Progress Energy Announces 2006 Second-Quarter Results
Highlights:
| ¨ | Reports quarterly ongoing earnings of $0.32 per share, GAAP net loss of $0.19 per share |
| ¨ | Reports core ongoing earnings of $0.43 per share compared to $0.53 per share for the same period last year |
| ¨ | Reaffirms 2006 core ongoing earnings guidance of $2.45 to $2.65 per share assuming sufficient year-end progress on additional strategic alternatives |
| ¨ | Includes previously announced impairment of synthetic fuel production and related assets |
| ¨ | Announces sale of natural gas businesses for $1.2 billion |
RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 10, 2006) - Progress Energy [NYSE: PGN] announced a second-quarter net loss of $47 million, or $0.19 per share, compared to a net loss of $1 million, or $0.01 per share, for the same period last year. Second-quarter ongoing earnings were $78 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to $154 million, or $0.63 per share, last year. (See the discussion later in this release for a reconciliation of GAAP earnings per share to ongoing earnings per share).
“In the first half of 2006, we have accomplished significant milestones in our repositioning plan. Some of the one-time and year-over-year earnings impacts associated with these results obscure the strong fundamentals of our two electric utilities - our core businesses,” said Bob McGehee, chairman and CEO of Progress Energy. “Most importantly, in both the Carolinas and Florida we have seen significant customer growth. Further our wholesale business within the utilities is robust. Also, we continue to do well on cost management, while at the same time delivering operating results that underscore our commitment to high reliability and excellent customer service. Because of these recent results and others we plan for this year, we expect to produce the financial and operational results consistent with our objective of being a high quality, low risk investment.
“This quarter we made significant progress on our planned divestitures, and we are now ahead of schedule on our commitment to reduce holding company debt by $1.3 billion by the end of 2007,” McGehee said. “So far in 2006 we have announced more than $1.7 billion in asset sales, reducing our risk profile and allowing us to strengthen our balance sheet.”
Core ongoing earnings, which exclude the ongoing earnings from the company’s coal and synthetic fuel operations, were $0.43 per share for the quarter, compared to $0.53 per share for the same period last year. The prior year recognition of the gain on the sale of Progress Energy Florida’s Winter Park distribution system and current period costs related to the planned outage at the Harris Nuclear Plant at Progress Energy Carolinas were partially offset by favorable growth and usage at both utilities, favorable excess generation margins at Progress Energy Carolinas and O&M favorability at Progress Energy Florida.
Non-core ongoing earnings decreased to a net loss of $0.11 per share for the quarter, compared to earnings of $0.10 per share for the same period last year, primarily due to lower levels of synthetic fuel production and the potential phase out of synthetic fuel tax credits. A reserve of approximately 72 percent of the full credit value, or $0.04 per share, was recorded on the synthetic fuel tax credits generated in the second quarter, and an additional reserve of $0.03 was recorded on synthetic fuel credits that were recorded in the first quarter. Both of the reserves were recorded as a result of continued high oil prices.
2006 ONGOING EARNINGS GUIDANCE
“We are maintaining our ongoing core earnings guidance at $2.45 to $2.65 per share, assuming that by year-end we will have made sufficient progress on additional strategic alternatives to offset the ongoing earnings negativity created by moving our natural gas assets to discontinued operations,” McGehee said.
The 2006 ongoing earnings guidance excludes any impacts from the CVO mark-to-market adjustment, asset impairments, goodwill impairment, and discontinued operations of our natural gas business, coal mining business, Progress Telecom, and other businesses. Progress Energy is not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for the 2006 earnings guidance figures due to the uncertain nature and amount of these adjustments.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
| · | Retained financial advisor to assist the company in evaluating strategic alternatives with respect to the remaining competitive generation operations in Progress Ventures |
| · | Announced sale of natural gas assets for estimated proceeds of $1.2 billion |
| · | Received notification from Standard & Poors that it changed its ratings outlook to “positive” from “stable” for Progress Energy and improved its consolidated business profile to “5” from “6” |
| · | Received 20-year license renewal for Brunswick Nuclear Plant |
| · | Closed on sale of DeSoto generation facility |
| · | Reached agreement for South Carolina fuel increase of $23 million |
| · | Idled synthetic fuel operations |
| · | Ranked fifth nationally among large utilities and second in the South region in the 2006 J.D. Power residential customer satisfaction survey |
| · | Awarded the Edison Award, the Edison Electric Institute’s highest utility industry honor |
| · | Awarded the B. Ralph Sylvia “Best of the Best” Top Industry Practice to the Brunswick Nuclear Plant by the Nuclear Energy Institute |
Press releases regarding various announcements are available on the company’s Web site at: http://www.progress-energy.com/aboutus/news.
