Entergy Reports Third Quarter Earnings, Issues Forward-Looking Financial Update

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today reported third quarter 2013 as-reported earnings of $239.9 million, or $1.34 per share, compared to $337.1 million, or $1.89 per share, for third quarter 2012. On an operational basis, Entergy's third quarter 2013 earnings were $430.4 million, or $2.41 per share, compared with $347.7 million, or $1.95 per share, in third quarter 2012.

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Operational Earnings Highlights for Third Quarter 2013

• Utility earnings were higher driven largely by increased net revenue and a lower effective income tax rate, partially offset by higher non-fuel operation and maintenance and depreciation expenses.
• Entergy Wholesale Commodities earnings decreased due primarily to higher non-fuel operation and maintenance and depreciation expenses, partially offset by a lower effective income tax rate on operational earnings.
• Parent & Other results increased due to lower income tax expense.

"During the quarter, we saw positive results in Utility top-line growth, reflecting strong industrial sales during the quarter," said Leo Denault, Entergy's chairman and chief executive officer. "EWC net revenue reflected higher capacity prices, which were offset by other declines. As we look ahead, we see opportunities in each of our businesses. At the Utility, we're aggressively pursuing initiatives that benefit customers such as the proposed spin-merge of the transmission business with ITC Holdings Corp. as well as growth prospects and investment opportunities presented by the strong economic development pipeline. At EWC, we remain focused on optimizing financial performance at each of the assets. In addition, savings realized from the Human Capital Management effort benefit both businesses, helping to maintain reasonable rates at the Utility and improving the cost position of EWC."

Other Business Highlights

• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its decision accepting New York Independent System Operator's new capacity zone for Lower Hudson Valley.
• Entergy Mississippi, Inc. and Entergy New Orleans, Inc. received orders in August on formula rate plan filings.
• Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. signed an agreement with Methanex USA LLC to supply up to 30 megawatts of power to Methanex's new methanol facility in Geismar, La., for an initial 10-year term.
• Entergy was included in the 2013/2014 Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices.
• Entergy was added to the CDP S&P 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index, the only utility added to the performance index this year. Entergy was also named to the CDP S&P 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index.

A teleconference will be held at 10 a.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, to discuss Entergy's third quarter 2013 earnings announcement and the company's financial performance. The teleconference may be accessed by dialing (719) 457-2080, confirmation code 8044514, no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of the call or by visiting Entergy's website at www.entergy.com. The presentation slides also are now available on Entergy's website concurrent with this release, which was issued before market open on the day of the call. A replay of the teleconference will be available by telephone and on Entergy's website at www.entergy.com as soon as practical after the transcript is filed with the SEC due to filing requirements associated with the proposed spin-off and merger of Entergy's transmission business with ITC. The telephone replay will be available through Nov. 5, 2013, by dialing (719) 457-0820, confirmation code 8044514.

Utility

In third quarter 2013, Utility earnings were $348.0 million, or $1.95 per share, on an as-reported basis and $363.3 million, or $2.04 per share, on an operational basis, compared to $296.2 million, or $1.66 per share, on an as-reported basis and $306.8 million, or $1.72 per share, on an operational basis for third quarter 2012. The quarter-over-quarter increase in operational earnings per share was due largely to higher net revenue and a lower effective income tax rate, partially offset by higher non-fuel operation and maintenance and depreciation expenses.

Utility net revenue was higher than a year ago. Pricing adjustments contributed to the net revenue increase. Current quarter net revenue reflected regulatory actions from placing major generation investments in service. A portion of the net revenue increase was for recovery of costs below the net revenue line. Also contributing to the increase in net revenue was higher volume, including effects in unbilled retail sales. Weather was less favorable in third quarter 2013 compared to one year ago.

Residential sales in third quarter 2013, on a weather-adjusted basis, increased 0.1 percent compared to third quarter 2012. Commercial and governmental sales, on a weather-adjusted basis, increased 0.7 percent and decreased 3.1 percent, respectively, quarter over quarter. Industrial sales in the third quarter increased 2.7 percent compared to the same quarter of 2012.

Billed retail sales increased 1.1 percent on a weather-adjusted basis, driven largely by strong growth in the industrial segment. The industrial sales increase was due primarily to growth in the chemicals and refining segments. Residential and commercial weather-adjusted sales reflected continued sluggish regional economic growth and increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and demand-side management programs.

As noted above, a portion of the higher non-fuel operation and maintenance and depreciation expense increases were offset in net revenue. Also contributing to the O&M increase was higher compensation and benefits costs, primarily pension expenses.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

EWC reported an as-reported loss of $92.8 million, or 52 cents per share, and operational earnings of $82.3 million, or 46 cents per share, for third quarter 2013, compared to third quarter 2012 earnings of $86.8 million, or 49 cents per share, on both an as-reported and an operational basis.

