Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. E.S.P. (BVC:ISA)
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Earnings Call: Q2 2024

Aug 1, 2024

Summary

Net income rose 2% year-over-year to COP 708 billion in Q2 2024, with EBITDA up 7% excluding currency effects. Investment backlog stands at COP 28 trillion, supporting long-term growth, while debt/EBITDA remains at a healthy 3.7x.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Good morning. I'm Mateo Ochoa, and I'm part of the Investor Relations team at ISA. I want to thank everybody for being with us for this conference, in which we'll show the results for the second quarter of ISA and its companies. Throughout the presentation, you can ask your questions through the screen that you can see on the right part of your screens. You can write your name and organization, and at the end of the event, we'll answer your questions. Today, we have with us Gabriel Melguizo. He is the Interim CEO of ISA. Jaime Falquez, VP of Corporate Finance, Patricia Castaño, Corporate Strategy, VP, and Sebastián Castañeda, Growth and Business Development, VP. We'll begin with the relevant facts for the second quarter, as explained by Gabriel Melguizo, and then Jaime Falquez will inform about the financial results.

Finally, Gabriel will provide some closing messages, and we'll move on to the Q&A. Let's move on to the next slide, and Gabriel will take the floor.

Gabriel Melguizo
Interim CEO, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you so much, Mateo. First of all, good morning, everybody. It's my pleasure to say hello to you, and thank you so much for being here. Let's move on to the next slide. As you know, the ISA 2030 strategy is based on three pillars for the generation of sustainable value. On the first dimension, our responsibility is to create value for our shareholders. And that being the case, we maintain our commitment through solid results and implementing projects that will increase our assets and income, and the continuous search for new bids. As of the end of June, we have 39 projects in construction, which, when powered, will add approximately COP 1.8 trillion to our annual revenue. Once again, COP 1.8 trillion.

The net income for the quarter, and we're talking about the second quarter of 2024, is COP 708 billion. This represents an increase of 2% compared to 2023. For the first six months of the year, the net income goes up to COP 1.3 trillion. Our return on average equity for the end of June 2024 is at 14%. [Foreign language]. According to our last dividend that we decreed, we've made two of the three decreed payments with a value of COP 370 per share for each payment, which adds to about COP 820 billion.

Within our second dimension of our strategy, which is creating a positive social, environmental impact, we got third place in terms of sustainability as a leading company in the ALAS20, and they recognized our social programs in relation to interest groups, servicing concerns, needs, and expectations of our audience, and our management of risks and value creation for sustainable development. Likewise, in this dimension, and supported by the Jaguar Connection program, we started a new project for the keeping or conservation of more than 40,000 hectares in the Amazon, in the Acre state in Brazil. And with this, we'll be reaching a total of 424,000 conserved hectares with the benefits of the Jaguar program. And we'll move on to the third dimension, which aims to ensure corporate oversight.

Here, I want to highlight that in this second quarter of 2024, we were able to connect cellular projects, cell phone projects, with electrical substations. Likewise, I want to highlight that we closed this second, third quarter of the year with a backlog to execute for 2030, around COP 28 trillion. This is a backlog in bids for the order of COP 28 trillion. At ISA, we understand that the responsible implementation of investment commitments is key to ensure sustainability and growth of income in the long term. Thus, our goal is to maximize return investment by aligning ourselves with sustainable development goals and the goals of our audiences. Let's move on to the next slide, please. At ISA, we keep strengthening our capacity of the grid of electrical transmission by increasing the capacity of transmission. For the second quarter, I want to highlight a few things.

For instance, in Colombia, the Caño Limón substation, we connected a transforming part which allows for greater transmission of the oil wells that we have in those regions. This has been done with clean energy, which has a positive effect on the environment and decarbonization as well. In Peru, we included the broadening for the tension change in the Chilca link in Planicie de Carabayllo. In Chile, broadening of the electrical network began its operations with the installation of power switches in these different substations. We also had 13 reinforcements for the ISA CTEEP network in Brazil. All these new powered projects represented investments of around COP 141 billion, and they'll result in around COP 20.5 billion in annual revenue. What we saw on the screen doesn't correspond to the 13 reinforcements in Brazil, which had an executed CapEx of about $16.5 million.

