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FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

x

   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004
or

o

   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________to_____________

Commission file number 1-06446

kminc.gif (5069 bytes)
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Kansas

  

48-0290000

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

  

500 Dallas Street, Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77002

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

  

(713) 369-9000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

  

  

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes x  No o

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock, $5 par value, as of July 30, 2004 was 123,537,348 shares.


KINDER MORGAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2004


Contents

 

  

Page
Number

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
  
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)
  

   Consolidated Balance Sheets

3-4

   Consolidated Statements of Operations

5

   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

6

   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7-25

  
Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial

   Condition and Results of Operations

26-43

  
Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

43

  
Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

43

  
PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

  
Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

44

  
Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases
    of Equity Securities

44

  
Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

44

  
Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

44-45

  
Item 5.

Other Information

45

  
Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

46

  
SIGNATURE

47

2


PART I. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. and Subsidiaries

June 30,

December 31,

2004

2003

(In thousands)

ASSETS:
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents

$     6,715 

$    11,076 

Restricted Deposits

      8,097 

     17,158 

Accounts Receivable, Net:
   Trade

     68,526 

     75,903 

   Related Parties

        843 

      1,584 

Note Receivable

      8,315 

          - 

Inventories

     58,799 

     22,096 

Gas Imbalances

     17,077 

     33,320 

Other

    113,630 

    115,183 

    282,002 

    276,320 

   
Investments:
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

  2,140,877 

  2,106,312 

Goodwill

    947,730 

    972,380 

Other

    202,709 

    208,860 

  3,291,316 

  3,287,552 

   
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

  6,085,579 

  6,083,937 

  
Deferred Charges and Other Assets

    326,410 

    388,902 

  
Total Assets

$ 9,985,307 

$10,036,711 

=========== 

=========== 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

3


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. and Subsidiaries

June 30,

December 31,

2004

2003

(In thousands except shares)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Current Liabilities:
Current Maturities of Long-term Debt

$   655,000 

$     5,000 

Notes Payable

     65,500 

    127,900 

Accounts Payable:
   Trade

     22,474 

     61,385 

   Related Parties

      1,074 

     10,632 

Accrued Interest

     68,516 

     68,596 

Accrued Taxes

     32,446 

     35,795 

Gas Imbalances

     65,649 

     38,494 

Other

    115,238 

    128,559 

  1,025,897 

    476,361 

  
Other Liabilities and Deferred Credits:
Deferred Income Taxes

  2,512,028 

  2,477,329 

Other

    162,996 

    197,435 

  2,675,024 

  2,674,764 

  
Long-term Debt:
  Outstanding Notes and Debentures

  2,187,533 

  2,837,487 

  Deferrable Interest Debentures Issued to Subsidiary Trusts

    283,600 

    283,600 

  Value of Interest Rate Swaps

     31,062 

     88,242 

  

  2,502,195 

  3,209,329 

  
Minority Interests in Equity of Subsidiaries

  1,040,061 

  1,010,140 

  
Stockholders' Equity:
Common Stock-
  Authorized - 150,000,000 Shares, Par Value $5 Per Share
  Outstanding - 133,149,990 and 132,229,622 Shares,
    Respectively, Before Deducting 9,559,084 and 8,912,660
    Shares Held in Treasury

    665,750 

    661,148 

Additional Paid-in Capital

  1,815,771 

  1,780,761 

Retained Earnings

    824,544 

    732,492 

Treasury Stock

   (484,966)

   (446,095)

Deferred Compensation

    (31,281)

    (36,506)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

    (47,688)

    (25,683)

Total Stockholders' Equity

  2,742,130 

  2,666,117 

  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$ 9,985,307 

$10,036,711 

=========== 

=========== 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

4


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

2004

2003

(In thousands except per share amounts)

Operating Revenues:
Natural Gas Transportation and Storage

$ 171,946 

$ 162,974 

$ 370,739 

$ 345,827 

Natural Gas Sales

   42,941 

   70,490 

  180,043 

  193,489 

Other

   21,980 

   18,401 

   38,671 

   31,417 

    Total Operating Revenues

  236,867 

  251,865 

  589,453 

  570,733 

  
Operating Costs and Expenses:
Gas Purchases and Other Costs of Sales

   52,210 

   79,852 

  185,681 

  192,807 

Operations and Maintenance

   37,934 

   31,549 

   74,128 

   61,450 

General and Administrative

   19,879 

   18,786 

   42,167 

   35,194 

Depreciation and Amortization

   29,707 

   29,047 

   59,188 

   58,672 

Taxes, Other Than Income Taxes

    8,451 

    7,383 

   16,832 

   14,557 

    Total Operating Costs and Expenses

  148,181 

  166,617 

  377,996 

  362,680 

  
Operating Income

   88,686 

   85,248 

  211,457 

  208,053 

  
Other Income and (Expenses):
Equity in Earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

  132,802 

  113,732 

  261,569 

  225,227 

Equity in Earnings of Other Equity Investments

    2,695 

    2,719 

    5,502 

    5,202 

Interest Expense, Net

  (32,361)

  (31,314)

  (64,795)

  (71,288)

Interest Expense - Deferrable Interest Debentures

   (5,478)

        - 

  (10,956)

        - 

Minority Interests

  (15,089)

  (15,476)

  (24,397)

  (31,397)

Other, Net

      762 

     (874)

    1,521 

      122 

    Total Other Income and (Expenses)

