Atmos Energy Corporation Reaffirms Fiscal 2014 Guidance; Completes Common Stock Offering

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Atmos Energy Corporation ATO said that it continues to expect fiscal 2014 earnings to be in the previously announced range of between $2.66 to $2.76 per diluted share, excluding unrealized margins, following the completion of its stock offering on February 18, 2014. Fiscal year 2014 net income from regulated operations is expected to be in the range of $251 million to $261 million, while net income from nonregulated operations is expected to range between $10 million and $12 million. Total capital expenditures for fiscal 2014 are unchanged, and are expected to range between $830 million and $850 million.

The company completed the sale of 9.2 million shares of common stock in its public offering, including the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase an additional 1.2 million shares. Net proceeds from the offering of approximately $390.3 million will be used to fund infrastructure spending to enhance the safety and reliability of the company's system, to repay short-term debt outstanding under its commercial paper program and for general corporate purposes.

An updated slide presentation is available in the Investor section of the company website at www.atmosenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The matters discussed in this news release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements made in good faith by the company and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or in any of the company's other documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “projection,” “seek,” “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this news release, including the risks and uncertainties relating to regulatory trends and decisions, the company's ability to continue to access the capital markets and the other factors discussed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors include the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 and in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended December 31, 2013. Although the company believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is one of the country's largest natural-gas-only distributors, serving over three million natural gas distribution customers in over 1,400 communities in eight states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas and provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.