ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORP - Quarter Report: 2008 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
quarterly period ended September 30, 2008
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
transition period from _____ to _____
Commission
file number 000-18516
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
51-0002090
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
-------------------------------------------------
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
|
664
Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware 19702
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(302)
453 – 6900
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Not
Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report.)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required
to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days.
þ
|
Yes
|
o
|
No
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.:
Large
accelerated filer oAccelerated
filer þ Non-accelerated
filer oSmall
reporting company o
Indicate
by check mark whether the
registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act):
o
|
Yes
|
þ
|
No
|
As
of
November 4, 2008, 6,505,218 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock and
881,452 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.
INDEX
TO
FORM 10-Q
Part
I
|
-
|
Financial
Information:
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Item
1
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-
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Financial
Statements
|
Page(s)
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3
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4
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5
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5
-
6
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7
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18
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Item
2
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19 -
28
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Item
3
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-
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29
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Item
4
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-
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30
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Part
II
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-
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Other
Information:
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Item
1A
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-
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30
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Item
6
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-
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31
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PART
I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
Unaudited
(In
thousands)
ASSETS
|
September
30, 2008
|
December
31, 2007
|
||||||
Utility
plant, at original cost less accumulated depreciation
|
$ | 311,390 | $ | 272,396 | ||||
Current
assets
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
2,586 | 2,520 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable, net
|
4,341 | 5,499 | ||||||
Unbilled
operating revenues
|
3,999 | 3,198 | ||||||
Materials
and supplies (at cost on FIFO basis)
|
1,241 | 1,192 | ||||||
Prepaid
property taxes
|
1,671 | 1,058 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
1,009 | 857 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
14,847 | 14,324 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
||||||||
Non-utility
property (less accumulated depreciation 2008-$174;
2007-$177)
|
9,005 | 2,032 | ||||||
Other
deferred assets
|
5,363 | 4,156 | ||||||
Total
other assets
|
14,368 | 6,188 | ||||||
Regulatory
assets, net
|
2,052 | 1,681 | ||||||
$ | 342,657 | $ | 294,589 | |||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
||||||||
Stockholders'
equity
|
||||||||
Common
stock
|
$ | 7,383 | $ | 7,300 | ||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
66,530 | 65,363 | ||||||
Retained
earnings
|
13,715 | 12,469 | ||||||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
87,628 | 85,132 | ||||||
Long-term
debt, net of current portion
|
93,200 | 91,757 | ||||||
180,828 | 176,889 | |||||||
Current
liabilities
|
||||||||
Lines
of credit
|
26,858 | 898 | ||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
915 | 316 | ||||||
Accounts
payable
|
4,923 | 3,225 | ||||||
Accrued
expenses
|
4,258 | 2,483 | ||||||
Overdraft
payable
|
3,494 | 1,672 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
606 | 301 | ||||||
Interest
accrued
|
1,301 | 326 | ||||||
Customer
deposits
|
560 | 746 | ||||||
Other
|
2,485 | 1,877 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
45,400 | 11,844 | ||||||
Commitments
and contingencies (Note 6)
|
||||||||
Deferred
credits and other liabilities
|
||||||||
Net
advances for construction
|
22,491 | 23,840 | ||||||
Postretirement
benefit obligation
|
868 | 868 | ||||||
Deferred
investment tax credits
|
721 | 740 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
28,286 | 25,170 | ||||||
Total
deferred credits and other liabilities
|
52,366 | 50,618 | ||||||
Net
contributions in aid of construction
|
64,063 | 55,238 | ||||||
$ | 342,657 | $ | 294,589 |
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||||||||||
(In
thousands, except per share amounts)
|
||||||||||||||||
For
the Quarter
|
For
the Nine Months
|
|||||||||||||||
Ended
September 30,
|
Ended
September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES
|
||||||||||||||||
Water
sales
|
$ | 14,224 | $ | 13,853 | $ | 37,827 | $ | 36,505 | ||||||||
Other
utility operating revenue
|
477 | 357 | 1,469 | 1,259 | ||||||||||||
Non-utility
revenue
|
955 | 836 | 2,532 | 1,799 | ||||||||||||
15,656 | 15,046 | 41,828 | 39,563 | |||||||||||||
OPERATING
EXPENSES
|
||||||||||||||||
Utility
operating expenses
|
7,034 | 6,389 | 21,288 | 19,632 | ||||||||||||
Non-utility
operating expenses
|
621 | 619 | 1,766 | 1,217 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
1,422 | 1,339 | 4,062 | 3,842 | ||||||||||||
State
and federal income taxes
|
1,758 | 1,814 | 3,448 | 3,420 | ||||||||||||
Property
and other taxes
|
791 | 750 | 2,381 | 2,131 | ||||||||||||
11,626 | 10,911 | 32,945 | 30,242 | |||||||||||||
OPERATING
INCOME
|
4,030 | 4,135 | 8,883 | 9,321 | ||||||||||||
OTHER
INCOME, NET
|
||||||||||||||||
Allowance
for funds used during construction
|
285 | 78 | 615 | 213 | ||||||||||||
Miscellaneous
|