SECOND-QUARTER 2006 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
Below are the second-quarter 2006 highlights for the company’s business units. See the reconciliation table on page S-1 of the supplemental data for a reconciliation of GAAP earnings per share to ongoing earnings per share.
Progress Energy Carolinas
| · | Reported quarterly ongoing earnings per share of $0.30, compared to $0.39 for the same period last year; GAAP quarterly earnings per share of $0.31, compared with $0.27 for the same period last year. |
| · | Realized a net average customer increase of 30,000 during the last 12 months. |
| · | Reported increased growth and usage and increased wholesale margins offset by higher O&M expenses primarily due to planned nuclear outage costs. |
| · | Earnings in 2006 no longer reflect the allocation of the tax benefit not associated with acquisition interest expense to subsidiaries due to the repeal of the Public Utilities Holding Company Act (PUHCA). The result is an increase in tax expense at Progress Energy Carolinas, offset by decreased tax expense at Corporate and Other Businesses. |
Progress Energy Florida
| · | Reported quarterly ongoing earnings per share of $0.34, up from $0.30 for the same period last year; GAAP quarterly earnings per share of $0.34, up from $0.04 for the same period last year. |
| · | Realized a net average customer increase of 35,000 during the last 12 months. |
| · | Reported increased growth and usage and favorable weather. |
| · | Reported lower O&M costs due primarily to the prior year write-off of unrecovered storm costs. |
| · | Reported gain on the sale of the Winter Park distribution system in the prior year and increased interest expense partially offset by higher interest income due to interest on unrecovered storm costs and short-term investments. |
| · | Earnings for 2006 no longer reflect the allocation of the tax benefit not associated with acquisition interest expense to subsidiaries due to the repeal of PUHCA. The result is an increase in tax expense at Progress Energy Florida, offset by decreased tax expense at Corporate and Other Businesses. |
See the attached supplemental data schedules for additional information on Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida electric revenues, energy sales, energy supply, weather impacts and other information.
Progress Ventures (CCO and Gas)
| · | Reported quarterly ongoing net loss per share of $0.02, compared to ongoing earnings per share of $0.03 for the same period last year; GAAP quarterly net loss of $0.28 per share, compared with GAAP earnings per share of $0.03 for the same period last year. |
| · | Reported higher margins in gas operations due to price favorability and increased natural gas production partially offset by lower contract margins at competitive commercial operations primarily due to higher fuel and purchased power costs. |
| · | Reported increased mark-to-market losses on gas hedges related to the announced sale of the natural gas businesses. |
| · | Reported GAAP net loss for the second quarter includes classification of a net loss of $0.25 per share from continuing to discontinued operations, due to the sale of the Rowan and DeSoto generating facilities. This loss was driven primarily by the estimated loss on the sale of these facilities. |
Corporate and Other Businesses (includes primarily Holding Company Debt)
| · | Reported quarterly ongoing after-tax expenses of $0.19 per share equal to the results for the same period last year; GAAP quarterly after-tax expenses of $0.20 per share, compared with after-tax expenses of $0.44 for the same period last year. |
| · | Removed the allocation of the tax benefit not associated with acquisition interest expense to subsidiaries due to the repeal of PUHCA. The result is decreased tax expense at Corporate and Other Businesses, offset primarily by increased tax expense at Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida. |
Non-Core Operations (Coal and Synthetic Fuels)
| · | Reported quarterly ongoing net loss per share of $0.11, compared to ongoing earnings of $0.10 for the same period last year; GAAP quarterly net loss of $0.36 per share, compared with earnings of $0.09 per share for the same period last year. |
| · | Reported GAAP net loss for the second quarter includes impairment of $0.22 per share of synthetic fuel assets and a portion of the river terminals and a valuation allowance of $0.03 per share related to the write-off of state net operating losses. |
| · | Decreased synthetic fuel sales to 0.5 million tons, down from 2.3 million tons for the same period last year. |
| · | Increased the reserve to 72 percent of the value of the credits associated with 2006 year-to-date production due to oil price phase out. |
ONGOING EARNINGS ADJUSTMENTS
Progress Energy’s management uses ongoing earnings per share to evaluate the operations of the company and to establish goals for management and employees. Management believes this presentation is appropriate and enables investors to more accurately compare the company’s ongoing financial performance over the periods presented. Ongoing earnings as presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following tables provide a reconciliation of ongoing earnings per share to reported GAAP earnings per share.