   83,331 

   68,787 

  168,444 

  127,866 

  
Income Before Income Taxes

  172,017 

  154,035 

  379,901 

  335,919 

Income Taxes

   67,627 

   59,841 

  148,469 

  130,655 

  
Net Income

$ 104,390 

$  94,194 

$ 231,432 

$ 205,264 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

  
Basic Earnings Per Common Share

$    0.84 

$    0.77 

$    1.87 

$    1.68 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

Number of Shares Used in Computing Basic
    Earnings Per Common Share (Thousands)

  123,882 

  122,218 

  123,799 

  122,048 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

  
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

$    0.84 

$    0.76 

$    1.85 

$    1.66 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

Number of Shares Used in Computing Diluted
    Earnings Per Common Share (Thousands)

  124,955 

  123,474 

  124,942 

  123,285 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

  
Dividends Per Common Share

$  0.5625 

$  0.1500 

$  1.1250 

$  0.3000 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

5


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

(In thousands)

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net Income

$ 231,432 

$ 205,264 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
    Depreciation and Amortization

   59,188 

   58,672 

    Deferred Income Taxes

   59,845 

   56,502 

    Equity in Earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

 (261,569)

 (225,227)

    Distributions from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

  207,992 

  177,316 

    Equity in Earnings of Other Investments

   (5,502)

   (5,202)

    Minority Interests in Income of Consolidated Subsidiaries

   24,397 

   20,441 

    Deferred Purchased Gas Costs

    6,518 

  (11,339)

    Net (Gains) Losses on Sales of Facilities

     (733)

    4,297 

    Gain from Settlement of Orcom Note

        - 

   (2,917)

    Changes in Gas in Underground Storage

   15,064 

   66,852 

    Changes in Working Capital Items

  (83,092)

  (65,066)

    Proceeds from Termination of Interest Rate Swap

        - 

   28,147 

    Other, Net

   (7,522)

  (10,832)

Net Cash Flows Provided by Continuing Operations

  246,018 

  296,908 

Net Cash Flows Used in Discontinued Operations

     (423)

     (807)

Net Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities

  245,595 

  296,101 

  
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures

  (61,381)

  (47,827)

Investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (Note 7)

  (17,504)

   (1,764)

Proceeds from Margin Deposits

    9,061 

      736 

Other Investments

     (292)

   (8,677)

Proceeds from Settlement of Orcom Note

        - 

    2,627 

Proceeds from Sales of Other Assets

   25,693 

    6,421 

Net Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities

  (44,423)

  (48,484)

  
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Short-term Debt, Net

  (62,400)

  221,500 

Long-term Debt Retired

        - 

 (511,083)

Issuance of Shares by Kinder Morgan Management

   15,000 

        - 

Common Stock Issued

   30,061 

   24,545 

Short-term Advances (To) From Unconsolidated Affiliates

   (8,817)

   49,337 

Orcom Proceeds Payable to Pacificorp

        - 

    2,622 

Repurchase of Kinder Morgan Management, LLC Shares

        - 

     (928)

Treasury Stock Acquired

  (39,309)

   (2,478)

Cash Dividends, Common Stock

 (139,379)

  (36,608)

Minority Interests, Net

     (614)

     (245)

Securities Issuance Costs

      (75)

        - 

Net Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities

 (205,533)

 (253,338)

  
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   (4,361)

   (5,721)

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

   11,076 

   35,653 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$   6,715 

$  29,932 

========= 

========= 

For supplemental cash flow information, see Note 4.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

6


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

We are an energy transportation, storage and related services provider that has operations in the Rocky Mountain and mid-continent regions of the United States, with principal operations in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Our business activities include: (i) storing, transporting and selling natural gas, (ii) providing retail natural gas distribution services and (iii) operating and, in previous periods, constructing electric generation facilities. We have both regulated and nonregulated operations. In addition, we own the general partner interest, as well as significant limited partner interests, in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., a publicly traded pipeline master limited partnership, referred to in these Notes as "Kinder Morgan Energy Partners," and receive a substantial portion of our earnings from returns on these investments. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KMI."

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under such rules and regulations, we have condensed or omitted certain information and notes normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We believe, however, that our disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial results for the interim periods presented. You should read these interim consolidated financial statements in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 ("2003 Form 10-K"). Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to "we," "us," "our," or the "Company" are intended to mean Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

For a complete discussion of our significant accounting policies, see Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K.

Stock-Based Compensation

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, encourages, but does not require, entities to adopt the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation plans. As allowed under SFAS No. 123, we continue to apply Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Accordingly, compensation expense would not be recognized for stock options unless the options were granted at an exercise price lower than the market price on the grant date, which we have not done. Had compensation cost for these plans been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, net income and diluted earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts shown in the table below. Because the SFAS No. 123 method of accounting has not been applied to options granted prior to January 1, 1995, among other factors, the resulting pro forma compensation cost may not be representative of that to be expected in future years. Additionally, the pro forma amounts include approximately $278,000 and $253,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively and $507,000 and $500,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, related to the purchase discount offered under the employee stock purchase plan.

