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 (Date of earliest event reported) November 3, 2015


AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


California

001-14431

95-4676679

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification

No.)

 

630 East Foothill Blvd.

San Dimas, California

 

91773

(Address of principal executive

offices)

 

(Zip Code)


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (909) 394-3600




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 (see General Instruction A.2 below):

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Section 2-Financial Information


Item 2.02.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On November 3, 2015, American States Water Company released earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015.  A copy of the Company’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

This Form 8-K and the attached exhibits are furnished to, but not filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission.




 Section 9-Financial Statements and Exhibits


Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits

The following exhibit is furnished hereunder:

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated November 3, 2015


SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


   

AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

 

November 3, 2015

/s/ Eva G. Tang

 

Eva G. Tang

Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial

Officer, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

Description

99.1

Press Release dated November 3, 2015

Exhibit 99.1

American States Water Company Announces Earnings for the Third Quarter of 2015

SAN DIMAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 3, 2015--American States Water Company (NYSE:AWR) today reported net income of $21.1 million, or basic and fully diluted earnings per share of $0.57 and $0.56, respectively, for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, as compared to net income of $21.2 million, or basic and fully diluted earnings per share of $0.54 for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Third Quarter 2015 Results

The table below sets forth a comparison of the third quarter diluted earnings per share by business segment, as reported:

               
Three Months Ended
9/30/2015           9/30/2014 CHANGE
Water $ 0.43 $ 0.40 $ 0.03
Electric 0.01 0.01
Contracted services 0.12 0.12
AWR (parent)     0.01   (0.01 )
Consolidated diluted earnings per share, as reported $ 0.56 $ 0.54 $ 0.02  
 

Water

For the three months ended September 30, 2015, diluted earnings from the water segment increased by $0.03 to $0.43 per share as compared to $0.40 per share for the same period in 2014. Excluding surcharges approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) for the recovery of previously incurred costs, which have no impact on operating income, the following items impacted the comparability of the two periods:


Billed water consumption for the third quarter of 2015 decreased by approximately 24% as compared to the same period in 2014 due to water conservation by customers in response to the ongoing drought conditions in California. Mandatory water conservation and rationing have been implemented across all of the water systems at Golden State Water Company (“GSWC”) to help the communities it serves meet the state's reduction mandates; therefore, water consumption is expected to continue to be lower during the remainder of 2015 as compared to the same period last year. GSWC records the difference between what it bills its water customers and that which is authorized by the CPUC in the Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism accounts, as regulatory assets for future recovery. Excluding surcharges, which again have no impact on operating income, GSWC's water gross margin generally approximates the authorized gross margin approved by the CPUC.

Electric

For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, diluted earnings from the electric segment were $0.01 per share. A decrease in depreciation expense resulting from lower depreciation composite rates approved by the CPUC also resulted in a lower revenue requirement, resulting in no significant impact to earnings.

Contracted Services

For the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, diluted earnings from contracted services were $0.12 per share. There was an increase in monthly operations and maintenance (“O&M”) management fees as a result of successful resolutions of various price redeterminations received during the third quarter of 2015, increasing earnings by $0.01 per share. These price redeterminations also included a $0.02 per share increase in retroactive O&M management fees, as compared to the retroactive impact for the price redeterminations received in the same period of 2014. The increase in O&M management fees was offset mostly by an increase in operating expenses and a decrease in construction activity as compared to the same period in 2014. The lower construction activity as compared to the third quarter of 2014 was due largely to the completion of several large capital projects during 2014, which did not recur in 2015. However, during the third quarter of 2015, the U.S. government awarded American States Utility Services, Inc. approximately $50 million in new construction projects, the majority of which are expected to be completed during the next twelve months.

AWR (parent)

Diluted earnings from AWR (parent) decreased by $0.01 per share during the third quarter of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 due primarily to higher state income taxes.


Year-to-Date 2015 Results

Basic and fully diluted earnings per share were $1.29 for the year-to-date (“YTD”) September 30, 2015 as compared to basic and fully diluted earnings of $1.22 per share for the YTD September 30, 2014. The table below sets forth a comparison of the YTD diluted earnings per share by business segment, as reported:

               

Year-to-Date

       

9/30/2015

     

9/30/2014

         

Change

Water $ 1.00       $ 0.94 $ 0.06
Electric 0.05 0.06 (0.01 )
Contracted services 0.22 0.20 0.02
AWR (parent)   0.02         0.02              
Consolidated diluted earnings per share, as reported $ 1.29       $ 1.22           $ 0.07  
 
      Increase/

Reconciliation of Changes in YTD EPS from 2014 to 2015:

(Decrease)

 

Water Segment:

Water gross margin contribution due to rate increases (excluding surcharges*) $ 0.03
 
Lower operating expenses 0.01
 
Higher effective tax rate (“ETR”) (0.01 )
 
Cumulative impact of lower common shares outstanding resulting from the 2014 and 2015 stock repurchase programs 0.03
 

Electric Segment:

Lower electric margin due to a change in the monthly revenue allocation and a higher ETR

(0.01 )
 

Contracted Services Segment:

Increase in O&M management fees including the impact of increased retroactive amounts by $0.02 per share due to successful price redeterminations 0.04
 
Higher operating expenses (0.03 )
 
Lower construction activity, partially offset by favorable changes in cost estimates (0.01 )
 
Lower state income taxes 0.01
 
Cumulative impact of lower common shares outstanding resulting from the 2014 and 2015 stock repurchase programs   0.01  
 

YTD 2015 EPS Increase

$

0.07

 
 
*     Surcharges billed to customers for previously incurred costs are recorded as revenues with a corresponding increase in operating expenses. These surcharges have no impact to earnings and are excluded from the table above.
 

