KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 3, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Aquila, Inc. (NYSE:ILA) today reported a net loss of $14.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, or fully diluted per share loss of four cents, compared to a net loss of $155.0 million in 2006, or a fully diluted per share loss of 41 cents. Repositioning activities in the second quarter of 2006, including the exit from the Elwood tolling agreements, and the 2006 debt tender offer, and rate relief at the utility operations were the primary reasons for the improvement in current quarter earnings. Sales for the quarter were $298.6 million in 2007 versus $283 million in 2006.
"We are pleased to report continued progress in our utilities. It is attributable to the dedication of our entire Aquila team that earnings have improved while we simultaneously find ways to deliver safe, reliable energy more efficiently," said Richard C. Green, Aquila chairman and chief executive officer.
Results for the six-month period ending June 30, 2007 were a net loss of $39.0 million, or a fully diluted loss of 10 cents per share, compared to a 2006 year-to-date net loss of $156.1 million, or 42 cents per fully diluted share. The repositioning activities that occurred in the second quarter of 2006 were also the primary reasons for the change in six month earnings. Year-to-date sales increased to $742.8 million, or $28.8 million higher than 2006 sales of $714 million. The company reported year-to-date EBITDA of $85.5 million in 2007 compared to loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $170.9 million in 2006.
Segment EBITDA
Continuing electric utility operations in Missouri and Colorado and natural gas utility operations in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado reported 2007 EBITDA of $55.6 million, up $14.1 million from $41.5 million reported in 2006. Electric Utilities EBITDA increased $9.3 million from 2006 and Gas Utilities reported an EBITDA increase of $4.8 million. Merchant Services EBITDA of $3.5 million was $228.1 million better than the loss of $224.6 million reported in 2006, and the Corporate and Other EBITDA of $5.5 million in 2007 was $29.0 million greater than the $23.5 million loss in 2006.
Electric Utilities
Gross profit was $95.5 million in 2007, an increase of $2.4 million from 2006. This increase resulted primarily from the recent Missouri rate order which increased base rates and authorized a fuel adjustment clause effective June 1, 2007 and favorable customer usage, offset in part by increases in the net cost of fuel and purchased power. The increases in fuel and purchased power costs were driven by an extended and unplanned plant outage, curtailed delivery under a purchased power contract due to a plant outage and a surge in wholesale power prices.
In addition to the increase in gross profit, the company reduced operating and maintenance expenses in the second quarter of 2007 compared to 2006 primarily as a result of the acceleration of maintenance work normally performed in the second quarter into the first quarter during the plant outages discussed above.
Gas Utilities
Gross profit was $36.9 million in 2007, $2.8 million higher than 2006 due to favorable weather and other volume increases compared to 2006 and an interim rate increase in Nebraska. In addition to the increase in gross profit the Company reduced operation and maintenance expenses related to outside services, labor and other operating costs.
Merchant Services
Merchant Services reported a gross loss of $4.1 million in 2007, compared to a gross loss of $9.5 million a year earlier. The improvement in gross loss from 2006 was a result of exiting the Elwood tolling contract in June 2006, which eliminated $8.2 million of capacity payments for the quarter. The primary factor contributing to the 2006 quarter EBITDA loss of $224.6 million was a $218 million charge related to the assignment of the Elwood tolling contracts.
Corporate and Other
Corporate and Other reported 2007 EBITDA of $5.5 million, compared to a $23.5 million loss in 2006. The primary factor causing the 2006 quarter EBITDA loss was a $22.7 million charge associated with the early retirement of $350 million of the Company's outstanding senior notes.
Discontinued Operations
Discontinued Operations includes the company's former Kansas electric utility operations; its former Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri gas utility operations; its former Merchant Services peaking plants in Illinois; and its former Everest Connections telecommunications business. The company's discontinued operations reported EBITDA of $.8 million in 2007, which was a $169.1 million decrease from $169.9 million reported in 2006. The EBITDA decrease was due primarily to the gains recognized in 2006 on the sale of the gas utility properties and Everest Connections.
Conference Call, Webcast and Additional Information
Today at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Aquila will host a conference call and webcast in which senior executives will review second quarter 2007 results. Participants will be Chief Executive Officer Richard C. Green, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer Beth Armstrong and Senior Vice President of Regulated Operations Jon Empson.
To access the live webcast via the Internet, go to Aquila's website at www.aquila.com and click "Presentations & Webcasts" in the "Investor Information" section. Listeners should allow at least five minutes to register and access the presentation. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, an online replay will be available for two weeks at the same location on the website ("Investor Information"), beginning approximately two hours after the presentation. Replay also will be available by telephone through Friday, August 10, 2007 at 800-405-2236 in the United States, and at 303-590-3000 for international callers. Callers need to enter the access code 11094722# when prompted.
Based in Kansas City, Mo., Aquila owns electric power generation and operates electric and natural gas transmission and distribution networks serving over 900,000 customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. More information is available at www.aquila.com.
