0000950120-01-500217.txt : 20011029 0000950120-01-500217.hdr.sgml : 20011029 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950120-01-500217 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20011024 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20011024 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PPL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000922224 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 232758192 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11459 FILM NUMBER: 1765562 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO N NINTH ST CITY: ALLENTOWN STATE: PA ZIP: 181011179 BUSINESS PHONE: 6107745151 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO N NINTH ST CITY: ALLENTOWN STATE: PA ZIP: 18101-1179 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PP&L RESOURCES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19941123 8-K 1 pplcorp8k1024.txt FORM 8-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 24, 2001 PPL Corporation --------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Pennsylvania 1-11459 23-2758192 State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) Two North Ninth Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101-1179 ---------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (610) 774-5151 -------------- Item 5. Other Events On October 24, 2001, PPL Corporation (PPL) issued a press release announcing third-quarter 2001 earnings of $1.04 per share. PPL also confirmed that it still forecasts earnings in excess of $4.00 per share for 2001. In addition, PPL revised its prior earnings forecast for 2002. For 2002, PPL now forecasts little, if any, change from the level of earnings per share currently forecast for 2001. The change from the previous 2002 forecast of $4.55 to $4.65 per share is essentially due to the significant decline in wholesale energy margins, offset by reductions in operating and financing costs. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits 99.1 - Press Release, dated October 24, 2001, regarding PPL Corporation's earnings for the third quarter 2001, and earnings forecasts for 2001, 2002. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. PPL CORPORATION By: /s/ John R. Biggar ------------------------------------ John R. Biggar Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dated: October 24, 2001 EX-99 3 pplcorp991.txt EXHIBIT 99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 PPL CORPORATION REPORTS 28 PERCENT INCREASE IN THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS; COMPANY CONFIRMS EARNINGS FORECAST FOR 2001, REVISES 2002 FORECAST ------------------------------------------------------------------ ALLENTOWN, Pa. (October 24, 2001) -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) today (10/24) reported the strongest third-quarter earnings in company history, a 28 percent increase in earnings per share over the same period in 2000. PPL earned $1.04 per share during the third quarter of 2001 as compared to $0.81 per share a year ago, when adjusted to exclude the benefit of nonrecurring items. PPL's record third-quarter earnings were driven primarily by: o increased margins on wholesale energy activities in markets in the Eastern United States, compared to a year ago. o success in continuing to reduce operating costs. o higher volumes of electricity delivered in PPL Electric Utilities' franchised service territory. o improved earnings contributions from energy-related businesses including the company's mechanical contracting subsidiaries and the company's synfuels operations. These factors offset lower margins from PPL's wholesale energy activities in the Western United States and lower returns from the company's international operations. "Excellent operating performance during the third quarter allowed us to offset the lower margins from our Western wholesale energy sales," said William F. Hecht, PPL's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "The strength of our integrated growth strategy and our strong business fundamentals are leading to record PPL earnings for 2001 despite the precipitous decline in energy prices." For the first nine months of 2001, PPL reported a significant 39 percent increase in earnings per share over a year ago. PPL reported earnings of $3.35 per share for that period of 2001, compared to $2.41 per share reported a year ago, when adjusted to exclude the benefit of nonrecurring items. Actual earnings for the third quarter of 2000 benefited from the nonrecurring impact of 13 cents per share from a settlement with various insurers for environmental and other liabilities. The strong growth in PPL's earnings for the first nine months of 2001 resulted primarily from the following factors: increased margins on energy activities in markets in both the Eastern and Western United States; improved earnings contributions from energy-related businesses including the company's mechanical contracting subsidiaries and the company's synfuel operations; success in continuing to control operating costs; and higher returns from the company's international operations. COMPANY CONFIRMS 2001 EARNINGS FORECAST, REVISES 2002 FORECAST Based on the excellent results in the third quarter, the company confirmed that it still forecasts earnings in excess of $4.00 per share for 2001, which would be the highest annual earnings in the company's history. 