Annual Statements Open main menu

Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. - Quarter Report: 2009 September (Form 10-Q)



UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES   EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
  For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009
 
OR

¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES   EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
  For the transaction period from ___________ to ___________

Commission File Number: 0-25248

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

CAYMAN ISLANDS
 
N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
   

Regatta Office Park
   
Windward Three, 4th Floor, West Bay Road
   
P.O. Box 1114
   
Grand Cayman KY1-1102
   
Cayman Islands
 
N/A
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(345) 945-4277
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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.

Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
Yes ¨ 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 “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨
  
Accelerated filer x
  
Non-accelerated filer ¨
  
Smaller reporting company ¨
           
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x

As of November 3, 2009, 14,541,878 shares of the registrant’s common stock, with US$0.60 par value, were outstanding.
 


 
 

 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Description
 
Page
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
Item 1
Financial Statements
 
4
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2009 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2008
 
4
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
 
5
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008
 
6
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
7
Item 2
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
15
Item 3
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
25
Item 4
Controls and Procedures
 
25
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
25
Item 1
Legal Proceedings
 
25
Item 1A
Risk Factors
 
25
Item 6
Exhibits
 
27
     
 
SIGNATURES
 
28

 
2

 

NOTE REGARDING CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATES

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “$” or “US$” are to United States dollars.

The exchange rate for conversion of Cayman Island dollars (CI$) into US$, as determined by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, has been fixed since April 1974 at US$1.20 per CI$1.00.

The exchange rate for conversion of Belize dollars (BZE$) into US$, as determined by the Central Bank of Belize, has been fixed since 1976 at US$ 0.50 per BZE$1.00.

The exchange rate for conversion of Bahamian dollars (BAH$) into US$, as determined by the Central Bank of The Bahamas, has been fixed since 1973 at US$1.00 per BAH$1.00.

The official currency of the British Virgin Islands is the United States dollar.

The exchange rate for conversion of Bermuda dollars (BMD$) into US$ as determined by the Bermuda Monetary Authority, has been fixed since 1970 at US$1.00 per BMD$1.00.

 
3

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 41,235,590     $ 36,261,345  
Accounts receivable, net
    11,574,653       13,911,312  
Inventory
    1,592,494       1,617,484  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    2,259,869       1,444,445  
Current portion of loans receivable
    1,241,174       768,803  
Total current assets
    57,903,780       54,003,389  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
    56,313,495       58,937,980  
Construction in progress
    6,251,775       6,157,958  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings - construction project
    386,707       7,377,554  
Inventory non-current
    3,585,856       2,971,949  
Loans receivable
    11,216,982       1,560,420  
Investment in and loan to affiliate
    12,120,482       14,371,312  
Intangible assets, net
    1,956,742       2,144,162  
Goodwill
    3,587,754       3,587,754  
Other assets
    3,373,586       3,544,096  
Total assets
  $ 156,697,159     $ 154,656,574  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
  $ 5,751,299     $ 7,310,327  
Dividends payable
    1,152,412       1,006,414  
Current portion of long term debt
    1,298,484       1,229,071  
Total current liabilities
    8,202,195       9,545,812  
Long term debt
    20,146,542       21,129,269  
Other liabilities
    508,280       430,717  
Total liabilities
    28,857,017       31,105,798  
Stockholders’ equity
               
Controlling interests:
               
Redeemable preferred stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 200,000 shares; issued and outstanding 17,233  and 17,366  shares, respectively
    10,340       10,420  
Class A common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 24,655,000 shares; issued and outstanding 14,537,950 and 14,529,360 shares, respectively
    8,722,770       8,717,616  
Class B common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 145,000 shares; none issued or outstanding
    -       -  
Additional paid-in capital
    80,874,934       80,461,942  
Retained earnings
    36,434,034       32,340,077  
      126,042,078       121,530,055  
Noncontrolling interests
    1,798,064       2,020,721  
Total stockholders’ equity
    127,840,142       123,550,776  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 156,697,159     $ 154,656,574  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements. 

 
4

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
                         
Retail water revenues
  $ 5,659,390     $ 5,833,347     $ 18,418,103     $ 17,855,530  
Bulk water revenues
    6,687,836       8,002,586       19,526,044       22,648,443  
Services revenues
    1,178,833       3,368,660       6,900,965       8,834,766  
                                 
Total revenues
    13,526,059       17,204,593       44,845,112       49,338,739  
                                 
Cost of retail revenues
    2,421,740       2,862,070       7,390,251       8,209,513  
Cost of bulk revenues
    5,302,535       6,968,547       15,239,258       19,620,430  
Cost of services revenues
    765,716       2,748,715       3,611,992       7,440,300  
                                 
Total cost of revenues
    8,489,991       12,579,332       26,241,501       35,270,243  
                                 
Gross profit
    5,036,068       4,625,261       18,603,611       14,068,496  
                                 
General and administrative expenses
    2,671,169       2,128,654       7,842,434       6,754,902  
                                 
Income from operations
    2,364,899       2,496,607       10,761,177       7,313,594  
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    311,990       326,880       620,663       1,097,120  
Interest expense
    (417,316 )     (436,077 )     (1,287,369 )     (1,325,184 )
Other income
    50,337       32,767       143,600       77,534  
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliate
    (1,582,248 )     (639,546 )     (2,780,270 )     (1,772,570 )
                                 
  Other income (expense), net
    (1,637,237 )     (715,976 )     (3,303,376 )     (1,923,100 )
                                 
Consolidated net income
    727,662       1,780,631       7,457,801       5,390,494  
                                 
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
    69,762       614       382,144       (43,019 )
                                 
Net income attributable to controlling interests
  $ 657,900     $ 1,780,017     $ 7,075,657     $ 5,433,513  
                                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.05     $ 0.12     $ 0.49     $ 0.37  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.05     $ 0.12     $ 0.49     $ 0.37  
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.075     $ 0.065     $ 0.205     $ 0.195  
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares used in the determination of:
                               
                                 
Basic earnings per share
    14,537,041       14,523,016       14,533,097       14,516,869  
                                 
Diluted earnings per share
    14,611,601       14,543,485       14,583,250       14,538,785  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
5

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net cash flows provided by operating activities
 
$
10,022,016
   
$
3,424,074
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, and construction in progress
   
(2,326,401
)
   
(5,144,540
)
Collections on loans receivable
   
1,117,357
     
1,096,202
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(1,209,044
)
   
(4,048,338
)
                 
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
               
Dividends paid
   
(2,835,702
)
   
(2,757,307
)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
   
10,350
     
-
 
Principal repayments of long term debt
   
(1,013,375
)
   
(955,256
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(3,838,727
)
   
(3,712,563
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
4,974,245
     
(4,336,827
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
36,261,345
     
38,529,383
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
41,235,590
   
$
34,192,556
 
Interest paid in cash
 
$
1,127,156
   
$
1,185,303
 
Non-cash investing and financing activities
               
Conversion of 5,784 (2008: 5,451) redeemable preferred shares into 5,784 (2008: 5,451) ordinary shares
 
$
3,470
   
$
3,271
 
Issuance of 2,806 (2008: 11,197) ordinary shares to executive  management for services rendered
 
$
38,750
   
$
279,795
 
Issuance of 4,197 (2008: 1,774) preferred shares for services rendered
   
73,660
     
30,158
 
Dividends declared but not paid
 
$
1,091,587
   
$
945,200
 
Loan receivable issued for plant facility sold
 
$
10,996,290
   
$
-
 
Conversion of accounts receivable due from affiliate into loan receivable
 
$
800,000
   
$
-
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
6

 

  CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

1.  Basis of presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (the “Company”) include the accounts of the Company’s (i) wholly-owned subsidiaries, Aquilex, Inc., Cayman Water Company Limited (“Cayman Water”), Consolidated Water (Belize) Limited (“CW-Belize”), Ocean Conversion (Cayman) Limited (“OC-Cayman”), DesalCo Limited (“DesalCo”); (ii) majority-owned subsidiary Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd. (“CW-Bahamas”); and (iii) affiliate, Consolidated Water (Bermuda) Limited (“CW-Bermuda”), which is consolidated because the Company is its primary financial beneficiary. The Company’s investment in its affiliate, Ocean Conversion (BVI) Ltd. (“OC-BVI”), is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2009 and the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 are unaudited. These consolidated condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments (which are of a normal recurring nature) that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to fairly present the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the periods presented. The results of operations for these interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for future periods, including the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) relating to interim financial statements and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading.  These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Reclassifications: Pursuant to the terms of its retail license and bulk water agreements, the Company adjusts its monthly invoices to charge (or credit) customers for any increases (or decreases) in the prices for the energy costs incurred to produce water. Prior to 2008, the Company recorded a portion of these energy cost charges (or credits) as an adjustment to the energy component of its cost of revenues.  During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company concluded that since such amounts are ultimately paid by (or to) its customers, these energy cost charges and credits would be more appropriately classified in its consolidated results of operations as an adjustment to revenues rather than to cost of revenues. Accordingly, revenue and cost of revenue amounts reported in 2008 have been adjusted in these 2009 financial statements for these reclassifications, the effects of which on previously reported amounts are as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2008
 
Revenues, as previously reported
  $ 15,221,783     $ 43,995,359  
Reclassification of energy recovery
    1,982,810       5,343,380  
Revenues, as adjusted
  $ 17,204,593     $ 49,338,739  
                 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2008
   
September 30, 2008
 
Cost of revenues, as previously reported
  $ 10,596,522     $ 29,926,863  
Reclassification of energy recovery
    1,982,810       5,343,380  
Cost of revenues, as adjusted
  $ 12,579,332     $ 35,270,243  

These reclassifications had no effect upon the previously reported amounts of gross profit or net income.

Certain other immaterial amounts presented in the 2008 financial statements included in the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation used for these amounts in the 2009 financial statements.

 
7

 

2.  Stock-based compensation

The Company issues stock under incentive plans that form part of employees’ and non-executive directors’ remuneration. The Company also grants options to purchase common shares as part of remuneration for certain long-serving employees.

Stock-based compensation totaled $95,687 and $87,258 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $330,393 and $276,105 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively and is included in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

In March 2009, the Company granted options to purchase 101,697 ordinary shares to certain employees under its 2008 Equity Incentive Plan.  The March 2009 options began vesting on March 19, 2009 and vest in three equal tranches on March 19, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  All of these 101,697 options expire three years from the respective vesting date of each tranche.

In June 2009, the Company granted options to purchase 3,670 ordinary shares to certain employees under its 2001 Employee Share Option Plan.  The June 2009 options vest on June 29, 2013. All of these 3,670 options expire thirty days from the vesting date.

