CLEVELAND, Nov. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gas Natural Inc. (NYSE MKT: EGAS) (the "Company"), a holding company operating local natural gas utilities serving approximately 68,600 customers in four states, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016. Results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 do not include the results of the Kentucky and Pennsylvania utilities which were divested in the fourth quarter of 2015 ("Divestitures").
Third Quarter 2016 Summary
-- Full service distribution throughput increased modestly due to the addition of approximately 400 new customers in the quarter -- Net loss from continuing operations improved to $0.17 per share -- Closed on $92 million debt refinancing in early fourth quarter -- Signed merger agreement with First Reserve Energy Infrastructure in early fourth quarter
Mr. Gregory J. Osborne, Gas Natural's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "With much of the costs and distractions of our prior legal and regulatory matters behind us, we can now more acutely focus on improving our cost structure and growing our operations. As recently announced, early in the fourth quarter we completed the refinancing of our debt that was supported by our new organizational structure. Closure of those initiatives positions us well to accelerate our progress as we strive to achieve our vision of becoming a premier natural gas company recognized as a benchmark in our industry."
He added, "We are working diligently through the merger process with First Reserve, announced in early October, as we endeavor for a seamless process that will prove favorable for our customers, employees, regulators and shareholders."
Third Quarter and Year-to-date 2016 Operations Review
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended (in thousands) September 30, September 30, ------------- ------------- 2016 2015 2016 2015 ---- ---- ---- ---- Revenue by segment: Natural Gas Operations $10,543 $11,355 $60,213 $77,403 Marketing & Production 2,812 1,729 8,482 5,460 ----- ----- ----- ----- Consolidated $13,355 $13,084 $68,695 $82,863 ======= ======= ======= =======
Revenue for the 2016 third quarter increased approximately 2% over the prior-year quarter. The increase was driven by higher sales in Marketing & Production to the Company's former Wyoming operations which were divested in the third quarter of 2015. Previously, such sales were recorded as intercompany and eliminated from consolidated revenue. The Natural Gas Operations segment, despite modestly higher volume, realized lower natural gas prices as well as $0.1 million less revenue from the Divestitures.
Revenue for the first nine months of 2016 was down approximately 17% compared with the prior-year period. The increase in Marketing & Production was for the same reason as described above for the quarter. This was more than offset by the Natural Gas Operations segment that was impacted by lower volume due to warmer weather, lower gas prices, and a $1.4 million reduction from the Divestitures.
Changes in Gross Margin Three Months Nine Months Ended Ended (in thousands) September 30, 2016 ------------------ 2015 Gross Margin $6,815 $31,954 ------ ------- Utilities sold 85 (420) Weather and other volume changes 13 (1,963) Impact of paper mill closures (626) (1,701) Gas cost adjustment - 693 New utility customers 311 1,001 --- ----- Natural Gas Operations change (217) (2,390) ---- ------ New marketing customers 30 299 Pricing and other (52) (109) --- ---- Marketing & Production change (22) 190 --- --- Consolidated gross margin change (239) (2,200) ---- ------ 2016 Gross Margin $6,576 $29,754 ====== =======
Gross margin for the third quarter of 2016 decreased 4% compared with the prior-year period primarily due to the impact of paper mill closures in Maine, partially offset by increased full service distribution throughput to new customers. Customer count grew by approximately 400 in the quarter to 68,600, compared with the end of the second quarter of 2016.
Gross margin for the first nine months of 2016 decreased 7% compared with the prior-year period. The decrease was primarily the result of warmer weather in each of the Company's markets, the impact of closed paper mills in Maine, and the Divestitures, partially offset by new customers and the effect of a gas cost adjustment recorded last year.
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended (in thousands) September 30, September 30, ------------- ------------- 2016 2015 2016 2015 ---- ---- ---- ---- Operating (loss) income by segment: Natural Gas Operations $(2,095) $(2,128) $2,687 $5,995 Marketing & Production (106) (68) 870 (36) Corporate & Other (721) (450) (2,963) (2,279) ---- ---- ------ ------ Consolidated $(2,922) $(2,646) $594 $3,680 ======= ======= ==== ====== Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA* $(8) $460 $9,277 $12,627
*See the attached tables for important disclosures regarding the Company's use of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, accretion, atypical expenses and discontinued operations ("Adjusted EBITDA") as well as reconciliations of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") net (loss) income to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA for the 2016 and 2015 third quarter and year-to-date periods.