2 For 2002, PPL now forecasts little, if any, change from the level of earnings per share currently forecast for 2001. The change from the previous 2002 forecast of $4.55 to $4.65 is essentially due to the significant decline in wholesale energy margins, offset by reductions in operating and financing costs. The 2002 earnings forecast represents a compound annual growth rate of 19 percent based on adjusted earnings per share for 1999, the first full year of deregulation in Pennsylvania. About 80 percent of PPL's 2002 earnings are expected to come from its energy supply business and the balance from its domestic and international delivery businesses. "Our 2001 performance through the first three quarters of 2001 provides a firm base from which we expect continued long-term growth," said Hecht. "This base has been solidified through a concerted effort by our wholesale energy marketing operation to maximize the value of our generation capacity through long-term contracts in key U.S. markets." PPL's most recent major long-term contract is an agreement to provide 450 megawatts of electricity supply to The Montana Power Company over a five-year period beginning July 1, 2002. "This contract, at prices comparable to the current market in the Northwestern United States, ends the uncertainty about our power supply arrangements in Montana," Hecht said. As a result of this agreement and other wholesale and retail agreements, Hecht said, PPL will have the majority of the output of its Montana power plants under long-term contracts beginning in July 2002. During the third quarter of 2001, PPL also completed the strategic initiative the company terms "securitization" of PPL Electric Utilities, the regulated electricity delivery subsidiary. In connection with this initiative, PPL EnergyPlus, PPL's energy marketing and trading affiliate, won the competitive bid to provide the energy sufficient for PPL Electric Utilities to meet its needs through 2009. This contract permits PPL to sell a substantial portion of its Eastern U.S. generation over the next eight years at attractive margins when compared to current market prices. Hecht also pointed out that the company's electricity and natural gas distribution businesses - in the United States and overseas - provide a stable, reliable source of earnings for PPL as it continues to pursue a targeted generation-building strategy. PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., generates electricity at power plants in Pennsylvania, Maine and Montana; markets wholesale or retail energy in 42 U.S. states and Canada; and delivers energy to nearly 6 million customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America. 3
PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) SEPT. 30, 2001 DEC. 31, 2000 -------------- ------------ ASSETS Current Assets $2,276 $1,945 Investments 1,195 1,161 Property, plant and equipment -- net Transmission and distribution 2,797 2,841 Generation 2,329 2,177 General and intangible 302 294 Construction work in progress 330 261 Nuclear fuel and other leased property 104 123 ------- ------- Electric utility plant 5,862 5,696 Gas and oil utility plant 193 177 Other property 68 75 ------- ------- 6,123 5,948 Recoverable transition costs 2,234 2,425 Regulatory and other assets 965 881 ------- ----- Total assets $12,793 $12,360 ======= ======= LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities $1,938 $2,511 Long-term debt (less current portion) 4,675 4,467 Deferred income taxes and ITC 1,433 1,412 Liability for above market NUG purchases 516 581 Other noncurrent liabilities 918 976 Minority interest 52 54 Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable securities 825 250 Preferred stock 96 97 Earnings reinvested 1,374 999 Other common equity 1,802 1,849 Treasury stock (836) (836) -------- -------- Total liabilities and equity $12,793 $12,360 ======= =======
4
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) 3 MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 9 MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 12 MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 ----------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------ 2001 2000(a) 2001 2000(a) 2001 2000(a) ---- ------- ---- ------- ---- ------- OPERATING REVENUES Retail electric and gas .................... $ 818 $ 751 $ 2,566 $ 2,307 $ 3,426 $ 3,033 Wholesale energy marketing and trading ..... 454 620 1,360 1,573 1,867 1,886 Energy-related businesses .................. 166 97 487 298 625 392 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- 1,438 1,468 4,413 4,178 5,918 5,311 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- OPERATING EXPENSES Fuel and purchased power ................... 530 690 1,667 1,891 2,237 2,355 Other operation and maintenance ............ 261 212 785 651 1,100 890 Amortization of recoverable transition costs 65 50 191 159 259 218 Depreciation ............................... 63 58 190 196 255 260 Other ...................................... 180 145 536 407 695 507 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- 1,099 1,155 3,369 3,304 4,546 4,230 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- OPERATING INCOME .............................. 339 313 1,044 874 1,372 1,081 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Other income and (deductions) ................. 7 1 16 8 (7) 98 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- INCOME BEFORE INTEREST, INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST .......................... 346 314 1,060 882 1,365 1,179 Interest expense .............................. 