7


  
 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

2004

2003

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Net Income, As Reported

$ 104,390 

$  94,194 

$ 231,432 

$ 205,264 

  Add: Stock-based Employee Compensation Expense
    Included in Reported Net Income, Net of Related Tax     Effects

      775 

      234 

    1,550 

      474 

  Deduct: Total Stock-based Employee Compensation     Expense Determined under the Fair Value Method for
    All Awards, Net of Related Tax Effects

   (3,567)

   (3,875)

   (8,091)

   (7,881)

Pro Forma

$ 101,598 

$  90,553 

$ 224,891 

$ 197,857 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

  
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
  As Reported

$    0.84 

$    0.77 

$    1.87 

$    1.68 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

  Pro Forma

$    0.82 

$    0.74 

$    1.82 

$    1.62 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

  
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
  As Reported

$    0.84 

$    0.76 

$    1.85 

$    1.66 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

  Pro Forma

$    0.81 

$    0.73 

$    1.80 

$    1.60 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

2.   Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period. In recent periods, we have repurchased a significant number of our outstanding shares, see Note 11. Diluted earnings per common share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period, increased by the assumed exercise or conversion of securities (stock options are currently the only such securities outstanding) convertible into common stock, for which the effect of conversion or exercise using the treasury stock method would be dilutive.

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

2004

2003

(In thousands)

Weighted-average Common Shares Outstanding

 123,882 

 122,218 

 123,799 

 122,048 

Dilutive Common Stock Options

   1,073 

   1,256 

   1,143 

   1,237 

Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

 124,955 

 123,474 

 124,942 

 123,285 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

Weighted-average stock options outstanding totaling 0.1 million and 2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively and 0.1 million and 2.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were excluded from the diluted earnings per common share calculation because the effect of including them would have been antidilutive.

3.   Interest Expense, Net

"Interest Expense, Net" as presented in the accompanying interim Consolidated Statements of Operations is net of the debt component of the allowance for funds used during construction, which was $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and $0.4 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003.

8


4.   Cash Flow Information

We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.


Changes in Working Capital Items:
(Net of Effects of Acquisitions and Sales)
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

  

  

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

(In thousands)

Accounts Receivable

$  10,102 

$  25,020 

Materials and Supplies Inventory

       31 

     (506)

Other Current Assets

  (33,513)

   (6,030)

Accounts Payable

  (38,911)

  (44,913)

Other Current Liabilities

  (20,801)

  (38,637)

$ (83,092)

$ (65,066)

========= 

========= 

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
  

Cash Paid During the Period for:
Interest (Net of Amount Capitalized)

$  81,328 

$  85,038 

========= 

========= 

Distributions on Capital Trust Securities1

$       - 

$  10,956 

========= 

========= 

Income Taxes Paid, Net of Refunds

$ 117,103 

$  62,990 

========= 

========= 

1These distributions are included in "Interest" for the six months ended June 30, 2004.

Distributions received by our Kinder Morgan Management subsidiary from its investment in i-units of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners are in the form of additional i-units, while distributions made by Kinder Morgan Management to its shareholders are in the form of additional Kinder Morgan Management shares, see Note 6. "Other, Net" as presented in the accompanying interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows principally consists of other non-cash increases and decreases to earnings, including amortization of deferred revenue, amortization of debt discount and expense and amortization of interest rate swap proceeds previously received upon termination of the swap.

 

9


5.   Comprehensive Income

Our comprehensive income is as follows:

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

2004

2003

(In thousands)

Net Income:

$ 104,390 

$  94,194 

$ 231,432 

$ 205,264 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax:
  Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Utilized for
     Hedging Purposes, Net of Tax

   (4,253)

   (9,430)

  (12,626)

  (30,534)

  Reclassification of Change in Fair Value of Derivatives
     to Net Income, Net of Tax

    7,998 

   11,274 

    8,754 

   30,005 

  Equity in Other Comprehensive Loss of Equity Method
     Investees

  (19,377)

   (4,362)

  (36,704)

   (5,750)

  Minority Interest in Other Comprehensive Loss of
     Equity Method Investees

   10,089 

    2,111 

   18,571 

    3,690 

Other Comprehensive Loss

   (5,543)

     (407)

  (22,005)

   (2,589)

  
Comprehensive Income

$  98,847 

$  93,787 

$ 209,427 

$ 202,675 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

The Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss of $47.7 million at June 30, 2004 consisted of (i) $36.6 million representing our pro rata share of the accumulated other comprehensive loss of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and (ii) $11.1 million representing unrecognized net losses on hedging activities.

6.   Kinder Morgan Management, LLC

On May 14, 2004, Kinder Morgan Management made a distribution totaling 872,958 of its shares to shareholders of record as of April 30, 2004, based on the $0.69 per common unit distribution declared by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners for the first quarter of 2004. On August 13, 2004, Kinder Morgan Management will make a distribution of 920,140 of its shares to shareholders of record as of July 30, 2004, based on the $0.71 per common unit distribution declared by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners for the second quarter of 2004. These distributions are paid in the form of additional Kinder Morgan Management shares or fractions thereof calculated by dividing Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' cash distribution per common unit by the average market price of a Kinder Morgan Management share determined for a ten-trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the ex-dividend date for the shares.

7.   Investments and Sales

In April 2004, we sold two LM6000 gas-fired turbines for $16.5 million (net of marketing fees), which consideration consisted of $2.4 million in cash, a note receivable of $14.5 million and a note payable for marketing fees of $0.4 million. The $8.3 million current portion of this receivable is recorded in the caption Note Receivable in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2004. In June 2004, we sold two LM6000 turbines and two boilers to Kinder Morgan Production Company, L.P., a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, for their estimated fair market value of $21.1 million, which we received in cash. This equipment was a portion of the equipment that became surplus as a result of our decision to exit the power development business. The book value of the remaining surplus power generation equipment available for sale at June 30, 2004 was $35.8 million.

