EX-99.1 2 v177723_ex99-1.htm Unassociated Document
 
  EXHIBIT 99.1



For Immediate Release
 
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. Reports 2009 Operating Results
 
GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN--(Marketwire - 03/16/10) - Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:CWCO - News) today reported its operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. The Company will host an investor conference call tomorrow -- Wednesday, March 17, 2010 -- at 11:00 a.m. EDT (see details below).
 
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009 declined 12% to approximately $58.0 million, compared with approximately $65.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2008. The decline in revenues was primarily due to a reduction in energy costs passed through to the Company's customers as a result of lower energy prices, along with lower project construction activity in the Services business segment.
 
Retail water sales rose 4% to approximately $23.2 million in 2009, versus $22.4 million in the previous year, reflecting a 4% increase in volume of water delivered to customers, higher average base water rates, and a decrease in revenues attributable to the pass-through billing of energy costs, as energy prices declined significantly between 2008 and 2009. Bulk water revenues decreased 14% to approximately $25.9 million, compared with $30.1 million in 2008, as a 2% increase in water volume was more than offset by a reduction in energy costs passed through to customers. Services revenues decreased 33% to approximately $8.9 million in 2009, compared with approximately $13.2 million in 2008, reflecting a decline in project construction activity that was partially offset by fees from the Company's services contract for the Tynes Bay plant in Bermuda, which commenced in the second quarter of 2009.
 
Net income declined 15% to $6,098,571, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the year ended December 31, 2009, compared with net income of $7,209,716, or $0.50 per diluted share, in the year ended December 31, 2008. The decline in 2009 net income was primarily the result of operating and impairment losses totaling ($5,685,968) recorded by the Company for its equity in the results of its affiliate, Ocean Conversion (BVI) Ltd. ("OC-BVI"), as compared with a loss of ($2,345,612) in 2008 for the Company's equity in the results of OC-BVI.
 
Consolidated gross profit rose 23% to approximately $23.0 million (40% of revenues) in 2009, versus approximately $18.6 million (28% of revenues) in 2008. Gross profit on Retail revenues approximated $13.4 million (58% of revenues) in the year ended December 31, 2009, compared with approximately $11.8 million (53% of revenues) in the year ended December 31, 2008. Gross profit on Bulk revenues increased to approximately $5.8 million (22% of revenues), compared with approximately $4.6 million (15% of revenues) in 2008. Gross profit on Services revenues approximated $3.8 million in 2009 and $2.3 million in 2008.
 

 
General and administrative expenses increased to approximately $10.1 million in the most recent year, when compared with approximately $8.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to increased employee, bonus and stock compensation expenses, along with increases in a number of other expense categories.
 
Interest income decreased by $476,361, or 34%, to $917,330 in 2009, versus $1,393,691 in 2008, reflecting a decline in both the average balance of funds invested in interest-bearing deposit accounts and the interest rates earned on such balances. Interest expense declined 3% to $1,698,084, from $1,755,969 in the prior year. Other income totaled $168,584 in the year ended December 31, 2009, versus $138,915 in the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
"Exclusive of the impact upon profitability of our equity in the loss of our 43.5%-owned OC-BVI affiliate in the British Virgin Islands, earnings from our consolidated operations improved to record levels in 2009, an achievement of which we are very proud, especially in light of the softness in global economic conditions," noted Rick McTaggart, Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. "This was due to higher gross profits in each of our three business segments. Retail Segment gross profits benefited from a reduction in certain operating and maintenance costs, lower energy prices and increases in base water rates. Meanwhile, higher gross profits in our Bulk Segment resulted primarily from the expiration of the original contract for the Red Gate plant in the Cayman Islands and the elimination of amortization expense for the intangible asset associated with such contract, improved operating efficiencies at our Windsor plant in the Bahamas, and the implementation of an improved feed water pretreatment regime at our Blue Hills plant in the Bahamas. Additionally, despite a decline in revenues, our Services Segment posted higher gross profit due to incremental revenues from the commencement of the operating contract at the Tynes Bay Plant in Bermuda and savings on construction costs to complete the North Side Water Works ("NSWW") and Bermuda plants. Both the NSWW and Bermuda projects were accepted by the customers as of June 30, 2009."
 
