PR Newswire
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Feb. 26, 2020
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Feb. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced, on a GAAP basis, a net loss to common shareholders for the three months ended December 31, 2019, of $153.0 million, or $0.41 per share, compared to a net loss to common shareholders of $19.8 million, or $0.05 per share, for the same period of 2018. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, NiSource's net income available to common shareholders was $328.0 million, or $0.88 per share, compared to a net loss of $65.6 million, or $0.18 per share, for the same period of 2018.
NiSource also reported net operating earnings available to common shareholders (non-GAAP) of $169.6 million, or $0.45 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to net operating earnings available to common shareholders (non-GAAP) of $141.9 million, or $0.38 per share, for the same period of 2018. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, NiSource's net operating earnings available to common shareholders (non-GAAP) were $494.7 million, or $1.32 per share, compared to $463.3 million, or $1.30 per share, for the same period of 2018.
Schedule 1 of this press release contains a complete reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures, including a write down of goodwill and franchise right intangibles related to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts. Schedule 2 of this press release provides total current estimates of costs and expenses related to the September 13, 2018 incident in the Greater Lawrence, Mass., area.
"Our performance in 2019 demonstrated the resiliency of the NiSource business plan," said NiSource President and CEO Joe Hamrock. "During a challenging year, our teams remained relentlessly focused on safety and customer satisfaction, starting with the accelerated implementation of SMS, as well as advancing our electric generation strategy in Indiana and executing on nearly $1.9 billion in capital infrastructure and safety investments in our gas and electric systems. We also delivered non-GAAP net operating earnings per share of $1.32, solidly within our guidance range for the year, while maintaining our current investment-grade credit ratings and executing on our regulatory plan."
Financing Plan, Long-term Growth Forecast Updated Following CMA Sale Announcement
As announced today, NiSource has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Columbia Gas of Massachusetts assets to Eversource (NYSE: ES) for $1.1 billion in a transaction expected to close by the end of the third quarter 2020.
Due to the execution of this transaction, NiSource is withdrawing its 2020 net operating earnings per share (non-GAAP) guidance of $1.36 to $1.40. However, NiSource continues to expect to make capital investments of $1.8 to $1.9 billion in 2020. The transaction is expected to enable NiSource to eliminate its previously planned 2020 block equity issuance.
The strategy and long-term growth opportunity for the remaining operating companies is unchanged. As a result, following the completion of the transaction, the company expects to initiate 2021 net operating earnings per share guidance and establish a 5 to 7 percent long-term growth rate for both net operating earnings per share and dividend with 2021 as the base year. This new long-term guidance is expected to be extended beyond 2022 to include significant investments related to the company's electric generation strategy.
NiSource remains committed to maintaining its current investment-grade credit ratings. The company has investment-grade ratings with Fitch Ratings (BBB), Moody's (Baa2) and Standard & Poor's (BBB+). As of December 31, 2019, NiSource had approximately $1.4 billion in net available liquidity, consisting of cash and available capacity under its credit facility and accounts receivable securitization programs.
NiSource reminds investors that it does not provide a GAAP equivalent of its earnings guidance due to the impact of unpredictable factors such as fluctuations in weather, asset sales and impairments, and other items included in GAAP results.
In addition to its financial performance, NiSource delivered a number of key milestones in 2019, including:
Safety Enhancements across Seven-State Footprint Remain Top Priority in 2020
NiSource made substantial progress in 2019 on safety enhancements across the company's footprint, including accelerated implementation of a SMS. SMS is a comprehensive approach to managing safety, emphasizing continual assessment and improvement as well as pro-actively identifying and mitigating potential risks. This work remains the company's top priority in 2020.
Among the safety milestones achieved in 2019 were:
"Safety is, and will remain, the foundation of everything we do across our business," Hamrock said. "Our vision is to lead in safety and exceed existing industry standards, anchored by three pillars -- a culture where everyone is empowered to identify and report risk, process safety that adds layers of protection, and enhanced asset risk analytics."
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts Update
As announced in November, the company has substantially completed verifications of approximately 5,000 former gas service lines that were abandoned as part of the fall 2018 recovery work in the Merrimack Valley, concluding verification work that began in September 2019. The completion of this verification work has confirmed that abandoned service lines are now compliant with state and federal requirements, as well as Columbia Gas procedures and protocols.
The company continues to cooperate with all investigations of the September 2018 Merrimack Valley event. Earlier today, the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts announced a settlement agreement with NiSource and Columbia Gas of Massachusetts which is intended to resolve the criminal investigation of the incident. This agreement is subject to court approval. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) continues its review of the cause of the September 2018 event, the company's emergency response and restoration efforts, as well as a September 2019 gas leak in greater Lawrence, and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is continuing its investigation focused primarily on the restoration work following the incident.
