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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
We remain focused on our main priorities as a business - to be North
America's leading energy delivery company and to generate long-term
value for our investors. This requires that we deliver shareholder
value and maintain profitability while performing in a socially and
environmentally responsible way.
Here are Enbridge's key financial highlights:
- Earnings were $645.3 million ($3.86 per common share),
compared with $667.2 million ($4.03 per share) in 2003. Adjusted
operating earnings were $508.4 million ($3.04 per share),
8% higher than the previous year, reflecting strong performance
in all of our company's business segments.
- Total return to shareholders on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)
was 15.1%, while our total shareholder return was 24.6% on the
New York Stock Exchange. We have delivered a total shareholder
return of 22% per year over the last 10 years, compared with
the TSX of 10% and the S&P 500 Index of 12% respectively over
the same period. Over 50 years, Enbridge has provided a total
shareholder return of more than 13%, compared with the TSX
of about 9%.
- We strengthened our balance sheet, improving our debt-tocapitalization
ratio from 66.3% at the end of 2003 to 65.1%
at the end of 2004. This was achieved through earnings growth
and debt repayment.
Investors and readers seeking more detailed information should
refer to Enbridge's 2004 Annual Report.
EXPANDING OUR CONTINENTAL REACH
Enbridge is uniquely positioned for growth in North America, and
is focused on moving energy from areas where we foresee increasing
supply to areas of growing demand. In 2004, we made good progress
in broadening access to continental markets for customers of our
energy delivery systems:
Growing presence in Gulf of Mexico
At year-end, Enbridge acquired Shell Gas Transmission from Shell
US Gas & Power LLC for $613 million US, adding gas gathering
and transmission systems in the Gulf of Mexico to our U.S. Natural
Gas Business. The assets are strategically positioned to transport increasing deepwater supply from the Gulf of Mexico - one of the
few remaining gas growth plays in North America - and to access
key infrastructure in the U.S. Northeast.
Expanding Ontario gas distribution system
Our Enbridge Gas Distribution infrastructure in Ontario serves
Canada's fastest growing metropolitan area. In 2004, our natural
gas franchise continued to grow, with Enbridge Gas Distribution
adding about 56,000 new customers.
Supporting oil sands expansion
Our crude oil system is strategically positioned between
Alberta's oil sands and the U.S. Midwest and Eastern Canadian
markets and growing Asian markets. As oil sands producers
develop expansion plans in northern Alberta, we are developing
pipeline plans to connect the next wave of oil sands projects.
In 2004, we signed preliminary agreements with two more oil
sands projects - the sponsors of the Long Lake and Surmont
projects - to build and operate facilities to ship production from
these two facilities starting in 2006. We also advanced development
of our Waupisoo Pipeline Project, a connecting pipeline that will
bring oil sands shipments from Fort McMurray, Alberta to the
Edmonton hub.
Our proposed Gateway project sets out our pipeline proposal to
move 400,000 barrels per day of Alberta oil sands production
from Edmonton to the west coast of British Columbia, where
it would be shipped by tanker to China, other Asia-Pacific markets,
and California. In 2004, we undertook discussions with Canadian
producers and potential customers in Asia. In early 2005,
Enbridge signed a memorandum of understanding with PetroChina
International Company Limited to cooperate on development of
the Gateway pipeline and supply of crude oil from Canada
to China.
Acquiring U.S. liquids systems
We acquired the Mid-Continent liquids system of pipelines
and storage terminals, adding a new geographic region to our
pipeline system. We also announced our plans to proceed with
the Spearhead project to transport crude oil from Chicago, Illinois
to Cushing, Oklahoma. We filed applications for the project
before year-end.
Promoting Alaska-Canada gas pipeline
With most recent estimates putting proved Alaskan natural gas
reserves at over 35 trillion cubic feet, Alaska holds the key to one
of the largest remaining natural gas reserves in North America.
Enbridge is well positioned to play a leadership role in bringing
this resource to market, with the Alliance and Vector gas pipelines
being in a direct line between Alaskan gas and the best gas markets
in the United States. In early 2004, Enbridge filed an application
with the State of Alaska to start formal discussions with the state
and producers toward building the Alaskan and Canadian portions
of a much-needed Alaska gas pipeline.
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