Source: https://q10k.com/AVU
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 02:11:13+00:00

Document:
Vectren Utility Holdings, Inc. (the Company, Utility Holdings or VUHI), an Indiana corporation, was formed on March 31, 2000, to serve as the intermediate holding company for Vectren Corporation’s (Vectren or the Company's parent) three operating public utilities: Indiana Gas Company, Inc. (Indiana Gas or Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana - North), Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (SIGECO or Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana - South), and Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, Inc. (VEDO). Herein, 'the Company' may also refer to Indiana Gas Company, Inc., Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company, Inc. and/or Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, Inc. The Company also has other assets that provide information technology and other services to the three utilities. Vectren, an Indiana corporation, is an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana and was organized on June 10, 1999. Both Vectren and the Company are holding companies as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Energy Act).
Indiana Gas provides energy delivery services to approximately 598,000 natural gas customers located in central and southern Indiana. SIGECO provides energy delivery services to approximately 146,000 electric customers and approximately 112,000 gas customers located near Evansville in southwestern Indiana. SIGECO also owns and operates electric generation assets to serve its electric customers and optimizes those assets in the wholesale power market. Indiana Gas and SIGECO generally do business as Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana. VEDO provides energy delivery services to approximately 320,000 natural gas customers located near Dayton in west-central Ohio.
Merger with CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
On April 21, 2018, Vectren entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), with CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation (“CenterPoint”), and Pacer Merger Sub, Inc., an Indiana corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Vectren (the “Merger”), with Vectren continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint.
Subject to the terms and conditions in the Merger Agreement, upon closing, each share of common stock of Vectren shall be converted into the right to receive $72.00 in cash without interest.
Vectren, CenterPoint and Merger Sub each have made various representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement. Among other things, Vectren has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to conduct its businesses in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, from the date of the Merger Agreement until closing, and not to take certain actions prior to the closing of the Merger without the approval of CenterPoint. Vectren has made certain additional customary covenants, including, subject to certain exceptions: (1) to cause a meeting of Vectren's shareholders to be held to consider approval of the Merger Agreement, (2) not to solicit proposals relating to alternative business combination transactions and not to participate in discussions concerning, or furnish information in connection with, alternative business combination transactions and (3) not to withdraw its recommendation to Vectren’s shareholders regarding the Merger. In addition, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Vectren, CenterPoint and Merger Sub are required to use reasonable best efforts to obtain all required regulatory approvals, which will include clearance under federal antitrust laws and certain approvals by federal regulatory bodies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), subject to certain exceptions, including such efforts not result in a "Burdensome Condition" (as defined in the Merger Agreement). While approval of the Merger Agreement is not required by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission ("IURC") or the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ("PUCO"), informational filings have been made with each commission.
obligations and covenants under the Merger Agreement and (c) the absence of a material adverse effect with respect to Vectren and its subsidiaries.
The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both Vectren and CenterPoint, including if the Merger is not consummated by April 21, 2019 (subject to extension for an additional six months if all conditions to closing, other than the conditions related to obtaining regulatory approvals, have been satisfied). The Merger Agreement also provides for certain termination rights for each of Vectren and CenterPoint, and provides that, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain specified circumstances, CenterPoint would be required to pay a termination fee of $210 million to Vectren, and under other specified circumstances Vectren would be required to pay CenterPoint a termination fee of $150 million.
On June 15, 2018, Vectren and CenterPoint submitted their filings with the FERC and initiated informational proceedings with regulators in Indiana and Ohio. Further, on June 18, 2018, Vectren and CenterPoint submitted their filings pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the Federal Communications Commission. On June 26, 2018, CenterPoint and Vectren received notice from the Federal Trade Commission granting early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
On July 16, 2018, Vectren filed a definitive proxy statement, and a Form 8-K including supplemental disclosures to the proxy statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Merger. On July 24, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission provided the final approvals for the transfer of control of the Vectren subsidiaries which hold radio licenses. At the special shareholders meeting held on August 28, 2018, the Merger Agreement and the Merger, as well as other matters relating to the proposed Merger, were voted on and approved by Vectren's shareholders. On October 5, 2018, the FERC issued an order indicating its approval of the Merger. In Indiana, the IURC held a hearing on October 17, 2018 on Vectren's informational filing. Final briefs are to be filed by December 21, 2018, and an order is expected in early 2019. A similar informational filing was made in Ohio and, though a hearing before the PUCO is not anticipated, an order is expected in early 2019, as well. As of November 6, 2018, seven purported Vectren shareholders have filed lawsuits under the federal securities laws in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana challenging the adequacy of the disclosures made in Vectren's proxy statement in connection with the Merger as discussed in Note 9. Subject to receipt of remaining approvals, Vectren continues to anticipate that the closing of the Merger will occur no later than the first quarter of 2019.
The interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report have been prepared by the Company, without audit, as provided in the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and include a review of subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been omitted as provided in such rules and regulations. The information in this report reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly state the interim periods presented, inclusive of adjustments that are normal and recurring in nature. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2018, on Form 10-K. Because of the seasonal nature of the Company’s utility operations, the results shown on a quarterly basis are not necessarily indicative of annual results.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
requires enhanced disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized.
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new accounting standard and all the related amendments (“new revenue standard”) to all contracts not complete at the date of initial application using the modified retrospective method, which resulted in no cumulative adjustment to retained earnings. The Company expects ongoing application to continue to be immaterial to financial condition and net income. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.
Substantially all the Company’s revenues are within the scope of the new revenue standard.
Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with the customer are satisfied. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. The satisfaction of performance obligation occurs when the transfer of goods and services occur, which may be at a point in time or over time; resulting in revenue being recognized over the course of the underlying contract or at a single point in time based upon the delivery of services to customers. The Company determines that disaggregating revenue into customer class, as discussed further below, achieves the disclosure objective to depict how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
The Company provides commodity service to customers at rates, charges, and terms and conditions included in tariffs approved by regulators. The Company’s utilities bill customers on a monthly basis and have the right to consideration from customers in an amount that corresponds directly with the performance obligation satisfied to date. The performance obligation is satisfied and revenue is recognized upon the delivery of services to customers. The Company records revenues for services and goods delivered but not billed at the end of an accounting period in Accrued unbilled revenues, derived from estimated unbilled consumption and tariff rates. The Company's revenues are also adjusted for the effects of regulation including tracked operating expenses, infrastructure replacement mechanisms, decoupling mechanisms, and lost margin recovery. Decoupling and lost margin recovery mechanisms are considered alternative revenue programs, which are excluded from the scope of the new revenue standard. Revenues from alternative revenue programs are not material to any reporting period. Customers are billed monthly and payment terms, set by the regulator, require payment within a month of billing. The Company's revenues are not subject to significant returns, refunds, or warranty obligations.
In the following table, the Company's revenue is disaggregated by customer class.
The Company does not have any material contract balances (right to consideration for services already provided or obligations to provide services in the future for consideration already received) as of January 1, 2018 or September 30, 2018. Substantially all of the Company's accounts receivable results from contracts with customers.
In accordance with the optional exemptions available under the new revenue standard, the Company has not disclosed the value of unsatisfied performance obligations from contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for goods provided and services performed. Substantially all of the Company's contracts with customers are eligible for this exemption.
The Company’s three operating utility companies, SIGECO, Indiana Gas, and VEDO, are guarantors of the Company's $400 million in short-term credit facilities, of which $225 million was outstanding at September 30, 2018, and the Company's $1.345 billion in unsecured senior notes outstanding at September 30, 2018. The guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several, and the Company has no subsidiaries other than the subsidiary guarantors. However, it does have operations other than those of the subsidiary guarantors. Pursuant to Item 3-10 of Regulation S-X, disclosure of the results of operations and balance sheets of the subsidiary guarantors, which are wholly owned, separate from the parent company’s operations is required. Following are condensed consolidating financial statements including information on the combined operations of the subsidiary guarantors separate from the other operations of the parent company. Pursuant to a tax sharing agreement, consolidating tax effects, which are calculated on a separate return basis, are reflected at the parent level.