Fourth Quarter 2019 and Recent Business Highlights
Gas Distribution Operations
Electric Operations
Additional information for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, is available on the Investors section of www.nisource.com, including segment and financial information and our presentation to be discussed at our fourth quarter 2019 earnings conference call scheduled for February 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, NiSource's approximately 8,100 employees are focused on safely delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers and communities we serve. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index, the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and has been named by Forbes magazine among America's Best Large Employers since 2016. Additional information about NiSource, its investments in modern infrastructure and systems, its commitments and its local brands can be found at www.nisource.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/nisource, www.linkedin.com/company/nisource or www.twitter.com/nisourceinc. NI-F
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. Investors and prospective investors should understand that many factors govern whether any forward-looking statement contained herein will be or can be realized. Any one of those factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and expectations regarding NiSource's or any of its subsidiaries' plans, strategies, objectives, expected performance, expenditures, recovery of expenditures through rates, stated on either a consolidated or segment basis, and any and all underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates, and expectations discussed in this press release include, among other things, NiSource's debt obligations; any changes in NiSource's credit rating or the credit rating of certain of NiSource's subsidiaries; NiSource's ability to execute its growth strategy; changes in general economic, capital and commodity market conditions; pension funding obligations; economic regulation and the impact of regulatory rate reviews; NiSource's ability to obtain expected financial or regulatory outcomes; NiSource's ability to adapt to, and manage costs related to, advances in technology; any changes in our assumptions regarding the financial implications of the Greater Lawrence Incident; compliance with the agreements entered into with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts to settle the U.S. Attorney's Office investigation relating to the Greater Lawrence Incident; the pending sale of the Columbia Gas of Massachusetts business, including the terms and closing conditions under the asset purchase agreement; potential incidents and other operating risks associated with our business; our ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings, investigations, incidents, claims and litigation; any damage to NiSource's reputation, including in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident; compliance with environmental laws and the costs of associated liabilities; fluctuations in demand from residential and commercial customers; economic conditions of certain industries; the success of NIPSCO's electric generation strategy; the price of energy commodities and related transportation costs; the reliability of customers and suppliers to fulfill their payment and contractual obligations; potential impairments of goodwill or definite-lived intangible assets; changes in taxation and accounting principles; the impact of an aging infrastructure; the impact of climate change; potential cyber-attacks; construction risks and natural gas costs and supply risks; extreme weather conditions; the attraction and retention of a qualified work force; the ability of NiSource's subsidiaries to generate cash; NiSource's ability to manage new initiatives and organizational changes; the performance of third-party suppliers and service providers; changes in the method for determining LIBOR and the potential replacement of the LIBOR benchmark interest rate; and other matters set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" section of NiSource's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. In addition, dividends are subject to board approval. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. NiSource expressly disclaims any duty to update, supplement or amend any of its forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Regulation G Disclosure Statement
This press release includes financial results and guidance for NiSource with respect to net operating earnings available to common shareholders, which is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the SEC's Regulation G. The company includes this measure because management believes it permits investors to view the company's performance using the same tools that management uses and to better evaluate the company's ongoing business performance. With respect to such guidance, it should be noted that there will likely be a difference between this measure and its GAAP equivalent due to various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in weather, the impact of asset sales and impairments, and other items included in GAAP results. The company is not able to estimate the impact of such factors on GAAP earnings and, as such, is not providing earnings guidance on a GAAP basis.
Schedule 1 - Reconciliation of Consolidated Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders to Net | |||||||
Operating Earnings (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders (Non-GAAP) (unaudited) | |||||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||
| | | | December 31, | December 31, | ||
(in millions, except per share amounts) | 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | |||
GAAP Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Shareholders | $ (153.0) | $ (19.8) | $ 328.0 | $ (65.6) | |||
Adjustments to Operating Income (Loss): | | | | | |||
Operating Revenues: | | | | | |||
Weather - compared to normal | (11.8) | (10.6) | (24.8) | (32.5) | |||
Greater Lawrence Incident (1) | - | 3.9 | - | 3.9 | |||
Operating Expenses: | | | | | |||
Plant retirement costs(2) | - | - | - | 3.3 | |||
Greater Lawrence Incident(3) | (54.2) | 379.0 | (233.6) | 830.6 | |||
Franchise rights impairment (4) | 209.7 | - | 209.7 | - | |||
Goodwill impairment (5) | 204.8 | - | 204.8 | - | |||
Loss on sale of fixed assets and impairments, net | 0.1 | 0.8 | - | 1.2 | |||
Total adjustments to operating income (loss) | 348.6 | 373.1 | 156.1 | 806.5 | |||
Other Income (Deductions): | | | | | |||
Greater Lawrence Incident - charitable contribution(3) | - | 10.4 | - | 20.7 | |||
Interest rate swap settlement gain | - | (25.0) | - | (46.2) Werbung Mehr Nachrichten zur NiSource Aktie kostenlos abonnieren
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