UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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 June 30, 2010

 

 

 

or

 

o

 

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

 

 

For the transition period from                    to

 

Commission File Number 0-8176

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

95-1840947

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification Number)

 

One Wilshire Building

624 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2900

Los Angeles, California 90017-3782

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(213) 929-1800

(Registrant’s telephone, including area code)

 

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x    No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T ( § 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   o     No   o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. (Check one):

 

 

Large accelerated filer

o

 

 

Accelerated filer

x

 

Non-Accelerated filer

o

 

 

Smaller reporting company

o

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

Class

 

Outstanding as of July 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock, $.01 par value per share

 

27,528,870 shares

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Part I

Financial Information

3

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

4

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the six months ended June 30, 2010

5

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009

6

 

 

 

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

18

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

35

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

35

 

 

 

Part II

Other Information

40

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

40

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

40

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

40

 

 

 

Signatures

41

 



 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

 

(In thousands)

 

June 30,
2010

 

December 31,
2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,181

 

$

2,874

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

28,561

 

26,968

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

12,944

 

12,909

 

Total current assets

 

43,686

 

42,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

313,454

 

313,716

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

16,434

 

16,434

 

Intangible assets

 

2,793

 

2,966

 

Other assets

 

26,943

 

24,228

 

Total assets

 

$

403,310

 

$

400,095

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

13,007

 

$

14,130

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

2,211

 

2,171

 

Other current liabilities

 

23,441

 

21,213

 

Total current liabilities

 

38,659

 

37,514

 

Other liabilities and deferred credits:

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current portion

 

142,507

 

152,820

 

Deferred income taxes

 

12,521

 

13,100

 

Advances for construction

 

9,154

 

8,784

 

Contributions in aid of construction

 

53,547

 

53,841

 

Other liabilities and deferred credits

 

18,761

 

18,122

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock

 

458

 

458

 

Common stock

 

275

 

249

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

164,885

 

148,407

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(37,457

)

(33,200

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

128,161

 

115,914

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

403,310

 

$

400,095

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



 

SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Operating revenue

 

$

53,883

 

$

52,416

 

$

100,729

 

$

102,508

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

47,727

 

50,052

 

93,039

 

99,959

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

3,847

 

3,857

 

7,714

 

7,690

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

 

8,115

 

 

8,115

 

Total operating expenses

 

51,574

 

62,024

 

100,753

 

115,764

 

Operating income (loss)

 

2,309

 

(9,608

)

(24

)

(13,256

)

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(2,238

)

(2,975

)

(4,608

)

(4,862

)

Interest income

 

55

 

48

 

88

 

84

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

 

126

 

(12,535

)

(4,544

)

(18,034

)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

69

 

(4,472

)

(1,673

)

(6,566

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

57

 

(8,063

)

(2,871

)

(11,468

)

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

17,559

 

 

17,731

 

Net income (loss)

 

57

 

9,496

 

(2,871

)

6,263

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

(6

)

(6

)

(12

)

(6

)

Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

 

$

51

 

$

9,490

 

$

(2,883

)

$

6,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

0.00

 

$

(0.33

)

$

(0.11

)

$

(0.47

)

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

0.71

 

 

0.72

 

Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

 

$

0.00

 

$

0.38

 

$

(0.11

)

$

0.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

27,361

 

24,608

 

26,240

 

24,604

 

Diluted

 

27,486

 

24,608

 

26,240

 

24,604

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

Paid-in

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Total

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance - December 31, 2009

 

9

 

$

458

 

24,887

 

$

249

 

$

148,407

 

$

(33,200

)

$

115,914

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,871

)

(2,871

)

Restricted stock awards cancelled

 

 

 

(80

)

(1

)

1

 

 

 

Common stock issuance

 

 

 

2,700

 

27

 

16,092

 

 

 

16,119

 

Common stock issuances from employee benefit plans, net of repurchases

 

 

 

20

 

 

197

 

 

197

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

188

 

 

188

 

Cash dividends declared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock - $1.31 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12

)

(12

)

Common stock - $0.05 per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,374

)

(1,374

)

Balance - June 30, 2010

 

9

 

$

458

 

27,527

 

$

275

 

$

164,885

 

$

(37,457

)

$

128,161

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5



 

SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (loss)

 

$

(2,871

)

$

6,263

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

(17,731

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

7,714

 

7,690

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(1,912

)

2,963

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

371

 

998

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

188

 

331

 

Post-vest cancellations of non-qualified stock options

 

 

(178

)

Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant & equipment

 

226

 

(598

)

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

 

8,115

 

Other, net

 

445

 

543

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(1,964

)

(4,052

)

Other current assets

 

1,298

 

2,829

 

Other assets

 

(3,087

)

1,043

 

Accounts payable

 

(1,727

)

(2,872

)

Other current liabilities

 

2,264

 

(484

)

Other liabilities

 

(318

)

(1,437

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

627

 

3,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment

 

(6,037

)

(6,306

)

Proceeds from sale of business

 

 

54,436

 

Proceeds from sales of equipment

 

93

 

125

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(5,944

)

48,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings under lines of credit

 

6,700

 

28,000

 

Repayments under lines of credit

 

(16,200

)

(55,600

)

Payments on long-term debt

 

(1,032

)

(13,131

)

Capital improvement reimbursements

 

959

 

3,389

 

Proceeds of stock issuance

 

16,119

 

 

Proceeds from employee benefit plan stock issuances, net of repurchases

 

197

 

 

Dividends paid

 

(1,380

)

(1,256

)

Repayment of advances for construction

 

(619

)

 

Deferred financing costs

 

(120

)

(2,579

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

4,624

 

(41,177

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

 

(8,095

)

Investing activities

 

 

(291

)

Financing activities

 

 

(1,647

)

Net cash used in discontinued operations

 

 

(10,033

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(693

)

468

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

2,874

 

1,112

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

2,181

 

$

1,580

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6



 

SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1.    Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements of SouthWest Water Company are unaudited. We believe the interim financial statements are presented on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 and include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for such interim periods. Unless context indicates otherwise, references to “we”, “us”, “our”, the “Company” or SouthWest Water” mean SouthWest Water Company and its subsidiaries.

 

The December 31, 2009 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules and regulations for interim financial reporting. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our businesses are seasonal because they are affected by weather; as a result, operating results for interim periods are not necessarily predictive of the operating results for any other interim period or for the full year.

 

Merger Agreement and Long-Term Infrastructure Investment

 

On March 2, 2010, we entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with SW Merger Acquisition Corp. (“Parent”) and SW Merger Sub Corp., a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Parent and Merger Sub are jointly owned by IIF Subway Investment LP and USA Water Services, LLC, which are sponsored by J.P. Morgan IIF Acquisitions LLC and Water Asset Management, LLC.  Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, all of our outstanding common stock would be converted into a right to receive $11.00 per share in cash.  On August 6, 2010, the Merger Agreement was adopted by an affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of our outstanding common stock and Series A preferred stock as of June 14, 2010, voting together as a single class.  The completion of the merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory notice and approvals.

 

If all remaining closing conditions are met, we will be the surviving corporation of the merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Upon completion of the merger, our common stock will cease to be traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and we will no longer be a publicly held corporation.  The Merger Agreement contains restrictions on our operations prior to the closing of the merger, including restrictions related to capital expenditures, the incurrence of debt, acquiring and disposing of assets, entering into material contracts and capital transactions.

 

In connection with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement and Investor Rights Agreement (collectively, the “Investment Agreements”).  Pursuant to the Investment Agreements and effective March 16, 2010, Parent purchased 2,700,000 shares of our common stock (the “Purchased Stock”) at a price of $6.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $16.2 million and we incurred related specific incremental transactional costs of $0.1 million.  As permitted under the terms of the Investment Agreements, the Company applied the proceeds derived from the sale of the Purchased Stock to reduce our revolving line of credit, the borrowings of which are used for capital expenditures and working capital purposes.  The Investment Agreements entitle Parent to appoint a designee to serve on our board of directors (which right Parent has not exercised to date), and also to certain registration rights with respect to the Purchased Stock in the event of the termination of the Merger Agreement.  The Investment Agreements restrict Parent’s ability to sell or otherwise transfer the Purchased Stock prior to the earlier of the consummation or termination of the Merger Agreement.  Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Parent and Merger Sub are also prohibited from acquiring any additional shares of our common stock until the termination of the Merger Agreement.

 

As the offering and sale of the Purchased Stock pursuant to the Investment Agreements was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or applicable state securities laws, the Purchased Stock may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

7



 

We only discuss recent accounting pronouncements that will or could have a significant effect on our financial statements or disclosures currently or in the near term.

 

In February 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued accounting standards update (ASU) No. 2010-09, Subsequent Events (Topic 855)—Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements (ASU No. 2010-09). Among other amendments to Topic 855, ASU No. 2010-09 reiterates that SEC filers are required to evaluate subsequent events through the date the financial statements have been issued and eliminates the requirement that SEC filers disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. ASU No. 2010-09 became effective upon issuance. Adoption of ASU No. 2010-09 had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)—Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements (ASU No. 2010-06). ASU No. 2010-06 requires: (1) fair value disclosures of assets and liabilities by class; (2) disclosures about significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 on the fair value hierarchy, in addition to Level 3; (3) purchases, sales, issuances and settlements be disclosed on gross basis on the reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of Level 3 assets and liabilities; and (4) disclosures about valuation methods and inputs used to measure the fair value of Level 2 assets and liabilities. ASU No. 2010-06 became effective for the first financial reporting period beginning after December 15, 2009, except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements of Level 3 assets and liabilities, which will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. Adoption of the currently effective provisions of ASU No. 2010-06 had no impact on our consolidated financial statements. Presently, we are assessing what impact, if any, Level 3 disclosure requirements regarding gross presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Other Comprehensive Income

 

We had no accumulated other comprehensive income as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

Accounting Adjustments Impacting Other Periods

 

For the quarter ended June 30, 2010 we recorded adjustments with a net impact of $0.1 million expense, net of tax, related to prior periods. Management has determined that the effect of recognizing these adjustments are not material to our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2010 or for any prior period.  For the six months ended June 30, 2010 we recorded adjustments with a net impact of $0.2 million expense, net of tax, related to prior periods. Management has determined that the effect of recognizing these adjustments are not material to our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2010 or for any prior periods.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

We use a valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

 

·                    Level 1 Inputs – Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in an active market that the Company has the ability to access.

 

·                    Level 2 Inputs – Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.

 

·                    Level 3 Inputs – Inputs based on prices or valuation techniques that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurements.

 

Our total long-term debt with aggregate book values of $144.7 million and $155.0 million had fair values of approximately $137.5 million and $145.5 million at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The estimated fair values are based on current rates for similar issues for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying value of all other financial instruments, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximates fair value because of the short maturity of the instruments.  At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had no derivative financial instruments, hedging activities, financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk or financial instruments with concentrations of credit risks.

 

Note 2.    Dispositions and Impairments

 

New Mexico Utilities, Inc.

