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): November 5, 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 |
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Results of Operations and Financial Condition. |
On November 5, 2008, Aqua America, Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter and
nine months ended September 30, 2008. The full text of such press release is furnished as exhibit 99.1 to this report.
Item 9.01 |
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Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
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99.1 |
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Press Release, dated November 5, 2008, issued by Aqua America, Inc. |
- 2 -
2
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: November 5, 2008
- 3 -
3
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 November 5, 2008, issued by Aqua America, Inc. |
4
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR RELEASE: November 5, 2008
Contact: Brian Dingerdissen
Director, Investor Relations
610.645.1191
bjdingerdissen@aquaamerica.com
Donna Alston
Director, Communications
610.645.1095
dpalston@aquaamerica.com
AQUA AMERICA REPORTS 20 PERCENT INCREASE IN NET INCOME
FOR THIRD QUARTER
Dividend to increase by 8 percent
BRYN MAWR, PA, November 5, 2008 Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) today reported net income for the
quarter ended September 30, 2008 of $35.4 million compared to $29.5 million in the third quarter of
2007, an increase of 20 percent. Corresponding diluted earnings per share for the quarter were
$0.26, compared to $0.22 in the same quarter of 2007 on 1 percent more shares outstanding. Revenue
for the quarter was $177.1 million compared to $165.5 million in the same period of 2007, an
increase of 7 percent.
The companys Board of Directors has voted to increase the quarterly common stock cash dividend
payable December 1, 2008 to shareholders of record on November 17, 2008 by 8 percent to $0.135 per
share, an annualized rate of $0.54 per share. This is the tenth consecutive year in which Aqua
America has increased its dividend above its stated 5 percent target and the eighteenth dividend
increase in 17 years. Aqua has paid a consecutive dividend for more than 60 years.
Aqua America Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis said, This quarters financial performance is
a reflection of the great deal of time and effort that management has spent focused on investing in
water quality infrastructure and key rate case awards over the past year. I am pleased that our
hard work and dedication to alleviating prior regulatory lag is starting to show in our financial
results. The majority of this quarters revenue growth was due to rate awards granted for previous
capital investments and for increased operating expenses, therefore, directly impacting net income.
Management expects to see the positive impact on revenue of our rate relief effort continue into
2009.
Investment recovery through rate relief continues to be a major focus of management for 2008 under
the companys program to address the previous lack of timely returns on invested capital
(regulatory lag), which has affected previous financial results. To date in 2008, the company has
received rate awards that are designed to provide $60 million in additional annualized revenue, the
majority of which was awarded in recent Pennsylvania and New Jersey rate cases that granted the
company nearly $39 million in annualized rate awards beginning in the third quarter. Included in
the 2008 rate relief are recent awards in several Illinois divisions, Indiana, and Sarasota,
Florida totaling approximately $9 million in annualized revenue. The company currently has pending rate requests seeking approximately $20 million in
annualized revenue, predominantly in Florida and North Carolina, that are expected to positively
impact 2009.
1
The company expects to file rate requests seeking more then $70 million in 2009, including cases in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. The timing and extent to which rate increases might
be granted by the applicable regulatory agencies will vary by state. Included in these projections
are the companys DSIC filings, which allow the company to collect revenue on certain capital
investments without having to file full rate cases, helping to limit regulatory lag. Most cases
that will be filed in 2009 will not impact revenues until 2010, given that a typical case takes 9
to 12 months to complete. Looking at the filings that we are projecting in 2009, we anticipate
revenue growth through 2010 as we continue investing in necessary capital projects to improve
service and reliability for our customers, said DeBenedictis.
During the quarter, operations and maintenance expenses were flat while depreciation and
amortization increased 10.8 percent compared to the same period in 2007. Net income for the quarter
was positively affected by a gain of $4.1 million for the sale of the companys Woodhaven system,
which was offset by $2.5 million of one-time non-cash charges related to the processing of initial
rate requests. DeBenedictis added, Expenses continue to be influenced by year-over-year increases
in production costs primarily due to fuel and power price increases, bad debt expense and needed
operating expense to support growth.
Through the third quarter, the company has invested $188 million in infrastructure improvements as
part of its capital investment program. DeBenedictis said, The majority of the companys capital
investment program is now focused on discretionary capital, which includes upgrades to our
distribution network including pipe replacement projects and plant upgrades to enhance reliability
and service to our customers.
Aqua Pennsylvania, the companys largest subsidiary, recently received approval from the
Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority for an $80 million tax free debt issuance. On
November 4, 2008, Standard and Poors assigned its AA- secured debt rating and 1+ recovery
rating to this debt offering. The company expects to price the issuance by year end. Aquas strong
balance sheet and credit rating should help the company continue to finance its capital investment
program, DeBenedictis added. Due to its increasing internally generated cash, the company does not
foresee any significant additional equity financing needs to support its capital program through
the next two years.
Even in the current economic climate, Aqua America continues to expand its operations and has
announced seven acquisitions thus far in 2008, which provide water or wastewater service to a total
of approximately 22,000 people. These acquisitions, including the recently completed purchases of
the New Daleville wastewater system and Honesdale Consolidated Water Company in Pennsylvania, and
the Saddle Club water system in Texas, show the companys continued commitment to its
growth-through-acquisition model. Through the third quarter, the company is still growing but has
seen its organic customer rate slow to 0.93 percent of customers down from 1.14 percent of
customers in 2007. Until the housing market improves, the company expects to see organic growth
continue at less than its historic pace. I am pleased that we are still able to find ways to grow
the company in these difficult times with our growth-through-acquisition program, said Aqua
America Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis.
