Essential Utilities - 10-Q quarterly report FY2011 Q1

The accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of capitalization of Aqua America, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) at March 31, 2011, the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the consolidated statements of cash flow for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated statement of equity for the three months ended March 31, 2011, are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring accruals, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, the consolidated changes in equity, the consolidated results of operations, and the consolidated cash flow for the periods presented. Because they cover interim periods, the statements and related notes to the financial statements do not include all disclosures and notes normally provided in annual financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The results of operations for interim periods may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. The December 31, 2010 consolidated balance sheet data presented herein was derived from the Company’s December 31, 2010 audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures and notes normally provided in annual financial statements. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s goodwill, by business segment:

The City of Fort Wayne, Indiana (“the City”) has authorized the acquisition by eminent domain of the northern portion of the utility system of one of the operating subsidiaries that the Company acquired in connection with the AquaSource acquisition in 2003. In 2008, the Company reached a settlement with the City to transition the northern portion of the system in 2008 upon receipt of the City’s initial valuation payment of $16,911. The settlement agreement specifically stated that the final valuation of the northern portion of the Company’s system will be determined through a continuation of the legal proceedings that were filed challenging the City’s valuation. On February 12, 2008, the Company turned over the northern portion of the system to the City upon receipt of the initial valuation payment. The proceeds received by the Company are in excess of the book value of the assets relinquished. No gain has been recognized due to the contingency over the final valuation of the assets. Once the contingency is resolved and the asset valuation is finalized, through the finalization of the litigation between the Company and the City of Fort Wayne, the amounts deferred will be recognized in the Company’s consolidated income statement. On March 16, 2009, oral argument was held on certain procedural aspects with respect to the valuation evidence that may be presented and whether the Company is entitled to a jury trial. On October 12, 2010, the Wells County Indiana Circuit Court ruled that the Company is not entitled to a jury trial, and that the Wells County judge should review the City of Fort Wayne Board of Public Works’ assessment based upon a “capricious, arbitrary or an abuse of discretion” standard. The Company disagreed with the Court’s decision and as such on November 11, 2010, requested that the Wells County Indiana Circuit Court certify those issues for an interim appeal. The Wells County Indiana Circuit Court granted that request and on March 7, 2011, the Indiana Court of Appeals granted the Company’s request to review the decision of those issues on appeal. Depending upon the outcome of all of the legal proceeding the Company may be required to refund a portion of the initial valuation payment, or may receive additional proceeds. The northern portion of the utility system relinquished represents approximately 0.50% of the Company’s total assets.

In March 2011, the Company sold a water and wastewater utility system in Texas for net proceeds of $3,118. The sale resulted in the recognition of a gain on the sale of these assets, net of expenses of $2,452. The gain is reported in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income as a reduction to operations and maintenance expense.

The carrying amount of current assets and liabilities that are considered financial instruments approximates their fair value as of the dates presented. The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt are as follows:

The fair value of long-term debt has been determined by discounting the future cash flows using current market interest rates for similar financial instruments of the same duration. The Company’s customers’ advances for construction and related tax deposits have a carrying value of $66,679 as of March 31, 2011, and $66,966 as of December 31, 2010. Their relative fair values cannot be accurately estimated because future refund payments depend on several variables, including new customer connections, customer consumption levels, and future rate increases. Portions of these non-interest bearing instruments are payable annually through 2026 and amounts not paid by the contract expiration dates become non-refundable. The fair value of these amounts would, however, be less than their carrying value due to the non-interest bearing feature.

Basic net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potentially dilutive shares. The dilutive effect of employee stock-based compensation is included in the computation of diluted net income per common share. The dilutive effect of stock-based compensation is calculated using the treasury stock method and expected proceeds upon exercise or issuance of the stock-based compensation. The following table summarizes the shares, in thousands, used in computing basic and diluted net income per common share:

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, employee stock options to purchase 937,133 and 3,136,875 shares of common stock, respectively, were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share as the calculated proceeds from the options’ exercise were greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock during these periods.

Under the Company’s 2009 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan”), as approved by the Company’s shareholders to replace the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2004 Plan”), stock options, stock units, stock awards, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents, and other stock-based awards may be granted to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants and advisors. The 2009 Plan authorizes 5,000,000 shares for issuance under the plan. A maximum of 50% of the shares available for issuance under the 2009 Plan may be issued as restricted stock and the maximum number of shares that may be subject to grants under the Plan to any one individual in any one year is 200,000. Awards under the 2009 Plan are made by a committee of the Board of Directors. At March 31, 2011, 4,160,076 shares underlying stock-based compensation awards were still available for grants under the 2009 Plan. No further grants may be made under the 2004 Plan.

Performance Share Units — A performance share unit (“PSU”) represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock if specified performance goals are met over the three year performance period specified in the grant, subject to certain exceptions through the three year vesting period. Each grantee is granted a target award of PSUs, and may earn between 0% and 200% of the target amount depending on the Company’s performance against the performance goals. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded stock-based compensation related to PSUs as a component of operations and maintenance expense of $101. Prior to the first quarter of 2011, there were no grants of PSUs. The following table summarizes nonvested PSU transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

The fair value of PSUs was estimated at the grant date based on the probability of satisfying the performance conditions associated with the PSUs using the Monte Carlo valuation method. The per unit weighted-average fair value at the date of grant for PSUs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $24.38. The fair value of each PSU grant is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis over their respective vesting periods, which ranges from 24 to 36 months. The accrual of compensation costs is based on our estimate of the final expected value of the award, and is adjusted as required. The Company assumes that forfeitures will be minimal, and recognizes forfeitures as they occur, which results in a reduction in compensation expense. The recording of compensation expense for PSUs has no impact on net cash flows.