 

As more fully described in Note 4, “Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings”, as part of a settlement of eminent domain proceedings against our New Mexico utility, New Mexico Utilities Inc. (“NMUI”), we completed the

 

8



 

sale of NMUI in May 2009. As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, no assets were held for sale. The results of operations of our NMUI operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2009 in the consolidated statements of operations and are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Six months ended

 

 

 

June 30, 2009

 

June 30, 2009

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

 

 

$

2,425

 

 

$

4,729

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

1,034

 

 

 

2,895

 

Operating income

 

 

 

1,391

 

 

 

1,834

 

Interest expense

 

 

 

(91

)

 

 

(270

)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

 

1,300

 

 

 

1,564

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

469

 

 

 

561

 

Income before gain on sale of discontinued operations

 

 

 

831

 

 

 

1,003

 

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax of $9,361

 

 

 

16,728

 

 

 

16,728

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

$

17,559

 

 

$

17,731

 

 

Note 3.    Long-Term Debt

 

Long-term debt consists of the following as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility

 

$

65,000

 

$

74,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.85% convertible subordinated debentures due 2021

 

11,766

 

11,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital leases

 

2,897

 

3,138

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

Monarch Utilities, Inc.:

 

 

 

 

 

7.37% fixed rate term loan due 2022

 

9,112

 

9,497

 

5.77% fixed rate term loan due 2022

 

627

 

654

 

6.10% fixed rate term loan due 2031

 

20,000

 

20,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Mortgage Bonds:

 

 

 

 

 

Suburban Water Systems:

 

 

 

 

 

9.09% series B first mortgage bond due 2022

 

8,000

 

8,000

 

5.64% series D first mortgage bond due 2024

 

15,000

 

15,000

 

6.30% series E first mortgage bond due 2026

 

10,000

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic Development Revenue Bonds:

 

 

 

 

 

6.0% series 1998A due 2018

 

1,690

 

1,690

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition-related indebtedness and other

 

78

 

78

 

Total long-term debt payment obligations

 

144,170

 

154,396

 

Unamortized Monarch term loan fair value adjustments

 

548

 

595

 

Total long-term debt

 

144,718

 

154,991

 

Less current portion of long-term debt

 

(2,211

)

(2,171

)

Long-term debt, less current portion

 

$

142,507

 

$

152,820

 

 

Our revolving line of credit reflects a credit agreement with several lenders, including Bank of America as lender and Administrative Agent, KeyBank, CoBank, U.S. Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Comerica Bank, Bank of the West,

 

9



 

Citibank and Union Bank of California (the “Bank Group”). The credit agreement provides for a $110.0 million revolving credit facility.

 

Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest, at our option, based on either a margin over the designated LIBOR rate or the prime rate. As of June 30, 2010 our debt-to-capitalization ratio is 54%; therefore, the applicable margins are 3.50% over the LIBOR rate and 2.50% over the prime rate. The margins decline on a sliding scale as our debt-to-capitalization ratio improves. The weighted average annual interest rates, excluding bank amendment and waiver fees, on all credit facility borrowings outstanding were 3.85% as of June 30, 2010 and 4.3% as of December 31, 2009.

 

As of June 30, 2010, we had irrevocable standby letters of credit in the amount of $5.0 million issued and outstanding under our revolving credit facility and our available borrowing capacity was $40.0 million.

 

Note 4.    Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Class Action Litigation

 

Perrin v. SouthWest Water Company, et al., Case No. CV 08-07844 (Central District of California) and related, consolidated cases: On November 26, 2008, an alleged purchaser of our publicly traded common stock filed a securities class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The complaint generally alleges that from May 10, 2005 through November 9, 2008, we made false statements or omitted to state facts necessary to make our disclosures not misleading. Five additional and substantially similar cases were filed in the same court.  On January 26, 2009, motions for consolidation and for the appointment of lead plaintiff and lead counsel were filed by the plaintiffs.  On February 12, 2009, the court granted the motion for consolidation and for the appointment of lead plaintiff and lead counsel. Pursuant to stipulation of the parties, the lead plaintiff on October 15, 2009, filed a consolidated complaint. On January 12, 2010, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on the grounds that it failed to allege a valid claim and a motion for partial summary judgment on certain claims alleged in it on the grounds that the plaintiffs lack standing to bring those claims.  On March 8, 2010, the plaintiffs filed oppositions to the Company’s motions.  On April 15, 2010, the Company filed reply briefs in support of its motions.  The hearing on the motions was set for June 21, 2010, but the Court took the matter off the calendar. On June 30, 2010, the Court ruled on the motions, denying the Company’s motion for partial summary judgment and granting the Company’s motion to dismiss in its entirety as to the entire complaint.  On July 30, 2010, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.  Given the nature and preliminary status of these cases, we cannot yet determine the amount or even a reasonable range of potential loss in these matters, if any.

 

Derivative Litigation

 

Sherman v. Christie, et al., Case No. BC404946 (Los Angeles County Superior Court) and related cases: On January 2, 2009, an alleged shareholder of our publicly traded common stock filed a shareholder derivative case, alleging breach of fiduciary duty arising from the announcement of our intent to restate financial statements against certain present and former members of our Board of Directors. Two additional, substantially similar cases were filed.  Stipulations were entered extending the time to respond to the complaints.  On April 23, 2009, the court found that the three derivative suits were “complex” and related and transferred the cases to a single judge for all purposes and ordered an initial status conference for December 3, 2009. The cases were consolidated on May 19, 2009. The lead plaintiff by stipulation of the parties filed a consolidated complaint on October 8, 2009. On December 7, 2009, the Company filed a demurrer to the consolidated complaint on the grounds that the consolidated complaint failed to allege sufficient facts to state a valid cause of action and failed to allege facts showing that presuit demand on the board of directors should be excused as futile.  On January 21, 2010, the plaintiffs filed an opposition to the demurrer.  On March 4, 2010, the plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint to add claims on behalf of an alleged class of the Company’s shareholders related to the proposed merger.  On April 2, 2010, the plaintiffs filed a motion to consolidate the four class action suits pending in the Los Angeles Superior Court related to the proposed merger.  On April 2, 2010, the Company filed a motion to sever the alleged class action claims related to the proposed merger from the amended consolidated complaint and a demurrer to the entire complaint on the grounds that the consolidated complaint failed to allege sufficient facts to state a valid cause of action and failed to allege facts showing that presuit demand on the board of directors should be excused as futile.  On April 2, 2010, the Company also filed an opposition to the motion to consolidate.  On April 15, 2010, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to consolidate.  On April 20, 2010, the plaintiffs filed oppositions to the motion to sever and demurrer.  On April 27, 2010, the Company filed replies in support of the motion to sever and demurrer.  On May 3, 2010, the plaintiffs agreed to sever and dismiss without prejudice claims on behalf of an alleged class of the Company’s shareholders related to the proposed merger from the amended consolidated complaint.  On May 4, 2010, the court entered an order dismissing without prejudice claims on behalf an alleged class of the Company’s shareholders related to the proposed merger from the amended

 

10



 

consolidated complaint.  Also on May 4, 2010, the court sustained the Company’s demurrer to the amended consolidated complaint and gave the plaintiffs 20 days to file a further amended complaint.  The Plaintiffs failed to timely file an amended complaint, effectively ending this litigation.

 

Litigation Related to the Merger Agreement

 

We are aware of seven purported class action lawsuits related to the proposed merger filed against the Company, some or all of our directors, Parent, and Merger Sub in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

 

The complaints are substantially similar and allege, among other things, that the merger proposed under the Merger Agreement is the product of a flawed process and that the consideration to be paid to our stockholders in the merger would be unfair and inadequate.  The complaints further allege, among other things, that our officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties by, among other things, taking actions designed to deter higher offers from other potential acquirers and failing to maximize the value of SouthWest Water stock for the benefit of our stockholders. The complaints further allege that Parent and Merger Sub aided and abetted the actions of our officers and directors in breaching their fiduciary duties.  The complaints seek, among other relief, an injunction preventing consummation of the merger, an order rescinding the merger or any of the terms of the merger to the extent already implemented, costs and disbursements of the lawsuits, including attorneys’ and experts’ fees, and such other relief as the court might find just and proper.  On July 27, 2010, we and the other defendants entered into a memorandum of understanding with the plaintiffs regarding the settlement of all of these actions.  In connection with the settlement contemplated by the memorandum of understanding, we made certain additional disclosures related to the proposed merger.  Subject to completion of certain confirmatory discovery by counsel to the plaintiffs, the memorandum of understanding contemplates that the parties will enter into a stipulation of settlement which will provide, among other things, for the conditional certification of a settlement class.  The stipulation of settlement will be subject to customary conditions, including Court approval following notice to our stockholders.  If the settlement is finally approved by the Court, it will resolve and release on behalf of the class all claims in all actions that were or could have been brought challenging any aspect of the proposed merger, the merger agreement, and any disclosure made in connection therewith.  There can be no assurance that the parties will ultimately enter into a stipulation of settlement or that Court will approve the settlement, in which such event the proposed settlement as contemplated by the memorandum of understanding may be terminated.  The memorandum of understanding would limit the settlement to $0.5 million in total of which the Company’s insurance would cover $0.2 million directly and the Company would be responsible for $0.3 million, which was accrued during the three-month period ended June 30, 2010.  If the agreement is not finalized, we would not yet be able to determine the amount or even a reasonable range of potential loss in these matters, if any.

 

New Mexico Utilities, Inc.

 

NMUI, one of the Company’s wholly-owned regulated utilities, had an agreement with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, a political subdivision of the State of New Mexico (the “ABCWUA”), whereby the ABCWUA treated the effluent from NMUI’s wastewater collection system for a fee. The treated effluent is returned to the Rio Grande Underground Basin, creating return flow credits. Return flow credits supplemented NMUI’s existing water rights, enabling it to pump additional water from the basin.

 

In August 2004, the ABCWUA increased the fee charged to NMUI, using a different formula than had been used to calculate fee increases since 1973. The Company believed the increase violated the terms of a 1973 written agreement between the parties. Subsequently, the ABCWUA also claimed ownership of the return flow credits. On September 13, 2004, the Company filed a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment in the Second Judicial District Court, County of Bernalillo, State of New Mexico (the “Court”), requesting that the Court settle these disputes.

 

In addition, in January 2007, the ABCWUA and the City of Rio Rancho, a home-rule municipal corporation, as Petitioners, filed a Petition for Condemnation against NMUI and others, as defendants, in the Court (the “Petition”). The Petition sought to acquire, by condemnation, all of the assets of NMUI, including all real property, through the stated power of eminent domain. The Petition also alleged that the Petitioners need to acquire the NMUI assets for the public purposes of providing water and wastewater services to NMUI customers and that the acquisition of NMUI is necessary, appropriate and in the public interest. The Company contested the Petition.

 

In October 2008, the Company attempted to settle the sewer rate and return flow credit issues with an $8.0 million cash offer. The settlement offer was not accepted by ABCWUA.

 

On January 29, 2009, NMUI and the ABCWUA entered into a Settlement, Arbitration Award, and Acquisition Agreement (the “Agreement”) to resolve all outstanding claims, demands and existing lawsuits between them. Under the Agreement, the ABCWUA acquired certain of the assets of NMUI necessary for the ABCWUA to own, operate and

 

11



 

maintain the water and wastewater system of NMUI in settlement of condemnation. In consideration of the assets acquired, the ABCWUA agreed to pay to NMUI at the Closing as full, final and complete consideration the sum of: (i) $60.0 million; (ii) an amount equal to the NMUI accounts receivable at the date of Closing; and (iii) an amount equal to the unbilled services at the date of Closing. The Agreement closed on May 8, 2009.

 

NMUI also received the right to customer billings previously placed into escrow. The total amount received by the Company on May 8, 2009 from these escrow funds was $1.3 million.

 

In addition, the settlement resolves all other legal issues between NMUI and ABCWUA, including the dispute over the sewer fee the ABCWUA charged NMUI for the treatment of wastewater and the ownership of the return flow credits from that treated wastewater, as well as all other disputed amounts of the ABCWUA. As part of the settlement, NMUI agreed to pay $7.0 million to the ABCWUA at the time of closing to resolve the sewer fee issue. This amount was accrued prior to the closing of the Agreement.

 

Net cash proceeds from settlement were $53.9 million and the resulting gain, net of direct transactional costs of $0.1 million, was $26.1 million.  Substantially all of the utility plant assets of NMUI were pledged as collateral for $12.3 million in first mortgage bonds with an original maturity of 2024 and related accrued interest.  We repaid these bonds in full, including accrued interest of $0.3 million. The remaining cash proceeds of $41.6 million were used to pay the balance of liabilities of NMUI, and to pay down our revolving credit facility. The sale reflects a $107.2 million reduction in assets, offset by a reduction in liabilities of $79.5 million, which includes a $69.0 million reduction in contributions in aid of construction.

 

Investigations

 

On May 18, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) executed a search warrant at our Texas-based testing laboratory and on July 20, 2006 the laboratory received a subpoena to provide additional records and information to a grand jury. We have cooperated fully with the EPA’s investigation and have provided the records requested. We remain in close cooperation and coordination with both Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and EPA’s counsel in an attempt to resolve the matter favorably. In April 2009, we submitted our formal request that the DOJ not pursue criminal sanctions. By letter dated November 10, 2009, that request was granted. Civil action by the government is still possible but we have not been made aware that any action will be pursued. As a result, no amounts have been accrued related to any possible civil fines, penalties or liabilities.