Let's go to the next slide. For the second quarter of 2024, COP 1.1 trillion in investments were carried out. A similar number compared to the same quarter in 2023, and the CapEx was distributed as follows. Colombia represented 19% of total executed investments for ISA in this quarter. We made progress in the construction of connection and UPME projects, including five projects that enabled renewable energy sources in the country. Brazil represented 48% with investments of 191 reinforcements in the transmission grid and seven projects bid for. Chile represented 25% of investments, where, in terms of energy transmission, we made progress in the construction of four increases in the grids of ISA Interchile in the new substation in Nueva Lagunas. In terms of roads, we made progress with several works in these different routes.

Yesterday, July 31st, the Ruta del Loa began formally its operations, and this is a project that we were carrying out in Chile, and it began operations yesterday. Peru represented 6% of investments, which corresponds to reinforcements and broadenings of associated substations and construction projects. In terms of companies controlled by ISA, right now, we're making progress in the construction of 39 projects. Energy transmission projects will add close to 5,700 km of lines. In terms of roads, we have 407 km, including 246 km for the improvement and maintaining of the Eastern Pan-American Road. Once these works go into operation, they'll create annual revenue of about COP 1.8 trillion. With the executed investments in the quarter, the backlog of committed investments for the next six years closed at COP 28 trillion. In the second quarter, we added projects to our growth process.

In Colombia, we signed two private contracts for the connection of solar energy, Valledupar 1, 2, and 3, and the broadening of the Atlantic photovoltaic substation. In Brazil, ISA CTEEP won the bids for 24 reinforcements with the CapEx at around BRL 705 [million]. In terms of roads, we got the supreme decree issued by the Ministry of Public Works of Chile, which means that we will be able to build and operate the South Orbital Route, which will enable mobility in one of the main exits of the Chilean capital. As you can see, at ISA, we continue to expand our business with all these new projects that we are adding to our investment portfolio. Before we move on to the financial section, I want to introduce the person that will be with us for this section, Mr. Jaime Falquez.

As you know, he is the Interim Corporate Finance VP, who was the Director of Financial Resources at ISA from 2011. Jaime is an industrial engineer, graduated from the University of the North in Barranquilla. He has a master's degree in Business Management from the same university. He has more than 20 years of experience in management, corporate finance in different geographies and different companies, which include ISA. Let's move on to the next slide, and I will give the floor to Mr. Falquez.

Jaime Falquez
VP of Corporate Finance, Interconexión Eléctrica

Gabriel, thank you so much. It's an honor for me to be with you today to present ISA's results for the second quarter of 2024. The most important message for these results is they continue to have a solid performance in each of our geographies, which are coherent with the strategy of our company.

In terms of EBITDA, it was at COP 2.2 trillion for the second quarter, and that represents a 7% increase compared to the same period last year, not taking into account the exchange effect. This is mainly due to two effects, which is the starting of operations of three projects, and the reinforcements that we had at Brazil, as well as some contractual improvements and the results of the controlled companies. It's important to underscore that the strengthening of the Colombian peso versus the dollar and other currencies in the region has seen the financial numbers reduced once they are consolidated to Colombian pesos. At the accrued level, EBITDA reaches COP 4.5 trillion, increasing 1%, not taking into account the exchange effect, thanks to the new projects that began operations. Once we consider the conversion or exchange effect, as we can see at the graph, the accrued EBITDA decreases 12%.

Let's move on to the next slide. Let's talk about net income. The net income for the second quarter went up to COP 708 billion, representing an increase of 2% against the prior year, and 19% if we exclude the conversion effect. The income benefited from that greater EBITDA that we saw on the previous slide, and financial expenses that were decreased by the exchange difference for the debt in Brazil and Chile. Year- to- date, net income at ISA closed in COP 1.3 trillion, representing an increase of 3%. This is due to the projects that began operations in July 2023, and which are generating new income.