For the third quarter of 2016, the operating loss was $0.3 million greater than the prior-year's loss, primarily due to lower gross margin. Comparing the year-to-date periods, 2016 operating income was $3.1 million lower than 2015 on lower gross margin and higher operating expenses.
Within the Natural Gas Operations segment, operating expenses for the quarter decreased $0.3 million as legal and professional expenses were down $0.4 million and $0.2 million of expenses were eliminated with the Divestitures. Those reductions were partially offset by increased investments in information technology.
On a year-to-date basis, the Natural Gas Operations' operating expenses were $0.9 million higher than the prior year, primarily due to increases in personnel costs and investments in information technology, partially offset by $0.9 million of expenses being eliminated with the Divestitures. The Marketing & Production segment comparison benefited from the favorable settlement of a legal matter in the 2016 second quarter. Litigation, settlement and proxy contest costs drove increased expenses within the Corporate & Other segment.
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was down about $0.5 million due to lower gross margin in the 2016 third quarter and higher atypical expenses in last year's third quarter. On a year-to-date basis, Adjusted EBITDA was unfavorably impacted by lower gross margin and higher information technology costs as well as differences in atypical items. The Company believes that, when used in conjunction with measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, helps in the understanding of its financial performance.
Other income (loss), net increased by $0.2 million in the quarter due to recognition in last-year's quarter of a $0.4 million loss related to the sale of a building.
Compared with the prior-year quarter, the income tax benefit increased by $0.5 million to $1.8 million. Excluding discreet items, the effective tax rates were 36.2% and 36.4% for the 2016 and 2015 third quarters, respectively. Excluding discreet items for the nine month year-to-date periods, the effective tax rates were 31.5% and 37.6% for 2016 and 2015, respectively. The improvements in the 2016 periods resulted from the benefit of an R&D tax credit and a favorable change in the Company's blended state tax rate.
Balance Sheet and Cash Management
Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2016 grew to $3.8 million from $2.7 million at December 31, 2015.
Cash provided by operating activities in the 2016 first nine months was $10.5 million compared with $12.2 million in the 2015 period, with the decrease primarily due to lower income from continuing operations and lower working capital requirements related to the lower price of natural gas.
Capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2016 were $5.8 million compared with $8.3 million in the prior-year period. 2016 capital expenditures included approximately $1.9 million for the Company's ERP system that were not financed under a lease agreement. Remaining capital expenditures for 2016 are expected to be approximately $1.3 million. The majority of capital is focused on growth of the Company's Natural Gas Operations segment, including construction activities to support expansion, maintenance and enhancements of its gas pipeline systems.
Cash used in financing activities was $4.7 million in the 2016 first nine months compared with $18.0 million in the prior year period. Debt repayment was the primary use of cash in both periods.
Webcast and Conference Call
Gas Natural will host a conference call and live webcast on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. During the conference call and webcast, management will review the financial and operating results for the 2016 third quarter and discuss Gas Natural's corporate strategies and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow. The teleconference can be accessed by calling (201) 493-6725. The webcast can be monitored on the Company's website at investor.egas.net.
A telephonic replay will be available from 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the day of the teleconference through Wednesday, November 16, 2016. To listen to a replay of the call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter the conference ID number 13647842. An archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website at investor.egas.net/past events and will include a transcript, once available.
About Gas Natural Inc.
Gas Natural Inc., a holding company, distributes and sells natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. It distributes approximately 21 billion cubic feet of natural gas to roughly 68,600 customers through regulated utilities operating in Montana, Ohio, Maine and North Carolina. The Company's other operations include intrastate pipeline, natural gas production, and natural gas marketing. The Company's Montana public utility was originally incorporated in 1909. Its strategy for growth is to expand throughput in its markets, while looking for acquisitions that are either adjacent to its existing utilities or in under-served markets. Further information is available on the Company's website at www.egas.net.
Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Company is including the following cautionary statement in this release to make applicable and to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Gas Natural Inc. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, those that are identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes" and similar expressions. Such statements are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. Factors that may affect forward-looking statements and the Company's business generally include, but are not limited to the Company's ability to consummate the corporate reorganization and debt refinancing on terms that are acceptable to the Company, or at all; the Company's ability to successfully integrate the operations of the companies it has acquired and consummate additional acquisitions; the Company's continued ability to make or increase dividend payments; the Company's ability to implement its business plan, grow earnings and improve returns on investment; fluctuating energy commodity prices; the possibility that regulators may not permit the Company to pass through all of its increased costs to its customers; changes in the utility regulatory environment; wholesale and retail competition; the Company's ability to satisfy its debt obligations, including compliance with financial covenants; weather conditions; litigation risks; and various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's control; the risk factors and cautionary statements made in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and other factors that the Company is currently unable to identify or quantify, but may exist in the future. Gas Natural Inc. expressly undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Gas Natural Inc.'s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
For more information, contact: Gas Natural Inc. Investor Relations James E. Sprague, Chief Financial Officer Deborah K. Pawlowski or Karen L. Howard, Kei Advisors LLC Phone: (216) 202-1564 Phone: (716) 843-3908 / (716) 843-3942 Email: jsprague@egas.net Email: dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com / khoward@keiadvisors.com
FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW.
Gas Natural Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------- ------------- 2016 2015 2016 2015 ---- ---- ---- ---- REVENUE Natural gas operations $10,543 $11,355 $60,213 $77,403 Marketing and production 2,812 1,729 8,482 5,460 Total revenue 13,355 13,084 68,695 82,863 COST OF SALES Natural gas purchased 4,019 4,614 31,210 46,010 Marketing and production 2,760 1,655 7,731 4,899 Total cost of sales 6,779 6,269 38,941 50,909 ----- ----- ------ ------ GROSS MARGIN 6,576 6,815 29,754 31,954 OPERATING EXPENSES Distribution, general, and administrative 6,227 6,365 19,323 18,898 Maintenance 211 256 715 871 Depreciation, amortization and accretion 2,014 1,790 5,981 5,348 Taxes other than income 1,024 1,015 3,042 3,023 Provision for doubtful accounts 22 35 99 134 Total operating expenses 9,498 9,461 29,160 28,274 ----- ----- ------ ------ OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME (2,922) (2,646) 594 3,680 Other income (loss), net 116 (118) (148) (330) Interest expense (798) (812) (2,313) (2,567) ---- ---- ------ ------ (Loss) income before income taxes (3,604) (3,576) (1,867) 783 Income tax (benefit) expense (1,778) (1,312) (1,072) 343 ------ ------ ------ --- (LOSS) INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (1,826) (2,264) (795) 440 Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 2 3,395 (7) 4,045 NET (LOSS) INCOME $(1,824) $1,131 $(802) $4,485 ======= ====== ===== ====== Basic weighted shares outstanding 10,512,680 10,494,130 10,508,154 10,490,736 Dilutive effect of restricted stock awards - 1,134 - 1,173 --- ----- --- ----- Diluted weighted shares outstanding 10,512,680 10,495,264 10,508,154 10,491,909 ========== ========== ========== ========== BASIC & DILUTED (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE: Continuing operations $(0.17) $(0.22) $(0.08) $0.04 Discontinued operations - 0.32 - 0.39 --- --- Net (loss) income per share $(0.17) $0.10 $(0.08) $0.43 ====== ===== ====== ===== Dividends declared per common share $0.075 $0.135 $0.225 $0.270 ====== ====== ====== ======
Gas Natural Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (in thousands) September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 ---- ---- ASSETS ------ CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $3,833 $2,728 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $396 and $506, respectively 5,436 10,635 Accounts receivable due from related parties 14 188 Unbilled gas 1,991 6,995 Inventory Natural gas 5,266 4,063 Materials and supplies 2,224 2,271 Regulatory assets, current 2,340 2,469 Restricted cash 948 - Other current assets 3,228 2,174 Total current assets 25,280 31,523 PROPERTY, PLANT, & EQUIPMENT, NET 139,980 142,416 OTHER ASSETS Regulatory assets, non-current 1,154 1,523 Goodwill 15,872 15,872 Customer relationships, net of amortization 2,398 2,625 Restricted cash - 1,898 Other non-current assets 1,695 1,530 Total other assets 21,119 23,448 ------ ------ TOTAL ASSETS $186,379 $197,387 ======== ========