In June 2009, the Company granted options to purchase 4,197 preference shares to certain employees under its Employee Share Incentive Plan.  The June 2009 options began vesting on June 14, 2009 and expire thirty days from the vesting date.

The Company estimates the fair value of the stock options granted and rights to acquire stock using the Black-Scholes option pricing model which requires the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions including forfeiture rate, volatility and expected life. The Company does not expect any forfeitures and therefore expects to recognize the full compensation costs for these equity awards. The Company calculated expected volatility based primarily upon the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock.

The expected life of options granted represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, which incorporates the contractual terms, grant vesting schedules and terms and expected employee behaviors. As the Company has so far only awarded what the SEC has defined as “plain vanilla options”, the Company uses the “simplified method” allowed by the SEC for determining the expected life of the options granted.

The significant weighted average assumptions for the 101,697 ordinary share options issued in March 2009 were as follows: risk free interest rate of 1.3%; expected option life of 3.50 years; expected volatility of 70.2%; expected dividend yield of 3.29%.

The significant weighted average assumptions for the 3,670 ordinary share options were as follows: risk free interest rate of 2.08%; expected option life of 4.08 years; expected volatility of 76.3%; expected dividend yield of 1.7%.

The significant weighted average assumptions for the 4,197 preference share options were as follows: risk free interest rate of 0.08%; expected option life of 0.08 years; expected volatility of 24.1%; expected dividend yield of 1.48%.

A summary of stock option activity under the Company’s share-based compensation plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 is presented in the following table:

               
Weighted
       
               
Average
       
         
Weighted
   
Remaining
   
Aggregate
 
         
Average
   
Contractual Life
   
Intrinsic
 
   
Options
   
Exercise Price
   
(Years)
   
Value (1)
 
Outstanding as of beginning of period
    118,115     $ 28.30       3.66     $ -  
Granted
    109,564       8.20       4.27          
Exercised
    (1,118 )     9.22                  
Forfeited and expired
    (3,079 )     9.22                  
Outstanding as of September 30, 2009
    223,482     $ 18.80       3.63     $ 861,012  
Exercisable as of September 30, 2009
    42,315     $ 27.39       1.83     $ -  
 

(1)
The intrinsic value of a stock option represents the amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock, measured by reference to the closing price of the ordinary shares of $16.33 in the NASDAQ Global Select Market on September 30, 2009, exceeds the exercise price of the option.

 
8

 

As of September 30, 2009, 181,167 non-vested options and 42,315 vested options were outstanding, with weighted average exercise prices of $18.80 and $27.39, respectively, and average remaining contractual lives of 3.63 years and 1.83 years, respectively.  The total remaining unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested stock-based arrangements were $276,173 as of September 30, 2009 and are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 4.05 years.

As of September 30, 2009, unrecognized compensation costs relating to convertible preference shares outstanding were $104,752, and are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.30 years.

3.  Segment information

The Company considers its (i) operations to supply water to retail customers, (ii) operations to supply water to bulk customers, and (iii) providing of engineering, management and construction services, as separate business segments. Financial information for each of these segments is as follows:

   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Retail
   
Bulk
   
Services
   
Total
 
 Revenues
  $ 5,659,390     $ 6,687,836     $ 1,178,833     $ 13,526,059  
 Cost of revenues
    2,421,740       5,302,535       765,716       8,489,991  
 Gross profit
    3,237,650       1,385,301       413,117       5,036,068  
 General and administrative expenses
    2,166,765       451,860       52,544       2,671,169  
 Income from operations
    1,070,885       933,441       360,573       2,364,899  
 Other income (expense), net
                            (1,637,237 )
 Consolidated net income
                            727,662  
 Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            69,762  
 Net income attributable to controlling interests
                          $ 657,900  

   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Retail
   
Bulk
   
Services
   
Total
 
 Revenues
  $ 18,418,103     $ 19,526,044     $ 6,900,965     $ 44,845,112  
 Cost of revenues
    7,390,251       15,239,258       3,611,992       26,241,501  
 Gross profit
    11,027,852       4,286,786       3,288,973       18,603,611  
 General and administrative expenses
    6,265,793       1,412,430       164,211       7,842,434  
 Income from operations
    4,762,059       2,874,356       3,124,762       10,761,177  
 Other income (expense), net
                            (3,303,376 )
 Consolidated net income
                            7,457,801  
 Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            382,144  
 Net income attributable to controlling interests
                          $ 7,075,657  
                                 
 As of September 30, 2009:
                               
 Property plant and equipment, net
  $ 21,973,112     $ 32,886,407     $ 1,453,976     $ 56,313,495  
 Construction in progress
    6,206,443       45,332       -       6,251,775  
 Total assets
    83,640,898       64,287,265       8,768,996       156,697,159  

   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
 
   
Retail
   
Bulk
   
Services
   
Total
 
 Revenues
  $ 5,833,347     $ 8,002,586     $ 3,368,660     $ 17,204,593  
 Cost of revenues
    2,862,070       6,968,547       2,748,715       12,579,332  
 Gross profit
    2,971,277       1,034,039       619,945       4,625,261  
 General and administrative expenses
    1,704,207       353,355       71,092       2,128,654  
 Income from operations
    1,267,070       680,684       548,853       2,496,607  
 Other income (expense), net
                            (715,976 )
 Consolidated net income
                            1,780,631  
 Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            614  
 Net income attributable to controlling interests
                          $ 1,780,017  

   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
 
   
Retail
   
Bulk
   
Services
   
Total
 
 Revenues
  $ 17,855,530     $ 22,648,443     $ 8,834,766     $ 49,338,739  
 Cost of revenues
    8,209,513       19,620,430       7,440,300       35,270,243  
 Gross profit
    9,646,017       3,028,013       1,394,466       14,068,496  
 General and administrative expenses
    5,482,742       1,054,660       217,500       6,754,902  
 Income from operations
    4,163,275       1,973,353       1,176,966       7,313,594  
 Other income (expense), net
                            (1,923,100 )
 Consolidated net income
                            5,390,494  
 Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            (43,019 )
 Net income attributable to controlling interests
                          $ 5,433,513  
                                 
 As of September 30, 2008:
                               
 Property plant and equipment, net
  $ 22,830,904     $ 34,296,185     $ 1,868,460     $ 58,995,549  
 Construction in progress
    4,120,195       2,012,533       -       6,132,728  
 Total assets
    85,233,947       62,789,077       6,013,658       154,036,682  

 
9

 

4.  Earnings per share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net income attributable to controlling interests by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted EPS assumes the issuance of common shares for all dilutive-potential common shares outstanding during the reporting period. The dilutive effect of stock options is considered in diluted EPS calculations using the treasury stock method.

The following summarizes information related to the computation of basic and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net income attributable to controlling interests
 
$
657,900
   
$
1,780,017
   
$
7,075,657
   
$
5,433,513
 
Less:
                               
Dividends declared and earnings attributable to preferred shares
   
(1,202
)
   
(1,175
)
   
(4,387
)
   
(4,613
)
Net income available to holders of common shares in the determination of basic and diluted earnings per share
 
$
656,698
   
$
1,778,842
   
$
7,071,270
   
$
5,428,900
 
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares used in the determination of basic earnings per common share
   
14,537,041
     
14,523,016
     
14,533,097
     
14,516,869
 
Plus:
                               
Weighted average number of preferred shares outstanding during the period
   
17,914
     
18,320
     
17,812
     
19,714
 
Potential dilutive effect of unexercised options
   
56,646
     
2,149
     
32,341
     
2,202
 
Weighted average number of common shares used in the determination of diluted earnings per common share
   
14,611,601
     
14,543,485
     
14,583,250
     
14,538,785
 

5.  Impact of recent accounting pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In June 2009, the Company adopted The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This standard established the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants.  The Codification became effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  The Codification supersedes all existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards.  All other nongrandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification became nonauthoritative.  As a result of this standard, the FASB will no longer issue new standards in the form of Statements, FASB Staff Positions, or Emerging Issues Task Force Abstracts.  Instead, the FASB will issue Accounting Standards Updates, which will serve only to: (a) update the Codification; (b) provide background information about the guidance; and (c) provide the bases for conclusions on the change(s) in the Codification.  The U.S. GAAP hierarchy has been modified to include only two levels of U.S. GAAP, authoritative and nonauthoritative.  In the FASB’s view, the Codification does not change U.S. GAAP.  The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.  The Codification did, however, result in the elimination of the references to specific U.S. GAAP contained within the consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and information included in the Company’s previous filings with the SEC.

Effect of Newly Issued But Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendment to Interpretation 46(R) (“SFAS No. 167”), which has not yet been integrated into the Codification.  SFAS No. 167 amends the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities to replace the quantitative-based risks and rewards calculation for determining which enterprise, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with an approach focused on identifying which enterprise has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (1) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or (2) the right to receive benefits from the entity.  An approach that is expected to be primarily qualitative will be more effective for identifying which enterprise has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity.  SFAS No. 167 requires an additional reconsideration event when determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity when any changes in facts and circumstances occur such that the holders of the equity investment at risk, as a group, lose the power from voting rights or similar rights of those investments to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance.  It also requires ongoing assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity.  These requirements will provide more relevant and timely information to users of financial statements.  SFAS No. 167 amends the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities to require enhanced disclosures that will provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement in a variable interest entity.  The enhanced disclosures are required for any enterprise that holds a variable interest in a variable interest entity.  SFAS No. 167 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the effect, if any, the adoption of SFAS No. 167 will have on its financial statements.

 
10

 

6.  Investment in and loan to affiliate

The Company owns 50% of the outstanding voting common shares and a 43.5% equity interest in the profits of Ocean Conversion (BVI) Ltd. (“OC-BVI”). The Company also owns certain profit sharing rights in OC-BVI that raise its effective interest in the profits of OC-BVI to approximately 45%. Pursuant to a management services agreement, OC-BVI pays the Company monthly fees for certain engineering and administrative services.

OC-BVI’s sole customer is the Ministry of Communications and Works of the Government of the British Virgin Islands (the “Ministry”). Through December 31, 2008, substantially all of the water sold to the Ministry was produced by a desalination plant located at Baughers Bay, Tortola (the “Baughers Bay plant”), which has a capacity of 1.7 million U.S. gallons per day.