Progress Energy, Inc. Reconciliation of Ongoing Earnings per Share to Reported GAAP Earnings per Share Three months ended June 30 | |
| | | 2006 | | 2005* | |
| | | Core | | Non-core | | Total | | Core | | Non-core | | Total | |
| Ongoing earnings per share | | | 0.43 | | | (0.11 | ) | | 0.32 | | | 0.53 | | | 0.10 | | | 0.63 | |
| Intraperiod tax allocation | | | (0.01 | ) | | - | | | (0.01 | ) | | (0.25 | ) | | - | | | (0.25 | ) |
| CVO mark-to-market | | | 0.01 | | | - | | | 0.01 | | | - | | | - | | | - | |
| Discontinued operations | | | (0.25 | ) | | - | | | (0.25 | ) | | (0.03 | ) | | - | | | (0.03 | ) |
| Impairments | | | (0.01 | ) | | (0.25 | ) | | (0.26 | ) | | - | | | - | | | - | |
| Postretirement and severance charges | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (0.35 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | | (0.36 | ) |
| Reported GAAP earnings per share | | | 0.17 | | | (0.36 | ) | | (0.19 | ) | | (0.10 | ) | | 0.09 | | | (0.01 | ) |
Shares outstanding (millions) | | | | | | | | | 250 | | | | | | | | | 246 | |
* 2005 has been restated to reflect discontinued operations.
Progress Energy, Inc. Reconciliation of Ongoing Earnings per Share to Reported GAAP Earnings per Share Six Months Ended June 30 | |
| | | 2006 | | 2005* | |
Core | | | | | | Non-core | | | Total | | | Core | | | Non-core | | | Total | |
| Ongoing earnings per share | | | 0.91 | | | (0.06 | ) | | 0.85 | | | 1.05 | | | 0.10 | | | 1.15 | |
| Intraperiod tax allocation | | | (0.08 | ) | | - | | | (0.08 | ) | | (0.26 | ) | | - | | | (0.26 | ) |
| CVO mark-to-market | | | (0.09 | ) | | - | | | (0.09 | ) | | - | | | - | | | - | |
| Discontinued operations | | | (0.19 | ) | | (0.08 | ) | | (0.27 | ) | | (0.08 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | | (0.09 | ) |
| Impairments | | | (0.17 | ) | | (0.25 | ) | | (0.42 | ) | | - | | | - | | | - | |
| Postretirement and severance charges | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | (0.42 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | | (0.43 | ) |
| Reported GAAP earnings per share | | | 0.38 | | | (0.39 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | | 0.29 | | | 0.08 | | | 0.37 | |
Shares outstanding (millions) | | | | | | | | | 250 | | | | | | | | | 245 | |
* 2005 has been restated to reflect discontinued operations.
Reconciling adjustments from GAAP earnings to ongoing earnings as they relate to the current quarter and information included in the Supplemental Data schedules are as follows:
Intraperiod Tax Allocation
Generally accepted accounting principles require companies to apply an effective tax rate to interim periods that is consistent with a company’s estimated annual tax rate. The tax credits generated from synthetic fuel operations reduce Progress Energy’s overall effective tax rate. The company’s synthetic fuel sales are not subject to seasonal fluctuations to the same extent as the electric utility earnings. The company projects the effective tax rate for the year and then, based upon projected operating income for each quarter, raises or lowers the tax expense recorded in that quarter to reflect the projected tax rate. On the other hand, operating losses incurred to produce the tax credits are included in the current quarter. The resulting tax adjustment decreased earnings per share by $0.01 for the quarter and decreased earnings per share by $0.25 for the same period last year, but has no impact on the company’s annual earnings. An effective tax rate adjustment was also recorded for Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida this quarter. Since this adjustment varies by quarter but has no impact on annual earnings, management believes this adjustment is not representative of the company’s ongoing quarterly earnings.
