Atlantic Power Corporation Releases Second Quarter 2012 Results and Announces Dividend Reinvestment Plan

BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlantic Power Corporation (NYSE: AT) (TSX: ATP) ("Atlantic Power" or the "Company") today released its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. Cash Available for Distribution, Payout Ratio, and Project Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized measures under GAAP and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP; therefore, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Please see "Regulation G Disclosures" attached to this news release for an explanation and US GAAP reconciliation of the measures "Project Adjusted EBITDA", "Payout Ratio" and "Cash Available for Distribution" as used in this news release.  In addition, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP" or the "Plan") for eligible holders of common shares of the Company ("Common Shares").  Please see below for further details. 

Highlights

• Project Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30 increased by $29.9 million, or 70%, from the comparable period in 2011, primarily due to the increased Project Adjusted EBITDA from the newly acquired Capital Power Income L.P. projects
• On July 5, 2012, the Company closed its concurrent equity and convertible debenture offerings for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $192.5 million
• In May 2012, the Company closed on the sale of its 14.3% interest in Primary Energy Recycling Holdings, LLC ("PERH") for cash proceeds of $30.2 million
• On August 2, 2012, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the sale of its 50% ownership interest in the Badger Creek project
• Dividend Reinvestment Program approved by Board of Directors

"We are pleased with the year to date results of the Company," said Barry Welch, President & CEO of Atlantic Power Corporation.  "In addition, we closed concurrent equity and convertible debenture offerings to provide for our equity contribution in the Canadian Hills Wind project, currently under construction in Oklahoma.  We issued our first US$ denominated convertible debenture offering in Canada, allowing Atlantic to naturally hedge the interest payments in US$ to our predominantly US$ denominated cash flows.  As we continue to look for additional growth opportunities, we also continue to rationalize our current portfolio by identifying assets that are either non-core to our business or are minority interests where we do not act as project operator. The sales of Primary Energy Recycling Holdings and Badger Creek help to ensure resources are being used efficiently and that management is focused on its core business assets."

Operating Performance

Project Adjusted EBITDA, including earnings from equity investments, increased by $29.9 million, or 70%, to $72.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 compared to $42.9 million for the same period in 2011, primarily due to contributions from the 18 projects added to Atlantic Power's portfolio when it directly and indirectly acquired Capital Power Income L.P. (subsequently renamed Atlantic Power Limited Partnership, the "Partnership") on November 5, 2011.  

Project Adjusted EBITDA, including earnings from equity investments, increased by $86.8 million, or 110%, to $165.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to $78.8 million for the same period in 2011, primarily due to contributions from the 18 Partnership projects. 

Cash Available for Distribution and Payout Ratio

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, Cash Available for Distribution increased by $38.2 million compared to the same period in 2011.  The payout ratio associated with the dividend improved to 89% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to 111% in the comparable prior year period.  For the three months ended June 30, 2012, the payout ratio was 249%, compared to 109% in the second quarter of 2011. 

Due to the timing of working capital adjustments and the cash payments associated with its corporate level interest payments, the Company's payout ratio will fluctuate from quarter to quarter. For example, the interest payments on the $460 million 9% senior notes of the Company due November 2018 are due semi-annually (May and November) and will impact the Company's payout ratios in the second and fourth quarters. 

The payout ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was positively impacted by an increase in working capital associated with the Ontario plants acquired in the Partnership acquisition as well as a one-time realized gain from reducing the Company's combined foreign currency forward positions as a result of the Partnership acquisition, and the management termination fee from the sale of PERH, partially offset by interest payments associated with newly acquired debt from the Partnership acquisition.

The calculation of Cash Available for Distribution (in both US$ and Cdn$) and a summary of Project Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 are attached to this news release. In addition, a summary of Project Adjusted EBITDA for selected projects for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 is attached to this news release.

Financing for Canadian Hills

On July 5, 2012, the Company closed a public offering of 5,567,177 common shares, at a purchase price of $12.76 per share for common shares sold in U.S. dollars and Cdn$13.10 per share for common shares sold in Canadian dollars, for aggregate net proceeds from the common share offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and expenses, of approximately, $68.5 million.  The Company also issued, in a concurrent public offering, $130.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due 2019 for net proceeds of $124.0 million.  The Company used the net proceeds from the offerings to fund the Company's equity commitment in the Canadian Hills Wind project, its 300 MW wind energy project under construction in Oklahoma. 

Commercial Developments

In February 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Primary Energy Recycling Corporation ("PERC") to sell the Company's 14.3% interest in PERH to PERC for approximately $24.2 million, plus a management agreement termination fee of approximately $6.0 million, for total cash proceeds of $30.2 million. The transaction closed in May 2012 and the Company recorded a $0.6 million gain on the transaction.

On August 2, 2012, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the sale of its 50% ownership interest in the Badger Creek project. The Company will receive proceeds of approximately $3.7 million when the transaction closes, currently expected to occur in the third quarter.