The decrease in operational earnings was partially attributable to the operational adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and interest and investment income excluding decommissioning expense and special items) drivers noted below. Also contributing was higher depreciation expense, mostly driven by a prior period item. An adjustment reducing depreciation expense was recorded in the third quarter of 2012 as a result of a favorable court decision on Indian Point Unit 2 litigation against the U.S. Department of Energy related to spent nuclear fuel disposal. The overall decrease was partially offset by a lower effective income tax rate on operational earnings.

EWC operational adjusted EBITDA was $165 million in third quarter 2013, compared to $185 million in the same period a year ago. The EWC operational adjusted EBITDA decrease was due largely to an increase in period-over-period non-fuel operation and maintenance expense, driven largely by higher compensation and benefits costs, primarily pension expenses.

Parent & Other

Parent & Other reported a loss of $15.3 million, or 9 cents per share, on an as-reported basis and an operational basis for third quarter 2013. This compares to a loss of $45.9 million, or 26 cents per share, on both as-reported and operational bases in third quarter 2012. The period-over-period improvement was due to a decrease in income tax expense.

Earnings Guidance

Entergy affirmed its 2013 operational earnings guidance range of $4.60 to $5.40 per share, noting that current expectations point to around the middle of the range.

Entergy is initiating 2014 operational earnings guidance in the range of $4.60 to $5.40 per share. Operational guidance is based on Entergy's current business operations, and does not reflect any impacts from the proposed spin-merge of the transmission business with ITC.

Spin-Merge of Transmission Business

In December 2011, the Entergy and ITC boards of directors approved a definitive agreement under which Entergy will spin off and then merge its electric transmission business with a subsidiary of ITC. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions including retail regulatory approvals, which remain pending. Efforts continue to advance the proceedings in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Orleans and Texas. A revised closing date in 2014 has not yet been settled upon. The definitive agreement provides that it may be terminated by either party if the transaction has not been consummated by Dec. 31, 2013.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

ITC filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-184073) with the SEC registering the offer and sale of shares of ITC common stock to be issued to Entergy shareholders in connection with the proposed transactions. This registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on Feb. 25, 2013. ITC is also expected to file a post-effective amendment to the above registration statement. ITC shareholders are urged to read the prospectus included in the ITC registration statement (and the post-effective amendment to the ITC registration statement, when available) and any other relevant documents because they contain important information about TransCo and the proposed transactions. In addition, on July 24, 2013, Mid South TransCo LLC ("TransCo") filed a registration statement on Form S-4/S-1 (Registration No. 333-190094) with the SEC registering the offer and sale of TransCo common units to be issued to Entergy shareholders in connection with the proposed transactions. This registration statement includes a prospectus of TransCo related to the proposed transactions. Entergy will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the SEC related to the exchange of shares of Entergy common stock for the TransCo common units. Entergy shareholders are urged to read the prospectuses included in the ITC registration statement (and the post-effective amendment to the ITC registration statement, when available), the TransCo registration statement, the tender offer statement on Schedule TO (when available) and any other relevant documents because they contain important information about ITC, TransCo and the proposed transactions. The registration statements, prospectuses, tender offer statement and other documents relating to the proposed transactions (when they are available) can be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The documents, when available, can also be obtained free of charge from Entergy upon written request to Entergy Corporation, Investor Relations, P.O. Box 61000, New Orleans, LA 70161 or by calling Entergy's Investor Relations information line at 1-888-ENTERGY (368-3749), or from ITC upon written request to ITC Holdings Corp., Investor Relations, 27175 Energy Way, Novi, MI 48377 or by calling 248-946-3000.

Entergy Corporation, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year, is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and approximately 15,000 employees.

Additional information regarding Entergy's quarterly results of operations, regulatory proceedings and other matters is available in Entergy's investor news release dated Oct. 29, 2013, a copy of which has been filed today with the SEC on Form 8-K, and Entergy's quarterly presentation slides. These are available on Entergy's investor relations website at www.entergy.com/investor_relations.

In this news release, and from time to time, Entergy Corporation makes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed in this news release and in: (i) Entergy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and (ii) Entergy's other reports and filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) uncertainties associated with rate proceedings, formula rate plans and other cost recovery mechanisms; (c) uncertainties associated with efforts to remediate the effects of major storms and recover related restoration costs; (d) nuclear plant relicensing, operating and regulatory risks, including any changes resulting from the nuclear crisis in Japan following its catastrophic earthquake and tsunami; (e) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy and its subsidiaries; (f) conditions in commodity and capital markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements, in addition to other factors described elsewhere in this news release and subsequent securities filings and (g) risks inherent in the proposed spin-off and subsequent merger of Entergy's electric transmission business with a subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp. Entergy cannot provide any assurances that the spin-off and merger transaction will be completed and cannot give any assurance as to the terms on which such transaction will be consummated. The spin-off and merger transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent, including regulatory approvals and the availability of financing.

Appendix A provides a reconciliation of GAAP consolidated as-reported earnings to non-GAAP consolidated operational earnings.

Appendix B provides a reconciliation of Entergy Wholesale Commodities GAAP net income to non-GAAP operational adjusted EBITDA.

SOURCE Entergy Corporation

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