In February 2004, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners issued 5.3 million common units in a public offering at a price of $46.80 per common unit, receiving total net proceeds (after underwriting discount) of

10


$237.8 million. We did not acquire any of these common units. This transaction reduced our percentage ownership of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (at the time of the transaction) from approximately 19.0% to approximately 18.5% and had the associated effects of increasing (i) our investment in the net assets of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners by $23.2 million, (ii) associated accumulated deferred income taxes by $24,000 and (iii) paid-in capital by $40,000 and, in addition, reduced our equity method goodwill in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners by $23.1 million. In addition, in February 2004, in order to maintain our one percent general partner interest in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' operating partnerships, we made a contribution of approximately $2.6 million.

On March 25, 2004, Kinder Morgan Management closed the issuance and sale of 360,664 listed shares in a limited registered offering. None of the shares in the offering were purchased by Kinder Morgan, Inc. Kinder Morgan Management used the net proceeds of approximately $14.9 million from the offering to buy additional i-units from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners.

8.   Summarized Income Statement Information for Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

Following is summarized income statement information for Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership in which we own the general partner interest, in addition to limited partner interests in the form of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners common units, i-units and Class B limited partner units. This investment, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, is described in more detail in our 2003 Form 10-K. Additional information on Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' results of operations and financial position are contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

2004

2003

(In thousands)

Operating Revenues

$ 1,957,182

$ 1,664,447

$ 3,779,438

$ 3,453,285

Operating Expenses

  1,725,818

  1,464,885

  3,322,932

  3,058,571

Operating Income

$   231,364

$   199,562

$   456,506

$   394,714

===========

===========

===========

===========

Income Before Cumulative Effect of a Change in
    Accounting Principle

$   195,218

$   168,957

$   386,972

$   335,970

===========

===========

===========

===========

  
Net Income

$   195,218

$   168,957

$   386,972

$   339,435

===========

===========

===========

===========

9.   Discontinued Operations

During 1999, we adopted and implemented a plan to discontinue a number of lines of business. During 2000, we essentially completed the disposition of these discontinued operations. The cash flows attributable to discontinued operations included in the accompanying interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows under the caption "Net Cash Flows Used in Discontinued Operations" result from cash activity attributable to retained liabilities associated with these discontinued operations. Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K contains additional information on these matters.

10.  Financing

At June 30, 2004, we had available a $445 million 364-day credit facility dated October 14, 2003, and a $355 million three-year revolving credit agreement dated October 15, 2002. These bank facilities can be

11


used for general corporate purposes, including backup for our commercial paper program and, as discussed in our 2003 Form 10-K, include covenants that are common in such arrangements. Under these bank facilities, we are required to pay a facility fee based on the total commitment, whether used or unused, at a rate that varies based on our senior debt rating. We had no borrowings under our bank facilities at June 30, 2004.

The commercial paper we issue, which is supported by the credit facilities described above, is comprised of unsecured short-term notes with maturities not to exceed 270 days from the date of issue. Commercial paper outstanding at June 30, 2004 was $65.5 million, representing a reduction of $62.4 million from the $127.9 million outstanding at December 31, 2003. Our weighted-average interest rate on short-term borrowings outstanding at June 30, 2004 was 1.40 percent. Average short-term borrowings outstanding during the second quarter of 2004 were $137.1 million and the weighted-average interest rate was 1.13 percent. Average short-term borrowings outstanding during the first six months of 2004 were $128.9 million and the weighted-average interest rate was 1.13 percent.

On March 3, 2003, our $500 million 6.45% Senior Notes matured, and we paid the holders of the notes, utilizing a combination of cash on hand and incremental short-term borrowing. Our current maturities of long-term debt of $655 million at June 30, 2004 consisted of (i) $5 million of current maturities of our 6.50% Series Debentures due September 1, 2013, (ii) our $500 million of 6.65% Series Debentures due March 1, 2005 and (iii) our $150 million of 6.67% Series Debentures due November 1, 2027, which are redeemable at par at the option of the holders on November 1, 2004. We currently do not know whether the holders will require us to redeem the 6.67% debentures (which is a one-time election) or will choose to leave them outstanding.

On May 14, 2004, we paid a cash dividend on our common stock of $0.5625 per share to shareholders of record as of April 30, 2004. On July 21, 2004, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.5625 per common share payable on August 13, 2004 to shareholders of record as of July 30, 2004.

11.  Common Stock Repurchase Plan

On August 14, 2001, we announced a program to repurchase up to $300 million of our outstanding common stock, which program was increased to $400 million, $450 million, $500 million and $550 million in February 2002, July 2002, November 2003 and April 2004, respectively. As of June 30, 2004, we had repurchased a total of approximately $492.0 million (9,699,000 shares) of our outstanding common stock under the program, of which $37.2 million (631,200 shares) and $39.3 million (666,200 shares) were repurchased in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2004, respectively. We repurchased $1.1 million (22,500 shares) and $2.5 million (53,600 shares) of our common stock in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively.

12.  Business Segments

In accordance with the manner in which we manage our businesses, including the allocation of capital and evaluation of business segment performance, we report our operations in the following segments: (1) Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and certain affiliates, referred to as Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, a major interstate natural gas pipeline and storage system; (2) TransColorado Gas Transmission Company, referred to as TransColorado, an interstate natural gas pipeline located in western Colorado and northwest New Mexico; (3) Kinder Morgan Retail, the regulated sale and transportation of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers (including a small distribution system in Hermosillo, Mexico), and the sale of natural gas to certain utility customers under the Choice Gas Program and (4) Power, the operation and, in previous periods, construction of natural

12


gas-fired electric generation facilities.