During 2007, OC-BVI completed, for a total cost of approximately $8.2 million, the construction of a 700,000 U.S. gallons per day desalination plant located at Bar Bay, Tortola (the “Bar Bay plant”).  The Company provided OC-BVI with a $3.0 million loan to fund part of this plant’s construction costs, of which $2.0 million remained outstanding as of June 30, 2009. Principal on this loan was payable in quarterly installments of $125,000 with a final balloon payment of $2.0 million due on August 31, 2009 and interest on the loan was due quarterly at the rate of LIBOR plus 3.5%.  On August 20, 2009, the Company and OC-BVI amended the terms of this loan, increasing its balance to $2,800,000 by converting $800,000 in trade receivables due to the Company from OC-BVI.   Under the terms of this amendment, the interest rate on the loan was increased to the rate of LIBOR plus 5.5% and the maturity date for the final balloon payment extended to August 31, 2011.

On December 19, 2008, OC-BVI and the BVI government executed a binding term sheet (the “Bar Bay Agreement”) for the purchase of water by the BVI government from OC-BVI’s Bar Bay plant. The parties intend the Bar Bay Agreement to govern the terms of sale of water by OC-BVI to the BVI government until the parties execute a definitive contract. Under the terms of the Bar Bay Agreement, OC-BVI will deliver up to 600,000 U.S. gallons of water per day to the BVI government from the Bar Bay plant and the BVI government will be obligated to pay for this water at a specified price, as adjusted by a monthly energy factor.  Prior to completion of the construction of the first phase of certain additional facilities by OC-BVI in August 2009, the BVI government was not obligated to purchase any minimum volumes of water from OC-BVI. However, since completion of this first phase, the BVI government has been obligated to purchase at least 600,000 U.S. gallons of water per day from the plant.  The first phase of such facilities construction involved the installation of water pipes from the plant to a BVI government-owned reservoir site and from this site to the BVI government’s piped water distribution system.  A second phase of construction requires OC-BVI to complete a storage reservoir on the BVI government site within twelve months of the signing of the proposed seven-year definitive contract. The proposed seven-year definitive contract is expected to include a seven-year extension option exercisable by the BVI government.   Negotiations on the definitive contract continued to be in-progress through the date of this filing.  OC-BVI began selling water from the Bar Bay plant to the BVI government during the first quarter of 2009.

The Company’s investment in and loan to OC-BVI are comprised of the following:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Equity investment (including profit sharing rights)
  $ 9,320,482     $ 12,121,312  
Loan receivable - Bar Bay plant construction
    2,800,000       2,250,000  
    $ 12,120,482     $ 14,371,312  

 
11

 

Summarized statement of income information for OC-BVI is presented below:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
Water revenues
  $ (263,982   $ 1,531,170     $ 5,140,192     $ 4,762,494  
Adjustment for revenue deferral (see Baughers Bay dispute below)
    617,826       (1,495,877 )     (4,559,795 )     (4,657,879 )
                                 
Total adjusted revenues
    353,844       35,293       580,397       104,615  
                                 
Gross profit (loss)
    (3,001,543 )     (1,072,123 )     (5,115,631 )     (3,028,817 )
                                 
Income (loss) from operations
    (3,184,181 )     (1,314,412 )     (5,824,172 )     (3,829,172 )
                                 
Net income (loss)
  $ (4,571,973 )   $ (1,354,888 )   $ (5,921,782 )   $ (3,957,780 )

The Company recognized losses of $(1,582,248) and $(639,546) on its equity investment in OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $(2,780,270) and $(1,772,570) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The losses recognized by the Company on its equity investment in OC-BVI for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 include an impairment loss of $160,000 on the carrying value of the Company’s equity investment in OC-BVI arising from the Baughers Bay dispute (see further discussion below).

In addition to the Company’s loan to and equity investment in OC-BVI of $12,120,482 as of September 30, 2009,  the Company’s recorded value of its OC-BVI management services agreement, which is reflected as an intangible asset on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, was approximately $856,000 as of September 30, 2009.

Baughers Bay dispute:

In October 2006, OC-BVI notified the Company that the Ministry had asserted a purported right of ownership of the Baughers Bay plant pursuant to the terms of the Water Supply Agreement between the parties dated May 1990 (the “1990 Agreement”) and had invited OC-BVI to submit a proposal for its continued involvement in the production of water at the Baughers Bay plant in light of the Ministry’s planned assumption of ownership.

Under the terms of the 1990 Agreement, upon the expiration of the initial seven year term in May 1999, the agreement would automatically be extended for another seven year term unless the Ministry provided notice, at least eight months prior to such expiration, of its decision to purchase the plant from OC-BVI for approximately $1.42 million.

In correspondence between the parties from late 1998 through early 2000, the Ministry indicated that the BVI government intended to purchase the plant but would be amenable to negotiating a new water supply agreement, and that it considered the 1990 Agreement to be in force on a monthly basis until negotiations between the BVI government and OC-BVI were concluded. Occasional discussions were held between the parties since 2000 without resolution of the matter. OC-BVI has continued to supply water to the Ministry and expended approximately $4.7 million between 1995 and 2003 to significantly expand the production capacity of the plant beyond that set forth under the 1990 Agreement.

OC-BVI submitted a proposal to the Ministry in late 2006 to continue to supply water from the Baughers Bay plant. The Ministry held discussions with OC-BVI regarding a new contract but did not formally respond to OC-BVI’s proposal. Early in 2007, the Ministry unilaterally took the position that until such time as a new agreement was reached on the ownership of the plant and the price for the water produced by the plant, the Ministry would only pay that amount of OC-BVI’s billings that the Ministry purported constituted OC-BVI’s costs of producing the water. OC-BVI responded to the Ministry that the amount the Ministry proposed to pay was significantly less than OC-BVI’s production costs. Payments made by the Ministry to OC-BVI since the Ministry’s assumption of this reduced price have been sporadic.  On November 15, 2007, OC-BVI issued a demand letter to the BVI government for approximately $6.2 million representing amounts that OC-BVI claimed were due by the BVI government for water sold and delivered plus interest and legal fees. In response to OC-BVI’s demand for payment, the BVI government issued a letter dated November 19, 2007, that reasserted its claim that ownership of the Baughers Bay plant has passed to the BVI government and rejected OC-BVI’s claim for payment.  On November 22, 2007, OC-BVI’s management was informed that the BVI government had filed a lawsuit with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (the “Court”) seeking ownership and possession of the Baughers Bay plant.  OC-BVI counterclaimed that it was entitled to continued possession and operation of the Baughers Bay plant until the BVI government paid OC-BVI approximately $4.7 million, which OC-BVI believes represents the value of the Baughers Bay plant at its present expanded production capacity.  OC-BVI took the legal position that since the BVI government never paid the $1.42 million to purchase the Baughers Bay plant, the 1990 agreement terminated on May 31, 1999, which was eight months after the date that the Ministry provided written notice of its intention to purchase the plant.

 
12

 

On July 4, 2008, OC-BVI filed a claim with the Court seeking recovery of $7,806,629, representing amounts owed to OC-BVI for water sold and delivered to the BVI government from the Baughers Bay  plant  through May 31, 2008, $842,188 for interest accrued on amounts owed as of May 31, 2008 and future interest and costs.  This claim was amended and increased on April 22, 2009 to $13,773,954 for amounts owed for water delivered through March 31, 2009 plus accrued interest of $2,537,334 on amounts owed as of March 31, 2009 plus future interest and costs.  The $13,773,954 amount represented amounts billed at the contract prices in effect before the BVI government asserted its purported right of ownership of the plant.  

The Court held a three-day trial from July 22 through July 24, 2009 to address both the Baughers Bay ownership issue and OC-BVI’s claim for payment of amounts owed for water sold and delivered to the BVI government.  On September 17, 2009, the Court issued a preliminary ruling with respect to the litigation between the BVI government and OC-BVI.  The Court determined that the BVI government was entitled to immediate possession of the Baughers Bay plant and dismissed OC-BVI’s claim for compensation of approximately $4.7 million for the expenditures made to expand the production capacity of the plant.  As a result of this determination by the Court, OC-BVI recorded an impairment loss of approximately $2.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 for fixed assets associated with the Baughers Bay plant. However, the Court determined that OC-BVI was entitled to full payment of water invoices issued up to December 20, 2007, which had been calculated under the terms of the original 1990 Agreement, and ordered the BVI government to make an immediate interim payment of $5.0 million to OC-BVI for amounts owed to OC-BVI.  The Court deferred deciding the entire dispute between the parties until it could conduct a hearing to determine the reasonable rate for water produced by OC-BVI for the period from December 20, 2007 to the present.

After conducting hearings on October 12 and 16, 2009, on October 28, 2009, the Court ordered the BVI government to pay OC-BVI at the rate of $13.91 per thousand imperial gallons for water produced by OC-BVI from December 20, 2007 to present, which amounts to a total recovery for OC-BVI of $10.1 million as of September 30, 2009, excluding any interest which may be due on this balance.  OC-BVI intends to seek clarification from the Court on November 13, 2009 with respect to the amount of interest, if any, which must be paid on the monetary judgment.  The BVI government has not yet made any payments to OC-BVI under the Court order.

On October 28, 2009 OC-BVI filed an appeal with the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals (the “Appellate Court”) asking the Appellate Court to review the September 17, 2009 ruling by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court as it relates to OC-BVI’s claim for compensation for the $4.7 million in expenditures made to expand the production capacity of the Baughers Bay plant.

On October 29, 2009, the BVI government filed an appeal with the Appellate Court seeking the Appellate Court’s review of the September 17, 2009 ruling of the Court that the BVI government pay OC-BVI the reasonable rate for water produced by OC-BVI for the period from December 20, 2007 to the present.  The BVI government is requesting a ruling from the Appellate Court that the BVI government should only pay OC-BVI the actual cost of water produced at the plant.

Effective January 1, 2008, OC-BVI changed its policy for the recording of revenues from the Baughers Bay plant from the accrual to the equivalent of the cash method. All amounts billed by OC-BVI to the BVI government relating to Baughers Bay for water delivered subsequent to December 31, 2007 have been recorded as deferred revenues by OC-BVI. As a result of this adjustment to OC-BVI’s revenues, the Company has recorded losses from its equity in OC-BVI’s results of operations for all fiscal quarters subsequent to December 31, 2007.   Any cash payments made by the BVI government on Baughers Bay-related invoices were applied by OC-BVI to the remaining balance of OC-BVI’s outstanding accounts receivable that arose from billings for periods prior to and including December 2007 and thus were not recognized as revenues.  Sufficient payments were received from the BVI government during the three months ended September 30, 2009 to repay the remaining accounts receivable balance relating to periods prior to December 31, 2007.  OC-BVI continues to apply the equivalent of the cash method with respect to the recognition of revenues from Baughers Bay.  Consequently, OC-BVI will not recognize as revenue any amounts ordered by the Court to be paid until such amounts are paid by the BVI government. OC-BVI is also applying the equivalent of the cash basis of accounting for revenue recognition for its Bar Bay plant until such time as a definitive contract is signed for this plant.

