UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012
[
_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 000-00643
CORNING NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
New York |
16-0397420 |
(State of incorporation) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
330 West William Street, Corning, New York 14830
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(607) 936-3755
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [_]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [_]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "non-accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer [_] Accelerated Filer [_] Non-accelerated Filer [_] Smaller Reporting Company [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [_] No [X]
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Stock, $5.00 par value |
1,973,747 |
Class |
Shares outstanding as of August 14, 2012 |
Page 2.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Item 2. Management's discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
As used in this Form 10-Q, the terms "Company," "Corning," "Registrant," "we," "us," and "our" mean Corning Natural Gas Corporation and its subsidiary, taken as a whole, unless the context indicates otherwise. Except as otherwise stated, the information contained in this Form 10-Q is as of June 30, 2012.
Page 3.
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CORNING NATURAL GAS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY |
|||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
|||||||
(Unaudited) |
|||||||
Assets |
June 30, 2012 |
June 30, 2011 |
September 30, 2011 |
||||
Plant: |
|||||||
Utility property, plant and equipment |
$52,104,246 |
$46,301,020 |
$47,490,565 |
||||
Less: accumulated depreciation |
(15,602,485) |
(14,061,321) |
(14,361,951) |
||||
Total plant utility and non-utility, net |
36,501,761 |
32,239,699 |
33,128,614 |
||||
Investments: |
|||||||
Marketable securities available-for-sale at fair value |
2,188,414 |
2,402,992 |
2,267,268 |
||||
Current assets: |
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
107,988 |
161,107 |
173,245 |
||||
Customer accounts receivable, (net of allowance for |
|||||||
uncollectible accounts of $79,933, $32,634 |
|||||||
and $46,080) respectively |
1,814,478 |
1,983,706 |
1,598,241 |
||||
Gas stored underground, at average cost |
1,672,727 |
1,906,831 |
2,832,932 |
||||
Materials and supplies inventory |
1,101,700 |
726,569 |
1,188,017 |
||||
Deferred income tax |
- |
216,380 |
- |
||||
Prepaid expenses |
952,881 |
913,638 |
703,959 |
||||
Total current assets |
5,649,774 |
5,908,231 |
6,496,394 |
||||
Deferred debits and other assets: |
|||||||
Regulatory assets: |
|||||||
Unrecovered gas costs |
275,267 |
17,150 |
536,648 |
||||
Deferred regulatory costs |
2,337,238 |
1,035,836 |
1,207,028 |
||||
Unamortized debt issuance cost (net of accumulated |
|||||||
amortization of $477,861, $431,839 and $443,854), |
|||||||
Respectively |
253,069 |
281,753 |
286,093 |
||||
Deferred income taxes |
769,814 |
- |
1,308,298 |
||||
Other |
234,766 |
232,074 |
221,089 |
||||
Total deferred debits and other assets |
3,870,154 |
1,566,813 |
3,559,156 |
||||
Total assets |
$48,210,103 |
$42,117,735 |
$45,451,432 |
||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. |
|||||||
Page 4.
CORNING NATURAL GAS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY |
||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
||||||
(Unaudited) |
||||||
Liabilities and capitalization: |
June 30, 2012 |
June 30, 2011 |
September 30, 2011 |
|||
Current liabilities: |
||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
$1,341,751 |
$1,145,269 |
$945,063 |
|||
Demand notes payable |
750,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
|||
Borrowings under lines-of-credit |
4,530,844 |
2,358,958 |
4,178,784 |
|||
Accounts payable |
1,821,648 |
1,702,540 |
1,882,249 |
|||
Accrued expenses |
1,241,152 |
1,310,146 |
1,338,446 |
|||
Customer deposits and accrued interest |
784,319 |
589,206 |
1,034,319 |
|||
Dividends declared |
236,435 |
200,869 |
205,375 |
|||
Deferred income taxes |
223,509 |
- |
147,779 |
|||
Total current liabilities |
10,929,658 |
8,056,988 |
10,482,015 |
|||
Long-term debt, less current installments |
10,434,184 |
9,807,519 |
11,534,801 |
|||
Deferred credits and other liabilities: |
||||||
Deferred income tax |
- |
733,955 |
- |
|||
Deferred compensation |
1,198,217 |
1,850,111 |
1,849,019 |
|||
Deferred pension costs & post-retirement benefits |
7,502,091 |
6,855,493 |
6,622,459 |
|||
Other |
297,907 |
167,201 |
316,556 |
|||
Total deferred credits and other liabilities |
8,998,215 |
9,606,760 |
8,788,034 |
|||
Common stockholders' equity: |
||||||
Common stock (common stock $5.00 par |
||||||
value per share. Authorized 3,500,000 shares; |
||||||
issued and outstanding 1,972,193 shares at |
||||||
June 30, 2012, 1,748,582 shares at June 30, 2011 |
||||||
and 1,787,769 at September 30, 2011) |
9,860,965 |
8,742,910 |
8,938,845 |
|||
Other paid-in capital |
9,033,104 |
7,065,322 |
7,382,167 |
|||
Retained earnings |
1,953,719 |
1,484,905 |
1,018,766 |
|||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(2,999,742) |
(2,646,669) |
(2,693,196) |
|||
Total common stockholders' equity |
17,848,046 |
14,646,468 |
14,646,582 |
|||
Total liabilities and capitalization |
$48,210,103 |
$42,117,735 |
$45,451,432 |
|||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. |
Page 5.
CORNING NATURAL GAS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY |
||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income |
||||||||||
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
|||||||||
June 30, 2012 |
June 30, 2011 |
June 30, 2012 |
June 30, 2011 |
|||||||
Utility operating revenues |
$3,806,388 |
$4,750,563 |
$16,862,351 |
$20,175,835 |
||||||
Natural gas purchased |
915,381 |
1,861,956 |
6,321,747 |
9,134,862 |
||||||
Gross margin |
2,891,007 |
2,888,607 |
10,540,604 |
11,040,973 |
||||||
Cost and expense |
||||||||||
Operating and maintenance expense |
1,709,284 |
1,884,517 |
4,566,258 |
5,500,405 |
||||||
Taxes other than income taxes |
442,736 |
447,042 |
1,406,200 |
1,337,278 |
||||||
Depreciation |
427,837 |
407,641 |
1,266,429 |
1,028,002 |
||||||
Other deductions, net |
76,440 |
85,786 |
373,644 |
195,361 |
||||||
Total costs and expenses |
2,656,297 |
2,824,986 |
7,612,531 |
8,061,046 |
||||||
Utility operating income |
234,710 |
63,621 |
2,928,073 |
2,979,927 |
||||||
Other income and (expense) |
||||||||||
Interest expense |
(224,848) |
(216,546) |
(724,969) |
(670,225) |
||||||
Non-utility expense |
(7,492) |
(2,058) |
(9,292) |
(7,512) |
||||||
Other Income |
642 |
1,591 |
290,533 |
12,943 |
||||||
Investment income |
18,703 |
21,846 |
91,719 |
176,851 |
||||||
Rental income |
12,138 |
12,138 |
36,414 |
36,414 |
||||||
Net income from operations, before income tax |
33,853 |
(119,408) |
2,612,478 |
2,528,398 |
||||||
Income tax benefit (expense), current |
335,425 |
(1,800,484) |
124,582 |
(2,617,893) |
||||||
Income tax benefit (expense), deferred |
(300,080) |
1,848,227 |
(1,119,902) |
1,699,096 |
||||||
Total tax benefit (expense) |
35,345 |
47,743 |
(995,320) |
(918,797) |
||||||
Net income (loss) |
69,198 |
(71,665) |
1,617,158 |
1,609,601 |
||||||
Other comprehensive (loss) |
||||||||||
Pension adjustment, net of tax |
(106,488) |
(124,599) |
(410,640) |
(373,796) |
||||||
Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale |
(27,261) |
(23,954) |
104,094 |
(33,021) |
||||||
Total other comprehensive (loss) |
(133,749) |
(148,553) |
(306,546) |
(406,817) |
||||||
Total comprehensive income (loss) |
($64,551) |
($220,218) |
$1,310,612 |
$1,202,784 |
||||||
Weighted average earnings per share- |
||||||||||
basic: |
$0.04 |
($0.04) |
$0.84 |
$0.93 |
||||||
diluted: |
$0.03 |
($0.04) |
$0.84 |
$0.92 |
||||||
Average shares outstanding - basic |
1,972,193 |
1,747,035 |
1,918,798 |
1,736,357 |
||||||
Average shares outstanding - diluted |
1,983,937 |
1,772,739 |
1,931,652 |
1,756,123 |
||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. |
Page 6.
