Financial position

Capital structure

Various instruments are used to finance the maintenance and expansion of the energy networks and other activities. For this finance, Alliander is dependent on its shareholders, institutional investors and banks. Alliander’s creditworthiness is rated by rating agencies that publish their findings. Alliander capital structure as at year-end 2018 was made up as follows:

Capital structure

As the capital structure reveals, Alliander is 60% equity-financed. Equity is provided by the shareholders and is increased by the partial retention of the net profit each year. The shareholders receive a percentage of the net profit as dividend each year. Holders of the subordinated perpetual bond loan receive a fixed return on their investment out of the reported profit provided a dividend is declared. Alliander does not have access to finance by issuing new shares to private investors because private shareholdings in Dutch regional network companies are prohibited by law. To raise external finance, Alliander needs to turn to providers of borrowed capital. These are mainly institutional investors that buy debt instruments issued by Alliander. To meet its long-term finance requirements, Alliander has issued five bond loans that are quoted on the stock exchange, including a subordinated perpetual bond loan. The loans are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. In addition, Alliander has entered into a loan agreement with the EIB. To meet its variable finance needs in the short term, Alliander regularly issues short-term commercial paper. Additionally, Alliander has a contracted committed credit facility with a number of banks to provide a backup source of finance should it not be possible to raise the necessary funds on the capital market or the money market.

The development in the net debt position during the year 2018 is shown below.

Development in net debt position

The net debt position remained reasonably steady and amounts to €1,893 million (31 December 2017: €1,888 million).

Net debt position

Net debt position

€ million

31 December 2018

31 December 2017

Long-term interest-bearing debt

1,475

 

1,553

 

Short-term interest-bearing debt

321

 

231

 

Finance lease liabilities

159

 

150

 

Gross debt

 

1,955

 

1,934

     

Cash and cash equivalents

140

 

101

 

Investments held for lease obligations related to cross-border leases

156

 

193

 

Total cash and cash equivalents and investments

 

296

 

294

     

Net debt in accordance with the annual financial statements (IFRS)

 

1,659

 

1,640

     

50% of the subordinated perpetual bond loan

 

248

 

248

     

Net debt on the basis of Alliander's financial policy

 

1,907

 

1,888