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 income2 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) EARNINGS3
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 income4 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/b>
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 million6.
EARNINGS RELEASE, WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS EARNINGS
HEI will conduct a webcast and conference call to review its second quarter 2024 consolidated financial results today at 10:30 a.m. Hawaii time (4:30 p.m. Eastern).
To listen to the conference call, dial 1-888-660-6377 (U.S.) or 1-929-203-0797 (international) and enter passcode 2393042. Parties may also access presentation materials (which include reconciliation of non-GAAP measures) and/or listen to the conference call by visiting the conference call link on HEI’s website at www.hei.com under “Investor Relations,” sub-heading “News and Events — Events and Presentations.”
A replay will be available online and via phone. The online replay will be available on HEI’s website about two hours after the event. The audio replay will also be available about two hours after the event through August 23, 2024. To access the audio replay, dial 1-800-770-2030 (U.S.) or 1-647-362-9199 (international) and enter passcode 2393042.
HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) intend to continue to use HEI’s website, www.hei.com, as a means of disclosing additional information; such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of the website. Accordingly, investors should routinely monitor the Investor Relations section of HEI’s website, in addition to following HEI’s, Hawaiian Electric’s and ASB’s press releases, HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and HEI’s public conference calls and webcasts. Investors may sign up to receive e-mail alerts via the “Investor Relations” section of the website. The information on HEI’s website is not incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s SEC filings unless, and except to the extent, specifically incorporated by reference.
Investors may also wish to refer to the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC) website at https://hpuc.my.site.com/cdms/s/ to review documents filed with, and issued by, the PUC. No information on the PUC website is incorporated by reference into this document or into HEI’s and Hawaiian Electric’s SEC filings.