CORNING NATURAL GAS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY |
||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
||
(Unaudited) |
||
Nine Months ended June 30, |
||
2012 |
2011 |
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||
Net income |
$1,617,158 |
$1,609,601 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash |
||
used in operating activities: |
||
Depreciation |
1,266,429 |
1,028,002 |
Unamortized debt issuance cost |
34,007 |
34,768 |
Regulatory Amortizations |
1,201,913 |
1,286,491 |
Stock issued for services and stock option expense |
223,095 |
118,801 |
Pension adjustment |
(410,640) |
(373,796) |
Loss (Gain) on sale of marketable securities |
(75,188) |
4,753 |
Deferred income taxes |
614,214 |
127,286 |
Bad debt expense |
133,648 |
129,364 |
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||
(Increase) decrease in: |
||
Accounts receivable |
(349,885) |
(861,486) |
Gas stored underground |
1,160,205 |
789,564 |
Materials and supplies inventories |
86,317 |
48,108 |
Prepaid expenses |
(248,922) |
53,400 |
Unrecovered gas costs |
261,381 |
1,075,879 |
Deferred regulatory costs |
(1,335,369) |
(224,189) |
Other |
(13,677) |
(63,740) |
Increase (decrease) in: |
||
Accounts payable |
(60,601) |
334,656 |
Accrued expenses |
(97,294) |
467,211 |
Customer deposits and accrued interest |
(250,000) |
(493,862) |
Deferred compensation |
(650,802) |
(87,995) |
Deferred pension costs & post-retirement benefits |
(117,122) |
(13,437) |
Other liabilities and deferred credits |
12,411 |
17,189 |
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
3,001,278 |
5,006,568 |
Page 7. |
||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||
Purchase of securities available-for-sale |
(1,042,417) |
(1,765,423) |
Sale of securities available-for-sale |
1,300,553 |
1,691,527 |
Capital expenditures |
(4,639,576) |
(2,519,436) |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
(4,381,440) |
(2,593,332) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||
Proceeds under lines-of-credit |
11,834,971 |
10,348,509 |
Repayment of lines-of-credit |
(11,482,911) |
(13,130,200) |
Debt issuance cost expense |
(983) |
(13,053) |
Cash received from sale of stock |
2,350,000 |
217,607 |
Dividends paid |
(682,243) |
(569,521) |
Proceeds under long-term debt |
18,002 |
1,878,000 |
Repayment of long-term debt |
(721,931) |
(1,053,023) |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
1,314,905 |
(2,321,681) |
Net (decrease) increase in cash |
(65,257) |
91,555 |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
173,245 |
69,552 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$107,988 |
$161,107 |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
||
Cash paid during the period for: |
||
Interest |
$723,551 |
$666,663 |
Income taxes |
$132,129 |
$541,913 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation
The information furnished herewith reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the period. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations, although the Company believes the disclosures which are made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.
The condensed consolidated financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011. These interim consolidated financial statements have not been audited by a firm of certified public accountants.
It is the Company's policy to reclassify amounts in the prior year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.
Page 8.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are netted between short term and long term for presentation on the balance sheet.
Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011, filed on December 28, 2011. It is important to understand that the application of generally accepted accounting principles involve certain assumptions, judgments and estimates that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Thus, the application of these principles can result in varying results from company to company.
Note 2 - New Accounting Standards
In July 2010, FASB issued FASB ASU 2010-20, "Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses". The standard amends ASC Topic 310, "Receivables", to enhance disclosures about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses by requiring an entity to provide a greater level of disaggregated information and to disclose credit quality indicators, past due information, and modifications of its financing receivables. FASB ASU 2010-20 is effective for annual fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 for public entities. The Company adopted FASB ASU 2010-20 and it had no material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
In May 2011, FASB issued FASB ASU 2011-04, "Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S GAAP and IRFSs". This standard amends ASC Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurement", to clarify intent about the application of existing fair value measurements and standardize standard fair value measurements and disclosures. FASB ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim or annual fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 for public entities. The Company adopted FASB ASU 2011-04 and it had no material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
In June 2011, FASB issued FASB ASU 2011-05, "Comprehensive Income" (Topic 220). This standard increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and dictates presentation of these items in financial statements. FASB ASU 2011-05 is effective for interim or annual fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 for public entities. The Company adopted FASB ASU 2011-05 it had no material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
In December 2011, FASB issued FASB ASU 2011-12, "Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05" (Topic 220). This standard defers the requirement to present reclassification adjustments in the statement of income in response to concerns raised about implementation of FASB ASU 2011-05. FASB ASU 2011-12 is effective for interim or annual fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 for public entities and for fiscal years ending after December 2012 for non-public entities. The Company has already adopted FASB ASU 2011-05, so the deferral of the effective date of FASB ASU 2011-05 provided by FASB ASU 2011-12 will have no impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) (or "OCI") is comprised of unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale as required by FASB ASC 320 and pension liability adjustments as required by FASB ASC 715. There was a drop in the discount rate from 5.5% to 5.25% in 2010 and from 5.25% to 5% in 2011. That drop was offset by changes in assumptions in the increase rate of compensation which decreased from 4.5% to 3% in 2010 and from 3% to 2% in 2011. The quarterly accruals for estimated annual pension liability partially offset by the unrealized gain on securities available for sale for the current quarter resulted in an OCI loss of $306,546 for the nine months ended June 30, 2012. The quarterly accruals for estimated annual pension liability added to the unrealized loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2011 and resulted in an OCI loss of $406,817 for the period.
Page 9.
June 30, |
June 30, |
September 30, |
||
2012 |
2011 |
2011 |
||
Pension adjustment |
(3,014,936) |
(2,656,100) |
(2,604,296) |
|
Net unrealized gain/(loss) on securities available for sale |
15,194 |
9,431 |
(88,900) |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(2,999,742) |
(2,646,669) |
(2,693,196) |
Note 4 - Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
||||
Pension Benefits |
Other Benefits |
|||
2012 |
2011 |
2012 |
2011 |
|
Service cost |
$246,496 |
$249,794 |
$10,791 |
$10,364 |
Interest cost |
578,506 |
582,044 |
31,177 |
31,440 |
Expected return on plan assets |
(583,646) |
(557,278) |
- |
- |
Amortization of prior service cost |
12,314 |
12,604 |
(8,768) |
(8,768) |
Amortization of net (gain) loss |
529,149 |
622,025 |
(18,355) |
(27,054) |
Net periodic benefit cost |
$782,819 |
$909,189 |
$14,845 |
$5,982 |
Contributions
The Company expects to contribute $1.4 million to its Pension Plan and $53,000 to its other Post Retirement Benefit Plan in fiscal year 2012. A total of $842,793 has been paid to the Pension Plan for the first nine months of this fiscal year.
Note 5 - Rate Cases
In August 2009, in Case 08-G-1137, the New York Public Service Commission ("NYPSC") approved a rate increase of $1.5 million effective September 1, 2009 that was included in a gas rate joint proposal dated March 27, 2009. The order also contained a revenue decoupling mechanism (RDM), a refund or surcharge on customer bills to reflect differences between actual delivery revenue from residential customers and a revenue target. The order also contained a year two "capital tracker". This allowed the Company to file for rate relief in 2010 for new capital projects without a full rate proceeding. In addition, the percentage of revenues from gas producers retained by the Company as an incentive was increased from 10% to 20%. On January 25, 2011, the NYPSC approved an estimated increase in rates of $164,000 associated with the "capital tracker". The final amount determined on the actual capital expenditures and additional property taxes from September 2010 through August 2011 was $228,342.
On April 20, 2012, the NYPSC issued a final order in Case 11-G-0280 approving a Joint Proposal (the "Proposal") for a three-year rate plan. The Proposal provides for revenue increases to Corning's rates in the first year (May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013) of $944,310; in year two (May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014) of $899,674; and in year three (May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015) of $323,591. The Proposal also provides the Company the opportunity to earn $545,284 from local production before sharing, a 118% increase from the $250,000 allowed previously. The Proposal also provides for property tax reconciliation,
Page 10.
treatment of future local production investment, allocations to the Company's new Leatherstocking operations, consolidation of the three divisional rate tariffs into a single rate tariff and recovery of forecasted capital and operation and maintenance costs for the period May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2015. The rates are based on a 9.5% return on equity. The cumulative potential revenue increases over the three years total $4,955,869. Rates became effective May 1, 2012.
Note 6 - Financing Activities
On May 7, 2010, the Company entered into a credit agreement with Community Bank N.A. for a $1.05 million promissory note at a fixed interest rate of 6.25% for the purpose of funding construction projects at our new franchise location in the Town of Virgil. This agreement gives our lender a security interest in all fixtures, equipment and inventory related to the Company's franchise in the Town of Virgil as well as the Rabbi Trust account. The note also required an equity contribution of $350,000 which was accomplished by the exercise of 24,000 stock options by Michael I. German, President and CEO, at $15.00 per share or $360,000. The agreement included the following covenants to be measured at each fiscal year end starting with the September 30, 2009 financial statement:
(i) Maintain a tangible net worth of not less than $11.0 million,
(ii) Maintain a debt to tangible net worth ratio of less than 3.0 to 1.0, and
(iii) Maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.
On March 10, 2011, the interest rate on this loan was modified from a fixed interest rate to a floating rate of 30-day LIBOR plus 2.75% with a floor rate of 4.5% and a ceiling rate of 6.25%. The rate was 4.5% as of June 30, 2012.
In September 2010, we entered into an agreement with Five Star Bank to provide $750,000 to fund construction of an upgrade to existing natural gas piping to serve increased gas demands on one of our main supply lines, including three Corning Incorporated plants. Interest is payable monthly at a fixed rate of 4.25% per annum and, unless sooner accelerated or demanded, the note was to mature on September 25, 2011. This note was refinanced with Five Star Bank on September 1, 2011 with the same terms. The new maturity date is August 31, 2012 unless accelerated or demanded sooner. The Company expects to extend this note for another year before the present maturity date.
On October 27, 2010, the Company entered into a Multiple Disbursement Term Note with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company in the amount of $1,865,000 to refinance construction costs originally financed through internally generated funds. The interest rate of this note is 5.76% and is payable monthly for five years calculated on a ten-year amortization schedule. A final payment equal to the outstanding principal and interest will be due on the maturity date.
In February 2011, we renewed our $7.0 million revolving line of credit with Community Bank N.A. The line of credit had a fluctuating interest rate equal to the greater of 3.5% or the 30-day LIBOR plus 2.25% and expired on February 28, 2012. In February 2012, we refinanced the line of credit with Community Bank and the new line of credit bears interest at the greater of 3.25% or the 30-day LIBOR plus 2.25%. The interest rate on this loan is adjusted monthly and was 3.25% at June 30, 2012.