"EBITDA"
Aquila uses the term "earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)" as a performance measure for segment financial analysis. The term is not meant to be considered an alternative to net income or cash flows from operating activities, which are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the term may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
The Aquila, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1753
AQUILA, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
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3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
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In millions, except per share
amounts 2007 2006 2007 2006
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Sales $ 298.6 $ 283.0 $ 742.8 $ 714.0
Cost of sales 170.3 165.2 497.9 479.4
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Gross profit 128.3 117.8 244.9 234.6
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Operating expenses:
Operation and maintenance
expense 71.4 81.8 162.4 153.0
Taxes other than income taxes 4.5 5.2 13.4 14.1
Restructuring charges -- 2.9 1.6 4.9
Net loss on asset sales and
other charges 1.3 240.7 1.3 241.4
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Total operating expenses 77.2 330.6 178.7 413.4
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Other income (expense) 13.5 6.2 19.3 7.9
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Earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization 64.6 (206.6) 85.5 (170.9)
Depreciation and amortization
expense 26.9 24.4 54.1 51.5
Total interest expense 45.4 44.7 80.1 81.7
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Loss from continuing operations
before income taxes (7.7) (275.7) (48.7) (304.1)
Income tax expense (benefit) 7.6 (22.9) (6.2) (33.7)
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Loss from continuing operations (15.3) (252.8) (42.5) (270.4)
Earnings from discontinued
operations, net of tax .6 97.8 3.5 114.3
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Net loss $ (14.7) $ (155.0) $ (39.0) $ (156.1)
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Weighted average shares
outstanding - diluted 375.7 375.0 375.6 374.8
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Loss per share from continuing
operations - diluted $ (.04) $ (.67) $ (.11) $ (.72)
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Earnings per share from
discontinued operations
- diluted -- .26 .01 .30
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Net loss per share - diluted $ (.04) $ (.41) $ (.10) $ (.42)
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AQUILA, INC.
Segment EBITDA Reconciliation to Continuing Operations Pretax Loss
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3 Months Ended
June 30,
------------------ Favorable
In millions 2007 2006 (Unfavorable)
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Utilities:
Electric Utilities $ 48.2 $ 38.9 $ 9.3
Gas Utilities 7.4 2.6 4.8
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Total Utilities 55.6 41.5 14.1
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Merchant Services 3.5 (224.6) 228.1
Corporate and Other 5.5 (23.5) 29.0
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Total EBITDA 64.6 (206.6) 271.2
Depreciation and amortization 26.9 24.4 (2.5)
Interest expense 45.4 44.7 (.7)
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Loss from continuing operations
before income taxes $ (7.7) $ (275.7) $ 268.0
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6 Months Ended
June 30,
------------------ Favorable
In millions 2007 2006 (Unfavorable)
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Utilities:
Electric Utilities $ 54.4 $ 62.5 $ (8.1)
Gas Utilities 36.5 27.7 8.8
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Total Utilities 90.9 90.2 .7
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Merchant Services (.6) (232.0) 231.4
Corporate and Other (4.8) (29.1) 24.3
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Total EBITDA 85.5 (170.9) 256.4
Depreciation and amortization 54.1 51.5 (2.6)
Interest expense 80.1 81.7 1.6
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Loss from continuing operations
before income taxes $ (48.7) $ (304.1) $ 255.4
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AQUILA, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
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June 30, December 31,
In millions 2007 2006
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ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 96.6 $ 232.8
Funds on deposit 61.0 107.9
Accounts receivable, net 216.3 257.0
Inventories and supplies 98.5 116.0
Price risk management assets 64.4 71.3
Regulatory assets, current 2.8 29.0
Other current assets 25.0 33.5
Current assets of discontinued operations -- 26.5
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Total current assets 564.6 874.0
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Utility plant, net 1,870.3 1,825.1
Non-utility plant, net 127.8 130.2
Price risk management assets 26.8 43.4
Goodwill, net 111.0 111.0
Regulatory assets 129.5 149.0
Deferred charges and other assets 50.4 53.6
Non-current assets of discontinued operations -- 286.1
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Total Assets $ 2,880.4 $ 3,472.4
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LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 4.9 $ 19.7
Accounts payable 97.4 205.4
Accrued interest 46.0 49.7
Regulatory liabilities, current 31.6 10.8
Accrued compensation and benefits 18.5 26.8
Pension and post-retirement benefits, current 3.5 3.5
Other accrued liabilities 73.1 94.3
Price risk management liabilities 51.0 74.5
Customer funds on deposit 19.3 15.6
Current liabilities of discontinued
operations -- 1.4
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Total current liabilities 345.3 501.7
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Long-term debt, net 1,039.1 1,385.9
Deferred income taxes and credits -- 19.3
Price risk management liabilities 13.9 27.1
Pension and post-retirement benefits 74.0 72.5
Regulatory liabilities 68.0 72.4
Deferred credits 49.5 51.5
Non-current liabilities of discontinued
operations -- 35.9
Common shareholders' equity 1,290.6 1,306.1
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Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 2,880.4 $ 3,472.4
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