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Friday, August 9, 2024
Bankruptcy News: Hawaiian Electric Admits Company may not be a 'Going Concern'
By News Release @ 10:08 PM :: 1540 Views :: Maui County, Energy

HEI Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Continued Strength of Utility and Bank Operations

Quarter’s Results Include Accrual for Previously-Announced Tort Litigation Settlement and Bank’s Goodwill Impairment

Settlement Will Help Communities to Move Forward and Aid Rebuilding

  • 2Q24 Net Loss of $1.30 billion, or $11.74 per share, Includes Accrual of Estimated Wildfire Liabilities From Tort-related Legal Claims
  • Quarter’s Results Also Include Bank’s Goodwill Impairment Related to HEI’s Ongoing Review of Strategic Options for ASB
  • Excluding Accrual of Estimated Wildfire Liabilities, ASB’s Goodwill Impairment, and Other Maui Wildfire-Related Expenses, Results Were Solid for the Quarter, with Core Net Income and Core EPS 1 of $49.1 million and $0.44
  • Utility Continues to Advance Wildfire Mitigation and Resilience Efforts
  • Bank Net Interest Margin Expanded to 2.79%, Up 4 Basis Points Compared to 1Q
  • Strong Bank Credit Quality and Another Release of Reserves Reflect Healthy Hawaii Economy

News Release from HEI, 08/09/2024

HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE - HE) (HEI) today reported a consolidated net loss for the second quarter of 2024 of $1.30 billion, or $11.74 per share. The results included a $1.71 billion ($1.27 billion after taxes) loss from the accrual of estimated wildfire liabilities from tort-related legal claims, an $82.2 million ($66.1 million after taxes) loss from a goodwill impairment at American Savings Bank (ASB) and $9.8 million ($7.2 million after taxes) of other Maui wildfire-related expenses, net of insurance recoveries and deferrals. Excluding these items, core net income 2 was $49.1 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $54.6 million in the second quarter of 2023.

“Our core operations remain strong across the enterprise, and both our utility and bank remain very well-positioned to continue serving our customers and communities for the long term. The utility continues to rapidly advance wildfire mitigation and resilience efforts, and excluding the goodwill impairment taken during the quarter, our bank is improving profitability while maintaining a strong capital and liquidity position,” said Scott Seu, HEI president and CEO.

“Last week we announced that HEI, Hawaiian Electric and other defendants had entered into an agreement in principle to settle all tort claims related to the Maui wildfires. The settlement would allow all parties to come together on a path forward. Our Board and management team are pleased to have reached this agreement in principle on an expedited basis. We are confident that this settlement represents the best outcome for HEI, as it provides a clear line of sight toward resolution of the wildfire-related tort litigation and increased certainty for our company’s path ahead. In the coming months, we will be focused on finalizing the agreement and regaining the strength of our enterprise.

“Since last August, we have been advancing a strategy designed to support a strong, financially healthy enterprise that will empower a thriving future for Hawaii. Consistent with this approach, HEI has been undertaking a comprehensive review of strategic options for ASB, which is what led us to report a non-cash goodwill impairment for the bank last month. We will continue to take prudent and measured actions to ensure our companies are well positioned to serve our customers and community for the long term,” said Seu.

There is no set timetable for HEI’s comprehensive review of strategic options for ASB, and there can be no assurances that any actions regarding ASB will result from this evaluation. Neither HEI nor ASB expect to disclose or provide an update concerning developments related to this process unless or until HEI’s Board of Directors has approved a definitive course of action or otherwise determined that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY (HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC) EARNINGS 3

Hawaiian Electric’s net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $1,229.4 million compared to net income of $45.3 million in the second quarter of 2023, with the decrease primarily driven by the following after-tax items:

  • $1,271 million after-tax loss due to the accrual of estimated wildfire liabilities related to tort-related legal claims and cross claims as of June 30, 2024;
  • $7 million in higher operations and maintenance (O&M) expenses, including $4 million of costs associated with the Maui windstorm and wildfire event. These costs include wildfire mitigation expenses and the settlement of indemnification claims asserted by the state. The remaining increase in O&M included higher insurance costs, and higher substation and meter operations corrective and preventative maintenance costs;
  • $2 million from higher depreciation; and
  • $1 million impact from worse heat rate performance.

These items were partially offset by the following after-tax items:

  • $6 million higher revenues, including $4 million from the annual revenue adjustment mechanism, $1 million from the major project interim recovery mechanism and $1 million in other revenues.