On July 14, 2011, the Company entered into a Multiple Disbursement Term Note and Credit Agreement in the amount of $2 million with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company to fund construction projects in our NYPSC-mandated repair/replacement program for calendar year 2011. Until October 31, 2011, the note was payable as interest only at a rate of the greater of 3.50% above 30-day LIBOR or 4.25%. On November 1, 2011 the note converted to a permanent loan payable monthly for five years calculated on a ten-year amortization schedule with a variable rate, adjusting daily, based on the greater of 3.25% above 30-day LIBOR or 4.25%. The interest rate was 4.25% as of June 30, 2011.
Page 11.
Note 7 - Director Compensation
The board of directors' quarterly compensation was adjusted to 375 restricted shares in April 2011 due to the one for two stock dividend distributed by the Company (see Note 13 for further information). The shares awarded become unrestricted upon a director leaving the board. Directors who also serve as officers of Corning are not compensated for their service as directors. On November 9, 2010, directors were issued compensatory shares for service from July 2010 through September 30, 2010. Since these shares are restricted, in recording compensation expense, the expense accrued is 25% less than the closing price of the stock on the day the stock was awarded. Management of the Company believes this discount is reasonable for thinly traded stock such as that of the Company. The Company did not discount the value of the stock paid to the directors who resigned from the board since those shares became unrestricted when held by a non-affiliate for at least six months. On April 29, 2011, shares were issued for service for the quarters ended December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011. Joseph Mirabito, William Mirabito and John Williamson III were each paid 247 shares of common stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 because they served for a portion of that quarter. On February 22, 2012, shares were issued for service for the quarters ended June 30, 2011, September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011. No shares have been issued yet for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 or June 30, 2012. Information regarding shares of stock awarded to directors in fiscal 2012 is summarized below.
Fees Earned or Paid |
2/22/2012 |
|||
in Cash |
Stock Awards |
Stock Awards |
Total |
|
($) |
(@ $12.975/Share) |
($) |
($) |
|
6 Directors |
- |
6,750 |
87,581 |
87,581 |
Note 8 - Fair Value Measurements
The Company has determined the fair value of certain assets through application of FASB ASC 820.
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at June 30, 2012, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011 are as follows:
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using: |
||||
Fair Value |
Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
|
June 30, 2012 |
||||
Available-for-sale securities |
$2,188,414 |
$2,188,414 |
0 |
0 |
June 30, 2011 |
||||
Available-for-sale securities |
$2,402,992 |
$2,402,992 |
0 |
0 |
September 30, 2011 |
||||
Available-for-sale securities |
$2,267,268 |
$2,267,238 |
0 |
0 |
Page 12.
Gains and losses included in earnings for the periods reported in investment income as follows:
Investment Income |
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||
2012 |
2011 |
2012 |
2011 |
||
Total gains or (losses) included in earnings |
$18,703 |
$21,846 |
$91,719 |
$176,851 |
|
Financial assets and liabilities valued using level 1 inputs are based on unadjusted quoted market prices within active markets.
Note 9 - Stock Options
On September 23, 2008, the board of directors approved performance based stock options for the officers totaling 19,000 shares at an exercise price of $17.00 per share. 9,000 of these options vested on the first anniversary of the grant date and 5,000 vested on the second anniversary of the grant date. The remaining 5,000 of these options vested on the third anniversary of the grant date. No additional options were granted during fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2010. On December 14, 2010, the board of directors granted 9,000 compensatory stock options to certain of the Company's executive officers at an exercise price of $19.25 per share. These options were exercisable on or after December 15, 2011 and expire on the fourth anniversary of the grant date. There are no additional options vesting this quarter. No options were issued for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 or June 30, 2012. The number of shares and exercise price of each of the option awards have been adjusted to reflect the stock dividend paid on April 20, 2011 (see Note 13 - Stock Dividend for additional information) and are shown in the next two tables.
Management has valued the options at their date of vesting utilizing the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model. The following weighted average assumptions were utilized in the fair value calculations for options granted:
2010 |
2011 |
|
Options @ |
Options @ |
|
Adjusted exercise price |
$11.33 |
$12.83 |
Expected dividend yield |
3.16% |
2.71% |
Expected stock price volatility |
36.23% |
35.63% |
Risk-free interest rate |
4.00% |
.83% |
Expected life of options in years |
1.75 |
4 |
The following summarizes the stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2012 for the fiscal year to date:
2012 |
|||
Stock Options |
|||
Weighted |
|||
Number of |
Weighted |
Average |
|
Shares |
Average |
Remaining |
|
Remaining |
Exercise |
Contractual |
|
Options |
Price |
Term |
|
Outstanding at April 1, 2012 |
42,000 |
$11.81 |
|
Options granted |
- |
||
Options exercised during quarter ended June 30, 2012 |
- |
||
Options canceled during quarter ended June 30, 2012 |
- |
||
Outstanding at June 30, 2012 |
42,000 |
$11.81 |
1.97 years |
Exercisable at June 30, 2012 |
42,000 |
$11.81 |
1.97 years |
Page 13.
Note 10 - 311 Transportation Agreement/Compressor Station
On January 11, 2010, the Company entered into a contract (311 Transportation Agreement) with a local gas producer that provides for the building of a compressor station as well as the transfer of a 6" pipeline owned by the gas producer to the Company for nominal consideration. The contract also sets forth the terms, rates and condition of the transport of the local producer gas to the interstate pipeline system. The Company bought the $11 million compressor station and $2.1 million pipeline from the local producer for two dollars. The local producer has the right to repurchase these facilities for two dollars in ten years. This transaction became effective on May 12, 2011, when the station began operations. Although the Company has $13.1 million in new plant, only two dollars was recognized in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts (313.2) which states that in the case of gas plant contributed to the utility, gas plant accounts shall be charged only with such expenses, if any, incurred by the utility. The Company has recognized the tax impact of this transaction as a deferred tax of approximately $1 million (the New York current tax liability) that will be recoverable from customers over the life of the agreement. The Company incurred no federal tax liability related to this gift because of bonus depreciation rules.
Note 11 - Dividends
Dividends are accrued when declared by the board of directors. At its regular meeting on December 14, 2010, the board of directors approved an increase in the quarterly dividend from $.15 a share to $.1725 a share. The dividend rate of $.1725 reflects the pre-stock split dividend rate (see Note 13 - Stock Dividend for additional information). The board of directors reviewed the quarterly dividend rate at its regular meeting on June 14, 2011 and adjusted the dividend rate to $.115. At its regular meeting on February 10, 2012, the board of directors approved an increase in the quarterly dividend to $.12 a share. Shareholders of record on June 30, 2012, were paid this dividend on July 16, 2012.
Note 12 - Leatherstocking Companies
The Company, in a joint venture with Mirabito Holdings, Incorporated, formed a limited liability company in November 2010 for the purpose of providing natural gas in areas of New York and Pennsylvania that currently do not have natural gas service. This new venture, Leatherstocking Gas Company, LLC, ("Leatherstocking Gas") is currently moving forward on expansions to several areas in the northeast. The Company and Mirabito Holdings, Incorporated each own 50% of Leatherstocking Gas. There are no significant financial transactions to report and therefore no amounts to consolidate at June 30, 2012. In April 2012, Leatherstocking Pipeline Company, LLC ("Leatherstocking Pipeline") was formed in Pennsylvania with the same structure as Leatherstocking Gas. There are no significant financial transactions to report and therefore no amounts to consolidate at June 30, 2012.
Note 13 - Stock Dividend
On March 21, 2011, the Company set April 1, 2011 as the record date for a one for two stock dividend on its outstanding common stock as authorized by the NYPSC in an order dated March 17, 2011. On April 20, 2011 each shareholder of record as of close of business on the record date was paid one share of common stock for each two shares held by such holder. Due to this stock dividend, all computations of number of shares and earnings per share have been adjusted retroactively for prior periods to reflect the change in capital structure.
Note 14 - Settlement of Lawsuits
On December 30, 2011, the Company entered into a definitive Settlement and Release Agreement (the "Agreement") settling two lawsuits by a former Chairman of the Company. As previously disclosed, Thomas K. Barry sought damages from the Company for failure to transfer to Mr. Barry a key-man life insurance policy and for terminating payments under a deferred compensation agreement. Please refer
Page 14.
to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 for disclosure regarding the original claims. Under the Agreement, the Company paid to Mr. Barry $285,000 on January 13, 2012, and beginning next year the Company will pay Mr. Barry on or before each January 5, $40,000 plus interest compounded annually at 4% (less than one-half of the amount in Mr. Barry's deferred compensation agreement) for the longer of ten years or Mr. Barry's lifetime. The Company will pay Mr. Barry $15,000 annually for the longer of ten years or Mr. Barry's lifetime up to a maximum of 20 payments to replace the life insurance policy. In addition, the Company will provide certain health and prescription drug insurance benefits to Mr. Barry and his wife for life. The Company and Mr. Barry exchanged mutual general releases. The Company had previously reserved for past due payments as well as accrued a liability for future payments under the deferred compensation agreement and key-man life insurance policy. The savings associated with the reversal of past due payments and change in the liabilities for future payments under the deferred compensation agreement were recognized as a decrease to operating and maintenance expense. The reversal of accrued liability for the key man insurance policy was recognized in other income. The after tax benefit that resulted from these entries is approximately $378,000 after accounting for legal fees associated with the settlement which are shown in other deductions, net.
