Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
 

 
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 27, 2008

Aqua America, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         
Pennsylvania   001-06659   23-1702594
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
762 West Lancaster Avenue
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
  19010-3489
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (610) 527-8000

 
 
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
 

 

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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 27, 2008, Aqua America, Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2007. The attached Exhibit’s Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2007 is different from the statement attached to the press release previously released by Aqua America in that the statement attached to the Exhibit reflects the presentation of the unrealized holding gain on certain investments separate from the reclassification adjustment as was presented on the press release. This change in presentation did not change comprehensive income or net income and therefore we do not believe that this change is material.

Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

  (d)   Exhibits.

  99.1   Press Release, dated February 27, 2008, issued by Aqua America, Inc.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

AQUA AMERICA, INC.

By: ROY H. STAHL                      
Roy H. Stahl
Chief Administrative Officer and
General Counsel

Dated: February 27, 2008

 

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Exhibit Index

     
Exhibit
  Exhibit Description
 
   

99.1
 
Press Release, dated February 27, 2008, issued by Aqua America, Inc.

 

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Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
 

Exhibit 99.1
(AQUA AMERICA LOGO)
FOR RELEASE: February 27, 2008
Contact: Kevin Brophy
Director, Investor Relations
610.645.1020
kmbrophy@aquaamerica.com
Donna Alston
Director, Communications
610.645.1095
dpalston@aquaamerica.com
AQUA AMERICA REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END EARNINGS
Revenues grew significantly from acquisitions and rate increase awards
BRYN MAWR, PA, February 27, 2008 — Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) today reported results for the year and quarter ending December 31, 2007. Revenues for the full year 2007 rose 13 percent to $602.5 million from $533.5 million in 2006. Net income in 2007 grew 3 percent to $95.0 million versus $92.0 million in 2006. Revenues for the quarter ending December 31, 2007 grew to $149.1 million compared to $136.8 million from the same period of 2006. Net income during the quarter was $24.9 million versus $25.7 million in 2006. Diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter were $0.19 versus $0.19 in the same period of 2006. For the year, basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.72 and $0.71, respectively, compared to $0.70 and $0.70 in 2006 on 1.5 percent more shares outstanding.
“Revenues for the year and fourth quarter were up significantly due to acquisitions and increased customer rates,” said Aqua America Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis. “The fourth quarter’s earnings per share of $0.19 matched the prior year, however the fourth quarter of 2006 benefited from approximately $0.01 from the recognition of additional revenue in Texas in connection with a pending rate case and another $0.01 from a larger—than-normal change in the insurance accrual. While there were no corresponding adjustments for these items in the quarter ending December 31, 2007, earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2007 included a $0.01 gain from the sale of a securities investment.”
DeBenedictis continued, “Results in 2007 versus 2006 showed a steady improvement when considering the housing slowdown, the one-time benefits in 2006, a $0.02 earnings per share write-off from our withdrawal of the Florida rate case, higher interest expense from rising interest rates, higher depreciation due to the major capital invested and increased chemical and power costs. In addition to the growth in earnings per share we recorded in 2007, I look forward to a positive impact on future results from the $67 million of rate requests Aqua currently has pending.”

 

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In 2007, Aqua completed 26 acquisitions. When combined with organic growth, net customer growth for the year came in at 2.6 percent or approximately 24,000 net additional customers. Aqua’s acquisition of Sea Cliff in New York (4,300 customers) complemented our previous acquisition of New York Water Service, while two municipal acquisitions in Illinois added nearly 4,000 customers and the Lake Holiday water and sewer acquisitions in Virginia added more than 1,500 customers. “Net customer growth for the year would have been higher had the company not sold 16 systems in Virginia as part of its previously announced pruning strategy,” said DeBenedictis. “The sale of these systems to the County of Henrico, Virginia was the first transaction under this strategy. Although growth through acquisitions remains the key component of the company’s growth strategy, voluntarily disposing of lower performing assets is also part of our strategy to add shareholder value.”
In 2008 Aqua’s customer count will be impacted by the City of Ft. Wayne, Indiana’s condemnation of nearly 11,000 customers in what Aqua Indiana referred to as its “North System.” DeBenedictis said, “On February 12, 2008 the City paid $16.9 million to Aqua in accordance with the City’s own valuation as part of the ‘quick-take’ proceeding. The parties are still involved in a legal proceeding to determine the final value for the system.”
In addition to acquisitions, new revenues from rate increase awards also had a positive effect on results in 2007. Aqua Pennsylvania, the company’s largest operating subsidiary in terms of customers and sales, experienced revenue growth of nearly $23 million in 2007 compared to 2006. Increased revenues from successful rate proceedings in New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, and Virginia were also significant contributors.
The company filed numerous rate applications that are currently in progress in 9 of its 13 states requesting collectively more than $67 million in new, annualized revenues including significant cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina and Florida. The corresponding state utility agency decisions for these cases are anticipated at various times throughout 2008.
In the first half of 2008, Aqua plans to file additional rate cases in Florida, Illinois, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania (wastewater) and Virginia totaling approximately $16 million. DeBenedictis noted, “Already in 2008 we have been awarded a rate increase in North Carolina plus cases and surcharges in other states designed to increase annual operating revenues by more than $3 million.”
Aqua continued its major capital program in 2007 spending $238 million on infrastructure improvements such as pipe replacement and utility plant rehabilitations. These capital investments, representing a 10 percent increase to year end 2006 net utility plant, set the stage for future rate increase applications, which with efficient management and the recovery of cost increases can lead to growth in net income and earnings per share. In 2008, Aqua plans to spend about $250 million on its capital investment program.
Operations and maintenance expenses in 2007 rose 15 percent to $253.1 million when compared to 2006. Approximately one half of this increase was a result of acquisitions. Operations and maintenance expenses in 2007 also included a $2.4 million write-off from the Florida rate case withdrawal. DeBenedictis said, “Depreciation, property taxes and interest expense each rose more than 14 percent versus 2006 as financings grew to pay for capital improvements coupled with higher year over year borrowing rates. Property tax comparisons in 2007 were higher as a result of the New York Water acquisition. Costs associated with employee and retiree benefits, power, chemicals and purchased water also grew. We routinely attempt to recover increases in such costs in rate case filings.”
Aqua’s conference call with financial analysts will take place on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The call will be web cast live so that interested parties may listen over the Internet by logging on to www.aquaamerica.com. The conference call will be archived in the investor relations section of the company’s Web site for 90 days following the call. Additionally, the call will be recorded and made available for replay at 3:00 p.m. on February 27, 2008 for 10 business days following the call. To access the audio replay in the U.S., dial 888.203.1112 (pass code 2461016). For international callers, dial 719.457.0820 (pass code 2461016).