2
Aqua Americas conference call with financial analysts will take place on Wednesday, November 5,
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 November 5,
2008 for 10 business days following the call. To access the audio replay in the U.S., dial
888.203.1112 (pass code 7643976). For international callers, dial 719.457.0820 (pass code 7643976).
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 Stock Exchange 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, the companys plans to file rate increases,
the ability of the company to limit regulatory lag through capital planning and use of DSIC, the
effects of current economic conditions, the effects of our capital investments on our service to
our customers, the possibility of reducing our capital spending, the companys planned debt
financing, the impact of the companys credit rating, the strength of the companys balance sheet,
the rate of organic growth, managements focus on rate relief and the anticipated revenue from
completed and planned rate cases, the timing and expected impact of rate increases, anticipated
needs for new equity, 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; disruptions in the credit markets; 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
3
The following table shows selected operating data for the quarter and nine months ended September
30, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands, except per share data) for Aqua America, Inc. and subsidiaries.
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(Unaudited) |
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(Unaudited) |
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Quarter Ended |
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Nine Months Ended |
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September 30, |
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September 30, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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Operating revenues |
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$ |
177,098 |
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$ |
165,491 |
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$ |
467,132 |
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$ |
453,416 |
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Net income |
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$ |
35,380 |
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$ |
29,518 |
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$ |
72,253 |
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$ |
70,103 |
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Basic net income per common share |
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$ |
0.26 |
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$ |
0.22 |
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$ |
0.54 |
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$ |
0.53 |
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Diluted net income per common share |
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$ |
0.26 |
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$ |
0.22 |
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$ |
0.54 |
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$ |
0.53 |
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Average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
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134,932 |
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133,003 |
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134,013 |
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132,675 |
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Diluted |
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135,279 |
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133,834 |
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134,423 |
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133,527 |
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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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Nine Months Ended |
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September 30, |
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September 30, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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Operating revenues |
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$ |
177,098 |
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$ |
165,491 |
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$ |
467,132 |
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$ |
453,416 |
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Cost & expenses: |
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Operations and maintenance |
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66,743 |
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67,069 |
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196,193 |
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190,698 |
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Depreciation |
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22,809 |
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21,065 |
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64,909 |
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|
61,657 |
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Amortization |
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1,815 |
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1,161 |
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4,000 |
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|
3,603 |
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Taxes other than income taxes |
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11,157 |
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10,849 |
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34,111 |
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33,596 |
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Total |
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102,524 |
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100,144 |
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299,213 |
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289,554 |
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Operating income |
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74,574 |
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65,347 |
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167,919 |
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163,862 |
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Other expense (income): |
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Interest expense, net |
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17,014 |
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17,103 |
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51,207 |
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50,093 |
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Allowance for funds used during construction |
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(976 |
) |
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(655 |
) |
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(3,032 |
) |
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(2,118 |
) |
Gain on sale of other assets |
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(532 |
) |
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(260 |
) |
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(1,085 |
) |
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(648 |
) |
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Income before income taxes |
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59,068 |
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49,159 |
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120,829 |
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116,535 |
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Provision for income taxes |
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23,688 |
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19,641 |
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48,576 |
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46,432 |
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Net income |
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$ |
35,380 |
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$ |
29,518 |
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$ |
72,253 |
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$ |
70,103 |
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Net income |
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$ |
35,380 |
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$ |
29,518 |
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$ |
72,253 |
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$ |
70,103 |
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Other comprehensive income, net of tax: |
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Unrealized holding gain on investments |
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4 |
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903 |
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193 |
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1,121 |
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Reclassification adjustment for gains
reported in net income |
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(209 |
) |
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(209 |
) |
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Comprehensive income |
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$ |
35,175 |
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$ |
30,421 |
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$ |
72,237 |
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$ |
71,224 |
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Net income per common share: |
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Basic |
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$ |
0.26 |
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$ |
0.22 |
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$ |
0.54 |
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$ |
0.53 |
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Diluted |
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$ |
0.26 |
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$ |
0.22 |
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$ |
0.54 |
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$ |
0.53 |
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Average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
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134,932 |
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|
133,003 |
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|
134,013 |
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|
132,675 |
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Diluted |
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|
135,279 |
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|
133,834 |
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|
134,423 |
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133,527 |
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5
Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands of dollars)
(Unaudited)
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September 30, |
|
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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 |
|
$ |
2,922,516 |
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$ |
2,792,794 |
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Current assets |
|
|
129,871 |
|
|
|
115,511 |
|
Regulatory assets and other assets |
|
|
311,652 |
|
|
|
318,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
$ |
3,364,039 |
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$ |
3,226,912 |
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Common stockholders equity |
|
$ |
1,028,019 |
|
|
$ |
976,298 |
|
Long-term debt, excluding current portion |
|
|
1,211,388 |
|
|
|
1,215,053 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt and loans payable |
|
|
110,192 |
|
|
|
80,845 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
108,091 |
|
|
|
102,367 |
|
Deferred credits and other liabilities |
|
|
906,349 |
|
|
|
852,349 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,364,039 |
|
|
$ |
3,226,912 |
|
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6