On March 22, 2012, the Supreme Court of the State of New York and Steuben County ruled that the Company should supply Gas Natural Inc., a shareholder, certain Company records associated with Gas Natural Inc.'s tender offers in the 2008 to 2010 time frame and the Company's 2010 rights offering. The Company has provided the records to Gas Natural consistent with the court order. Gas Natural Inc. holds approximately 1% of the Company's common stock and its chairman, chief executive officer and largest shareholder is Richard Osborne. Both Mr. Osborne and Gas Natural Inc. have previously engaged in litigation against the Company. We cannot predict whether further litigation may result from Gas Natural Inc.'s review of the records of the Company.
On March 23, 2012, a complaint filed by Richard M. Osborne and Gas Natural, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against four of the Company's directors and, nominally, against the Company (collectively "Defendants"). Richard M. Osborne and Gas Natural Inc. v. Michael I. German, Henry B. Cook, Ted W. Gibson, George J. Welch and Corning Natural Gas Corporation, Civ. Action No. 1:11-CV-744-CAB, N.D. Ohio (the "Action"), was dismissed by the court. The complaint sought to recover compensatory damages in an unspecified amount in excess of $75,000 and to rescind the rights offering, as well as payment of costs and interest. The Action was dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction. There is no impact to the financial statements as there was no liability or loss contingency recorded to date.
Note 15 - Effective Tax Rate
Income tax expense for the nine months ended June 30 is as follows: |
|||
2012 |
2011 |
||
Current |
($124,582) |
$2,617,893 |
|
Deferred |
1,119,902 |
(1,699,096) |
|
Total |
$995,320 |
$918,797 |
|
Actual income tax expense differs from the expected tax expense (computed by applying the |
|||
federal corporate tax rate of 34% and state tax rate of 7.1% to income before income tax |
|||
expense) as follows: |
|||
Page 15. |
|||
2012 |
2011 |
||
Expected federal tax expense |
$549,834 |
$547,264 |
|
State tax expense (net of federal) |
114,818 |
114,282 |
|
Net operating loss carryforwards |
67,961 |
- |
|
Other, net |
262,707 |
257,251 |
|
Actual tax expense |
$995,320 |
$918,797 |
The effective tax rate for the period ending June 30, 2012 was 38.1% instead of the expected rate of 41.1% due to reconciliation of a prior period tax liability offsetting the benefits of bonus depreciation. The effective tax rate for the period ending June 30, 2011 was 36.3% instead of the expected 41.1% primarily because of bonus depreciation.
Note 16 - Private Placement of Common Stock
On January 27, 2012, the Company completed a private placement of its common stock, par value $5.00 per share, pursuant to the terms of a Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2012, between the Company and the Article 6 Marital Trust under the First Amended and Restated Jerry Zucker Revocable Trust dated April 2, 2007 (the "Purchaser"). The 138,889 shares of common stock (the "Common Stock") issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement were sold at a per share cash price of $14.40 and raised gross proceeds of $2 million for the Company which will be used for general corporate purposes. In connection with the private placement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2012, which grants the Purchaser certain demand and piggy-back registration rights with respect to the Common Stock. The issuance and sale of the Common Stock was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and the shares may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The Common Stock was offered and sold in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and corresponding provisions of state securities laws.
Note 17 - Employment Agreements
On April 17, 2012, the Company entered into Change of Control Agreements (the "Agreements") with all executive officers other than Michael I. German, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. Each Agreement is effective as of April 20, 2012, and terminates on the first to occur of (i) termination of employment prior to a Change of Control (as defined in the Agreements); (ii) one year from the date of the Change of Control; or (iii) May 1, 2017, if no Change of Control has occurred. These Agreements define compensation amounts due upon termination of employment following a Change of Control except in cases of death, good cause or good reason.
Note 18 - Rights Offering
The Company has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer subscription rights to purchase shares and the underlying common stock to the holders of our common stock as of July 2, 2012 and is awaiting effectiveness. Subscribing shareholders would be entitled to purchase one share of our common stock for each eight shares of our common stock they currently own, at a cash exercise price of $15.75 per share. The rights would be granted the shareholders without additional charge to them. The Company has entered into a contract with Registrar and Transfer Company appointing them as Subscription Agent for the rights offering. This rights offering would help fund capital expenditures, the retirement of debt and future growth opportunities.
Page 16.
Note 19 - Subsequent Events
On July 27, 2012, the Company entered into a Line of Credit Agreement and Term Loan Agreement in the amount of $2.45 million with Community Bank, N.A. to fund construction projects in our NYPSC mandated repair/replacement program for 2012. From July 27, 2012 to November 30, 2012 ("Draw Period"), the note will be payable as interest only at a rate of the greater of 3.00 percentage points above 30-day LIBOR or 3.75%. On December 1, 2012, the note will convert to a permanent loan payable monthly for five years with the same interest rate calculated on a ten-year amortization schedule. A final payment will be due on the maturity date equal to the outstanding principal and interest.
On August 2, 2012, the Company received notice that a significant customer filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. They received funding from their principal lender to continue to operate and pay bills going forward. As of June 30, 2012, the Company has reserved $70,000 of the $210,584 outstanding which is consistent with the Company's accounting policies. At this time we remain hopeful that the remaining amount will be collectable. If information comes to our attention that suggests otherwise we will adjust the amount to be collected accordingly.
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Our primary business is natural gas distribution. We serve approximately 15,000 customers through 425 miles of pipeline in the Corning, Hammondsport and Virgil, New York areas. The market for natural gas in our traditional service territory is relatively saturated with limited growth potential. However, growth opportunities do exist in extending our mains to areas adjacent or reasonably close to areas we currently serve. In addition, the Company continues to see expansion opportunities in the commercial and industrial markets. Our largest customer, Corning Incorporated, has added additional research capacity in our service area that is increasing our revenue and margins. Several new institutional and commercial facilities have been announced in our service territory. For example, the following projects are moving forward: a new hospital, two local motels, a new dormitory for the local community college, a large expansion to a local museum and a new math/science high school. We completed a project to provide service to a large asphalt plant in May 2012. We believe that one of our most promising growth opportunities for both revenues and margins is increasing connection with local gas production sources. We completed a new pipeline to Marcellus Shale gas in Pennsylvania in 2009 and we believe that pipeline could, depending on the volume of gas extracted and directed through the pipeline by the producer, significantly increase throughput on our system and have a significant impact on margins. In 2010 we upgraded portions of Lines 4, 7 and 13 to increase our capacity to transport local production gas. We have completed a compressor station that is working in conjunction with our pipeline upgrades to transport gas on our system and into the interstate pipeline system. In addition, we have formed two joint ventures, Leatherstocking Gas Company, LLC and Leatherstocking Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, to pipe gas to areas of the northeast currently without gas service. We have contracts with Corning Incorporated and Woodhull Municipal Gas Company, a small local utility, to provide maintenance service on their gas lines.
We continue to focus on improving the efficiency of our operations and making capital investments to improve our infrastructure. Our infrastructure improvement program has concentrated on the replacement of older distribution mains and customer service lines. In 2011 we replaced 8.1 miles of pipe and 439 services. We have begun work on the systematic replacement of 7 1/2 miles of bare steel pipe and 350 bare steel services for 2012. We will also replace approximately one additional mile of Line 15, which is the high pressure distribution main that provides gas supply to the Villages of Bath and
Page 17.
Hammondsport, New York. The Company has completed installation of new distribution lines to a local Asphalt Plant and large farm complex to assist them in fuel cost savings. Additionally the Company will continue on its goal to end the calendar year with 10 or fewer repairable leaks remaining on our books.
We believe our key performance indicators are net income, stockholders' equity and the safety of our system. For the three months ended June 30, 2012, net income increased by $140,863 compared to the same period in 2011 mainly due to the rate increase and new reconciliations provided by the new rate order offsetting lower gas volumes. Net Income increased $7,557 for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 compared to last year because the benefits that resulted from the settlement of the Barry lawsuits (see Note 14 - Settlement of Lawsuits in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information), the new rate order and increased local production revenues, which partially offset lower volumes of gas sold due to warmer weather, increased taxes other than income taxes and higher depreciation and bad debt expense. The Company has increased its bad debt reserve to reflect the poor payment history of one large customer. As a regulated utility company, stockholders' equity is an important performance indicator. The NYPSC allows us to earn a just and reasonable return on stockholders' equity as determined under applicable regulations. Stockholders' equity is, therefore, a precursor of future earnings potential. For the 2012 fiscal year to date, stockholders' equity increased from $14,646,468 to $17,848,046. We currently plan to continue our focus on building stockholders' equity. Safety and efficiency indicators include leak repair, main and service replacements and customer service metrics. In fiscal year 2012 to date, we have spent $4.8 million on projects and safety-related infrastructure improvements. For the first nine months of fiscal 2012 we repaired 198 leaks, replaced 265 bare steel services and replaced 29,282 feet of bare steel main.
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||
2012 |
2011 |
2012 |
2011 |
|
Net Income/(loss) |
$69,198 |
($71,665) |
$1,617,158 |
$1,609,601 |
Shareholders' equity |
$17,848,046 |
$14,646,468 |
$17,848,046 |
$14,646,468 |
Shareholders' equity per weighted average share |
$9.05 |
$8.38 |
$9.30 |
$8.44 |
Revenue and Margin
The demand for natural gas is directly affected by weather conditions. Significantly warmer than normal weather conditions in our service areas could reduce our earnings and cash flows as a result of lower gas sales. We mitigate the risk of warmer winter weather through the weather normalization and revenue decoupling clauses in our tariffs. These clauses allow the Company to surcharge customers for under recovery of revenue.