Gas Natural Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data) September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 ---- ---- LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION ------------------------------ CURRENT LIABILITIES Line of credit $7,086 $15,750 Accounts payable 5,015 8,784 Accounts payable to related parties 47 192 Notes payable, current portion - 5,012 Note payable to related party - 1,980 Accrued liabilities 2,211 2,560 Accrued liabilities payable to related party 87 170 Regulatory liability, current 725 487 Build-to-suit liability - 2,041 Capital lease liability, current 3,588 2,876 Deferred payment received from levelized billing 2,811 3,107 Other current liabilities 3,888 2,503 Total current liabilities 25,458 45,462 OTHER LIABILITIES Deferred tax liability 10,526 12,295 Regulatory liability, non-current 1,375 1,251 Capital lease liability, non-current 3,643 5,177 Other long-term liabilities 3,126 3,286 Total other liabilities 18,670 22,009 NOTES PAYABLE, less current portion 49,825 34,427 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock; $0.15 par value; 1,500,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding - - Common stock; $0.15 par value; Authorized: 30,000,000 shares; Issued and outstanding: 10,515,834 and 10,504,734 shares as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively 1,577 1,575 Capital in excess of par value 64,088 63,985 Retained earnings 26,761 29,929 ------ ------ Total stockholders' equity 92,426 95,489 ------ ------ TOTAL CAPITALIZATION 142,251 129,916 ------- ------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION $186,379 $197,387 ======== ========
Gas Natural Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (in thousands) Nine Months Ended September 30, ------------- 2016 2015 ---- ---- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net (loss) income $(802) $4,485 Less (loss) income from discontinued operations (7) 4,045 (Loss) income from continuing operations (795) 440 Adjustments to reconcile (loss) income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 5,981 5,327 Accretion - 21 Amortization of debt issuance costs 323 517 Provision for doubtful accounts 99 134 Amortization of deferred loss on sale-leaseback 733 - Stock based compensation 104 135 Loss on sale of assets 548 769 Unrealized holding gain on contingent consideration (672) (75) Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments (120) (120) Investment tax credit (16) (16) Deferred income taxes (1,046) 2,686 Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, including related parties 5,275 7,533 Unbilled gas 5,004 5,361 Natural gas inventory (1,203) (432) Accounts payable, including related parties (2,700) (7,572) Regulatory assets and liabilities 367 (961) Prepayments and other (1,393) (1,102) Other assets 1,039 (453) Other liabilities (1,016) 57 ------ --- Net cash provided by operating activities 10,512 12,249 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Capital expenditures (5,785) (8,325) Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 2 66 Proceeds from note receivable - 59 Customer advances for construction 94 33 Contributions in aid of construction 960 606 --- --- Net cash used in investing activities (4,729) (7,561) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from lines of credit 9,300 13,750 Repayments of lines of credit (6,800) (26,761) Repayments of notes payable, including related parties (6,886) (5,407) Proceeds from notes payable, including related parties 4,000 5,000 Repayments of capital lease obligations (2,495) (1,560) Debt issuance costs paid (213) (151) Dividends paid (1,577) (2,834) ------ ------ Net cash used in financing activities (4,671) (17,963) DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS Operating cash flows (7) 1,288 Investing cash flows - 14,305 --- Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations (7) 15,593 --- ------ NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 1,105 2,318 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 2,728 1,586 ----- ----- CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $3,833 $3,904 ====== ======
Gas Natural Inc. and Subsidiaries Natural Gas Operations Utility Throughput Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, -------------------------------- ------------------------------- (in million cubic feet (MMcf)) 2016 2015 2016 2015 ---- ---- ---- ---- Full service distribution: Energy West Montana (MT) 253 238 2,016 2,039 Frontier Natural Gas (NC) 153 152 726 668 Bangor Gas (ME) 122 124 998 1,254 Ohio Companies (OH) 302 299 2,256 2,592 Public Gas (KY) - 4 - 92 --- --- --- --- Total full service distribution 830 817 5,996 6,645 Transportation 2,492 2,342 8,565 8,106 Bucksport 60 124 134 537 --- --- --- --- Total volumes 3,382 3,283 14,695 15,288 ===== ===== ====== ======
