ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
Unaudited
(In
thousands)
|
|
June
30, 2008
|
|
|
December
31, 2007
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
plant, at original cost less accumulated depreciation
|
|
$
|
296,249
|
|
|
$
|
274,140
|
|
Current
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
1,658
|
|
|
|
2,520
|
|
Accounts
receivable, net
|
|
|
4,158
|
|
|
|
5,499
|
|
Unbilled
operating revenues
|
|
|
3,554
|
|
|
|
3,198
|
|
Materials
and supplies-at cost on FIFO basis
|
|
|
1,155
|
|
|
|
1,192
|
|
Prepaid
property taxes
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
1,058
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
|
|
1,327
|
|
|
|
857
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
11,854
|
|
|
|
14,324
|
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-utility
property (less accumulated depreciation 2008-$201;
2007-$177)
|
|
|
459
|
|
|
|
288
|
|
Other
deferred assets
|
|
|
4,739
|
|
|
|
4,156
|
|
Total
other assets
|
|
|
5,198
|
|
|
|
4,444
|
|
Regulatory
assets, net
|
|
|
1,627
|
|
|
|
1,681
|
|
|
|
$
|
314,928
|
|
|
$
|
294,589
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock
|
|
$
|
7,342
|
|
|
$
|
7,300
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
65,953
|
|
|
|
65,363
|
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
|
11,123
|
|
|
|
12,469
|
|
Total
stockholders' equity
|
|
|
84,418
|
|
|
|
85,132
|
|
Long-term
debt, net of current portion
|
|
|
91,584
|
|
|
|
91,757
|
|
|
|
|
176,002
|
|
|
|
176,889
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lines
of credit
|
|
|
9,691
|
|
|
|
898
|
|
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
329
|
|
|
|
316
|
|
Dividends
payable
|
|
|
1,310
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
3,354
|
|
|
|
3,225
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
|
|
3,428
|
|
|
|
2,483
|
|
Overdraft
payable
|
|
|
3,712
|
|
|
|
1,672
|
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
301
|
|
Interest
accrued
|
|
|
295
|
|
|
|
326
|
|
Customer
deposits
|
|
|
562
|
|
|
|
746
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,686
|
|
|
|
1,877
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
24,367
|
|
|
|
11,844
|
|
Deferred
credits and other liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
advances for construction
|
|
|
22,770
|
|
|
|
23,840
|
|
Postretirement
benefit obligation
|
|
|
868
|
|
|
|
868
|
|
Deferred
investment tax credits
|
|
|
727
|
|
|
|
740
|
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
27,197
|
|
|
|
25,170
|
|
Total
deferred credits and other liabilities
|
|
|
51,562
|
|
|
|
50,618
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
contributions in aid of construction
|
|
|
62,997
|
|
|
|
55,238
|
|
|
|
$
|
314,928
|
|
|
$
|
294,589
|
|
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
(In
thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
For
the Quarter
|
|
|
|
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
OPERATING
REVENUES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water
sales
|
|
$
|
12,514
|
|
|
$
|
11,945
|
|
Other
utility operating revenue
|
|
|
552
|
|
|
|
470
|
|
Non-utility
revenue
|
|
|
837
|
|
|
|
498
|
|
|
|
|
13,903
|
|
|
|
12,913
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING
EXPENSES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
operating expenses
|
|
|
7,280
|
|
|
|
6,759
|
|
Non-utility
operating expenses
|
|
|
582
|
|
|
|
387
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
1,306
|
|
|
|
1,291
|
|
State
and federal income taxes
|
|
|
1,020
|
|
|
|
864
|
|
Property
and other taxes
|
|
|
798
|
|
|
|
693
|
|
|
|
|
10,986
|
|
|
|
9,994
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING
INCOME
|
|
|
2,917
|
|
|
|
2,919
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allowance
for funds used during construction
|
|
|
212
|
|
|
|
75
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
(32
|
)
|
|
|
(42
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME
BEFORE INTEREST CHARGES
|
|
|
3,097
|
|
|
|
2,952
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST
CHARGES
|
|
|
1,568
|
|
|
|
1,681
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
INCOME
|
|
$
|
1,529
|
|
|
$
|
1,271
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME
PER COMMON SHARE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
$
|
0.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
DIVIDEND PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
0.1784
|
|
|
$
|
0.1660
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AVERAGE
COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
7,334
|
|
|
|
6,468
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
7,445
|
|
|
|
6,623
|
|
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
(In
thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
For
the Six Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
OPERATING
REVENUES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water
sales
|
|
$
|
23,603
|
|
|
$
|
22,652
|
|
Other
utility operating revenue
|
|
|
992
|
|
|
|
902
|
|
Non-utility
revenue
|
|
|
1,578
|
|
|
|
963
|
|
|
|
|
26,173
|
|
|
|
24,517
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING
EXPENSES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
operating expenses
|
|
|
14,253
|
|
|
|
13,244
|
|
Non-utility
operating expenses
|
|
|
1,144
|
|
|
|
597
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
2,640
|
|
|
|
2,503
|
|
State
and federal income taxes
|
|
|
1,691
|
|
|
|
1,605
|
|
Property
and other taxes
|
|
|
1,591
|
|
|
|
1,381
|
|
|
|
|
21,319
|
|
|
|
19,330
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING
INCOME
|
|
|
4,854
|
|
|
|
5,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
INCOME, NET
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allowance
for funds used during construction
|
|
|
329
|
|
|
|
135
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
432
|
|
|
|
421
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME
BEFORE INTEREST CHARGES
|
|
|
5,615
|
|
|
|
5,743
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTEREST
CHARGES
|
|
|
3,087
|
|
|
|
3,316
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
INCOME
|
|
$
|
2,528
|
|
|
$
|
2,427
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME
PER COMMON SHARE:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
|
$
|
0.39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.34
|
|
|
$
|
0.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
DIVIDEND PER COMMON SHARE
|
|
$
|
0.3504
|
|
|
$
|
0.3260
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AVERAGE
COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
7,324
|
|
|
|
6,289
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
7,438
|
|
|
|
6,449
|
|
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
For
the Six Months
|
|
|
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
beginning of period
|
|
$
|
12,469
|
|
|
$
|
10,662
|
|
Net
income
|
|
|
2,528
|
|
|
|
2,427
|
|
|
|
|
14,997
|
|
|
|
13,089
|
|
Less:
Dividends
|
|
|
3,874
|
|
|
|
1,994
|
|
Balance,
end of period
|
|
$
|
11,123
|
|
|
$
|
11,095
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
For
the Six Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
INCOME
|
|
$
|
2,528
|
|
|
$
|
2,427
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
provided
by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
2,640
|
|
|
|
2,503
|
|
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
|
|
1,631
|
|
|
|
1,846
|
|
Stock
compensation
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
Allowance
for funds used during construction
|
|
|
(329
|
)
|
|
|
(135
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable, net
|
|
|
1,341
|
|
|
|
(602
|
)
|
Unbilled
operating revenues
|
|
|
(356
|
)
|
|
|
(742
|
)
|
Materials
and supplies
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
Prepaid
property taxes
|
|
|
1,056
|
|
|
|
922
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
|
|
(470
|
)
|
|
|
(749
|
)
|
Other
deferred assets
|
|
|
(646
|
)
|
|
|
(387
|
)
|
Regulatory
assets
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
|
(354
|
)
|
Accrued
expenses
|
|
|
945
|
|
|
|
(360
|
)
|
Interest
accrued
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
6
|
|
Customer
deposits and other, net
|
|
|
(293
|
)
|
|
|
214
|
|