Restricted Stock Units — A restricted stock unit (“RSU”) represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock. RSUs are eligible to be earned at the end of a specified restricted period, generally three years, beginning on the date of grant. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded stock-based compensation related to awards of RSUs as a component of operations and maintenance expense of $39. The Company assumes that forfeitures will be minimal, and recognizes forfeitures as they occur, which results in a reduction in compensation expense. Prior to the first quarter of 2011, there were no grants of RSUs. The following table summarizes nonvested RSU transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

Stock Options — The fair value of stock options is estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following table provides compensation costs for stock-based compensation related to stock options granted in prior periods:

There were no stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2011. The following table summarizes stock option transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

Restricted Stock — During the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded stock-based compensation related to restricted stock awards granted in prior periods as a component of operations and maintenance expense in the amounts of $389 and $452, respectively. The following table summarizes nonvested restricted stock transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

The Company maintains qualified defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees. The net periodic benefit cost is based on estimated values and an extensive use of assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, the rate of future compensation increases received by the Company’s employees, mortality, turnover, and medical costs. The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit costs:

The Company made cash contributions of $9,520 to its defined benefit pension plans during the first three months of 2011, and intends to make cash contributions of $7,620 to the plans during the remainder of 2011. In addition, the Company expects to make cash contributions of $2,012 for the funding of its other postretirement benefit plans during the remainder of 2011.

The following table provides the components of taxes other than income taxes:

The Company has identified fourteen operating segments and has one reportable segment named the “Regulated” segment. The reportable segment is comprised of thirteen operating segments for the Company’s water and wastewater regulated utility companies which are organized by the states where we provide these services. In addition, one segment is not quantitatively significant to be reportable and is comprised of the businesses that provide on-site septic tank pumping, sludge hauling services and certain other non-regulated water and wastewater services. This segment is included as a component of “Other” in the tables below. Also included in “Other” are corporate costs that have not been allocated to the Regulated segment and intersegment eliminations.

The following tables present the Company’s segment information:

The Company is routinely involved in various disputes, claims, lawsuits and other regulatory and legal matters, including both asserted and unasserted legal claims, in the ordinary course of business. The status of each such matter, referred to herein as a loss contingency, is reviewed and assessed in accordance with applicable accounting rules regarding the nature of the matter, the likelihood that a loss will be incurred, and the amounts involved. As of March 31, 2011, the aggregate amount of $12,363 is accrued for loss contingencies and is reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as other accrued liabilities and other liabilities. These accruals represent management’s best estimate of probable loss (as defined in the accounting guidance) for loss contingencies or the low end of a range of losses if no single probable loss can be estimated. For some loss contingencies, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of the probable loss or range of probable losses. While the final outcome of these loss contingencies cannot be predicted with certainty, and unfavorable outcomes could negatively impact the Company, at this time in the opinion of management, the final resolution of these matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Further, the Company has insurance coverage for certain of these loss contingencies, and as of March 31, 2011, estimates that approximately $2,617 of the amount accrued for these matters are probable of recovery through insurance, which amount is also reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as deferred charges and other assets, net.

As of March 31, 2011, the Company recorded a deferred tax asset for a Federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward of $41,176, and for the Company’s Pennsylvania operating subsidiary a state NOL of $17,061. The Company believes the Federal and state NOL carryforwards are more likely than not to be recovered and require no valuation allowance. The Company’s Federal and state NOL carryforwards do not begin to expire until 2030 and 2031, respectively.

There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements that the Company has adopted that would have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

We are subject to market risks in the normal course of business, including changes in interest rates and equity prices. There have been no significant changes in our exposure to market risks since December 31, 2010. Refer to Item 7A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 for additional information.

The City of Fort Wayne, Indiana (the “City”) authorized the acquisition by eminent domain of the northern portion of the utility system of one of the Company’s operating subsidiaries in Indiana. In 2008, we reached a settlement agreement with the City to transition this portion of the system in 2008 upon receipt of the City’s initial valuation payment of $16,910,500. The settlement agreement specifically stated that the final valuation of the system will be determined through a continuation of the legal proceedings that were filed challenging the City’s valuation. On February 12, 2008, we turned over the northern portion of the system to the City upon receipt of the initial valuation payment. The proceeds received by the Company are in excess of the book value of the assets relinquished. No gain has been recognized due to the contingency over the final valuation of the assets. Once the contingency is resolved and the asset valuation is finalized, through the finalization of the litigation between the Company and the City of Fort Wayne, the amounts deferred will be recognized in the Company’s consolidated income statement. On March 16, 2009, oral argument was held before the Allen County Circuit Court on certain procedural aspects with respect to the valuation evidence that may be presented and whether we are entitled to a jury trial. On October 12, 2010, the Wells County Indiana Circuit Court ruled that the Company is not entitled to a jury trial, and that the Wells County judge should review the City of Fort Wayne Board of Public Works’ assessment based upon a “capricious, arbitrary or an abuse of discretion” standard. The Company disagreed with the Court’s decision and as such, on November 11, 2010, requested that the Wells County Indiana Circuit Court certify those issues for an interim appeal. The Wells County Circuit Court granted that request and on March 7, 2011, the Indiana Court of Appeals granted the Company’s request to review the decision of those issues on appeal. Depending upon the ultimate outcome of all of the legal proceedings we may be required to refund a portion of the initial valuation payment, or may receive additional proceeds. The northern portion of the system relinquished represented approximately 0.50% of Aqua America’s total assets.

There have been no material changes to the risks disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“Form 10-K”) under “Part 1, Item 1A — Risk Factors.”

The following table summarizes Aqua America’s purchases of its common stock for the quarter ended March 31, 2011:

The information required by this Item is set forth in the Exhibit Index hereto which is incorporated herein by reference.