased the breadth of its activity and established important new

platforms for future growth. The new areas include retirement living, data centres, student

accommodation, and renewable energy in North America. With new sector exposures and important

developments in our traditional domestic energy and transport businesses, this market update is

designed to provide further information on the prospects for each of our businesses.

Over the three months to 31 December 2016 the NZX50 index fell -3.1%, ten year NZ Government

bonds lost 8% of their value. Infratil’s shares experienced a -13.2% fall in value (including the dividend),

followed by a 9% rise in 2017.

To date, for the financial year since 31 March 2016 the return to Infratil’s shareholders has been an

unsatisfactory -6.8% (over the last five years compound returns have been 15.4% per annum).

Explaining recent global share and bond price changes has taxed analysts and pundits. An illustration

of how hard the 2016 outcomes were to anticipate/explain was provided by a Financial Times columnist

who calculated some of the most lucrative trades of the year. Someone who sold short the S&P Clean

Energy Index and used the proceeds to buy the Global Coal Index returned 156%. Selling the Chinese

share market index and putting the proceeds into Brazil’s: +93%. Selling US equity volatility (through

the VIX index) and buying US shares: +69% (lest anyone think that the jump in the Coal Index could be

a trend, it is still down 80% over the last five years).

The same columnist noted that valuation inconsistencies and highly uncertain market prospects leave

only one answer; diversification. As indicated by the following graphs, diversification is something which

Infratil provides.


Sectors Geography Stage


Over the quarter to 31 December Infratil bought back 1,717,464 shares at an average price of $2.75

and 1,489,000 PiiBs (perpetual bonds) at an average price of $0.6225. At the end of the period, the net

debt of Infratil and 100% subsidiaries was $890 million and a further A$45 million of subsidiary debt

was guaranteed (Perth Energy). In January 2017 Infratil repurchased a further 1,000,000 shares for

$2.87.

Sector

AirportEnergy

Accommodation/CareData Centre

Other

Geography

NZAustraliaUSA

Stage

Mature GrowthEarly Stage

2 Infratil Market Update February 2017

The most recent broker analyst reports of Infratil’s businesses gives the following average valuations.

The value of debt shown in the table is the actual debt as at 31 December 2016 while the value of

Longroad is the sum Infratil has invested as at that date:


Trustpower* $749m

Tilt Renewables* $355m

Perth Energy $43m

Longroad $36m

Wellington Airport $594m

NZ Bus $212m

Canberra Data Centres $422m

ANU Student Accommodation $85m

RetireAustralia $250m

Metlifecare* $235m

Other $79m

External management contract /corporate

overheads

($214m)

Net Debt ($890m)

Total $1,956m

Average broker per share estimate $3.49

*

Value of Infratil’s holding based on the closing share price on the 3

rd

of February 2017


Investment Strategy

Infratil continues to target relatively high risk-adjusted returns from infrastructure and essential services

in sectors with strong long-term secular trends.

Following considerable portfolio activity over the last five years, Infratil has largely established the

principal areas of growth for the medium term. With positions in retirement living, renewable energy,

data centres and social infrastructure throughout Australia, New Zealand and the USA the strength of

the internal development pipeline has increased considerably, as has the value of future options.

The implied net asset value discount on an Infratil share has widened as the new sector positions have

been established. In part, this is understandable given the unproven value of the new platforms. The

alternative view is that establishment of proprietary platforms is a critical indicator of future success in

a competitive market for private market infrastructure.

Other sectors such as waste, telecommunications, and water continue to be scanned but investors

should expect the focus to be on maximising the performance of existing assets while prioritising capital

for the existing development pipelines and proprietary opportunities. Considerable near-term

opportunities to deploy capital at attractive returns are likely within our renewable energy and retirement

living businesses in Australia and the USA.

Future portfolio activity is still possible but largely dependent on clarification of a number of current

uncertainties – e.g. the outlook for the New Zealand electricity market is evolving as new technologies

impact future business models, and industry boundaries are being blurred by utilities offering multiple

services to customers. Public transport activity has recently been dominated by the new regulatory

regime for procuring services, and in the future will be heavily influenced by electric-powered vehicles

and new technologies enabling more convenient ride-sharing services. Regulators and politicians, as

always, will have a view on the future development of the politically-sensitive industries within which we

operate.

3 Infratil Market Update February 2017

Infratil will adopt a cautious view of markets and position itself to be able to sustain market stresses (or

exploit opportunities) if they arise. Regardless, Infratil continues to maintain its management capability,

analysis of sector fundamentals, and research and development programme as it pre-positions itself for

the likely changes in certain sectors.


Wellington Airport

The Airport experienced its busiest day of 2016 on 23

rd

December with 4,364 international and 23,650

domestic passengers (almost double an average day). The additional 6,000M

2

of domestic terminal

space commissioned in October was fully utilised (total construction cost $65 million), as was the recent

international terminal upgrade (cost $8 million).

From two years ago, daily passenger movements are up on average by over 1,000 people on domestic

services and almost 350 on international flights (with busy days such as 23

rd

December higher again).

A notable aspect of the domestic terminal construction project was its safety. Over 460,000 man-hours

of work and only one accident required medical treatment (a cut hand). All parties can be justifiably

proud of this outcome which reflects the priority given to safety.

The Airport’s on-going construction includes further upgrades to its terminal passenger services, a

ground-transport hub (including 1,000 car parks) and a 134 room hotel. Planning for expansion of the

international terminal is also progressing.

For the full financial year, capital spending is forecast to be approximately $90 million. To help fund this

construction and to repay other debt the Airport has undertaken three bond issues over the year:

$75 million 4.25% coupon maturing May 2023

$60 million 4.00% coupon maturing August 2024

$50 million 5.00% coupon maturing June 2025

The third of these issues is still open to investors seeking a BBB+ rated bond at an attractive yield. The

5% per annum coupon reflects the increase in market rates which has occurred over the period since

the previous issue.