As you remember, in following up with the last presentations we had from the last quarter of last year, we are including in the management report the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, aiming to ease understanding of ISA's business and having a measure that is closer to the operational generation of cash flow. Here representing a summary of our accrued EBITDA in the segments of energy transmission and roads, which are the ones that impact the most results, both IFRS and compared to adjusted EBITDA. Year- to- date, EBITDA under IFRS regulations for the segment of energy transmission, as it was explained earlier, was COP 3.8 trillion, which, if we exclude the conversion effect, reflects an increase of 3%. EBITDA benefited from a greater operational income given the new projects and the effect of the scalers for the contracts, as we explained earlier.

Here we have adjusted EBITDA for the energy transmission as well for the same period, where if we exclude the conversion effect, the indicator shows an increase of 19%. Here we can see how it grows 3% when we exclude the conversion effect, but adjusted for 14%, and this is mainly due to an increase in cash operations flow. Also the scalers, and also what we saw in CTEEP, but also the termination of the application of the lower charges that we saw for 2026. In terms of roads, and here we can see in the lower part of the slide that we're seeing, we can see that EBITDA in IFRS shows a decrease explained mainly by the valuation of the Colombian peso against the Chilean peso and a lower return for the financial asset.

These impacts were compensated partially with the adjustment for the non-chargeable provision at Maipo. In the lower part, we have that same analysis, but with the adjusted EBITDA, which without the conversion effect, shows an increase of 12% compared to the same semester of the prior year. Here under IFRS regulations, if we don't include the conversion effect, there's a decrease of 5%. When we adjust it, we have an increase of 12%. This is mainly due to the income or the increase thereof in terms of the prepaids received by the Ministry of Public Works in Chile, the greater collection of roads, trips that were complementary in that same country. In conclusion, as we can see, the adjusted numbers here show a solid performance for each of our business lines.

In this comparative slide of the main numbers and indicators in terms of IFRS and adjusted, even though with IFRS income goes down 10%, the operational reality of the business reflects an adjusted P&G for the same period. A similar behavior is observed with EBITDA, which goes down 12% in IFRS. Nonetheless, the adjusted numbers show an increase of 2%. Finally, I'd like to underscore the EBITDA margin of 63% in IFRS, while in the adjusted EBITDA reflects a margin of 78%. The year-on-year variations for the adjusted indicators reflect a healthy situation in terms of cash flow to keep growing and executing our investment commitments. In this slide, we present the movements in terms of debt and financing. We see healthy levels of debt. The end of June of 2024, the debt balance was COP 33 trillion, which reflects an increase of 6% compared to 2023.

This increase is explained the following way: at 3% due to the devaluation of the Colombian peso against the dollar and 3% due to the financing of our investment plan. The movements in terms of the debt balance show us, due to net effects of amortizations and disbursements of bonds and financial obligations for COP 922 billion, and with a conversion effect COP 929 billion. The main debt movements were in Brazil, the issuance of the debentures for COP 1.7 trillion in ISA CTEEP. In Peru, we also got a disbursement for $30 million for the investment plan. In Colombia, the issuance of bonds in the local market for COP 400 billion. This was last June, and we got good signs from the market. In Chile, we had variations corresponding mainly to the disbursements received in the Ruta del Loa for the execution of the project. That just began operations recently.

Net of amortization of the Ruta del Maipo bond for the second quarter of the year, the consolidated debt portfolio in ISA has an average life of nine and a half years, which is in line with the profile of these biddings in ISA's business. We highlight debt over EBITDA, which closed 3.7x , which is greater than last year's 3.4 x. This is due to the support we've given to our investment plan. This indicator is within the levels suggested by rating companies for the company's rating, and which allows us to keep financial flexibility and to continue our growth strategy. With this information, we finish this chapter on financial results, and I give the floor to Mr. Melguizo for some closing messages.

Gabriel Melguizo
Interim CEO, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you so much, Jaime. Let's provide some closing statements to finish this first part and to move on to the Q&A.