 

We received a letter dated January 28, 2008 from the California State Water Resources Control Board Office of Enforcement (the “Board”). The letter indicated that the Board has conducted an investigation of the operations of one of our subsidiaries with respect to various California wastewater treatment facilities which are operated, but not owned, by the subsidiary. The Board alleges that the subsidiary has violated certain provisions of the California Water Code and may be subject to civil administrative liability in excess of $15.0 million, and possible administrative action against the subsidiary’s status as a contract operator in California.  Since receipt of the letter, we have conducted an internal investigation and worked in cooperation with the Board to resolve the matter favorably. We have reached a preliminary settlement, requiring that we implement an acceptable compliance program valued at $0.5 million and pay fines and penalties of up to $0.75 million, all of which we have accrued.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Some of our groundwater sources for our California water utility have been affected by the presence of certain groundwater contaminants. These contaminants consist mainly of chemicals disposed of by various industrial companies in the 1940s and 1950s. In 2001 and 2002, this contamination necessitated the shutdown of a number of our wells, and we purchased replacement water at a cost substantially higher than the cost of water pumped from our own wells. Prior to May 2002, these costs were recorded as operating expenses and reduced our operating income.

 

In May 2002, a settlement agreement was reached between some of the parties allegedly responsible for the contamination (“Cooperating Respondents”) and certain water entities, including our California water utility. As a result of this settlement agreement, we have received payments during the last several years, and we continued to receive payments until the completion of remediation. These payments represent the incremental cost of purchasing water over the cost that would have been incurred by us to pump water from our wells had they not been shut down as a result of contamination. The settlement agreement provided for ongoing reimbursement of our excess water costs and we bill and collect this reimbursement monthly. These monthly reimbursements are recorded as a reduction to operating expenses. The reimbursements were $0.07 million and $0.24 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.

 

The settlement agreement also provides for contributions by the Cooperating Respondents for construction of new wells and interconnections with nearby water sources. These contributions were $0.1 million for the six months ended

 

12



 

June 30, 2009 and were recorded as contributions in aid of construction. There were no contributions for the six months ended June 30, 2010. On April 20, 2010 a mediation was conducted to address certain disputes raised by the Cooperating Respondents related to activity in executing the May 2002 settlement agreement. Through the mediation, the parties resolved all outstanding issues without additional costs to our California water utility, essentially ending such disputes.

 

Other Matters

 

We are also involved in other routine legal and administrative proceedings arising during the ordinary course of business. We believe that the ultimate disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  Any related legal costs are expensed when incurred.

 

Certain Contractual Commitments and Indemnities

 

During the normal course of business, we have entered into agreements containing indemnities pursuant to which we may be required to make payments in the future. These indemnities are in connection with facility leases and liabilities and operations and maintenance and construction contracts entered into by our contract services businesses. The duration of these indemnities, commitments and guarantees varies, and in certain cases, is indefinite. Substantially all of these indemnities provide no limitation on the maximum potential future payments the Company could be obligated to make and is not quantifiable. The Company has not recorded any liability for these indemnities.

 

13



 

Note 5.        Earnings per Share

 

The following table is a reconciliation of the numerators (income or loss) and denominators (shares) used in both the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

 

2010

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerators—Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

 

$

57

 

 

 

$

(8,063

)

Less preferred stock dividends

 

 

(6

)

 

 

(6

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations
applicable to common stockholders

 

 

51

 

 

 

(8,069

)

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

-

 

 

 

17,559

 

Income applicable to common stockholders

 

 

$

51

 

 

 

$

9,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominators—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

27,361

 

 

 

24,608

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

27,486

 

 

 

24,608

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

 

2010

 

 

 

2009

 

Numerators—Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

 

$

(2,871

)

 

 

$

(11,468

)

Less preferred stock dividends

 

 

(12

)

 

 

(6

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations
applicable to common stockholders

 

 

(2,883

)

 

 

(11,474

)

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

-

 

 

 

17,731

 

Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

 

 

$

(2,883

)

 

 

$

6,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominators—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

26,240

 

 

 

24,604

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

26,240

 

 

 

24,604

 

 

The Company has $11.8 million of 6.85% fixed-rate convertible subordinate debentures outstanding as June 30, 2010. The debentures are convertible into common stock at any time prior to maturity, unless previously redeemed, at a conversion price of $11.018 per share which totals 1.1 million shares at June 30, 2010. At such time as the assumed conversion of the debentures has a dilutive effect on earnings per share, the debentures will be included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share after adjusting net income for the after-tax effect of the debenture interest expense.

 

Note 6.       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

The following information supplements the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

June 30,

 

(In thousands)

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Cash paid during the period for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

$

4,387

 

$

4,641

 

Income taxes paid

 

 

423

 

422

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash contributions in aid of construction and advances for construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

conveyed to the Company by developers

 

 

345

 

 

 

14



 

Note 7.        Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan (“DRIP / DSPP”)

 

We have a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan that gives common stockholders the option of receiving their dividends in cash or in common stock at a discount from prevailing market prices (“DRIP”). The plan also permits existing stockholders to purchase additional common stock, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month, at a discount (“DSPP”); new investors may participate in the plan, subject to a $250 minimum initial investment. The Company may, at its sole discretion, permit purchases above the $10,000 stated maximum. The discounts may range from 0% to 5%, as determined from time to time by the Company. As of June 30, 2010, there are 3.7 million shares authorized for issuance under the plan, of which 0.7 million shares remain available for issuance. However, under the terms of the Merger Agreement, we have agreed that we will not issue any additional shares of common stock or other equivalent interest until the consummation of the Merger, at which time the plan will be terminated.

 

Note 8.        Segment Information

 

The Company’s principal business activity is to operate and maintain water and wastewater infrastructure.  Through its operating subsidiaries, the Company owns 144 systems and operates hundreds more under contract to cities, utility districts and private companies. The Company has four reporting segments. The Company separates its segments first by whether it owns the utility or provides contract services to others. Its owned water and wastewater utilities are referred to as its Utilities operations. In its financial statements the Company reports its Texas Utilities operations as a separate reporting segment because of different economic characteristics. This is principally due to the fact that Texas Utilities are under-recovering their current cost of service as the Company has made large investments in these operations that are not yet being recovered through the rates it charges. The Company’s contract operations are segmented by contract type into those that are generally larger, stand-alone operations (“O&M Services”) and those that are small, full service contracts operated by a common team of personnel resulting in a model that proportions a fractional cost to each client (“Texas MUD Services”).

 

15



 

The following table presents information about the operations of each segment for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

Utilities

 

 

 

Texas
Utilities

 

 

 

O&M
Services

 

 

 

Texas MUD
Services

 

 

 

Corp. (1)

 

 

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

16,940

 

 

 

$

9,685

 

 

 

$

10,501

 

 

 

$

16,757

 

 

 

$

—   

 

 

 

$

53,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

9,915

 

 

 

6,493

 

 

 

10,402

 

 

 

16,976

 

 

 

3,941

 

 

 

47,727

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,082

 

 

 

1,099

 

 

 

153

 

 

 

180

 

 

 

333

 

 

 

3,847

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

11,997

 

 

 

7,592

 

 

 

10,555

 

 

 

17,156

 

 

 

4,274

 

 

 

51,574

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

4,943

 

 

 

2,093

 

 

 

(54

)

 

 

(399

)

 

 

(4,274

)

 

 

2,309

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense (2)

 

 

(456

)

 

 

(679

)

 

 

(52

)

 

 

(145

)

 

 

(906

)

 

 

(2,238

)

Interest income

 

 

51

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

55

 

Income (loss) from continuing
operations before income taxes

 

 

$

4,538

 

 

 

$

1,417

 

 

 

$

(106

)

 

 

$

(544

)

 

 

$

(5,179

)

 

 

$

126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utilities

 

 

 

Texas
Utilities

 

 

 

O&M
Services

 

 

 

Texas MUD
Services

 

 

 

Corp. (1)

 

 

 

Consol-
idated

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

16,433

 

 

 

$

9,005

 

 

 

$

8,981

 

 

 

$

17,997

 

 

 

$

—   

 

 

 

$

52,416

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

8,333

 

 

 

5,785

 

 

 

9,007

 

 

 

17,617

 

 

 

9,310

 

 

 

50,052

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

1,998

 

 

 

1,180

 

 

 

140

 

 

 

199

 

 

 

340

 

 

 

3,857

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

 

—   

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

122

 

 

 

7,993

 

 

 

8,115

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

10,331

 

 

 

6,965

 

 

 

9,147

 

 

 

17,938

 

 

 

17,643

 

 

 

62,024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

6,102

 

 

 

2,040

 

 

 

(166

)

 

 

59

 

 

 

(17,643

)

 

 

(9,608

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense (2)

 

 

(466

)

 

 

(668

)

 

 

(113

)

 

 

(98

)

 

 

(1,630

)

 

 

(2,975

)

Interest income

 

 

26

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

48

 

Income (loss) from continuing
operations before income taxes

 

 

$

5,662

 

 

 

$

1,388

 

 

 

$

(278

)

 

 

$

(37

)

 

 

$

(19,270

)

 

 

$

(12,535

)

 

(1)   Reflects corporate headquarters, general and administrative expenses and interest expense, net of interest income charged on intercompany debt.

 

(2)   Segment interest expense includes inter-segment interest expense or income on related inter-segment payables and receivables.

 

16



 

(In thousands)

 

 

Utilities

 

 

 

Texas
Utilities

 

 

 

O&M
Services

 

 

 

Texas MUD
Services

 

 

 

Corp. (1)

 

 

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

30,163

 

 

 

$

18,360

 

 

 

$

19,548

 

 

 

$

32,658

 

 

 

$

—   

 

 

 

$

100,729

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

18,597

 

 

 

13,064

 

 

 

19,229

 

 

 

32,460

 

 

 

9,689

 

 

 

93,039

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

4,127

 

 

 

2,279

 

 

 

300

 

 

 

359

 

 

 

649

 

 

 

7,714

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

22,724

 

 

 

15,343

 

 

 

19,529

 

 

 

32,819

 

 

 

10,338

 

 

 

100,753

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

7,439

 

 

 

3,017

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

(161

)

 

 

(10,338

)

 

 

(24

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense (2)

 

 

(856

)

 

 

(1,303

)

 

 

(76

)

 

 

(228

)

 

 

(2,145

)

 

 

(4,608

)

Interest income

 

 

81

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

88

 

Income (loss) from continuing
operations before income taxes

 

 

$

6,664

 

 

 

$

1,720

 

 

 

$

(57

)

 

 

$

(389

)

 

 

$

(12,482

)

 

 

$

(4,544

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utilities

 

 

 

Texas
Utilities

 

 

 

O&M
Services

 

 

 

Texas MUD
Services

 

 

 

Corp. (1)

 

 

 

Consol-
idated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

29,812

 

 

 

$

17,596

 

 

 

$

18,128

 

 

 

$

36,972

 

 

 

$

—   

 

 

 

$

102,508

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

16,721

 

 

 

10,837

 

 

 

17,884

 

 

 

35,944

 

 

 

18,573

 

 

 

99,959

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,951

 

 

 

2,340

 

 

 

273

 

 

 

413

 

 

 

713

 

 

 

7,690

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

 

—   

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

—   

 

 

 

122

 

 

 

7,993

 

 

 

8,115

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

20,672

 

 

 

13,177

 

 

 

18,157

 

 

 

36,479

 

 

 

27,279

 

 

 

115,764

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

9,140

 

 

 

4,419

 

 

 

(29

)

 

 

493

 

 

 

(27,279

)

 

 

(13,256

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense (2)

 

 

(926

)

 

 

(1,255

)

 

 

(203

)

 

 

(175

)

 

 

(2,303

)

 

 

(4,862

)

Interest income

 

 

53

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

84

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

$

8,267

 

 

 

$

3,184

 

 

 

$

(230

)

 

 

$

323

 

 

 

$

(29,578

)

 

 

$

(18,034

)

 

(1)   Reflects corporate headquarters, general and administrative expenses and interest expense, net of interest income charged on intercompany debt.

