2022 Sustainability Report - Building a Sustainable Future
Outlook
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Demand for Aecon's services across Canada continues to be strong. Aecon (including joint ventures in which Aecon is a participant) is prequalified on a number of project bids due to be
awarded during the next twelve months and has a pipeline of opportunities to further add to backlog over time. With backlog of $6.2 billion at September 30, 2023 and recurring revenue
programs continuing to see robust demand, Aecon believes it is positioned to achieve further revenue growth over the next few years.
While volatile global and Canadian economic conditions are impacting inflation, interest rates, and overall supply chain efficiency, these factors have stabilized to some extent and have largely
been and will continue to be reflected in the pricing and commercial terms of the Company's recent and prospective project awards and bids. However, certain ongoing joint venture projects
that were bid some years ago have experienced impacts related, in part, to those factors, that will require satisfactory resolution of claims with the respective clients. Results have been
negatively impacted by these four legacy projects in recent periods, undermining positive revenue and profitability trends in the balance of Aecon's business. Until these projects are complete
and related claims have been resolved, there is a risk that this could also occur in future periods - see Section 5 "Recent Developments" and Section 10.2 "Contingencies" in the September
30, 2023 MD&A and Section 13 "Risk Factors" in the 2022 Annual MD&A regarding the risk on four large fixed price legacy projects entered into in 2018 or earlier by joint ventures in which
Aecon is a participant.
Subsequent to quarter end, on October 23, 2023 Aecon announced a strategic investment by Oaktree in Aecon Utilities. The investment subsequently closed on October 24, 2023. Oaktree
acquired a minority ownership interest in Aecon Utilities by way of a net $150 million convertible preferred equity investment (the "Investment"). The Investment creates a vehicle to address
attractive industry growth opportunities across utility end-markets in Canada and the U.S., provides financial flexibility to accelerate Aecon Utilities' acquisition strategy, introduces a recognized
value-added partner in Oaktree with a successful track record in utilities infrastructure investing, and strengthens Aecon's consolidated balance sheet with Aecon receiving proceeds of $150
million from the Investment. This provides Aecon the financial flexibility to fund strategic growth initiatives. In addition to Aecon Utilities' new credit facility of $400 million, Aecon has a separate
committed revolving credit facility of $450 million that replaces its prior $600 million facility.
In the Construction segment, with strong demand, growing recurring revenue programs, and diverse backlog in hand, Aecon is focused on achieving solid execution on its projects and
selectively adding to backlog through a disciplined bidding approach that supports long-term margin improvement in this segment. In addition to the selection of consortiums in which Aecon is
a participant for two large transit related projects in 2022 noted above, in early 2023, a partnership in which Aecon is a participant announced that it had executed a six-year alliance
agreement with Ontario Power Generation to deliver North America's first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor through the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Clarington, Ontario. In addition,
Oneida LP, a consortium in which Aecon Concessions is an 8.35% equity partner, executed an agreement with the Independent Electricity System Operator for the Oneida Energy Storage
Project to deliver a 250 megawatt / 1,000 megawatt-hour energy storage facility near Nanticoke Ontario, with Aecon awarded a $141 million Engineering, Procurement and Construction
contract by Oneida LP. All of these projects further demonstrate Aecon's strategic focus in the industry with respect to projects linked to decarbonization, energy transition, and sustainability
and represent more collaborative procurement models than have traditionally been used.
In the Concessions segment, in addition to expecting an ongoing recovery in travel through the Bermuda International Airport through 2023, there are a number of opportunities to add to the
existing portfolio of Canadian and international concessions in the next 12 to 24 months, including projects with private sector clients that support a collective focus on sustainability and the
transition to a net-zero economy. The GO Expansion On-Corridor Works project and the Oneida Energy Storage project noted above are examples of the role Aecon's Concessions segment is
playing in developing, operating and maintaining assets related to this transition.
ACCON
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