(49 | ) | 42 | 385 | 464 | |||||||||||
INCOME
BEFORE INTEREST CHARGES
|
4,266 | 4,255 | 9,883 | 9,998 | ||||||||||||
INTEREST
CHARGES
|
1,673 | 1,492 | 4,762 | 4,808 | ||||||||||||
NET
INCOME
|
$ | 2,593 | $ | 2,763 | $ | 5,121 | $ | 5,190 | ||||||||
INCOME
PER COMMON SHARE:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.35 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 0.78 | ||||||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.35 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.69 | $ | 0.77 | ||||||||
CASH
DIVIDEND PER COMMON SHARE
|
$ | 0.1784 | $ | 0.1660 | $ | 0.5288 | $ | 0.4920 | ||||||||
AVERAGE
COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
7,355 | 7,277 | 7,340 | 6,619 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
|
7,451 | 7,425 | 7,439 | 6,771 |
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the Nine Months
|
||||||||
Ended
September 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Balance,
beginning of period
|
$ | 12,469 | $ | 10,662 | ||||
Net
income
|
5,121 | 5,190 | ||||||
17,590 | 15,852 | |||||||
Less:
Dividends
|
3,875 | 3,204 | ||||||
Balance,
end of period
|
$ | 13,715 | $ | 12,648 | ||||
See
notes to the consolidated financial statements
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the Nine Months
|
||||||||
Ended
September 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||
NET
INCOME
|
$ | 5,121 | $ | 5,190 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to
|
||||||||
net
cash provided by operating activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
4,062 | 3,842 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
3,402 | 3,554 | ||||||
Stock
compensation
|
88 | 108 | ||||||
Allowance
for funds used during construction
|
(615 | ) | (213 | ) | ||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable, net
|
1,158 | (1,853 | ) | |||||
Unbilled
operating revenues
|
(801 | ) | (1,061 | ) | ||||
Materials
and supplies
|
(49 | ) | (83 | ) | ||||
Prepaid
property taxes
|
(613 | ) | (665 | ) | ||||
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
(152 | ) | (488 | ) | ||||
Other
deferred assets
|
(1,289 | ) | (338 | ) | ||||
Regulatory
assets
|
(371 | ) | 131 | |||||
Accounts
payable
|
1,698 | (275 | ) | |||||
Accrued
expenses
|
1,775 | (398 | ) | |||||
Interest
accrued
|
975 | 123 | ||||||
Customer
deposits and other, net
|
422 | 682 | ||||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
14,811 | 8,256 | ||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||
Capital
expenditures, net of AFUDC
|
(41,684 | ) | (18,588 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of assets
|
55 | 24 | ||||||
NET
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
(41,629 | ) | (18,564 | ) |
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
|
||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH
FLOWS (continued)
|
||||||||
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the Nine Months
|
||||||||
Ended
September 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||
Net
borrowings (repayments) under line of credit agreements
|
25,960 | (7,906 | ) | |||||
Overdraft
payable
|
1,822 | 1,896 | ||||||
Net
advances and contributions in aid of construction
|
2,012 | 6,042 | ||||||
Principal
repayments of long-term debt
|
(280 | ) | (269 | ) | ||||
Net
proceeds from issuance of common stock
|
1,161 | 21,119 | ||||||
Dividends
paid
|
(3,875 | ) | (3,204 | ) | ||||
Deferred
debt issuance costs
|
84 | 83 | ||||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
26,884 | 17,761 | ||||||
NET
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
66 | 7,453 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
2,520 | 1,414 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
|
$ | 2,586 | $ | 8,867 | ||||
Supplemental
Disclosure of Non-Cash Activity:
|
||||||||
Utility
plant received as construction advances and contributions
|
$ | 6,130 | $ | --- | ||||
Artesian
Water Maryland, Inc acquired all the outstanding
membership
|
||||||||
interests
of Mountain Hill Water Company, LLC for
approximately
|
||||||||
$7.1
million. In conjunction with the acquisition, liabilities
were
|
||||||||
assumed
as follows:
|
||||||||
Fair
value of assets acquired
|
$ | 7,093 | $ | --- | ||||
Cash
paid for membership interests
|
(4,772 | ) | --- | |||||
Liabilities
assumed
|
$ | 2,321 | $ | --- | ||||
Supplemental
Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
|
||||||||
Interest
paid
|
$ | 3,704 | $ | 4,554 | ||||
Income
taxes paid
|
$ | --- | $ | 610 | ||||
See
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. The terms “we”, “our”, “Artesian” and the “Company” as
used herein refer to Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries, and a variable
interest entity required to be consolidated under FIN 46R (as defined in
Note 2
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 20 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, 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
August
1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland completed its acquisition of all the
outstanding membership interests of Mountain Hill Water Company, LLC, or
Mountain Hill, from its sole member, Sunrise Holdings, L.P., or Sunrise,
for a
purchase price of approximately $7.1 million. The acquisition
included a 0.3 million gallon per day water treatment facility, four wells
with
a capacity of up to 500,000 gallons per day, a 500,000 gallon elevated storage
tank and approximately eight miles of main, all situated within the core
of
Cecil County, Maryland’s designated growth corridor. The acquisition
provides Artesian Water Maryland the right to serve the entire 8,000 acres
owned
by Sunrise or its associates. Mountain Hill serves two commercial
accounts in the Principio Business Park, located within Cecil County’s
designated growth corridor. Mountain Hill will also provide water
service to future customers in 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. (Refer to acquisition in
Note 11)
On
October 7, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland, signed an agreement to purchase
from
Cecil County, Maryland, or Cecil County, all of Cecil County’s right, title and
interest in and to specific water facilities and the associated parcels of
real
property, easement rights and water transmission and distribution
systems. Pursuant to the agreement, Artesian Water Maryland will pay
to Cecil County a price equal to the net asset value of the purchased
assets and assume certain liabilities at closing. The net asset value
of the purchased assets under the agreement is approximately $2.2
million. Closing on this transaction is expected to occur on or
before June 30, 2009.