Contingent Value Obligation (CVO) Mark-to-Market
In connection with the acquisition of Florida Progress Corporation, Progress Energy issued 98.6 million CVOs. Each CVO represents the right of the holder to receive contingent payments based on after-tax cash flows above certain levels of four synthetic fuel facilities purchased by subsidiaries of Florida Progress Corporation in October 1999. The CVOs are debt instruments and, under GAAP, are valued at market value. Unrealized gains and losses from changes in market value are recognized in earnings each quarter. The CVO mark-to-market increased earnings per share by $0.01 for the quarter and had no impact during the same period last year. Progress Energy is unable to predict the changes in the market value of the CVOs and, since these changes do not affect the company’s underlying obligation, management does not consider the adjustment to be a component of ongoing earnings.
Progress Telecom, LLC Discontinued Operations
On March 20, 2006, we completed the sale of Progress Telecom, LLC (PT LLC) to Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Level 3). Discontinued PT LLC operations increased earnings by $0.01 per share for the quarter and had no impact for the same period last year.
Due to its sale, the operations of PT LLC are reported as discontinued operations in the accompanying financial statements and therefore management does not believe this activity is representative of the ongoing operations of the company.
Coal Mine Discontinued Operations
On Nov. 14, 2005, our board of directors approved a plan to divest of our coal mining operations. As a result, we have classified the coal mining operations as discontinued operations in the accompanying financial statements for all periods presented. On April 6, 2006, we signed an agreement to sell certain net assets of the coal mining business to Alpha Natural Resources, LLC for $23 million and the sale closed on May 1, 2006. The remaining coal mining operations are expected to be sold by the end of 2006. Discontinued coal mining operations had no material impact for this quarter or the same period last year.
Due to our commitment to dispose of these assets, management does not view this activity as representative of the ongoing operations of the company.
Progress Rail Discontinued Operations
On March 24, 2005, we completed the sale of Progress Rail Services Corp. (Progress Rail) to One Equity Partners, LLC, and the net proceeds were used to pay down debt. Discontinued Progress Rail operations decreased earnings by $0.01 per share for the quarter compared with a discontinued loss of $0.03 per share, for the same period last year.
Due to its sale, the operations of Progress Rail are reported as discontinued operations in the accompanying financial statements and therefore management does not believe this activity is representative of the ongoing operations of the company.
Rowan and DeSoto Plant Discontinued Operations
On May 8, 2006, we announced the sale of the Rowan and DeSoto nonregulated generation facilities to subsidiaries of Southern Company. The sale of the DeSoto facility closed on May 31, 2006. Discontinued Rowan and DeSoto operations decreased earnings by $0.25 per share for the quarter compared with no impact for the same period last year. Substantially all of this discontinued operations amount is the estimated loss from the sale of these assets.
Due to the sale, the operations of the Rowan and DeSoto facilities are reported as discontinued operations in the accompanying financial statements and therefore management does not believe this activity is representative of the ongoing operations of the company.
Impairment of Operations Related to Synthetic Fuel
On May 22, 2006, we announced that our synthetic fuel production facilities were idled. Due to the idling of these facilities we performed an impairment test of all synthetic fuel and other related long-lived assets during the second quarter. Based on the results of the impairment test, we recorded after-tax impairment charges of $0.22 per share that represent the entirety of the asset carrying value of our synthetic fuel intangible assets and manufacturing facilities, as well as a portion of the asset carrying value associated with the river terminals at which the synthetic fuel manufacturing facilities are located. Management does not believe this impairment is representative of the ongoing operations of the company.
Impairment Related to the Write-Off of State Net Operating Losses
On May 8, 2006, we announced the sale of the Rowan and DeSoto nonregulated generation facilities to subsidiaries of Southern Company. Due to the sale of these facilities we evaluated previously recorded state net operating losses for potential impairment during the second quarter. Based on the results of this evaluation, we impaired the state net operating losses by recording a valuation allowance of $0.04 for state net operating losses. Approximately $0.01 per share of the impairment charge was recorded in the Progress Ventures segment and the remaining $0.03 per share charge was recorded in the Coal and Synthetic Fuels segment. Management does not believe this impairment is representative of the ongoing operations of the company.
Impairment of Goodwill
We have monitored the carrying value of our goodwill associated with our Progress Ventures operations in accordance with accounting standards for goodwill. As part of our evaluation of certain business opportunities that may impact the future cash flows of our Georgia Region operations, we performed an interim goodwill impairment test during the first quarter of 2006. As a result of this test, during the six months ended June 30, 2006, we recognized an after-tax goodwill impairment loss of $0.16 per share. Management does not believe this impairment is representative of the ongoing operations of the company.