The Company accounts for its investment in OC-BVI in accordance with the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock. This method requires recognition of a loss on an equity investment that is other than temporary, and indicates that the fair value of an equity investment that is less than its carrying amount may indicate a loss in the value of the investment. To test for possible impairment of its investment in OC-BVI, the Company estimated its fair value as of September 30, 2009. In making this estimate, Company management calculated the expected cash flows from its investment in OC-BVI by (i) identifying various possible outcomes of the Baughers Bay dispute and negotiations for a definitive contract on the new Bar Bay plant; (ii) estimating the cash flows associated with each possible outcome, and (iii) assigning a probability to each outcome based upon discussions held to date by OC-BVI’s management with the BVI government and OC-BVI’s legal counsel. The resulting probability-weighted sum represents the expected cash flows, and the Company’s best estimate of future cash flows, to be derived from its investment in OC-BVI. After considering the September and October 2009 rulings of the Court, the Company determined that the carrying value of its investment in OC-BVI exceeded the estimated fair value for its investment in OC-BVI by approximately $160,000 as of September 30, 2009 and therefore recognized an impairment loss of this amount on this investment for the three months ended September 30, 2009. As a result of further developments, the Company could be required to record further such impairment losses on its investment in OC-BVI in the future.

The identification of the possible outcomes for the Baughers Bay dispute and Bar Bay negotiations, the projections of cash flows for each outcome, and the assignment of relative probabilities to each outcome all represent significant estimates made by the Company’s management. The ultimate resolution of the Baughers Bay dispute and Bar Bay definitive contract negotiations may differ significantly from management’s estimates and may result in actual cash flows from OC-BVI that vary materially from the expected cash flows used by Company management in determining OC-BVI’s fair value as of September 30, 2009.  OC-BVI may be unable to negotiate a new operating agreement for the Baughers Bay plant. The Appellate Court may ultimately overturn the ruling of the Court requiring the BVI government to pay OC-BVI at the rate of $13.91 per thousand imperial gallons for water previously supplied.  OC-BVI may be unsuccessful in finalizing a definitive contract for the Bar Bay plant on terms it finds acceptable.  Any of these or other possible outcomes could result in actual cash flows from the Company’s investment in OC-BVI that are significantly lower than management’s current estimate.  In such case, the Company could be required to record further impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of its investment in OC-BVI. Such impairment losses would reduce the Company’s earnings and could have a material adverse impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

The Company is not presently able to determine what impact the ultimate resolution of this matter may have on its results of operations or financial condition.

 
13

 

7.  Consolidated Water (Bermuda) Limited

In June 2006, the Company formed a Bermuda-based affiliate, Consolidated Water (Bermuda) Limited (“CW-Bermuda”) with two other shareholders. The Company owns 40% of the equity interest and voting rights of CW-Bermuda. In January 2007, CW-Bermuda entered into a contract with the Government of Bermuda for the design, construction and sale of a 600,000 U.S. gallons per day desalination plant to be located on Tynes Bay along the northern coast of Bermuda and in March 2008 the Government of Bermuda agreed to a second phase of construction that would expand the plant’s capacity to 1.2 million U.S. gallons per day. Under the agreement, CW-Bermuda constructed the plant and will operate it for 12 months after its commissioning and sale to the Government of Bermuda. CW-Bermuda received a Certificate of Substantial Completion for Phase 1 on April 13, 2009.  The second phase is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009, pending the provision by the Bermuda government of a sufficient energy supply for the second phase.

The Company has entered into a services agreement with CW-Bermuda for the design, construction and operation of the Tynes Bay plant, under which it receives fees for direct services, purchasing activities and proprietary technology.  The Company began earning revenues under this agreement in January 2009.

Because (i) the equity investment in CW-Bermuda is not sufficient to permit it to finance its activities without the loan from the Company; (ii) the other investors in CW-Bermuda have no obligation to absorb any amount of its losses should losses arise; and (iii) the Company expects economic benefits from CW-Bermuda that are significantly greater than the Company’s voting rights of 40%, CW-Bermuda constitutes a variable interest entity in which the Company is the primary beneficiary and accordingly, consolidates the results of CW-Bermuda in its financial statements. The assets and liabilities (all of which are current) of CW-Bermuda included in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet amounted to approximately $1,716,000 and $756,000, respectively, as of September 30, 2009.  The Company has not provided any guarantees related to CW-Bermuda and any creditors of CW-Bermuda do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company as a result of including CW-Bermuda in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The results of CW-Bermuda are reflected in the Company’s services segment.

8.  Litigation settlement

On November 17, 2006, Gruppozecca Bahamas Limited (“GBL”) filed a Statement of Claim in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas against CW-Bahamas seeking damages in excess of $950,000 for CW-Bahamas alleged breach of its obligations under an agreement between GBL and CW-Bahamas relating to the construction of our Blue Hills plant.  On April 2, 2009, this litigation was settled and all claims against CW-Bahamas were dismissed in exchange for a final progress payment under the construction agreement between the parties in the amount of $480,000.

9.  Subsequent events

The Company considered the accounting and disclosure of events occurring after the balance sheet date through the date and time the Company’s financial statements were issued on November 9, 2009.

 
14

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements regarding our future revenues, future plans, objectives, expectations and events, assumptions and estimates. Forward-looking statements can be identified by use of the words or phrases “will,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “potential,” “believe,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” or similar expressions and variations of such words. Statements that are not historical facts are based on our current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates, forecasts and projections for our business and the industry and markets related to our business.

The forward-looking statements contained in this report are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors which may affect these actual outcomes and results include, without limitation, tourism and weather conditions in the areas we service, scheduled new construction within our operating areas, the economies of the U.S. and the areas we service, regulatory matters, the resolution of pending litigation, availability of capital to repay debt and for expansion of our operations, and other factors, including those “Risk Factors” set forth under Part II, Item 1A in this Quarterly Report and in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report speak as of its date. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this Quarterly Report to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based, except as may be required by law.

Unless otherwise indicated, references to “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd., its subsidiaries and consolidated affiliate.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our actual results could differ significantly from such estimates and assumptions.

Certain of our accounting estimates or assumptions constitute “critical accounting estimates” for us due to the fact that:

 
the nature of these estimates or assumptions is material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change; and

 
the impact of the estimates and assumptions on financial condition and results of operations is material.

Our critical accounting estimates relate to (i) the valuation of our equity investment in our affiliate, OC-BVI; (ii) goodwill and intangible assets; and (iii) plant construction revenues and costs.

Valuation of Equity Investment in Affiliate. We account for our investment in OC-BVI in accordance with the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock. This method requires recognition of a loss on an equity investment that is other than temporary, and indicates that a current fair value of an equity investment that is less than its carrying amount may indicate a loss in the value of the investment. OC-BVI’s on-going dispute with the BVI government over the ownership of its Baughers Bay plant may indicate that the current fair value of our investment in OC-BVI is less than our carrying value for this investment.

As a quoted market price for OC-BVI’s stock is not available, to test for possible impairment of our investment in OC-BVI we estimate its fair value by calculating the expected cash flows from our investment in OC-BVI by (i) identifying various possible outcomes of the Baughers Bay dispute and negotiations for a definitive contract for OC-BVI’s new Bar Bay plant; (ii) estimating the cash flows associated with each possible outcome, and (iii) assigning a probability to each outcome based upon discussions held to date by OC-BVI’s management with the BVI government and OC-BVI’s legal counsel. The resulting probability weighted sum represents the expected cash flows, and our best estimate of future cash flows, to be derived from our investment in OC-BVI. After considering the September and October 2009 rulings of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court with respect to the litigation for the Baughers Bay dispute, we determined that the carrying value of our investment in OC-BVI exceeded the estimated fair value for our investment in OC-BVI by approximately $160,000 as of September 30, 2009 and we have therefore recognized an impairment loss of this amount on this investment, which is included in the loss of approximately $(1.6 million) we recognized for our equity in the loss of OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2009. As a result of further developments, we could be required to record further such impairment losses on our investment in OC-BVI in the future.

 
15

 

The identification of the possible outcomes for the Baughers Bay dispute, the projections of cash flows for each outcome and the assignment of relative probabilities to each outcome all represent significant estimates made by us. While we have used our best judgment to identify the possible outcomes and expected cash flows for these outcomes and assign relative probabilities to each outcome, these estimates are by their nature highly subjective and are also subject to material change by our management over time based upon additional information from OC-BVI’s management and legal counsel, a change in the status of negotiations and/or OC-BVI’s litigation with the BVI government.  The ultimate resolutions of the Baughers Bay issue and the negotiations for a definitive contract for the Bar Bay plant may differ significantly from our estimates and may result in actual cash flows from OC-BVI that vary materially from the expected cash flows we used in determining OC-BVI’s fair value as of September 30, 2009. OC-BVI may be unable to negotiate a new operating agreement for the Baughers Bay plant. An appellate court may overturn the October 2009 ruling of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. OC-BVI may be unsuccessful in negotiating a definitive contract for the Bar Bay plant on terms it finds acceptable. Any of these or other possible outcomes could result in actual cash flows from our investment in OC-BVI that are significantly lower than our current estimate. In such case, we could be required to record further impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of our investment in OC-BVI.  Such impairment losses would reduce our earnings and could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill represents the excess costs over fair value of the assets of an acquired business. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination accounted for as a purchase and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but are tested for impairment at least annually.  Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment.  We periodically evaluate the possible impairment of goodwill. Management identifies our reporting units and determines the carrying value of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities, including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units. We determine the fair value of each reporting unit by calculating the expected cash flows from each reporting unit and compare the fair value to the carrying amount of the reporting unit. To the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, we are required to perform the second step of the impairment test, as this is an indication that the reporting unit goodwill may be impaired. In this step, we compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all the assets (recognized and unrecognized) and liabilities of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation.  The residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. If the implied fair value is less than its carrying amount, the impairment loss is recorded. Based upon our annual tests to date, we have not experienced any impairment losses on our recorded amounts of goodwill.

