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: November 1, 2016
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 November 1, 2016, Middlesex Water Company (the "Company") announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016. 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 November 1, 2016 announcing Third Quarter 2016 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/A. Bruce O’Connor | |
| A. Bruce O’Connor | |
| Vice President, Treasurer and | |
| Chief Financial Officer |
Dated: November 1, 2016
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY ANNOUNCES
THIRD QUARTER 2016 FINANCIAL RESULTS
Third Quarter Highlights
| § | Consolidated Revenues Rise 9.1% |
| § | Net Income Increases 30.7% |
| § | Earnings Per Share Rise 31.7% |
| § | Dividend Increased by 6.29% |
November 1, 2016 -- ISELIN, NJ -- Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX) ("Middlesex" or the "Company") today reported third quarter consolidated operating revenues of $37.8 million as compared to $34.7 million for the same period in 2015. Net income for the quarter was $8.8 million, compared to $6.7 million reported in the same quarter of 2015. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $0.54, compared to $0.41 for the same period in 2015.
Middlesex Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis W. Doll said, “Our positive third quarter results were largely influenced by favorable weather conditions, higher demand for water and the effect of rate relief granted to Middlesex by regulators in August 2015. In addition to delivering results of $0.54 per share for the quarter, we were pleased to announce a 6.29% increase in the common dividend in October, which represents the 44th year of consecutive dividend increases in our company’s history and demonstrates our continuing focus on improving shareholder value.”
Third Quarter Operating Results
Consolidated operating revenues for the third quarter increased $3.1 million from the same period in 2015. Revenues in the Company’s Middlesex system in New Jersey increased $2.3 million, primarily due to New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“NJBPU”) approved rate increase implemented in August 2015, favorable weather and higher wholesale contract customer demand. Revenues in our Delaware system, Tidewater Utilities, Inc., (Tidewater) increased $0.5 million, primarily due to additional customers and weather-related demand. Revenues from contract operations increased $0.2 million, primarily related to scheduled fixed fee increases under our operating contract with the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey as well as supplemental services earned under our contract to operate the Borough of Avalon, New Jersey’s water utility, sewer utility and storm water system.
Operation and maintenance expenses for the third quarter decreased $0.2 million from the same period in 2015. This decrease is primarily attributable to lower retirement plan costs resulting from a higher actuarially-determined discount rate than in the prior year. Labor costs increased $0.3 million due to higher average labor rates and increased headcount, partially offset by higher capitalized labor in the Middlesex system.
Nine Month Operating Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, revenues increased $6.0 million from the same period in 2015. Revenues in our Middlesex system increased $5.5 million, due to favorable weather conditions, a NJBPU-approved rate increase implemented in August 2015 and higher wholesale contract customer demand. Revenues in our Tidewater system increased $0.1 million, primarily due to additional customers offset by lower customer demand from unfavorable weather conditions in late spring and early summer.
Operation and maintenance expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased $0.9 million from the same period in 2015, primarily due to lower employee benefit expenses, fewer water main breaks and lower variable production costs due to improved non-revenue water management and higher raw water quality in our Middlesex system.
Net income increased $4.1 million from the same period in 2015. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.19, compared to $0.95 for the same period in 2015.
Annual Dividend Increased for 44th Consecutive Year
As previously reported, the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.21125 per share on its common stock, a 6.29 percent increase. Middlesex Water Company has paid cash dividends in varying amounts continually since 1912. This increase raises the annual dividend to $0.845 from $0.795 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable December 1, 2016 to shareholders of record as of November 10, 2016.
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. Information about the Company’s Direct Share Purchase and Sale and Dividend Reinvestment Plan can be found at investors.middlesexwater.com
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, | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 37,794 | $ | 34,654 | $ | 101,098 | $ | 95,100 | ||||||||
| Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Operations and Maintenance | 16,599 | 16,772 | 48,215 | 49,089 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 3,243 | 3,032 | 9,561 | 8,962 | ||||||||||||
| Other Taxes | 3,796 | 3,390 | 10,537 | 9,671 | ||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 23,638 | 23,194 | 68,313 | 67,722 | ||||||||||||
| Operating Income | 14,156 | 11,460 | 32,785 | 27,378 | ||||||||||||
| Other Income (Expense): | ||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for Funds Used During Construction | 207 | 113 | 387 | 297 | ||||||||||||
| Other Income (Expense), net | 400 | 108 | 449 | 108 | ||||||||||||
| Total Other Income, net | 607 | 221 | 836 | 405 | ||||||||||||
| Interest Charges | 1,427 | 1,505 | 3,841 | 4,058 | ||||||||||||
| Income before Income Taxes | 13,336 | 10,176 | 29,780 | 23,725 | ||||||||||||
| Income Taxes | 4,523 | 3,433 | 10,258 | 8,258 | ||||||||||||
| Net Income | 8,813 | 6,743 | 19,522 | 15,467 | ||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements | 36 | 36 | 108 | 108 | ||||||||||||
| Earnings Applicable to Common Stock | $ | 8,777 | $ | 6,707 | $ | 19,414 | $ | 15,359 | ||||||||
| Earnings per share of Common Stock: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.54 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 1.19 | $ | 0.95 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.54 | $ | 0.41 | $ | 1.19 | $ | 0.95 | ||||||||
| Average Number of | ||||||||||||||||
| Common Shares Outstanding : | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 16,284 | 16,202 | 16,262 | 16,161 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 16,440 | 16,358 | 16,418 | 16,317 | ||||||||||||
| Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share | $ | 0.1988 | $ | 0.1925 | $ | 0.5963 | $ | 0.5775 | ||||||||