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
8,294
|
|
|
|
4,739
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures, net of AFUDC
|
|
|
(19,334
|
)
|
|
|
(11,686
|
)
|
Proceeds
from sale of assets
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
NET
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
(19,284
|
)
|
|
|
(11,664
|
)
|
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH
FLOWS
(continued)
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
For
the Six Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
borrowings (repayments) under line of credit agreements
|
|
|
8,793
|
|
|
|
(7,888
|
)
|
Overdraft
payable
|
|
|
2,040
|
|
|
|
123
|
|
Net
advances and contributions in aid of construction
|
|
|
1,389
|
|
|
|
4,159
|
|
Principal
repayments of long-term debt
|
|
|
(160
|
)
|
|
|
(156
|
)
|
Net
proceeds from issuance of common stock
|
|
|
574
|
|
|
|
18,691
|
|
Dividends
paid
|
|
|
(2,564
|
)
|
|
|
(1,994
|
)
|
Deferred
debt issuance costs
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
10,128
|
|
|
|
12,988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|
|
(862
|
)
|
|
|
6,063
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PERIOD
|
|
|
2,520
|
|
|
|
1,414
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
|
|
$
|
1,658
|
|
|
$
|
7,477
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Disclosure of Non-Cash Activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
plant received as construction advances and contributions
|
|
$
|
5,785
|
|
|
$
|
---
|
|
Dividends
declared not yet paid
|
|
|
1,310
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
$
|
3,062
|
|
|
$
|
3,226
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
taxes paid
|
|
$
|
---
|
|
|
$
|
470
|
|
|
|
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements
NOTES
TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE
1 – GENERAL
Artesian
Resources Corporation, or Artesian Resources, operates as a holding company,
whose income is derived from the earnings of our eight wholly owned subsidiaries
and formerly from a one-third interest in AquaStructure Delaware, L.L.C., an
inactive limited liability corporation that was dissolved on May 30,
2008. The terms “we”, “our”, “Artesian” and the “Company” as used
herein refer to Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries, and variable interest
entities required to be consolidated under FIN 46R (as defined
below).
Artesian
Water Company, Inc., or Artesian Water, our principal subsidiary, is the oldest
and largest public water utility on the Delmarva Peninsula, and has been
providing water service since 1905. Artesian Water distributes and
sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal
and
utility customers throughout Delaware. In addition, Artesian Water
provides services to other water utilities, including operations and billing
functions, and has contract operation agreements with 21 private and municipal
water providers.
Artesian
Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, began operations
in
2002, and is providing water service to a residential community, consisting
of
38 customers, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 2005, the
Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission approved our application to increase
our service area to encompass four specific planned developments.
Artesian
Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, formerly Carpenters Point
Water Company, serves a 141 home community in Cecil County, Maryland near the
Interstate 95 growth corridor between Philadelphia and Baltimore and has
sufficient groundwater supply and elevated water storage to serve additional
customers in the undeveloped portions of its franchise and surrounding
area.
On
May 5,
2008, Artesian Water Maryland signed an agreement to acquire Mountain Hill
Water
Company valued at approximately $7.0 million payable over 5
years. Mountain Hill Water Company currently serves two commercial
accounts in the Principio Business Park located within Cecil County’s designated
growth corridor. The proposed acquisition is expected to provide
water service to customers in portions of the Principio Business Park and the
proposed 660 home residential development of Charlestown Crossing as well as
the
surrounding area. On July 9, 2008 the Maryland Public Service
Commission approved the purchase of Mountain Hill Water Company by Artesian
Water Maryland. This acquisition was finalized on August 1,
2008.
Another
subsidiary of ours, Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian
Wastewater, is a regulated entity that owns wastewater infrastructure and
provides wastewater services in Delaware. Artesian Wastewater
currently owns and operates five wastewater treatment facilities, which are
capable of treating approximately 750,000 gallons per day and can be expanded
to
treat approximately 1.6 million gallons per day.
Artesian
Wastewater Maryland , Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, was incorporated
on
June 3, 2008 to provide regulated wastewater services in the state of
Maryland.
Our
three
other subsidiaries which are not regulated, are: Artesian Utility Development,
Inc., or Artesian Utility, which designs and builds water and wastewater
infrastructure and provides contract water and wastewater services on the
Delmarva Peninsula; Artesian Development Corporation, or Artesian Development,
the sole activity of which is the ownership of a six-acre parcel of land zoned
for office buildings located immediately adjacent to our corporate headquarters
and 2 nine-acre parcels of land located in Sussex County; and Artesian
Consulting Engineers, Inc., or Artesian Consulting, which provides engineering
services to developers for residential and commercial development.
On
May 1,
2007, Artesian Utility acquired all rights, titles and interest in operations
contracts of TMH Environmental Services, Inc., or TMH. We currently
provide contract water and wastewater operation services to 21 private,
municipal and governmental institutions in the southeastern part of
Pennsylvania.
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC, for the design, construction and
operation of the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, a wastewater
treatment facility to be located in Sussex County, Delaware. NSRWRC
was created for the purpose of developing the treatment facility site, which
once constructed, will be operated by Artesian. Under the terms of
the agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor (as described
further in Note 7) of a $10 million construction loan, secured by a 75 acre
parcel NSRWRC purchased on July 1, 2008 for approximately $5
million.
On
June
6, 2008, Artesian Consulting acquired all the assets of Meridian Architects
and
Engineers, or Meridian, for a purchase price of
$130,000. The acquisition includes the assignment of all current
contract agreements to provide engineering services to developers and includes
services to be provided to Artesian Water. Meridian’s fourteen
employees, which includes one architect, three licensed professional engineers,
two licensed surveyors and three computer-aided design professionals, have
been
offered and accepted continued employment with Artesian Consulting.
Stock
Compensation
Plans
We
maintain an equity compensation plan that provides for grants of stock options
and restricted stock awards and other forms of stock compensation to our
directors, officers and key employees. Prior to May 25, 2005, we
maintained three stock compensation plans. No further equity
compensation can be issued under those plans. On May 25, 2005, the
Company’s stockholders approved a new Equity Compensation Plan, or the Plan,
which authorized up to 750,000 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock for
issuance. The terms and vesting schedules for options granted under
the Plan may vary and are set at the time of grant by the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors. Approximately $58,000 in compensation
expense was recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2008 for stock options
issued in May 2008 and May 2007 and stock awards and related tax issued in
the
quarter ended June 30, 2008. For the six months ended June 30, 2007,
an expense of approximately $66,600 was recorded for stock options granted
in
May 2007 and May 2006.
