Investment manager signs off on major Powerco deal

While regulation is often regarded as an anathema to investors, it is exactly what AMP Capital was looking for when it signed a $525 million deal to buy Powerco, the second biggest electricity and gas distributor in the country.

The agreement will see the investment arm of the dual-listed wealth manager acquire a 42 per cent stake in the firm from Canadian investor Brookfield Infrastructure, which has been looking to exit the investment for almost a year.

Michael Cummings, who man- ages AMP Capital’s infrastructure equity fund, said the regulated electricity space was appealing because it allowed the firm to diversify geographically while still accessing steady earnings from Powerco’s monopolistic position.

‘‘We see regulated energy on a global basis as a good place for us to invest,’’ he said. ‘‘It is all about risk and return, and regulation caps on the upside and the downside.’’

With 323,000 electricity and 103,000 gas customers, Powerco certainly fits that bill, generating $398m in revenue for the year ending March 31, and an operating profit of $127m. But it also comes with a hefty share of baggage.

The firm has debts of $1.76 billion, and the $163m paid in interest resulted in a bottom line loss of $5.9m. Of the total debt, $682m is owed to shareholders Brookfield and the Queensland Investment Corporation.

But AMP Capital is unfazed by the financials, with Cummings stressing the firm has a reputation for investing in New Zealand companies for the long term.

The deal is contingent on Overseas Investment Office approval, which is expected before the end of the year.