Artesian
Wastewater Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, was incorporated
on
June 3, 2008 to provide regulated wastewater services in the state of
Maryland. On October 7, 2008, Artesian Wastewater Maryland signed two
agreements to purchase from Cecil County the wastewater facilities known
as the
Meadowview Wastewater Facility, the Highlands Wastewater Facility, the Cherry
Hill Wastewater Facility and the Harbourview Wastewater Facility and the
associated parcels of real property, easement rights and wastewater collection
systems with respect to each facility. Pursuant to the agreements,
Artesian Wastewater Maryland will pay to the County a price equal to the
net
asset value of the purchased assets and assume certain liabilities at
closing. The net asset value of purchased assets for the Meadowview
Wastewater Facility and the Highlands Wastewater Facility is approximately
$7.8
million. The net asset value of the purchased assets for the Cherry
Hill Wastewater Facility and the Harbourview Wastewater Facility is
approximately $3.8 million. Closing on the transactions is expected
to occur on or before June 30, 2009.
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.
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 Utility. Under the
terms of the agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor (as
described further in Note 6) 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 certain 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.
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 June 30, 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 September 30, 2008 and the results
of
operations for the nine month and quarterly periods ended September 30, 2008
and
2007 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 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,” or FIN 46(R), the Company consolidates variable
interest entities for which it is deemed to be the primary
beneficiary. All inter-company 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.
Reclassification
Certain
accounts in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified for
comparative purposes to conform with the presentation in the current year
financial statements. These reclassifications had no effect on net
income or stockholders' equity.
NOTE
3 – 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 $88,000 in compensation
expense was recorded during the nine months ended September 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 nine months ended
September 30, 2007, an expense of approximately $108,000 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. 123(R)”) 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. 123(R) 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. 123(R). 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
|
(55,700 | ) | $ | 10.577 | ||||||||||||
Canceled
|
--- | N/A | ||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at September 30, 2008
|
552,746 | $ | 15.261 | 4.96 | $ | 1,471 | ||||||||||
Options
exercisable at September 30, 2008
|
518,996 | $ | 15.055 | 4.65 | $ | 1,471 |
The
total
intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine month period ended
September 30, 2008 was approximately $409,600.
The
following summary reflects changes in the non-vested shares of Class A Stock
under option:
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 September 30, 2008
|
33,750 | $ | 3.600 |
As
of
September 30, 2008, there was $75,228 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 0.62 years of the unvested
options.
NOTE
4 - 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
and the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC. 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. Goodwill is the
result of the Mountain Hill acquisition and is currently being amortized
on a
straight-line basis over a period of fifty years. Expenses related to
applications to increase rates are amortized on a straight-line basis over
a
period of two years. Regulatory assets net of amortization, are
comprised of the following:
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||
September
30, 2008
|
December
31, 2007
|
|||||||
Postretirement
benefit obligation
|
$ | 937 | $ | 968 | ||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
555 | 567 | ||||||
Goodwill
|
372 | --- | ||||||
Expense
of rate proceedings
|
188 | 141 | ||||||
Other
|
--- | 5 | ||||||
$ | 2,052 | $ | 1,681 |
Expenses
related to the Net Periodic Pension Cost for the postretirement benefit
obligation are as follows:
Unaudited
|
||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Net
Periodic Pension Cost
|
||||||||
Interest
Cost
|
$ | 40 | $ | 37 | ||||
Amortization
of Net Gain
|
--- | (17 | ) | |||||
Amortization
of Transition Obligation
|
6 | 6 | ||||||
Total
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
|
$ | 46 | $ | 26 |
Contributions
Artesian
Water contributed $78,000 to its postretirement benefit plan in the first
nine
months of 2008 and expects to contribute another $28,000 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
5 - 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 Nine Months
|
|||||||||||||||
Ended
September 30,
|
Ended
September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||||
Average
common shares outstanding during
|
||||||||||||||||
the
period for Basic computation
|
7,355 | 7,277 | 7,340 | 6,619 | ||||||||||||
Dilutive
effect of employee stock options
|
96 | 148 | 99 | 152 | ||||||||||||
Average
common shares outstanding during
|
||||||||||||||||
the
period for Diluted computation
|
7,451 | 7,425 | 7,439 | 6,771 |
Equity
per common share was $11.87 and $11.68 at September 30, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. These amounts were computed by dividing common
stockholders' equity by the number of shares of common stock outstanding
on
September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
NOTE
6 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
On
June
30, 2008, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with Northern Sussex Regional
Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC, as discussed further in Note 9. 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 purchased by NSRWRC on July 1, 2008. 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 September 30, 2008, approximately $6.6 million
has been drawn on the loan, which is included in the Lines of Credit on our
Consolidated Balance Sheet.
NOTE
7 - 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. During the first
nine months of 2008, we earned approximately $99,000 in DSIC
revenue. On June 21, 2008, the Company discontinued the collection of
DSIC pursuant to Delaware law which requires the Company to discontinue a
DSIC
when new base rates are put into effect. 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 $13.5 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.
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.