Effective
January 1, 2006, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” and related
interpretations (“SFAS No. 123R”) using the modified-prospective transition
method. Under this method, compensation cost recognized included (a)
compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet
vested, as of January 1, 2006 based on the grant date fair value estimated
in
accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123R and (b) compensation
cost for all share-based payments granted on or subsequent to January 1, 2006,
based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions
of SFAS No. 123R. All options were granted at market value with a
10-year option term with a vesting period of one year from the dates of grant
at
May 14, 2008 and May 16, 2007. The fair value of the options that
were granted in 2008 and 2007 were estimated using a Black-Scholes-Merton
option-pricing formula, applying the following assumptions:
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Expected
Dividend Yield
|
|
|
3.63
|
%
|
|
|
3.25
|
%
|
Expected
Stock Price Volatility
|
|
|
0.25
|
|
|
|
0.27
|
|
Weighted
Average Risk-Free Interest Rate
|
|
|
3.45
|
%
|
|
|
4.69
|
%
|
Weighted
Average Expected Life of Options (in years)
|
|
|
6.93
|
|
|
|
6.65
|
|
For
2008
and 2007 the expected dividend yield was based on a 12 month rolling average
of
the current dividend yield. The expected volatility is the standard
deviation of the change in the natural logarithm of the stock price (expressed
as an annual rate) for the seven year periods ended May 31, 2008 and May 31,
2007 for 2008 and 2007, respectively. The expected life was based on
historic exercise patterns for similar grants. The risk free interest
rate is the 7-year Treasury Constant Maturity rate as of the date of the grants
for 2008 and 2007.
The
following summary reflects changes in the shares of Class A Non-Voting Common
Stock under option:
|
|
Option
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
(Yrs.)
|
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in
thousands)
|
|
Plan
options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
at January 1, 2008
|
|
|
574,696
|
|
|
$
|
14.621
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
33,750
|
|
|
$
|
18.430
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(24,325
|
)
|
|
$
|
8.223
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
at June 30, 2008
|
|
|
584,121
|
|
|
$
|
15.107
|
|
|
|
4.94
|
|
|
$
|
2,205
|
|
Options
exercisable at June 30, 2008
|
|
|
550,371
|
|
|
$
|
14.903
|
|
|
|
4.64
|
|
|
$
|
2,205
|
|
The
total
intrinsic value of options exercised during the six month period ended June
30,
2008 was approximately $251,900.
The
following summary reflects changes in the non-vested shares of Class A Stock
under option:
Non-vested
Shares
|
|
Option
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Grant
–Date
Fair
Value
Per
Option
|
|
Non-vested
at January 1, 2008
|
|
|
27,000
|
|
|
$
|
4.847
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
33,750
|
|
|
|
3.600
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
27,000
|
|
|
|
4.847
|
|
Canceled
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Non-vested
at June 30, 2008
|
|
|
33,750
|
|
|
$
|
3.600
|
|
As
of
June 30, 2008, there was $105,900 of total unrecognized expense related to
non-vested option shares granted under the Plan. That cost will be
recognized over the remaining vesting period of .87 years of the unvested
options.
NOTE
2 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The
unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with
the
requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all the disclosures
required in the financial statements included in the Company's annual report
on
Form 10-K. Accordingly, these financial statements and related notes
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes
in
the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2007 and the Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
In
the
opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial
statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly
the Company's balance sheet position as of June 30, 2008 and the results of
operations for the six month and quarterly periods ended June 30, 2008 and
2007
and cash flows for the six month periods ended June 30, 2008 and
2007. In addition, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board Interpretation No. 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an
interpretation of ARB No, 51,” (FIN 46R) the Company consolidates variable
interest entities for which it is deemed to be the primary
beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and
balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The
results of operations for the interim period presented are not necessarily
indicative of the results for the full year or for future periods.
NOTE
3 - REGULATORY ASSETS
Certain
expenses are recoverable through rates charged to our customers, without a
return on investment, and are deferred and amortized during future periods
using
various methods as permitted by the Delaware Public Service Commission, or
PSC. Expenses related to applications to increase rates are amortized
on a straight-line basis over a period of two years. The
postretirement benefit obligation, which is being amortized over 20 years, is
adjusted for the difference between the net periodic postretirement benefit
costs and the cash payments. The deferred income taxes will be
amortized over future years as the tax effects of temporary differences
previously flowed through to the customers reverse. Regulatory assets
net of amortization, are comprised of the following:
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
June
30, 2008
|
|
|
December
31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postretirement
benefit obligation
|
|
$
|
948
|
|
|
$
|
968
|
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
559
|
|
|
|
567
|
|
Expense
of rate proceedings
|
|
|
120
|
|
|
|
141
|
|
Other
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,627
|
|
|
$
|
1,681
|
|
Expenses
related to the Net Periodic Pension Cost for the postretirement benefit
obligation are as follows:
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
For
the Six Months Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Net
Periodic Pension Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Cost
|
|
$
|
27
|
|
|
$
|
25
|
|
Amortization
of Net Gain
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
Amortization
of Transition Obligation
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
|
|
$
|
31
|
|
|
$
|
17
|
|
Contributions
Artesian
Water contributed $51,000 to its postretirement benefit plan in the first six
months of 2008 and expects to contribute another $52,000 for the remainder
of
the year. These contributions consist of insurance premium payments
for medical, dental and life insurance benefits made on behalf of the Company’s
eligible retired employees.
NOTE
4 - NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AND EQUITY PER COMMON SHARE
Basic
net
income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding. Diluted net income per share is based on the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding and the potentially dilutive effect
of employee stock options. The following table summarizes the shares
used in computing basic and diluted net income per share:
|
|
For
the Quarter
|
|
|
For
the Six Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
Average
common shares outstanding during
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the
period for Basic computation
|
|
|
7,334
|
|
|
|
6,468
|
|
|
|
7,324
|
|
|
|
6,289
|
|
Dilutive
effect of employee stock options
|
|
|
111
|
|
|
|
155
|
|
|
|
114
|
|
|
|
160
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
common shares outstanding during
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the
period for Diluted computation
|
|
|
7,445
|
|
|
|
6,623
|
|
|
|
7,438
|
|
|
|
6,449
|
|
|
|
====
|
|
|
====
|
|
|
====
|
|
|
====
|
|
Equity
per common share was $11.49 and $11.36 at June 30, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. These amounts were computed by dividing common
stockholders' equity by the number of shares of common stock outstanding on
June
30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
NOTE
5 - IMPACT OF RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, FASB, issued Statement
No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements.” This statement defines fair
value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements of assets and liabilities. This statement applies under
other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements;
however, the statement does not require any new fair value
measurements. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those years. On
January 1, 2008, we adopted the provisions of SFAS 157, except as it applies
to
non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities for which the effective
date
has been delayed by one year as described below. The adoption of SFAS
157 did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of
operations.
SFAS
157
defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset
or
paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most
advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between
market participants on the measurement date. SFAS 157 also
establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the
use
of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring
fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be
used to measure fair value:
Level
1 -
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities.