 

(2)   Segment interest expense includes inter-segment interest expense or income on related inter-segment payables and receivables.

 

17



 

Note 9.        Subsequent Events

 

Monarch Utilities, Inc. (“Monarch”), a Texas utility company, filed a rate increase application with the TCEQ in July 2007 which resulted in an all party settlement on December 12, 2008 which provided for a 2-year phase-in of the settled rates.  Monarch also agreed to provide a market valuation for and to negotiate the sale of our Blue Mound, Texas; Kyle, Texas; and Southmayd, Texas water and wastewater assets to the respective municipalities.  Management discussed the sale with officials of each city; however, as of June 30, 2010 no terms had been agreed upon.  In April 2010, Blue Mound and Southmayd provided purchase proposals and management now believes a sale agreement may be reached with Southmayd for the respective assets. The company is preparing a proposal to the city of Blue Mound in order to retain ownership of this system after meeting with city officials during May 2010. The Southmayd sale will be contingent upon the municipality raising financing and will require the approval of Monarch’s lender and the TCEQ.  Should agreement be reached on the proposal provided, the sale transaction may be consummated by the end of 2010.

 

 

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

 

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of SouthWest Water Company and is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements included in this report. This MD&A also contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “belief,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “continue,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “strategy,” “will likely result,” “will likely continue,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. A detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements since such statements speak only as of the date when made. Other than as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

OVERVIEW

 

SouthWest Water’s principal business activity is to operate and maintain water and wastewater infrastructure. Through our operating subsidiaries, we own 144 systems and operate hundreds more under contract to cities, utility districts and private companies. SouthWest Water was incorporated in California in 1954 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1988. We maintain our corporate offices in Los Angeles, California.

 

Merger Agreement and Long-Term Infrastructure Investment

 

On March 2, 2010, we entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with SW Merger Acquisition Corp. (“Parent”) and SW Merger Sub Corp., a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Parent and Merger Sub are jointly owned by IIF Subway Investment LP and USA Water Services, LLC, which are sponsored by J.P. Morgan IIF Acquisitions LLC and Water Asset Management, LLC.  Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, all of our outstanding common stock would be converted into a right to receive $11.00 per share in cash.  On August 6, 2010, the Merger Agreement was adopted by an affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of our outstanding common stock and Series A preferred stock as of June 14, 2010, voting together as a single class.  The completion of the merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory notice and approvals.

 

If all remaining closing conditions are met, we will be the surviving corporation of the merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Upon completion of the merger, our common stock will cease to be traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and we will no longer be a publicly held corporation.  The Merger Agreement contains restrictions on our operations prior to the closing of the merger, including restrictions related to capital expenditures, the incurrence of debt, acquiring and disposing of assets, entering into material contracts and capital transactions.

 

In connection with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement and Investor Rights Agreement (collectively, the “Investment Agreements”).  Pursuant to the Investment Agreements and effective March 

 

18



 

16, 2010, Parent purchased 2,700,000 shares of our common stock (the “Purchased Stock”) at a price of $6.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $16.2 million and we incurred related specific incremental transactional costs of $0.1 million.  As permitted under the terms of the Investment Agreements, the Company applied the proceeds derived from the sale of the Purchased Stock to reduce our revolving line of credit, the borrowings of which are used for capital expenditures and working capital purposes.  The Investment Agreements entitle Parent to appoint a designee to serve on our board of directors (which right Parent has not exercised to date), and also to certain registration rights with respect to the Purchased Stock in the event of the termination of the Merger Agreement.  The Investment Agreements restrict Parent’s ability to sell or otherwise transfer the Purchased Stock prior to the earlier of the consummation or termination of the Merger Agreement.  Except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Parent and Merger Sub are also prohibited from acquiring any additional shares of our common stock until the termination of the Merger Agreement.

 

As the offering and sale of the Purchased Stock pursuant to the Investment Agreements was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or applicable state securities laws, the Purchased Stock may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

 

Segments

 

We separate our four reporting segments first by whether we own the utility or provide contract services to others. Our owned water and wastewater utilities are referred to as our Utilities operations (“Utilities”). In our financial statements the Company reports our Texas Utilities operations (“Texas Utilities”) as a separate reporting segment because of different economic characteristics. This is principally due to the fact that Texas Utilities are under-recovering their current cost of service as the Company has made large investments in these operations that are not yet being recovered through rates it charges. Our contract operations are segmented by contract type into those that are generally larger, stand-alone operations (“O&M Services”) and those that are small, full service contracts operated by a common team of personnel resulting in a model that proportions a fractional cost to each client (“Texas MUD Services”).

 

Utilities consist of our owned water and wastewater utilities located in California, Alabama, and Mississippi. In previous periods, the utilities segment included the business activities of our New Mexico Utility (“NMUI”) that was sold on May 8, 2009. The NMUI activities are now included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. See “Note 2 – Dispositions and Impairments” included in Item 1 – “Financial Statements” for the summary of the historical results of discontinued operations. Residential customers make up the largest component of our Utilities customer base, with these customers representing approximately 94% of our water and wastewater connections. Substantially all of our Utilities customers are metered which allows us to measure and bill for each customer’s water consumption. Each of the operations in this segment has a unique service territory that is subject to state and federal regulations regarding standards of water quality, safety, environmental and other matters. The rates that we can charge for water and wastewater service include the opportunity to earn a reasonable rate of return on investments in these utilities. Except for some of our Alabama wastewater rates which are governed by our service agreements, the rates our utilities charge are subject to the approval of state regulatory agencies. Some of these governmental agencies approve a forward looking recovery of costs and some approve recovery of costs based on a historical test year. Our Utilities operations require ongoing capital investments to maintain and enhance the reliability and quality of the service we provide, as well as the opportunity for revenue growth from rate increases and new connections.

 

Texas Utilities consists of 123 small, mostly rural systems that are grouped into nine jurisdictional utilities across Texas and one small system in Oklahoma. Residential customers represent approximately 98% of our Texas water and wastewater connections. Substantially all of our Texas Utilities customers are metered which allows us to measure and bill for each customer’s water consumption. These systems are broadly dispersed geographically. The majority of the systems are organized as one utility, known as Monarch Utilities, with a single tariff. The Monarch systems, as well as two smaller systems acquired in 2007, were in various stages of disrepair at the time of acquisition and we continue to spend significant capital to maintain regulatory compliance and to improve the quality of service. We are not yet recovering all of these costs in our rates and, as a result, the Texas Utilities have a lower rate of return than typically expected from a utility. We intend to actively pursue recovery of these costs in the rate setting process. All other aspects of operations of these utilities are the same as our Utilities operations; therefore, as soon as we are recovering our costs, including a reasonable rate of return on investment, we expect to aggregate this segment with our Utilities segment.

 

O&M Services generally consists of operations that are project-specific contracts with cities, public agencies and private owners. Most contracts are stand-alone operations staffed with project-specific personnel, with an average contract life of two to three years. Under a typical O&M contract, we charge a fee that covers a specified level of service that includes facility operations and maintenance and may include other water or wastewater related services. Services are typically provided evenly throughout the contract period and are billed on a monthly basis. If we provide services beyond the scope of a contract, we bill for the additional services on a time-and-materials basis or negotiate a unique price. These contracts are largely located in California, Colorado, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.

 

19


 


 

Texas MUD Services is a full service provider of utility services to a large number of small utilities in Texas that are mostly owned by municipal utility districts (“MUD”). A MUD is created to provide water supply, wastewater treatment and drainage service to areas where municipal services are not available. We service over 250 MUD clients with a common team of client managers, operators, customer service and billing personnel. Therefore these contracts are allocated a proportional amount of each cost center creating a business model that is significantly different from that of O&M Services. Under a typical MUD contract, we bill a monthly base fee to provide a specified level of service; usually water and/or wastewater facility inspections, routine operations, equipment maintenance, and utility customer service including meter reading, call center, dispatch, billing and collection services. We bill for any additional services provided beyond the basic contract on a time-and-materials basis as such services are rendered. Most contracts provide for an increase in the monthly base fee as the number of customer connections increases and generally include inflation adjustments. The majority of our MUD contracts are cancelable with 30 to 60 day prior notice by either party, but tend to last for long periods due to the close working relationships between the operators and the clients.

 

Impacts to Results of Operations 2010 and 2009

 

Utilities & Texas Utilities: Our Utilities segments’ results of operations are influenced by factors that are similar to the industry in general. A more complete understanding of these factors can be gained by reviewing this section along with the Risk Factors section in Part 1, Item 1A, in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. As we review and discuss performance, the general areas of impact we evaluate are as follows:

 

·                    Growth related : Growth in our utilities segments is generally characterized by the following drivers: 1) growth in the number of connections served within existing utility certified service areas and 2) acquisition of new service areas. In our Utilities segment, our largest utility is our California utility which is a substantially built-out system that does not generally see much change in connection count. The majority of our other utilities are in markets that experienced significant new home construction in the past (ranging from 2% to 8% annual growth). We have seen this significantly decline with growth averaging less than 1% across all systems throughout 2009 and the first six months of 2010.

 

·                    Rate related : Each of our utilities will increase rates from time to time to recover expenses and realize a return on invested capital as allowed by the regulator or governing contract. Rate cases can take months or years to impact results due to the time needed to prepare, present and ultimately receive approval from the regulator. In each of our utilities, we have a long-term rate strategy that matches our expectation for growth, regulatory change and demand. Our California utility benefited from a 1.5% step-rate increase implemented on January 1, 2010. Our Texas Utilities benefited from step-rate increases at one utility in late 2009 and two in the first half of 2010. In Alabama our Shelby County and Riverview wastewater utilities have contractual agreements with the local government that provide us with the ability to request rate increases annually. Accordingly, we requested and received increases in January 2010 of 10.8% at our Shelby County utility and an approximate 2.5% increase at our Riverview utility.

 

·                    Demand related : The demand for our water, a major driver of our operating results, reflects seasonal rainfall and temperature fluctuations, which vary not only season to season, but also from year to year. The uniform rate design that regulators require for our utilities can result in unrecovered fixed costs and lower earnings during periods of abnormally low water use. This can occur during abnormal weather conditions, such as when temperatures are cooler than normal, when there is greater than normal precipitation, during mandatory restrictions on water use because of drought, consumer conservation and socio-economic events. Demand related changes often impact both the revenue of the utility and the cost of production. We experienced lower demand at our California utility in the first six months of 2010, largely due to weather and conservation.

 

·                    Supply related : The cost of water and related commodities is a major driver of our results. Utilities that pump and purchase water are subject to changes in operations due to the amount and cost of that water. Pumped and purchased water supply changes are typically driven by longer term climate issues such as extended drought but can also be driven by short-term maintenance needs. In California the unit cost of water increased in the first six months of 2010. This is related to the increased price of Metropolitan Water District and other supply purchases and the increased cost of locally produced  water following the Main San Gabriel Watermaster action of raising the rate for replacement water for water pumped in excess of water rights held. This caused an additional increase in the cost of pumped and purchased water sources. It should be noted that in California pricing changes from price levels adopted in rate cases receive balancing account treatment and the cost variance is deferred and charged or credited to customers in a future period at cost.

 

·                    Operation & Maintenance related : Our operation and maintenance costs include fuel, power, labor, labor benefits, facility costs, and other ordinary costs of producing or treating water. These costs are impacted by compliance with environmental and health safety standards. They are also typically subject to inflation effects

 

20



 

and while we can file for recovery after inflation effects are incurred in backward looking rate making jurisdictions, we often experience a lag between the time we incur these costs and when we receive the rate increase to cover these costs. In California, which is a forward looking rate making environment, we estimate the impacts of inflation in our rate filings and must absorb any costs that are different than our estimates.

