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: October 23, 2019
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| NEW JERSEY | 0-422 | 22-1114430 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Commission | (I.R.S. Employer |
| incorporation or organization) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
485C ROUTE 1 SOUTH, SUITE 400, ISELIN NEW JERSEY 08830
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
732-634-1500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock | MSEX | NASDAQ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item. 8.01. Other Events
On October 22, 2019, the Board of Directors of Middlesex Water Company (the "Company") declared a cash dividend of $0.25625 per share on its common stock, a 6.7% increase from the $0.24 per share dividend declared in July of 2019, payable on December 2, 2019 to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2019. A copy of the press release announcing the dividend declaration is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Form 8-K by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
| Exhibit | |
| Number | Description of Document |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by Middlesex Water Company, dated October 23, 2019. |
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 of the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY | |
| (Registrant) | |
| s/A. Bruce O’Connor | |
| A. Bruce O’Connor | |
| Senior Vice President, Treasurer and | |
| Chief Financial Officer |
Dated: October 23, 2019
Middlesex Water Company INCREASES
QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
Iselin, New Jersey October 23, 2019 -- Middlesex Water Company (Nasdaq:MSEX) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.25625 per share on its common stock, a 6.7% increase from the $0.24 per share dividend declared in July of 2019. This increase raises the annual dividend rate to $1.025 from $0.96 per share of common stock. The declared dividend is payable on December 2, 2019 to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2019. Middlesex Water Company has paid cash dividends in varying amounts continually since 1912.
“The increase in the dividend reflects our continued confidence in Middlesex Water’s ability to return value for our shareholders,” said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis W. Doll.
Middlesex Water has paid cash dividends in varying amounts continually since 1912 and has increased its annual dividend rate for 47 consecutive years.
About Middlesex Water Company
Organized in 1897, Middlesex Water provides regulated and unregulated water and wastewater utility services primarily in New Jersey and Delaware through various subsidiary companies. To learn more about Middlesex Water, visit the Company’s website at www.middlesexwater.com
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our environmental compliance. 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, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Bernadette Sohler, Vice President – Corporate Affairs
Middlesex Water Company
(732) 638-7549
www.middlesexwater.com