The expansion of the Airport’s facilities to accommodate increasing domestic traffic has been mirrored

by Air New Zealand opening a second lounge for its domestic customers. Growth, and changes to

airline fleet mix, is now requiring additional airfield infrastructure, including the transfer of a part of the

Airport’s car park to the airfield for aircraft parking.

Having only started on 21

st

September, the Singapore Airlines service linking Singapore-Canberra-

Wellington is building passenger support, hopefully to levels that will justify an increase in the service

in the future.

Wellington Airport Passenger Statistics

Domestic Pax Month 12 months

December 2016

436,376 5,065,896

November 2016

425,681 5,048,081

March 2016

- 4,900,232

December 2015

418,561 4,818,045

November 2015

430,344 4,791,609


International Pax Month 12 months

December 2016

85,319 891,998

November 2016

75,259 891,291

March 2016

- 897,359

December 2015

84,612 873,057

November 2015

77,337 860,060

4 Infratil Market Update February 2017

The mid-November earthquake had a temporary effect on domestic traffic, but the flat international

figures appear to reflect a more durable problem from long-haul flights not being able to take-off from

Wellington’s runway. Emirates’ new services directly linking the Middle East with Christchurch and

Auckland has influenced Wellington international passengers who previously flew Europe-Middle East-

Australia-Wellington. And the ongoing increase in New Zealand-China traffic is benefitting other regions

but is also out of reach of Wellington.

The November earthquake caused a temporary delay to the Airport’s plan to remedy its lack of long

haul services. A shortage of court space in Wellington postponed the Environment Court’s process

pushing out the main hearings to probably June 2017.

MBIE regional tourism spending figures illustrate the cost to central New Zealand of not having air links

with the northern hemisphere. Over the last five years the rest of New Zealand experienced a 39% rise

in tourist spend; almost double the 20% growth of the central region (Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu-

Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough). Were central New Zealand capturing a share

of tourist spend consistent with its 28% share of the national economy, it would amount to an additional

$2,070 million a year.


Tourism Spend


Central NZ NZ Total

$Millions

2011 2016 2011 2016

Domestic Spend

3,144 3,671 12,079 15,040

International Spend

1,178 1,537 7,152 10,949

Chinese Spend

25 76 432 1,664


These MBIE figures give the twelve month tourism spend in the respective years. Central New Zealand

captured 18% of the of the $2,961 million increase in domestic tourism spend which occurred over the

five-year period, but only 9% of the $3,797 million increase in international visitor spend (its market

share of Chinese visitor spend fell from 5.8% to 4.6%).


With Ministry figures indicating that Chinese visitors

Where Chinese Tourists Spend In NZ

spent $1,664 million in New Zealand over the last

twelve months, it is easy to appreciate why

Wellington+Tasman+Nelson+Marlborough+Taranaki+

Hawkes Bay+Manawatu-Whanganui would feel

deprived with a less than 5% share.

It’s also easy to appreciate the attraction of a longer

Wellington Airport runway facilitating direct links

between the region and the northern hemisphere.




Chart Title

AucklandCanterburyOtago

Central NZOther regions

5 Infratil Market Update February 2017


NZ Bus

NZ Bus is experiencing modest but satisfactory growth in Wellington but falling patronage in Auckland

as a result of losing tenders for south Auckland services and because NZ Bus’s Auckland routes are

on roads more affected by congestion than expressway services which operate on dedicated busways.

Auckland’s figures for public transport patronage in 2016 relative to 2015 clearly show the benefits of

public transport vehicles or vessels not being captured by congestion.


Auckland

Patronage

Rapid Bus Regular Bus Train Ferry

2015

3,392,100 57,084,700 15,379,700 5,720,300

2016

4,590,700 56,025,600 18,111,200 6,039,900

Growth

+35% -2% +18% +6%

In Auckland the first stage of implementing the new contracting regime (“PTOM”) regime is well

advanced with contracts awarded for south and west Auckland, tender results pending for other areas,

and terms for many of the remaining contracts under negotiation.

In Wellington/Hutt the first tenders are expected to occur shortly. The regional and city councils and

NZTA are however undertaking a new study of the Capital’s land transport (called “Let’s Get Wellington

Moving”) and the final report is not due for some months. In the meantime, with the contract for

Wellington’s 60 electric trolley buses terminating from 1 July 2017, the Regional Council and NZ Bus

have agreed a transitional arrangement for Wrightspeed electric buses to replace the trolleys, or diesel

buses if the electric fleet is not ready.

PTOM contracts transfer all patronage risk from bus operators to the relevant regional transport

agency/council which should encourage them to focus on initiatives to grow patronage.

One illustration of this happening is an

innovative idea in Auckland to use the car

park of a North Shore church for a “park

and ride” bus service, except of course on

Sundays.





NZ Bus Patronage

Northern Pax Month 12 months

December 2016*

2,320,410 37,994,673

November 2016

2,909,784 38,310,802

March 2016

- 39,165,255

December 2015

2,636,539 40,031,954

November 2015

3,355,715 40,154,236


6 Infratil Market Update February 2017

Southern Pax Month 12 months

December 2016*

1,476,086 20,821,854

November 2016*

1,671,475 20,845,881

March 2016

- 20,743,515

December 2015

1,500,113 20,708,776

November 2015

1,737,102 20,688,142

*December 2016 had fewer business days than 2015. The 14 November 2016 earthquake reduced activity

in Wellington for a number of days.


So far the Auckland PTOM contracts have been exclusively for diesel buses, but NZ Bus is progressing

its work with electric Wrightspeed powertrains in the expectation of a shift in that direction. The first of

these buses is expected to undergo road trials in Wellington in the first quarter of 2017.