 

·                    General & Administrative related : Our general and administrative costs include management expenses directly incurred by the segment as well as costs for services performed by centralized support functions that are allocated to each segment. These support function costs include IT, shared financial services, and environmental health and safety. We anticipate that in the near term we will continue to experience higher costs due to the remediation of our material internal control weaknesses (see “Item 4 — Controls and Procedures” for a detailed discussion of our material internal control weaknesses).

 

·                    Other : Other is reserved for unusual items that may impact results from time to time.

 

O&M Services Segment : Our O&M Services segment’s results of operations are generally influenced by a variety of events. As we review and discuss performance, the general areas of impact we evaluate are as follows:

 

·                    Contract growth:  Growth is generally due to new contracts, additional project work under existing contracts and contract price increases. Our primary driver of contract growth in the first half of 2010 has been from new contracts and expanding the scope of work provided to existing customers.

 

·                    Lost work:  Lost work is generally driven by lost contracts or a reduction in project work for existing contracts. The primary driver in the first half of 2010 was reduced project work.

 

·                    General & administrative related : Our general and administrative costs include management expenses directly incurred by the segment as well as costs for services performed by centralized support functions that are allocated to each segment. These support function costs include IT, shared financial services and environmental health and safety.

 

·                    Other:  Other is reserved for unusual items that may impact results from time to time.

 

Texas MUD Services Segment : Our Texas MUD Services segment’s results of operations are influenced by contract growth or loss and changes in contract scope:

 

·                    Contract growth: New contracts, additional project work and contract price increases are offset by lost contracts, reductions in project work, or a reduction in other ancillary services such as new taps and inspection services for new home construction. We lost a number of contracts in the first half of 2010 compared to the first half of 2009 due to increased competition in our service territories.

 

·                    General & administrative related: Our general and administrative costs include expenses directly incurred by the segment such as management expense as well as costs for services performed by centralized support functions that are then allocated to each segment. These support costs include information technology costs, shared financial services and environmental health and safety.

 

·                    Other:  Other is reserved for unusual items that may impact results from time to time.

 

Corporate Segment : Our corporate segment includes costs related to executive management, investor relations, human resources, finance, treasury, internal audit, general legal and insurance and public company needs, audit costs, and other expenses generally related to the parent organization. Most of the costs are general and administrative in nature and not subject to much variation.  However, in both the first half of 2010 and 2009, we had expenses that were not routine to on-going operations. In the first half of 2010, costs were primarily impacted by expenses associated with our proposed Merger Agreement. In the first half of 2009, costs were primarily impacted by expenses associated with the restatement of our historical financial results and a write-off of software assets.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

As discussed in Note 2, “Dispositions and Impairments” in Part I, Item 1 “Financial Statements”, we completed the sale of NMUI in May 2009 and the operating results of NMUI are included in discontinued operations for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2009.

 

21



 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three months ended June 30, 2010 Compared to 2009

 

Consolidated operating revenue increased $1.5 million, or 2.8%, to $53.9 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 from $52.4 million for the same period in the prior year. Consolidated operating expenses decreased $10.5 million, or 16.8%, to $51.6 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010 from $62.0 million for the 2009 period. Resulting operating income increased $11.9 million to $2.3 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2010, from an operating loss of $9.6 million for the same period in the prior year.  The second quarter of 2010 operating income includes the impact of $1.9 million of costs associated with proposed Merger Agreement and related retention expense, as well as other costs described below while the second quarter of 2009 operating loss includes $5.2 million of costs associated with the restatement process and $8.0 million of impairment of Cornerstone related assets.

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of Revenue

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

 16,940

 

$

 16,433

 

 

$

 507

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

11,997

 

10,331

 

 

1,666

 

 

70.8%

 

62.9%

 

Operating Income

 

 

$

 4,943

 

$

 6,102

 

 

$

 (1,159

)

 

29.2%

 

37.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas Utilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

 9,685

 

$

 9,005

 

 

$

 680

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

7,592

 

6,965

 

 

627

 

 

78.4%

 

77.3%

 

Operating Income

 

 

$

 2,093

 

$

 2,040

 

 

$

 53

 

 

21.6%

 

22.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O&M Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

 10,501

 

$

 8,981

 

 

$

 1,520

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

10,555

 

9,147

 

 

1,408

 

 

100.5%

 

101.8%

 

Operating Loss

 

 

$

 (54

)

$

 (166

)

 

$

 112

 

 

(0.5%)

 

(1.8%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas MUD Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

 16,757

 

$

 17,997

 

 

$

 (1,240

)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

17,156

 

17,938

 

 

(782

)

 

102.4%

 

99.7%

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

$

 (399

)

$

 59

 

 

$

 (458

)

 

(2.4%)

 

0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

$

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

4,274

 

17,643

 

 

(13,369

)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Loss

 

 

$

 (4,274

)

$

 (17,643

)

 

$

 13,369

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

 53,883

 

$

 52,416

 

 

$

 1,467

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

51,574

 

62,024

 

 

(10,450

)

 

95.7%

 

118.3%

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

$

 2,309

 

$

 (9,608

)

 

$

 11,917

 

 

4.3%

 

(18.3%)

 

 

22



 

Utilities

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Three months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

16,433

 

 

 

$

10,331

 

 

 

$

6,102

 

Growth related

 

 

93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate related

 

 

299

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demand related

 

 

(415

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balancing account

 

 

530

 

 

 

530

 

 

 

 

 

Supply related

 

 

 

 

 

1,241

 

 

 

 

 

O&M related

 

 

 

 

 

(199

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

94

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

16,940

 

 

 

$

11,997

 

 

 

$

4,943

 

 

Operating revenue increased $0.5 million, or 3.1 %, to $16.9 million for three months ended June 30, 2010 from $16.4 million for the same period in the prior year.  The net increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Growth related: A $0.1 million increase primarily due to connection growth in Alabama.

 

·                    Rate related: A $0.3 million increase due to rate increases in California and Alabama, of which approximately $0.2 million is due to our California utility implementing a step rate increase in January 2010 and the remainder is due to rate increases in our Alabama utilities.

 

·                    Demand related: A $0.4 million decrease primarily due to lower consumption at our California utility resulting from cooler weather and higher precipitation in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009 and from continuing customer conservation efforts.

 

·                    Balancing account: A $0.5 million increase related to balancing account surcharges approved by the CPUC and collected in California to recover certain deferred water supply costs which is offset by the same amount in balancing account expenses. No return is earned on surcharges.

 

Operating expenses increased $1.7 million, or 16.1%, to $12.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $10.3 million for same period in the prior year.  The net increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Balancing account: A $0.5 million increase in costs recognized related to the balancing account surcharges described above.

 

·                    Supply related: A $1.2 million increase primarily due to higher production costs of delivered water in California due to a change in pricing for Main San Gabriel Basin replacement water.

 

·                    O&M related: A $0.2 million decrease primarily due to increased capitalized costs and lower repairs and maintenance costs.

 

·                    Other: A $0.1 million increase due to proposed Merger related retention expense.

 

As a result of the above events, operating income decreased $1.2 million, to $4.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $6.1 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

23



 

Texas Utilities

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Three months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

9,005

 

 

 

$

6,965

 

 

 

$

2,040

 

Growth related

 

 

81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate related

 

 

805

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demand related

 

 

(206

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O&M related

 

 

 

 

 

180

 

 

 

 

 

G&A related

 

 

 

 

 

447

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

9,685

 

 

 

$

7,592

 

 

 

$

2,093

 

 

Operating revenue increased $0.7 million, or 7.6%, to $9.7 million for three months ended June 30, 2010 from $9.0 million for the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Growth related: A $0.1 million increase primarily due to an increase in connection count and tap fees.

 

·                    Rate related: A $0.8 million increase primarily due to a step-rate increase in rates at three of our utilities.

 

·                    Demand related: A $0.2 million decrease due to lower volume of delivered water as a result of more normalized weather patterns in the second quarter of 2010 compared to hotter and drier climatic conditions in the corresponding period of 2009.

 

Operating expenses increased $0.6 million, or 9.0%, to $7.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $7.0 million for the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    O&M related: A $0.2 million increase primarily due to higher repairs and maintenance costs, increases in salaries and wages associated with increased personnel in operations, and higher fuel and supply costs, offset by lower expenses associated with retirement of fixed assets.

 

·                    G&A related: A $0.4 million increase primarily due to increases in salary and wages associated with increased financial services head-count.

 

As a result of the above events, operating income increased $0.1 million, to $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $2.0 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

O&M Services

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Three months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

8,981

 

 

 

$

9,147

 

 

 

$

(166

)

Contract growth

 

 

2,008

 

 

 

1,250

 

 

 

 

 

Lost work

 

 

(488

)

 

 

(309

)

 

 

 

 

G&A related

 

 

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

370

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

10,501

 

 

 

$

10,555

 

 

 

$

(54

)

 

Operating revenue increased $1.5 million, or 16.9%, to $10.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to $9.0 million for the same period in the prior year:

 

·                    Contract growth: A $2.0 million increase due to $0.9 million from new contracts in California and Alabama and $1.1 million from increased project work primarily in Colorado and California.

 

·                    Lost work: A $0.5 million decrease due to decreased project work in Mississippi and lost contracts in California.

 

Operating expenses increased $1.4 million, or 15.4%, to $10.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $9.1 million for the same period in the prior year:

 

24



 

·                    Contract growth: A $1.3 million increase due to new contracts and project work identified above.

 

·                    Lost work: A $0.3 million decrease due to lost contracts and reduced project work.

 

·                    G&A related: A $0.1 million increase primarily due to increase in insurance costs.

 

·                    Other: A $0.4 million increase due to legal, severance, and proposed Merger related retention expense.

 

As a result of the above events, operating loss was $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to an operating loss of $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009.

 

Texas MUD Services

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Three months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

17,997

 

 

 

$

17,938

 

 

 

$

59

 

Contract growth

 

 

(1,240

)

 

 

(621

)

 

 

 

 

G&A related

 

 

 

 

 

(796

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

635

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

16,757

 

 

 

$

17,156

 

 

 

$

(399

)

 

Operating revenue decreased $1.2 million, or 6.9%, to $16.8 million for three months ended June 30, 2010 from $18.0 million for the same period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the following:

 

·                    Contract growth: A $1.2 million decrease in revenue due to $0.9 million from lost contracts and $0.3 million primarily related to a reduction in pass-through revenue from materials purchased for clients.

 

Operating expenses decreased $0.8 million, or 4.4%, to $17.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $17.9 million for the same period in the prior year.  The net decrease was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Contract growth: A $0.6 million decrease due to $0.3 million from lost contracts and $0.3 million primarily related to a reduction in pass-through costs from materials purchased for clients.

 

·                    G&A related: A $0.8 million decrease, primarily due to savings and efficiency gains in general and administrative costs, particularly in the customer service center.

 

·                    Other: A $0.6 million change primarily due to a gain on sale of our environmental testing laboratory that was realized in the second quarter of 2009.

 

As a result of the above events, operating income decreased $0.5 million to an operating loss of $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to an operating income of $0.1 million in the same period of the prior year.

 

Corporate

 

Operating expenses decreased $13.4 million, or 75.8%, to $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $17.6 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

·                    General & administrative related: A $1.3 million decrease primarily due to lower salaries and wages expenses and lower bonus accruals.

 

·                    Other: A $12.1 million decrease primarily driven by a reduction of $5.2 million related to the financial restatement expenses in the second quarter of 2009 and $8.0 million related to a write-off of Cornerstone assets, offset by an increase of $1.5 million in costs associated with the proposed Merger Agreement and related retention expense.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

25



 

Aggregate other expenses decreased $0.7 million, or 25.2% to $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $2.9 million for the same period in the prior year as follows:

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

Change

 

Interest expense

 

 

$

(2,238

)

$

(2,975

)

 

$

737

 

Interest income

 

 

55

 

48

 

 

7

 

Total

 

 

$

(2,183

)

$

(2,927

)

 

$

744

 

 

Interest expense decreased by $0.7 million, or 24.7%, to $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 from $3.0 million for the same period during the prior year as a result of the write-off of debt financing fees of $0.4 million in 2009 and a decrease in the average interest cost of $0.3 million.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

Our effective consolidated income tax rate on continuing operations was 54.8% for the three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to a benefit of 35.7% for the same period in 2009. The variance of our effective tax rate from expected statutory rates reflects the effects of Texas franchise tax on the small amount of net income in 2010 and non-recurring adjustments in both periods.

