EXHIBIT 99.1
Published on March 1, 2007
Exhibit 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
|
||
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
|
1720 North First Street | February 28, 2007 | |||
San Jose, CA 95112-4598 | For Immediate Release | |||
Contact:
|
Martin A. Kropelnicki (408) 367-8200 (analysts) | |||
Shannon Dean (310) 257-1435 (media) |
CAL WATER ANNOUNCES REVENUES AND EARNINGS FOR
4TH QUARTER AND YEAR-END 2006
4TH QUARTER AND YEAR-END 2006
SAN JOSE, CA California Water Service Group (NYSE : CWT) today announced net income of $6.4
million for the fourth quarter of 2006, an increase of 10% over net income of $5.8 million in the
fourth quarter of 2005. Diluted earnings per share were $0.31, compared to $0.32 per share for the
same period last year.
Revenue for the fourth quarter increased $2.8 million, or 4%, to $80.6 million. The increase
in revenue is primarily due to the addition of $2.8 million from rate increases and an increase of
$0.7 million in sales to new customers, which were offset by a decline of $0.7 million in usage by
existing customers.
Total operating expenses for the quarter were $71.0 million, an increase of 3%, or $2.0
million, over the same period last year. Water production costs were up approximately 5% or $1.4
million to $28.6 million, due to increases in rates charged by wholesalers. Other operations
expense increased 9% or $2.0 million to $24.8 million, due to increases in vehicle costs, payroll,
conservation programs, and outside services. Income taxes decreased 39% or $1.8 million to $2.7
million, due to a lower effective tax rate over the prior year resulting from a reduction in the impact of flow-through tax
depreciation.
Maintenance expense increased approximately 4% or $0.2 million to $4.1 million, due to
increased costs for repairs to water mains, meters, and hydrants. Depreciation expense increased
2% or $0.1 million to $7.6 million, due to increased utility plant.
1
Net interest expense was slightly lower in the fourth quarter of 2006 due to an increase in
capitalized interest on capital expenditures.
Other income was down $0.4 million from the same period in 2005. Although there were no
property sales during the quarter, the company earned more income on short-term investments than it
did in the same period last year.
Full Year 2006 Results
2006 net income was $25.6 million, down 6%, or $1.6 million, from the $27.2 million posted in
2005, and diluted earnings per share were $1.34, compared to $1.47 for the same period last year.
The decrease in earnings per share was primarily due to the record wet weather experienced during
the first half of 2006; expense increases in several categories not yet recovered in rates,
including employee health and welfare, water production, and conservation programs; and the
dilutive effect of the companys stock offering completed in the fourth quarter.
Revenue for 2006 was $334.7 million, increasing $14.0 million, or 4%, from the $320.7 million
in revenues recorded in 2005. The increase in revenue was due to $10.1 million in rate increases,
$3.1 million in sales to new customers, and $0.8 million in sales to existing customers.
President and Chief Executive Officer Peter C. Nelson noted that despite wet weather in the
first six months and regulatory delays in recovering certain costs in rates, the Company made
several key achievements in 2006.
Our customers continued to give us high marks in service, with 91.6% of those surveyed
ranking it as excellent or very good in 2006. We also strengthened our balance sheet by issuing
2.25 million shares of common stock and invested a record $86 million in capital projects, he
said.
Total operating expenses increased $15.5 million, or 6%, to $294.4 million for the year. Of
this amount, water production costs increased 7% or $8.6 million to $124.3 million during 2006.
Other operations expense increased 8% or $6.9 million to $95.7 million. The increases in other
operations expenses were primarily due to increases in upkeep of pumping facilities, water quality
and treatment costs, conservation programs, and employee payroll and benefits costs.
2
Maintenance expense increased $0.4 million, or 3%, to $15.6 million, due to cost increases
related to repairs of water mains and services in 2006. Depreciation increased 7% or $1.9 million
to $30.7 million for the full year.
Net interest expense decreased 4% or $0.7 million to $17.0 million during the year, due to an
increase in capitalized interest over the prior year. Income tax decreased 14% or $2.6 million to
$15.3 million, due to the decrease in operating income in 2006 and the lower effective tax rate for
the year.
Other income and expense decreased 28% or $0.9 million to $2.2 million during the year,
primarily due to negligible gain on sale of non-utility property during 2006.
Going forward, we expect that the regulatory climate in California will continue to improve
as the California Public Utilities Commission implements its Water Action Plan, which is based on
best practices of commissions throughout the country, Nelson said.
The California Water Action Plan expresses the Commissions commitment to policy that creates
viable utilities and supports streamlined decision-making. The Commission is currently
identifying ways to improve the rate-setting process for multi-district utilities like Cal Water
and considering Cal Waters application for a Revenue Adjustment Mechanism that will decouple sales
from revenues, thereby reducing the short-term impacts of conservation and weather on earnings.
The Water Action Plan may be viewed in its entirety at:
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/hottopics/3water/051109_wateractionplan.htm.
Other Information
All stockholders and interested investors are invited to listen to the 2006 fourth quarter and
year-end conference on March 1, 2007, at 8:00 a.m. PST by dialing 1-866-802-4290 and keying in ID#
1022927. A replay of the call will be available from 2:00 p.m. EST Thursday, March 1, 2007,
through April 30, 2007, at 888-266-2081, ID# 1022927. The call, which will be hosted by Chairman
Robert W. Foy and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki, will also be
webcast under the investor relations tab at www.calwatergroup.com.