The accounting policies we apply in the generation of business segment information are generally the same as those applied to our consolidated operations and described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K, except that (i) certain items below the "Operating Income" line are either not allocated to business segments or are not considered by management in its evaluation of business segment performance and (ii) equity in earnings of equity method investees, other than Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and certain insignificant international investees, are included in segment results. These equity method earnings are included in "Other Income and (Expenses)" in the accompanying interim Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, (i) certain items included in operating income (such as general and administrative expenses) are not allocated to individual business segments and (ii) gains and losses from incidental sales of assets are included in segment earnings. With adjustment for these items, we currently evaluate business segment performance primarily based on operating income in relation to the level of capital employed. We account for intersegment sales at market prices, while we account for asset transfers at either market value or, in some instances, book value.

 

13


BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Three Months Ended June 30, 2004

June 30,
2004

Segment Earnings

Revenues From
External
Customers1

Depreciation
And
Amortization


Capital
Expenditures

Segment
Assets

(In thousands)

Natural Gas Pipeline Company
  of America

$   93,427 

$  171,672 

$   23,564 

$   21,817 

$ 5,563,039

TransColorado

     5,384 

     7,776 

     1,062 

     4,301 

    271,314

Kinder Morgan Retail

     4,971 

    42,630 

     4,209 

    15,341 

    404,337

Power

     3,908 

    14,789 

       872 

         - 

    426,656

   Segment Totals

  107,690 

$  236,867 

$   29,707 

$   41,459 

  6,665,346

========== 

========== 

========== 

Earnings from Investment in
  Kinder Morgan Energy
  Partners

   132,802 

   Investment in Kinder Morgan
  Energy Partners
Goodwill

  2,140,877
    947,730

General and Administrative
  Expenses

   (19,879)

Other2
   Consolidated

    231,354
$ 9,985,307

===========

Other Income and (Expenses)

   (48,596)

Income Before Income Taxes

$  172,017 

========== 

  
Three Months Ended June 30, 2003   
Segment Earnings Revenues From
External
Customers1
Depreciation
And
Amortization

Capital
Expenditures

(In thousands)

Natural Gas Pipeline Company
  of America

$  84,3353 

$  188,188 

$   23,150 

$   22,133 

  

TransColorado

    5,297  

     7,615 

     1,035 

       172 

Kinder Morgan Retail

    6,331  

    43,323 

     4,003 

     5,858 

Power

   10,778  

    12,739 

       859 

       184 

   Segment Totals

  106,741  

$  251,865 

$   29,047 

$   28,347 

========== 

========== 

========== 

Earnings from Investment in
  Kinder Morgan Energy
  Partners

  113,732  

     
General and Administrative
  Expenses

  (18,786) 

  

Other Income and (Expenses)

  (47,652)3

Income Before Income Taxes

$ 154,035  

=========  

  
1

There were no intersegment revenues during the periods presented.

2

Includes market value of derivative instruments (including interest rate swaps) and miscellaneous corporate assets (such as information technology and telecommunications equipment) not allocated to individual segments.

3

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's segment results for the three months ended June 30, 2003 do not include a reduction of $4.1 million in interest expense attributable to the final settlement of a regulatory matter, which amount is included in "Other Income and (Expenses)."

14


  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2004   
Segment Earnings Revenues From
External
Customers1
Depreciation
And
Amortization

Capital
Expenditures

(In thousands)

Natural Gas Pipeline Company
  of America

$  200,173 

$  395,684 

$   46,944 

$   33,198 

  

TransColorado

    11,011 

    15,681 

     2,121 

     5,411 

Kinder Morgan Retail

    38,652 

   154,089 

     8,378 

    22,772 

Power

     7,631 

    23,999 

     1,745 

         - 

   Segment Totals

  257,467 

$  589,453 

$   59,188 

$   61,381 

========== 

========== 

========== 

Earnings from Investment in
  Kinder Morgan Energy
  Partners

   261,569 

     
General and Administrative
  Expenses

   (42,167)

  

Other Income and (Expenses)

   (96,968)

Income Before Income Taxes

$  379,901 

========== 

  
Six Months Ended June 30, 2003
Segment Earnings Revenues From
External
Customers1
Depreciation
And
Amortization

Capital
Expenditures
  
(In thousands)
Natural Gas Pipeline Company
  of America

$ 184,4112 

$  402,256 

$   45,455

$   36,941 

  

TransColorado

   12,557  

    17,114 

     2,101

       581 

Kinder Morgan Retail

   37,790  

   132,312 

     7,927

     7,444 

Power

   13,698  

    19,051 

     3,189

     2,861 

   Segment Totals

  248,456  

$  570,733 

$   58,672

$   47,827 

========== 

==========

========== 

Earnings from Investment in
  Kinder Morgan Energy
  Partners

  225,227  

     
General and Administrative
  Expenses

  (35,194) 

  

Other Income and (Expenses)

 (102,570)2

Income Before Income Taxes

$ 335,919  

=========  

  
1

There were no intersegment revenues during the periods presented.

2

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's segment results for the six months ended June 30, 2003 do not include a reduction of $4.1 million in interest expense attributable to the final settlement of a regulatory matter, which amount is included in "Other Income and (Expenses)."

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

All but an insignificant amount of our assets and operations are located in the continental United States of America.