First of all, we'd like to make emphasis on the fact that we're focused on the effective execution of our investment commitments. We said that as of now, we have a backlog of COP 28 trillion for the next six years, which will generate a sustainable income and returns, which align our decisions with the strategic objectives and expectations of our stakeholders. In different geographies, our businesses continue to grow, supported by the operations of new projects and the contractual scalers. We kept a level of stable returns, highlighting our return over equity at 14% or return on average equity at 14%. We added new victories to our portfolio, in this commitment to enabling an energy transition. We have a solid balance and financial flexibility to leverage growth with debt indicators within the reference levels or benchmarks from rating companies.

We're committed to the generation of value to our shareholders. As of now, we carried out the second payment of dividends for a total accumulated of COP 820 billion. Thank you so much again for your attendance, and we will give the floor to the Q&A.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

All right, so let's begin our Q&A session. We have several comments. Let's begin with the first question, and this is general. I'm going to summarize [Florencia] and [Andrés Felipe]'s comments. They want to know about the election of the new CEO in terms of the selection of the new CEO. I'd like to thank Gabriel, if he can help us with this answer.

Gabriel Melguizo
Interim CEO, Interconexión Eléctrica

Who made the question again?

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Of course, [Florencia] and [Andrés Felipe]. [Florencia] is an investor of MetLife, and [Andrés Felipe] is a shareholder.

Gabriel Melguizo
Interim CEO, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you so much, Mateo. [Florencia], [Andrés Felipe], thank you so much for your question.

The answer is for everybody, of course. The CEO election process is supported completely by the corporate government of ISA. The process is the responsibility of the board of directors of ISA with the support of a specialized firm in the search for high-level executives. This is Korn Ferry, the name of the company, and this is a well-positioned company for all companies at the international level. This process is taking as long as it should take, and we're sure that the board of directors, comprised of nine members of the highest level, at the professional level, will reach the best decision in terms of the future CEO of ISA. In the meantime, here at ISA, we continue, like you saw in the results, carrying out and materializing our strategy. We have a strategy that is solid with important investments. We have working teams that know what they're doing.

Right now, I am the Interim CEO, and I have a team that has been in ISA for many years and in other companies that are of the highest caliber. That's why we're sure that ISA will keep along its path with the support of the board of directors and with its 5,000 employees in all geographies. That's the answer, [Florencia] and [Andrés Felipe], and thank you so much for your question again.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you so much, Gabriel. Let's move on to the next, second question from [Florencia], and it's regarding an update about the rumors that CREG would want to change the indexation of charges or tariffs in Colombia.

Gabriel Melguizo
Interim CEO, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you, Mateo. I'll take the question. The CREG, the indexer, is needed. The CREG issued on July 16th a resolution project where they made an indexer proposal.

We are carrying out an impact analysis and the pertinence of these indicators, and we'll provide an answer in August, within the time frame allowed for comments. We're very much focused on analyzing the impact and the best alternatives for an indexer that truly gathers the cost variations for energy transmission companies. We're making progress, and we hope that with the support of all the different groups of institutions, we'll be able to develop a proper indexing proposal. Thank you, [Florencia], for your question.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you, [Florencia] and Gabriel. Let's move on to our next question by [Ana María], where she asks, if looking at the decrease observed in financial expenses, she would like to ask, what's the debt cost of the company? Maybe Jaime Falquez can help us with this answer.

Jaime Falquez
VP of Corporate Finance, Interconexión Eléctrica

[Ana María], thank you for your question. In general terms, as was presented at the consolidated level and taking into account the portfolio of debt that we have of COP 33 trillion, with an average life of nine and a half years, a consolidated analysis and forecasted analysis would tell us that our debt is close to the 7% in dollars for that medium life, of course, or average life. Of course, we're mixing debts in reais from Brazil, Colombian pesos and so on, but it's a good proxy nonetheless for comparing reasons.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Perfect, Jaime. Thank you so much. Another question. [Andrés] asks if you expect, in what's left of the year, having more operations for debt management. Maybe Jaime can help us with this answer as well.