Excise taxes and a portion of utility receipts taxes are included in rates charged to customers. Accordingly, the Company records these taxes billed to customers, which totaled $5.4 million and $5.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as a component of operating revenues. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, these taxes totaled $22.2 million and $20.2 million, respectively. Expenses associated with excise and utility receipts taxes are recorded as a component of Taxes other than income taxes.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had accruals related to utility and nonutility plant purchases totaling approximately $39.4 million and $27.5 million, respectively.
VISCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company's parent, provides underground pipeline construction and repair services. VISCO's customers include the Company's utilities and fees incurred by the Company totaled $40.9 million and $46.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 totaled $105.2 million and $123.9 million, respectively. Amounts owed to VISCO at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are included in Payables to other Vectren companies in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company's parent provides corporate and general and administrative services to the Company and allocates certain costs to the Company, including costs for share-based compensation and for pension and other postretirement benefits that are not directly charged to subsidiaries. These costs are allocated using various allocators, including number of employees, number of customers and/or the level of payroll, revenue contribution and capital expenditures. Allocations are at cost. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the company received corporate allocations totaling $11.4 million and $16.4 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company received corporate allocations totaling $40.7 million and $49.8 million, respectively.
The Company does not have share-based compensation plans and pension or other postretirement plans separate from the Company's parent and allocated costs include participation in the plans of the Company's parent. The allocation methodology for retirement costs is consistent with FASB guidance related to “multiemployer” benefit accounting.
On December 22, 2017, the United States government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). The TCJA makes broad and complex changes to the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), many of which were effective on January 1, 2018, including, but not limited to, (1) reducing the Federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, (2) eliminating the use of bonus depreciation for regulated utilities, while permitting full expensing of qualified property for non-regulated entities, (3) eliminating the domestic production activities deduction previously allowable under Section 199 of the IRC, (4) creating a new limitation on the deductibility of interest expense for non-regulated businesses, (5) eliminating the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) and changing how existing AMT credits can be realized, (6) limiting the deductibility of certain executive compensation, (7) restricting the deductibility of entertainment and lobbying-related expenses, (8) requiring regulated entities to employ the average rate assumption method (“ARAM”) to refund excess deferred taxes created by the rate change to their customers, and (9) changing the rules regarding taxability of contributions made by government or civic groups.
complying with both orders. As of September 30, 2018, the Company has established $35.7 million in liabilities associated with the rate impacts of tax reform, including $5.2 million in Regulatory Liabilities and $30.5 million in Accrued Liabilities.
In Indiana, an order was issued by the IURC on February 16, 2018, outlining the process the utility companies are to follow. In accordance with the order, the Company filed March 26, 2018 for proposed changes to its rates and charges to consider the impact of the lower corporate federal income tax rate. The IURC approved an initial reduction to the Company’s current rates and charges, effective June 1, 2018, to capture the immediate impact of the lower corporate federal income tax rate. Also, on June 1, 2018, a settlement agreement, reached between the Company, the Indiana Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), and a coalition of industrial customers, was filed with the IURC. The settlement agreement resolves all the proposed changes to rates as a result of the TCJA, specifically regarding the refund of excess deferred taxes and the refund of the regulatory liabilities established starting January 1, 2018. The IURC issued an order on August 29, 2018 approving the settlement agreement. The refund of excess deferred taxes and regulatory liabilities will commence in November 2018 for the Company's Indiana electric customers and in January 2019 for the Company's Indiana gas customers.
In Ohio, on October 24, 2018, the PUCO issued an Order requiring all utilities to file by January 1, 2019 for a request to adjust rates to reflect the impact of the TCJA. In compliance with this Order and consistent with VEDO comments submitted within this proceeding, VEDO will make a filing later this year to address its proposal for the refund of TCJA impacts, with a request to consolidate the proceeding with its pending base rate case filed on March 30, 2018.
2013 Series B Notes with a principal of $39.6 million and final maturity date of May 1, 2043.
Prior to the call, the 2013 Series A Notes had an interest rate of 4.0% and the 2013 Series B Notes had an interest rate of 4.05%. The bonds converted to a variable rate based on the one month LIBOR through May 1, 2023.
