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MARC 2009 WallStreet: Drop, Stock, & Barrel. Ben Sung Luminus Management. Investor Base. Equity Generalist Sector focused Retail Debt Investment grade High yield. Utilities and Power Subsector. Public Regulated Utilities Integrated Utilities Unregulated Merchant Generators
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MARC 2009WallStreet: Drop, Stock, & Barrel Ben Sung Luminus Management
Investor Base • Equity • Generalist • Sector focused • Retail • Debt • Investment grade • High yield
Utilities and Power Subsector • Public • Regulated Utilities • Integrated Utilities • Unregulated Merchant Generators • “Private” GenCos • Private
Difficult Environment • Competition for investment capital • Alternatives – Capital structure and/or sectors • Cash – Investors’ need for liquidity • Regulatory framework • Political/legislative uncertainty • Potential pressure to artificially offset cost of CO2, renewables and general economic hardship for customers • Environmental legislation • Ratings agency pressures • Potential for downgrade - debt • Potential for dilution – equity • Perception that agencies are more sensitive to regulatory structure • Economy • Lower load growth or load decline expectations • Customers’ inability to pay • Partially offset by traditional characteristics of utilities • Stability/predictability • Securities backed by hard assets
Recent Utility Investments • $54 billion debt during latest 12 months vs $29 billion 1H08 • $5.4 billion equity during latest 12 months vs $2.5 billion 1H08
Baa Spreads (1/1/08-Today) 1H08 Latest 12 Months
UTY Price (1/1/08-Today) 1H08 Latest 12 Months
Future Concerns for Cost of Capital • Inflation • Increasing inflation is concern as opposed to absolute level of inflation • Increased risk from stimulus • Dividend tax cut sunset • Uncertainty post sunset 2010 • Impact on equity cost of capital likely earlier than actual sunset • Partially offset by low treasury rates
Evaluation Criteria for a Regulatory Jurisdiction • Stability • Earnings – trackers, decoupling, passthroughs • Regulation – commissioner and staff turnover, consistency • Communication • Staff and commission • Investors and regulators • Interested parties
Regulatory Rankings 1 = Most attractive for investors 9 = Least attractive for investors Source: RRA
Conclusion • Capital is available for utility investments – key is determining cost • Utilities are attractive investments – but need to maintain predictability/stability
Recent Utility Debt Financings Source: SNL
Recent Utility Debt Financings Source: SNL
Recent Utility Debt Financings Source: SNL
Recent Utility Debt Financings Source: SNL
Recent Equity Issuances Source: SNL