Excluding incremental after-tax Maui windstorm and wildfire-related expenses net of insurance recoveries, Hawaiian Electric’s core net income 4 for the quarter was $43.9 million. Incremental after-tax Maui windstorm and wildfire-related expenses of $1,273 million were composed of the $1,271 million loss contingency accrued for estimated tort-related wildfire liabilities, and $20.0 million of other Maui wildfire-related expenses, net of $12.2 million of insurance-related recoveries and $5.7 million of costs deferred pursuant to the Public Utilities Commission’s decision allowing Hawaiian Electric to defer these costs.

Going Concern Assessment

HEI and Hawaiian Electric do not yet have a financing plan in place to address the future payment of the $1.71 billion Maui windstorm and wildfire settlement accrued in the second quarter of 2024. Until a definitive financing plan is developed and is probable of being implemented, HEI and Hawaiian Electric will disclose a “going concern” risk in their financial statements. After definitive financing plans are in place and likely to be implemented, such a going concern risk is expected to be resolved. This risk is the result of estimated payments under the settlement agreement. HEI and Hawaiian Electric are working closely with their financial advisors to develop a financing plan for their settlement contribution, and intend to finance the settlement payments through a mix of debt, common equity, equity-linked securities, or other potential options, although there can be no assurance at this time as to the availability or terms of any such financing.

Utility Dividend Update

In connection with the going concern assessment, the utility dividend to HEI has been suspended. HEI and Hawaiian Electric continue to believe that the companies have sufficient liquidity runway as parties work toward finalizing the agreement in principle to settle tort claims related to the Maui wildfires.

AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK EARNINGS

ASB’s second quarter 2024 net loss of $45.8 million compared to net income of $20.9 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $20.2 million in the second quarter of 2023. Results for the quarter reflect the impact of a goodwill impairment of $82.2 million ($66.1 million after taxes) in connection with HEI’s ongoing review of strategic options for ASB. The goodwill is related to acquisitions that took place in the 1980s and 1990s. The impairment is non-cash and has no impact on ASB’s liquidity. Net income for the quarter also reflected the release of $0.8 million of Maui wildfire-related reserves, partially offset by Maui wildfire-related expenses of $1.3 million. Excluding the after-tax impacts of these items, core net income for the second quarter was $20.7 million. 5

Total earning assets as of June 30, 2024 were $8.9 billion, down approximately 3.0% from December 31, 2023.

Total loans were $6.1 billion as of June 30, 2024, down 2.5% from December 31, 2023.

Total deposits were $8.0 billion as of June 30, 2024, down 1.3% from December 31, 2023. Core deposits declined 1.3% from December 31, 2023, while certificates of deposit decreased 1.4% primarily due to the paydown of $166 million in public time deposits. As of June 30, 2024, 83% of deposits were F.D.I.C. insured or fully collateralized, with approximately 79% of deposits F.D.I.C. insured. For the second quarter of 2024, the average cost of funds was 115 basis points, down slightly from 117 basis points in the linked quarter and up 32 basis points from the prior year quarter.

In the second quarter of 2024, ASB did not pay a dividend to HEI, supporting ASB’s healthy capital levels. ASB had a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.4% as of June 30, 2024.

Please refer to ASB’s news release issued on July 30, 2024 for additional information on ASB.

HOLDING AND OTHER COMPANIES

The holding and other companies’ net loss was $20.3 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $10.9 million in the second quarter of 2023. The higher net loss compared to the prior year quarter was primarily due to Maui wildfire-related expenses, higher Pacific Current net loss and higher corporate legal expenses. Core net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $15.5 million 6 .

read ... FULL REPORT

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Excerpt from Earnings Call Transcript Aug 9 2024:

Jonathan Garrett Reeder, Analyst 

Okay. So, I mean, again, this is my non-legal understanding, but if Hawaiian Electric requires the insurance companies to work through the individual place settlement agreements, isn't that kind of putting a substantial financial and legal burden back on the victims after reaching this settlement and really not allowing them to move forward?

If the insurance companies can essentially go after these individual plaintiffs to try to recoup the $2.3 billion or whatever that they -- they've paid out so far?

Scott Deghetto, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Yeah. I mean, in effect, what the individual plaintiff's lawyers are arguing is that, in effect, it does result between having to resolve the issues between the individual plaintiffs and the insurance companies, so. You're correct.

Jonathan Garrett Reeder, Analyst

Okay. Yeah. No, it just doesn't seem like an ideal outcome either.

Hawaiian Electric shares “could go to zero”

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Alpha: Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha

SA: Hawaiian Electric says customers should not see rate increases due to wildfire settlement

R: Hawaiian Electric raises ‘going concern doubts’ on wildfire settlement financing

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