13.  Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Our normal business activities expose us to risks associated with changes in the market price of natural gas and associated transportation. We engage in derivative transactions for the purpose of mitigating these risks, which transactions are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and associated amendments. During the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, our derivative activities relating to the mitigation of these

15


risks were designated and qualified as cash flow hedges, and the impact of hedge ineffectiveness, while included in our net income, was immaterial. As the hedged sales and purchases take place and we record them into earnings, we also reclassify the gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings. We expect to reclassify into earnings, during the next twelve months, substantially all of our accumulated other comprehensive loss balance related to these derivatives of $11.1 million, representing unrecognized net losses on derivative activities at June 30, 2004. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, we reclassified no gains or losses into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges due to a determination that the forecasted transactions would no longer occur by the end of the originally specified time period. In conjunction with these activities, we are required to place funds in margin accounts (included with "Restricted Deposits" in the accompanying interim Consolidated Balance Sheets) when the market value of these derivatives with specific counterparties exceeds established limits, or in conjunction with the purchase of exchange-traded derivatives.

We have outstanding fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreements with a notional principal amount of $1.5 billion at June 30, 2004. These agreements effectively convert the interest expense associated with our 7.25% Debentures due in 2028 and our 6.50% Senior Notes due in 2012 from fixed rates to floating rates based on the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a credit spread. These swaps have been designated as fair value hedges, and we have accounted for them utilizing the "shortcut" method prescribed for qualifying fair value hedges under SFAS No. 133. Accordingly, the carrying value of the swap is adjusted to its fair value as of the end of each reporting period, and an offsetting entry is made to adjust the carrying value of the debt securities whose fair value is being hedged. The fair value of the swaps of $21.7 million at June 30, 2004 is included in the caption "Deferred Charges and Other Assets" in the accompanying interim Consolidated Balance Sheet. We record interest expense equal to the floating rate payments, which is accrued monthly and paid semi-annually.

On March 3, 2003, we terminated the interest rate swap agreements associated with our 6.65% Senior Notes due in 2005 and received $28.1 million in cash. We are amortizing this amount (reducing interest expense) over the remaining period the 6.65% Senior Notes are outstanding. The unamortized balance of $9.4 million at June 30, 2004 is included in the caption "Value of Interest Rate Swaps" under the heading "Long-term Debt" in the accompanying interim Consolidated Balance Sheet.

14.  Employee Benefits

(A)    Retirement Plans

The components of net periodic pension cost for our retirement plans are as follows:

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

2004

2003

(In thousands)

Service Cost

$   2,149 

$   1,969 

$   4,297 

$   3,938 

Interest Cost

    2,859 

    2,754 

    5,717 

    5,508 

Expected Return on Assets

   (4,070)

   (3,222)

   (8,141)

   (6,443)

Amortization of:

  Transition Asset

      (40)

      (40)

      (81)

      (81)

  Prior Service Cost

       45 

       45 

       89 

       89 

  (Gain)/Loss

     (518)

     (981)

      144 

   (1,961)

Net Periodic Pension Cost

$     425 

$     525 

$   2,025 

$   1,050 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

16


As of June 30, 2004, no contributions to our retirement plans have been made. We expect to make a contribution to our retirement plans of approximately $2 million during the third quarter of 2004.

(B)    Other Postretirement Employee Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost for our postretirement benefit plan are as follows:

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

2004

2003

(In thousands)

Service Cost

$     114 

$     113 

$     229 

$     225 

Interest Cost

    1,653 

    1,749 

    3,306 

    3,498 

Expected Return on Assets

   (1,236)

   (1,344)

   (2,473)

   (2,689)

Amortization of:

  Transition Obligation

      233 

      233 

      465 

      465 

  Prior Service Cost

       59 

       59 

      119 

      119 

  Loss

    1,320 

    1,390 

    1,522 

    1,282 

Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost

$   2,143 

$   2,200 

$   3,168 

$   2,900 

========= 

========= 

========= 

========= 

We previously disclosed in our 2003 Form 10-K that we did not expect to make any significant contributions to our postretirement benefit plan during 2004 and, as of June 30, 2004, we continue to expect that total contributions to our postretirement benefit plan during 2004 will not be significant.

In December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 ("the Act") was signed into law. In January 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position FAS 106-1 to provide guidance on accounting and disclosure for the Act as it pertains to postretirement benefit plans (see Note 17). The amounts presented for net periodic postretirement benefit cost do not include the effects of the Act. In May 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position FAS 106-2, effective July 1, 2004, which provides specific authoritative guidance on the accounting for the federal subsidy included in the Act. Beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2004, the effects of the Act will be included in the amounts presented for net periodic postretirement benefit cost.

15.  Regulatory Matters

On July 17, 2000, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America filed its compliance plan, including pro forma tariff sheets, pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's ("FERC") Order Nos. 637 and 637-A. The FERC directed all interstate pipelines to file pro forma tariff sheets to comply with new regulatory requirements in these Orders regarding scheduling procedures, capacity segmentation, imbalance management services and penalty credits, or in the alternative, to explain why no changes to existing tariff provisions are necessary. On November 21, 2002, the FERC issued an order approving much of Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's Order 637 filing, but requiring additional changes. The primary changes relate to Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's segmentation proposal, the ability of shippers to designate additional primary points on a segmented release, a shipper's rights to request discounts at alternate points and Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's unauthorized overrun charges. Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America made its compliance filing on December 23, 2002 and filed for rehearing. Other parties have objected to certain aspects of Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's compliance filing. On May 14, 2003, the FERC issued an order accepting most of Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's compliance filing, but requiring additional changes, particularly regarding the designation of additional primary points for a segmented release. This order also established an effective date for Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's Order 637 provisions of December 1, 2003. Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America made its further compliance filing on

17


June 13, 2003. Limited protests have been filed. The Order No. 637 tariff provisions for Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America became effective on December 1, 2003. By an order issued on May 10, 2004, the FERC accepted Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's compliance filing effective December 1, 2003, subject to minor additional changes. Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's filing of these changes was made on May 17, 2004. No comments or protests were made on the May 17 filing. The FERC issued an order on August 3, 2004 accepting Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's May 17, 2004 compliance filing changes.