As previously described, Wrightspeed combines electric motors, battery energy storage, and a turbine

to recharge the batteries. In due course, as recharging infrastructure is installed and batteries become

more efficient, the turbine may become redundant.

Globally, electric battery buses are experiencing two speed implementation. There are over 150,000 of

them already operating in China, but less than 10,000 everywhere else. However, recent

announcements in North America and Europe show that both regions are also pushing electric public

transport. The announcements also illustrate that electric buses are a sector of emerging technology.

The modern diesel bus has been honed over a century through millions of vehicles, electric vehicles

have to catch up, quickly. The European ZeEUS project (Zero Emission Urban Bus System) is

monitoring 61 different field trials in 21 countries and recently published a summary of the trials in the

year to 30 August 2016, covering 597,161 kilometres of operation. Some of the trials are summarised

below:


City Vehicle Battery Recharge

1

Comments

Prague

SOR EBN 172kWh T, D Daily service distance of 265 kilometres.

Hilly and flat routes. A climate range from

30 degrees in summer to sub-zero in

Winter.

Berlin

Solaris

Urbino

230kWh T, D, S Covering a flat 6 kilometre route over 22

hours a day and 168 kilometres.

Bonn

Bozankaya

Sileo

230kWh D 17 kilometre route. 13 hours and 200

kilometres a day. Based on the trial Bonn

will be deciding about full bus network

electrification in 2017.

Hamburg

Volvo 100kWh T, D, S The goal is to purchase only electric

buses from 2020. The trial is on a 13

kilometre route for up to 20 hours a day.

Turku

Finland

Linkker 55kWh T, D 13 kilometre route for up to 18 hours a

day. Flat topography, cold in winter.

Marseille

Irizar 339kWh D 6 kilometre route for up to 16 hours a day

and 140 kilometres. Moderate

topography, hot in summer.

Paris

Bollore

Bluebus

240kWh D 10 kilometre route, 14 hours a day and

180 kilometres. The Paris goal is 100%

electric and biogas powered buses by

2025.

Tel Aviv

BYD 324kWh D Routes of up to 38 kilometres for 14 hours

a day.

7 Infratil Market Update February 2017

City Vehicle Battery Recharge

1

Comments

Rotterdam

VDL/e 100kWh D The goal is to transition the entire fleet to

electric over the next decade.

Schiphol

Amsterdam

BYD 216kWh D Flat route, 120 kilometres a day.

Utrecht

Optare 86kWh D, T Flat route, 140 kilometres a day.

Rzeszow

Poland

Ursus and

Solaris

170 and

210kWh

D 10 kilometre route for up to 9 hours a day

and 120 kilometres.

Warsaw

Solaris and

BYD

208 and

324kWh

D, T Moderate topography. Up to 200

kilometres a day.

Bucharest

SOR EBN

and BYD

172 and

324kWh

D Temperature range of -20 to +40 degrees.

24 kilometre route, 12 hours a day.

Barcelona

Irizar, BYD

and Solaris

125, 324

and 352

kWh

D Flat and hilly routes of up to 13 kilometres.

18 hours and 180 kilometres a day.

Eskilstuna

BYD 280 and

330kWh

D 11 hours and 250 kilometres a day.

Umea

Hybricon 80kWh D, T, S Moderate topography. Up to 18 hours and

250 kilometres a day.

Inverness

Optare 150kWh D, T Moderate topography. Up to 12 hours and

160 kilometres a day.

London

BYD/ADL 324kWh D, T Several different buses are under trial on

a range of routes. 51 BYD/ADL’s is the

largest trial.

Nottingham

Optare 95kWh D, T Moderate topography, up to 15 hours and

100 kilometres a day.

1. Recharging may occur at the depot (D), at the route terminus (T), and on-route at stops (S). A larger

capacity battery and lower daily distance can allow battery recharging over-night at the depot. Smaller

batteries and longer distances requires additional recharging.


Tests of charging and battery configurations in different operating conditions are providing data on

energy consumption, reliability, functionality (range, noise, comfort), battery performance and driver and

customer satisfaction.

In the USA, Seattle has announced the purchase of electric buses from California manufacturer,

Proterra. These buses will only cover about 40 kilometres on a battery charge, but can fully recharge in

under ten minutes. They reportedly cost NZ$1 million each.

Auckland Transport has also announced that it has received a government grant to trial two electric

buses.

A lot of manufacturers and transit agencies are working on the holy grail of a cost efficient electric bus

able to operate without a recharge for 200 kilometres or 16 hours. China, on the other hand, has shortcut

the trial stage. In one city alone, Shenzhen, 4,897 electric buses are now in operation.

Ministry (MBIE) figures indicate that New Zealand’s current CO

2

pricing imposes a cost of 2.4 cents/litre

on diesel. If the cost of CO

2

emissions rises to $75/tonne by 2020 (the level estimated as being globally

consistent with achieving the Paris Accord CO

2

targets) that would be almost 15 cents/litre on diesel.


Trustpower

On 31 December 2016 Trustpower completed its first period separated from Tilt’s wind generation.

Trustpower now comprises hydro generation in New Zealand and Australia and utilities retailing.

Approximately 75% of Trustpower’s value is in the form of its hydro power stations. In a year of normal

rainfall they are expected to generate:

o In New Zealand 1,926GWh (including a 187GWh contribution from King Country Energy which

is 65% owned by Trustpower).

8 Infratil Market Update February 2017

o In Australia (New South Wales) 244GWh.

Were this amount of output sold at current 2017 hedge prices (New Zealand $60,000 per GWh and NSW

$85,000 per GWh) total generation revenue would be approximately $140 million. (The figures are

illustrative. In New Zealand, Trustpower’s generation is sold to mainly retail customers rather than via the

hedge market.)