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. Evidentiary hearings have been set for December 8-10, 2008
and a final Commission decision is anticipated in the first quarter of 2009
in
reference to the implementation of our requested rate increase.
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 September
30, 2008. Additionally, there were no accruals relating to interest
or penalties as of September 30, 2008. The Company remains subject to
examination by federal and state authorities for the tax years 2005 through
2007.
NOTE
9– NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING COMPLEX,
LLC
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 sole purpose of developing the treatment facility site,
which once constructed, will be operated by the Company. The Company
has determined that NSRWRC constitutes a variable interest entity, or VIE,
as
defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46(R)
“Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” or FIN 46(R). The
Company is the primary beneficiary of NSRWRC by contract and, accordingly,
consolidates the results of NSRWRC in its financial statements as required
under
FIN 46(R). All inter-company balances and transactions related to the
VIE have been eliminated in consolidations in accordance with the guidance
set
forth in Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 “Consolidated Financial
Statements,” or ARB 51.
The
Company, by contract, has control over the design and construction of the
treatment facility. NSRWRC is financially responsible for designing
and building the treatment facility. Under the terms of the
agreement, Artesian Resources acts as the guarantor (as described further
in
Note 6) of a $10 million construction loan, secured by a 75 acre parcel
purchased by NSRWRC on July 1, 2008 for approximately $5 million. As
of September 30, 2008, approximately $6.8 million is included in non-utility
property and was comprised of the land and construction in progress of the
facility. The entire capitalization of NSRWRC is comprised of the
amounts borrowed against the $10 million construction loan. There has
been a nominal investment in NSRWRC by the owner of NWRWRC.. The line
of credit includes provisions that require Artesian Resources to assume the
debt
and all liabilities arising from that debt under certain circumstances,
including the bankruptcy of NSRWRC. The treatment facility will be
owned by NSRWRC until the initial loan to the treatment facility is
repaid. At that time, the treatment facility will be transferred to
the Company for nominal value as contributed property. Immediately
following the transfer of the treatment facility and extinguishment of debt,
NSRWRC will be dissolved.
NOTE
10 – RELATED PARTY
TRANSACTIONS
The
Company has entered into transactions in the normal course of business with
related parties. The owner of NSRWRC is the sole owner of Meridian
Architects and Engineers, LLC, or Meridian Architects, and Meridian Enterprises,
LLC, or Meridian Enterprises. The Company has utilized Meridian
Architects and Meridian Enterprises for various consulting services during
the
nine month period ended September 30, 2008. As of September 30, 2008,
approximately $450,000 was paid to Meridian Architects and approximately
$478,000 was paid to Meridian Enterprises in connection with these consulting
services. Approximately $20,000 was paid to Meridian Enterprises as
of September 30, 2008 for office space rental. Also, as of September
30, 2008, the Company had accounts receivable balances for engineering services
due from the following entities, all of which are owned by the owner of
NSRWRC: Meridian Architects of approximately $41,000, Landlock, LLC
of approximately $33,000, and Peninsula Square, LLC of approximately
$4,000. All services were provided in the ordinary course of business
at fees and on terms and conditions that the Company believes are the same
as
those that would result from arm’s-length negotiations between unrelated
parties.
NOTE
11 – ACQUISITION OF MOUNTAIN HILL WATER COMPANY
On
August
1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland completed its acquisition of all the
outstanding membership interests of Mountain Hill, from its sole member,
Sunrise, for a purchase price of approximately $7.1 million. The
purchase price included reimbursement of all carrying costs through the date
of
acquisition, which resulted in the recognition of goodwill. The
acquisition included a 0.3 million gallon per day water treatment facility,
four
wells with a capacity of up to 500,000 gallons per day, a 500,000 gallon
elevated storage tank and approximately eight miles of main, all situated
within
the core of Cecil County, Maryland’s designated growth corridor. The
acquisition provides Artesian Water Maryland the right to serve the entire
8,000
acres owned by Sunrise or its associates. Mountain Hill serves two
commercial accounts in the Principio Business Park, located within Cecil
County’s designated growth corridor. Mountain Hill will also provide
water service to future customers in 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.
Approximately
$4.8 million of the total purchase price was paid at closing. The
$4.8 million is comprised of a down payment of $0.6 million, payment of the
closing debt of $4.0 million and an easement payment of $0.2
million. The cash used at closing came from the Company’s available
line of credit. In addition, on the closing date, Artesian Water
Maryland executed a promissory note in the amount of approximately $2.3 million
to Sunrise, or 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 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.
Assets
acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded in the accompanying consolidated
balance sheet at their estimated fair values as of August 1, 2008. A
summary of the allocation of purchase price to the assets acquired and payments
made as of August 1, 2008 is presented in the table below.
