Published: May 11, 2006
Maine & Maritimes Corporation Reports First Quarter 2006 Results
Maine & Maritimes Corporation (the
"Company" or "MAM") (AMEX: MAM) reported a consolidated first quarter 2006
basic earnings per share of $0.33, or $533,000, compared to a first quarter
2005 earnings per share of $0.78 per share, or $1.28 million. First
quarter earnings were primarily impacted by reduced earnings of the
Company's regulated utility, Maine Public Service Company ("MPS"), due to
unseasonably mild weather, contrasted with the first quarter of 2005 when
the weather was colder than normal. Additionally, the utility experienced
higher operations and maintenance expenses in 2006 due to fewer capital
projects. Unregulated subsidiary earnings were impacted primarily by
increased amortization expenses associated with leases acquired as a part
of the acquisition of Cornwallis Court Developments Ltd by Maricor
Properties Ltd ("MPL") in October 2005, and increased amortization in the
first quarter of 2006 of software assets by Maricor Technologies, Inc
("MTI").
"While we are pleased with the progress of our unregulated subsidiaries, it
is a simple fact that weather can and did significantly impact the earnings
of our regulated utility," stated J. Nick Bayne, President and Chief
Executive Officer of MAM. "While we continue to recognize our strategic
and economic needs to increase the scale of unregulated operations, each of
our unregulated subsidiaries has made meaningful progress. During the
quarter, Maricor Properties completed leasing of our commercial office real
estate assets. The Maricor Group was successful in attracting a number of
significant contracts, including the utility master planning contract for
the University of New Brunswick and was awarded two-year standing offer
agreements by Public Works and Government Services Canada for building
projects in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Maricor Technologies
successfully released four new asset governance-related products, core
elements of its sustainable asset governance platform.
"As we look to the future, it is clear that we must successfully execute
our overall growth strategy, while continuing to improve the operations and
earnings of our regulated utility. We are encouraged by our project and
transaction pipeline. As energy markets continue to prove volatile and
unpredictable, we see increasing pressures on organizational budgets. Such
economic realities, combined with an increasing concern related to global
warming, are creating an increasing demand for services and technologies
that support improved energy efficiency and security, while reducing
greenhouse gases. We believe these trends, combined with our continued
investments in our unregulated operations, will result in long-term
improvement of our overall financial performance," stated Bayne.
Business Unit Results
Maine Public Service Company
The operations of MAM's regulated electric utility, MPS resulted in net
income of approximately $0.73 per share, or $1.2 million, compared to
income of $1.04 per share in the first quarter of 2005, or $1.7 million.
MPS's revenues decreased by $264,000 for the three months ended March 31,
2006, primarily as a result of mild weather in January and February. Its
earnings were also offset by increased stranded cost amortization expenses,
increased fuel costs associated with fleet transportation, deferred tax
expenses, and amortization expenses for the MPS financial accounting
system. According to Bayne, "We continue to closely monitor our utility
operations, evaluating and implementing cost control measures and improving
operational efficiency; however, there remain costs that are beyond our
direct control. As a result, MPS filed with the Maine Public Utilities
Commission for a distribution rate increase in March 2006. MPS is seeking
to increase total revenues by approximately $3.24 million and anticipates a
decision during the fourth quarter of 2006."
The Maricor Group
TMG and its subsidiaries, The Maricor Group, Canada Ltd, and The Maricor
Group New England, produced revenues of $1.35 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2006. The segment reported a combined loss of $169,000, or
approximately $0.10 per share, primarily due to continued investments in
TMG's organic growth. These investments include the addition of new
employees and marketing initiatives related to TMG's energy efficiency and
sustainable lifecycle asset management solutions, as well as increased
interest and tax expenses.
Maricor Properties Ltd
For the three months ended March 31, 2006, MPL and its subsidiaries,
incurred a loss of $86,000, or approximately $0.05 per share. As part of
the acquisition of Cornwallis Court Developments Ltd during the fourth
quarter of 2005, MPL was required to value pre-existing leases acquired as
a separate intangible asset, resulting in an additional $91,000 of
amortization expenses. According to Bayne, "We are pleased with our
leasing progress and now have long-term leases for all of our commercial
office space. During the quarter, we not only leased-up all properties,
but became cash flow positive." MPL's revenues increased $276,000 for
first quarter of 2006, as compared to the first quarter of 2005.
Maricor Technologies, Inc.
MTI experienced a $104,000 loss for the quarter, or approximately $0.06 per
share, of which $89,000 was comprised of an increase year-over-year in the
amortization of software assets. During the first quarter, MTI released
several new iPlan(TM) solutions to the market, including its iPlan(TM)
Enterprise.NET Edition Version 2.1 for Sustainable Facility Governance, an
Energy Governance solution, a Security Governance solution, and a
Demand-Side Management ("DSM") solution. "These new platforms provide MTI
with a very solid market position to assist public and private
organizations in managing the sustainability of facility assets in an
eco-efficient and transparent manner," said Bayne. "These new product
offerings reflect a meaningful step in enhancing our value proposition to
address energy efficiency, emissions reductions, capital performance
planning, improved facility security and asset governance."
Maine & Maritimes Corporation and Subsidiaries Earnings Report for the
three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Unaudited
2006 2005
-------------------
Regulated Operating Revenues $ 10,051 $ 10,315
Unregulated Operating Revenues 1,662 1,421
--------- ---------
Total Operating Revenues $ 11,713 $ 11,736
Income from Continuing Operations Available for
Common Shareholders $ 533 $ 1,269
Income from Discontinued Operations - 8
--------- ---------
Total Consolidated Net Income $ 533 $ 1,277
========= =========
Basic Income per Common Share from Continuing
Operations $ 0.33 $ 0.78
Basic Income per Common Share from Discontinued
Operations - -
--------- ---------
Total Income per Common Share $ 0.33 $ 0.78
========= =========
Diluted Income per Common Share from Continuing
Operations $ 0.33 $ 0.78
Diluted Income per Common Share from Discontinued
Operations - -
--------- ---------
Total Income per Common Share $ 0.33 $ 0.78
========= =========
Average Shares Outstanding 1,637,211 1,635,906
--------- ---------
About Maine & Maritimes Corporation
Maine & Maritimes Corporation is the parent company of Maine Public Service
Company, a regulated electric transmission and distribution utility; The
Maricor Group and its subsidiaries, The Maricor Group, Canada Ltd, and The
Maricor Group New England, Inc., both building sciences, energy efficiency
and lifecycle asset management services companies; Maricor Properties Ltd
and its subsidiaries, Cornwallis Court Developments Ltd and Mecel
Properties Ltd, and its joint venture subsidiary Maricor Ashford Ltd, which
are Canadian real estate development and investment companies; and Maricor
Technologies, Inc., a sustainable lifecycle asset and capital planning
information technology subsidiary. MAM's headquarters are in Presque Isle,
Maine, and its subsidiaries maintain offices in Moncton and Saint John, New
Brunswick, Canada; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Boston, Massachusetts, and
Portland, Maine. MAM's corporate website is www.maineandmaritimes.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
NOTE: This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although Maine & Maritimes
Corporation ("MAM") believes that in making such statements, its
expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such statement
involves uncertainties and risks. MAM cautions that there are certain
factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking information that has been provided including, without
limitation, potential changes in applicable laws and regulations, potential
changes in Management, MAM's ability to raise necessary financing, and
MAM's ability to execute its business plans in a timely and efficient
manner.
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