On April 5, 2002, the D.C. Circuit issued an order largely affirming Order Nos. 637, et seq. The D.C. Circuit did remand the FERC's decision to impose a 5-year cap on bids the existing shipper would have to match in the right of first refusal process. The D.C. Circuit also remanded the FERC's decision to allow forward-hauls and backhauls to the same point. Finally, the D.C. Circuit held that several aspects of the FERC's segmentation policy and its policy on discounting at alternate points were not ripe for review. Numerous parties, including Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, have filed comments on the remanded issues. On February 20, 2004, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia remanded back to the FERC a Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline proceeding in which the Court ruled that the FERC did not explain how the selective discounting policy adopted by the FERC in the Colorado Interstate Gas Co. and Granite State Gas Transmission cases would not compromise the pipelines' ability to target discounts at particular receipt/delivery points, subsystems or other defined geographic areas. On June 1, 2004, the FERC issued a Notice of Request for Comments, in the Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline proceeding, on issues pertaining to discounting policy adopted in the Colorado Interstate Gas Co. and Granite State Gas Transmission cases. Comments are due on August 9, 2004.

On October 31, 2002, the FERC issued an order in response to the D.C. Circuit's remand of certain Order 637 issues. The order: (i) eliminated the requirement of a 5-year cap on bid terms that an existing shipper would have to match in the right of first refusal process, and found that no term matching cap at all is necessary given existing regulatory controls and (ii) affirmed the FERC's policy that a segmented transaction consisting of both a forward-haul up to contract demand and a backhaul up to contract demand to the same point is permissible, and accordingly required, under Section 5 of the Natural Gas Act, pipelines that the FERC had previously found must permit segmentation on their systems to file tariff revisions within 30 days to permit such segmented forward-haul and backhaul transactions to the same point. On January 29, 2004, the FERC issued an order denying rehearing and reaffirming these rulings.

On November 25, 2003, the FERC issued Order No. 2004, adopting new Standards of Conduct to become effective February 9, 2004. Every interstate pipeline was required to file a compliance plan by that date and was required to be in full compliance with the Standards of Conduct by June 1, 2004. The primary change from existing regulation is to make such standards applicable to an interstate pipeline's interaction with many more affiliates (termed "Energy Affiliates"), including intrastate/Hinshaw pipelines (in general, a Hinshaw pipeline is a pipeline that receives gas at or within a state boundary, is regulated by an agency of that state, and all the gas it transports is consumed within that state), processors and gatherers and any company involved in gas or electric markets (such as electric generators and electric or gas marketers) even if they do not ship on the affiliated interstate pipeline. Local distribution companies ("LDCs") are excluded, however, if they do not make any off-system sales. The Standards of Conduct require, inter alia, separate staffing of interstate pipelines and their Energy Affiliates (but certain support functions and senior management at the central corporate level may be shared) and strict limitations on communications from an interstate pipeline to an Energy Affiliate. Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission LLC, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, filed for clarification and rehearing of Order No. 2004 on December 29, 2003, and numerous other rehearing requests have been submitted. In the request

18


for rehearing, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission LLC asked that intrastate/Hinshaw pipeline affiliates not be included in the definition of Energy Affiliates. On February 9, 2004, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, TransColorado Gas Transmission Company, Canyon Creek Compression Company and Horizon Pipeline Company filed their compliance plans under Order No. 2004. In addition, on February 19, 2004, all of these interstate pipelines filed a joint request with the interstate pipelines owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners asking that their interaction with intrastate/Hinshaw pipeline affiliates be exempted from the Standards of Conduct. Separation from these entities would be the most burdensome requirement of the new rules for us.

On April 16, 2004, the FERC issued Order No. 2004-A. The FERC extended the effective date of the new Standards of Conduct from June 1, 2004, to September 1, 2004. Otherwise, the FERC largely denied rehearing of Order No. 2004, but provided further clarification or adjustment in several areas. The FERC continued the exemption for LDCs that do not make off-system sales, but clarified that the LDC exemption still applies if the LDC is also a Hinshaw pipeline. The FERC also clarified that an LDC can engage in certain sales and other Energy Affiliate activities to the limited extent necessary to support sales to customers located on its distribution system, and sales necessary to remain in balance under pipeline tariffs, without becoming an Energy Affiliate. The FERC declined to exempt producers from the definition of Energy Affiliate. The FERC also declined to exempt intrastate and Hinshaw pipelines, processors and gatherers from the definition of Energy Affiliate, but did clarify that such entities will not be Energy Affiliates if they do not participate in gas or electric commodity markets or interstate capacity markets (as capacity holder, agent or manager) or in financial transactions related to such markets. The separate exemption request by the Kinder Morgan interstate pipelines as to their intrastate affiliates remains pending. The FERC also clarified further the personnel and functions that can be shared by interstate pipelines and their Energy Affiliates, including senior officers and risk management personnel and the permissible role of holding or parent companies and service companies. The FERC also clarified that day-to-day operating information can be shared by interconnecting entities. Finally, the FERC clarified that an interstate pipeline and its Energy Affiliate can discuss potential new interconnects to serve the Energy Affiliate, but subject to very onerous posting and record-keeping requirements. The Kinder Morgan interstate pipelines have sought rehearing to clarify the applicability of the LDC and Parent Company exemptions to them.