Utility operating revenues decreased $944,175 in the three months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same period last year due to lower gas costs (a pass through), decreased usage partially offset by the rate increase that became effective in May 2012 and more favorable regulatory amortizations. Operating revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the prior period decreased $3.3 million due to much lower volumes and the reversal of a prior period lost and unaccounted for ("LAUF") incentive benefit partially offset by more favorable regulatory amortizations and reconciliations and higher local production volumes. As of September 1, 2009, 100% of the fixed amount and 80% of the monthly volumetric charge due to line 13 (our pipeline connecting Marcellus production in Pennsylvania to the rest of our distribution system) are now allocated to offset our costs of building the pipeline. As of fiscal year 2011, we are recognizing the revenue and increasing the accumulated depreciation and depreciation expense instead of offsetting Plant. Other revenue increased for this fiscal year to date compared to last year because of the new reconciliation of contract customer target amounts, a bridge reconciliation of RDM and Merchants Function Charge ("MFC"), which recovers administrative costs related to the acquisition and management of gas supply, due to the current rate order and more
Page 18.
favorable monthly amortizations. We reconcile several accounts on an annual basis, two of the biggest being the RDM and LAUF incentive reconciliations. The RDM was reconciled for the first time in fiscal year 2011 to reflect the difference between actual delivery revenue and the target revenue filed with the NYPSC and resulted in a negative income impact in that year because we had recorded revenues higher than the target. In fiscal 2012, we were closer to our revenue target and therefore had a smaller negative impact on revenues. For the annual reconciliation of LAUF in December of 2011, we had a benefit of $43,044 that partially offset the reversal of $365,194 for the period ended December 2010. The following tables further summarize other income on the operating revenue table:
Three months ended June 30, |
Nine months ended June 30, |
|||||||||
2012 |
2011 |
2012 |
2011 |
|||||||
Other gas revenues: |
||||||||||
Customer discounts forfeited |
$22,413 |
$32,530 |
$62,003 |
$75,608 |
||||||
Reconnect fees |
920 |
680 |
3,260 |
2,280 |
||||||
Gas revenues subject to refund |
151,783 |
44,086 |
55,370 |
(39,017) |
||||||
Surcharges |
2,730 |
2,955 |
8,355 |
8,979 |
||||||
Total other gas revenues |
$177,846 |
$80,251 |
$128,988 |
$47,850 |
||||||
2012 |
2011 |
2012 |
2011 |
|||||||
Gas revenues subject to refund: |
||||||||||
Rate case amortizations |
$- |
$5,091 |
$4,093 |
$15,273 |
||||||
DRA carrying costs |
2,233 |
2,319 |
9,952 |
12,396 |
||||||
Line 15 Carrying Costs |
7,808 |
- |
48,527 |
- |
||||||
Estimated second stage rate increase accrual |
- |
81,390 |
- |
182,708 |
||||||
Monthly RDM amortizations |
53,661 |
(44,714) |
248,689 |
(144,195) |
||||||
Capacity Release Income |
- |
- |
- |
51,690 |
||||||
Annual RDM reconciliation |
(50,576) |
- |
(75,951) |
(156,889) |
||||||
Annual MFC reconciliation |
83,398 |
- |
86,951 |
- |
||||||
Contract customer target reconciliation |
55,259 |
- |
55,259 |
- |
||||||
LAUF incentive reconciliation |
- |
- |
(322,150) |
- |
||||||
$151,783 |
$44,086 |
$55,370 |
($39,017) |
|||||||
The following table summarizes our operating revenue: |
||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||||||||
2012 |
2011 |
2012 |
2011 |
|||||||
Retail revenue: |
||||||||||
Residential |
$1,934,580 |
$2,579,317 |
$9,339,702 |
$11,404,436 |
||||||
Commercial |
264,373 |
395,363 |
1,510,678 |
1,840,228 |
||||||
Industrial |
18,394 |
15,245 |
52,755 |
43,413 |
||||||
Transportation |
855,086 |
991,251 |
3,438,279 |
3,984,316 |
||||||
Total retail revenue |
3,072,433 |
3,981,176 |
14,341,414 |
17,272,393 |
||||||
Wholesale |
295,128 |
372,021 |
1,574,767 |
2,165,423 |
||||||
Local Production |
260,981 |
317,115 |
817,182 |
690,169 |
||||||
Other |
177,846 |
80,251 |
128,988 |
47,850 |
||||||
Total utility operating revenue |
$3,806,388 |
$4,750,563 |
$16,862,351 |
$20,175,835 |
Page 19.
Gas purchases are our largest expense. We entered into a new gas management agreement with Conoco Phillips Corporation effective as of April 1, 2011. Purchased gas expense decreased $946,475 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and $2.8 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same periods last year due primarily to lower prices and more favorable regulatory adjustments for the period.
Margin (the excess of utility operating revenues over the cost of natural gas purchased) percentage increased 15.14% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 7.79% for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same periods last year primarily because of favorable GAC adjustments for the period, the rate increase in May 2012 and lower gas prices.
Three Months Ended June 30, |
Nine Months Ended June 30, |
|||
2012 |
2011 |
2012 |
2011 |
|
Utility operating revenues |
$3,806,388 |
$4,750,563 |
$16,862,351 |
$20,175,835 |
Natural gas purchased |
915,381 |
1,861,956 |
6,321,747 |
9,134,862 |
Margin |
$2,891,007 |
$2,888,607 |
$10,540,604 |
$11,040,973 |
Margin % |
75.95% |
60.81% |
62.51% |
54.72% |
Operating Expenses
Operating and maintenance expense decreased $175,233 in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the same quarter of fiscal 2011 mainly because more payroll costs are being capitalized this period due to an early start on construction projects owing to warm weather. These expenses decreased $934,147 for the year to date in 2012 compared to 2011 primarily due to recognition of the savings associated with the settlement of the Barry lawsuits (see Note 14 - Settlement of Lawsuits in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information) and because more payroll costs were capitalized for major projects completed at the end of calendar year 2011 and new projects started in the beginning of 2012. Depreciation expense increased by $20,196 in this quarter and $238,427 for the year to date as compared to the same periods in 2011 mainly due to increased local production revenues which affect depreciation (see Revenue and Margin discussion above) offset by a monthly amortization adjustment to offset prior period over-depreciation as determined by the depreciation study ordered by the NYPSC. Interest expense showed an increase of $8,302 for the quarter and $54,744 for the year from fiscal 2012 to 2011 due to new loan instruments in the period and an adjustment to interest for carrying costs allowed per the NYPSC on amounts not yet collected under the mandated Temporary State Assessment in December 2010 partially offset by lower interest rates this fiscal year. The higher borrowings under the lines of credit in this quarter also increased interest expense for the period.
Net Income
Net income increased $140,863 for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 mainly due to the rate increase, new rate case reconciliations and capitalizing more payroll expense. Net Income increased $7,557 for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 compared to last year because the benefits that resulted from the settlement of the Barry lawsuits (see Note 14 - Settlement of Lawsuits in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information), the new rate order and increased local production revenues, which partially offset lower volumes of gas sold due to warmer weather, increased taxes other than income taxes and higher depreciation and bad debt expense. The Company has increased its bad debt reserve to reflect the poor payment history of one large customer.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capital expenditures are the principal use of internally generated cash flow. Capital expenditures have historically exceeded $4.0 million annually due to an infrastructure investment mandate in our recent rate orders from the NYPSC. In fiscal year 2012 to date, we have spent approximately $4.8 million on projects and safety-related infrastructure improvements. This, in conjunction with our growth projects, creates liquidity pressure on the Company. We anticipate that our aggressive capital construction program will continue to require the Company to raise new debt and/or equity.
Internally generated cash from operating activities consists of net income, adjusted for non-cash expenses, and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Non-cash items include depreciation and amortization, gain on investment and deferred income taxes. Over or under-recovered gas costs significantly impact cash flow. In addition, there are significant year-to-year changes in regulatory assets that impact cash flow. The Company's cash flow is seasonal. Out flows are the highest in the summer and fall months when we refill gas storage and conduct our construction programs. Our cash receipts are highest during the heating season.
Cash flows from financing activities consist of repayment of long-term debt, new long-term borrowing, borrowings and repayments under our lines-of-credit and equity issuances. For our consolidated operations, we have a $7.0 million revolving line of credit with an interest rate of the greater of 3.25% or 2.25% above the 30-day LIBOR. As of March 1, 2010, the aggregate borrowings at any one time under the revolving line may not exceed the sum of 100% of all eligible accounts receivable plus 100% of all gas inventory plus 50% of miscellaneous eligible inventories (material and supplies on the balance sheet) plus 100% of the value of the Rabbi Trust investment account up to the $7.0 million limit. In February 2012 this limit was removed and the interest rate was lowered to the greater of 3.25% or 2.5% above the 30-day LIBOR. The amount outstanding under this line on June 30, 2012 was approximately $4.5 million with an interest rate of 3.25%. Collateral assignments have been executed which assign to the lender various rights in the Rabbi Trust investment account established to fund the Company's deferred compensation plan obligations, shown on the balance sheet as "Investments". In addition, our lender has a purchase money security interest in all our natural gas purchases utilizing funds advanced by the bank under the credit agreement and all proceeds of sale and accounts receivable from the sale of that gas. We rely heavily on our credit lines to finance the purchase of gas that we place in storage.
We have approximately $11.8 million in long term debt outstanding including current year installments as of June 30, 2012. We repaid $721,931 in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 consistent with the requirements of our debt instruments and refinancing activities. On May 7, 2008, we entered into a credit agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company to provide for a $6.0 million loan for the purpose of retiring a $3.1 million first mortgage and an unsecured senior note in the amount of $1.5 million. The remaining proceeds were used to fund construction projects related to furnishing natural gas within the Company's service area. This loan was converted to a long term loan on October 16, 2008, with an interest rate of 5.96%. On March 4, 2010, the $6 million loan agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company was amended to increase the interest rate to 6.5% and to make other adjustments.