Level
2 -
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar
assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other
inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data
for
substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level
3 -
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and
that
are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The
book
values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivables, lines of credit,
and
accounts payable approximate their respective fair values due to the short-term
nature of these instruments. The fair value of the long term
debt at June 30, 2008 is estimated at $89.7 million determined by discounting
their future cash flows using current market interest rates on similar
instruments with comparable maturities (Level 2 inputs).
On
February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-2, "Effective Date of FASB
Statement No. 157," which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all
non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on at least
an
annual basis, until January 1, 2009 for calendar year-end
entities. The Company does not expect it to have a material effect on
the financial statements.
In
March
2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities – Including an amendment of FASB
No.133.” This statement changes the disclosure requirements for
derivative instruments and hedging activities. Entities are required
to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why a company used derivative
instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedge items are
accounted for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations and (c) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial
position, financial performance, and cash flow. This Statement is effective
for
financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning
after
November 15, 2008. The Company expects to adopt this statement
effective January 1, 2009 and does not expect it to have a material effect
on
the financial statements.
In
May of
2008, the, FASB, issued Statement No. 162,” “The Hierarchy of
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” This statement identifies
the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the
principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of
nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with GAAP in the
United States (the GAAP hierarchy). This statement is effective 60
days following the SEC’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity
With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. The Company does not
expect this Statement will have a material impact on the financial
statements.
Also
in
May of 2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 163, “Accounting for Financial
Guarantee Insurance Contracts.” This statement requires that an
insurance enterprise recognize a claim liability prior to an event of default
(insured event) when there is evidence that credit deterioration has occurred
in
an insured financial obligation. This statement also clarifies how
Statement 60 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including
recognition and measurement to be used to account for premium revenue and claim
liabilities. This Statement is effective for the financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and all interim
periods within those fiscal years, except for some disclosures about the
insurance enterprise’s risk-management activities. The Company’s
adoption of this statement will not have a material effect on the financial
statements.
NOTE
6 - RATE PROCEEDINGS
Delaware
statute permits water utilities to put into effect, on a semi-annual basis,
increases related to specific types of distribution system improvements through
a Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC. This charge is
available to water utilities to be implemented between general rate increase
applications that normally recognize changes in a water utility’s overall
financial position. The DSIC approval process is less costly when
compared to the approval process for general rate increase
requests. The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped
at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates
and
charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied cannot exceed 5% within any 12-month
period. During the first six months of 2008, we earned approximately $99,000
in
DSIC revenue. We did not have DSIC in effect during 2007.
On
April
22, 2008, Artesian Water filed a petition with the PSC to implement new rates
to
meet a requested increase in revenue of 28.8%, or approximately $14.2 million,
on an annualized basis. On July, 11, 2008, pursuant to the PSC’s
minimum filing requirements, Artesian filed a supplemental filing with the
PSC
to update financial schedules for actual experience through March 31, 2008
and
to reflect additional changes affecting the requested increase. The
overall result was a reduction to the requested increase in revenue of 1.5%,
to
27.3% or approximately $13.6 million, on an annualized basis. This
request was primarily due to the Company’s significant investment in
infrastructure to improve and ensure water quality and service
reliability. This includes capital expenditures for additional
supply, storage, water main replacements, hydraulic improvements, installation
of automated meter reading equipment in the service territory south of the
Chesapeake & Delaware canal or C&D Canal, and additional space to house
our critical operations and office support functions. The rate
request was also filed due to increases in various operating and maintenance
costs, including increased costs associated with depreciation, purchased power,
purchased water, additional building space and postage. Additional
reasons for this request include expenses related to new water system additions,
the implementation of monthly billing to customers below the C&D Canal and
creation of new water consumption blocks to provide the company an opportunity
to achieve a fair rate of return.
As
permitted by law, on June 21, 2008, we placed temporary rates into effect,
designed to generate an increase in annual operating revenue of approximately
5.0%, or $2.5 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved
by
the PSC.
NOTE
7 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC. Under the terms of the
agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor of a $10 million
construction loan. The loan, from a financial institution to NSRWRC,
is secured by a 75 acre parcel of land. The interest rate on the
construction loan is variable based on LIBOR Advantage Rate plus 225 basis
points. In the event of default by NSRWRC, Artesian Resources shall
pay NSRWRC's obligations due to the financial institution; or on demand of
the
financial institution immediately deposit all amounts due under the
obligation. As of June 30, 2008 no borrowings had been made against
this line. As of the date of this filing, approximately $5.2 million
has been drawn on the loan.
NOTE
8 – INCOME TAXES
In
June 2006, FASB issued interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109
“Accounting for Income Taxes.” The Company adopted this statement
effective January 1, 2007 and after analyzing Artesian’s various tax positions
determined that no further entry, recognition or derecognition were
required. The Company would recognize, if applicable, interest
accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense
and in accordance with the regulations of the jurisdictions
involved. There were no such charges for the period ended June 30,
2008. Additionally, there were no accruals relating to interest or
penalties as of June 30, 2008. The Company remains subject to
examination by federal and state authorities for the tax years 2004 through
2008.
NOTE
9 – SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On
July
9, 2008 the Maryland Public Service Commission approved the purchase of Mountain
Hill Water Company by Artesian Water Maryland. The acquisition
included 27,600 feet of water main, a 500,000 gallon elevated storage tank,
a
297,000 gallon per day water treatment facility and other related
appurtenances. Mountain Hill Water Company currently serves two
commercial accounts in the Principio Business Park located within Cecil County’s
designated growth corridor. The acquisition provides water service to
customers in portions of the Principio Business Park and will provide water
service to the proposed 660 home residential development of Charlestown Crossing
as well as the surrounding area.
On
August
1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland completed the acquisition of all the
outstanding membership interests of Mountain Hill from its sole member, Sunrise
Holdings, L.P, for a purchase price of approximately $7.1
million. Approximately $4.8 million of the total purchase price was
paid at closing. In addition, on the closing date, Artesian Maryland
executed a promissory note in the amount of approximately $2.3 million to
Sunrise Holdings, L.P., (the "Note") that bears interest at a variable interest
rate based upon the London Interbank Offering Rate plus 150 basis
points. The Note is payable in four equal annual installments,
commencing on the first anniversary of the closing date. The Note is
secured by a first lien security interest in all of Mountain Hill's assets
in
favor of Sunrise and is guaranteed by Artesian Resources.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2008
Overview
Strategic
Direction
Our
profitability is primarily attributable to the sale of water by Artesian Water,
the amount of which is dependent on seasonal fluctuations in weather,
particularly during the summer months when water demand may vary with rainfall
and temperature. In the event that temperatures during the typically
warmer months are cooler than expected, or rainfall is greater than expected,
the demand for water may decrease and our revenues may be adversely
affected. We believe the effects of weather are short term and do not
materially affect the execution of our strategic initiatives.
Our
initiatives south of the C&D Canal that began in 1992 are now providing the
greatest portion of our customer growth. This shift in growth is
primarily the result of the build out of our service area in northern New Castle
County, Delaware.
While
customer growth in our water utility subsidiaries continued to be a major focus
in the first six months of 2008, we aggressively seek opportunities that produce
revenue streams that are not as directly affected by weather. These
opportunities include the efforts of Artesian Utility, which is actively
pursuing opportunities to design, build and operate water and wastewater
facilities throughout Delaware and surrounding areas on the Delmarva Peninsula.