Cost-Management Restructuring Charge
On Feb. 28, 2005, as part of a previously announced cost-management initiative, Progress Energy approved a workforce restructuring, which resulted in a reduction of approximately 450 positions.
In connection with the cost-management initiative, the company incurred approximately $0.36 per share after-tax, of estimated future payments for severance benefits in the second quarter of 2005. Due to the nonrecurring nature of the adjustment, management believes it is not representative of the company’s ongoing operations.
* * * *
This earnings announcement, as well as a package of detailed financial information, is available on the company’s Web site at www.progress-energy.com.
Progress Energy’s conference call with the investment community will be held Aug. 10, 2006, at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT). Investors, media and the public may listen to the conference call by dialing (913) 312-1299, confirmation code 6486800. If you encounter problems, please contact Peggy Holton at (919) 546-2233. A playback of the call will be available from 1 p.m. ET Aug. 10 through midnight on Aug. 24, 2006. To listen to the recorded call, dial (719) 457-0820 and enter confirmation code 6486800.
A webcast of the live conference call will be available at www.progress-energy.com. The webcast will be available in Windows Media format. The webcast will be archived on the site for at least 30 days following the call for those unable to listen in real time. A podcast of the event will also be available at www.progress-energy.com.
Members of the media are invited to listen to the conference call and then participate in a media-only question and answer session with Peter Scott starting at 11 a.m. ET. To participate in this session, please dial (719) 457-2631, confirmation code 7254923.
Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues. The company's holdings include two electric utilities serving approximately 3 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Progress Energy also includes nonregulated operations covering energy marketing and natural gas exploration. Progress Energy is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. In 2005, the company also received the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for dedication, commitment and sustained improvement in customer service. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at progress-energy.com.
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements involve estimates, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement is based on information current as of the date of this report and speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made. Examples of factors that you should consider with respect to any forward-looking statements made throughout this document include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of fluid and complex laws and regulations, including those relating to the environment and the recently enacted Energy Policy Act of 2005; the financial resources needed to comply with environmental laws; deregulation or restructuring in the electric industry that may result in increased competition and unrecovered or stranded costs; the uncertainty regarding the timing, creation and structure of transmission organizations; weather conditions that directly influence the demand for electricity; the ability to recover through the regulatory process costs associated with future significant weather events; recurring seasonal fluctuations in demand for electricity; fluctuations in the price of energy commodities and purchased power; economic fluctuations and the corresponding impact on our commercial and industrial customers; the ability of our subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or distributions; the impact on our facilities and businesses from a terrorist attack; the inherent risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities, including environmental, health, regulatory and financial risks; the anticipated future need for additional baseload generation in our regulated service territories and the accompanying regulatory and financial risks; the ability to successfully access capital markets on favorable terms; our ability to maintain our current credit ratings and the impact on our financial condition and ability to meet our cash and other financial obligations in the event our credit ratings are downgraded below investment grade; the impact that increases in leverage may have on us and our subsidiaries; the impact of derivative contracts used in the normal course of business; the investment performance of our pension and benefit plans; our ability to control costs, including pension and benefit expense, and achieve our cost management targets for 2007; the availability and use of Internal Revenue Code Section 29/45K (Section 29/45K) tax credits by synthetic fuel producers and our ability to use Section 29/45K tax credits related to our coal-based solid synthetic fuel businesses; the impact that future crude oil prices may have on the value of our Section 29/45K tax credits including the potential of a reduction in first quarter’s and subsequent period’s earnings resulting from a loss of 2006 generated tax credits in the event that federal tax legislation is not passed providing relief from the current crude oil phase-out formula; our ability to manage the risks involved with the operation of nonregulated plants, including dependence on third parties and related counter-party risks; the ability to divest of our gas and other announced divestitures on a timely basis; the ability to manage the risks associated with our energy marketing operations; the outcome of any ongoing or future litigation or similar disputes and the impact of any such outcome or related settlements; and unanticipated changes in operating expenses and capital expenditures. Many of these risks similarly impact our nonreporting subsidiaries.
These and other risk factors are detailed from time to time in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All such factors are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and may be beyond our control. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor can it assess the effect of each such factor on us.
# # #
Contacts: Corporate Communications - (919) 546-6189 or toll-free (877) 641-NEWS (6397)