Outlook

Based on actual performance to date and projections for the remainder of the year, Atlantic Power continues to expect to receive distributions from its projects in the range of $250 to $265 million for the full year 2012. The Company expects overall levels of operating cash flows in 2012 to be improved over 2011 levels due primarily to full year contributions from the Partnership assets and increased distributions from Selkirk following the final payment of its non-recourse, project-level debt, which occurred in June 2012. These increased operating cash flows in 2012, in addition to one-time realized gains from the termination of a portion of aggregate foreign currency forward contracts from the combined company and the management termination fee from the sale of PERH, are expected to result in a significant increase in cash available for distribution in 2012 versus 2011.  Atlantic Power continues to anticipate a 2012 payout ratio of approximately 90% to 97%, subject to the financial performance of its projects.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Atlantic Power announced today the details of the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP"). The DRIP allows eligible holders of Common Shares to reinvest their cash dividends (if, as and when declared by the Company's board of directors and paid) to acquire additional Common Shares of Atlantic Power at a 3% discount to market price, as defined in the Plan.

All holders of Common Shares who are Canadian or U.S. residents are eligible to participate in the Plan.  Shareholders who wish to participate in the DRIP should contact their brokerage firm to enroll in the Plan. 

A complete copy of the DRIP and enrollment information is available in the "Investors" section of the Company's website www.atlanticpower.com or here. Shareholders are urged to carefully read the complete Plan before making any decisions regarding their participation in the DRIP.

Participation in the DRIP does not relieve shareholders of any liability for taxes that may be payable in respect of dividends that are reinvested in new Common Shares pursuant to the DRIP. Eligible shareholders interested in participating in the DRIP should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax implications and consequences of their participation in the DRIP in their particular circumstances,

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

A telephone conference call hosted by Atlantic Power's management team will be held on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at 1:00 PM ET.  The telephone numbers for the conference call are: U.S. Toll Free: 1-877-317-6789; Canada Toll Free: 1-866-605-3852; International Toll: +1 412-317-6789.  The Conference Call will also be broadcast over Atlantic Power's website. Please call or log in 10 minutes prior to the call. The telephone numbers to listen to the conference call after it is completed (Instant Replay) are U.S. Toll Free: 1-877-344-7529; International Toll: +1-412-317-0088. Please enter conference call number 10016258.  The conference call will also be archived on Atlantic Power's website.

About Atlantic Power

Atlantic Power is a leading publicly traded, power generation and infrastructure company with a well diversified portfolio of assets in the United States and Canada. The Company's power generation projects sell electricity to utilities and other large commercial customers under long-term power purchase agreements, which seek to minimize exposure to changes in commodity prices.  The net generating capacity of the Company's projects is approximately 2,141 MW, consisting of interests in 31 operational power generation projects across 11 states and 2 provinces and an 84-mile, 500 kilovolt electric transmission line located in California.  In addition, the Company has one 53 MW biomass project under construction in Georgia and one approximate 300 MW wind project under construction in Oklahoma.  Atlantic Power also owns a majority interest in Rollcast Energy, a biomass power plant developer in Charlotte, NC.  Atlantic Power is incorporated in British Columbia, headquartered in Boston and has offices in Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver and San Diego.

The Company's corporate strategy is to increase the value of the Company through accretive acquisitions in North American markets while generating stable, contracted cash flows from its existing assets to sustain its dividend payout to shareholders.  The Company's dividend is currently paid monthly at an annual rate of Cdn$1.15 per share.

Atlantic Power has a market capitalization of approximately $1.6 billion and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AT and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ATP.  For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.atlanticpower.com or contact:

Copies of financial data and other publicly filed documents get filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml under "Atlantic Power Corporation" or on the Company's website.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements 

To the extent any statements made in this news release contain information that is not historical, these statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and forward-looking information as defined under Canadian securities law (collectively, "forward-looking statements").

Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements", which reflect the expectations of management regarding the future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities of the Company and its projects and other matters.  These statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company's future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of the words "may," "will," "project," "continue," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect" or similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to present or historical matters.  Examples of such statements in this press release include, but are not limited, to statements with respect to the following:

• The expectation that distributions from the Company's projects will be in the range of $250 million to $265 million for the full year 2012;
• The expectation that overall levels of operating cash flows in 2012 will be improved over actual 2011 levels;
• The expectation that there will be significant increases in cash available for distribution from 2011 and that the payout ratio in 2012 will be approximately 90% to 97%;
• The expectations regarding quarterly fluctuations in the Company's payout ratio and the impact of certain interest payments on the Company's payout ratio; and
• The expectations regarding timing for the completion of sale of the Company's 50% ownership interest in the Badger Creek project.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not or the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved.  A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's periodic reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada from time to time for a detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company.  Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what are believed to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material.  These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.  The financial outlook information contained in this news release is presented to provide readers with guidance on the cash distributions expected to be received by the Company and to give readers a better understanding of the Company's ability to pay its current level of distributions into the future.  Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Regulation G Disclosures

Cash Available for Distribution is not a measure recognized under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP.  Management believes Cash Available for Distribution is a relevant supplemental measure of the Company's ability to earn and distribute cash returns to investors.  A reconciliation of Cash Flows from Operating Activities to Cash Available for Distribution and to Payout Ratio is provided below.  Investors are cautioned that the Company may calculate this measure in a manner that is different from other companies.

Project Adjusted EBITDA is defined as project income plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (including non-cash impairment charges) and changes in fair value of derivative instruments.  Project Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure recognized under GAAP and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP.  Management uses Project Adjusted EBITDA at the project-level to provide comparative information about project performance.  A reconciliation of Project Adjusted EBITDA to project income is provided on the following page.  Investors are cautioned that the Company may calculate this measure in a manner that is different from other companies.

SOURCE Atlantic Power Corporation

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