Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 6, 2008
Aqua America, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Pennsylvania |
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001-06659 |
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23-1702594 |
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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762 West Lancaster Avenue Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
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19010-3489 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (610) 527-8000
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(Former name or former address if changed since last report.) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant
under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
1
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On May 6, 2008, Aqua America, Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March
31, 2008.
Item 9.01 |
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Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
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99.1 |
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Press Release, dated May 6, 2008, issued by Aqua America, Inc. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
AQUA AMERICA,
INC.
By: ROY H. STAHL
Roy H. Stahl
Chief
Administrative
Officer and
General Counsel
Dated: May 6, 2008
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Exhibit Index
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Exhibit
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Exhibit Description |
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99.1
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Press Release, dated May 6, 2008, issued by Aqua America, Inc. |
4
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
Exhibit 99.1
FOR RELEASE: May 6, 2008
Contact: Kevin Brophy
Director, Investor Relations
610.645.1020
kmbrophy@aquaamerica.com
Donna Alston
Director, Communications
610.645.1095
dpalston@aquaamerica.com
AQUA AMERICA REPORTS FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS
BRYN MAWR, PA, May 6, 2008 Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) today reported results for the quarter
ending March 31, 2008. Revenues for the quarter rose to $139.3 million from $137.3 million in the
first quarter of 2007. Net income in the first quarter was $14.3 million versus $16.9 million in
the first quarter of 2007. Diluted earnings per share in the first quarter were $0.11 versus $0.13
in the same period of 2007 on approximately 1 percent more shares outstanding.
Revenues rose 1.4 percent for the quarter compared to the same quarter of 2007. Revenues were
positively affected by infrastructure surcharges in Pennsylvania and Illinois, rate increases for
two divisions in North Carolina and Ohio, and acquisitions since the first quarter of 2007,
primarily in New York, Illinois and Texas. However, quarterly revenue growth was adversely affected
by the slowing economy, which caused decreases in customer usage, a slowing in customer growth (the
soft housing market led to a decrease in new connections), and regulatory lag. The loss of
customers and revenues associated with the condemnation of a portion of our Fort Wayne, Indiana
franchise on February 12, 2008 also hurt comparisons. Aqua America Chairman and CEO Nicholas
DeBenedictis said, Of course, the significant issue affecting revenue growth is the regulatory lag
we are currently experiencing. We have numerous rate cases already underway and more planned for
filing.
We would anticipate improved revenue growth as rate relief is awarded, coupled with a turnaround
in the economy and increased customer growth, added DeBenedictis. The company has 17 rate increase
requests pending totaling approximately $65 million in annualized revenues. The extent to which
these rate increase requests will be granted by the applicable regulatory agencies will vary. Thus
far in 2008 the company has received rate increase awards, infrastructure surcharges and various
price indexes designed to increase annual revenues by approximately $5 million. The companys
Florida and North Carolina subsidiaries are expected to file rate cases in the second quarter,
which are intended to recover the major capital investments made in those states since Aqua
acquired the systems.
As previously announced, during the quarter the company transferred the northern portion of its
Fort Wayne, Indiana operations (11,000 customers) to the City of Fort Wayne in connection with the
Citys condemnation of the system, which affects customer growth comparisons. However, in and
around the same area, the company still serves approximately 22,000 customers, which were not
subject to the condemnation. The company received an initial payment of $16.9 million from the City in connection
with the condemnation and the company has challenged the Citys valuation through an ongoing legal
proceeding.
1
Although the Fort Wayne condemnation will have a slight effect on our revenues throughout the
year, the transition of customers which has been smooth has not hurt our other ongoing
operations in Indiana, said DeBenedictis. A rate case is proceeding in Indiana regarding our
remaining operations and we anticipate a decision later this year.
Operations and maintenance expenses for the quarter rose 6.6 percent relative to the same quarter
of 2007. DeBenedictis added, Less than half of the increase in operations and maintenance expenses
resulted from ongoing operating expenses where we were heavily impacted by the sharp increase in
fuel costs and an increase in our reserve for bad debt. Bad debt has increased to approximately 1
percent of revenues due to general economic conditions and a delay in collection activity from our
implementation of a new customer information system. Now that the customer information system is up
and running, collection activities have been accelerated. An equal amount of the increase
(compared to the same quarter of 2007) was due to new expenses associated with last years
acquisitions and non-cash adjustments due to regulatory proceedings.
Depreciation expense rose 6.7 percent and interest expense rose 3.5 percent (chiefly due to
increased borrowings) in response to the companys significant capital investment to improve its
infrastructure facilities, said DeBenedictis. In the first quarter Aqua invested $56.5 million on
infrastructure improvements such as pipe replacement and utility plant rehabilitation. In 2008,
Aqua plans to spend more than $260 million on its capital investment program for which it intends
to seek recovery through surcharges or timely rate increases.
I am pleased with the positive effects of our capital investment program, which has been directed
toward environmental compliance enhancements at our treatment facilities and infrastructure
improvements. Further, we have managed to maintain our approximately
one-quarter-billion-dollars-per-year capital investment program while lowering our imbedded average
cost of debt and maintaining our targeted capital structure, said DeBenedictis.
