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NOVI, Mich., July 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights

• Operating earnings for the second quarter of $1.20 per diluted common share; reported earnings for the second quarter of $0.90 per diluted common share
• Operating earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2013 of $2.32 per diluted common share; reported earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2013 of $1.85 per diluted common share
• Capital investments of $455.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013
• Reaffirmed operating earnings guidance at $4.80 to $5.00 per diluted common share and capital expenditure guidance at $760 to $860 million

ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) today announced its results for the second quarter and six month period ended June 30, 2013. Reported net income for the quarter, measured in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), was $47.4 million, or $0.90 per diluted common share, compared to $42.4 million or $0.81 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, reported net income was $97.6 million, or $1.85 per diluted common share, compared to $88.4 million, or $1.70 per diluted common share for the same period last year.

Operating earnings for the second quarter were $63.3 million, or $1.20 per diluted common share, compared to operating earnings of $54.8 million, or $1.05 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, operating earnings were $122.1 million, or $2.32 per diluted common share, compared to operating earnings of $103.5 million, or $1.98 per diluted common share for the same period last year. Operating earnings are a non-GAAP measure that exclude the impact of the following after-tax expenses associated with:

• The Entergy Corporation (Entergy) transaction of approximately $15.9 million, or $0.30 per diluted common share, and $4.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2013 and 2012, respectively. These expenses totaled approximately $24.4 million, or $0.46 per diluted common diluted share, and $6.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted common share, for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
• An estimated refund liability of approximately $0.1 million for both the second quarter 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and $8.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted common share, for both the second quarter of 2012 and for the six months ended June 30, 2012 which was recorded for certain acquisition accounting adjustments for ITC Midwest, ITCTransmission and METC resulting from the FERC audit order on ITC Midwest issued in May 2012.

Operating earnings increased by $8.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, for the second quarter compared to the same period in 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, operating earnings increased $18.7 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, compared to the same period last year. The increases in both periods were largely attributable to higher income associated with increased rate base and AFUDC (Allowance for Funds Used During Construction) at our operating companies.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, ITC invested $455.4 million in capital projects at its operating companies, including $120.8 million at ITCTransmission, $81.8 million at METC, $178.8 million at ITC Midwest and $74.0 million at ITC Great Plains.

"This quarter proved to be active on all fronts, both for our stand-alone business as well as for our transaction with Entergy," said Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO of ITC. "Despite the impact of continuing inclement weather, we are making solid progress on our stand-alone plans for 2013 and remain poised to meet our overall objectives for the year. Additionally, we also have continued to progress the Entergy transaction through the various regulatory approval processes. We were pleased to receive FERC's approval of the transaction last month and look forward to continuing to constructively work through the regulatory process at the state and local level in order to advance the transaction to a successful closing in 2013."

EPS and Capital Expenditure Guidance
For 2013, ITC is reaffirming its full year operating earnings per share guidance of $4.80 to $5.00, which excludes any impact of the Entergy transaction. Capital investment guidance for 2013 is also being maintained in a range of $760 to $860 million, which includes $200 to $230 million for ITCTransmission, $160 to $180 million for METC, $270 to $300 million for ITC Midwest and $130 to $150 million for ITC Great Plains.

Second Quarter 2013 Operating Earnings Financial Results Detail
ITC's operating revenues for the second quarter increased to $229.8 million compared to $208.4 million for the same period last year, which amount excludes an $11.0 million reduction in revenues associated with the ITC Midwest FERC audit related refunds recorded for ITCTransmission, METC and ITC Midwest. This increase was primarily due to higher revenue requirements attributable to a higher rate base at our regulated operating subsidiaries. In addition, regional cost sharing revenues increased due to additional capital projects being placed in-service that have been identified by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) as eligible for regional cost sharing.

Operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses of $29.7 million were generally consistent with the same period in 2012.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses of $22.1 million were also generally consistent with the same period in 2012. The amounts for the second quarter 2013 and 2012 exclude approximately $21.8 million and $6.1 million, respectively, of expenses associated with the Entergy transaction.

Depreciation and amortization expenses of $29.3 million increased by $3.3 million compared to the same period in 2012 due to a higher depreciable base resulting from property, plant and equipment additions.

Taxes other than income taxes of $16.1 million were $0.9 million higher than the same period in 2012. This increase was due to 2012 capital additions at our regulated operating subsidiaries, which are included in the tax base for 2013 personal property tax calculations.

Interest expense of $40.0 million increased by $1.1 million compared to the same period in 2012. The amounts for the second quarter 2013 and 2012 exclude approximately $0.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, associated with adjustments to operating earnings. This increase was due primarily to higher borrowing levels to finance capital expenditures.

The effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2013 was 35.9 percent compared to 33.9 percent in 2012. The amounts for the second quarter 2013 and 2012 exclude approximately $6.3 million and $6.8 million , respectively, associated with adjustments to operating earnings.

Year-To-Date 2013 Financial Results Detail
ITC's operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2013 increased to $447.1 compared to $405.1 million for the same period last year, which amount excludes an $11.0 million reduction in revenues associated with the ITC Midwest FERC audit related refunds recorded for ITCTransmission, METC and ITC Midwest. This increase was primarily due to higher network revenues attributable to higher rate base at all of our regulated operating subsidiaries. In addition, the increase resulted from higher regional cost sharing revenues primarily due to additional capital projects being placed into service that have been identified by MISO as eligible for regional cost sharing.

O&M expenses of $54.2 million were $4.6 million lower for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. This decrease was a result of lower vegetation management requirements and lower NERC compliance activities associated with surveying transmission lines.

G&A expenses of $46.0 million were $5.1 million higher compared to the same period in 2012. The amounts for the year-to-date 2013 and 2012 periods exclude approximately $32.9 million and $10.0, respectively, of expenses associated with the Entergy transaction. This increase was primarily due to higher compensation-related expenses primarily due to personnel additions and an increase in other professional services fees.

Depreciation and amortization expenses of $57.8 million increased by $6.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. This increase was primarily due to a higher depreciable base resulting from property, plant and equipment additions.

Taxes other than income taxes of $32.8 million were $3.3 million higher compared to the same period in 2012. This increase was due to 2012 capital additions at our regulated operating subsidiaries, which are included in the tax base for 2013 personal property taxes.

Interest expense of $78.8 million increased $2.1 million compared in the same period in 2012. The amounts for year-to-date 2013 and 2012 exclude approximately $0.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively, associated with adjustments to operating earnings. This increase was due primarily to higher borrowing levels to finance capital expenditures.

The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was 36.3 percent compared to 35.3 percent in 2012. The amounts for year-to-date 2013 and 2012 exclude approximately $9.0 million and $8.1 million, respectively, associated with adjustments to operating earnings.

Second Quarter Conference Call
ITC will conduct a webcast and conference call at 11 a.m. Eastern tomorrow, Thursday, July 25, 2013. Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO, will provide a business overview, and Cameron M. Bready, executive vice president and CFO, will discuss the financial results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call may dial toll-free 877-644-1296 (domestic) or 914-495-8555 (international); there is no passcode. A listen-only live webcast of the conference call, including accompanying slides and the earnings release, will be available on the company's investor information page. The conference call replay, available through Monday, July 29, 2013, can be accessed by dialing 855-859-2056 (toll free) or 404-537-3406, passcode 13778274. The webcast will also be archived on the ITC website.

Other Available Information
More detail about the second quarter results may be found in ITC's Form 10-Q filing. Once filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, an electronic copy of our 10-Q can be found at our website, https://www.itc-holdings.com/itc/about-us/fixed-income-investors. Written copies can also be made available by contacting us through our website.

About ITC Holdings Corp.
ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) is the nation's largest independent electric transmission company. Based in Novi, Michigan, ITC invests in the electric transmission grid to improve reliability, expand access to markets, lower the overall cost of delivered energy and allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems. ITC's regulated operating subsidiaries include ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains. Through these subsidiaries, ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission facilities in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, serving a combined peak load exceeding 26,000 megawatts along 15,000 circuit miles of transmission line. Through ITC Grid Development and its subsidiaries, the company also focuses on expansion in areas where significant transmission system improvements are needed. For more information, please visit ITC's website at www.itc-holdings.com. (itc-ITC)

GAAP v. Non-GAAP Measures
ITC's reported earnings are prepared in accordance with GAAP and represent earnings as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission. ITC's management believes the company's operating earnings, or GAAP earnings adjusted for specific items as described in the release, provide a more meaningful representation of the company's fundamental earnings power. However, such measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain statements that describe our management's beliefs concerning future business conditions, plans and prospects, growth opportunities and the outlook for our business and the electricity transmission industry based upon information currently available. Such statements are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Wherever possible, we have identified these forward-looking statements by words such as "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects" and similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions our management believes are reasonable. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements, including, among others, the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Because our forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change, actual results could be materially different and any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and can be affected by assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in our discussion in this release and in our annual and quarterly reports will be important in determining future results. Consequently, we cannot assure you that our expectations or forecasts expressed in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Actual future results may vary materially. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any of our forward-looking or other statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp.