AeroSphere — Financial Plan

The key financial assumptions, the projected profit and loss, balance sheet and cash-flow statement, break-even, debt service and leverage, the detailed operating assumptions, the capital-expenditure programme and the key performance indicators.

AeroSphere Business PlanSection 13 › Financial Plan

Section 13 · Business Plan

Financial Plan

The key financial assumptions, the projected profit and loss, balance sheet and cash-flow statement, break-even, debt service and leverage, the detailed operating assumptions, the capital-expenditure programme and the key performance indicators.

This section presents the Company’s financial projections over a
seven-year horizon, comprising the projected profit and loss, balance
sheet and cash-flow statements, together with the key assumptions,
break-even analysis and sensitivity testing. All figures are in ZAR
millions unless stated otherwise. The projections are presented for
evaluation purposes and should be read together with the assumptions and
risk factors set out herein.

12.1 Key Financial Assumptions

Assumption Basis Value
Projection horizon Build-up to steady state 7 years
Functional currency Domestic operations ZAR
Corporate tax rate SA statutory 27%
Senior debt margin Indicative, over reference rate Reference + ~4.5%
Average revenue per passenger Aero + non-aero blended Rising with mix shift
Property escalation Lease contracts ~CPI + 1–2%
Terminal/exit valuation EV/EBITDA on Yr-7 run-rate ~9–11x
Construction contingency Of hard capital cost ~10%

12.2 Projected Profit & Loss

The projected income statement reflects the phased commissioning of
revenue streams, the operating-leverage-driven margin expansion,
depreciation of the substantial asset base, and the financing cost of
the senior and mezzanine debt. The business moves from a planned ramp-up
loss in the early years to robust profitability from Year 5.

ZAR millions Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr 7
Revenue 475 1,320 2,630 3,690 4,910 6,950 9,200
Operating costs (580) (1,267) (2,157) (2,694) (3,339) (4,587) (5,888)
EBITDA (105) 53 473 996 1,571 2,363 3,312
Depreciation & amort. (180) (420) (620) (760) (880) (960) (1,010)
EBIT (285) (367) (147) 236 691 1,403 2,302
Net finance costs (355) (440) (485) (520) (560) (540) (490)
Profit before tax (640) (807) (632) (284) 131 863 1,812
Taxation 0 0 0 0 (35) (233) (489)
Net profit after tax (640) (807) (632) (284) 96 630 1,323
Figure 12.1
Figure 12.1 — Year-5 profit & loss waterfall, from revenue through to net profit (ZAR millions).

12.3 Projected Balance Sheet

The balance sheet reflects the substantial fixed-asset base created
by the capital programme, the build-up of current assets as operations
scale, and the gradual de-leveraging of the capital structure as
retained earnings accumulate and debt amortises.

ZAR millions Yr 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr 7
Non-current assets (PP&E) 2,300 4,900 5,600 5,750
Current assets 620 1,050 1,980 3,280
Total assets 2,920 5,950 7,580 9,030
Equity 1,700 2,480 3,760 5,640
Long-term debt 1,000 2,900 3,150 2,500
Current liabilities 220 570 670 890
Total equity & liabilities 2,920 5,950 7,580 9,030
Figure 12.2
Figure 12.2 — Balance-sheet evolution: asset base against equity and debt funding (ZAR millions).

12.4 Projected Cash-Flow Statement

The cash-flow profile exhibits the classic infrastructure J-curve:
heavy investing outflows and financing inflows during construction,
transitioning to strong, self-funding operating cash generation as the
platform matures. Cumulative cash turns durably positive and grows
steadily through the projection horizon.

ZAR millions Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr 7
Operating cash flow (380) 210 760 1,320 1,810 2,160 2,480
Investing cash flow (2,400) (1,900) (1,300) (780) (520) (360) (300)
Financing cash flow 3,100 1,850 700 (250) (640) (780) (900)
Net cash flow 320 160 160 290 650 1,020 1,280
Cumulative cash 320 480 640 930 1,580 2,600 3,880
Figure 12.3
Figure 12.3 — Cash-flow profile by category with cumulative cash position (ZAR millions).

12.5 Break-Even Analysis

The platform reaches operating break-even at a throughput-equivalent
of roughly 1.6 million units, a level the model reaches during Year 3.
Beyond break-even, the high operating leverage of the asset base
translates incremental volume into rapidly expanding margin.

Figure 12.4
Figure 12.4 — Operating break-even analysis: revenue versus total cost against throughput.

12.6 Debt Service & Leverage

Lender protection is central to the structure. The debt-service
coverage ratio (DSCR) climbs above the indicative minimum covenant of
1.30x from Year 3 and strengthens thereafter, while net debt to EBITDA
falls rapidly as earnings scale and debt amortises. The combination
provides substantial headroom for senior lenders.

Figure 12.5
Figure 12.5 — Debt-service coverage ratio and net-debt-to-EBITDA leverage over time.

12.7 Detailed Operating Assumptions

The consolidated statements are driven by a transparent set of
operating assumptions. The table below summarises the principal revenue
and cost drivers feeding the model; each is held at conservative levels
relative to comparable benchmarks.

Driver Yr 1 Yr 3 Yr 5 Yr 7 Basis
Avg revenue / passenger (R) 260 330 390 430 Aero + non-aero blended
Cargo yield (R / tonne) 5,400 6,000 6,600 7,000 Handling + storage
Property occupancy (%) 30 62 80 90 Phased lease-up
Staff cost / revenue (%) 62 34 27 23 Operating leverage
Maintenance / revenue (%) 9 8 7 7 Asset upkeep
Energy (% of opex) 11 9 8 7 Solar offset

12.8 Capital Expenditure Programme

The capital programme totals approximately ZAR 6.8 billion, deployed
across the four phases. The profile is front-loaded into airfield and
terminal infrastructure, with later, lower-risk capital directed to
revenue-generating cargo, services and property assets that are
increasingly self-funded from operating cash flow.

Capital category Amount (R bn) Phase Funding
Airfield, runway & apron 1.90 1 Senior debt + equity
Passenger terminal 1.40 1 Senior debt + equity
Cargo precinct & cold chain 1.10 2 Debt + operating cash
Property & aerotropolis 0.90 3 Debt + operating cash
Plant & equipment 0.65 1–3 Equity + leasing
Working capital & contingency 0.85 0–3 Mixed + grants
Total programme 6.80 0–3 Blended

12.9 Key Performance Indicators

Management will track a defined set of operational and financial
KPIs, reported to the board and lenders, providing early-warning
visibility on performance against plan.

KPI Yr 3 target Yr 7 target Why it matters
Passengers (m) 1.50 4.50 Core demand driver
Cargo (000 t) 26 118 Cargo & property catalyst
EBITDA margin (%) 18 36 Profitability & quality
Non-aero revenue share (%) ~45 ~58 Earnings quality
DSCR (x) 1.40 3.10 Lender protection
Net debt / EBITDA (x) 3.4 0.6 Balance-sheet strength
Property occupancy (%) 62 90 Aerotropolis value

Confidential — this business plan is provided to prospective investors and lenders for evaluation purposes only and may not be reproduced or distributed without the written consent of AeroSphere Gateway Holdings (Pty) Ltd.