Note 4 Discontinued Operations and Other Dispositions

Discontinued Operations – In July 2011, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with Connecticut Water Service, Inc. to sell its operations in Maine, which served approximately 16,000 customers, for cash at closing plus certain assumed liabilities, including debt of $17,364. On January 1, 2012, the Company completed the sale for net proceeds of $36,870, and recognized a gain on sale of $17,699 ($10,821 after-tax). Beginning in the third quarter of 2011, the Company recognized income tax expense of $4,008 for the additional deferred tax liabilities that arose from the difference between the stock and tax basis of the Company's investment in its Aqua Maine subsidiary.

In July 2011, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with American Water to sell its operations in New York for its book value at closing plus certain assumed liabilities, including debt of approximately $23,000. On May 1, 2012, the Company completed the sale for net proceeds of $39,274 at closing, which is subject to certain post-closing adjustments. During the second quarter of 2012, the Company recognized a loss on sale of $2,736 ($1,874 after-tax), resulting from charges incurred from the sale. Beginning in the third quarter of 2011, the Company recognized income tax expense of $3,245 for the additional deferred tax liabilities that arise from the difference between the stock and tax basis of the Company's investment in its Aqua New York subsidiary. The Company's New York operations served approximately 51,000 customers.

The operating results, cash flows, and financial position of the Company's subsidiaries named above, during the periods owned, have been presented in the Company's consolidated statements of net income, consolidated statements of cash flow, and consolidated balance sheets as discontinued operations. These subsidiaries were included in the Regulated segment, and as of June 30, 2012, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities were $504 and $4,860, respectively. These amounts are associated with post-closing adjustments and expenses incurred as a result of the sales.

A summary of discontinued operations presented in the consolidated statements of net income include the following:


		Six Months Ended					Three Months Ended
		June 30,					June 30,
		2012			2011		2012			2011
Operating revenues	$	6,640		$	17,625	$	1,729		$	9,916
Total operating expenses		5,542			15,346		778			7,702
Operating income		1,098			2,279		951			2,214
Other (income) expense:
Gain on sale		(17,699	)		-		(326	)		-
Loss on sale		2,986			-		2,736			-
Other expense, net		444			1,149		91			562
Income (loss) from discontinued
operations before income taxes		15,367			1,130		(1,550	)		1,652
Provision for income taxes		6,303			430		(368	)		657
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$	9,064		$	700	$	(1,182	)	$	995

The assets and liabilities of discontinued operations presented in the consolidated balance sheets include the following:


		June 30,			December 31,
		2012			2011

Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$	-		$	169,527
Less: accumulated depreciation		-			56,711
Net property, plant and equipment		-			112,816
Current assets		504			10,423
Regulatory assets		-			34,396
Goodwill		-			12,316
Other assets		-			2,287
Assets of discontinued operations held for sale		504			172,238

Long-term debt, excluding current portion		-			40,326
Current liabilities		4,142			7,088
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits		-			23,570
Contributions in aid of construction		-			9,967
Other liabilities		718			33,928
Liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale		4,860			114,879

Net assets	$	(4,356	)	$	57,359

Other Dispositions – The following dispositions have not been presented as discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated financial statements as the Company does not believe that disclosure of the following disposed water and wastewater utility systems as discontinued operations is meaningful to the reader of the financial statements for making investment decisions either individually or in the aggregate. The gains disclosed below are reported in the consolidated statements of net income as a reduction to operations and maintenance expense.

In May 2012, the Company sold a water and wastewater utility system in Florida for net proceeds of $2,505. The sale resulted in the recognition of a gain on the sale of these assets, net of expenses, of $328. The utility systems represented approximately 0.05% of the Company's total assets.

In June 2011, the Company sold a water and wastewater utility system in North Carolina for net proceeds of $4,106. The sale resulted in the recognition of a gain on the sale, net of expenses, of $2,692. In May 2011, the Company sold its regulated water and wastewater operations in Missouri for net proceeds of $3,225. The sale resulted in the recognition of a gain on the sale of these assets, net of expenses, of $280. This sale of the Company's Missouri operations concluded its regulated utility operations in Missouri. In January 2011, the Company sold a water and wastewater utility system in Texas for net proceeds of $3,118. The sale resulted in the recognition of a gain on the sale of these assets, net of expenses, of $2,452. Theses utility systems represented approximately 0.11% of the Company's total assets.

The City of Fort Wayne, Indiana ("the City") has authorized the acquisition by eminent domain of the northern portion of the utility system of one of the Company's operating subsidiaries in Indiana. In January 2008, the Company reached a settlement with the City to transition the northern portion of the system in February 2008 upon receipt of the City's initial valuation payment of $16,911. The settlement agreement specifically stated that the final valuation of the northern portion of the Company's system will be determined through a continuation of the legal proceedings that were filed challenging the City's valuation. On February 12, 2008, the Company turned over the northern portion of the system to the City upon receipt of the initial valuation payment. The proceeds received by the Company are in excess of the book value of the assets relinquished. No gain has been recognized due to the contingency over the final valuation of the assets. The net book value of the assets relinquished has been removed from the consolidated balance sheet and the difference between the net book value and the initial payment received has been deferred and is recorded in other accrued liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Once the contingency is resolved and the asset valuation is finalized, through the finalization of the litigation between the Company and the City of Fort Wayne, the amounts deferred will be recognized in the Company's consolidated statement of net income. On March 16, 2009, oral argument was held on certain procedural aspects with respect to the valuation evidence that may be presented and whether the Company is entitled to a jury trial. On October 12, 2010, the Wells County Indiana Circuit Court ruled that the Company is not entitled to a jury trial, and that the Wells County judge should review the City of Fort Wayne Board of Public Works' assessment based upon a "capricious, arbitrary or an abuse of discretion" standard. The Company disagreed with the Court's decision and appealed the Wells County Indiana Circuit Court's decision to the Indiana Court of Appeals. On January 13, 2012, the Indiana Court of Appeals reached a decision denying the Company's appeal. On February 10, 2012, the Company filed a petition for transfer requesting that the Indiana Supreme Court review the matter. That petition is currently pending. The Company continues to evaluate its legal options with respect to this decision. Depending upon the outcome of all of the legal proceedings the Company may be required to refund a portion of the initial valuation payment, or may receive additional proceeds. The northern portion of the utility system relinquished represents approximately 0.40% of the Company's total assets.