In addition, Artesian Utility acquired all rights, titles and interest in the
operations contracts of TMH. We currently provide contract water and wastewater
operation services to 21 private, municipal and governmental institutions in
the
southeastern part of Pennsylvania. Artesian Wastewater began
providing wastewater services to customers in Delaware as a regulated public
wastewater service company in July 2005. The opportunities generated
through our wastewater service company may provide additional service territory
for the regulated water subsidiary or may provide contract operations services
for municipalities or other regulated entities. We will continue to
focus attention on expanding our contract operations opportunities with
municipalities and private water providers on the Delmarva
Peninsula.
Our
strategy is to focus on total resource management covering a wide spectrum
of
activities, which include: identifying new and dependable sources of supply;
developing the wells, treatment plants and delivery systems to get water to
customers; educating customers on the wise use of water; and providing
responsible wastewater management to assist with recharge of the
aquifers. Our strategy includes focusing our efforts to expand in new
regions added to our service territory over the last 10 years, where growth
is
strong and demand is increasing. We also foresee significant growth
opportunities in wastewater service and will continue to seek strategic
partnerships and relationships with developers and municipalities to complement
existing agreements for the provision of wastewater service on the Delmarva
Peninsula.
In
addition to services discussed above, Artesian Resources initiated a Service
Line Protection Plan, or SLP Plan, in March 2005. The SLP Plan covers
all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participants’
leaking water service lines up to an annual limit. As of June 30,
2008, approximately 10,600, or 18%, of our 60,000 eligible water customers
had
signed up for the SLP Plan. The SLP Plan was expanded in the
second quarter of 2008 to include maintenance or repair to customers’ sewer
lines. This plan, Service Line Protection Sewer, or SLPS Plan, covers
all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participants’
leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit. As of June 30, 2008,
approximately 2,700, or 6%, of our 42,800 eligible customers had signed up
for
the SLPS Plan.
On
May 5,
2008, Artesian Water Maryland signed an agreement to acquire Mountain Hill
Water
Company valued at approximately $7.0 million payable over 5
years. The acquisition included 27,600 feet of water main, a 500,000
gallon elevated storage tank, a 297,000 gallon per day water treatment facility
and other related appurtenances. Mountain Hill Water Company
currently serves two commercial accounts in the Principio Business Park located
within Cecil County’s designated growth corridor. The acquisition
provides water service to customers in portions of the Principio Business Park
and will provide water service to the proposed 660 home residential development
of Charlestown Crossing as well as the surrounding area. This
acquisition was finalized on August 1, 2008.
On
June
6, 2008, Artesian Consulting acquired all the assets of Meridian Architects
and
Engineers, or Meridian, for a purchase price of $130,000. The
acquisition includes the assignment of all current contract agreements to
provide engineering services to developers and includes services to be provided
to Artesian Water. Meridian’s fourteen employees, which includes one
architect, three licensed professional engineers, two licensed surveyors and
three computer-aided design professionals, have been offered and accepted
continued employment with Artesian Consulting.
Meridian
is a leading provider of
engineering services in Delaware, particularly in Sussex County
. Artesian Resources has routinely employed engineering firms to
design infrastructure for water and wastewater systems. This
acquisition provides Artesian Resources with enhanced design and engineering
capabilities that will significantly decrease the reliance on outside
engineering firms for similar services. In addition, we believe that
Meridian’s ability to offer engineering services to design on-site water and
wastewater systems for developers, as well as offsite wastewater collection
systems in Sussex County, will provide additional revenues that are not weather
sensitive, thus making the acquisition immediately accretive to Artesian
Resources’ earnings
.
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC, for the design, construction and
operation of the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, a wastewater
treatment facility to be located in Sussex County, Delaware. NSRWRC
was created for the purpose of developing the treatment facility site, which
once constructed, will be operated by Artesian. Under the terms of
the agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor (as described
further in Note 7) of a $10 million construction loan, secured by a 75 acre
parcel NSRWRC purchased on July 1, 2008 for approximately $5
million.
Artesian
Utility has agreed to reimburse NSRWRC for the construction of phase 1 of the
Facility through customer connection fees. Such connection fees will
be split 40% to Artesian Utility and 60% to NSRWRC until NSRWRC’s investment in
the design, treatment, storage and disposal facilities are
reimbursed. For reimbursement of NSRWRC’s cost to acquire the
Facility site, Artesian Utility has agreed to provide NSRWRC with ten annual
$300,000 payments. In addition to the annual payments, Artesian
Utility will provide certain monthly payments to NSRWRC consisting of a portion
of fees received from new customers once the Facility is successfully
constructed and operating. Once the cost of the construction and the
cost of the Facility site have been fully reimbursed, NSRWRC will transfer
its
ownership of the Facility and the Facility Site to Artesian Utility or one
of
its affiliates. Until such time, NSRWRC has agreed to lease the
Facility to Artesian Wastewater.
At
such
time as NSRWRC enters into agreements with third party lenders to acquire the
funds to purchase the Facility site and to construct the Facility, the Company
has also agreed to enter into a guaranty with such third party lender(s) to
guaranty all debts and obligations that are incurred by NSRWRC. Any
payments made by the Company pursuant to this guaranty will be credited against
Artesian Utility’s obligations to reimburse NSRWRC for construction costs and
the cost of the Facility site, as described above.
Regulatory
Matters and Inflation
As
of
June 30, 2008, we had approximately 75,600 metered water customers,
approximately 580 wastewater customers, and served a population of approximately
255,000 (including contract services), representing approximately 30% of
Delaware's total population. Increases in the number of customers
served by Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater contributed to increases in
our
operating revenues. The Delaware Public Service Commission, or PSC,
regulates both Artesian Water's and Artesian Wastewater’s rates charged for
service, the sale and issuance of securities and other
matters. Artesian Maryland is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction
of the Maryland Public Service Commission.
Our
regulated utilities periodically seek rate increases to cover the cost of
increased operating expenses, increased financing expenses due to additional
investments in utility plant and other costs of doing business. In
Delaware, utilities are permitted by law to place rates into effect, under
bond,
on a temporary basis pending completion of a rate increase
proceeding. The first temporary increase may be up to the lesser of
$2.5 million on an annual basis or 15% of annual gross water
sales. Should the rate case not be completed within seven months, by
law, the utility may put the lesser of the entire requested rate relief or
15%
of annual gross water sales in effect, under bond, until a final resolution
is
ordered and placed into effect. If such rates are found to be in
excess of rates the PSC finds to be appropriate, we must refund the portion
found in excess to customers with interest. The timing of our rate
increase requests are therefore dependent upon the estimated cost of the
administrative process in relation to the investments and expenses that we
hope
to recover through the rate increase. We can provide no assurances
that rate increase requests will be approved by the applicable regulatory
agencies; and, if approved, we cannot guarantee that these rate increases will
be granted in a timely or sufficient manner to cover the investments and
expenses for which we initially sought the rate increase. On April
22, 2008, Artesian Water filed a petition with the PSC to implement new rates
to
meet a requested increase in revenue of 28.8%, or approximately $14.2 million,
on an annualized basis. On July, 11, 2008, pursuant to the PSC’s minimum filing
requirements, Artesian filed a supplemental filing with the PSC to update
financial schedules for actual experience through March 31, 2008 and to reflect
additional changes affecting the requested increase. The overall
result was a reduction to the requested increase in revenue of 1.5%, to 27.3%
or
approximately $13.6 million, on an annualized basis.