 

Income from Discontinued Operations

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $17.6 million during the three month period ended June 30, 2009 reflects primarily the $16.7 million gain on sale of our New Mexico utility, net of taxes. The sale reflects a $107.2 million reduction in assets, offset by reduction in liabilities which include $69.0 million of contributions in aid of construction.

 

26


 


 

Six months ended June 30, 2010 Compared to 2009

 

Consolidated operating revenue decreased $1.8 million, or 1.7%, to $100.7 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 from $102.5 million for the same period in the prior year. Consolidated operating expenses decreased $15.0 million, or 13.0%, to $100.8 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 from $115.8 million for the 2009 period. Resulting operating income increased $13.2 million to break-even for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010, from an operating loss of $13.3 million for the same period in the prior year.  The operating loss for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 includes the impact of $3.1 million of costs associated with the proposed Merger Agreement and related retention expense, as well as other items described below while the 2009 operating loss includes $10.6 million of costs associated with the restatement process and $8.0 million of impairment of assets related to the Cornerstone project as well as other items described below.

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of Revenue

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

30,163

 

$

29,812

 

 

$

351

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

22,724

 

20,672

 

 

2,052

 

 

75.3%

 

69.3%

 

Operating Income

 

 

$

7,439

 

$

9,140

 

 

$

(1,701

)

 

24.7%

 

30.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas Utilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

18,360

 

$

17,596

 

 

$

764

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

15,343

 

13,177

 

 

2,166

 

 

83.6%

 

74.9%

 

Operating Income

 

 

$

3,017

 

$

4,419

 

 

$

(1,402

)

 

16.4%

 

25.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O&M Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

19,548

 

$

18,128

 

 

$

1,420

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

19,529

 

18,157

 

 

1,372

 

 

99.9%

 

100.2%

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

$

19

 

$

(29

)

 

$

48

 

 

0.1%

 

(0.2%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas MUD Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

32,658

 

$

36,972

 

 

$

(4,314

)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

32,819

 

36,479

 

 

(3,660

)

 

100.5%

 

98.7%

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

$

(161

)

$

493

 

 

$

(654

)

 

(0.5%)

 

1.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

10,338

 

27,279

 

 

(16,941

)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

$

(10,338

)

$

(27,279

)

 

$

16,941

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenue

 

 

$

100,729

 

$

102,508

 

 

$

(1,779

)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expense

 

 

100,753

 

115,764

 

 

(15,011

)

 

100.0%

 

112.9%

 

Operating Loss

 

 

$

(24

)

$

(13,256

)

 

$

13,232

 

 

(0.0%)

 

(12.9%)

 

 

27



 

Utilities

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Six months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

29,812

 

 

 

$

20,672

 

 

 

$

9,140

 

Growth related

 

 

93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate related

 

 

561

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demand related

 

 

(979

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balancing account

 

 

676

 

 

 

676

 

 

 

 

 

Supply related

 

 

 

 

 

795

 

 

 

 

 

O&M related

 

 

 

 

 

74

 

 

 

 

 

G&A related

 

 

 

 

 

238

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

269

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

30,163

 

 

 

$

22,724

 

 

 

$

7,439

 

 

Operating revenue increased $0.4 million, or 1.2 %, to $30.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 from $29.8 million for the same period in the prior year.  The net increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Growth related: A $0.1 million increase primarily due to connection growth in Alabama.

 

·                    Rate related: A $0.6 million increase due to rate increases in California and Alabama, of which approximately half is due to our California utility implementing a step rate increase in January 2010 and the remainder is primarily due to rate increases in our Alabama utilities.

 

·                    Demand related: A $1.0 million decrease primarily due to lower consumption at our California utility resulting from cooler temperatures and higher precipitation in the first half of 2010 compared to the first half of 2009 and from continuing customer conservation efforts.

 

·                    Balancing account: A $0.7 million increase related to balancing account surcharges approved by the CPUC and collected in California to recover certain deferred water supply costs which is offset by the same amount in balance account expenses. No return is earned on surcharges.

 

Operating expenses increased $2.1 million, or 9.9%, to $22.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $20.7 million for same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Balancing account: A $0.7 million increase in costs recognized related to the balancing account surcharges described above.

 

·                    Supply related: A $0.8 million increase primarily due to higher production costs of delivered water in California offset by lower volume of delivered water in California.

 

·                    O&M related: A $0.1 million increase primarily due to an increase in depreciation expense resulting from capital additions offset by increase in capitalized costs.

 

·                    G&A related: A $0.2 million increase primarily due to an increases in salaries and wages and insurance expenses.

 

·                    Other: A $0.3 million increase due to legal fees, severance expenses, and proposed Merger related retention expense.

 

As a result of the above events, operating income decreased $1.7 million, to $7.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $9.1 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

28



 

Texas Utilities

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Six months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

17,596

 

 

 

$

13,177

 

 

 

$

4,419

 

Growth related

 

 

196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rate related

 

 

884

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demand related

 

 

(316)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O&M related

 

 

 

 

 

1,120

 

 

 

 

 

G&A related

 

 

 

 

 

1,046

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

18,360

 

 

 

$

15,343

 

 

 

$

3,017

 

 

Operating revenue increased $0.8 million, or 4.3%, to $18.4 million for six months ended June 30, 2010 from $17.6 million for the same period in the prior year. The net increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Growth related: A $0.2 million increase primarily due to an increase in connection count and tap fees.

 

·                    Rate related: A $0.9 million increase primarily due to a step-rate increase in rates at three of our utilities.

 

·                    Demand related: A $0.3 million decrease due to lower volume of delivered water as a result of more normalized weather patterns in the first half of 2010 compared to hotter and drier climatic conditions in the corresponding period of 2009.

 

Operating expenses increased $2.2 million, or 16.4%, to $15.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $13.2 million for the same period in the prior year.  The increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    O&M related: A $1.1 million increase primarily due to higher repairs and maintenance costs, increases in salaries and wages associated with increased personnel in operations, and higher fuel and supply costs.

 

·                    G&A related: A $1.0 million increase due to increases in salary and wages associated with increased financial services head-count as well as information technology costs and professional fees.

 

As a result of the above events, operating income decreased $1.4 million, to $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $4.4 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

O&M Services

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Six months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

18,128

 

 

 

$

18,157

 

 

 

$

(29

)

Contract growth

 

 

2,596

 

 

 

1,676

 

 

 

 

 

Lost work

 

 

(1,176

)

 

 

(675

)

 

 

 

 

G&A related

 

 

 

 

 

(155

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

526

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

19,548

 

 

 

$

19,529

 

 

 

$

19

 

 

Operating revenue increased $1.4 million to $19.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to $18.1 million for the same period in the prior year:

 

·                    Contract growth: A $2.6 million increase due to $1.1 million from new contracts in California and Alabama and $1.5 million primarily from increased project work in Colorado and California.

 

·                    Lost work: A $1.2 million decrease due to decreased project work and lost contracts.

 

Operating expenses increased $1.4 million, or 7.6%, to $19.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $18.2 million for the same period in the prior year.  The net increase was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Contract growth: A $1.7 million increase due to new contracts and project work identified above.

 

·                    Lost work: A $0.7 million decrease due to lost contracts and reduced project work.

 

29



 

·                    G&A related: A $0.2 million decrease due to lower salary and wages, associated with lower head-count, and insurance expenses.

 

·                    Other: A $0.5 million increase related to legal, severance, and proposed Merger related retention expense.

 

As a result of the above events, operating income was essentially break-even for both the six months ended June 30, 2010 and the six months ended June 30, 2009.

 

Texas MUD Services

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

Expense

 

 

 

Income

 

Six months ended June 30, 2009

 

 

$

36,972

 

 

 

$

36,479

 

 

 

$

493

 

Contract growth

 

 

(4,314

)

 

 

(1,989

)

 

 

 

 

G&A related

 

 

 

 

 

(2,538

)

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

867

 

 

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30, 2010

 

 

$

32,658

 

 

 

$

32,819

 

 

 

$

(161

)

 

Operating revenue decreased $4.3 million, or 11.7%, to $32.7 million for six months ended June 30, 2010 from $37.0 million for the same period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to the following:

 

·                    Contract growth: A $4.3 million decrease in revenue due to $2.8 million from lost contracts, $1.0 million primarily related to a reduction in pass-through revenue from materials purchased for clients , and $0.5 million related to the sale of our environmental testing laboratory on April 1, 2009, and.

 

Operating expenses decreased $3.7 million, or 10.0%, to $32.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $36.5 million for the same period in the prior year.  The net decrease was primarily due to the following events:

 

·                    Contract growth: A $2.0 million decrease due to $0.9 million from lost contracts, $0.2 million due to the sale of our environmental testing laboratory, and $0.9 million primarily related to a reduction in pass-through costs from materials purchased for clients.

 

·                    G&A related: A $2.5 million decrease, primarily due to decreases in salary and wages expenses, associated with lower head-count, and other savings and efficiency gains in general and administrative costs, particularly in the customer service center.

 

·                    Other: A $0.9 million increase due to gain on sale of our environmental testing laboratory that was realized in the second quarter of 2009, legal and severance expenses, and proposed Merger related retention expense.

 

As a result of the above events, operating income decreased $0.7 million to a loss of $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $0.5 million of operating income in the same period of the prior year.

 

Corporate

 

Operating expenses decreased $16.9 million, or 62.1%, to $10.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $27.3 million for the same period in the prior year.

 

·                    General & administrative related: A $1.0 million decrease primarily due to decreases in salaries and wages and lower bonus accruals, and stock based compensation expense offset by increases in professional fees, related to the preparation and audit of our annual financial statements and internal control remediation efforts.

 

·                    Other: A $16.0 million decrease primarily driven by a reduction of $10.6 million related to the financial restatement expenses and $8.0 million related to a write-off of Cornerstone assets offset by a $2.7 million increase in costs associated with the proposed Merger Agreement.

 

30



 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Aggregate other expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 5.4% to $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $4.8 million for the same period in the prior year as follows:

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

Change

 

Interest expense

 

 

$

(4,608

)

$

(4,862

)

 

$

254

 

Interest income

 

 

88

 

84

 

 

4

 

Total

 

 

$

(4,520

)

$

(4,778

)

 

$

258

 

 

 

Interest expense decreased by $0.3 million, or 5.2%, to $4.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 from $4.9 million for the same period during the prior year as a result of a reduction in the average interest-bearing debt outstanding to $149.3 million in 2010 from $171.8 million in 2009, offset by an increase in the effective interest rate to 6.2% in the first two quarters of 2010 from 5.7% in the same period in the prior year.

 

The increase in the effective interest rate in 2010 over 2009 reflects the increased borrowing margins on our credit facility due to the 2009 credit facility amendments discussed in the “Financial Condition” section below.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

Our effective consolidated income tax rate on continuing operations was a benefit of 36.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to a benefit of 36.4% for the same period in 2009. The slight variance of our effective tax rate from expected statutory rates reflects non-recurring adjustments in both periods.

 

Income from Discontinued Operations

 

Income from discontinued operations of $17.7 million during the six month period ended June 30, 2009 reflects primarily the $16.7 million gain on sale of our New Mexico utility, net of tax. The sale reflects a $107.2 million reduction in assets, offset by a reduction in liabilities including a $69.0 million reduction in contributions in aid of construction.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

See the discussions under the caption “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” contained in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Our overall objectives with respect to liquidity and capital resources are to:

 

·                    Generate sufficient operating cash flows to service our debt and tax obligations, fund capital improvements and organic growth, and pay dividends to our stockholders;

 

·                    Utilize our credit facility for major capital improvements and to manage seasonal cash needs;

 

·                    Obtain external financing for major acquisitions; and

 

·                    Maintain approximately equal levels of debt and equity consistent with the investor-owned water utility industry.