Plant construction revenue and cost of plant construction revenue. We recognize revenue and related costs as work progresses on fixed price contracts for the construction of desalination plants to be sold to third parties using the percentage-of-completion method, which relies on contract revenue and estimates of total expected costs. We follow this method since we can make reasonably dependable estimates of the revenue and costs applicable to various stages of a contract. Under the percentage-of-completion method, we record revenue and recognize profit or loss as work on the contract progresses. Our engineering personnel estimate total project costs and profit to be earned on each long term, fixed price contract prior to commencement of work on the contract and update these estimates as work on the contract progresses. The cumulative amount of revenue recorded on a contract at a specified point in time is that percentage of total estimated revenue that incurred costs to date comprise of estimated total contract costs. As work progresses, if the actual contract costs exceed estimates, the profit recognized on revenue from that contract decreases. We recognize the full amount of any estimated loss on a contract at the time the estimates indicate such a loss. To date we have not experienced a material adverse variation from our cost estimates for plants constructed for sale to third parties.

We assume the risk that the costs associated with constructing the plant may be greater than we anticipated in preparing our bid. However, the terms of each of the sales contracts with our customers require us to guarantee the sales price for the plant at the bid amount. Because we base our contracted sales price in part on our estimation of future construction costs, the profitability of our plant sales is dependent on our ability to estimate these costs accurately. The cost estimates we prepare in connection with the construction of plants to be sold to third parties are subject to inherent uncertainties. The cost of materials and construction may increase significantly after we submit our bid for a plant due to factors beyond our control, which could cause the gross margin for a plant to be less than we anticipated when the bid was made. The profit margin we initially expect to generate from a plant sale could be further affected by other factors, such as feed water supply and quality conditions at the plant site that differ materially from those we believed existed and relied upon when we submitted our bid.

 
16

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (“2008 Form 10-K”) and the information set forth under Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2008 Form 10-K.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2008

Consolidated Results

Net income attributable to controlling interests for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $657,900 ($0.05 per share on a fully-diluted basis) as compared to $1,780,017 ($0.12 per share on a fully-diluted basis) for the three months ended September 30, 2008.  Our results for both of these periods were adversely affected by the losses we recorded for our equity investment in OC-BVI (discussed below) which amounted to $(1,582,248) and $(639,546) for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 were $13,526,059 and $17,204,593, respectively.  The decrease in consolidated revenues from 2008 to 2009 reflects lower revenues for all three of our business segments. Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $5,036,068, or 37% of total revenues, as compared to $4,625,261 or 27%, for the three months ended September 30, 2008. Our retail and bulk segments reported increased gross profits for 2009 as compared to 2008 while gross profit for our service segment declined.   For further discussion of revenues and gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2009, see the analysis in the “Results by Segment” section that follows.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses on a consolidated basis were $2,671,169 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $2,128,654 for same quarter of 2008. Increases in (i) employee costs of approximately $108,000 attributable to salary increases; (ii) professional fees of approximately $148,000; (iii) bank charges of $87,000 incurred by our Bahamas subsidiary to convert Bahamian dollars to U.S. dollars and subsequently transfer such dollars to other Company bank accounts; and (iv) costs incurred of approximately $69,000 to bid new projects constituted the majority of the additional G&A expense for 2009.

We reported losses from our investment in OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 of approximately $(1,582,000) and $(640,000), respectively.  The increase in the loss from our investment in OC-BVI for 2009 as compared to 2008 reflects the recent rulings of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court with respect to the litigation between OC-BVI and the British Virgin Islands government and impairment losses recorded by us and OC-BVI during 2009 as a result of these rulings. See further discussion of the OC-BVI situation at “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Material Commitments, Contingencies and Expenditures — OC-BVI Contract Dispute.”

Results by Segment

Retail Segment:

The retail segment contributed $1,070,885 to our income from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $1,267,070 for the three months ended September 30, 2008.

Revenues generated by our retail water operations were $5,659,390 and $5,833,347 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The volume of water sold remained relatively unchanged from 2008 to 2009.  Price increases related to inflation adjustments which went into effect during the first quarter of 2009 served to offset a decrease of approximately $469,000 in revenues attributable to our pass-through billing of energy costs to our customers, as energy prices declined significantly from 2008 to 2009.

Retail segment gross profit was $3,237,650 (57% of revenues) and $2,971,277 (51% of revenues) for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.   The retail segment’s gross profit percentage in 2009 benefited from a reduction in certain operating and maintenance costs, lower energy prices and, inflation-related adjustments to base water rates made in the first quarter of 2009.

Consistent with prior periods, we record all non-direct G&A expenses in our retail business segment and do not allocate any of these non-direct costs to our other two business segments. Retail G&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were $2,166,765 up $462,558 from the $1,704,207 in G&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2008.  The increase in G&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the comparable prior year period is primarily due to increases in (i) employee costs of approximately $94,000 attributable to salary increases; (ii) professional fees of approximately $135,000; and (iii) costs incurred of approximately $69,000 to bid new projects.

 
17

 

Bulk Segment:

The bulk segment contributed $933,441 and $680,684 to our income from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Bulk segment revenues were $6,687,836 and $8,002,586 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Total gallons of water sold increased by 7.0% in 2009 from 2008.  However, revenues from the bulk segment decreased from 2008 to 2009 due to a reduction in energy costs passed through to our customers, as diesel and electricity prices were significantly lower in 2009 than in 2008.

Gross profit for our bulk segment was $1,385,301 and $1,034,039 for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Gross profit as a percentage of bulk revenues was 21% for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 13% for the three months ended September 30, 2008. The improvement from 2008 to 2009 in bulk gross profit dollars and bulk gross profit as a percentage of sales is attributable to our Cayman operations and, to a lesser extent, our Bahamas operations. Our Cayman gross profits benefited from (i) the expiration of the original contract for the Red Gate plant and the elimination of approximately $125,000 in amortization expense for the intangible asset associated with this contract; and (ii) the annual inflation-related increases in base water rates that went into effect during the first quarter of 2009.  The higher gross profits for our Bahamas operations reflect improved operating efficiencies for both our Windsor and Blue Hills operations located in Nassau, New Providence. We constructed and commissioned new feed water wells and replaced the reverse osmosis membranes on 50% of our production trains at our Windsor plant effective September 2008 and replaced the reverse osmosis membranes on the remaining production trains at the Windsor plant during the quarter ended June 30, 2009.  These capital expenditures have improved the energy efficiency of the Windsor plant. In addition, last year we implemented an improved feed water pretreatment regime at our Blue Hills plant in Nassau which has reduced electrical power consumption at that plant. Our bulk segment gross profit percentage for 2009 also benefited from a reduction in diesel and electricity prices.

Bulk segment G&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2009 increased to $451,860 from $353,355 for the same period in 2008 due to an increase in bank charges of approximately $87,000 incurred by our Bahamas subsidiary to convert Bahamian dollars to U.S. dollars and subsequently transfer such dollars to other Company bank accounts.

Services Segment:

The services segment contributed $360,573 and $548,853 to our income from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Revenues from services provided in 2009 were $1,178,833 as compared to $3,368,660 in 2008. Services revenues decreased from 2008 to 2009 due to relatively lower project construction activity in 2009.

The decrease in gross profit for the services segment to $413,117 in 2009 from $619,945 in 2008 reflects lower construction revenues, which were partially offset by fees earned on our services contract for the Tynes Bay, Bermuda plant.

G&A expenses for the services segment were $52,544 and $71,092 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008

Consolidated Results

Net income attributable to controlling interests for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $7,075,657 ($0.49 per share on a fully-diluted basis) as compared to $5,433,513 ($0.37 per share on a fully-diluted basis) for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Our results for both of these periods were adversely affected by the losses we recorded for our equity investment in OC-BVI (discussed below) which amounted to $(2,780,270) and $(1,772,570) for 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 were $44,845,112 and $49,338,739, respectively.  The decrease in consolidated revenues from 2008 to 2009 reflects lower revenues for our bulk and services segment. Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $18,603,611, or 41% of total revenues, as compared to $14,068,496, or 29%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. All three segments reported increased gross profits for 2009 as compared to 2008.  For further discussion of revenues and gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, see the “Results by Segment” analysis that follows.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses on a consolidated basis were $7,842,434 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to $6,754,902 for same period of 2008. Increases in (i) employee costs of approximately $153,000 attributable to salary increases; (ii) professional fees of approximately $141,000; (iii) insurance expenses of $96,000 due to higher premiums; (iv) bank charges of approximately $164,000 resulting from our Bahamas subsidiary’s conversion of  Bahamian dollars to U.S. dollars and the subsequent transfer of such dollars to other Company bank accounts; and (v) costs incurred of approximately $128,000 to bid new projects constituted the majority of the additional G&A expense for 2009. Our G&A expense for 2009 also includes approximately $183,000 in penalties and interest assessed against our Belize operations for delinquent business taxes.

Interest income decreased substantially, from approximately $1,097,000 in 2008 to approximately $621,000 for 2009, as a result of a reduction in the rates of interest earned on the average balances invested in interest bearing deposit accounts.

We reported losses from our investment in OC-BVI for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 of $(2,780,270) and $(1,772,570), respectively.  The increase in the loss from our investment in OC-BVI for 2009 as compared to 2008 reflects the recent rulings of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court with respect to the litigation between OC-BVI and the British Virgin Islands government and impairment losses recorded by us and OC-BVI during the three months ended September 30, 2009 as a result of these rulings.. See further discussion of the OC-BVI situation at “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Material Commitments, Contingencies and Expenditures — OC-BVI Contract Dispute.”

Results by Segment

Retail Segment:

The retail segment contributed $4,762,059 to our income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $4,163,275 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Revenues generated by our retail water operations were $18,418,103 and $17,855,530 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The volume of water sold increased by 2% in 2009 from 2008.  This increase in volume and price increases related to inflation adjustments which went into effect during the first quarter of 2009 served to offset a decrease of approximately $913,000 in revenues attributable to our pass-through billing of energy costs to our customers, as energy prices declined significantly from 2008 to 2009.

Retail segment gross profit was $11,027,852 (60% of revenues) and $9,646,017 (54% of revenues) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The retail segment’s gross profit percentage in 2009 benefited from a reduction in certain operating and maintenance costs, lower energy prices and, inflation-related adjustments to base water rates made in the first quarter of 2009.

 
18

 

Consistent with prior periods, we record all non-direct G&A expenses in our retail business segment and do not allocate any of these non-direct costs to our other two business segments. Retail G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $6,265,793, up $783,051 from the $5,482,742 in G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Employee costs for 2009 exceeded those for 2008 by approximately $234,000 due to salary increases. Costs incurred in connection with bidding for new projects in 2009 exceeded such costs for 2008 by approximately $128,000 and professional fees for 2009 were approximately $127,000 higher than for 2008.

Bulk Segment:

The bulk segment contributed $2,874,356 and $1,973,353 to our income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Bulk segment revenues were $19,526,044 and $22,648,443 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Total gallons of water sold increased by 3.0% in 2009 from 2008.  However, revenues from the bulk segment decreased from 2008 to 2009 due to a reduction in energy costs passed through to our customers, as diesel and electricity prices were significantly lower in 2009 than in 2008.

