AltaGas Ltd. capitalizes on the supply and demand dynamic for natural gas and power by owning and operating assets in gas, power, and utilities in places that provide a strategic competitive advantage. 

Instructions 

Access the financial statements for AltaGas for the year ended December 31, 2017, from the company's website or from SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and answer the following questions. 

a. Review the statement of cash flows for the two years 2017 and 2016. What are the total cash flows from (or used by) operations, investing activities, and financing activities? What amount of cash was paid for dividends each year and what amount of cash was obtained from the issuance of preferred and common shares? What does the amount of the payment of dividends represent as a percentage of the amount obtained from the issuance of shares? What sources of cash are available to fund the dividends and capital investments? Calculate the payout ratio. Do you think that the dividends are sustainable? 

b. Using the net book value of property, plant, and equipment (PPE) at December 31, 2016, as the opening balance and items from the statement of cash flows, statement of earnings, and related note disclosures, try to reconcile the opening and closing balance for PPE for 2017.