As the following graph shows, annual wholesale electricity prices in New Zealand have been stable over

the last five years and forward prices indicate an expectation of more of the same.


Source: Electricity Authority and ASX


The other source of Trustpower’s value is in its New Zealand retailing activities, which encompass

electricity, gas and telecommunications (the following table includes King Country’s approximately

16,500 electricity customers from that company’s acquisition by Trustpower in January 2016).

Customers (000s) 31 Dec 2016 30 Sep 2016 30 Sep 2015 30 Sep 2014

Electricity

279 278 252 234

Gas

32 31 28 21

Telecommunication

73 69 51 35

More than one service

88 84 66 46

Trustpower continues to be highly successful at growing its utility customer base. For instance, adding

863 electricity accounts in just December. While it is apparent from Trustpower’s success that a lot of

people want to be provided with several utility services by one reliable provider, the challenge is to

achieve profitable growth, as customer acquisition is expensive.

In addition to its own generation Trustpower also purchases all the New Zealand generation of Tilt which

averages about 650GWh a year. This, and a similar amount purchased in the wholesale market, roughly

matches Trustpower’s sales to its commercial customers.

Over the short term, Trustpower is largely insulated from wholesale market price movements. Over the

medium term wholesale prices will be reflected in retail prices and will either benefit or impact generation

activities and valuations. As noted above, the market expectation is for stable wholesale prices for some

years into the future, notwithstanding risks.

The following table shows New Zealand’s generation over the last five September quarters, which

shows very clearly how stable the period has been.

GWh 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

Total generation

11,312 11,491 11,316 11,078 11,371

Coal/Gas generation

1,558 2,076 2,057 2,688 3,011

% renewable

86.1% 81.8% 81.7% 75.6% 73.4%

Residential consumption

3,911 4,094 3,882 3,944 -

$78

$0

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06Jan-07Jan-08Jan-09Jan-10Jan-11Jan-12Jan-13Jan-14Jan-15Jan-16Jan-17Jan-18Jan-19Jan-20

$/MWh Monthly Wholesale Electricity Prices

Spo t OTA

Hedge OTA Jan-17

Spo t OTA 12mth Avg

Hedge OTA 12mth avg

9 Infratil Market Update February 2017

o Electricity consumption has been flat (notwithstanding the economy expanding about 12% over

the last five years), as is total residential consumption (even though the number of households

increased about 6%).

o Weaker than anticipated demand is causing a reduction of thermal generation (gas and coal

fired) because power stations with higher operating costs which also have to pay for fuel get

switched off before those powered by water, wind or geothermal.

o This makes for feel-good statistics such as “86% renewable generation”, but the closure of coal

and gas fired power stations could have an impact next time it’s a cold dry winter or if demand

revives. The reduced reserve capacity will need to be matched by investment in fast-start thermal

generation and emerging storage technologies, otherwise the system could face higher and more

volatile electricity prices, or worse.

Other sector developments have the potential to alter the current stability of electricity supply and

demand;

o Since 1 January 2017 the electricity contract between the Tiwai Point smelter and Meridian

Energy has allowed the smelter greater termination flexibility. As it consumes about 13% of total

national production, closure (in whole or part) would be a major event. Its owners could provide

a surprise, but are more likely to first seek government support and/or lower electricity prices,

and the widely held view is that neither are required at present.

Australia has recently shown how far a government will go to retain a smelter (and its associated

jobs). A$240 million in subsidies and lower priced electricity have been provided to retain the

Victorian Portland smelter. It produces about the same amount of aluminium as Tiwai Point’s and

is 15 years newer. The Australian smelter’s requirement for subsidies was probably largely

explained by electricity prices. At current market prices, the electricity required for the Australian

smelter would cost about $100 million a year more than the comparable New Zealand cost

(8c/kWh Vs. 6c/kWh).

o New Zealand households continue to install solar panels, but reflecting their marginal economics

relative to buying off the grid, total rooftop generation is still only about 50GWh a year (0.1% of

total generation).

o New Zealand’s uptake of electric cars is even slower than its uptake of solar panels. The national

fleet has just topped 2,200 cars, which may consume about 4GWh of electricity a year (0.01% of

total generation).

A factor which has nothing to do with electricity supply and demand, but which may still impact

Trustpower (and Tilt) are the Electricity Authority’s intended changes to transmission pricing. This has

two components. One is a general rearrangement of charges which lowers transmission costs at the

bottom of New Zealand and raises them at the top, which is likely to have little effect on

generator/retailers. The other change will have the effect of increasing grid charges for “embedded”

generation, including some owned by Trustpower and Tilt (embedded generation largely provides

energy for local consumers so has less need for the transmission grid). However, the complexity of the

new rules is making it difficult for anyone to accurately calculate the financial impact.

New Zealand’s market value of CO

2

is finally getting to levels where it will be having an effect on the

economics of thermal generation. The following price graph provided by Westpac is only telling part of

the story. Until recently emitters had to only surrender 0.5 of a New Zealand Unit (NZU) per tonne of

CO

2

emitted. The ratio is now 0.67 per tonne, and will be 1-for-1 from 1 January 2019.

A modern gas fired power station paying $25/tonne for emissions will be incurring a cost of about

1c/kWh as it buys NZUs (an old coal fired station such as Huntly will have a cost about twice this level).

However, at present the $18/tonne NZU price and the 33% dispensation makes the cost of carbon

emissions for a gas fired power station about 0.5c/kWh. This is still a competitive advantage for

Trustpower as its hydro power stations have zero emissions and hence no requirement to purchase

NZUs.