California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service Company,
Washington Water Service Company, New Mexico Water Service Company, Hawaii Water Service Company,
Inc., and CWS Utility Services. Together these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to approximately 2
3
million people in more than 100 California, Washington, New Mexico and Hawaii communities. Groups common stock
trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CWT.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Act). The forward-looking statements are
intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for safe harbor treatment
established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information,
expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and managements judgment about the Company,
the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as expects, intends, plans,
believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such
words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to
uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is
contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected
or anticipated include: governmental and regulatory commissions decisions, including decisions on
proper disposition of property; changes in regulatory commissions policies and procedures; the
timeliness of regulatory commissions actions concerning rate relief; new legislation; changes in
accounting valuations and estimates; the ability to satisfy requirements related to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulations on internal controls; electric power interruptions;
increases in suppliers prices and the availability of supplies including water and power;
fluctuations in interest rates; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements;
acquisitions and our ability to successfully integrate acquired companies; the ability to
successfully implement business plans; changes in customer water use patterns; the impact of
weather on water sales and operating results; access to sufficient capital on satisfactory terms;
civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future
occurrences of acts of this type; the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities;
restrictive covenants in or changes to the credit ratings on our current or future debt that could
increase our financing costs or affect our ability to borrow, make payments on debt or pay
dividends; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements,
you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph. The Company assumes
no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.
Additional information is available online at www.calwatergroup.com.
Attachments (2).
4
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2006 | 2005 | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Utility plant: |
||||||||
Utility plant |
$ | 1,344,415 | $ | 1,235,090 | ||||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
402,940 | 372,359 | ||||||
Net utility plant |
941,475 | 862,731 | ||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
60,312 | 9,533 | ||||||
Receivables, net of allowances for uncollectible
accounts |
||||||||
Customers |
19,526 | 16,061 | ||||||
Other receivables |
6,700 | 4,700 | ||||||
Unbilled revenue |
11,341 | 11,445 | ||||||
Materials and supplies |
4,515 | 4,182 | ||||||
Prepaid pension expense |
1,576 | 1,696 | ||||||
Taxes and other prepaid expenses |
5,654 | 4,607 | ||||||
Total current assets |
109,624 | 52,224 | ||||||
Regulatory assets |
93,785 | 58,213 | ||||||
Other assets |
20,135 | 23,777 | ||||||
$ | 1,165,019 | $ | 996,945 | |||||
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES |
||||||||
Capitalization: |
||||||||
Common stock, $.01 par value |
$ | 207 | $ | 184 | ||||
Additional paid-in capital |
211,513 | 131,991 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
166,582 | 162,968 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| (1,202 | ) | |||||
Total common stockholders equity |
378,302 | 293,941 | ||||||
Preferred stock |
3,475 | 3,475 | ||||||
Long-term debt, less current maturities |
291,814 | 274,142 | ||||||
Total capitalization |
673,591 | 571,558 | ||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Current maturities of long-term debt |
1,778 | 1,133 | ||||||
Accounts payable |
33,130 | 36,120 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
35,317 | 25,772 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
70,225 | 63,025 | ||||||
Unamortized investment tax credits |
2,541 | 2,615 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
69,503 | 63,920 | ||||||
Regulatory and other liabilities |
19,954 | 18,782 | ||||||
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pension |
48,584 | 21,514 | ||||||
Advances for construction |
157,660 | 141,842 | ||||||
Contributions in aid of construction |
109,504 | 99,958 | ||||||
Other long-term debt |
13,457 | 13,731 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
| | ||||||
$ | 1,165,019 | $ | 996,945 | |||||
5
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the three month ended: | For the twelve month ended: | |||||||||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
Operating revenue |
$ | 80,644 | $ | 77,840 | $ | 334,717 | $ | 320,728 | ||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Water production costs |
28,622 | 27,245 | 124,258 | 115,665 | ||||||||||||
Other operations |
24,771 | 22,765 | 95,716 | 88,803 | ||||||||||||
Maintenance |
4,088 | 3,921 | 15,591 | 15,216 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
7,585 | 7,442 | 30,652 | 28,731 | ||||||||||||
Income taxes |
2,704 | 4,459 | 15,297 | 17,875 | ||||||||||||
Property and other taxes |
3,199 | 3,175 | 12,897 | 12,613 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
70,969 | 69,007 | 294,411 | 278,903 | ||||||||||||
Net operating income |
9,675 | 8,833 | 40,306 | 41,825 | ||||||||||||
Other income and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Non-regulated income, net |
1,671 | 874 | 3,437 | 2,979 | ||||||||||||
Gain on sale of non-utility property |
| 1,522 | 348 | 2,250 | ||||||||||||
Less: income taxes on other income and expenses |
(681 | ) | (976 | ) | (1,542 | ) | (2,131 | ) | ||||||||
990 | 1,420 | 2,243 | 3,098 | |||||||||||||
Interest expense: |
||||||||||||||||
Interest Expense |
4,971 | 4,641 | 19,669 | 18,600 | ||||||||||||
Less: capitalized interest |
(725 | ) | (225 | ) | (2,700 | ) | (900 | ) | ||||||||
Total interest expense |
4,246 | 4,416 | 16,969 | 17,700 | ||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 6,419 | $ | 5,837 | $ | 25,580 | $ | 27,223 | ||||||||
Earnings per share |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | 0.31 | $ | 0.32 | $ | 1.34 | $ | 1.47 | ||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.31 | $ | 0.32 | $ | 1.34 | $ | 1.47 | ||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
20,388 | 18,390 | 18,905 | 18,379 | ||||||||||||
Diluted |
20,408 | 18,409 | 18,925 | 18,402 | ||||||||||||
Dividends per share of common stock |
$ | 0.28750 | $ | 0.28500 | $ | 1.1500 | $ | 1.1400 | ||||||||
6