On May 7, 2010, the Company entered into a credit agreement with Community Bank N.A. for a $1.05 million promissory note at a fixed interest rate of 6.25% for the purpose of paying for the construction projects of our new franchise located in the town of Virgil. This agreement gives our lender a security interest in all fixtures, equipment and inventory related to the Company's franchise in the town of Virgil as well as the Rabbi Trust account. The note also required an equity contribution of $350,000 which was accomplished by the exercise of 24,000 stock options by Michael I. German, President and CEO, at $15.00 per share or $360,000. The agreement included the following covenants to be measured at each fiscal year end starting with the September 30, 2009 financial statement:
(i) Maintain a tangible net worth of not less than $11.0 million,
(ii) Maintain a debt to tangible net worth ratio of less than 3.0 to 1.0, and
(iii) Maintain a debt service coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.
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On March 10, 2011, the interest rate on this loan was modified from a fixed interest rate to a floating rate of one month LIBOR plus 2.75% with a floor rate of 4.5% and a ceiling rate of 6.25%. The interest rate was 4.5% as of June 30, 2012. We are in compliance with the financial covenants in this debt instrument as of its measurement date on September 30, 2011.
In September 2010, we entered into an agreement with Five Star Bank to provide $750,000 to fund construction of an upgrade to existing natural gas piping to serve increased gas demands on one of our main supply lines, including three Corning Incorporated plants. Interest is payable monthly at a fixed rate of 4.25% per annum and, unless sooner accelerated or demanded, the note was to mature on September 25, 2011. This note was refinanced with Five Star Bank on September 1, 2011 with the same terms. The new maturity date is August 31, 2012 unless accelerated or demanded sooner. The Company expects to extend this note for another year before the present maturity date.
On October 27, 2010, the Company entered into a Multiple Disbursement Term Note with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company in the amount of $1,865,000 to refinance construction costs originally financed through internally generated funds. The interest rate of this note is 5.76% and is payable monthly for five years calculated on a ten-year amortization schedule. A final payment equal to the outstanding principal and interest will be due on November 27, 2015, the maturity date.
On July 14, 2011, the Company entered into a Multiple Disbursement Term Note and Credit Agreement in the amount of $2 million with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company to fund construction projects in our NYPSC-mandated repair/replacement program for calendar year 2011. Until October 31, 2011, the note was payable as interest only at a rate of the greater of 3.50% above 30-day LIBOR or 4.25%. On November 1, 2011 the note converted to a permanent loan payable monthly for five years calculated on a ten-year amortization schedule with a variable rate, adjusting daily, based on the greater of 3.25% above 30-day LIBOR or 4.25%. The interest rate was 4.25% as of June 30, 2012.
On July 27, 2012, the Company entered into a Line of Credit Agreement and Term Loan Agreement in the amount of $2.45 million with Community Bank, N.A. to fund construction projects in our NYPSC mandated repair/replacement program for 2012. From July 27, 2012 to November 30, 2012 ("Draw Period"), the note will be payable as interest only at a rate of the greater of 3.00 percentage points above 30-day LIBOR or 3.75%. On December 1, 2012, the note will convert to a permanent loan payable monthly for five years with the same interest rate calculated on a ten-year amortization schedule. A final payment will be due on the maturity date equal to the outstanding principal and interest.
The Company is in compliance with all of our loan covenants as of June 30, 2012.
During this quarter, we mainly injected gas into storage and as of June 30, 2012, had a balance of $1.8 million worth of gas in storage. During the next quarter, we will also be injecting gas into storage so we will have sufficient gas to supply our customers for the next winter season.
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Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off balance sheet arrangements.
Contractual Obligations
In February 2012, we refinanced our revolving line of credit at an interest rate of the greater of 3.25% or the 30-day LIBOR plus 2.25%. The interest rate on this loan is adjusted monthly and was 3.25% at June 30, 2012. We are in compliance with the financial covenants in this debt instrument as of June 30, 2012.
The Company and Mirabito Holdings, Incorporated each own 50% of Leatherstocking Gas and each appoint three managers to operate the new company. The seventh manager is a neutral manager agreed to by the Company and Mirabito Holdings, Incorporated who is not an officer, director, or employee of either company. The current managers are Joseph P. Mirabito, John J. Mirabito and William Mirabito from Mirabito Holdings, Incorporated; Matthew J. Cook, Michael I. German and Russell S. Miller from the Company; and Carl T. Hayden as the neutral manager. Joseph P. Mirabito and William Mirabito are stockholders and current board members of the Company. Leatherstocking Gas has met with potential customers and public officials, as well as attended public hearings, and believes there is significant interest in acquiring gas service. Leatherstocking Gas received a franchise from the Village of Sidney, New York, on February 28, 2011; from the Town of Sidney, New York, on November 9, 2011; from the Town of Bainbridge, New York, on December 13, 2011; the Village of Winsor, New York, on May 18, 2012 and from the Village of Bainbridge, New York on July 17, 2012. On November 23, 2011, Leatherstocking Gas filed for thirteen franchises in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The Company has been working with local economic developmentand government officials along with State lawmakers to secure a certificate of public convenience to serve these sections. The Company anticipates receiving the required approvals to serve in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2012. Once the certificate is issued the Company will commence building facilities. Additionally Leatherstocking continues to be in discussions with municipal officials along the I-88 corridor in New York State. Leatherstocking is still acquiring municipal utility franchises and intends to connect to existing and new gas production in the area. Leatherstocking officials also intend to connect to the Constitution Pipeline which is a joint venture between Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. and Williams Partners, LP and is scheduled to be operational in March of 2015.
On June 1, 2012, Leatherstocking Pipeline executed a natural gas transportation agreement with Pennsy Supply, Incorporated ("Pennsy"). Under the terms of the agreement Leatherstocking Pipeline will connect Pennsy's Lawton asphalt facility to natural gas suppliers from the Williams Laser gathering line in the Township of Middleton in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The natural gas interconnect should be operational by late summer 2012.
Regulatory Matters
The Company's business is regulated by the NYPSC among other agencies.
In August 2009, in Case 08-G-1137, the NYSPC approved a rate increase of $1.5 million effective September 1, 2009 that was included in a gas rate joint proposal dated March 27, 2009. The order also contained a revenue decoupling mechanism (RDM) and a year two "capital tracker". As discussed below in this section, this allowed the Company to file for second stage rate relief in 2010 for new capital projects without a full blown rate proceeding. In addition, the percentage of producer revenue retained by the Company as an incentive was increased from 10% to 20%.
On September 18, 2009, in Case 09-G-0488, the NYPSC approved the Company's petition to issue long term indebtedness in the principal amount of $7,000,000 for the purpose of refunding existing obligations and financing new construction.
On November 2, 2009, the Company filed a petition in Case 09-G-0790 for authority to transfer its pipelines 2, 3 and 6 from utility operations to a non-utility entity. These pipeline facilities are not currently needed for the Company to provide its natural gas distribution service. In the future, however, these facilities may be useful for the purpose of transporting locally produced natural gas, a business distinct from the Company's provision of distribution service. On April 20, 2012 the Commission denied the Company's petition.
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On January 13, 2010, the Company and Talisman filed a joint application with the NYPSC in Case 10-T-0019 to transfer the New York Public Service Law Article VII Certificate, that had permitted the construction and operation of a 6" pipeline from Talisman to the Company and to amend the Article VII Certificate to permit the construction of a compressor station in the Town of Caton, New York. On July 26, 2010, the NYPSC approved the transfer and amendment of the Article VII Certificate. This order provides for the transfer of the 6" pipeline and grants the Company the authority to build the compressor station in Caton. It also permits the upgrade of certain Company pipeline facilities. This order will facilitate the movement of Marcellus Shale gas into and through the Company's pipelines.
On November 17, 2010, Bath Electric Gas & Water Systems (BEGWS), a natural gas customer of the Company, filed a petition with the NYPSC, in Case 10-G-0598 that claimed BEGWS was overbilled for gas by the Company. BEGWS asserted that the Company's meters registered 2.94% more gas than was actually delivered to BEGWS from 2004 through 2010. Based on its calculations, BEGWS has requested that the NYPSC order the Company to refund approximately $1.2 million for overcharges and interest. The Company conducted a comprehensive review of the BEGWS claim. The Company installed new meters for BEGWS in 2009 and believes that those meters and the resulting bills have been accurate. On January 26, 2011, the Company responded that its preliminary review of its billing data and gas cost reconciliation to the NYPSC shows that the Company has already credited BEGWS the amount in the claim. In testimony filed by its consultants on July 8, 2011, BEGWS acknowledged receipt of the amount in the claim but raised new claims not in the original petition. BEGWS now asserts that the Company owes it a refund of $345,747. The Company contested the testimony filed on July 8, 2011. The Company and BEGWS met with the NYPSC Staff on July 11, 2011, to discuss findings to date on the petition. No order has been issued by the NYPSC on this matter. The meter investigation associated with the petition is ongoing. Currently, the Company does not believe that the BEGWS petition, whether it is granted or not, would have a material financial impact.
The NYPSC on January 25, 2011 acted on the Company's second stage request in Case 08-G-1137. The amount of the second stage was estimated to be approximately $164,000. The actual amount of the second stage rate increase will be determined via a reconciliation process that covers September 2010 to August 2011. If eligible expenditures and costs recoverable in the second stage exceed the forecast used by the NYPSC to set the cash collection amount, those amounts will be deferred and recovered via the Delivery Rate Adjustment in 2012. The NYPSC denied the Company's request to extend the second stage calculation mechanism to a third and fourth stage. This denial necessitated the filing of a base rate case in the first half of calendar year 2011 (Case 11-G-0280, discussed below). The Company filed for re-hearing on February 1, 2011. The petition stated that the NYPSC erred in not including depreciation expense as a component of carrying costs recoverable in the second stage rate increase. On October 13, 2011, the NYPSC denied the Company's rehearing request.
