FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

Brookfield Infrastructure is exposed to the following risks as a result of holding financial instruments: capital risk; liquidity risk; market risk (i.e. interest rate risk and foreign currency risk); and credit risk. The following is a description of these risks and how they are managed:


(a)	Liquidity Risk Management

Brookfield Infrastructure manages its capital structure to be able to continue as a going concern while maximizing the return to stakeholders. Brookfield Infrastructure’s overall capital strategy remains unchanged from 2016.

The capital structure of Brookfield Infrastructure consists of debt, offset by cash and cash equivalents, and partnership capital comprised of issued capital and accumulated gains.



US$ MILLIONS	2017			2016
Subsidiary and corporate borrowings	$	10,164		$	8,326
Preferred shares	20			20
Cash and cash equivalents⁽¹⁾	(459		)	(789		)
Net debt	9,725			7,557
Total partnership capital	13,474			9,644
Total capital and net debt	$	23,199		$	17,201
Net debt to capitalization ratio	42		%	44		%


(1)	Includes marketable securities.

The Board, along with senior management of the Service Provider, reviews Brookfield Infrastructure’s capital structure and as part of this review, considers the cost of capital and the risk associated with each class of capital.

Brookfield Infrastructure manages its debt exposure by financing its operations on a non-recourse basis with prudent levels of debt, ensuring a diversity of funding sources as well as laddering its maturity profile to minimize refinance risk. Brookfield Infrastructure also borrows in the currency where the asset operates, where possible, in order to hedge its currency risk.

Generally, Brookfield Infrastructure’s equity strategy is to issue equity in conjunction with acquisitions or outsized organic growth initiatives at our businesses. However, Brookfield Infrastructure may also issue equity opportunistically to enhance its liquidity to pursue investments. Brookfield Infrastructure maintains active shelf registrations to enable it to issue securities in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Brookfield Infrastructure’s financing plan is to fund its recurring growth capital expenditures with cash flow generated by its operations after maintenance capital expenditure, as well as debt financing that is sized to maintain its credit profile. To fund large scale development projects and acquisitions, Brookfield Infrastructure will evaluate a variety of capital sources including proceeds from selling non-core assets, equity and debt financing. Our partnership will seek to raise additional equity if Brookfield Infrastructure believes it can earn returns on these investments in excess of the cost of the incremental partnership capital.

As disclosed within Note 18, Borrowings, Brookfield Infrastructure has various loan facilities in place. In certain cases, the facilities have financial covenants which are generally in the form of interest coverage ratios and leverage ratios. Brookfield Infrastructure does not have any market capitalization covenants attached to any of its borrowings, nor does it have any other externally imposed capital requirements.

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no breaches of any loan covenants within Brookfield Infrastructure.

Brookfield Infrastructure attempts to maintain sufficient financial liquidity at all times so that it is able to participate in attractive opportunities as they arise, better withstand sudden adverse changes in economic circumstances and maintain its distribution of FFO to unitholders. Brookfield Infrastructure’s principal sources of liquidity are cash flows from its operations, undrawn credit facilities and access to public and private capital markets. Brookfield Infrastructure also structures the ownership of its assets to enhance its ability to monetize them to provide additional liquidity, if necessary.

Brookfield Infrastructure’s corporate liquidity as at December 31 was as follows:



US$ MILLIONS⁽¹⁾	2017			2016
Corporate cash and financial assets	$	205		$	549
Availability under committed credit facilities	2,475			2,475
Draws on credit facility	(789		)	—
Commitments under credit facility	(106		)	(46		)
Corporate liquidity	$	1,785		$	2,978


(1)	Corporate level only.