Jaime Falquez
VP of Corporate Finance, Interconexión Eléctrica

[Andrés], thank you so much for the question. Yes. At ISA, we are always carrying out a management of our liabilities, making sure that we have competitive conditions that allow us to have a cost of capital that is actually efficient, looking at the long term. This year, we carried out an operation in Colombia, and we are assessing other potential operations, which could be in Colombia as well, and we're always talking. We don't have another one in the landscape. In particular, we have a company in Colombia that we're assessing, and this depends on market conditions. That's what I can share with you as of now.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you so much, Jaime. Another question from [Florencia] from MetLife, and they're asking if leverage is calculated with what type of EBITDA, if adjusted or under IFRS.

Jaime Falquez
VP of Corporate Finance, Interconexión Eléctrica

Yes, Mateo. Thanks again, [Florencia]. We use IFRS actually, and that's how the rating agencies measure us: based on income minus AOM, taking the net effect for construction, and incorporating what we gather from the RS. It's an EBITDA that with IFRS, we have some adjustments that could not be cash flow-related, but the concrete answer is that we start with IFRS.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you, Jaime. Allow me a moment to see the questions we have. Just one moment, please, to look at these questions. [Foreign language] All right. Let's ask one more question regarding whether ISA would be interested or not in acquiring the [TEPIX] package.

Sebastián Castañeda
Growth and Business Development VP, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you, Mateo . Eletrobras is carrying out some investments in CTEEP shares. ISA has a controlling share with the shares we have right now, and we're not considering, right now, increasing our share. Thank you.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thanks, Sebastián. One more question, where [Andrés] asks the motto of without transition, there's no transmission. How much is it understood by the Colombian government, and what's the outlook in terms of how the Colombian government relates to this transition?

Gabriel Melguizo
Interim CEO, Interconexión Eléctrica

Hello, good morning. Thank you for the question. I think that, in general, this role of transmission for transition is not something we're doing at ISA, but something that is being done and considered by all companies and countries around the world. Everyone understands the importance of transmission. In the case of Colombia, the UPME recently published its vision regarding what they refer to as the transmission vision, where they are updating the system and declaring, under four dimensions, a series of solutions that should start answering the structural needs of the system.

Within those dimensions, we have some urgent works that given the needs, they will not happen in a very expedited way, and we have another approved plan for 2022. But they highlight the actions carried out on the one hand, to formulate and issue, which expired by December of this year, the expansion plan, and a fourth dimension that has to do with the modernization plan of the system. This is completely aligned with the vision we've had and with the work we've been carrying out with them, trying to boost that transmission solution to introduce the flexibility required by the grid. So we're seeing a positive response from UPME in terms of this need of transmission.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you, [Gabriel], for your answer. We have a question from [Simón Díaz López]. Given the impact of currency exchange variation, have you contemplated strategies for currency hedging, or are they not necessary? Maybe Jaime can provide a good answer. Thank you.

Jaime Falquez
VP of Corporate Finance, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thanks again for the question. I think it allows us to strengthen that message that we keep a natural hedge for each of the geographies and countries that we have a presence, where the functional currency, the debt, the income, is in the same currency. So for instance, in Brazil, we have debt in reais, income in reais. So the exchange rate is mitigated, and the resources needed to service our needs are insured, and they are not exposed to currency risks. As you understand, given regulations, we got to report everything in Colombian pesos for Peru, Chile, and Brazil to Colombia pesos.

Here is where we see an effect from one period to the next, depending on the appreciation or depreciation of the Colombian peso, which can show a variation as it is expressed. But for each of its original currencies and businesses, the results are not volatile, and they are growing based on the expectations of the business.

Mateo Ochoa
Investor Relations Analyst, Interconexión Eléctrica

Thank you, Jaime. With this question, we will close our conference for this result sharing for the second quarter of the year, and we thank everyone for being with us today. Thank you so much, and have a good day.