 

31



 

Our statements of cash flows are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

Change

 

Net cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

 

$

627

 

$

3,423

 

 

$

(2,796

)

Investing activities

 

 

(5,944

)

48,255

 

 

(54,199

)

Financing activities

 

 

4,624

 

(41,177

)

 

45,801

 

Total continuing operations

 

 

(693

)

10,501

 

 

(11,194

)

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

(8,095

)

 

8,095

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

(291

)

 

291

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

(1,647

)

 

1,647

 

Total discontinued operations

 

 

 

(10,033

)

 

10,033

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

$

(693

)

$

468

 

 

$

(1,161

)

 

Revolving lines of credit were primarily used to fund our investing activities and, to a lesser extent, to fund operations. Additional borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility was $40.0 million as of June 30, 2010.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities of Continuing Operations. Net cash provided by operating activities was $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to $3.4 million for the same period last year. Operational aspects of our businesses that affected working capital in 2010 versus 2009 are highlighted below:

 

·                    A fluctuation of $9.1 million from net income in 2009 of $6.2 million to a 2010 net loss of $2.9 million, offset by a $4.9 million fluctuation in non-cash adjustments from 2009 to 2010.

 

·                    $1.4 million increase in cash provided by working capital and other balance sheet account management, primarily related to the timing of payments for other liabilities.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities of Continuing Operations. Cash used in investing activities representing purchases on property, plant and equipment, principally within our utility segments, decreased by $0.2 million, or 4.9%, compared to the prior year period. This excludes the proceeds from the NMUI sale of $54.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2009.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities of Continuing Operations. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, we reduced our total borrowing and financed our capital expenditures, working capital and dividend payments.

 

·                    We received $16.1 million from the issuance of 2,700,000 shares of common stock sold through the Investment Agreements in connection with the Merger Agreement and used the proceeds from the stock sale to pay down our revolving credit facility by $16.2 million. In 2009 we used the proceeds from the sale of NMUI to pay down $55.6 million of debt.

 

·                    We borrowed $6.7 million under our revolving line of credit, a reduction of $21.3 million in borrowings compared to comparable period last year;

 

·                    Borrowings were used for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, as well as working capital needs, including paying $1.4 million in dividends during the first quarter of 2010.

 

32


 


 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

The following table summarizes our known contractual obligations to make future cash payments as of June 30, 2010, as well as an estimate of the periods during which these payments are expected to be made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remainder

 

2011

 

2013

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

of

 

and

 

and

 

and

 

(In thousands)

 

 

Total

 

2010

 

2012

 

2014

 

Beyond

 

Long-term debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payment obligations (1)

 

 

$

144,170

 

$

1,224

 

$

4,063

 

$

67,100

 

$

71,783

 

Interest payments on fixed rate debt (2)

 

 

70,301

 

2,592

 

10,047

 

9,664

 

47,998

 

Interest payments on bank line of credit (3)

 

 

6,564

 

1,250

 

5,001

 

313

 

-

 

Repayment of advances for construction (4)

 

 

9,531

 

296

 

1,269

 

764

 

7,202

 

Water purchase commitment (5)

 

 

115,304

 

594

 

7,782

 

9,450

 

97,478

 

Operating lease obligations (6)

 

 

19,628

 

2,442

 

7,236

 

3,221

 

6,729

 

Total obligations as of June 30, 2010 (7)

 

 

$

365,498

 

$

8,399

 

$

35,399

 

$

90,511

 

$

231,190

 

 


(1)

 

Excludes interest payments, which are described in the following notes. The terms of the long-term debt are more fully described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this report and in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Reflects scheduled interest payments on all fixed rate debt obligations.

 

 

 

(3)

 

As of June 30, 2010, there was $65.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our $110.0 million bank line of credit which is scheduled for repayment in 2013. The line of credit bears interest at variable rates and the principal amount outstanding will vary from time to time in future periods. As a result, the amount of future interest payments is uncertain. Borrowings bear interest, at our option, based on a margin a) over the LIBOR rate, or b) over the prime rate. The margins also vary based on our consolidated debt-to-capitalization ratio. The interest obligations reflected in the table were computed based on $65.0 million of borrowings outstanding at the 3.85% weighted average annual interest rate in effect on our bank line of credit borrowings as of June 30, 2010.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Advances for construction are non-interest bearing. Our repayment assumptions on certain obligations are based upon forecasted connection growth. If forecasted connections do not materialize, the related payments are not due and corresponding amounts become contributed property.

 

 

 

(5)

 

Reflects the minimum annual contractual commitments in the Texas Utilities segment to purchase water through 2037. The amount is subject to increases in future periods for production costs increases and may also increase, but not decrease, if average actual usage exceeds a specified amount.

 

 

 

(6)

 

As of June 30, 2010, leased office commitment is $15.6 million of which $1.3 million is payable during the remainder of 2010. The vehicles and machinery lease commitment at June 30, 2010 is $4.0 million of which $1.1 million is payable during the remainder of 2010.

 

 

 

(7)

 

Excludes preferred stock dividend obligations. Preferred stockholders are entitled to receive annual dividends of $2.625 per share and there are 9,156 shares of preferred stock outstanding at June 30, 2010. The preferred stock is redeemable by the Company at any time for $52.00 per share and, from time to time, we have elected to repurchase shares offered to us by preferred stockholders at prices less than $52.00 per share.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

We believe our existing sources of liquidity are adequate to meet our anticipated needs in the coming year. Our business is capital intensive, requiring significant resources to fund operating expenses, construction expenditures, and interest and dividend payments. During 2010 and in subsequent years, we may from time to time satisfy these requirements with a combination of cash generated by operations, borrowings under our revolving credit facility or funds from the capital markets as conditions allow. We expect that borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility will continue to be available to manage working capital during those periods.

 

33



 

At June 30, 2010, we had working capital of $5.0 million compared to working capital of $5.2 million at December 31, 2009.

 

We have access to $110.0 million in financing under our credit facility that expires February 15, 2013. A total of nine banks participate in the facility. As of June 30, 2010, we had $40.0 million of borrowing capacity available under our credit facility. The impact of the prior period restatement on our retained earnings, combined with the additional borrowings on the facility during 2008, and the lack of timeliness of SEC financial filings created a number of defaults under our credit facility agreement at March 31, 2009. The defaults were cured with several amendments to the credit facility agreement dated from November 28, 2008 through July 31, 2009. Under the amendments, our credit facility was reduced from $150.0 million to its current availability of $110.0 million. The facility was also secured with certain assets of the Company and our borrowing margins were significantly increased. As of June 30, 2010 our debt-to-capitalization ratio is 54%, therefore, the applicable margins are 3.50% over the LIBOR rate and 2.50% over the prime rate. Fees and expenses charged by the Bank Group for all the amendments were $3.4 million, of which $0.1 million were charged for the six months ended June 30, 2010. These fees were capitalized and are being amortized as interest expense over the remaining life of the facility which extends through February 2013.

 

Our ability to comply with financial covenants, pay principal or interest and refinance our debt obligations will depend on our future operating performance as well as other factors that may be beyond our control.  The continued opportunity for operating improvements, enhanced cash management and suspension of elective capital expenditures should improve our ability to comply with the revised covenants in the revolving credit facility.

 

As part of the amended credit agreement for our credit facility, we have agreed to utilize only $12.5 million under our capital lease facility.  Our California mortgage bond indentures permit the issuance of an additional $58.4 million of first mortgage bonds as of June 30, 2010. However, the terms of our revolving credit facility do not permit additional first mortgage bond indebtedness without prior consent from the credit facility lenders. The mortgage bond indentures also limit the amount of cash and property dividends our California utility company pays to the parent Company. Dividends have historically averaged $5.0 million to $5.6 million per year and are less than the aggregate cumulative dividend restriction threshold by $21.1 million as of June 30, 2010. The dividend payments in 2010 may represent a return of capital as the Company is in a negative accumulated earnings and profit position as of December 31, 2009. We were in compliance with, or had obtained waivers for, all loan agreement covenants during the six months ended June 30, 2010.

 

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, we executed Investment Agreements under which we sold 2,700,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $6.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $16.2 million. The Investment Agreements were consummated on March 16, 2010. With the related proceeds, we paid down our credit line which increased our available credit under the line.

 

We have previously filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC for the issuance of up to $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of common stock, debt securities and warrants. We issued approximately $43.6 million of common stock under the shelf registration. However, under terms of the Merger Agreement, we have agreed not to sell additional shares of common stock or other equity interests in the Company until the termination of the Merger Agreement.

 

CERTAIN CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS AND INDEMNITIES

 

At June 30, 2010, we had irrevocable standby letters of credit in the amount of $5.0 million issued and outstanding under our credit facility.

 

During our normal course of business, we have entered into agreements containing indemnities pursuant to which we may be required to make payments in the future. These indemnities are in connection with facility leases and liabilities and operations and maintenance contracts entered into by our contract services businesses. The duration of these indemnities, commitments and guarantees varies, and in certain cases, is indefinite. Substantially all of these indemnities provide no limitation on the maximum potential future payments we could be obligated to make and is not quantifiable. We have not recorded any liability for these indemnities.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

Through the date of this report, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. In addition, we do not engage in trading activities involving non-exchange traded contracts. We are not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in these relationships. We do not have relationships or transactions with persons or entities that derive benefits from their non-independent relationship with us or our subsidiaries.

 

34



 

We lease some of our equipment and office facilities under operating leases which are deemed to be off-balance sheet arrangements. Our future operating lease payment obligations are more fully described under the caption “Contractual Obligations” above.

 

ITEM 3.                               QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As of June 30, 2010, we had $144.7 million of long-term variable and fixed-rate debt. We are exposed to market risk based on changes in prevailing interest rates.

 

Market risk related to our variable-rate debt is estimated as the potential decrease in pre-tax earnings resulting from an increase in interest rates. We have $65.0 million of long-term debt that bears interest at variable rates based on either the prime rate or LIBOR rate. Our variable-rate debt had a weighted average annual interest rate of 3.85% as of June 30, 2010. A hypothetical one percent (100 basis points) increase in the average annual interest rates charged on our variable-rate debt would reduce our pre-tax earnings by approximately $0.6 million per year.

 

Our fixed-rate debt, which has a carrying value of $79.7million, has a fair value of $72.5 million as of June 30, 2010. Market risk related to our fixed-rate debt is deemed to be the potential increase in fair value resulting from a decrease in prevailing interest rates. Our fixed-rate debt had a weighted average annual interest rate of 6.6% as of June 30, 2010. A hypothetical ten percent decrease in annual interest rates, from 6.6% to 5.9%, would increase the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by approximately $4.6 million.

 

We do not use derivative financial instruments to manage or reduce these risks although we may do so in the future. We do not enter into derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

 

ITEM 4.                               CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

This report includes the certifications attached as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 of our CEO and CFO required by Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act. This Item 4 includes information concerning the controls and control evaluations referred to in those certifications.

 

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2010. Based on our evaluation and the identification of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described below, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of June 30, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.

 

INHERENT LIMITATIONS OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must acknowledge the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the deliberate acts of one or more persons. The design of any system of controls is based, in part, upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with associated policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a

 

35



 

process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that our transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and our directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2010. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. In connection with management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting described above, management has identified control deficiencies that constituted material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 as described below:

 

1.  We did not maintain an effective control environment because of the following material weaknesses:

 

· We did not maintain an environment that consistently emphasized strict adherence to GAAP. This control deficiency, in certain instances, led to inappropriate accounting decisions and audit adjustments that have been recorded in 2009 and 2008.   This control deficiency was magnified in prior years by the decentralized nature of the accounting function that existed at our various operating locations.

 

· In certain areas (internal audit, finance, tax and accounting departments), we did not maintain a sufficient complement of resources with an appropriate level of accounting knowledge, experience and training commensurate with our structure and financial reporting requirements.

 

· We did not maintain complete and accurate business documentation to support certain transactions and accounting records. The controls in these areas with respect to the creation, maintenance and retention of complete and accurate business records were not effective.

 

2.  We did not maintain effective monitoring of controls in certain areas, including period end financial reporting process, goodwill, regulatory accounting, stock-based compensation, lease accounting, property, plant and equipment, estimates and accruals. This deficiency resulted in either not having adequate controls designed and in place or not achieving the intended operating effectiveness of controls.