The company continues to seek low interest rate financing and as a result, the average interest
rate on its fixed rate long-term debt declined from 5.65 percent at March 31, 2007 to 5.60 percent
at March 31, 2008. DeBenedictis added, Despite the publicized credit crunch, our financial
strength and track record have enabled us to have good access to the debt market without having to
pay higher borrowing rates.
Managing expenses remains a top priority, and our cash generation will continue to grow in 2008
with the help of additional deferred taxes associated with the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Our
increasing internally generated cash will help support our capital program and shareholder
dividends this year and equally important, reduce the need for new equity, said DeBenedictis.
On May 1, 2008, the board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share to shareholders of
record on May 16, 2008. This dividend payable on June 1, 2008 represents a 9 percent increase over
the June 2007 dividend. Aqua has increased its dividend rate 17 times in the last 16 years, and the
company has paid a consecutive dividend for more than 60 years.
In spite of the uncertain economic times, I am confident that our company is financially sound and
that our business strategy is intact. We continue to generate more cash and have no major unplanned
capital needs that would prevent us from requesting timely rate relief, which should lessen future
regulatory lag, said DeBenedictis.
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Aquas conference call with financial analysts will take place on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 11:00
a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be web cast live so that interested parties may listen over the
Internet by logging on to www.aquaamerica.com. The conference call will be archived in the investor
relations section of the companys Web site for 90 days following the call. Additionally, the call
will be recorded and made available for replay at 3:00 p.m. on May 6, 2008 for 10 business days
following the call. To access the audio replay in the U.S., dial 888.203.1112 (pass code 5124898).
For international callers, dial 719.457.0820 (pass code 5124898).
Aqua America, Inc. is a publicly traded water and wastewater utility holding company with operating
subsidiaries serving approximately three million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina,
Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Florida, Virginia, Maine, Missouri and South
Carolina. Aqua America is listed on the New York and Philadelphia Stock Exchanges under the ticker
symbol WTR.
This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, projected revenue growth, our challenge to
the Citys valuation of the portion of our Ft. Wayne system, the effect of the condemnation of this
system, our plans for capital investment, the effects of our capital investments, the anticipated
revenue from completed and planned rate cases, the filing of additional rate requests to recover
capital expenditures, increased collection activities, our plans to seek low interest rate
financing, our access to debt markets, our expense management, our growth in cash generation, the
effects of internally generated cash, our financial condition and continuation of our business
strategy. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business
conditions; housing and customer growth trends; unfavorable weather conditions; the success of
certain cost containment initiatives; the extent to which rate increase requests are granted and
the timing of rate awards; changes in regulations or regulatory treatment; availability and the
cost of capital; the success of growth initiatives; and other factors discussed in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K which is on file with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement.
# # #
WTRF
The following table shows selected operating data for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
(in thousands, except per share data) for Aqua America, Inc.
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(Unaudited) |
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Quarter Ended |
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March 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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Operating revenues |
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$ |
139,283 |
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$ |
137,301 |
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Net income |
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$ |
14,321 |
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$ |
16,858 |
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Basic net income per share |
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$ |
0.11 |
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$ |
0.13 |
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Diluted net income per share |
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$ |
0.11 |
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$ |
0.13 |
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Average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
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133,415 |
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132,353 |
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Diluted |
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133,970 |
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133,243 |
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4
Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
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Quarter Ended |
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March 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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Operating revenues |
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$ |
139,283 |
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$ |
137,301 |
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Cost & expenses: |
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Operations and maintenance |
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64,304 |
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60,295 |
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Depreciation |
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21,481 |
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20,136 |
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Amortization |
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1,173 |
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1,209 |
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Taxes other than income taxes |
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12,109 |
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11,916 |
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Total |
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99,067 |
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93,556 |
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Operating income |
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40,216 |
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43,745 |
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Other expense (income): |
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Interest expense, net |
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17,130 |
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16,549 |
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Allowance for funds used during
construction |
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(956 |
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(721 |
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Gain on sale of other assets |
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(69 |
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Income before income taxes |
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24,042 |
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27,986 |
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Provision for income taxes |
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9,721 |
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11,128 |
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Net income |
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$ |
14,321 |
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$ |
16,858 |
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Net income |
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$ |
14,321 |
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$ |
16,858 |
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Other comprehensive income, net of tax: |
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Unrealized holding gain on certain
investments |
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5 |
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Comprehensive income |
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$ |
14,321 |
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$ |
16,863 |
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Net income per common share: |
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Basic |
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$ |
0.11 |
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$ |
0.13 |
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Diluted |
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$ |
0.11 |
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$ |
0.13 |
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Average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
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133,415 |
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132,353 |
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Diluted |
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133,970 |
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133,243 |
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5
Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands of dollars)
(Unaudited)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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Net property, plant and equipment |
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$ |
2,802,123 |
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$ |
2,792,794 |
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Current assets |
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110,119 |
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115,511 |
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Regulatory assets and other assets |
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313,641 |
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318,607 |
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$ |
3,225,883 |
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$ |
3,226,912 |
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Common stockholders equity |
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$ |
980,715 |
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$ |
976,298 |
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Long-term debt, excluding current portion |
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1,213,640 |
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1,215,053 |
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Current portion of long-term debt and loans payable |
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95,783 |
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80,845 |
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Other current liabilities |
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78,678 |
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102,367 |
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Deferred credits and other liabilities |
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857,067 |
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852,349 |
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$ |
3,225,883 |
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$ |
3,226,912 |
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6