With New Zealand having signed the Paris Accord, a more aggressive approach to reducing

greenhouse gas emissions is required. It is estimated that to deliver the Paris Accord targets will

require a global CO

2

price of US$55/tonne by 2020 (NZ$75/tonne, three times the price at which the

NZ government has capped NZU prices today). NZ$75/tonne for CO

2

will add almost 3c/kWh to the

price of electricity generated at a modern gas fired power station.


10 Infratil Market Update February 2017

NZU Market Prices to January 2017


Source: Westpac


Tilt Renewables

Following its separation from Trustpower, Tilt has begun life as a standalone generator with a strong

focus on building additional capacity in Australia. Its key uncertainties/opportunities are largely

summarised in the following table. Recognising the ever present risk of the wind not blowing.


Power station Annual

Production

1


Status

Existing


Tararua I NZ 245GWh

All output is sold to Trustpower at a price fixed for five

years. Thereafter the price rises with the CPI or market

electricity prices

Tararua II NZ 318GWh

Mahinerangi NZ 101GWh

Snowtown I SA 357GWh 89% of output sold to Origin Energy until 2018

Snowtown II SA 875GWh

All output sold to Origin to 2030. Price fixed with

escalation

Blayney NSW 18GWh

All output sold to Origin to 2021. Price fixed with

escalation

Crookwell

2

NSW 8GWh

All output sold to Origin to 2019. Price fixed with

escalation

Developments


Salt Creek Vic 170GWh Consented. Construction expected to start mid 2017

Waddi wind WA 300GWh Consented. Construction may start later in 2017

Waddi solar WA 40GWh

Subject to consent applications construction may start

later in 2017.

Palmer SA 1,150GWh

Consented. Appeal underway. Subject to the appeal,

construction could start in 2018.

Dundonnell Vic 1,000GWh

Consenting almost concluded. Planning is underway to

allow construction to start later in 2017.

NSW Project NSW 1,700GWh Consent applications underway

Rye Park NSW 1,000GWh Consent applications underway

1. Forecast average for existing power stations and estimated maximums for developments.

2. 80% owned by Tilt.

11 Infratil Market Update February 2017

Since its establishment, Tilt is pressing ahead with getting its development projects “shovel ready”.

Regulatory and market news continues to be largely positive for the economics of wind and solar

generation, with some complications;

 In January 2017 the Australian Government Energy Minister announced; "The government has

no plans to change the 2020 Renewable Energy Target (RET), which was settled just 18 months

ago".

The Renewable Energy Target is 33,000GWh by 2020 which will require that about 15,000GWh

of new renewable generation is commissioned, at a cost of over A$10 billion. Tilt has the potential

to make a material contribution to this target.

 Under the RET scheme, wind or solar generation provides income from two sources; the sale of

electricity and the sale of RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) to emitters and energy retailers.

At present the Australian market price for RECs is about 9c/kWh (A$90,000 per GWh). The price

for electricity in the wholesale markets is about 8c/kWh in Victoria and 11c/kWh in South Australia

(the REC scheme is national, but each state has its own electricity market and distinct

supply/demand features).

 Over the last three years, Tilt’s average price for its Australian generation (electricity + RECs)

has been 10.3c/kWh. Therefore, if the electricity + REC price is 17c/kWh in Victoria and 20c/kWh

in South Australia, it would seem to be lucrative to build and own more renewable generation in

those markets.

In reality the situation isn’t quite as favourable. The addition of 15,000GWh of wind and solar

generation is likely to push down the price of electricity and the price of RECs.

Also, the average price a wind farm receives for its output is below the market average and as

wind becomes a larger part of a market’s total generation, the more very windy days cause low

electricity prices (further reducing the average wind price).

In South Australia, on average wind is forecast to provide about 35% of the state’s electricity, but

much more on some days. For instance, one day in July 2016 wind turbines provided 83% of the

state’s electricity, with a very depressing effect on the wholesale electricity price.


Source: AEMO and ASX

The 9c/kWh price for RECs reflects their immediate shortage, which is unlikely to be

permanent.

o The REC shortage (hence high price) arose because the last Australian Prime Minister was

opposed to the RET scheme and while he tried to dismantle it, the construction of new power

stations was put on hold, but the obligation of emitters/retailers to buy RECs wasn’t.

o Each day that passes also reduces the REC benefit available to a power station. RECs are

only required until 2030, so that Tilt’s Snowtown wind farm will be receiving value for its

REC’s for 13 years, but a wind farm commissioned, say, two years from now will only receive

value for its RECs for 11 years.

 To date, Tilt’s Australian electricity and RECs have largely been sold on long-term contracts for

about 10.3c/kWh. Market changes have made the availability of such long-term contracts

problematic so a key aspect of Tilt’s preparation for its next wind farm development will be how

it sells the output. This may involve fixing prices with short term contracts or through wholesale

market hedges.

85

$-

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06Jan-07Jan-08Jan-09Jan-10Jan-11Jan-12Jan-13Jan-14Jan-15Jan-16Jan-17Jan-18Jan-19Jan-20

$/MWh South Australia Monthly Electricity Prices

SA SpotSA HedgeSA Spot 12mth AvgSA Hedge 12mth Avg

12 Infratil Market Update February 2017

Infratil has considerable experience of managing volatile Australian electricity prices from the

decade-long involvement with Lumo.


Longroad Energy

Longroad was established by Infratil, the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and an experienced local

management team to develop renewable generation projects in the USA; some of which will be held to

provide income and some of which are likely to be sold to realise development profits. The shareholders

have jointly indicated a willingness to provide initial funding of US$100 million (Infratil’s share NZ$65

million).

The enormous scale of the US energy market allows much greater specialisation than occurs in New

Zealand. Here, companies such as Trustpower tend to undertake all the stages of generation

development, construction and ownership. In the US the various stages are likely to be undertaken by

separate companies.