(In
thousands)
|
August
1, 2008
|
|||
Current
assets
|
$ | 10 | ||
Property,
plant and equipment (net)
|
6,507 | |||
Intangible
assets – Start up
|
204 | |||
Goodwill
|
372 | |||
Purchase
Price
|
$ | 7,093 | ||
Down
payment
|
$ | (580 | ) | |
Closing
debt payment
|
(3,992 | ) | ||
Easement
Payment
|
(200 | ) | ||
Promissory
Note
|
(2,321 | ) | ||
Total
Payments
|
$ | (7,093 | ) |
NOTE
12 - 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 September 30, 2008 is estimated at $88.3 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 No. 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
13 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
October 7, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland signed an agreement, or the Water
Asset
Purchase Agreement, to purchase from Cecil County, Maryland, or Cecil County,
all of Cecil County’s rights, title and interest in and to specific water
facilities and the associated parcels of real property, easement rights and
water transmission and distribution systems. The water facilities
include Meadowview, Pine Hills, Harbourview and the Route 7
Facility. Pursuant to the Water Asset Purchase Agreement, Artesian
Water Maryland will pay to Cecil County a price equal to the net
asset value of the purchased assets and assume certain liabilities at
closing. This sum may be paid by Artesian Water Maryland to Cecil
County in cash at closing or, upon mutual agreement, by a note payable to
Cecil
County. Any cash portion of the purchase price financed by Cecil
County would be repaid upon such terms, and at such rate of interest, as
Cecil
County and Artesian Water Maryland shall agree. In such case,
Artesian Water Maryland would then provide a promissory note to Cecil County
at
closing. The net asset value of the purchased assets under the Water
Asset Purchase agreement is approximately $2.2 million.
On
October 7, 2008, Artesian Wastewater Maryland signed an agreement, or the
Meadowview Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement, to purchase from Cecil County
the wastewater facilities known as the Meadowview Wastewater Facility and
the
Highlands Wastewater Facility and the associated parcels of real property,
easement rights and wastewater collection systems with respect to each
facility. Pursuant to the Meadowview Wastewater Asset Purchase
Agreement, Artesian Wastewater Maryland will pay to Cecil County a price
equal
to the net asset value of the purchased assets and assume certain liabilities
at
closing. The purchase price shall be paid by Artesian Wastewater
Maryland’s assumption of the principal amount due by Cecil County with respect
to a tax-exempt Cecil County Sanitary District Bond, Series 2004B, or the
Bond,
as payable under the loan agreement dated October 12, 2004 by and between
Maryland Water Quality Financing Administration and Cecil County, or the
Bond
Indebtedness. Artesian Wastewater Maryland will pay down the Bond at
such times and in such amounts as Cecil County is required to pay the same
in
accordance with the terms of the Bond. In the event that the net
asset value of the purchased assets as of the closing exceeds the Bond
Indebtedness to be paid by Artesian Wastewater Maryland, then the positive
difference (if any) shall be paid by Artesian Wastewater Maryland to Cecil
County in cash at closing or, upon mutual agreement, by a note payable to
Cecil
County. Any cash portion of the purchase price financed by Cecil
County would be repaid upon such terms, and at such rate of interest, as
Cecil
County and Artesian Wastewater Maryland shall agree, and in such case, Artesian
Wastewater Maryland would then provide a promissory note to Cecil County
at
closing. The net asset value of purchased assets under the Meadowview
Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement is approximately $7.8
million. The debt associated with the Bond is approximately $7.2
million.
On
October 7, 2008, Artesian Wastewater Maryland signed an agreement, or the
Cherry
Hill Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement, to purchase from Cecil County the
wastewater facilities known as the Cherry Hill Wastewater Facility and the
Harbourview Wastewater Facility and the associated parcels of real property,
easement rights and wastewater collection systems with respect to each
facility. Pursuant to the Cherry Hill Wastewater Asset Purchase
Agreement, Artesian Wastewater Maryland will pay to Cecil County a sum equal
to
the net asset value of the purchased assets and assume certain liabilities
at
closing, and Cecil County shall immediately upon receipt of such payment,
pay to
its creditors an amount sufficient to pay all indebtedness of Cecil County
in
respect of the Cherry Hill and Harbourview Wastewater facilities, or the
Indebtedness. If the amount of the purchase price under the Cherry
Hill Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement shall be less than the Indebtedness,
Cecil County shall pay out of its own funds any amount sufficient to pay
and
discharge in full the Indebtedness in excess of the purchase price;
alternatively, if the purchase price exceeds the amount necessary for Cecil
County to pay the Indebtedness, such excess may not be required to be paid
by
Artesian Wastewater Maryland at the closing, but may be financed by Cecil
County. Any such portion of the purchase price financed by Cecil
County would be repaid upon such terms, and at such rate of interest, as
Cecil
County and Artesian Wastewater Maryland shall agree, and in such case Artesian
Wastewater Maryland would then provide a promissory note to Cecil County
at
closing. The net asset value of the purchased assets under the Cherry
Hill Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement is approximately $3.8
million.
Closings
on the transactions above are expected to occur on or before June 30, 2009,
subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among
other matters, the completion of Artesian Resources’ due diligence and the
approval of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Under each of the
Asset Purchase Agreements, either party may terminate such agreement, subject
to
certain exceptions, in the event of uncured breach by the other party, or
if the
closing has not occurred by December 31, 2009. The existing water and
wastewater systems subject to the Asset Purchase Agreements serve approximately
3,400 customers.
On
October 29, 2008, Artesian Water and CoBank, ACB, or CoBank, entered into
an
agreement regarding the setting of a fixed rate for a new $15 million First
Mortgage Bond, or Bond. This Bond will be incurred at a future date,
which is expected to be on or before December 1, 2008. The fixed rate
is 6.73% per annum. The fixed rate period will be from the settlement
date to March 1, 2016, the maturity date. This Bond will be used
primarily towards the new office building addition to our corporate headquarters
in New Castle County, DE.
MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 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 nine 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 Water
Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, in March 2005. The WSLP
Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace
participants’ leaking water service lines up to an annual limit. As
of September 30, 2008, approximately 11,600, or 19%, of our 60,000 eligible
water customers had signed up for the WSLP Plan. The WSLP Plan
was expanded in the second quarter of 2008 to include maintenance or repair
to
customers’ sewer lines. This plan, Sewer Service Line Protection
Plan, or SSLP 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 September 30, 2008, approximately 3,400, or 8%, of our
42,800 eligible customers had signed up for the SSLP Plan.
In
July
2008, Artesian Wastewater and the Town of Georgetown, or Georgetown, finalized
a
wastewater service agreement establishing a long term arrangement that will
meet
the future wastewater treatment and disposal needs in Georgetown’s growth and
annexation areas. Artesian Wastewater will provide up to 1 million
gallons per day of wastewater capacity for the town within the next 10
years. Artesian Wastewater will receive untreated wastewater effluent
from properties located within Georgetown’s current and future annexation and
growth areas. Artesian Wastewater will be responsible for capital
improvements required for the treatment, storage and disposal of wastewater
effluent from Georgetown’s Sand Hill Pump station, as well as design,
construction and maintenance of the regional wastewater facility, a force
main
interconnection, all meters and piping necessary to receive Georgetown’s
effluent flow. Georgetown will compensate Artesian Wastewater $1
million for a portion of the cost of the regional force
main. Georgetown will also pay connection contribution fees in
reference to each residential and non-residential structure utilizing the
regional wastewater facility.
Regulatory
Matters and Inflation
As
of
September 30, 2008, we had approximately 75,800 metered water customers,
approximately 600 wastewater customers, and served a population of approximately
256,000 (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 Water Maryland is subject to the regulatory
jurisdiction of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Artesian
Water Pennsylvania is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania
Public Utilities 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 $13.5 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. Evidentiary hearings have been set for December 8-10, 2008
and a final Commission decision is anticipated in the first quarter of 2009
in
reference to the implementation of our requested rate increase.
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.
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 nine months
of 2008, we earned approximately $99,000 in DSIC revenue. On June 21,
2008, the Company discontinued the collection of DSIC pursuant to Delaware
law
which requires the Company to discontinue a DSIC when new base rates are
put
into effect. 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.
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.
Results
of Operations –
Analysis of the Quarter Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to the Quarter
Ended
September 30, 2007
Operating
Revenues
Revenues
totaled $15.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, $0.7 million,
or
4.1%, above revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 of $15.0
million. Water sales revenues increased 2.7% for the quarter ended
September 30, 2008, over the corresponding period in 2007. Water
sales revenue for the quarter ended September 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
and a temporary rate increase of 5% placed into effect on June 21, 2008,
as
permitted under Delaware law, until new rates are approved by the
PSC. However, per capita demand has declined for the quarter ended
September 30, 2008 in comparison to the quarter ended September 30, 2007,
thereby reducing the effect of the temporary rate increase. We
realized 90.9% of our total operating revenue for the quarter ended September
30, 2008 from the sale of water. In 2007, 92.1% of our total revenue
was from water sales.
Non-utility
operating revenue increased $119,000 for the quarter ended September 30,
2008,
or 14.2%, from $836,000 in 2007 to $955,000 in 2008. The increase in
revenue is the result of an increase of $78,000 and $64,000 in wastewater
and
water 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. Pennsylvania based contract operations revenue in Artesian
Utility increased $35,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 compared
to
the same period in 2007. These increases were offset by a decrease in
design and construction contract revenue for Artesian Utility in the third
quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter a year ago.
Operating
Expenses
Operating
expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $0.6 million,
or
8.9%, to $8.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared
to $7.8
million for the same period in 2007. The increase in operating
expenses is the result of an increase in utility operating expenses of
$645,000.
The
increase in utility operating expense of $645,000 for the quarter ended
September 30, 2008, or 10.1%, over the same period in 2007, is comprised
of
increases in payroll and employee benefits costs, purchased water and purchased
power expense.
Payroll
and employee benefit expense increased $248,000, or 7.9%, compared to the
same
period in 2007, primarily due to increases in employee count, employee wages
from merit increases, and increased employee benefit premium
expenses.
Purchased
water expense increased $229,000, or 35.3%, 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 7.8% in Chester Water Authority’s
rates effective in July 2008.
Purchased
power expense increased $89,000, or 16.0%, compared to the same period in
2007
due to an 8.47% rate increase in May 2008 under the new two-year electric
supply
contract and increased usage.
Property
and other taxes increased by $41,000, or 5.5%, 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 53.9% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to 51.6% for
the
quarter ended September 30, 2007.
Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $83,000, or 6.2%, over the quarter ended
September 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 decreased $56,000 due to lower taxable income
for
the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to the quarter ended September
30, 2007.
Other
Income,
Net
Our
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, or AFUDC, increased $207,000,
or
265.4%, compared to the same period in 2007, as a result of increased long-term
construction activity subject to AFUDC for the third quarter of 2008 compared
to
the same period in 2007.
Interest
Charges
Interest
charges increased $181,000, or 12.1%, for the quarter ended September 30,
2008,
compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to more
short-term debt interest as a result of higher borrowing on our lines of
credit
in 2008 compared to 2007. The average debt outstanding for the
quarter ended September 30, 2008 was $16.6 million at an average rate of
3.8%
compared to $0.9 million and an average rate of 6.3% for the same period
in
2007.