On March 17, 2011, the NYPSC issued an order in Case 10-G-0647 authorizing the Company to issue and distribute a fifty percent stock dividend to its shareholders. On March 21, 2011, the Company set April 1, 2011 as the record date for a one for two stock dividend on its outstanding common stock as authorized by the NYPSC order. Each shareholder of record as of close of business on the record date was paid one share of common stock for each two shares held by such holder on April 20, 2011.
On April 14, 2011, the NYPSC issued an order in Case 08-G-1137 for the accounting treatment and new schedule for line 15 upgrades. The Company had requested that carrying costs (defined as pre-tax overall return, depreciation expense and property taxes) be permitted on the mandated reliability upgrade until the investment was reflected in base rates. The NYPSC granted the request in part by
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allowing carrying costs defined as pre-tax overall return and property taxes. The Company filed for re-hearing on April 18, 2011 stating that the NYPSC erred in not providing for depreciation expense as a component of carrying costs, since the definition above has been applied to other utilities under the NYPSC's jurisdiction. In an Order issued October, 13, 2011, the NYPSC denied the Company's request for re-hearing.
On May 19, 2011, the NYPSC, in Case 08-G-1137, issued an Order Modifying the Regulatory Matrix and Establishing Liability. The order granted, with one exception, the request of Corning Natural Gas Corporation to eliminate the Regulatory Matrix that was originally established in Case 05-G-1359. The NYPSC removed the Regulatory Matrix penalties associated with accounting, leak reporting, and gas supply related requirements; but it continued the cathodic protection reporting requirement and associated penalties of $32,750 per deficiency per year. The order concluded that the Company had failed to submit annual reports for 2009 and 2010, and assessed a total penalty of $65,500 for those asserted failures. On June 3, 2011, the Company filed a petition for re-hearing requesting that the penalty determination pertaining to cathodic protection reporting be rescinded, or in the alternative, that the issue of the penalty be incorporated into the Company's base rate case (Case 11-G-0280). On October 13, 2011 the NYPSC denied the Company's rehearing request. The Staff of the NYPSC in Case 11-G-0280 recommended that the penalty amount be amortized over a seven year period. That recommendation was approved by the NYPSC in the rate order issued April 20, 2012.
On May 24, 2011, the Company filed Case 11-G-0280, a base rate case that requested an increase in revenues of $1,429,281 (or 6.63% on an overall bill rate basis) in the 12 months ending April 30, 2013, (the Rate Year) and by the same dollar amount in the two succeeding 12-month periods (ending April 30, 2014, and April 30, 2015). On January 13, 2012 the Company, the Staff of the NYPSC and other intervenor parties filed a Joint Proposal (the "Proposal") with the NYPSC to resolve all issues in the rate case. The Proposal provides for revenue increases to Corning's rates in the first year (May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013) of $944,310; in year two (May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014) of $899,674; and in year three (May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015) of $323,591. The Proposal also provides the Company the opportunity to earn $545,284 from local production before sharing, a 118% increase from the $250,000 allowed previously. The Proposal also provides for property tax reconciliation, treatment of future local production investment, allocations to the Company's new Leatherstocking operations, consolidation of the three divisional rate tariffs into a single rate tariff and recovery of forecasted capital and operation and maintenance costs for the period May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2015. The rates are based on a 9.5% return on equity. The cumulative potential revenue increases over the three years total $4,955,869. On April 20, 2012 the NYPSC issued a final order in the case accepting the Proposal, with rates effective May 1, 2012. In the order the NYPSC asked the Company and the other parties to the case, including Staff, to collaborate on a code of conduct for Corning and its affiliates. This code of conduct is contemplated to be used until a more comprehensive code of conduct is established in conjunction with the establishment of a holding company structure for the Company and its affiliates, as requested in Case 12-G-0141 discussed below. As a result of the collaborative process, nearly all issues concerning the code of conduct were resolved. The major exception is a difference between the Company and Staff regarding the extent to which Company employees can be made available to perform services on behalf of affiliates. Except for certain officers who are permitted to carry out functions on behalf of Leatherstocking Gas, Staff asserts that no distribution company employees should be made available. The Company, on the other hand, believes that other employees can and should be used in affiliate operations. The affiliate would be charged for their services on fully loaded basis. Staff and the Company have presented their respective positions on the outstanding issues to the Commission for resolution.
On September 15, 2011, the Company filed a petition with the NYPSC seeking amendment of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (the "Certificate") granted by the NYPSC in its "Order Granting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity" issued June 19, 2009 in Case 09-G-0252 to permit the Company to expand service within the Town of Virgil, Cortland County, beyond those areas in which service was authorized pursuant to the Certificate. The Company's request seeking amendment of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued June 19, 2009 was granted by the Commission on June 14, 2012.
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On February 8, 2012, the Company filed a petition in Case 12-G-0049 requesting authorization to issue $12,650,000 in debt and $12,650,000 equity to support the utility infrastructure and growth programs ($20,950,000), Leatherstocking ($1,800,000) and non-utility investments ($2,500,000). As a result of discussions with the NYPSC, the Company requested that the petition be bifurcated and that the NYSPC immediately review and approve that portion of the petition's funding request pertaining to the Company's gas distribution system. On May 17, 2012, the NYPSC acted on the petition. The Company was authorized to issue long-term debt up to $9,000,000 and authorized to issue common stock, convertible preferred stock and stock warrants up to $9,000,000, no later than December 31, 2016.
On March 26, 2012, the Company filed a petition with the NYPSC in Case 12-G-0141 requesting authority to reorganize into a holding company structure. The Company is one of the few energy utilities in New York State that does not have a holding company structure. The Company has concluded that the absence of such a structure, and particularly not having the flexibility it affords for financing, is inhibiting the raising of capital. To date there has been no action on the petition.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011, filed on December 28, 2011. It is important to understand that the application of generally accepted accounting principles involves certain assumptions, judgments and estimates that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Thus, the application of these principles can produce varying results from company to company. The most significant principles that impact us are discussed below.
Accounting for Utility Revenue and Cost of Gas Recognition
We record revenues from residential and commercial customers based on meters read on a cycle basis throughout each month, while certain large industrial and utility customers' meters are read at the end of each month. We do not accrue revenue for gas delivered but not yet billed. We do not currently anticipate adopting unbilled revenue recognition and we do not believe it would have a material impact on our financial results. Our tariffs contain mechanisms that provide for the recovery of the cost of gas applicable to firm customers, which includes estimates. Under these mechanisms, we periodically adjust our rates to reflect increases and decreases in the cost of gas. Annually, we reconcile the difference between the total gas costs collected from customers and the cost of gas. We defer any excess or deficiency and subsequently either recover it from, or refund it to, customers over the following twelve-month period. To the extent estimates are inaccurate; a regulatory asset on the balance sheet is increased or decreased.
Accounting for Regulated Operations - Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
All of our business is subject to regulation by the NYPSC. We record the results of our regulated activities in accordance with FASB ASC 980, which results in differences in the application of generally accepted accounting principles between regulated and non-regulated businesses. FASB ASC 980 requires the recording of regulatory assets and liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as revenue and expense in non-regulated businesses. In certain circumstances, FASB ASC 980 allows entities whose rates are determined by third-party regulators to defer costs as "regulatory" assets in the balance sheet to the extent that the entity expects to recover these costs in future rates. Management believes that currently available facts support the continued application of FASB ASC 980 and that all regulatory assets and liabilities are recoverable or refundable through the regulatory environment.
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Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits
The amounts reported in our financial statements related to pension and other post-retirement benefits are determined on an actuarial basis; therefore, certain assumptions are required to calculate those amounts. These assumptions include the discount rate, the expected return on plan assets, the rate of compensation increase and, for other post-retirement benefits, the expected annual rate of increase in per capita cost of covered medical and prescription benefits. Changes in actuarial assumptions and actuarial experience could have a material impact on the amount of pension and post-retirement benefit costs and funding requirements. Please refer to Note 3 - Statement of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) in the Notes to the Financial Statements for further disclosures. However, we expect to recover our entire net periodic pension and other post-retirement benefit costs attributed to employees in accordance with the applicable NYPSC authorization. The Company's pension expense for financial reporting purposes is the amount approved by the NYPSC in the Company's last base rate case. Those amounts are $970,000, $1,285,000 and $520,000 for the periods beginning May 1, 2012, September 1, 2009 and January 1, 2008, respectively. The Company on a monthly basis (1/12 of the annual amount) accrues the amount determined by the latest actuarial estimate of its FASB ASC 715 liability. The Company then compares the FASB ASC 715 amount to the monthly pension allowance approved by the NYPSC. The difference is recorded to expense (plus or minus) in order to match the pension expense included in base delivery rates by order of theNYPSC noted above. The amount (plus or minus) required tomatch the pension expense allowed by the NYPSC is recorded as either a regulatory asset or liability and is deferred for subsequent rate consideration.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains statements which, to the extent they are not recitations of historical facts, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (Reform Act). The words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "could" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the Reform Act. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be achieved. As forward looking statements, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from our management's expectations include, but are not limited to, those listed under Item 1A - "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, and under the heading "Risk Factors" in the prospectus, subject to completion, dated July 25, 2012, forming a part of our Registration Statements on Form S-1 (No. 333-182386), in addition to:
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the effect of any interruption in our supply of natural gas or a substantial increase in the price of natural gas, |
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our ability to successfully negotiate new supply agreements for natural gas as they expire, on terms favorable to us, or at all, |
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the effect on our operations of any action by the NYPSC, |
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the effect of any litigation arising from actions taken or not taken by our former executive officers and any agreements executed in connection therewith, |
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the effect on our operations of unexpected changes in any other applicable legal or regulatory requirements, |
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the amount of natural gas produced and directed through our pipeline by producers, |
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our ability to obtain additional equity or debt financing to fund our capital expenditure plans and for general corporate purposes, |
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our successful completion of various capital projects and the use of pipelines, compressor stations and storage by customers and counterparties at levels consistent with our expectations, |
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our ability to retain the services of our senior executives and other key employees, |
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our vulnerability to adverse general economic and industry conditions generally and particularly the effect of those conditions on our major customers, |
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the effect of any leaks in our transportation and delivery pipelines, and |
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competition to our gas transportation business from other pipelines. |
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in light of new information or future events.