Heating Degree Days Three Months Ended Percent Colder (Warmer) September 30, 2016 Compared to ------------- ---------------- Normal 2016 2015 Normal 2015 ------ ---- ---- ------ ---- Great Falls, MT 225 384 319 70.67% 20.38% Bangor, ME 222 88 134 (60.36%) (34.33%) Elkin, NC 41 16 48 (60.98%) (66.67%) Ohio weighted average 114 26 44 (77.19%) (40.91%) Total Weighted Average 151 204 186 35.10% 9.68% Nine Months Percent Colder (Warmer) September 30, 2016 Compared to ------------- ---------------- Normal 2016 2015 Normal 2015 ------ ---- ---- ------ ---- Great Falls, MT 4,358 4,177 4,233 (4.15%) (1.32%) Bangor, ME 4,957 4,536 5,737 (8.49%) (20.93%) Elkin, NC 2,368 2,599 2,657 9.76% (2.18%) OH weighted average 3,487 3,200 3,819 (8.23%) (16.21%) Total Weighted Average 4,028 3,813 4,208 (5.34%) (9.39%)
Gas Natural Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of GAAP Net (Loss) Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net (Loss) Income(2) (in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended NIne Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------- ------------- 2016 2015 2016 2015 ---- ---- ---- ---- GAAP net (loss) income $(1,824) $1,131 $(802) $4,485 Add back, pre-tax: Non-recurring legal, professional and settlement costs 784 644 2,991 2,014 Non-recurring regulatory and other expenses - 380 - 1,111 Gain on cancellation of contingent consideration liability - - (672) - Loss on disposal of assets - 410 531 804 Tax effect of non- GAAP continuing operations items(1) (284) (525) (898) (1,717) Discontinued operations (2) (3,395) 7 (4,045) Non-GAAP Adjusted net (loss) income(2) $(1,326) $(1,355) $1,157 $2,652 ======= ======= ====== ====== Non-GAAP Adjusted net (loss) income per diluted share(2) $(0.13) $(0.13) $0.11 $0.25 ====== ====== ===== =====
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(1) Applies an effective tax rate of 36%, 36%, 32% and 38% to the non- GAAP pre-tax adjustments for the periods presented above, respectively, consistent with the actual effective tax rates for those periods excluding nonrecurring tax items. (2) Non-GAAP Financial Measures: The Company believes that, when used in conjunction with GAAP measures, Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, accretion, atypical charges and discontinued operations, which are non-GAAP measures, allow investors to view its performance in a manner similar to the methods used by management and provides additional insight into its operating results. Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted EBITDA are not calculated through the application of GAAP and are not the required form of disclosure by the Securities and Exchange Commission. As such, these measures should not be considered as a substitute for the GAAP measure of net income and, therefore, should not be used in isolation of, but in conjunction with, the GAAP measure. The use of any non-GAAP measure may produce results that vary from the GAAP measure and may not be comparable to a similarly defined non-GAAP measure used by other companies.
Gas Natural Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of GAAP Net (Loss) Income to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA(2) (in thousands) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------- ------------- 2016 2015 2016 2015 ---- ---- ---- ---- GAAP net (loss) income $(1,824) $1,131 $(802) $4,485 Add back: Net interest expense 798 812 2,313 2,567 Income tax (benefit) expense (1,778) (1,312) (1,072) 343 Depreciation, amortization and accretion 2,014 1,790 5,981 5,348 Non-recurring legal, professional and settlement costs 784 644 2,991 2,014 Non-recurring regulatory and other expenses - 380 - 1,111 Gain on cancellation of contingent consideration liability - - (672) - Loss on disposal of assets - 410 531 804 Discontinued operations (2) (3,395) 7 (4,045) Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA(2) $(8) $460 $9,277 $12,627 === ==== ====== =======
(2) Non-GAAP Financial Measures: The Company believes that, when used in conjunction with GAAP measures, Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, accretion, atypical charges and discontinued operations, which are non-GAAP measures, allow investors to view its performance in a manner similar to the methods used by management and provide additional insight into its operating results. Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted EBITDA are not calculated through the application of GAAP and are not the required form of disclosure by the Securities and Exchange Commission. As such, these measures should not be considered as a substitute for the GAAP measure of net income and, therefore, should not be used in isolation of, but in conjunction with, the GAAP measure. The use of any non-GAAP measure may produce results that vary from the GAAP measure and may not be comparable to a similarly defined non-GAAP measure used by other companies.
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SOURCE Gas Natural Inc.