Gross profit for our bulk segment was $4,286,786 and $3,028,013 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Gross profit as a percentage of bulk revenues was 22% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 13% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The improvement from 2008 to 2009 in bulk gross profit dollars and bulk gross profit as a percentage of sales is attributable to our Cayman operations and, to a lesser extent, our Bahamas operations. Our Cayman gross profits benefited from (i) the expiration of the original contract for the Red Gate plant and the elimination of approximately $400,000 in amortization expense for the intangible asset associated with this contract; and (ii) the annual inflation-related increases in base water rates that went into effect during the first quarter of 2009.  The higher gross profits for our Bahamas operations reflect improved operating efficiencies for our Windsor operations located in Nassau, New Providence. We constructed and commissioned new feed water wells and replaced the reverse osmosis membranes on 50% of our production trains at our Windsor plant effective September 2008 and replaced the reverse osmosis membranes on the remaining production trains at the Windsor plant during the quarter ended June 30, 2009.  These capital expenditures have improved the energy efficiency of the Windsor plant.  In addition, last year we implemented an improved feed water pretreatment regime at our Blue Hills plant in Nassau which has reduced electrical power consumption at that plant.   Our bulk segment gross profit percentage for 2009 also benefited from a reduction in diesel and electricity prices.

Bulk segment G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased to $1,412,430 from $1,054,661 for the same period in 2008 primarily as a result of approximately $183,000 in penalties and interest assessed to our Belize operations during the first quarter of 2009 relating to delinquent business taxes and an increase in bank charges of approximately $164,000 resulting from our Bahamas subsidiary’s conversion of  Bahamian dollars to U.S. dollars and the subsequent transfer of such dollars to other Company bank accounts

Services Segment:

The services segment contributed $3,124,762 and $1,176,966 to our income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Revenues from services provided in 2009 were $6,900,965 as compared to $8,834,766 in 2008.  Services revenues decreased from 2008 to 2009 due to relatively lower project construction activity in 2009.  The decline in service revenues from 2009 was partially offset by fees from our services contract for the Tynes Bay, Bermuda plant, which commenced during the second quarter of 2009.

The increase in gross profit for the services segment to $3,288,973 in 2009 from $1,394,466 in 2008 reflects commencement during the second quarter of 2009 of our contract to operate the Tynes Bay, Bermuda plant and downward adjustments made during the second quarter of 2009 of our estimated costs to complete the Frank Sound and Bermuda plants.  These downward adjustments of estimated costs to complete increased the percentages of completion to date on these projects, thus we recorded a cumulative upward adjustment to construction revenues. Both the Frank Sound and Bermuda projects were accepted by the customers as of June 30, 2009.

G&A expenses for the services segment were $164,212 and $217,500 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Overview

Our sources of cash are operations, borrowings under term loans and credit facilities and sales of debt and equity securities.

Cash flows from our operations are dependent upon the revenue amounts generated, which are affected primarily by tourism, weather conditions, changes in our customer base, the timing and level of rate increases, overall economic conditions and other factors and the timing of the collection of these revenues from our customers.  Distributions from CW-Bahamas to our other subsidiaries are subject to certain restrictions under the terms of its credit facility.

 
19

 

Our ability to access the debt and equity capital markets is impacted by our current and anticipated financial results, financial condition; existing level of borrowings; credit rating, and terms of debt agreements (including our compliance therewith), and by conditions in the debt and equity markets.

Our primary uses of cash are construction costs and capital expenditures, including plant expansion and new plant construction. Other significant uses include payment of dividends, repayment of debt and pursuit of new business opportunities.

Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

Our cash and cash equivalents increased from $36,261,345 as of December 31, 2008 to $41,235,590 as of September 30, 2009.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Operating activities provided net cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of $10,022,016.  This cash provided reflects net income generated for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 of approximately $7.1 million, as adjusted for various items which impact net income but do not impact cash during the period, such as depreciation and amortization, stock compensation, and other items. The largest items impacting cash flows from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were depreciation of $4.6 million and a decrease in undistributed income from affiliate of $2.8million. These were offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $2.3 million and a decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities of $1.5 million.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Our investing activities used $1,209,044 in net cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Of the approximately $2.3 million in capital expenditures for the period, approximately $640,000 was spent on the expansion of the Governor’s Harbour plant in Grand Cayman and approximately $1.1 million was spent on purchases of other plant and equipment.  We collected $1,117,357 on our loans receivable during the period.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

We used $3,838,727 in net cash for financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  We made $1,013,375 in scheduled payments on our bonds payable and paid dividends of $2,835,702.

Financial Position

Our total assets increased from approximately $154.7 million as of December 31, 2008 to approximately $156.7 million as of September 30, 2009.

Current accounts receivable decreased approximately $2.3 million from December 31, 2008 to September 30, 2009 due to the payment by the Water and Sewerage Corporation of the Bahamas of previously overdue amounts during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

The decrease in the balance of costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings – construction project and the increase in loans receivable from December 31, 2008 to September 30, 2009 results from the completion and sale of the Frank Sound plant to the Water Authority-Cayman effective with its commissioning on June 4, 2009.

 
20

 

Borrowings Outstanding

As of September 30, 2009, we had borrowings outstanding aggregating $21,445,026 that consisted of bonds payable.

5.95% Secured Bonds

In August 2006, we issued $15,771,997 principal amount secured fixed rate bonds in a private offering and received net proceeds (excluding issuance costs and after the offering discount) of $14,445,720. These bonds bear interest at a rate of 5.95%, are repayable in quarterly principal and interest installments of $526,010 and mature in 2016.  We have the right to redeem the bonds in full at any time after August 4, 2009 at a premium of 1.5% of the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the bonds on the date of redemption. As of September 30, 2009, $11,974,424 in principal amount was outstanding on these secured bonds. Our obligations under the bonds are secured by fixed and floating charges (i) on all of our assets, including an equitable charge of all of the shares of Cayman Water, and (ii) on all of Cayman Water’s assets including its real estate. Cayman Water has also guaranteed our payment obligations under the bonds.

The trust deed for these bonds restricts our ability to enter into new borrowing agreements or any new guarantees without prior approval of the trustee and limits our capital expenditures, with the exception of capital expenditures to be incurred on certain defined projects, to $2,000,000 annually without prior approval by the trustee. The trust deed also contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1, a ratio of long term debt to EBITDA (i.e. earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the 12 months preceding the ratio calculation date) not greater than 2.5 to 1 and a ratio of long term debt to equity equal to or less than 1.5 to 1.  As of September 30, 2009, we were in compliance with the covenants under the trust deed.

CW-Bahamas Series A Bonds

In July 2005, CW-Bahamas sold BAH$10,000,000 Series A bonds to Bahamian citizens and permanent resident investors in The Bahamas to finance a portion of the construction cost of its Blue Hills plant. These bonds mature on June 30, 2015 and accrue interest at the annual fixed rate of 7.5%. Interest is payable quarterly. CW-Bahamas has the option to redeem the bonds in whole or in part without penalty commencing after June 30, 2008. We have guaranteed CW-Bahamas repayment obligations upon an “event of default” as defined in the guarantee agreement. If we pay any amounts pursuant to the guarantee, we will be subrogated to all rights of the bondholders in respect of any such payments.  The guarantee is a general unsecured obligation junior to our other secured obligations. As of September 30, 2009, BAH$10,000,000 of the Series A bonds was outstanding.

CW-Bahamas Credit Facility

CW-Bahamas has a credit facility with Scotiabank that consists of a BAH$500,000 revolving working capital loan. The obligations under the credit facility are secured by the assets of CW-Bahamas. Borrowings under the working capital loan accrue interest at the Nassau Prime rate plus 1.50% per annum. As of September 30, 2009, no amounts were outstanding under this facility.  

Material Commitments, Expenditures and Contingencies

OC-BVI Contract Dispute

In October 2006, our affiliate OC-BVI notified us that the Ministry of Communications and Works of the Government of the British Virgin Islands (the “Ministry”) had asserted a purported right of ownership of the Baughers Bay plant pursuant to the terms of the Water Supply Agreement between the parties dated May 1990 (the “1990 Agreement”) and had invited OC-BVI to submit a proposal for its continued involvement in the production of water at the Baughers Bay plant in light of the Ministry’s planned assumption of ownership.

 
21

 

Under the terms of the 1990 Agreement, upon the expiration of the initial seven year term in May 1999, the agreement would automatically be extended for another seven year term unless the Ministry provided notice, at least eight months prior to such expiration, of its decision to purchase the plant from OC-BVI for approximately $1.42 million.

In correspondence between the parties from late 1998 through early 2000, the Ministry indicated that the BVI government intended to purchase the plant but would be amenable to negotiating a new water supply agreement, and that it considered the 1990 Agreement to be in force on a monthly basis until negotiations between the BVI government and OC-BVI were concluded. Occasional discussions were held between the parties since 2000 without resolution of the matter. OC-BVI has continued to supply water to the Ministry and expended approximately $4.7 million between 1995 and 2003 to significantly expand the production capacity of the plant beyond that contemplated in the 1990 Agreement.

OC-BVI submitted a proposal to the Ministry in late 2006 to continue to supply water from the Baughers Bay plant.  The Ministry held discussions with OC-BVI regarding a new contract but did not formally respond to OC-BVI’s proposal.  Early in 2007, the Ministry unilaterally took the position that until such time as a new agreement was reached on the ownership of the plant and the price for the water produced by the plant, the Ministry would only pay that amount of OC-BVI’s billings that the Ministry purported constituted OC-BVI’s costs of producing the water. OC-BVI responded to the Ministry that the amount the Ministry proposed to pay was significantly less than OC-BVI’s production costs. Payments made by the Ministry to OC-BVI since the Ministry’s assumption of this reduced price have been sporadic.  On November 15, 2007, OC-BVI issued a demand letter to the BVI government for approximately $6.2 million representing amounts that OC-BVI claimed were due by the BVI government for water sold and delivered plus interest and legal fees. In response to OC-BVI’s demand for payment, the BVI government issued a letter dated November 19, 2007 that reasserted its claim that ownership of the Baughers Bay plant has passed to the BVI government and rejected OC-BVI’s claim for payment.  On November 22, 2007, OC-BVI’s management was informed that the BVI government had filed a lawsuit with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (the “Court”) seeking ownership of the Baughers Bay plant.  OC-BVI counterclaimed that it was entitled to continued possession and operation of the Baughers Bay plant until the BVI government paid OC-BVI approximately $4.7 million, which it believes represents the value of the Baughers Bay plant at its present expanded production capacity. OC-BVI took the legal position that since the BVI government never paid the $1.42 million to purchase the Baughers Bay plant, the 1990 agreement terminated on May 31, 1999, which was eight months after the date that the Ministry provided written notice of its intention to purchase the plant.