Acquisition

In October 2015, GSWC completed the acquisition of Rural Water Company (“Rural”). GSWC acquired the water assets of Rural, which serves approximately 960 customers near the City of Arroyo Grande in the county of San Luis Obispo, California. This water system is near GSWC’s other water systems in Coastal California which expands its footprint and takes advantage of economies of scale in an area where GSWC currently does business.

Dividends

American States Water Company has paid dividends to shareholders every year since 1931, increasing the dividends received by shareholders each calendar year for 61 years. On October 27, 2015, AWR's Board of Directors approved a fourth quarter dividend of $0.224 per share on AWR’s Common Shares. Dividends on the Common Shares will be payable on December 1, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2015.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes a discussion on the water and electric gross margins for various periods, which are each computed by subtracting total supply costs from total revenues. The discussion also includes AWR’s operations in terms of diluted earnings per share by business segment, which is each business segment’s earnings divided by the company’s weighted average number of diluted shares. These items are derived from consolidated financial information but are not presented in our financial statements that are prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. These items constitute "non-GAAP financial measures" under Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

The non-GAAP financial measures supplement our GAAP disclosures and should not be considered as alternatives to the GAAP measures. Furthermore, the non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures of other registrants. The company uses water and electric gross margins and earnings per share by business segment as important measures in evaluating its operating results and believes these measures are useful internal benchmarks in evaluating the performance of its operating segments. The company reviews these measurements regularly and compares them to historical periods and to the operating budget.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this news release with regard to the company’s expectations may be forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include those described in the company’s most recent Form 10-Q and Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call tomorrow, November 4, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the financial results. Interested parties can listen to the live conference call over the Internet by logging on to www.aswater.com and clicking the “Investors” button at the top of the page.

The call will also be archived on our website and can be replayed beginning Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and will run through Wednesday, November 11, 2015.


About American States Water Company

American States Water Company is the parent of Golden State Water Company and American States Utility Services, Inc. Through its utility subsidiary, Golden State Water Company, AWR provides water service to approximately 260,000 customers located within 75 communities throughout 10 counties in Northern, Coastal and Southern California. The company also distributes electricity to approximately 24,000 customers in the City of Big Bear and surrounding areas in San Bernardino County, California. Through its contracted services subsidiary, American States Utility Services, Inc., the company provides operations, maintenance and construction management services for water and wastewater systems located on military bases throughout the country through 50-year privatization contracts with the U.S. government.


             
American States Water Company
Consolidated
 
Comparative Condensed Balance Sheets
 
      September 30, December 31,
(in thousands)       2015             2014
(Unaudited)
Assets
Utility Plant-Net $1,032,119 $1,003,520
Goodwill 1,116 1,116
Other Property and Investments 18,301 17,536
Current Assets 135,463 209,451
Regulatory and Other Assets       175,165             146,675
Total Assets       $1,362,164             $1,378,298
 
Capitalization and Liabilities
Capitalization 795,573 832,599
Current Liabilities 123,976 99,290
Other Credits       442,615             446,409
Total Capitalization and Liabilities       $1,362,164             $1,378,298
 
               
Condensed Statements of Income Three months ended Nine months ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)       September 30, September 30,
2015       2014 2015       2014
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Operating Revenues            
Water $ 97,273 $ 96,700 $ 256,358 $ 253,689
Electric 7,946 8,614 26,804 27,398
Contracted services   27,756           33,013     65,364           74,826  
Total operating revenues $ 132,975 $ 138,327 $ 348,526 $ 355,913
 
Operating Expenses
Water purchased $ 18,127 $ 17,837 $ 46,833 $ 45,324
Power purchased for pumping 2,982 3,914 7,122 8,448
Groundwater production assessment 3,146 4,291 10,657 12,684
Power purchased for resale 2,299 2,383 7,364 7,070
Supply cost balancing accounts 4,824 3,179 8,453 3,891
Other operation 7,056 6,958 20,578 20,990
Administrative and general 19,272 20,142 59,270 59,733
Depreciation and amortization 10,512 10,549 31,596 31,604
Maintenance 4,393 4,390 12,075 12,206
Property and other taxes 4,326 4,359 12,662 12,649
ASUS construction   14,853           20,430     35,311           47,651  
Total operating expenses $ 91,790 $ 98,432 $ 251,921 $ 262,250
 
Operating income $ 41,185 $ 39,895 $ 96,605 $ 93,663
 
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense (5,484 ) (5,519 ) (16,239 ) (16,924 )
Interest income 118 224 332 459
Other, net   (346 )         47     4           443  
Total other income and expenses (5,712 ) (5,248 ) (15,903 ) (16,022 )
 
Income Before Income Tax Expense $ 35,473 $ 34,647 $ 80,702 $ 77,641
Income tax expense         14,394           13,476     31,826           30,095  
Net Income       $ 21,079         $ 21,171   $ 48,876         $ 47,546  
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding 37,063 38,704 37,653 38,744
Basic earnings per Common Share $ 0.57 $ 0.54 $ 1.29 $ 1.22
 
Weighted average diluted shares 37,266 38,930 37,853 38,963
Fully diluted earnings per Common Share $ 0.56 $ 0.54 $ 1.29 $ 1.22
 

Dividends Paid Per Common Share

$ 0.224 $ 0.213 $ 0.650 $ 0.618
 

CONTACT:
American States Water Company
Eva G. Tang
Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
(909) 394-3600, ext. 707