Alterra Power Announces Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2015

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May 12, 2015, 10:09 ET

(under IFRS and all amounts in US dollars unless otherwise stated)

VANCOUVER, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Alterra Power Corp. (TSX: AXY) ("Alterra" or the "Company") is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2015. For further information on these results please see Alterra's Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis.

For the period ended March 31, 2015, Alterra consolidated 100% of the results of operations at HS Orka and Soda Lake (until Soda Lake was sold on January 30, 2015), while Alterra's interests in the Toba Montrose run of river hydro facility and the Dokie 1 wind facility were accounted for as equity investments. In certain statements in this news release, Alterra's results are disclosed as Alterra's "net interest", which means the effective portion of results that Alterra would have reported if each of HS Orka (66.6%), Toba Montrose (40%), Dokie 1 (25.5%), and Soda Lake (100%) had been reported in accordance with Alterra's actual share of ownership at March 31, 2015 and for the three months then ended. While management monitors the consolidated results closely, it believes that net interest reporting provides the clearest view of Alterra's performance.

Highlights for the quarter include:

Fleet generation: The Company's fleet-wide performance against budget (103%) was a first quarter record, driven by record quarterly generation at Toba Montrose (248% of plan).
EBITDA and revenue: Consolidated and net interest EBITDA were $8.3 million and $6.0 million respectively, reflecting an increase of 8% and 18% against the comparative quarter, primarily due to the increased generation at Toba Montrose. Consolidated revenue declined by 13% to $16.4 million predominately due to the sale of Soda Lake on January 30, 2015 ($1.4 million impact quarter on quarter) together with unfavorable currency fluctuations at HS Orka.
HS Orka dividend: HS Orka declared a dividend of $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2015. The Company's 66.6% share is $1.6 million, and is expected to be received in the second quarter of 2015.
Jimmie Creek hydro project (62 MW): Construction is progressing ahead of schedule due to the mild winter. Excavation of the intake has been completed with construction of the intake structure underway, penstock installation is over 65% complete, and building installation at the powerhouse commenced in May. The facility is expected to commence generation in July 2016.
Shannon wind farm (204 MW): The Company is finalizing terms with the project financing parties and expects to complete the financing in the second quarter. A letter of intent with two tax equity partners was completed in February 2015 and all project agreements are either complete or in final stages of completion. Road construction and improvements and turbine foundation excavation (on all 119 foundations) are complete, with turbine foundation construction and collector line placement well underway. The Company expects commercial operations to commence in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Sale of Soda Lake facility: On January 30, 2015, the Company sold the 15 MW Soda Lake geothermal facility and related geothermal development assets to an affiliate of Cyrq Energy, Inc. for proceeds of $8.5 million plus potential additional compensation over the next five years upon the achievement of certain earn-out provisions. Alterra retained the rights to develop a 40 MW solar project at the site.
Advancement of early stage hydro projects: During the quarter the Company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Klahoose First Nation, to jointly develop the 15 MW Tahumming project, located in the Toba Valley near the Toba Montrose and Jimmie Creek projects. In addition, the National Energy Authority in Iceland awarded the Company research permits for the Hvalá (55 MW) and Skúfnavatnavirkjun (10 MW) hydro projects.
Other growth opportunities: The Company continues to advance other development projects globally. Refer to the Company's MD&A for further details.

Financial Results

The following table shows Alterra's net interest in selected operating and financial results for the quarter, in addition to key financial information extracted from the consolidated results.


For the three months ended	HS Orka	Toba Montrose	Dokie 1	Soda Lake	Development and Head Office	Net Interest Total	Consolidated Results
March 31, 2015 ^(a)	(66.6%)	(40%)	(25.5%)	(100%) ^(c)	Development and Head Office	Net Interest Total	Consolidated Results
Generation (MWh)	216,100	23,622	22,520	6,991	—	269,233	331,466
Total revenue	10,624	1,901	2,278	449	—	15,252	16,401
Gross profit	3,246	103	1,368	167	—	4,884	5,041
EBITDA ^(b)	4,606	592	1,730	152	(1,090)	5,990	8,301


For the three months ended	HS Orka	Toba Montrose	Dokie 1	Soda Lake	Development and Head Office	Net Interest Total	Consolidated Results
March 31, 2014	(66.6%)	(40%)	(25.5%)	(100%)	Development and Head Office	Net Interest Total	Consolidated Results
Generation (MWh)	219,001	2,156	22,000	18,950	—	262,107	347,780
Total revenue	11,453	230	2,489	1,830	—	16,002	18,925
Gross profit (loss)	3,758	(1,650)	1,425	597	—	4,130	6,239
EBITDA ^(b)	5,287	(1,299)	1,860	798	(1,563)	5,083	7,717

