TransAlta Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results, Provides 2021 Outlook and Announces Carbon Neutrality by 2050
https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/...utrality-by-2050-kltfxr2f Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights
o Comparable EBITDA^(1) of $234 million compared to $243 million for the same period in 2019 o Free Cash Flow ("FCF")^(1) of $52 million or $0.19 per share in the quarter compared to $121 million or $0.43 per share for the same period in 2019 Full Year 2020 Financial Operating Highlights o Comparable EBITDA^(1,3) of $927 million compared to $928 million for the year ending 2019 adjusted for PPA Termination Payments (as defined below) o FCF^(1,3) of $358 million or $1.30 per share compared to $379 million or $1.34 per share adjusted for one-time PPA Termination Payments received in 2019 o Strong availability of 90.3 per cent compared to 90.0 per cent for 2019 o Reduced our carbon emissions by 4.2 million tonnes representing a 20 per cent reduction compared to 2019 o Returned $61 million of capital to shareholders with the repurchase and cancellation of 7,352,600 common shares at an average price of $8.33 per share through our normal course issuer bid (" NCIB") program o Reached our target balance of $1.2 billion of senior corporate debt o Increased the common share dividend by 6% to an annualized dividend of 18 cents per share Other Highlights & Updates o Announced goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 o Added net 67 MW of wind generation through our acquisition of a 49 per cent equity investment in the Skookumchuck wind facility o Completed first boiler conversion to gas for Sundance 6 o Achieved commercial operation of WindCharger, 10 MW battery storage facility and Alberta's first utility-scale energy storage facility o Mining operations at Highvale mine to be discontinued by Dec. 31, 2021 and will cease firing with coal in Canada effective Jan. 1, 2022 o Replaced existing power purchase agreement with BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty. Ltd. ("BHP"), extending the term from Dec. 31, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2038 o Closed AU$800 million of secured financing from the South Hedland Power Station ("TEC Offering") o Received final tranche of investment by an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management of $400 million in preferred shares of the Company pursuant to the Investment Agreement entered into on Mar. 22, 2019 o Together with our partner, Tidewater Midstream & Infrastructure Ltd., entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. ("ATCO") to sell the Pioneer Pipeline for a purchase price of $255 million ($127.5 million net to TransAlta). This agreement replaces the Company's previous agreement from second quarter 2020, to sell its interest in the Pioneer Pipeline to NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. ("NGTL") o The Company's Board adopted a Diversity and Inclusion Pledge that commits the Company to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. By undertaking this pledge, the Company will seek to remove systemic barriers that may prevent diverse employees from thriving, including visible minorities, Indigenous people, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, persons with disabilities, and women o Retired Centralia Unit 1 maintaining the Company's commitment under Washington state's Energy Transition Bill o Announced the retirement of Dawn Farrell, President and Chief Executive Officer by Mar. 31, 2021 after leading the Company for almost a decade. John Kousinioris was appointed President and Chief Executive Office to be effective Apr. 1, 2021 2021 Outlook o Comparable EBITDA range of $960 million to $1,080 million, up 10 per cent from 2020 at the mid-point o FCF range of $340 million to $440 million, up 9 per cent from 2020 at the mid-point o Sustaining capital range of $175 to $210 million
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