Item 4 - Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of June 30, 2012, the Company's management, with the participation of the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon the Company's evaluation, the Company's principal executive officer and principal financial officer each concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of June 30, 2012.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that was conducted during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
The Company's management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and
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there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
On April 15, 2011, the Company received a copy of a complaint filed by Richard M. Osborne and Gas Natural, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against four of the Company's directors and, nominally, against the Company (collectively "Defendants"). Richard M. Osborne and Gas Natural Inc. v. Michael I. German, Henry B. Cook, Ted W. Gibson, George J. Welch and Corning Natural Gas Corporation, Civ. Action No. 1:11-CV-744-CAB, N.D. Ohio (the "Action"). The plaintiffs claimed that the directors breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders of the Company, also alleged, in the alternative, a derivative claim against the named directors for the same conduct. The complaint sought to recover compensatory damages in an unspecified amount in excess of $75,000 and to rescind the rights offering, as well as payment of costs and interest. On March 23, 2012 the Court dismissed the Action for lack of personal jurisdiction.
Pursuant to the Company's by-laws, the named directors are entitled to advancement of the expenses of their defense of the litigation, and indemnification of any liability, subject to each director's undertaking to repay such advances in the event it is determined that they are not entitled to indemnification under applicable New York law.
On March 22, 2012, the Supreme Court of the State of New York and Steuben County ruled that the Company should supply Gas Natural Inc., a shareholder, certain Company records associated with Gas Natural Inc.'s tender offers in the 2008 to 2010 time frame and the Company's 2010 rights offering. The Company has provided the records to Gas Natural consistent with the court order. Gas Natural Inc. holds approximately 1% of the Company's common stock and its chairman, chief executive officer and largest shareholder is Richard Osborne. Both Mr. Osborne and Gas Natural Inc. have previously engaged in litigation against the Company. We cannot predict whether further litigation may result from Gas Natural Inc.'s review of the records of the Company.
On December 30, 2011, the Company entered into a definitive Settlement and Release Agreement (the "Agreement") settling two lawsuits by a former Chairman of the Company. As previously disclosed, Thomas K. Barry sought damages from the Company for failure to transfer to Mr. Barry a key-man life insurance policy and for terminating payments under a deferred compensation agreement. Please refer to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 for additional disclosure regarding the original claims. Under the Agreement, the Company paid to Mr. Barry $285,000 on January 13, 2012, and beginning next year the Company will pay Mr. Barry on or before each January 5, $40,000 plus interest compounded annually at 4% (less than one-half of the amount in Mr. Barry's deferred compensation agreement) for the longer of ten years or Mr. Barry's lifetime. The Company will pay Mr. Barry $15,000 annually for the longer of ten years or Mr. Barry's lifetime up to a maximum of 20 payments in lieu of a life insurance policy. In addition, the Company will provide certain health and prescription drug insurance benefits to Mr. Barry and his wife for life. The Company and Mr. Barry exchanged mutual general releases. The Company had previously reserved for past due payments as well as accrued a liability for future payments under the deferred compensation agreement and key-man life insurance policy.
Page 29.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Please refer to risk factors listed under 1A - "Risk Factors" of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 and the risk factors under the heading "Risk Factors" in the prospectus, subject to completion, dated July 25, 2012, forming a part of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-182386) for disclosure relating to certain risk factors applicable to the Company.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable
Item 5. Other Information.
None
Item 6. Exhibits.
3.1 The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 26, 2007)
3.2 Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Annex D to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 24, 2007 with the SEC)
4.1 Form of Subscription Rights Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-182386), originally filed with the SEC on June 28, 2012)
4.2 Rights Agent Engagement Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2012, between the Company and Registrar and Transfer Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 2012)
10.1* Form of Change of Control Agreement between the Company and Firouzeh Sarhangi, Stanley G. Sleve, Matthew J. Cook and Russell S. Miller (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 17, 2012)
10.2 Promissory Note between the Company and Five Star Bank dated September 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-182386), originally filed with the SEC on June 28, 2012)
10.3* Settlement and Release Agreement between the Company and Thomas K. Barry dated December 30, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-182386), originally filed with the SEC on June 28, 2012)
Page 30.
10.4 Operating Agreement of Leatherstocking Pipeline Company, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-182386), originally filed with the SEC on June 28, 2012)
10.5 Operating Agreement of Leatherstocking Gas Company, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-182386), originally filed with the SEC on June 28, 2012)
10.6 Line of Credit Agreement between the Company And Community Bank, N.A. dated July 27, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 2012)
10.7 Term Loan Agreement between the Company and Community Bank, N.A. dated July 27, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 30, 2012)
31.1** Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and President pursuant to 17 CFR Section 240.13a-14
31.2** Certification of the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer pursuant to 17 CFR Section 240.13a-14
32.1*** Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101*** The following materials from the Corning Natural Gas Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language):
(i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011,
(ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months and nine months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011,
(iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, and
(iv) related notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
As provided in Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, this information is furnished and not filed for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
____________
*Management or compensatory contract
**Filed herewith
***Furnished herewith
Page 31.
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 thereunto duly authorized.
CORNING NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
Date: August 7, 2012
By: /s/ Michael I. German
Michael I. German, Chief Executive Officer and President
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: August 7, 2012
By: /s/ Firouzeh Sarhangi
Firouzeh Sarhangi, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Page 32.
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
17 CFR SECTION 240.13a-14(a)
I, Michael I. German, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Corning Natural Gas Corporation for the period ending June 30, 2012;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: August 7, 2012 /s/ Michael I. German |
Michael I. German, Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer) |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
17 CFR SECTION 240.13a-14(a)
I, Firouzeh Sarhangi, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Corning Natural Gas Corporation for the period ending June 30, 2012;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: August 7, 2012 /s/ Firouzeh Sarhangi |
Firouzeh Sarhangi, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the filing of the Quarterly Report of Corning Natural Gas Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2012 (the "Report") with the Securities and Exchange Commission, I, Michael I. German, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and I, Firouzeh Sarhangi, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and the results of operations of the Company for such period.
Dated: August 7, 2012
/s/ MICHAEL I. GERMAN |
Michael I. German, Chief Executive Officer and President
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ FIROUZEH SARHANGI |
Firouzeh Sarhangi, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Fair Value Measurements (Details) (Recurring, USD $)
|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
Sep. 30, 2011
|
Jun. 30, 2011
|
---|---|---|---|
Fair Value
|
|||
Available-for-sale securities | $ 2,188,414 | $ 2,267,268 | $ 2,402,992 |
Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1)
|
|||
Available-for-sale securities | 2,188,414 | 2,267,238 | 2,402,992 |
Level 2
|
|||
Available-for-sale securities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Level 3
|
|||
Available-for-sale securities | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Effective Tax Rate (Details Narrative)
|
9 Months Ended | |
---|---|---|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
Jun. 30, 2011
|
|
Effective Tax Rate Details Narrative | ||
Federal corporate tax rate | 34.00% | |
State tax rate | 7.10% | |
Effective tax rate | 38.10% | 36.30% |
Expected tax rate | 41.10% | 41.10% |
Leatherstocking Gas Company, LLC (Details Narrative)
|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
---|---|
Notes to Financial Statements | |
Ownership interest in affiliate, percent | 50.00% |
Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefit Plans (Details Narrative) (USD $)
|
9 Months Ended |
---|---|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
|
Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Plans Details Narrative | |
Pension plan, expected contribution | $ 1,400,000 |
Other post retirement benefit plan, expected contribution | 53,000 |
Pension plan, paid | $ 842,793 |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)
|
9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tables | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
|
Effective Tax Rate (Details 1) (USD $)
|
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
Jun. 30, 2011
|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
Jun. 30, 2011
|
|
Effective Tax Rate Details 1 | ||||
Expected federal tax expense | $ 549,834 | $ 547,264 | ||
State tax expense (net of federal) | 114,818 | 114,282 | ||
Prior period AMT reconciliation | 67,961 | |||
Other, net | 262,707 | 257,251 | ||
Total | $ (35,345) | $ (47,743) | $ 995,320 | $ 918,797 |
Stock Options (Details) (USD $)
|
9 Months Ended | |
---|---|---|
Jun. 30, 2011
2010 Options
|
Jun. 30, 2012
2011 Options
|
|
Adjusted exercise price | $ 11.33 | $ 12.83 |
Expected dividend yield | 3.16% | 2.71% |
Expected stock price volatility | 36.23% | 35.63% |
Risk-free interest rate | 4.00% | 0.83% |
Expected life of options in years | 1 year 9 months | 4 years |
Director Compensation (Details Narrative)
|
3 Months Ended |
---|---|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
|
Director Compensation Details Narrative | |
Board of directors quarterly compensation, restricted shares | 375 |
Compensation expense, percent less than closing price of stock | 25.00% |
Rights Offering (Details Narrative) (USD $)
|
Jun. 30, 2012
|
---|---|
Rights Offering Details Narrative | |
Exercise price, stock subscription | $ 15.75 |
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