A specialist land developer will seek out prospective sites for wind and solar generation, contract access

to the site for further development and then sell the contracts to renewable developers for construction.

Subsequent stages may be undertaken by one party or on-sold partially completed. Stages involve;

arranging the connection with the local grid, construction financing, contracting the sale of output to

local retailers or users, procurement of generation plant, construction, and sourcing of equity and debt

funding for the operating plant.

It is anticipated that Longroad will undertake all these steps; in some instances retaining ownership of

generation and in other instances selling to realise a development margin.

Since Infratil’s investment in October 2016 Longroad has announced:

 The purchase of a portfolio of early stage solar development projects across several states.

 The purchase of wind turbines in anticipation of their being deployed as developments become

available. The purchase was undertaken because of the exceptional value then available.

At least in the public domain, Longroad’s progress has been overshadowed by the potential impact of

President Trump’s election promises to boost coal. However, the President’s comments about each of

coal, gas and renewables are inconsistent, making outcomes hard to anticipate. Fascinating research

published by the US Brookings Institution tends to indicate that the horse has bolted on coal and that

renewable generation is now often cost competitive with gas.

Coal vs Gas

In the USA, 2016 was the first year (ever) in which coal-fired generation ceased to be the leading source

of electricity. Over the last three decades, while total coal production has risen slightly, its share of US

electricity generation has fallen from 57% to 33%. Not because of subsidies or restrictions but because

the economics of coal have deteriorated relative to those of gas. The rise in renewable generation has

reflected subsidies, but these are less important now than was the case a few years ago.


USA Generation Market Share



Source: US Brookings Institution

13 Infratil Market Update February 2017




The Economics of New Generation

As the table copied below shows, gas has surpassed coal as the fuel of choice because of lower cost.

The table also shows that wind and solar are now cost competitive with gas.


Unsubsidised cost of energy (US$/MWh)



Source: US Brookings Institution



The Cost of Producing Coal is Rising Relative to the Cost of Gas

Coal could become more attractive as a source of fuel if its cost was to fall relative to the cost of gas

(and renewables). The following graph shows the coal industry’s generally accepted measure of

efficiency, the amount of coal produced per employee hour. Between 1999 to 2013 productivity declined

as mining moved to less accessible seams, subsequent improvements in productivity have come from

the closure of less productive mines.

Without better production techniques or technology there is no expectation that coal output and

productivity could be lifted together.

The weak productivity performance of the US coal mining sector is in stark contrast to what is happening

with gas and renewables. Both of which have experienced substantial cost reductions due to improving

technology, and while it’s problematic that the US President can reduce the cost of producing coal he

probably can make it easier/cheaper to drill for gas, which would further improve the relative price of

that fuel.

Another factor relevant to the politics of US coal mining is that it is highly unlikely that increased

production will increase jobs. In 2016 US coal production was 8% higher than in 1980, but with 57%

fewer workers. Any increases in US coal production would almost certainly be limited to only the most

efficient (low labour input) mines.

In addition to having limited sway over the unsubsidised economics of different forms of generation, the

US President also has little sway over individual state’s subsidies and regulations. The state of Oregon

for instance has passed laws to mandate the retirement of all of the state’s coal fired generation.

The politics of renewables is confusing. The President has said he wants to rein in the Environmental

Protection Agency and to have the USA withdraw from the Paris Accord on Climate Change. But

Federal tax credits for renewables received bipartisan legislative support as recently as December

2015. Probably of greater relevance, much of the US renewable generating capacity, and the

associated manufacturing activity, is in Republican states making it likely that the Republican led House

and Senate will work to protect those jobs against unfavourable Executive initiatives.

14 Infratil Market Update February 2017



USA Wind Turbine Manufacturing Locations


Every aspect of the political equation has pros and a cons. So while the renewables sector supports

jobs in Republican states, it also relies on a global supply chain to deliver falling costs. If the US

Administration imposes import tariffs it will impact on the economics of renewable power stations which

typically have initial capital costs which are twice those of coal and gas generation (renewables of

course pay nothing for fuel).

Another ingredient to the uncertainty is the age of much of the US coal fired generation. As at December

2016, 50GW of coal plants have closed down over the last decade and by 2025 a further 40GW to

60GW is to be retired. New Zealand’s largest power station was Huntly which used to house 1GW of

coal fired generation capacity (50% has now been decommissioned for the same reason as this is

happening in the USA, old plant is too expensive to maintain). Hazelwood, one of Australia’s largest

coal fired power stations, is 1.6GW and is to be entirely closed in 2017.

How Federal policies, state policies, the rising cost of coal mining, the falling cost of gas, and improving

renewable plant economics eventually play out is unknowable at present. There are also political,

societal and commercial factors which make it extremely unlikely that the USA will suddenly stop

building renewable generation. It’s worth quoting recent figures which showed that in 2016, investment

into renewable generation made up over 40% of utility investment in the USA. There will be headwinds,

but the ship is unlikely to sink.

The US situation is hardly ideal for Longroad’s plans to develop, but at its business model is well suited

to dealing with uncertainty and the management team are very capable of taking advantage of the

opportunities as they arise.





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15 Infratil Market Update February 2017


Canberra Data Centres

Canberra Data Centres’ first data centre opened in 2009 with the goal of providing its clients with100%

certainty of data availability, confidentiality and security. Subsequently CDC has opened three more

centres in Canberra to meet the growing demand for data centre solutions and services. A fifth data

centre is in an advanced stage of preconstruction preparation.

CDC’s business has been tailored to its clients’ requirements, through the provision of security, energy,

cooling and telecommunications infrastructure, and by offering flexibility for customer growth. CDC also

provides for data centre redundancy during a catastrophic event by operating multiple facilities and

synchronous back-up.