 

3.  We did not maintain effective controls over risk assessments. Specifically, we did not maintain processes to evaluate certain business and fraud risks. This deficiency resulted in either not having adequate controls designed and in place or not achieving the intended operating effectiveness of controls.

 

The material weaknesses in our control environment, monitoring of controls and risk assessments described above contributed to the material weaknesses set forth below:

 

4.  We did not maintain effective controls over accounting policies and application of GAAP.  Specifically, we did not maintain and communicate sufficient and consistent accounting policies, which limited our ability to make accounting decisions and to detect and correct accounting errors.  This deficiency contributed to other control deficiencies, some of which have resulted in material weaknesses, as further described below.

 

5.  We did not maintain effective controls over the recording of journal entries, both recurring and non-recurring. Specifically, effective controls were not in place to ensure that journal entries were properly prepared with sufficient supporting documentation or were reviewed and approved to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the journal entries. This deficiency contributed to other control deficiencies, some of which have resulted in material weaknesses, as further described below.

 

36


 


 

6. We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of key spreadsheets and system-generated reports. Specifically, effective controls were not designed and in place to ensure that key spreadsheets and system-generated reports were properly reviewed for accuracy and completeness.  This deficiency contributed to other control deficiencies, some of which have resulted in material weaknesses, as further described below.

 

7.  We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of our accounting for acquisitions. Specifically, we did not design and maintain effective controls with respect to the application of relevant GAAP and the deficiency resulted in errors, including audit adjustments in 2008, in the allocation of the purchase price to the underlying assets acquired, including goodwill and liabilities assumed.  This deficiency affected property, plant and equipment, deferred income tax and liabilities, goodwill and long-term liability accounts.

 

8.  We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of our accounting estimates related to self-insurance. Specifically, we did not design and maintain effective controls with respect to the maintenance and reconciliation of claims and the review of actuarial valuations.  This deficiency affected accrued liabilities and expense accounts in prior years.  This control deficiency resulted in adjustments identified through additional procedures performed by management in 2009 and audit adjustments in 2008.

 

9.  We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of our accounting for the impairment of goodwill. Specifically, we did not design and maintain effective controls to ensure proper identification of reporting units, triggering events and fair value estimates.  This control deficiency resulted in audit adjustments in 2008.

 

10.  We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of our accounting for regulated entities. Specifically, we did not design and maintain effective controls with respect to the application of relevant GAAP in the areas of regulatory assets and liabilities.  This control deficiency resulted in audit adjustments in 2009 and 2008.

 

11.  We did not maintain effective controls over the accuracy and valuation of stock-based compensation. Specifically, we did not maintain effective controls over the assumptions used in the calculation of stock-based compensation.  This control deficiency resulted in audit adjustments in 2008.

 

12.  We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of property, plant and equipment and related depreciation expense. Specifically, we did not design and maintain effective controls to ensure that there was timely transfer of property, plant and equipment additions from construction work in progress; that retirements were properly recorded; that depreciation expense was accurately recorded based on appropriate useful lives assigned to the related property, plant and equipment; that assets are capitalized properly; that contributions of cash were timely transferred to CIAC for amortization; and that impairment losses are timely identified and determined.   This control deficiency resulted in adjustments identified through additional procedures performed by management in 2009 and audit adjustments in 2008.

 

13.  We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness and accuracy of unbilled revenue. Specifically, we did not maintain effective controls to standardize a process and methodology of calculating and recording unbilled revenue in the proper period.  This control deficiency resulted in audit adjustments in 2009 and 2008 and adjustments identified through additional procedures performed by management in 2009.

 

14.  We did not maintain effective controls to ensure the completeness of the recording of accounts payable and accrued liabilities on a timely basis. Specifically, we did not review and approve invoices and their supporting documentation on a timely basis.  This control deficiency resulted in audit adjustments in 2008.

 

15.  We did not maintain effective controls to ensure the completeness, accuracy and valuation of the revenue recorded by our Southeast Utility operation.  Specifically, we did not maintain appropriate controls over the design or identify appropriate controls over the systems, invoicing, and other processes performed at the Southeast Utilities.  This control deficiency could result in a misstatement of accounts receivable and revenue that would result in a material misstatement in our annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected in a timely manner.

 

16.  We did not maintain effective controls over the completeness, accuracy and valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities.  Specifically, we did not design and maintain effective controls with respect to accounting for the difference between book and tax basis of the company’s property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. This control deficiency could result in a misstatement of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the tax provision that would result in a material misstatement in our annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected in a timely manner.

 

The material weaknesses described above could result in misstatements of substantially all of the accounts and disclosures related to it that would result in a material misstatement in our annual or interim consolidated financial

 

37



 

statements that would not be prevented or detected in a timely manner. Although the deficiencies did not result in the identification of a material misstatement in the first half of 2010, management has not performed comprehensive testing of the controls in place as of June 30, 2010 and, therefore, is not able to conclude that they are sufficiently designed and effectively operating to prevent or detect such misstatement. Accordingly, management has determined that each of the control deficiencies above constitutes a material weakness and concluded that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2010.

 

Based on the performance of additional procedures by management designed to ensure the reliability of our financial reporting, we believe the consolidated financial statements included in this report as of and for the periods ended June 30, 2010 are fairly stated in all material respects.

 

PLANS FOR REMEDIATION OF MATERIAL WEAKNESSES

 

We have engaged in and are continuing to engage in efforts to improve our internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures. Specific initiatives to date have been focused on the following:

 

(i)                                      Communicating, both internally and externally, our commitment to a strong effective control environment, high ethical standards and financial reporting integrity, emphasizing a strict adherence to GAAP accounting;

 

(ii)                                   Implementing a comprehensive review and approval of all material accounting decisions by the Principal Financial Officer, including the documentation of key accounting issues which are used to train our accounting staff;

 

(iii)                                Taking certain personnel actions including supplementing existing accounting staff with additional permanent or contract employees;

 

(iv)                                Improving and standardizing system-generated financial reports, developed to support operations management and financial reporting;

 

(v)                                   Specific training for Finance and Accounting Department personnel to reinforce the importance of our control environment in addition to internal controls training to all Managers across the Company which reinforced the importance of controls;

 

(vi)                                Implementing of policies and procedures to ensure that we retain business and accounting records and documenting the application of GAAP for business transactions;

 

(vii)                             Implementing period end reporting processes including a consolidated monthly close checklist, journal entry approval, account reconciliations with supporting documentation, documentation supporting accruals and estimates, additional processes for the valuation and recognition of utility unbilled revenue and additional processes around manually prepared spreadsheets;

 

(viii)                          Implementing formal procedures over valuation of our accounting estimates related to our claims process associated with medical, automobile and workers’ compensation self-insurance, including the increased use of outside actuarial experts, the systematic review of claims by the appropriate department manager and the review and roll forward of actuarial analyses;

 

(ix)                                 Implemented a risk assessment process to evaluate the business and fraud risks within the company to ensure we have control activities that are designed and operating effectively to address the areas considered at-risk that have been determined by the risk assessment;

 

(x)                                    Documented narratives for all significant processes to generate an accurate representation of current processes providing a baseline for performing risk analysis, internal controls testing, and implementing process improvements;

 

(xi)                                 Engaged a professional services firm to assist with conducting the evaluation of the design and implementation of the internal controls environment and to assist with identifying opportunities to improve the design and effectiveness of the control environment; and

 

(xii)                              Implemented a monthly business process and controls certification process requiring the respective process owners attest to the design and operating effectiveness of their controls.

 

We have also implemented a remediation plan (the “Plan”) to address the material weaknesses for each of the affected areas presented above. The Plan ensures that each area affected by a material weakness is put through a

 

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comprehensive remediation process. The remediation process entails a thorough analysis which includes the following phases:

 

(a)                                    Define and assess the control deficiency: ensure a thorough understanding of the “as is” state, process owners, and gaps in the control deficiency;

 

(b)                                   Design and evaluate a remediation action for each weakness for each affected area: validate or improve the related policy and procedures, evaluate skills of the process owners with regards to the policy and adjust as required;

 

(c)                                    Implement specific remediation actions: train process owners; allow time for process adoption and adequate transaction volume for next steps;

 

(d)                                   Test and measure the design and effectiveness of the remediation plan, and test and provide feedback on the design and operating effectiveness of the updated controls; and

 

(e)                                    Management review and acceptance of completion of the remediation effort.

 

The Plan is administered by key leaders from cross functional portions of the organization, including the CFO. The Committee reports on progress quarterly (or more frequently, as needed) to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

 

We believe the steps taken to date have improved the effectiveness of many of our internal controls over financial reporting; however, we have not completed all of the corrective processes, procedures and related evaluation or remediation identified herein, that we believe are necessary. As we continue to monitor the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in the areas affected by the material weaknesses described above, we will perform additional procedures prescribed by management, including the use of manual mitigating control procedures, to ensure that our financial statements continue to be fairly stated in all material respects.

 

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

As of June 30, 2010, we implemented certain measures to improve our internal controls over financial reporting and to remediate previously identified material weaknesses.  Specifically, we have segregated responsibility for the initiation and approval of wire transfer requests between treasury and accounting personnel and have implemented controls over confirmation and review of the executed wire transfers.

 

Although we have begun to take other specific actions to improve the overall effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2010, there were no other changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.  Furthermore, the design or operating effectiveness of additional changes in internal control over financial reporting have not yet been evaluated through our remediation process.

 

REMEDIATION OF PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MATERIAL WEAKNESS

 

As previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for quarter ended March 31, 2010, we determined that our internal controls and procedures around the wire transfer process was ineffective resulting in a material weakness. The material weakness was the result of inadequate policies and procedures and ineffective internal controls and inadequate policies and procedures regarding the initiation, approval and confirmation of wire transfers. Specifically, we did not maintain adequate segregation of duties allowing a single individual exclusive rights to execute wire transfers without independent review or confirmation.  As a result, this control deficiency could have resulted in unauthorized or inappropriate cash disbursements.  As of June 30, 2010, the following measures to remediate the control deficiency have been implemented:

 

(1)           We implemented a formal wire transfer policy requiring an authorized manager, independent from the requestor, review and approve all wire transfer requests.

 

(2)   The chief financial officer delegated approval authority to the group controller for wire transfers.

 

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(3)           We implemented a process documenting calling instruction for the wire transfer confirmation from our bank that is an independent authorized manager.

 

(4)           We implemented a settlement process that requires the cash management function to reconcile the approved and confirmed wire transfer against the daily bank transaction report.

 

Based on the implementation of the additional processes and internal controls discussed above and the subsequent substantive testing of those internal controls for a sufficient period of time, management has concluded that the material weakness has been remediated and that our wire transfer procedures and the related internal control over financial reporting are now effective.

 

We have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our wire transfer controls and procedures as of June 30, 2010. Based on that evaluation the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our wire transfer procedures and the related internal control activity are effective in initiating, approving, confirming and reconciling wire transfers with adequate segregation of functions.

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.                  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Other than those stated in “Part 1- Item 1- Note 4. Commitments and Contingencies — Legal Proceedings,” there have been no new, material developments to or terminations of legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their property is the subject during the period covered by this Quarterly Report.

 

ITEM 1A.               RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no material changes in our risk factors since we last reported under Part I, Item 1A, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

ITEMS 2, 3, 4 AND 5 ARE NOT APPLICABLE AND HAVE BEEN OMITTED.

 

 

ITEM 6.                  EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

 

 

Number

 

Exhibit Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of SouthWest Water Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 included in the Company’s Form 8 K filed with the Commission on May 22, 2008)

3.1.1

 

Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of SouthWest Water Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 included in the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 22, 2008

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of SouthWest Water Company dated August 20, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 included in the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 18, 2009)

31.1

*

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

*

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

*

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

*

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002

 


*                   Filed herewith

 

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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, thereto duly authorized.

 

 

 

SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY (REGISTRANT )

 

 

 

 

Dated:  August 6, 2010

/s/  BEN SMITH

 

 

Ben Smith

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

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