UNITIL Corp (UTL, Financial) filed Annual Report for the period ended 2009-12-31.
Unitil Corp has a market cap of $226.4 million; its shares were traded at around $20.91 with a P/E ratio of 13.2 and P/S ratio of 0.8. The dividend yield of Unitil Corp stocks is 6.6%.
On December 1, 2008, the Company purchased: (i) all of the outstanding capital stock of Northern Utilities, a natural gas distribution utility serving customers in Maine and New Hampshire, originally founded as Portland Gas Light Company in 1849, from Bay State Gas Company (Bay State) and (ii) all of the outstanding capital stock of Granite State, an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline company primarily serving the needs of Northern Utilities, from NiSource Inc. (NiSource) pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 15, 2008 by and among NiSource, Bay State, and Unitil (the Acquisitions). Bay State is a wholly owned subsidiary of NiSource. The aggregate purchase price for the Acquisitions was $160 million in cash, plus an additional working capital adjustment of $49.2 million, including approximately $30.0 million of natural gas storage inventory. To finance the Acquisitions and recapitalize Northern Utilities and Granite State, the Company issued additional equity and debt (see Liquidity, Commitments and Capital Requirements section in Part II, Item 7 below). The regulatory process in both New Hampshire and Maine, in connection with those states approvals of the Acquisitions, included the negotiation and filing of settlement agreements reflecting commitments by Unitil with respect to Northern Utilities rates, customer service and operations. The settlement agreements were separately negotiated and filed in each state but reflect a number of common features (See Note 6 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these settlement agreements).
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the MDPU issued an order finding that Fitchburg engaged in certain price stabilization practices for the 2007 / 2008 and 2008 / 2009 heating seasons without the MDPUs prior approval and that Fitchburgs gas purchasing practices were imprudent. As a result, the MDPU required Fitchburg to refund $4.6 million of natural gas costs, plus carrying charges, to its gas customers. Fitchburg recorded a pre-tax charge of $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 based on the MDPUs order. Fitchburg has appealed this order to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Fitchburgs assessment is that pre-approval from the MDPU for gas purchases made to stabilize prices for customers was not required and that its gas-procurement practices were consistent with those of other Massachusetts natural gas distribution companies and all relevant MDPU rules and orders and Massachusetts law. In addition, Fitchburg is able to demonstrate that its gas purchasing practices were previously disclosed to the MDPU at public hearings and in required filings with the MDPU and the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. This appeal remains pending before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Immediately after the MDPU opened its investigation of this matter in March 2009, Fitchburg ceased making the gas procurement purchases in question and filed a request with the MDPU for approval of a gas procurement plan for future gas purchases. This matter remains pending before the MDPU.
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Unitil Corp has a market cap of $226.4 million; its shares were traded at around $20.91 with a P/E ratio of 13.2 and P/S ratio of 0.8. The dividend yield of Unitil Corp stocks is 6.6%.
Highlight of Business Operations:
Unitils distribution utilities are local pipes and wires operating companies and, combined with Granite State, had an investment in net utility plant of $449.7 million at December 31, 2009. Unitils total operating revenue was $367.0 million in 2009. Substantially all of Unitils operating revenue is derived from regulated utility operations.On December 1, 2008, the Company purchased: (i) all of the outstanding capital stock of Northern Utilities, a natural gas distribution utility serving customers in Maine and New Hampshire, originally founded as Portland Gas Light Company in 1849, from Bay State Gas Company (Bay State) and (ii) all of the outstanding capital stock of Granite State, an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline company primarily serving the needs of Northern Utilities, from NiSource Inc. (NiSource) pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 15, 2008 by and among NiSource, Bay State, and Unitil (the Acquisitions). Bay State is a wholly owned subsidiary of NiSource. The aggregate purchase price for the Acquisitions was $160 million in cash, plus an additional working capital adjustment of $49.2 million, including approximately $30.0 million of natural gas storage inventory. To finance the Acquisitions and recapitalize Northern Utilities and Granite State, the Company issued additional equity and debt (see Liquidity, Commitments and Capital Requirements section in Part II, Item 7 below). The regulatory process in both New Hampshire and Maine, in connection with those states approvals of the Acquisitions, included the negotiation and filing of settlement agreements reflecting commitments by Unitil with respect to Northern Utilities rates, customer service and operations. The settlement agreements were separately negotiated and filed in each state but reflect a number of common features (See Note 6 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these settlement agreements).
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the MDPU issued an order finding that Fitchburg engaged in certain price stabilization practices for the 2007 / 2008 and 2008 / 2009 heating seasons without the MDPUs prior approval and that Fitchburgs gas purchasing practices were imprudent. As a result, the MDPU required Fitchburg to refund $4.6 million of natural gas costs, plus carrying charges, to its gas customers. Fitchburg recorded a pre-tax charge of $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 based on the MDPUs order. Fitchburg has appealed this order to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Fitchburgs assessment is that pre-approval from the MDPU for gas purchases made to stabilize prices for customers was not required and that its gas-procurement practices were consistent with those of other Massachusetts natural gas distribution companies and all relevant MDPU rules and orders and Massachusetts law. In addition, Fitchburg is able to demonstrate that its gas purchasing practices were previously disclosed to the MDPU at public hearings and in required filings with the MDPU and the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. This appeal remains pending before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Immediately after the MDPU opened its investigation of this matter in March 2009, Fitchburg ceased making the gas procurement purchases in question and filed a request with the MDPU for approval of a gas procurement plan for future gas purchases. This matter remains pending before the MDPU.
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