UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: October 25, 2012
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| NEW JERSEY | 0-422 | 22-1114430 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Commission | (I.R.S. Employer |
| incorporation or organization) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
1500 RONSON ROAD, P.O. BOX 1500, ISELIN, NEW JERSEY 08830
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(732)-634-1500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On October 25, 2012, Middlesex Water Company (the "Company") announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012. A copy of the press release announcing these financial results is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Form 8-K by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
| Exhibit | |
| Number | Description of Document |
| 99.1 | Press Release and income statement issued by Middlesex Water Company, dated October 25, 2012 announcing Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY | |
| (Registrant) | |
| s/Kenneth J. Quinn | |
| Kenneth J. Quinn | |
| Vice President, General Counsel, | |
| Secretary and Treasurer |
Dated: October 25, 2012
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER
2012 OPERATING RESULTS
October 25, 2012 -- ISELIN, NJ -- Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX) ("Middlesex" or the "Company") today reported third quarter operating revenues of $32.4 million compared to $28.7 million for the same period in 2011. Net income for the quarter increased to $6.1 million from $5.1 million in the same quarter of 2011. Earnings per basic and diluted share for the quarter were $0.39 and $0.38 per share, respectively, compared to $0.33 and $0.32, respectively, for the same period in 2011.
Third Quarter Operating Results
Operating revenues for the third quarter increased $3.7 million from the same period in 2011. Revenues in our Middlesex and Tidewater systems increased $2.9 million, primarily due to base rate increases that went into effect in June 2012 and July 2012, respectively. Also contributing to the results were increased revenues of $0.6 million related to our operating contracts with the Borough of Avalon, New Jersey and the Eagle Point Biological Wastewater Treatment facility, also in New Jersey. Both operations commenced in 2012. In addition, revenues increased $0.2 million from scheduled fixed fee increases through our contract with the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
Operation and maintenance expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $0.9 million from the same period in 2011. This was attributable primarily to an increase in postretirement benefit plan expenses.
Nine Month Operating Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, revenues were $83.3 million, as compared to $78.8 million for the same period in 2011. Revenues in our Middlesex system increased $1.1 million, primarily due to the effect of the base rate increase granted in July 2012. Revenues in our Tidewater system increased $2.1 million, primarily due to increased connection fees as well as interim and final rate increases that went into effect in November 2011 and June 2012, respectively. Non-regulated contract operations revenues increased by $1.2 million for new and existing contracts.
Operation and maintenance expenses increased $2.0 million from the same period in 2011, primarily due to higher postretirement benefit plan expenses.
Net income increased to $11.7 million from $11.4 million from the same period in 2011. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the nine months were $0.73, compared to $0.72 in 2011.
Quarterly Dividend Increased for 40th Consecutive Year
On October 23, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend on common stock to $0.1875 from $0.1850. The new dividend rate is payable December 3, 2012 to shareholders of record as of November 15, 2012. This dividend increase raises the annual dividend to $0.75 from $0.74 per share of common stock and represents the 40th consecutive year of annual dividend increases and the 100th year of dividend payments.
About Middlesex Water Company
Middlesex Water Company, organized in 1897, provides regulated and unregulated water and wastewater utility services primarily in New Jersey and Delaware through various subsidiary companies. For additional information regarding Middlesex Water Company including information about the Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan, visit the Company's Web site at www.middlesexwater.com or call (732) 634-1500.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Bernadette Sohler, Vice President – Corporate Affairs
Middlesex Water Company
1500 Ronson Road
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
(732) 638-7549
www.middlesexwater.com
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 32,353 | $ | 28,671 | $ | 83,300 | $ | 78,769 | ||||||||
| Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Operations and Maintenance | 15,600 | 14,667 | 44,740 | 42,760 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 2,629 | 2,421 | 7,759 | 7,250 | ||||||||||||
| Other Taxes | 3,281 | 3,067 | 8,871 | 8,737 | ||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 21,510 | 20,155 | 61,370 | 58,747 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Income | 10,843 | 8,516 | 21,930 | 20,022 | ||||||||||||
| Other Income (Expense): | ||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for Funds Used During Construction | 110 | 235 | 383 | 626 | ||||||||||||
| Other Income | 106 | 759 | 423 | 1,118 | ||||||||||||
| Other Expense | (4 | ) | (20 | ) | (155 | ) | (180 | ) | ||||||||
| Total Other Income, net | 212 | 974 | 651 | 1,564 | ||||||||||||
| Interest Charges | 1,808 | 1,703 | 4,941 | 4,631 | ||||||||||||
| Income before Income Taxes | 9,247 | 7,787 | 17,640 | 16,955 | ||||||||||||
| Income Taxes | 3,109 | 2,644 | 5,970 | 5,557 | ||||||||||||
| Net Income | 6,138 | 5,143 | 11,670 | 11,398 | ||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements | 52 | 52 | 155 | 155 | ||||||||||||
| Earnings Applicable to Common Stock | $ | 6,086 | $ | 5,091 | $ | 11,515 | $ | 11,243 | ||||||||
| Earnings per share of Common Stock: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 0.72 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.32 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 0.72 | ||||||||
| Average Number of | ||||||||||||||||
| Common Shares Outstanding : | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 15,741 | 15,622 | 15,717 | 15,599 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 16,004 | 15,885 | 15,980 | 15,862 | ||||||||||||
| Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share | $ | 0.1850 | $ | 0.1825 | $ | 0.5550 | $ | 0.5475 | ||||||||