As
permitted by law, on June 21, 2008, we placed temporary rates into effect,
designed to generate an increase in annual operating revenue of approximately
5.0%, or $2.5 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved
by
the PSC.
In
2003,
legislation was enacted in Delaware requiring all water utilities serving within
northern New Castle County to certify by July 2006 that they have sufficient
sources of self-supply to serve their respective systems. On June 30,
2006, Artesian Water filed our certification related to the adequacy of our
water supply through 2009. After completion of their review, on July
24, 2007, the PSC accepted our certification of sufficient water
supply.
We
are
affected by inflation, most notably by the continually increasing costs required
to maintain, improve and expand our service capability. The
cumulative effect of inflation results in significantly higher facility costs
compared to investments made 20 to 40 years ago, which must be recovered from
future cash flows.
Delaware
statute permits utilities to put into effect on a semi-annual basis, increases
related to specific types of distribution system improvements through
DSIC. This charge is available to water utilities to be implemented
between general rate increase applications that normally recognize changes
in a
water utility’s overall financial position. The DSIC process is less
costly when compared to the approval process for general rate increase
requests. The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped
at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates
and
charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied cannot exceed 5% within any 12-month
period. In December 2007, Artesian Water filed an application with
the PSC for approval to collect a 0.46% increase, effective January 1, 2008,
to
recover the costs of eligible non-revenue producing improvements made since
the
last rate increase in 2006. The PSC approved the DSIC effective
January 1, 2008 subject to audit at a later date. During the first six months
of
2008, we earned approximately $99,000 in DSIC revenue. We did not
have DSIC in effect during 2007.
On
April
10, 2006, the PSC made effective new rules under Regulation Docket 15 that
govern the terms and conditions under which water utilities require advances
or
contributions from customers or developers. These regulations require
that developers pay for all water facilities within a new development, with
such
funding recorded as contributions in aid of construction by the water
utility. In addition, the utility is required to receive a
contribution in aid of construction of $1,500 for each new residential
connection to its system towards the cost of water supply, treatment and storage
facilities. These regulations further require developers to fully pay
for facilities to serve satellite systems. These required
contributions are intended to place a greater burden upon new customers to
pay
for the cost of facilities required to serve them. On April, 8, 2008,
the PSC reopened this docket to assess the effectiveness of the 2006 rules
and
regulations requiring water utilities to collect contributions in aid of
construction. We anticipate this proceeding to continue through the
end of the year.
Price
caps instituted by electric restructuring legislation in Delaware in 1999 were
lifted in 2006, resulting in extreme price increases for all of Delmarva Power's
customers. Artesian was able to mitigate these increases by signing a
two-year fixed price supply contract with Pepco Holdings, Inc, or Pepco, in
May
of 2006. We entered a new two-year electric supply contract with
Pepco in April of 2008. This new pricing is included in our request
for rate relief filed with the PSC.
Results
of Operations –
Analysis of the Quarter Ended June 30, 2008 Compared to the Quarter Ended June
30, 2007
Operating
Revenues
Revenues
totaled $13.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, $1.0 million, or
7.7%, above revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 of $12.9
million. Water sales revenues increased 4.8% for the quarter ended
June 30, 2008, over the corresponding period in 2007. Water sales revenue for
the quarter ended June 30, 2008 was positively impacted by the implementation
of
the second step of the rate increase on July 24, 2007 of 3.0% as approved by
the
PSC upon completion of our issuance of common stock. In addition, a
portion of the increase in water sales revenue reflects an increase of 1,107
in
the number of customers served as compared to the same period in
2007. We realized 90.0% of our total operating revenue for the
quarter ended June 30, 2008 from the sale of water. In 2007, 92.5% of
our total revenue was from water sales.
Non-utility
operating revenue increased $339,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, or
68.0%, from $498,000 in 2007 to $837,000 for the same period in
2008. This increase is attributable to increased contract revenues in
Artesian Utility, primarily with the addition of Pennsylvania contract
operations, $140,000, and the initial design and construction of a new regional
wastewater facility of $127,000. The increase in revenue also
includes an increase of $46,000 and $4,000, respectively in water and
wastewater SLP Plan revenue. The SLP Plan provides coverage for all
material and labor required to repair or replace participants’ leaking water and
leaking or clogged wastewater service lines up to an annual limit.
Operating
Expenses
Operating
expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $0.8 million,
or
10.5%, to $8.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $7.8
million for the same period in 2007. The components of the increase
in operating expenses included an increase in utility operating expenses of
$521,000 and an increase in property taxes of $105,000. Non-utility
operating expenses increased $195,000 in the second quarter of 2008, or 50.4%,
compared to the same period last year.
The
increase in utility operating expense of $521,000 for the quarter
ended June 30, 2008, or 7.7%, over the same period in 2007, is comprised of
increases in payroll and employee benefits costs, purchased water, repair and
maintenance expense and purchased power expense. These increases were
partially offset by reductions in administration and water treatment
expense.
Payroll
and employee benefit expense increased $250,000, or 7.1%, compared to the same
period in 2007, primarily due to increases in employee count, employee wages
from merit increases, and increased employee benefit premium
expense.
Purchased
water expense increased $169,000, or 28.0%, compared to the same period in
2007,
primarily due to the timing of purchases under minimum contracts from the
Chester Water Authority and an increase of 1.1% in Chester Water Authority’s
rates effective in July 2007.
Repair
and maintenance expense increased $119,000, or 23.5%, compared to the same
period in 2007, primarily due to increased expenses for software consulting
support related to the Peoplesoft Financial System implementation.
Purchased
Power expense increased $47,000, or 8.6%, compared to the same period in 2007
due to an 8.47% rate increase in May 2008 and increased usage.
The
increases were partially offset by a reduction of $39,000, or 3.5%, in
administration expense. The decrease in administration expense was
the result of a decrease in temporary employment services compared to the same
quarter a year ago.
The
increases were also offset by a reduction of $36,000, or 12.9%, in water
treatment expense. The decrease in water treatment expense was the
result of decreased water testing for the quarter.
Non-utility
expense increased approximately $195,000, or 50.4%, for the quarter ended June
30, 2008, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2007, as a result of the
increase in contract projects as compared to the same period in
2007.
Property
and other taxes increased by $105,000, or 15.2%, compared to the same period
in
2007, reflecting increases in tax rates charged for public schools in various
areas where Artesian holds property and increases in the number of plants owned
by Artesian. Property taxes are assessed on land, buildings and
certain utility plant, which includes the footage and size of pipe, hydrants
and
wells primarily owned by Artesian Water.
The
ratio
of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue
was 62.3% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to 60.7% for the quarter
ended June 30, 2007.
Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $15,000, or 1.2%, over the quarter ended
June
30, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007, due to continuing investment
in
utility plant in service providing supply, treatment, storage and distribution
of water.
Federal
and state income tax expense increased $156,000 due to higher profitability
for
the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to the quarter ended June 30,
2007.
Other
Income,
Net
Our
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, or AFUDC, increased $137,000,
or
182.7%, compared to the same period in 2007, as a result of increased long-term
construction activity subject to AFUDC for the second quarter of 2008 compared
to the same period in 2007.
Interest
Charges
Interest
charges decreased $113,000, or 6.7%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2008,
compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to less short-term
debt interest as a result of lower borrowing on our lines of credit coupled
with
lower average borrowing costs in 2008 compared to 2007.
Net
Income
Our
net
income increased $258,000, or 20.3%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2008,
compared to the same period a year ago. The increase in net income
for the quarter was primarily the result of lower operating income offset by
increased other income. Our net operating income decreased $2,000, or
0.1%, for the three months ended June 30, 2008, compared to the same period
a
year ago. This decrease was primarily due to lower operating income
margins from both our water and wastewater utility business as well as our
non-utility subsidiaries. Offsetting this unfavorable variance for
the three months ended June 30, 2008 was higher other income from increased
construction interest income, AFUDC, coupled with lower short-term interest
charges in the second quarter compared to the same period a year
ago.
Results
of Operations –
Analysis of the Six months Ended June 30, 2008 Compared to the Six months Ended
June 30, 2007
Operating
Revenues
Revenues
totaled $26.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, $1.7 million,
or
6.8%, above revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2007 of $24.5
million. Water sales revenues increased 4.2% for the six months ended
June 30, 2008, over the corresponding period in 2007. Water sales
revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was positively impacted by the
implementation of the second step of the rate increase on July 24, 2007 of
3.0%
as approved by the PSC upon completion of our issuance of common
stock. In addition, a portion of the increase in water sales revenue
reflects an increase of 1,107 in the number of customers served as compared
to
the same period in 2007. We realized 90.2% of our total operating
revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2008 from the sale of
water. In 2007, 92.4% of our total revenue was from water
sales.
Non-utility
operating revenue increased $615,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008,
or
63.9%, from $963,000 in 2007 to $1,576,000 for the same period in
2008. This increase is attributable to increased contract revenues in
Artesian Utility, primarily due to design and permitting services totaling
$250,000 performed for a developer in Sussex County, Delaware, the addition
of
Pennsylvania contract operations, $245,000, and the initial design and
construction of a new regional wastewater facility of $181,000. The
increase in revenue also includes an increase of $82,000 and $4,000,
respectively, for the water and wastewater SLP Plan revenue. The SLP
Plan provides coverage for all material and labor required to repair or replace
participants’ leaking water and leaking or clogged wastewater service lines up
to an annual limit.
Operating
Expenses
Operating
expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $1.8 million,
or
11.6%, to $17.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to
$15.2 million for the same period in 2007. The components of the
increase in operating expenses included an increase in utility operating
expenses of $1,009,000 and an increase in property taxes of
$210,000. Non-utility operating expenses increased $547,000 in the
first six months of 2008, or 91.6%, compared to the same period last
year.
The
increase in utility operating expense of $1,009,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 2008, or 7.6%, over the same period in 2007, is comprised of increases
in payroll and employee benefits costs, purchased water, purchased power,
administration costs and repair and maintenance expense.
Payroll
and employee benefit expense increased $540,000, or 8.0%, compared to the same
period in 2007, primarily due to increases in employee count, employee wages
from merit increases, and increased employee benefit premium
expense.
Purchased
water expense increased $219,000, or 17.5%, compared to the same period in
2007,
primarily due to the timing of purchases under minimum contracts from Chester
Water Authority and an increase in Chester Water Authority’s rates of 1.1%
effective in July 2007.
Purchased
Power expense increased $97,000, or 8.2%, compared to the same period in 2007
due to an 8.47% rate increase in May 2008 and increased usage.
Administration
expense increased $94,000, or 4.4%, compared to the same period in 2007,
primarily due to increased employment recruitment services.
Repair
and maintenance expense increased $40,000, or 3.8%, compared to the same period
in 2007, primarily due to increased expenses for software consulting support
related to the Peoplesoft Financial System implementation.
Non-utility
expense increased approximately $547,000, or 91.6%, for the six months ended
June 30, 2008, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2008, as a result
of
increased contract projects as compared to the same period in 2007.
Property
and other taxes increased by $210,000, or 15.2%, compared to the same period
in
2007, reflecting increases in tax rates charged for public schools in various
areas where Artesian holds property and increases in the number of plants owned
by Artesian. Property taxes are assessed on land, buildings and
certain utility plant, which includes the footage and size of pipe, hydrants
and
wells primarily owned by Artesian Water.
The
ratio
of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue
was 64.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to 62.1% for the
six
months ended June 30, 2007.
Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $137,000, or 5.5%, over the six months ended
June 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007, due to continuing
investment in utility plant in service providing supply, treatment, storage
and
distribution of water.
Federal
and state income tax expense increased $86,000 due to higher profitability
for
the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to the six months ended June 30,
2007.
Other
Income,
Net
Our
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, or AFUDC, increased $194,000,
or
143.7%, compared to the same period in 2007, as a result of increased long-term
construction activity subject to AFUDC for the six months ended June 30, 2008,
compared to the same period in 2007.
Interest
Charges
Interest
charges decreased $229,000, or 6.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2008,
compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to less short-term
debt interest as a result of lower borrowing on our lines of credit coupled
with
lower average borrowing costs in 2008 compared to 2007.
Net
Income
Our
net
income increased $101,000, or 4.2%, for the six months ended June 30, 2008,
compared to the same period a year ago. The increase in net income
for the six months was primarily the result of lower operating income offset
by
increased other income. Our net operating income decreased $333,000,
or 6.4%, for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to the same period
a
year ago. This decrease was primarily due to lower operating income
margins from both our water and wastewater utility business as well as our
non-utility subsidiaries. Offsetting this unfavorable variance for
the six months ended June 30, 2008 was higher other income from increased
construction interest income, AFUDC, coupled with lower short-term interest
charges for the six months compared to the same period a year ago.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our
primary sources of liquidity for the six months ended June 30, 2008 were $8.3
million provided by cash flow from operating activities, $1.4 million in net
contributions and advances from developers and $8.8 million in borrowing on
our
line of credit. Cash flow from operating activities is primarily provided by
our
utility operations, and is impacted by the timeliness and adequacy of rate
increases and changes in water consumption as a result of year-to-year
variations in weather conditions particularly during the summer. A
significant part of our ability to maintain and meet our financial objectives
is
to assure our investments in utility plant and equipment are recovered in the
rates charged to customers. As such, from time to time we file rate
increase requests to recover increases in operating expenses and investments
in
utility plant and equipment.
We
invested $19.3 million in capital expenditures during the first six months
of
2008, which includes $1.4 million of net advances and contribution in aid of
construction, compared to $11.7 million invested during the same period in
2007.