Net
Income
Our
net
income decreased $170,000, or 6.2%, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008,
compared to the same period a year ago. The decrease in net income
for the quarter was primarily the result of lower operating income margins
from
both our water and wastewater utility business which experienced a decline
in
demand offsetting the rate increases as described above. Increased
payroll, purchased water, and purchased power costs added to the decrease
in net
income as well as higher interest charges. Offsetting this
unfavorable variance for the three months ended September 30, 2008 were higher
operating income margins from our non-utility business due to increased
wastewater and water SLP Plan revenue as well as higher other income from
increased construction interest income (AFUDC). Basic earnings per
share decreased to $0.35 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 compared
to
$0.38 for the same period in 2007. Diluted earnings per share were
$0.35 and $0.37 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.
Results
of Operations –
Analysis of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to the Nine
Months
Ended September 30, 2007
Operating
Revenues
Revenues
totaled $41.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, $2.2
million, or 5.7%, above revenues for the nine months ended September 30,
2007 of
$39.6 million. Water sales revenues increased $1.3 million, 3.6%, for
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, over the corresponding period in
2007. Water sales revenue for the nine months ended September 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 and a temporary rate increase of 5% placed into
effect on June 21, 2008, as permitted under Delaware law, until new rates
are
approved by the PSC. However, per capita demand has declined for the
nine months ended September 30, 2008 in comparison to the nine months ended
September 30, 2007, thereby reducing the effect of the temporary rate
increase. We realized 90.4% of our total operating revenue for the
nine months ended September 30, 2008 from the sale of water. In 2007,
92.3% of our total revenue was from water sales.
Other
utility operating revenue increased $210,000 for the nine months ended September
30, 2008, or 16.6%, from $1.3 million in 2007 to $1.5 million for the same
period in 2008. Approximately $190,000 of this increase was primarily
due to service charges for the restoration of shut off service.
Non-utility
operating revenue increased $733,000 for the nine months ended September
30,
2008, or 40.7%, from $1,799,000 in 2007 to $2,532,000 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 and the addition of Pennsylvania contract
operations of $232,000. The increase in revenue also includes an
increase of $146,000 and $82,000, 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 $2.4 million,
or
10.7%, to $25.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared
to $23.0 million for the same period in 2007. The components of the
increase in operating expenses included an increase in utility operating
expenses of $1,656,000 and an increase in property taxes of
$250,000. Non-utility operating expenses increased $549,000 in the
first nine months of 2008, or 45.1%, compared to the same period last
year.
The
increase in utility operating expense of $1,656,000 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008, or 8.4%, over the same period in 2007, is comprised of
increases in payroll and employee benefits costs, purchased water, and purchased
power expense.
Payroll
and employee benefit expense increased $789,000, 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 $448,000, or 23.5%, 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 7.8%
effective in July 2008.
Purchased
power expense increased $186,000, or 10.7%, compared to the same period in
2007
due to an 8.47% rate increase in May 2008 under the new two-year electric
supply
contract and increased usage.
Non-utility
expense increased approximately $549,000, or 45.1%, for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007,
as a
result of increased contract projects as compared to the same period in
2007.
Property
and other taxes increased by $250,000, or 11.7%, 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 60.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to 58.1%
for
the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $220,000, or 5.7%, over the nine months
ended
September 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.
Other
Income,
Net
Our
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, or AFUDC, increased $402,000,
or
188.7%, compared to the same period in 2007, as a result of increased long-term
construction activity subject to AFUDC for the nine months ended September
30,
2008, compared to the same period in 2007.
Interest
Charges
Interest
charges decreased $46,000, or 1.0%, for the nine months ended September 30,
2008, compared to the nine months ended September 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 decreased $69,000, or 1.3%, for the nine months ended September 30,
2008,
compared to the same period a year ago. The decrease in net income
for the nine months was primarily the result of lower operating income margins
from both our water and wastewater utility business which experienced a decline
in demand offsetting the rate increases as described above. Increased
payroll, purchased water, and purchased power costs added to the decrease
in net
income. Offsetting this unfavorable variance for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008 were higher operating income margins from our
non-utility business due to increased wastewater and water SLP Plan revenue,
higher other income from increased construction interest income (AFUDC),
and
lower short-term interest charges for the nine months compared to the same
period a year ago. Basic earnings per share decreased to $0.70 for
the year ended September 30, 2008 compared to $0.78 for the same period in
2007. Diluted earnings per share were $0.69 and $0.77 for the year
ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our
primary sources of liquidity for the nine months ended September 30, 2008
were
$14.8 million provided by cash flow from operating activities, $2.0 million
in
net contributions and advances from developers and $26.0 million in net
borrowings on our lines 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.
The
Company’s lines of credit have increased by $26 million primarily as a result of
investments made in utility plant detailed below and the $6.6 million investment
made in non-utility property associated with a new regional wastewater facility
in Sussex County, Delaware. In addition, increases in accounts
payable of $1.7 million and increases in accrued expenses of $1.8 million
are
also associated with the Company’s investment in utility plant.
We
invested $41.7 million in capital expenditures during the first nine months
of
2008, which includes $2.0 million of net advances and contribution in aid
of
construction, compared to $18.6 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 $6.2 million through the nine months ended September 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 $11.3 million in
the first nine months of 2008. Artesian invested $12.3 million in
general plant in the first nine months of 2008. This included $9.9 million
towards the construction of a new office building addition to our corporate
headquarters in New Castle County. Another $6.6 million was invested
into NSRWRC for the land and construction in progress of the regional wastewater
treatment facility. In addition, on August 1, 2008 Artesian Water
Maryland invested $4.8 million for the acquisition of Mountain
Hill.