"Last year witnessed the completion of two new plants in the Cayman Islands -- the North Side plant (2.4 million US gallons per day) and the new ACWW plant, formerly known as the Governor's Harbor plant (1.0 million US gallons per day) -- that increased our installed capacity in Grand Cayman by 30% and our overall water production capacity by more than 11%. We also began operating the new 700,000 US gallon per day Bar Bay plant in Tortola (BVI) in January 2009 under a Heads of Terms agreement which helped to offset some of our losses from OC-BVI, and obtained a definitive final contract for this plant in March 2010."
 
"Regarding our OC-BVI affiliate's contract dispute with the BVI Government, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court ("the Court") held a three-day trial in July 2009 to address the Baughers Bay ownership issue and OC-BVI's claim for payment of amounts owed for water sold and delivered to the BVI Government. On September 17, 2009, the Court issued a preliminary ruling that the BVI Government was entitled to immediate possession of the Baughers Bay plant and dismissed OC-BVI's claim for compensation related to costs associated with an expansion in production capacity. As a result of this preliminary ruling, OC-BVI recorded an impairment charge of approximately $2.1 million for fixed assets associated with the plant. After conducting additional hearings in October 2009, the Court ordered the BVI Government to pay OC-BVI $13.91 per 1,000 imperial gallons (approximately $10.3 million) for water produced and delivered to the Government. Subsequently, OC-BVI appealed the Court's ruling regarding compensation for expenditures made to expand production capacity, and the BVI Government has appealed the ruling that the Government pay OC-BVI $10.3 million for water produced. These appeals are currently before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals. While losses related to our investment in OC-BVI continued to significantly impact our total earnings in 2009, the Court judgment in October and recent events that appear to have determined the eventual fate of the Baughers Bay plant should cause these losses to be significantly reduced or eliminated in the future."
 

 
"Looking forward, we have many reasons to be optimistic regarding the future of Consolidated Water and our ability to enhance shareholder value in coming years," continued McTaggart. "Bidding activity regarding new projects was quite busy in 2009, but none of the projects were awarded before year-end. We bid on three projects with a combined capacity of 25 million US gallons per day, demonstrating continued opportunities available to the Company and growing demand for desalinated water in the Caribbean region. Meanwhile, new opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago with aggregate capacity of over 80 million US gallons per day of capacity are expected to go out to bid this year, and other very exciting opportunities are being actively pursued in our existing markets and in new markets outside of our traditional service areas."
 
The Company will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. EDT tomorrow -- Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Shareholders and other interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 800-860-2442 (international/local participants dial 412-858-4600) and requesting participation in the "Consolidated Water Conference Call" a few minutes before 11:00 a.m. EDT on March 17, 2010. A replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the call through March 24, 2010 by dialing 877-344-7529 (international/local participants dial 412-317-0088) and entering the conference ID 438802.
 
CWCO-E
 
About Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.
 
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. develops and operates seawater desalination plants and water distribution systems in areas of the world where naturally occurring supplies of potable water are scarce or nonexistent. The Company operates water production and/or distribution facilities in the Cayman Islands, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Bermuda.
 
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. is headquartered in George Town, Grand Cayman, in the Cayman Islands. The Company's ordinary (common) stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "CWCO." Additional information on the Company is available on its website at http://www.cwco.com.
 

 
This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "should" or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's products and services in the marketplace, changes in its relationship with the Governments of the jurisdictions in which it operates, the manner in which the disputed issues between OC-BVI and the BVI Government are resolved, the ability to successfully secure contracts for water projects, the ability to develop and operate such projects profitably and the Company's ability to manage growth and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.


CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Expressed in United States dollars)

   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
             
ASSETS
           
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 44,429,190     $ 36,261,345  
Accounts receivable, net
    9,980,928       13,911,312  
Inventory
    1,832,564       1,617,484  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,689,874       1,444,445  
Current portion of loans receivable
    1,216,098       768,803  
Total current assets
    59,148,654       54,003,389  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
    60,245,525       58,937,980  
Construction in progress
    1,000,882       6,157,958  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings - construction project
    1,872,552       7,377,554  
Inventory non-current
    3,352,054       2,971,949  
Loans receivable
    10,875,848       1,560,420  
Investment in affiliate
    9,157,995       14,371,312  
Intangible assets, net
    1,919,656       2,144,162  
Goodwill
    3,587,754       3,587,754  
Other assets
    3,314,861       3,544,096  
Total assets
  $ 154,475,781     $ 154,656,574  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
  $ 6,187,606     $ 7,310,327  
Dividends payable
    1,152,702       1,006,414  
Current portion of long term debt
    1,322,483       1,229,071  
Total current liabilities
    8,662,791       9,545,812  
Long term debt
    19,806,784       21,129,269  
Other liabilities
    465,408       430,717  
Total liabilities
    28,934,983       31,105,798  
Equity
               
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders’ equity
               
Redeemable preferred stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 200,000 shares;
               
    issued and outstanding 17,192 and 17,366 shares, respectively
    10,315       10,420  
Class A common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 24,655,000 shares;
               
     issued and outstanding 14,541,878 and 14,529,360 shares, respectively
    8,725,127       8,717,616  
Class B common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 145,000 shares;
               
    none issued or outstanding
    -       -  
Additional paid-in capital
    80,990,686       80,461,942  
Retained earnings
    34,365,640       32,340,077  
Total Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders’ equity
    124,091,768       121,530,055  
Noncontrolling interests
    1,449,030       2,020,721  
Total equity
    125,540,798       123,550,776  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 154,475,781     $ 154,656,574  


 

 
 
CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Expressed in United States dollars)
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
                   
Retail water revenues
  $ 23,239,756     $ 22,369,806     $ 22,225,765  
Bulk water revenues
    25,905,077       30,121,536       24,320,392  
Services revenues
    8,874,684       13,187,617       7,530,708  
                         
     Total revenues
    58,019,517       65,678,959       54,076,865  
                         
Cost of retail revenues
    9,812,434       10,566,747       9,930,936  
Cost of bulk revenues
    20,149,969       25,557,832       20,078,758  
Cost of services revenues
    5,058,037       10,920,537       5,382,945  
                         
     Total cost of revenues
    35,020,440       47,045,116       35,392,639  
                         
Gross profit
    22,999,077       18,633,843       18,684,226  
                         
General and administrative expenses
    10,101,257       8,789,185       9,478,308  
                         
Income from operations
    12,897,820       9,844,658       9,205,918  
                         
Other income (expense):
                       
     Interest income
    917,330       1,393,691       1,911,303  
     Interest expense
    (1,698,084 )     (1,755,969 )     (1,856,277 )
     Other income
    168,584       138,915       263,912  
     Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliate
    (1,025,968 )     (2,345,612 )     2,314,594  
     Impairment of investment in affiliate
    (4,660,000 )     -       -  
                         
       Other income (expense), net
    (6,298,138 )     (2,568,975 )     2,633,532  
                         
Net income
    6,599,682       7,275,683       11,839,450  
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
    501,111       65,967       451,799  
                         
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders
  $ 6,098,571     $ 7,209,716     $ 11,387,651  
                         
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders
  $ 0.42     $ 0.50     $ 0.79  
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders
  $ 0.42     $ 0.50     $ 0.79  
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.28     $ 0.325     $ 0.195  
                         
Weighted average number of common shares used in the determination of:
                       
     Basic earnings per share
    14,535,192       14,519,847       14,404,732  
     Diluted earnings per share
    14,588,144       14,538,971       14,495,364  

 

 
Contact:
 


For further information, please contact:
Frederick W. McTaggart, President and CEO, at (345) 945-4277 or
David W. Sasnett, Executive Vice President and CFO, at (954) 427-6283 or
via e-mail at info@cwco.com
http://www.cwco.com
or
RJ Falkner & Company, Inc., Investor Relations Counsel at (800) 377-9893 or
via e-mail at info@rjfalkner.com