Although outsourced cloud computing only began with the launch of Amazon Web Services in 2006, it

has developed enormously as demand has exploded. The next stage of evolution is likely to involve

greater penetration by “hyperscale cloud providers”.

 Cloud computing involves the delivery of on-demand computer processing and storage capacity

over the internet on a pay-for-use basis.

 Sector experts Forrester Research recently forecast global cloud demand to top US$146 billion in

2017, up from US$87 billion in 2016. The fastest growing segment of the market are “hyperscale

cloud providers”.

 They include Amazon, Microsoft, Google and IBM. CDC does not directly operate this type of

business, but it does provide an attractive “ecosystem” for their customers and hyperscale cloud

providers to work together.

All providers are currently benefitting from the exponential growth in data usage and services. It has

been estimated that each day in 2017, as much recorded data will be produced as was produced by

the whole of humanity up until 2005.

Recent investment market transactions indicate strong acquirer demand for data storage and

processing infrastructure. Although building a new data centre can take less than a year, incumbents

can have valuable advantages. Clients benefit from co-location “ecosystems” so an incumbent centre

is likely to grow faster than a start-up, incumbents have customer relationships from which to derive

further business, and the incumbent may also have access to electricity and fibre networks which are

not available to a new build.

Two of the three large investment transactions which occurred over November/December 2016

involved a data centre company buying additional centres. The other acquirer was an investor group.

 Chinese data centre company Daily Tech and partners paid £2.4 billion to acquire a 49% stake

and control of Global Switch which owns 10 centres in Europe and Asia.

 Leading US data centre company Equinix paid US$3.6 billion to buy 29 data centres from US

wireless telecommunication company Verizon.

 A consortium of funds paid US$2.15 billion to US telco CenturyLink for its data centres in North

America, Europe and Asia.


RetireAustralia

RetireAustralia is the fourth largest retirement village operator in Australia with a portfolio of circa 4,000

units and apartments in 28 retirement villages in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

Infratil’s strategy for RetireAustralia revolves around three central planks.

 Increasing the construction of new units while ensuring existing facilities are upgraded to meet

customer preferences to maximise future demand and hence value.

 Introducing a continuum of care services for residents. To ensure that RetireAustralia villages

are sought after for needs-based accommodation rather than simply as a lifestyle option. To

ensure that RetireAustralia meets the changing needs of an ageing population.

16 Infratil Market Update February 2017

 Ongoing improvements to operations, stock management, and standardisation of contract

structures to improve business performance.

RetireAustralia’s build-out of its brownfield sites is in line with forecast and is in advanced planning

stages on four greenfield sites which, if planning approvals are achieved, will significantly increase

RetireAustralia’s pipeline.


ANU Student Accommodation

In August 2016, Infratil made its first investment into purpose-built student accommodation

(PBSA). This is a major investment sector in the USA, but still in its fledgling stages in Australia and

New Zealand and new to most investors.

University development of PBSA recognises that family decisions about tertiary study are influenced by

the availability and quality of accommodation. On-campus PBSA provides many benefits.

 Convenience for students. The location minimises transport time and costs. There is no need

to arrange furniture or utilities.

 Good value. By taking advantage of University campus land and through purpose built and

optimised facilities.

 A safe collegial environment. Perhaps most importantly, PBSA offers a good environment for

students moving to a new city, allowing them to establish networks and friendships that become

the cornerstone of their university experience. For parents, the security and pastoral care

offered by well managed PBSA is invaluable: supporting students as they move away from

home (often for the first time), experience the highs and lows of co-habitation and grapple with

new academic challenges. In the case of ANU, the university pays to have Senior Residents

on every floor of each facility who make contact with new students at the start of semester, help

them make contacts with those with similar interests, and organise social activities through the

year.

Increasingly, universities seek to offer quality, affordable student accommodation, to attract and retain

the best students who will have several options in an increasingly competitive and globalised tertiary

education market. Having more of the student body accommodated on campus also creates a more

vibrant, appealing and safe environment. And at ANU, accommodation is priced at a discount to private

alternatives, providing an added incentive for the best and brightest students.

Universities also have funding constraints and competing demands for their capital; for new lecture

theatres, research facilities, etc. Selling the future revenue stream from existing PBSA frees up capital

without relinquishing influence over pastoral care, quality and pricing. And it can incentivise the further

development of new accommodation.

No doubt other universities in Australia and New Zealand are closely following the ANU transaction.

For Infratil the ANU investment provides a reliable cash yield with low vacancy risk (at ANU demand

significantly exceeds supply). Although rents are set below market they are typically indexed providing

an inflation protected return. ANU has also provided Infratil with rights with respect to future PBSA

developments and it is hoped that the relationship with the university will form the basis for additional

investment into adjacent facilities, e.g. the social and cultural amenities required by students.

ANU consistently ranks among Australia’s top universities and is 47

th

in the world on the Times Higher

Education world university rankings (for context, New Zealand’s top ranked university, Auckland, is

165

th

). This ranking and the particular suite of specialist subjects make ANU a destination university

for both Australian and offshore students. Over a quarter of its student body comes from overseas and

half of its domestic students came from other than Canberra to attend. This reinforces demand for

PBSA, reducing occupancy risk and providing a strong pipeline of growth opportunities.

These are still early days for Infratil’s ANU investment and the immediate priority is building relationships

with stakeholders and maintaining the quality of the students’ experience.



17 Infratil Market Update February 2017



Infratil Infrastructure Property

The New Lynn development undertaken with Auckland Council (IIP 58%) has arrived at its final phase

with the retail properties 90% leased. Their effective cost was $1.5 million and they have a $8.5 million

valuation.

On the back of this success, the partners are progressing the development of two further Council owned

sites in New Lynn with IIP providing capital and leading the development of approximately 200 homes.