At
September 30, 2008, Artesian Water and Artesian Water Maryland had two shared
lines of credit of $20 million each to meet temporary cash
requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of September 30, 2008, we had $25.3 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
September 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 September 30, 2008, Artesian
Wastewater had $4.4 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.
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 NSRWRC’s $10 million
construction loan secured by land. As of September 30, 2008 NSRWRC
had $3.4 million of available funds under the construction loan. The
interest rate on the guarantee is variable based on LIBOR Advantage Rate
plus
225 basis points. In the event of a default by NSRWRC, Artesian
Resources shall pay the bank the amount due of the obligations or, on demand
of
the bank, immediately deposit all amounts due under the obligation.
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)
|
$ | 26,858 | $ | ----- | $ | ----- | $ | ----- |
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
|
79 | 1,180 | 1,180 | 6,068 | 8,507 | |||||||||||||||
Note
Payable (Principal and Interest)
|
691 | 1,298 | 608 | --- | 2,597 | |||||||||||||||
Operating
leases
|
62 | 252 | 90 | 1,852 | 2,256 | |||||||||||||||
Unconditional
purchase obligations
|
769 | 6,101 | 6,109 | 27,462 | 40,441 | |||||||||||||||
Tank
painting contractual obligation
|
374 | 624 | --- | --- | 998 | |||||||||||||||
Total
contractual cash obligations
|
$ | 7,528 | $ | 20,543 | $ | 19,084 | $ | 190,868 | $ | 238,023 |
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.
On
October 29, 2008, Artesian Water and CoBank, ACB, or CoBank, entered into
an
agreement regarding the setting of a fixed rate for a new $15 million First
Mortgage Bond, or Bond. This Bond will be incurred at a future date, which
is
expected to be on or before December 1, 2008. The fixed rate is 6.73% per
annum.
The fixed rate period will be from the settlement date to March 1, 2016,
the
maturity date. This Bond will be used primarily towards the new office building
addition to our corporate headquarters in New Castle County, DE.
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 as of September 30,
2008 is approximately $2.2 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 nine 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.
ITEM
3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
We
are
subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal course of
business. Our policy is to manage interest rates through the use of
fixed rate, long-term debt and, to a lesser extent, short-term
debt. The Company’s interest rate risk related to existing fixed
rate, long-term debt is not material due to the terms of our First Mortgage
Bonds, which have maturity dates ranging from 2018 to 2043.
At
September 30, 2008, Artesian Water had lines of credit of $20.0 million each
with two separate financial institutions totaling $40.0 million to meet
temporary cash requirements. These revolving credit facilities are
unsecured. As of September 30, 2008, we had $25.3 million of
available funds under these lines. The interest rate for borrowings
under one of these lines is the 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
September 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 September 30, 2008, Artesian
Wastewater had $4.4 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. Consequently, our interest expense for
short-term debt could be materially affected should interest rates change
materially and we have material balances outstanding on our lines of
credit.
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 the $10 million
construction loan secured by land. As of September 30, 2008 NSRWRC
had $3.4 million of available funds. The interest rate on the
guarantee is variable based on LIBOR Advantage Rate plus 225 basis
points. In the event of default by NSRWRC, Artesian Resources shall
pay the bank the amount due of the obligations or on demand of the bank
immediately deposit all amounts due under the obligation.
On
August
1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland executed a promissory note in the amount
of
approximately $2.3 million, or 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 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 and is guaranteed
by Artesian Resources.
ITEM
4– CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
|
Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer
and
Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by
this
report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls
and
procedures were not effective.
|
On
May 8, 2008, BDO Seidman, LLP, our independent registered public
accounting firm, advised our Audit Committee that they had identified
a
material weakness in internal control over financial reporting
relating to
the recordation of contributed plant assets and related contributions
in
aid of construction (CIAC) in the proper accounting periods. A
material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or combination of
deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that
there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement
of the
company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented
or
detected on a timely basis. The Company has made improvements
to its internal controls including preventive and detective measures
related to the material weakness described above.
|
(b)
Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
|
Other
than described above, no change in our internal control over financial
reporting occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, our
internal control over financial
reporting.
|
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1A – RISK FACTORS
In
addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully
consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which could materially
affect our business, financial condition or future results. Although
there have been no material changes to the risk factors described in such
Annual
Report on Form 10-K, the risks described therein are not the only risks facing
us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or
that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect
our
business, financial condition and/or operating results.
ITEM
6 -EXHIBITS
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a
– 14 (a)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a
– 14 (a)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.*
|
32
|
Certification
of Chief Executive
Officer
and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Section 1350 of
Chapter 63
of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C.
Section 1350).*
|
* Filed
herewith
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 thereunto
duly authorized.
ARTESIAN
RESOURCES CORPORATION
Date: November
7, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/ DIAN
C. TAYLOR
|
|
Dian
C. Taylor (Principal Executive Officer)
|
Date: November
7, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/ DAVID
B. SPACHT
|
|
David
B. Spacht (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
Certification
of Chief Executive
Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a – 14(a) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. *
|
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a
– 14(a)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
*
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive
Officer
and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and Section 1350 of
Chapter 63
of Title 18 of the United States Code
(18 U.S.C.
Section 1350).*
|
|
* Filed
herewith