Strategy and Competitive Advantages

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Equatorial Energia’s competitive strengths include:

Efficient Capital Allocator

Equatorial intends to expand its current operations through the acquisition of total or joint controlling stake of companies within the electric sector, being distribution, transmission or generation segments. The Company’s target comprises the entire country.

Sound Financial Position

At December 31, 2020, the Company’s total consolidated net debt was R$ 9,645 million (proportional to Equatorial’s stake in its subsidiaries). Equatorial Energia’s ratio of net debt to EBITDA was 2.0x at that date, which the Company believes is another indicator of its financial strength and an important factor for the successful implementation of its investment process and growth strategy.

Management Principles and Business Model Aimed at Maximizing Results

The Company has sought to implement a corporate culture designed to maximize operating results with a clear vision, solid values and specific goals. Its business model is oriented to achieve operating efficiency and strong financial performance based on strict cost controls, financial discipline, development and retention of qualified professionals, setting up of individual goals, technological development and innovation, and management compensation based on performance.

Operational Excellence

Equatorial is focused on improving the operational quality of its subsidiaries, from the energy supply standpoint, as well as the commercial standpoint. Equatorial Maranhão is in the 8th position at Aneel’s quality ranking (considering distribution companies above 500 thousand consumers) in the recent years, and Equatorial Pará has improved from the last positions to the 2nd place in 2020.

Commitment to the Best Corporate Governance Practices

Equatorial Energia adopts the differentiated corporate governance practices demanded by the B3’s Novo Mercado trading segment, which guarantee shareholders’ rights over and above those envisaged by Brazilian Corporate Law and other regulations governing publicly-held companies and the stock market.

STRATEGY

The following are key elements of Equatorial Energia’s strategy

To Consolidate Electricity Distributors in Brazil and Latin America

The Company’s principal strategy consists of expanding its electricity distribution and generation operations in Brazil through the acquisition of sole or joint ownership of companies in the electric power industry. The group has a very extreme financial disciplined, aiming at rate of returns that are consistent with the risks pertaining the targeted business.

To Increase Operating Efficiency and Reduce Energy Losses in Equatorial Energia’s Operations

Over the recent years, Equatorial Energia has achieved significant operating efficiencies at Equatorial Maranhão. The efficiency ratio, measured by the number of consumers per employee, improved from 748 in 2003 to 3,304 in 2018. At the same time, frequency of interruptions, measured by the number of interruptions per consumer per year, which is referred to as the “FEC” index, and the average duration of interruptions, measured by hours per consumer per year, which is referred to as the “DEC” index, decreased by 69.3% and 71.9% respectively, since 2006. The level of Equatorial Maranhão losses was reduced from 29.8% at end-2007 to 17.2% at the end of 2018. In Equatorial Pará, acquired in 2012, similar results can be observed. DEC and FEC indices have been reduced by 76% and 69%, respectively from 2012 to 2018. Equatorial Pará has reduced its total losses from 35% in 2012 to 28.3% by the end of 2018.

Selective Assessment of Investments in Energy Transmission

By late 2016 and early 2017, Equatorial has won 8 transmission lots, with total capex estimated at R$ 4.6 billion (as of 2016). It was a very opportunistic acquisition and has proven very attractive due to the increased conditions for the auctions (allowed return increase, possibility to earlier start-up, increase in the allowed construction period, among others).

In August, 2017, the Company acquired 51% of Intesa – Integração Transmissora de Energia S.A., an operating transmission line, covering 695 km running through the States of Tocantins and Goiás.

In September 27, 2018, Equatorial Energia acquired, through an auction, the remaining stake of Integração Transmissora de Energia S. A. (“Intesa”), representing 49% of the capital stock, and became owner of 100% of Intesa’s capital stock.

Last updated on August 19, 2021