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Exhibit 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE: CONTACT:
Immediately Linda Kelley
615-373-0104
Ext. 224
UNITED CITIES REPORTS 2ND QUARTER RESULTS
AND DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
BRENTWOOD, TENN.--August 2, 1996--United Cities Gas Co., (NASDAQ:UCIT),
a multistate distributor of natural and propane gas, today reported a second
quarter loss of $3.1 million or $.24 per share compared with $4 million or $.35
per share for the same period in 1995. United Cities reported total operating
revenues for the quarter rose from $42.2 million to $60.7 million.
The company traditionally reports a loss for both the second and third
quarters as United Cities' revenues are primarily derived during the winter
heating season. Gene C. Koonce, United Cities' chairman, president and CEO,
attributed the improvement in revenues to slightly colder weather and rate
increases in Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Virginia.
United Cities also announced that its board of directors had declared a
dividend of $.255 per share for shareholders of record on August 30, 1996,
payable on September 13, 1996.
United Cities Gas Company distributes natural and propane gas to
approximately 335,000 customers in ten states. The company is also
engaged in other energy-related businesses.
See Attached Financial Tables
-0-
[United Cities Gas Company logo] UNITED CITIES GAS COMPANY
5300 Maryland Way
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
615-373-0104
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
United Cities Gas Company & Subsidiaries
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
June 30, June 30, June 30,
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts) 1996 1995 1996 1995 1996 1995
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UTILITY OPERATING REVENUES $ 60,698 $ 42,246 $205,407 $148,252 $329,015 $256,693
Natural gas cost 39,872 24,023 133,675 85,945 206,906 148,879
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UTILITY OPERATING MARGIN 20,826 18,223 71,732 62,307 122,109 107,814
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OTHER UTILITY OPERATING EXPENSES:
Operations and maintenance 15,097 14,524 31,347 29,764 63,410 57,423
Depreciation and amortization 3,922 3,708 8,168 7,372 15,916 14,371
Federal and state income taxes (1,862) (2,430) 6,802 4,448 6,403 3,416
Other taxes 3,148 2,978 6,618 6,397 12,521 11,579
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Total other utility operating expenses 20,305 18,780 52,935 47,981 98,250 86,789
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UTILITY OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) 521 (557) 18,797 14,326 23,859 21,025
OTHER UTILITY INCOME, NET OF TAX 95 215 234 173 717 37
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616 (342) 19,031 14,499 24,576 21,062
UTILITY INTEREST EXPENSE 3,466 3,470 7,208 7,208 14,299 14,587
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UTILITY INCOME (LOSS) (2,850) (3,812) 11,823 7,291 10,277 6,475
OTHER INCOME (LOSS):
Net income (loss) of UCG Energy Corporation (489) (304) 2,192 1,769 3,873 3,463
Net income of United Cities Gas Storage Company 227 154 396 305 831 604
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COMMON STOCK EARNINGS (LOSS) $ (3,112) $ (3,962) $ 14,411 $ 9,365 $ 14,981 $ 10,542
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COMMON STOCK EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE $ (.24) $ (.35) $ 1.11 $ .86 $ 1.17 $ .99
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AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES 13,053 11,197 13,007 10,937 12,819 10,700
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DIVIDENDS PER SHARE $ .255 $ .255 $ .51 $ .51 $ 1.02 $ 1.015
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OTHER INFORMATION
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Natural gas through-put (Mcf):*
Residential 3,006 2,645 15,687 13,011 25,577 20,810
Commercial 2,507 2,143 9,778 8,388 16,555 13,944
Industrial 4,068 4,349 9,532 10,135 18,641 19,309
Transportation 4,383 3,865 8,741 8,148 17,777 14,811
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Total natural gas through-put 13,964 13,002 43,738 39,682 78,550 68,874
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Customers (average for period):
Residential 277,666 266,537 277,760 267,254 271,783 263,769
Commercial 35,756 34,580 35,864 34,752 34,990 34,168
Industrial 637 656 634 656 636 654
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Natural gas 314,059 301,773 314,258 302,662 307,409 298,591
Propane 26,083 23,290 25,841 23,170 24,733 22,507
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Total customers 340,142 325,063 340,099 325,832 332,142 321,098
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Percent colder (warmer) than normal** *** *** 7.5% (10.7)% 8.9% (14.4)%
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June 30,
1996 1995
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Number of common shares outstanding (in thousands) 13,103 12,548
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Book value per share $12.13 $11.90
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Market value per share $15.13 $15.00
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Employees 1,237 1,353
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* In thousands.
** Based on system weighted average. Data for 1996 is preliminary.
*** Not meaningful.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited and should
be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
included in the company's 1995 Annual Report.
The company's business is seasonal in nature resulting in greater earnings
during the winter months. The results of operations for the three month period
and six month period ended June 30, 1996, are not necessarily indicative of the
results to be expected for the full year.
Certain reclassifications were made conforming prior year's financial statements
with 1996 financial statement presentation.
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
United Cities Gas Company & Subsidiaries
June 30,
(Unaudited, in thousands) 1996 1995
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ASSETS
UTILITY PROPERTY - NET $294,256 $273,958
NONUTILITY PROPERTY - NET 52,661 50,490
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and temporary investments 5,391 5,420
Accounts receivable, less allowances 30,138 16,219
Materials, supplies and gas in storage 24,625 23,549
Gas costs to be billed in the future 7,837 13,134
Other current assets 2,430 2,372
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Total current assets 70,421 60,694
DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER ASSETS 25,842 22,063
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TOTAL ASSETS $443,180 $407,205
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CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
CAPITALIZATION:
Common stock equity $158,963 $149,345
Long-term debt 158,192 137,637
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Total capitalization 317,155 286,982
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CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term obligations 5,419 8,692
Notes payable 9,404 12,952
Accounts payable 25,081 20,270
Other current liabilities 41,086 39,008
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Total current liabilities 80,990 80,922
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DEFERRED CREDITS 45,035 39,301
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TOTAL CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES $443,180 $407,205
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SHAREHOLDER NOTES
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STOCK LISTING
NASDAQ symbol: UCIT
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
The following table provides high and low trading prices for the common stock of
United Cities Gas Company for the quarters indicated:
QUARTER
ENDED HIGH LOW CLOSE
June 30, 1996 17 14 3/4 15 1/8
March 31, 1996 19 15 3/4 17 3/4
December 31, 1995 19 3/4 14 3/4 18 3/4
September 30, 1995 16 3/4 14 3/4 16 1/2
June 30, 1995 16 1/4 14 1/4 15
DIVIDENDS
Quarterly dividend amounts are considered by the company's board of directors at
regularly scheduled meetings held each quarter. Dividends are normally payable
on the 15th day of March, June, September and December.
ANNUAL DIVIDEND RATE PER SHARE
1991 $ .96
1992 $ .98
1993 $1.00
1994 $1.02
1995 $1.02
STOCK OWNERSHIP
As of June 30, 1996, the company had 13,102,913 shares of common stock
outstanding, owned by 8,347 holders of record in 49 states and four foreign
countries. Shareholders include individuals, brokers, nominees, custodians and
trustees, and institutions such as banks, insurance companies and pension
funds. Some of these hold large blocks of stock on behalf of other individuals
or firms.