The primary focus of Artesian Water’s investment was to continue to provide high
quality reliable service to our growing service territory.
We have invested $2.8 million
through
the six months ended June 30, 2008, for the construction of new treatment
facilities, to enhance or improve existing treatment facilities, and for the
rehabilitation of pumping equipment to better serve our customers.
In
addition, we are continuing our regional approach to building infrastructure
through connecting existing supply infrastructure to new developments and at
the
same time providing redundancy to existing developments by connecting them
to
the regional system. These efforts resulted in an investment of $7.2
million in the first six months of 2008. Artesian invested $6.4 million in
general plant in the first six months of 2008. This included $6.3 million
towards the construction of a new office building addition to our corporate
headquarters in New Castle County and $0.4 million for our financial software
additions.
At
June
30, 2008, Artesian Water had two lines of credit of $20 million, each to meet
temporary cash requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of June 30, 2008, we had $35.4 million of available
funds under these lines. The interest rate for borrowings under one
of these lines is the London Interbank Offering Rate, or “LIBOR,” plus 0.75% or,
at our discretion, the bank’s federal funds rate plus 1.00%. The
interest rate for borrowings under the other line of credit is the LIBOR plus
1.00% or, at our discretion, the bank’s federal funds rate plus
1.00%. Each bank reviews all of their facilities annually for
renewal.
At
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility and Artesian Wastewater had lines of credit with
a
financial institution for $3.5 million and $10.0 million, respectively, to
meet
temporary cash requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of June 30, 2008, Artesian Wastewater had $4.9 million
of available funds while Artesian Utility had not borrowed funds under its
line
of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under each of these lines is the
LIBOR plus 1.75%. The bank reviews its facilities annually for
renewal.
Line
of Credit Commitments
|
|
Commitment
Due by Period
|
|
In
thousands
|
|
Less
than
1
Year
|
|
|
1-3
Years
|
|
|
4-5
Years
|
|
|
Over
5 Years
|
|
Lines
of Credit (in thousands)
|
|
$
|
9,691
|
|
|
$
|
-----
|
|
|
$
|
-----
|
|
|
$
|
-----
|
|
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC. Under the terms of the
agreement, Artesian Utility acts as the guarantor of the $10 million
construction loan secured by the developer. As of June 30, 2008 no
borrowings have been made against this line. The interest rate on the
guarantee is variable based on LIBOR Advantage Rate plus 225 basis
points.
We
expect
to fund our activities for the next twelve months using our available cash
balances and bank credit lines, plus projected cash generated from operations
and the capital markets.
Contractual
Obligations
|
|
Payments
Due by Period
|
|
In
thousands
|
|
Less
than
1 Year
|
|
|
1-3
Years
|
|
|
4-5
Years
|
|
|
After
5
Years
|
|
|
Total
|
|
First
Mortgage Bonds (Principal and Interest)
|
|
$
|
5,553
|
|
|
$
|
11,088
|
|
|
$
|
11,097
|
|
|
$
|
155,486
|
|
|
$
|
183,224
|
|
State
revolving fund loans
|
|
|
295
|
|
|
|
1,180
|
|
|
|
1,180
|
|
|
|
6,068
|
|
|
|
8,723
|
|
Operating
leases
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
|
252
|
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
1,852
|
|
|
|
2,296
|
|
Unconditional
purchase obligations
|
|
|
1,418
|
|
|
|
5,656
|
|
|
|
5,664
|
|
|
|
27,968
|
|
|
|
40,706
|
|
Tank
painting contractual obligation
|
|
|
187
|
|
|
|
749
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
936
|
|
NSRWRC
land purchase
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
600
|
|
|
|
600
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
Total
contractual cash obligations
|
|
$
|
7,855
|
|
|
$
|
19,525
|
|
|
$
|
18,631
|
|
|
$
|
192,874
|
|
|
$
|
238,885
|
|
Long-term
debt obligations reflect the maturities of certain series of our first mortgage
bonds, which we intend to refinance when due. The state revolving
fund loan obligation has an amortizing mortgage payment payable over a 20-year
period, and will be refinanced as future securities are issued. Both
the long-term debt and the state revolving fund loan have certain financial
covenant provisions, the violation of which could result in default and require
the obligation to be immediately repaid, including all interest. For
information about these financial covenant provisions, refer to the Company’s
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. We
have not experienced conditions that would result in our default under these
agreements, and we do not anticipate any such occurrence. Payments
for unconditional purchase obligations reflect minimum water purchase
obligations based on rates that are subject to change under our interconnection
agreement with the Chester Water Authority.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
In
connection with the purchase of the treatment facility site, as of June 30,
2008, Artesian Utility agreed to commit $3.0 million, payable over 10 years,
to
NSRWRC. The net present value of this obligation is approximately
$2.5 million.
Critical
Accounting Assumptions, Estimates and Policies; Recent Accounting
Standards
This
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
is
based on the accounting policies used and disclosed in our 2007 consolidated
financial statements and accompanying notes that were prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
and included as part of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007. The preparation of those financial statements
required management to make assumptions and estimates that affected the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the dates of the financial statements as well as the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual
amounts or results could differ from those based on such assumptions and
estimates.
Our
critical accounting policies are described in Management's Discussion and
Analysis included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2007. There have been no changes in these accounting
policies. Our significant accounting policies are described in our
2007 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Information
concerning our implementation and the impact of recent accounting standards
issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board is included in the notes
to
our 2007 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on
Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and also in the notes to our
consolidated financial statements contained in this quarterly report on Form
10-Q. We did not adopt any accounting policy in the first six months
of 2008 that had a material impact on our financial condition, liquidity or
results of operations.
CAUTION
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements
in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which express our “belief,” “anticipation”
or “expectation,” as well as other statements which are not historical fact, are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the
Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Statements regarding our goals, priorities, growth and
expansion plans for our water and wastewater subsidiaries, customer base growth
opportunities in Cecil County, Maryland, our belief regarding our capacity
to
provide water services for the foreseeable future to our customers, our belief
relating to our compliance and the cost to achieve compliance with relevant
governmental regulations, the impact of weather on our operations and the
execution of our strategic initiatives, our expectation relating to the adoption
of recent accounting pronouncements, contract operations opportunities, legal
proceedings, our properties, deferred tax assets, adequacy of our available
sources of financing, the expected recovery of expenses
related to
our
long-term debt, our
expectation to be in
compliance with
financial covenants in our debt instruments,
our ability to refinance
our debt as it
comes due,
plans to increase our wastewater treatment operations and
other revenue streams less affected by weather, plans to expand our service
line
protection plan program offerings, expected contributions in 2008 to our
postretirement benefit plan, and our liquidity needs are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of
1995 and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected. Words such as “expects”,
“anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “projects,”
“forecasts,” “may,” “should,” variations of such words and similar expressions
are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Certain
factors including changes in weather, changes in our contractual obligations,
changes in government policies, the timing and results of our rate requests,
changes in economic and market conditions generally, and other matters discussed
in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 could
cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking
statements, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so other than as
required by under the federal securities laws and you should not rely on any
forward-looking statement as representation of the Company’s views as of any
date subsequent to the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q.