 

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Aqua America, Inc. is a large U.S.-based publicly-traded water and wastewater utility serving approximately three million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Florida, Virginia, Maine, Missouri and South Carolina. Aqua America is listed on the New York and Philadelphia Stock Exchanges under the ticker symbol WTR.
This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, our plans for capital investment, rate case awards and acquisitions to continue to be key components of our long-term strategy, the anticipated revenue from completed and planned rate cases, the filing of additional rate requests to recover capital expenditures and higher operating costs, the impact of our plans to evaluate and dispose of underperforming assets, and the outlook for 2008 organic growth. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions, housing and population growth trends, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives, and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K which is on file with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.
# # #
WTRF
The company’s results stated here are unaudited. The final audited financial statements will be filed with the company’s annual report on Form 10-K. The following table shows selected operating data for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands, except per share data) for Aqua America, Inc.
                                 
    (Unaudited)  
       
    Quarter Ended     Year Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
 
                               
Operating revenues
  $ 149,083     $ 136,843     $ 602,499     $ 533,491  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
  $ 24,911     $ 25,723     $ 95,014     $ 92,004  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic net income per share
  $ 0.19     $ 0.19     $ 0.72     $ 0.70  
 
                       
Diluted net income per share
  $ 0.19     $ 0.19     $ 0.71     $ 0.70  
 
                       
 
                               
Average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    133,227       132,145       132,814       130,725  
 
                       
Diluted
    133,993       133,391       133,602       131,774  
 
                       

 

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Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Quarter Ended     Year Ended  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006     2007     2006  
 
                               
Operating revenues
  $ 149,083     $ 136,843     $ 602,499     $ 533,491  
 
                               
Cost & expenses:
                               
Operations and maintenance
    62,394       53,684       253,092       219,560  
Depreciation
    21,521       18,476       83,178       70,895  
Amortization
    1,230       1,018       4,833       4,146  
Taxes other than income taxes
    11,784       8,352       45,380       33,343  
 
                       
Total
    96,929       81,530       386,483       327,944  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income
    52,154       55,313       216,016       205,547  
 
                               
Other expense (income):
                               
Interest expense, net
    16,828       14,764       66,921       58,432  
Allowance for funds used during construction
    (835 )     (1,040 )     (2,953 )     (3,941 )
Gain on sale of other assets
    (2,846 )     (360 )     (3,494 )     (1,194 )
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    39,007       41,949       155,542       152,250  
Provision for income taxes
    14,096       16,226       60,528       60,246  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 24,911     $ 25,723     $ 95,014     $ 92,004  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
  $ 24,911     $ 25,723     $ 95,014     $ 92,004  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                               
Minimum pension liability adjustment
          3,082             3,082  
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on certain investments
          (132 )     1,121       194  
Reclassification adjustment for gains reported in net income
    (1,315 )           (1,315 )      
 
                       
Comprehensive income
  $ 23,596     $ 28,673     $ 94,820     $ 95,280  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.19     $ 0.19     $ 0.72     $ 0.70  
Diluted
  $ 0.19     $ 0.19     $ 0.71     $ 0.70  
 
                               
Average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    133,227       132,145       132,814       130,725  
 
                       
Diluted
    133,993       133,391       133,602       131,774  
 
                       

 

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Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands of dollars)
(Unaudited)
                 
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
 
               
Net property, plant and equipment
  $ 2,792,794     $ 2,505,995  
Current assets
    115,511       134,700  
Regulatory assets and other assets
    318,607       237,208  
 
           
 
  $ 3,226,912     $ 2,877,903  
 
           
 
               
Common stockholders’ equity
  $ 976,298     $ 921,630  
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
    1,215,053       951,660  
Current portion of long-term debt and loans payable
    80,845       150,305  
Other current liabilities
    102,367       105,306  
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    852,349       749,002  
 
           
 
  $ 3,226,912     $ 2,877,903  
 
           

 

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