On July 4, 2008, OC-BVI filed a claim with the Court seeking recovery of $7,806,629, representing amounts owed to OC-BVI for water sold and delivered to the BVI government through May 31, 2008, $842,188 for interest accrued on amounts owed as of May 31, 2008, and future interest and costs.  This claim was amended and increased on April 22, 2009 to $13,773,954 for amounts owed for water delivered through March 31, 2009 plus accrued interest of $2,537,334 on amounts owed as of March 31, 2009 plus future interest and costs.  The $13,773,954 amount represents amounts billed at the contract prices in effect before the BVI government asserted its purported right of ownership of the plant.

The Court held a three-day trial from July 22 through July 24, 2009 to address both the Baughers Bay ownership issue and OC-BVI’s claim for payment of amounts owed for water sold and delivered to the BVI government.  On September 17, 2009, the Court issued a preliminary ruling with respect to the litigation between the BVI government and OC-BVI.  The Court determined that the BVI government was entitled to immediate possession of the Baughers Bay plant and dismissed OC-BVI’s claim for compensation of approximately $4.7 million for of expenditures made to expand the production capacity of the plant.  As a result of this determination by the Court, OC-BVI recorded an impairment loss of approximately $2.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 for fixed assets associated with the Baughers Bay plant.  However, the Court determined that OC-BVI was entitled to full payment of water invoices issued up to December 20, 2007, which had been calculated under the terms of the original 1990 Agreement, and ordered the BVI government to make an immediate interim payment of $5.0 million to OC-BVI for amounts owed to OC-BVI.  The Court deferred deciding the entire dispute between the parties until it could conduct a hearing to determine the reasonable rate for water produced by OC-BVI for the period from December 20, 2007 to the present.

After conducting hearings on October 12 and 16, 2009, on October 28, 2009, the Court ordered the BVI government to pay OC-BVI at the rate of $13.91 per thousand imperial gallons for water produced by OC-BVI from December 20, 2007 to present, which amounts to a total recovery for OC-BVI of $10.1 million as of September 30, 2009, excluding any interest which may be due on this balance.  OC-BVI intends to seek clarification from the Court on November 13, 2009 with respect to the amount of interest, if any, which must be paid on the monetary judgment.  The BVI government has not yet made any payments to OC-BVI under the Court order.

On October 28, 2009 OC-BVI filed an appeal with the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals (the “Appellate Court”) asking the Appellate Court to review the September 17, 2009 ruling by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court as it relates to OC-BVI’s claim for compensation for expenditures made to expand the production capacity of the Baughers Bay plant.

On October 29, 2009, the BVI government filed an appeal with the Appellate Court seeking the Appellate Court’s review of the September 17, 2009 ruling of the Court that the BVI government pay OC-BVI the reasonable rate for water produced by OC-BVI for the period from December 20, 2007 to the present.  The BVI government is requesting a ruling from the Appellate Court that the BVI government should only pay OC-BVI the actual cost of water produced at the plant.

During 2007, OC-BVI completed, for a total cost of approximately $8.2 million, the construction of a 700,000 U.S. gallons per day desalination plant located at Bar Bay, Tortola (the “Bar Bay plant”). We provided OC-BVI with a $3.0 million loan to fund part of this plant’s construction costs, of which $2.0 million remained outstanding as of June 30, 2009.  Principal on this loan was payable in quarterly installments of $125,000 with a final balloon payment of $2.0 million due on August 31, 2009 and interest on the loan was due quarterly at the rate of LIBOR plus 3.5%. On August 20, 2009, we amended the terms of this loan with OC-BVI, increasing its balance to $2,800,000 by converting $800,000 in trade receivables due to us from OC-BVI.   Under the terms of this amendment, the interest rate on the loan was increased to the rate of LIBOR plus 5.5% and the maturity date for the final balloon payment extended to August 31, 2011.  On December 19, 2008, OC-BVI and the BVI government executed a binding term sheet (the “Bar Bay Agreement”) for the purchase of water by the BVI government from OC-BVI’s Bar Bay plant. The parties intend the Bar Bay Agreement to govern the terms of sale of water by OC-BVI to the BVI government until the parties execute a definitive contract. Under the terms of the Bar Bay Agreement, OC-BVI will deliver up to 600,000 U.S. gallons of water per day to the BVI government from the Bar Bay plant and the BVI government will be obligated to pay for this water at a specified price as adjusted by a monthly energy factor. Prior to completion of the construction of the first phase of certain additional facilities by OC-BVI in August 2009, the BVI government was not obligated to purchase any minimum volumes of water from OC-BVI. However, since completion of this first phase the BVI government has been obligated to purchase at least 600,000 gallons of water per day from the plant. The first phase of such facilities construction involves the installation of water pipes from the plant to a BVI government-owned reservoir site and from this site to the BVI government’s piped water distribution system.  A second phase of construction requires OC-BVI to complete a storage reservoir on the BVI government site within twelve months of the signing of the proposed seven-year definitive contract. The proposed seven-year definitive contract is expected to include a seven-year extension option exercisable by the BVI government.  Negotiations on the definitive contract continued to be in-progress through the date of this filing.  OC-BVI began selling water from the Bar Bay plant to the BVI government during the first quarter of 2009.

 
22

 

Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles revenue is generally realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met:

 
Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists.

 
Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered.

 
The seller’s price to the buyer is fixed and determinable; and

 
Collectability is reasonably assured.

Effective January 1, 2008, OC-BVI changed its policy for the recording of its revenues from the Baughers Bay plant from the accrual to the equivalent of the cash method due to an inability to meet all of the above revenue recognition criteria.  As a result of this adjustment to OC-BVI’s revenues, we have recorded losses from our equity in OC-BVI’s results of operations for all fiscal quarters subsequent to December 31, 2007.  Any cash payments made by the BVI government on Baughers Bay related invoices were applied by OC-BVI to the remaining balance of outstanding accounts receivable that arose from billings for periods prior to and including December 2007 and thus were not recognized as revenues.  Sufficient payments were received from the BVI government during the three months ended September 30, 2009 to repay the remaining accounts receivable balances relating to period prior to December 31, 2007.  OC-BVI continues to apply the equivalent of the cash method with respect to the recognition of revenues from Baughers Bay.  Consequently, OC-BVI will not recognize as revenues any amounts to be paid by the Court until such amounts are paid by the BVI government. OC-BVI is also applying the equivalent of the cash basis of accounting for revenue recognition for its Bar Bay plant until such time as a definitive contract is signed for this plant.

We account for our investment in OC-BVI in accordance with the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock. This method requires recognition of a loss on an equity investment that is other than temporary, and indicates that a current fair value of an equity investment that is less than its carrying amount may indicate a loss in the value of the investment. To test for possible impairment of our investment in OC-BVI, we estimated its fair value as of September 30, 2009. In making this estimate, we calculated the expected cash flows from our investment in OC-BVI by (i) identifying various possible outcomes of the Baughers Bay dispute and negotiations for a definitive contract on the new Bar Bay plant; (ii) estimating the cash flows associated with each possible outcome, and (iii) assigning a probability to each outcome based upon discussions held to date by OC-BVI’s management with the BVI government and OC-BVI’s legal counsel. The resulting probability-weighted sum represents the expected cash flows, and our best estimate of future cash flows, to be derived from our investment in OC-BVI. After considering the September and October 2009 rulings of the Court, we determined that the carrying value of our investment in OC-BVI exceeded the estimated fair value for our investment in OC-BVI by approximately $160,000 as of September 30, 2009 and therefore recognized an impairment loss of this amount on this investment, which is included in the loss of approximately $(1.6) million we recognized from our equity in the loss of OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2009. As a result of further developments, we could be required to record further such impairment losses on its investment in OC-BVI in the future.

The identification of the possible outcomes for the Baughers Bay dispute and Bar Bay negotiations, the projections of cash flows for each outcome, and the assignment of relative probabilities to each outcome all represent significant estimates made by us. The ultimate resolution of the Baughers Bay dispute and Bar Bay definitive contract negotiations may differ significantly from our estimates and may result in actual cash flows from OC-BVI that vary materially from the expected cash flows we used in determining OC-BVI’s fair value as of September 30, 2009.  OC-BVI may be unable to negotiate a new operating agreement for the Baughers Bay plant. The Appellate Court may ultimately overturn the ruling of the Court requiring the BVI government to pay OC-BVI at the rate of $13.91 per thousand imperial gallons for water previously supplied.  OC-BVI may be unsuccessful in finalizing a definitive contract for the Bar Bay plant on terms it finds acceptable.  Any of these or other possible outcomes could result in actual cash flows from our investment in OC-BVI that are significantly lower than ours current estimate.  In such case, we could be required to record further impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of our investment in OC-BVI. Such impairment losses would reduce our earnings and could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

We are not presently able to determine what impact the ultimate resolution of this matter may have on our results of operations or financial condition.

 
23

 

CW-Bahamas Liquidity

Since early 2008, CW-Bahamas has experienced significant delays in the receipt of payments on its outstanding accounts receivable from the Water and Sewerage Corporation of the Bahamas (the “WSC”).  

We have been informed by representatives of WSC and the Bahamas government that (i) the WSC’s payment delinquencies are due to operating issues within the WSC; (ii) that such delinquencies do not reflect any type of dispute with CW-Bahamas with respect to the amounts owed; and (iii) the amounts will ultimately be paid in full.  CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable from the WSC were approximately $6.2 million as of September 30, 2009.  We believe that the accounts receivable from the WSC are fully collectible and therefore have not provided any allowance for possible non-payment of these receivables as of September 30, 2009.  We have been informed by these representatives that while the WSC expects to pay us approximately $1.2 million each month (which approximates CW-Bahamas’ monthly billings to WSC) the WSC will continue to be in arrears on its payments to CW-Bahamas for the remainder of 2009.

CW-Bahamas derives substantially all of its revenues from its contract with the WSC and is dependent upon timely collection of its accounts receivable to fund its operations.  If the WSC does not maintain the timeliness and/or increase the amounts of its payments to CW-Bahamas, this subsidiary may not have sufficient liquidity to adequately fund its operations. If this occurs, CW-Bahamas may be required to decrease the amount of water it supplies the WSC to the minimum required amount under the contract or, if liquidity problems become too severe, cease its production of water altogether.  Such developments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial position.