Brookfield Infrastructure’s $1.975 billion committed revolving credit facility and $500 million credit facility with Brookfield are available for investments and acquisitions, as well as general corporate purposes. Commitments under the committed revolving credit facility will be available on a revolving basis until June 30, 2022. All amounts outstanding at that time will be repayable in full. The facility is intended to be a bridge to equity financing rather than a permanent source of capital. At December 31, 2017, there was $789 million drawn on this facility (2016: $nil) and $106 million was committed to letters of credit (2016: $46 million). Subsequent to December 31, 2017, we cancelled letters of credit issued by our subsidiaries which amounted to $59 million.

The following tables detail the contractual maturities for Brookfield Infrastructure’s financial liabilities. The tables reflect the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which Brookfield Infrastructure can be required to pay. The tables include both interest and principal cash flows:



	Less than 1 year		1-2 years		2-5 years		5+ years		Total contractual cash flows
December 31, 2017
US$ MILLIONS
Accounts payable and other liabilities	$	646	$	45	$	59	$	293	$	1,043
Corporate borrowings	99		—		1,445		557		2,101
Non-recourse borrowings	372		571		2,043		5,101		8,087
Financial liabilities	237		58		930		88		1,313

Interest Expense:
Corporate borrowings	49		47		106		25		227
Non-Recourse borrowings	381		348		864		1,343		2,936



	Less than 1 year		1-2 years		2-5 years		5+ years		Total contractual cash flows
December 31, 2016
US$ MILLIONS
Accounts payable and other liabilities	$	540	$	34	$	26	$	186	$	786
Corporate borrowings	295		93		279		335		1,002
Non-recourse borrowings	286		233		1,708		5,109		7,336
Financial liabilities	229		29		49		74		381

Interest Expense:
Corporate borrowings	40		29		64		14		147
Non-recourse borrowings	361		342		871		1,450		3,024


(b)	Market Risk

Market risk is defined for these purposes as the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument held by Brookfield Infrastructure will fluctuate because of the change in market prices. Market risk includes the risk of changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and equity prices.

Brookfield Infrastructure seeks to minimize the risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates primarily through the use of derivative financial instruments to hedge these risk exposures. The use of financial derivatives is governed by Brookfield Infrastructure’s Treasury Policy. Brookfield Infrastructure does not enter into, or trade financial instruments, including derivative financial instruments, for speculative purposes.

The Treasury Policy provides written principles on the use of financial derivatives. With respect to its treasury policy, the Service Provider performs the monitoring, review and approval role and report to the Board on a regular basis.

Financial instruments held by Brookfield Infrastructure that are subject to market risk include other financial assets, borrowings, derivative instruments, such as interest rate and foreign currency contracts, and marketable securities. Our partnership is exposed to equity price risks arising from marketable securities. As at December 31, 2017 the balance of the portfolio was $85 million (2016: $3 million), a 10% change in the value of the portfolio would impact our equity by $9 million and result in an impact on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income of $9 million.

Interest Rate Risk Management

Brookfield Infrastructure’s primary objectives with respect to interest rate risk management are to ensure that:


•	Brookfield Infrastructure is not exposed to interest rate movements that could adversely impact its ability to meet financial obligations;


•	Earnings and distributions are not adversely affected;


•	Volatility of debt servicing costs is managed within acceptable parameters; and


•	All borrowing covenants under various borrowing facilities, including interest coverage ratios, are complied with.

To achieve these objectives, in general terms, Brookfield Infrastructure’s funding mix comprises both fixed and floating rate debt. Fixed rate debt is achieved either through fixed rate debt funding or through the use of financial derivate instruments. In addition, where possible, interest rate risk is minimized by matching the terms of interest rate swap contracts in regulated businesses to the term of the rate period, thus providing natural hedges.