91 94 283 274 385 348 Income taxes .................................. 86 75 247 215 326 297 Minority interest ............................. 1 3 4 4 4 5 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- INCOME BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS ............. 168 142 526 389 650 529 Extraordinary items (net of tax) .............. 0 0 0 0 11 13 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- INCOME BEFORE DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED SECURITIES 168 142 526 389 661 542 Dividends - preferred securities .............. 16 6 35 19 42 26 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- NET INCOME .................................... $ 152 $ 136 $ 491 $ 370 $ 619 $ 516 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK - BASIC Income before nonrecurring items ........... $ 1.04 $ 0.81 $ 3.37 $ 2.41 $ 4.25 $ 3.04 Nonrecurring items (net of tax) ............ 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.55 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Net Income ................................. $ 1.04 $ 0.94 $ 3.37 $ 2.57 $ 4.25 $ 3.59 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK - DILUTED Income before nonrecurring items ........... $ 1.04 $ 0.81 $ 3.35 $ 2.41 $ 4.22 $ 3.04 Nonrecurring items (net of tax) ............ 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.55 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Net Income ................................. $ 1.04 $ 0.94 $ 3.35 $ 2.57 $ 4.22 $ 3.59 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING (THOUSANDS) ................................ 146,241 144,578 145,818 144,165 145,597 144,056
(a) Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. 5 KEY INDICATORS
FINANCIAL 12 MONTHS ENDED 12 MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30, 2001 SEPT. 30, 2000 -------------- -------------- Dividends declared per share $1.06 $1.045 Book value per share (a) $15.97 $13.12 Market price per share (a) $32.6000 $41.7500 Dividend yield 3.3% 2.5% Dividend payout ratio - diluted (b) 25% 34% Price/earnings ratio - diluted (b) 7.7 13.7 Return on average common equity (b) 30.17% 26.67%
(a) End of period (b) Based on adjusted earnings
OPERATING - DOMESTIC ENERGY 3 MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 9 MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 12 MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30 ----------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------ PPL CORP. (millions of kwh) PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT 2001 2000 CHANGE 2001 2000 CHANGE 2001 2000 CHANGE ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------ Retail Delivered (a) 8,712 8,323 4.7% 26,677 25,626 4.1% 34,957 33,584 4.1% Supplied 9,416 9,343 0.8% 28,898 28,388 1.8% 38,268 36,851 3.8% Wholesale East 4,853 7,555 -35.8% 14,356 25,339 -43.3% 20,603 33,084 -37.7% West Montana Power Company (b) 1,268 1,257 0.9% 3,516 3,843 -8.5% 4,769 3,843 (c) Other 960 922 4.1% 2,729 3,175 -14.0% 3,798 3,175 (c)
(a) Electricity delivered to retail customers represents the kwh delivered to customers within PPL Electric Utilities Corp.'s service territory. (b) Energy sold to Montana Power for retail customers under power sale agreements that expire on or before June 30, 2002. (c) Assets pertaining to the wholesale sales in the West were acquired in December 1999. As a result, only nine months of sales are reflected in the 12 months ended September 30, 2000. [PPL invites interested parties to listen to the live Internet Webcast of management's third- quarter earnings teleconference with financial analysts at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24. The teleconference is available online live, in audio format, on PPL's Internet Web site: www.pplweb.com. The -------------- Webcast will be available for replay on the PPL Web site for 30 days. Interested individuals also can access the live conference call via telephone at 913-981-5509.] # # # Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements with respect to future earnings, energy prices, supply, sales, margins and deliveries, operating and financing costs, strategic initiatives, subsidiary performance, growth, project development, and generating capacity, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although PPL Corp. believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the 6 forward-looking statements: market demand and prices for energy, capacity and fuel; weather variations affecting customer energy usage; competition in retail and wholesale power markets; the effect of any business or industry restructuring; the profitability and liquidity of PPL Corp. and its subsidiaries; new accounting requirements or new interpretations or applications of existing requirements; operating performance of plants and other facilities; environmental conditions and requirements; system conditions and operating costs; development of new projects, markets and technologies; performance of new ventures; political, regulatory or economic conditions in countries where PPL Corp. or its subsidiaries conduct business; receipt of necessary governmental approvals; capital market conditions; stock price performance; foreign exchange rates; and the commitments and liabilities of PPL Corp. and its subsidiaries. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such factors and in conjunction with PPL Corp.'s Form 10-K and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.