2014 Series B Notes with a principal of $41.3 million and final maturity date of July 1, 2025.
These bonds also have a variable interest rate based on the one month LIBOR through May 1, 2023.
The Company, through SIGECO, executed forward starting interest rate swaps during 2017 providing that on January 1, 2020, the Company will begin hedging the variability in interest rates on the 2013 Series A, B, and E Notes through final maturity dates. The swaps contain customary terms and conditions and generally provide offset for changes in the one month LIBOR rate. Other interest rate variability that may arise through the Bond Purchase and Covenants Agreement, such as variability caused by changes in tax law or SIGECO’s credit rating, among others, may result in an actual interest rate above or below the anticipated fixed rate. Regulatory orders require SIGECO to include the impact of its interest rate risk management activities, such as gains and losses arising from these swaps, in its cost of capital utilized in rate cases and other periodic filings.
purposes. The term loan’s interest rate is currently priced at one month LIBOR, plus a credit spread, which is subject to change based on changes in Utility Holdings’ credit rating. A change in credit rating would add approximately 10 basis points, per rating notch, to the existing rate. In addition, the term loan contains a provision that should Utility Holdings or any of its subsidiaries execute certain capital market transactions, and subject to certain other conditions, the outstanding balance is subject to mandatory prepayment. The term loan is jointly and severally guaranteed by Utility Holdings' wholly-owned operating companies, SIGECO, Indiana Gas, and VEDO.
The Merger would constitute a “Change of Control” under the note agreements pursuant to which Senior Notes issued by Utility Holdings in an aggregate principal amount of $1.025 billion were issued. While the Merger would not result in an event of default under such note agreements, upon the consummation of the Merger the issuer would be required to offer to repurchase these notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest.
The Merger will represent an event of default pursuant to Utility Holdings' short-term credit facility, and Utility Holdings is in process of seeking a waiver from the facility bank group of this event of default. If a waiver is not obtained, upon closing of the merger, CenterPoint will fund the obligations associated with the credit facility.
The Company's regulated utilities have both firm and non-firm commitments, some of which are between five and twenty year agreements to purchase natural gas, electricity, and coal, as well as certain transportation and storage rights. Costs arising from these commitments, while significant, are pass-through costs, generally collected dollar-for-dollar from retail customers through regulator-approved cost recovery mechanisms.
The Company from time to time, through its subsidiaries, issues letters of credit that support consolidated operations. At September 30, 2018, letters of credit outstanding total $8.6 million.
The Company is party to various legal proceedings, audits, and reviews by taxing authorities and other government agencies arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, there are no legal proceedings or other regulatory reviews or audits pending against the Company, including those described below, that are likely to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
As of November 6, 2018, seven purported Vectren shareholders have filed lawsuits under the federal securities laws in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana challenging the adequacy of the disclosures made in Vectren's proxy statement in connection with the merger. These cases are captioned Kuebler v. Vectren Corp., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00113-RLY-MPB (S.D. Ind.) (the “Kuebler Action”), Danigelis v. Vectren Corp., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00114-RLY-MPB (S.D. Ind.) (the “Danigelis Action”), Scarantino v. Vectren Corp., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00115-RLY-MPB (S.D. Ind.) (the “Scarantino Action”), Stein v. Vectren Corp., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00117-RLY-MPB (S.D. Ind.) (the “Stein Action”), Nisenshal v. Vectren Corp., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00121-RLY-MPB (S.D. Ind.) (the “Nisenshal Action”), VonSalzen v. Vectren Corp., et al., Case No. 3:18-cv-00122-RLY-MPB (S.D. Ind.) (the “VonSalzen Action”), and Kent v. Vectren Corp., et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-02263-SEB-TAB (S.D. Ind.) (the “Kent Action,” referred to together with the preceding actions, as the "Actions"). The Kuebler Action, the Danigelis Action, the Scarantino Action, the Nisenshal Action, and the Kent Action are asserted on behalf of putative classes of Vectren shareholders, while the Stein Action and the VonSalzen Action are brought only on behalf of their respective named plaintiffs.

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