The sensitivity analyses below reflect Brookfield Infrastructure’s exposure to interest rates for both derivative and non-derivative instruments at the reporting date, assuming that a 10 basis point increase or decrease in rates takes place at the beginning of the financial year and is held constant throughout the reporting period. The sensitivity analyses assume a 10 basis point change to reflect the current methodology employed by Brookfield Infrastructure in assessing interest rate risk. Such parallel shift in the yield curve by 10 basis points would have had the following impact, assuming all other variables were held constant:



	2017					2016						2015
US$ MILLIONS	10 bp decrease			10 bp increase		10 bp decrease			10 bp increase			10 bp decrease			10 bp increase
Net income (loss)	$	—		$	—	$	1		$	(1	)	$	2		$	(2	)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1		)	1		(1		)	1			(2		)	2

Foreign Currency Risk Management

Brookfield Infrastructure has exposure to foreign currency risk in respect of currency transactions, the value of Brookfield Infrastructure’s net investment, cash flows and capital expenditures that are denominated outside of the U.S. Brookfield Infrastructure’s approach to foreign currency risk management is:


•	Brookfield Infrastructure leverages any natural hedges that may exist within its operations;


•	Brookfield Infrastructure utilizes local currency debt financing to the extent possible; and


•	Brookfield Infrastructure may utilize derivative contracts to the extent that natural hedges are insufficient.

The tables below set out Brookfield Infrastructure’s currency exposure at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:



2017
US$ MILLIONS	USD			AUD		GBP		BRL		CLP		CAD			EUR		COP		PEN		INR		NZD		Total
Assets:
Current assets	$	358		$	276	$	151	$	322	$	85	$	78		$	—	$	68	$	100	$	57	$	17	$	1,512
Non-current assets	4,400			5,770		4,431		8,184		1,117		814			836		764		1,356		256		37		27,965
	$	4,758		$	6,046	$	4,582	$	8,506	$	1,202	$	892		$	836	$	832	$	1,456	$	313	$	54	$	29,477
Liabilities:
Current liabilities	$	641		$	227	$	414	$	73	$	59	$	55		$	—	$	26	$	18	$	30	$	21	$	1,564
Non-current liabilities	3,093			3,983		2,614		2,015		989		443			—		438		673		185		6		14,439
	3,734			4,210		3,028		2,088		1,048		498			—		464		691		215		27		16,003
Non-controlling interest—in operating subsidiaries and preferred unitholders	602			417		396		3,082		75		891			—		302		644		60		1		6,470
Non-controlling interest—Redeemable Partnership Units held by Brookfield	(50		)	407		332		959		23		28			240		19		35		11		8		2,012
Net investment	$	472		$	1,012	$	826	$	2,377	$	56	$	(525	)	$	596	$	47	$	86	$	27	$	18	$	4,992



2016
US$ MILLIONS	USD		AUD		GBP		BRL		CLP		CAD		EUR		COP		PEN		INR		NZD		Total
Assets:
Current assets	$	849	$	214	$	127	$	42	$	102	$	18	$	—	$	55	$	127	$	52	$	46	$	1,632
Non-current assets	3,744		5,542		3,739		1,895		1,070		677		718		700		1,260		265		33		19,643
	$	4,593	$	5,756	$	3,866	$	1,937	$	1,172	$	695	$	718	$	755	$	1,387	$	317	$	79	$	21,275
Liabilities:
Current liabilities	$	833	$	206	$	262	$	23	$	50	$	35	$	—	$	27	$	27	$	36	$	16	$	1,515
Non-current liabilities	1,636		3,764		2,243		—		941		309		—		369		636		186		32		10,116
	2,469		3,970		2,505		23		991		344		—		396		663		222		48		11,631
Non-controlling interest—in operating subsidiaries and preferred unitholders	919		370		333		189		89		261		—		294		610		58		23		3,146
Non-controlling interest—Redeemable Partnership Units held by Brookfield	344		405		294		493		26		26		206		19		33		11		3		1,860
Net investment	$	861	$	1,011	$	734	$	1,232	$	66	$	64	$	512	$	46	$	81	$	26	$	5	$	4,638