These projects are also assisting IIP position for opportunities which are expected to arise following the

commissioning of the Auckland Rail Loop. Improved transport accessibility will change commercial and

residential demand as well as social and civic requirements altering the optimal land use.

The largest single development IIP is working on at present is its 1.8 hectare Wynyard Quarter

leasehold site which today is mainly utilised by NZ Bus as a depot. IIP (as leaseholder) and the

landowner recently reset the land rentals for the period to 2035 which has allowed IIP to approach a

range of prospective tenants. Stage One is expected to comprise a mixed-use development, including

a hotel, carpark and tourism venture. Further areas of the site are being actively marketed for future

development.

Although IIP is involved in quite an array of projects, each has a strong connection to Infratil’s activities

and strategy. The New Lynn and Wynyard developments have arisen to maximise the value of bus

depot land which has higher value alternative uses; rather than merely selling the sites to extract this

value. The other initiatives have arisen as city councils seek to work with reliable partners to recycle

some of their own land into more productive civic uses.


Perth Energy (80% Infratil)

PE owns a fast-start 109MW power station at Kwinana and a retail business with approximately 15%

of the Western Australia commercial and industrial electricity market. Over recent years Kwinana has

operated profitably, but the retailing business has struggled, which resulted in PE’s reported loss in the

six months to 30 September 2016.

The poor performance of the retailing business is in part due to the slowdown of the WA economy and

in part reflects the structure of the Western Australia energy market. It is physically separate from the

other states and is dominated by the State Government owned Synergy which has a regulated

monopoly to supply small and medium users of energy and owns or controls approximately 77% of the

state’s generation capacity.

With residential monopolised by Synergy, the contestable market is limited to large commercial and

industrial users of electricity, but with wholesale energy prices also heavily influenced by Synergy.

Now however, the Government’s Electricity Market Reforms are intended to allow residential market

contestability and changes to the regulation of the state’s wholesale market and generation. The

overarching objectives are lower cost electricity, lower Government exposure to energy market risks,

and greater private investment into the WA energy sector.

Needless to say, whilst the objectives are sound, there are complexities and uncertainties in how the

reforms are implemented. An illustration of this is the planned restructure of the state’s generation

capacity market. Unlike other Australian states or New Zealand, WA has a capacity market for

generation which is separate to the energy market. Periodically the state energy agency sets the price

for Reserve Capacity which it pays to generators for being available. For the 2016/17 Capacity Year it

is A$121,889/MW.

The proposed reforms will see the introduction of an auction system to determine the price for Reserve

Capacity while simultaneously retiring coal fired generation capacity. Shifting to an auction may result

in lower income for Kwinana, but how much lower will depend on the level of plant retirement, gas

supply costs and future electricity system supply and demand.

While the auction/retirement package is expected to reduce the price of Reserve Capacity it is also

likely to raise the overall market price of electricity in the state, which should be beneficial for Kwinana.

18 Infratil Market Update February 2017

Over the next two years, reform of the WA retail, generation and capacity markets will create

opportunities and challenges for PE, especially if the state chooses to break up and sell Synergy. But

many of the final decisions depend on the state Government elections which are to be held in March

2017.

In addition to navigating externally imposed changes, PE is also undertaking operational initiatives to

lift financial performance over what was delivered in the first half of the financial year. As a part of the

restructuring, Infratil has guaranteed PE bank facilities, which as at 31 December 2016 were drawn to

A$45 million.


Snapper

The public transport regulatory model now under implementation increases the responsibility of regional

transport agencies for a number of activities, including fare collection. The objectives are of course to

ensure that passengers pay the right fare, that all fare revenue is received by the relevant agency and

that passengers find it all quick and easy.

Meanwhile, transport ticketing technology is becoming account-based (so the fare is debited to a bank

account rather than against a sum stored on a card) so passengers can pay with a range of cards or

devices such as smartphones and smart watches.

There are obvious benefits, but it is more complex than cash, a cardboard ticket or a stored value card.

Transport for London’s shift to bank cards and smartphones required agreements with the ticketing

system provider, technology providers and banks. And London's experience was that while these

payment tools benefited many people, not everyone has a bank card or smart phone, and children, the

elderly and people with disabilities who receive concessionary fares still require a public transport

ticket/card (in London called Oyster).

New Zealand transport agencies want fare collection which delivers on the objectives noted above and

with either the London Transport technology features or with the flexibility to incorporate these systems

later.

Since 2008, Snapper has provided fare collection services to both public and private clients: Wellington

City Council for curb-side car parking, Wellington Cable Car, Wellington Regional Council’s total mobility

scheme, many taxi companies, NZ Bus in Auckland and Wellington, and Ritchies buses in Whangarei.

With this experience, Snapper has been able to develop public transport ticketing that meets regional

transport agency requirements with a low cost, low risk, product known as Ticketing as a Service

("TaaS"). This gives the transport agency the flexibility to use and pay for services as needed. It’s the

same concept as successfully implemented by Xero. Centralised scale development of sophisticated

technology customised for customers who only pay for what they need.

The first interim implementation of TaaS is to be in Wellington. The Regional Council has contracted its

deployment across all Wellington region public transport bus services to support the implementation of

the new contracts. It will also form part of the Wellington Regional Council’s participation with other

transport agencies in the procurement of a New Zealand wide integrated solution.

This will be a boon for passengers as all operators will accept the same card or smartphone. It will also

address concerns about fare collection as more passengers undertake multiple vehicle journeys. The

fare charged to the passenger (and credited to the Council) will automatically take into account

transfers, even between buses operated by different companies.

The Wellington initiatives are expected to position Snapper for further opportunities in New Zealand, as

well as through its offshore clients, including projects based in Dublin, Belfast and Riga.

Data sourced from publicly available filings. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@nzxplorer.co.nz. For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.

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