CW-Belize Liquidity

In January 2009, we were informed by officials of Belize Water Services Ltd. (“BWSL”) of potential financial difficulties at BWSL, which is CW-Belize’s sole customer.  Although BWSL was current with respect to its payments to CW-Belize as of September 30, 2009, such difficulties could affect the amount and timing of BWSL’s payments for water supplied by CW-Belize in the future. We are presently unable to determine what impact BWSL’s current financial condition will have on CW-Belize’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

By Statutory Instrument No. 81 of 2009, the Minister of Public Utilities of the government of Belize published an order, the Public Utility Provider Class Declaration Order, 2009 (the “Order”), which as of May 1, 2009 designated CW-Belize as public utility provider under the laws of Belize.  With this designation, the Public Utilities Commission of Belize (the “PUC”) has the authority to set the rates charged by CW-Belize and to otherwise regulate its activities.  We are presently unable to determine what impact the PUC’s future regulation of CW-Belize will have its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Dividends

On January 31, 2009, we paid a dividend of $0.065 to shareholders of record on January 1, 2009.

On April 30, 2009, we paid a dividend of $0.065 to shareholders of record on April 1, 2009.

On July 31, 2009, we paid a dividend of $0.065 to shareholders of record on July 1, 2009.

On October 31, 2009, we paid a dividend of $0.075 to shareholders of record on October 1, 2009.

We have paid dividends to owners of our ordinary shares and redeemable preference shares since we began declaring dividends in 1985. Our payment of any future cash dividends will depend upon our earnings, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements and other factors our Board deems relevant in determining the amount and timing of such dividends.

Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan

This program is available to our shareholders, who may reinvest all or a portion of their common cash dividends into shares of common stock at prevailing market prices and may also invest optional cash payments to purchase additional shares at prevailing market prices as part of this program.

Impact of Inflation

Under the terms of our Cayman Islands license and our water sales agreements in Belize, Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands, our water rates are automatically adjusted for inflation on an annual basis, subject to temporary exceptions. We, therefore, believe that the impact of inflation on our gross profit, measured in consistent dollars, will not be material. However, significant increases in items such as fuel and energy costs could create additional credit risks for us, as our customers’ ability to pay our invoices could be adversely affected by such increases.

 
24

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in our exposure to market risk from December 31, 2008 to the end of the period covered by this report.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management has evaluated, with the participation of its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Controls

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of such internal control that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Our affiliate OC-BVI and the BVI government are engaged in litigation relating to a contract dispute, as described in “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES – Material Commitments, Expenditures and Contingencies,” which description is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our business faces significant risks. These risks include those disclosed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 as supplemented by the additional risk factors included below. If any of the events or circumstances described in the referenced risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected and such events or circumstances could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. These risks should be read in conjunction with the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report as well as in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in our other periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.

On September 17, 2009, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ruled that the British Virgin Islands government has the right of ownership and possession of OC-BVI’s Baughers Bay plant.

Since expiration in May 1999 of the initial term of their bulk water supply agreement dated May 1990 (the “1990 Agreement”) OC-BVI has supplied water to the British Virgin Islands Water and Sewerage Department under what OC-BVI considered to be a month-to-month supply arrangement. Under this arrangement, the British Virgin Islands government could cease purchasing water from OC-BVI at any time. Subsequent to May 1999, OC-BVI continued to make attempts to negotiate a new water supply agreement.

 
25

 

In October 2006, the British Virgin Islands government notified OC-BVI that it was asserting a purported right of ownership of OC-BVI’s desalination plant in Baughers Bay, Tortola pursuant to the terms of the 1990 Agreement and invited OC-BVI to submit a proposal for its continued involvement in the production of water at the Baughers Bay plant. Early in 2007, the British Virgin Islands government unilaterally took the position that until such time as a new agreement is reached on the ownership of the Baughers Bay plant and for the price of the water produced by the plant, the BVI government would only pay that amount of OC-BVI’s invoices that the BVI government purported constituted OC-BVI’s costs of producing the water. OC-BVI responded to the BVI government that the amount the Ministry proposed to pay was significantly less than OC-BVI’s production costs. Payments made by the BVI government to OC-BVI since the BVI government’s assumption of this reduced price have been sporadic.

On November 15, 2007, OC-BVI issued a demand letter to the BVI government for approximately $6.2 million representing amounts that OC-BVI claimed were due by the BVI government for water sold and delivered plus interest and legal fees.  In response to OC-BVI’s demand for payment, the BVI government issued a letter dated November 19, 2007 that reasserted its claim that ownership of the Baughers Bay plant has passed to the BVI government and rejected OC-BVI’s claim for payment.  On November 22, 2007, OC-BVI’s management was informed that the BVI government had filed a lawsuit with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court seeking ownership and possession of the Baughers Bay plant.  OC-BVI counterclaimed that it was entitled to continued possession and operation of the Baughers Bay plant until the BVI government pays OC-BVI approximately $4.7 million, which it believes represents the value of the Baughers Bay plant at its present expanded production capacity.  OC-BVI also took the legal position that since the BVI government never paid the $1.42 million to purchase the Baughers Bay plant, the 1990 agreement terminated on May 31, 1999, which was eight months after the date that the Ministry provided written notice of its intention to purchase the plant.

On July 4, 2008, OC-BVI filed a claim with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court seeking recovery of $7,806,629, representing amounts owed to OC-BVI for water sold and delivered to the BVI government from the Baughers Bay plant through May 31, 2008, $842,188 for interest accrued on amounts owed as of May 31, 2008 and future interest and costs.  This claim was amended and increased on April 22, 2009 to $13,773,954 for amounts owed for water delivered through March 31, 2009 plus accrued interest of $2,537,334 on amounts owed as of March 31, 2009 plus future interest and costs.  The $13,773,954 amount represents amounts billed at the contract prices in effect before the BVI government asserted its purported right of ownership of the plant.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court held a three-day trial from July 22 through July 24, 2009 to address both the Baughers Bay ownership issue and OC-BVI’s claim for payment of amounts owed for water sold and delivered to the BVI government.  On September 17, 2009, the Court issued a preliminary ruling with respect to the litigation between the BVI government and OC-BVI.  The Court determined that the BVI government was entitled to immediate possession of the Baughers Bay plant and dismissed OC-BVI’s claim for compensation of approximately $4.7 million for improvements to the plant.  However, the Court determined that OC-BVI was entitled to full payment of water invoices issued up to December 20, 2007, which had been calculated under the terms of the original 1990 water supply agreement, and ordered the BVI government to make an immediate interim payment of $5.0 million to OC-BVI for amounts owed to OC-BVI.  The Court deferred deciding the entire dispute between the parties until it could conduct a hearing to determine the reasonable rate for water produced by OC-BVI for the period from December 20, 2007 to the present.

After conducting hearings on October 12 and 16, 2009, on October 28, 2009, the Court ordered the BVI government to pay OC-BVI at the rate of $13.91 per thousand imperial gallons for water produced by OC-BVI from December 20, 2007 to present, which amounts to a total recovery for OC-BVI of $10.1 million as of September 30, 2009, excluding any interest which may be due on this balance.  OC-BVI intends to seek clarification from the Court on November 13, 2009 with respect to the amount of interest, if any, which must be paid on the monetary judgment.  The BVI government has not yet made any payments to OC-BVI under the Court order.

On October 28, 2009 OC-BVI filed an appeal with the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals (the “Appellate Court”) asking the Appellate Court to review the September 17, 2009 ruling by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court as it relates to OC-BVI’s claim for compensation for improvements to the Baughers Bay plant.

On October 29, 2009, the BVI government filed an appeal with the Appellate Court seeking the Appellate Court’s review of the September 17, 2009 ruling of the Court that the BVI government pay OC-BVI the reasonable rate for water produced by OC-BVI for the period from December 20, 2007 to the present.  The BVI government is requesting a ruling from the Appellate Court that the BVI government should only pay OC-BVI the actual cost of water produced at the plant.

Due to the on-going dispute and the lack of payments on OC-BVI’s accounts receivable balances by the BVI government, effective January 1, 2008, we changed our policy for the recording of our equity in the financial results of OC-BVI to reflect our equity in OC-BVI’s results as if revenues were recognized by this affiliate under the equivalent of the cash, rather than accrual, method. As a result of this accounting change, we have recorded losses from our equity investment in OC-BVI for all quarters subsequent to December 31, 2007.  As of September 30, 2009, our loan to, and equity investment in, OC-BVI totaled approximately $12.1 million and the recorded value of our management services agreement, which is reflected on our balance sheet as an intangible asset, was approximately $856,000.

OC-BVI may be unable to negotiate a new operating agreement for the Baughers Bay plant. The Appellate Court may ultimately overturn the ruling of the Court requiring the BVI government to pay OC-BVI at the rate of $13.91 per thousand imperial gallons for water previously supplied.  In either of these or other cases, the value of our OC-BVI-related assets would decline, and we could be required to record additional impairment losses to reduce the carrying values of these assets.  Such impairment losses would reduce our earnings and could have a significant adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

If OC-BVI does not obtain a definitive contract with the BVI government to sell water to be produced at its Bar Bay plant, it may not be able to recover the cost of its investment in the plant, which could adversely affect its operations and in turn decrease the value of our investment in OC-BVI.

OC-BVI has constructed a new desalination plant located on Bar Bay, Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. The total cost for this plant is approximately $8.2 million.  We have a loan receivable outstanding from OC-BVI of $2.8 million as of September 30, 2009 arising from the construction of this plant. OC-BVI constructed this plant in response to what it believes is an extreme shortage of, and a pressing demand for, potable water on the eastern end of Tortola and in anticipation of entering into a bulk water supply agreement with the British Virgin Islands government. In December 2008, OC-BVI executed a binding term sheet with the BVI government for the sale of water from the Bar Bay plant; however the agreement between the parties remains subject to the execution of definitive contract between the parties. If such a definitive contract is ultimately not obtained, or is not obtained on sufficiently favorable terms, OC-BVI may not be able to recover the cost of its investment in this plant, in which case we may be required to record an impairment loss to reduce the carrying value of our loan to OC-BVI and our investment in OC-BVI. Such an impairment charge would reduce our earnings and could have a significant adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

 
26

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 Exhibit
Number
 
Exhibit Description
     
 31.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
     
 31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
     
 32.1
 
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
     
 32.2
 
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

 
27

 

SIGNATURES

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.
 
CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
 
     
By: 
/s/ Frederick W. McTaggart
 
 
Frederick W. McTaggart
 
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
     
By:
/s/ David W. Sasnett
 
 
David W. Sasnett
 
 
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
Date: November 9, 2009

 
28