2015
US$ MILLIONS	USD		AUD		GBP		BRL		CLP		CAD		EUR		COP		Total
Assets:
Current assets	$	234	$	380	$	470	$	6	$	126	$	291	$	—	$	46	$	1,553
Non-current assets	2,485		5,816		3,927		1,020		1,052		636		618		629		16,182
	$	2,719	$	6,196	$	4,397	$	1,026	$	1,178	$	927	$	618	$	675	$	17,735
Liabilities:
Current liabilities	$	502	$	103	$	434	$	—	$	30	$	122	$	—	$	20	$	1,210
Non-current liabilities	1,714		3,745		2,312		—		902		334		—		342		9,349
	2,216		3,848		2,746		—		932		456		—		362		10,559
Non-controlling interest—in operating subsidiaries and preferred unitholders	377		269		385		141		121		248		—		256		1,797
Non-controlling interest—Redeemable Partnership Units held by Brookfield	36		587		357		249		35		63		175		16		1,518
Net investment	$	90	$	1,492	$	909	$	636	$	90	$	160	$	443	$	41	$	3,861

The following tables detail Brookfield Infrastructure’s sensitivity to a 10% increase and decrease in the U.S. dollar against the relevant foreign currencies, with all other variables held constant as at reporting date. 10% is the sensitivity rate used when reporting foreign currency risk internally. The sensitivity analysis is performed as follows:


•	Outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items (excluding foreign exchange derivative contracts) are adjusted at period end for a 10% change in foreign currency rates from the rate at which they are translated;


•	Foreign currency derivative contracts are measured as the change in fair value of the derivative as a result of a 10% change in the spot currency rate; and


•	The impact on net income results from performing a sensitivity of a 10% change in foreign exchange rates applied to the profit or loss contribution from foreign operations (after considering the impact of foreign exchange derivative contracts).



	Impact on Net Income
	2017						2016						2015
US$ MILLIONS	-10%			10%			-10%			10%			-10%		10%
USD/AUD	$	(18	)	$	18		$	(2	)	$	2		$	8	$	(8	)
USD/EUR	(9		)	9			(8		)	8			5		(5		)
USD/GBP	(3		)	3			(6		)	6			5		(5		)
USD/BRL	21			(21		)	14			(14		)	—		—
USD/CLP	1			(1		)	—			—			1		(1		)
USD/CAD	(1		)	1			(1		)	1			1		(1		)
USD/PEN	—			—			—			—			—		—
USD/INR	—			—			—			—			—		—



	Impact on Partnership Capital
	2017					2016					2015
US$ MILLIONS	-10%		10%			-10%		10%			-10%		10%
USD/AUD	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	24	$	(24	)
USD/EUR	—		—			35		(35		)	18		(18		)
USD/GBP	—		—			—		—			23		(23		)
USD/CLP	8		(8		)	10		(10		)	13		(13		)
USD/COP	7		(7		)	6		(6		)	6		(6		)
USD/BRL	334		(334		)	172		(172		)	89		(89		)
USD/CAD	—		—			—		—			11		(11		)
USD/PEN	12		(12		)	11		(11		)	—		—
USD/INR	4		(4		)	4		(4		)	—		—


(c)	Credit Risk Management

Credit risk is the risk of loss due to the failure of a borrower or counterparty to fulfill its contractual obligations.

From a treasury perspective, counterparty credit risk is managed through the establishment of authorized counterparty credit limits which are designed to ensure that Brookfield Infrastructure only deals with credit worthy counterparties and that counterparty concentration is addressed and the risk of loss is mitigated. Credit limits are sufficiently low to restrict Brookfield Infrastructure from having credit exposures concentrated with a single counterparty but rather encourages spreading such risks among several parties. The limits are set at levels that reflect Brookfield Infrastructure’s scale of activity and allow it to manage its treasury business competitively.

Brookfield Infrastructure does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any group of counterparties having similar characteristics. The credit risk on liquid funds and derivative financial instruments is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit rating agencies. Exposure to credit risk is limited to the carrying amount of the assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.