(a)	All tabular amounts in the table above are expressed in thousands of US dollars with the exception of generation
(b)	Here and elsewhere, Adjusted EBITDA ("EBITDA") is defined by Alterra as earnings before interest, taxes, foreign exchange, depreciation and amortization, as well as before deductions for change in fair value of bonds payable and derivatives, foreign exchange gain (loss), write off of development costs and goodwill, and other income (expense) except business interruption proceeds, amortization of below market contracts, and value assigned to options granted, less share of income (loss) of equity accounted investees, plus the Company's interest in EBITDA of its equity accounted investees. Alterra discloses EBITDA as it is a measure used by analysts and by management to evaluate Alterra's performance. As EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure, it may not be comparable to EBITDA calculated by others. In addition, as EBITDA is not a substitute for net earnings, readers should consider net earnings in evaluating Alterra's performance. For a reconciliation of consolidated EBITDA to Alterra's consolidated financial statements refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2015
(c)	The facility was sold on January 30, 2015

Consolidated Results

Revenue was $16.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, a decline of 13% from the comparative quarter. This is primarily due to the loss of revenue as a result of the sale of Soda Lake on January 30, 2015 ($1.4 million impact quarter on quarter) and unfavorable currency fluctuations at HS Orka.

Net loss was $16.3 million, a decline against the comparative quarter ($9.7 million loss). The increase in net loss is largely due to non-cash items including:

A $6.8 million non-cash loss in the value of the embedded derivatives liability, resulting from aluminum price fluctuations and foreign exchange (comparative quarter: $5.7 million non-cash loss).
A $9.2 million non-cash loss due to unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates (comparative quarter: $3.9 million non-cash loss).

Consolidated cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2015 were $45.7 million of which $15.3 million is held in the Company's Icelandic subsidiary ($63.2 million and $25.1 million respectively at December 31, 2014).

Net Interest Results

Alterra's net interest in revenue decreased by $0.7 million to $15.3 million against the comparative quarter due to the sale of Soda Lake on January 30, 2015 ($1.4 million impact quarter on quarter) and currency impacts at HS Orka slightly offset by increased generation at Toba Montrose. EBITDA increased by 18% to $6.0 million primarily due to record high first quarter generation at Toba Montrose.

The net interest cash position at March 31, 2015 was $45.3 million.

Operating Results

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company's fleet wide generation was 103% of budget on a net interest basis (a record high first quarter result).


	Q1 2015 Generation (MWh)
			Net Interest
Facility	Budget	Actual	Budget	Actual	% of Budget
Reykjanes	200,880	199,026	133,786	132,551	99%
Svartsengi	131,760	125,449	87,752	83,549	95%
Soda Lake ^(a)	6,000	6,991	6,000	6,991	117%
Toba Montrose	23,854	59,054	9,542	23,622	248%
Dokie 1	90,872	88,314	23,172	22,520	97%
TOTAL	453,366	478,834	260,252	269,233	103%

(a)	The facility was sold on January 30, 2015

Outlook

John Carson, Alterra's CEO, said, "We are excited to report another generation record this quarter, thanks to the continued excellence of our operations teams at Toba Montrose, Dokie and Iceland. Meanwhile we remain fully on track and on budget toward achieving all of our near-term growth plans for the Jimmie Creek and Shannon projects this year."

Alterra Power will host a conference call to discuss financial and operating results on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 11:30 am ET (8:30 am PT).

North American participants dial 1-888-390-0605 and International participants dial 1-416-764-8609; the conference ID is 66744003

The call will also be broadcast live on the Internet at

http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=990221&s=1&k=9B090F7EE3B70B570C83304010B7F58D

The call will be available for replay for one week after the call by dialing 1-416-764-8677 and entering replay PIN 744003

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

Certain statements included in this news release may contain information that is forward-looking within the meaning of certain securities laws, including information and statements regarding prospective results of operations, financial position, cash flows or growth potential. These statements are based on factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including assumptions based on historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Since forward-looking statements relate to future events and conditions, by their very nature they require making assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Alterra cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. Material risk factors include those set out in the management's discussion and analysis section of Alterra's most recent annual report and quarterly report, and in Alterra's Annual Information Form. Given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of their dates. Other than as specifically required by law, Alterra undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

SOURCE Alterra Power Corp.