On July 21, 2004, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, TransColorado Gas Transmission Company, Canyon Creek Compression Company and Horizon Pipeline Company filed additional joint requests with Trailblazer Pipeline Company and Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission LLC, subsidiaries of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, asking for limited exemptions from certain requirements of FERC Order 2004 and asking for an extension of the deadline for full compliance with Order 2004 until 90 days after the FERC has completed action on the pipelines' various rehearing and exemption requests. The pipelines also requested that Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Company, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, be classified as an exempt LDC for purposes of Order 2004. These exemptions request relief from the independent functioning and information disclosure requirements of Order 2004. The exemption requests propose to treat as Energy Affiliates within the meaning of Order 2004 two groups of employees, (i) individuals in the Choice Gas Commodity Group within Kinder Morgan's Retail operations and (ii) commodity sales and purchase personnel within the Texas Intrastate operations. Order 2004 regulations governing relationships between interstate pipelines and their Energy Affiliates would apply to relationships with these two groups. Under these proposals, certain critical operating functions could continue to be shared.

On August 2, 2004, the FERC issued Order No. 2004-B. In this order, the FERC extended the effective date of the new Standards of Conduct from September 1, 2004 to September 22, 2004. Also in this

19


order, among other actions, the FERC denied the request for rehearing made by the Kinder Morgan interstate pipelines to clarify the applicability of the LDC and Parent Company exemptions to them. The July 21, 2004 joint request for limited exemption from certain requirements described above remains pending at the FERC.

On July 25, 2003, the FERC issued a Modification to Policy Statement stating that FERC regulated natural gas pipelines will, on a prospective basis, no longer be permitted to use gas basis differentials to price negotiated rate transactions. Effectively, we will no longer be permitted to use commodity price indices to structure transactions on our FERC regulated natural gas pipelines. Negotiated rates based on commodity price indices in existing contracts will be permitted to remain in effect until the end of the contract period for which such rates were negotiated. Price indexed contracts currently constitute an insignificant portion of our contracts on our FERC regulated natural gas pipelines. Moreover, in subsequent orders in individual pipeline cases, the FERC has allowed negotiated rate transactions using pricing indices so long as revenue is capped by the applicable maximum rate(s). We do not believe that this Modification to Policy Statement will have a material impact on our operations, financial results or cash flows. Rehearing on this aspect of the Modification to Policy Statement has been sought by Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and others, but the FERC has not yet acted on rehearing.

On February 11, 2004, the FERC approved a final rule in Docket No. RM03-8-000 requiring jurisdictional entities to file quarterly financial reports with the FERC. Electric utilities, natural gas companies, and licensees will file Form 3-Q, while oil pipeline companies will submit Form 6-Q. The final rule also adopts some minimal changes to the annual financial reports filed with the FERC. The final rule modifies the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by eliminating the management discussion and analysis section from both the quarterly and annual reports, and eliminating the use of fourth quarter data in the annual report. In addition, the final rule eliminates the cash management notification requirement adopted in FERC Order No. 634-A. The FERC said it will also use the quarterly financial information when reviewing the adequacy of traditional cost-based rates. On June 22, 2004, the FERC issued an order granting an extension of time for the filing of the quarterly financial reports for the first and second quarters of 2004. The first quarter report of major natural gas pipelines and electric utilities is due August 23, 2004 and the second quarter report is due September 23, 2004. For non-major natural gas pipelines and electric utilities and all oil pipelines the first quarter report is due September 3, 2004 and the second quarter report is due October 7, 2004. After the transition period, major public utilities, licensees and natural gas companies will be required to file quarterly reports 60 days after the end of each quarter; non-major public utilities, licensees, natural gas companies, and all oil pipeline companies will be required to file 70 days after the end of each quarter.

Currently, there are no material proceedings challenging the base rates on any of our pipeline systems. Nonetheless, shippers on our pipelines do have rights to challenge the rates we charge under certain circumstances prescribed by applicable statutes and regulations. There can be no assurance that we will not face challenges to the rates we receive for services on our pipeline systems in the future. In addition, since many of our assets are subject to regulation, we are subject to potential future changes in applicable rules and regulations that may have an adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.

See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K for additional information regarding regulatory matters.

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16.  Environmental and Legal Matters

(A)    Environmental Matters

We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws that regulate permitted activities relating to air and water quality, waste disposal, and other environmental matters. Additionally, we have established reserves to address known environmental remediation sites. After consideration of reserves established, we believe that costs for environmental remediation and ongoing compliance with these regulations will not have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, financial position or results of operations or diminish our ability to operate our businesses. However, there can be no assurances that future events, such as changes in existing laws, the promulgation of new laws, or the development of new facts or conditions will not cause us to incur significant costs.

See Note 9(A) of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K for additional information regarding environmental matters.

(B)    Litigation Matters

United States of America, ex rel., Jack J. Grynberg v. K N Energy, Civil Action No. 97-D-1233, filed in the U.S. District Court, District of Colorado. This action was filed on June 9, 1997 pursuant to the federal False Claims Act and involves allegations of mismeasurement of natural gas produced from federal and Indian lands. The complaint asks to recover all royalties the Government allegedly should have received had the volume and heating content of the natural gas been valued properly, along with treble damages and civil penalties as provided for in the False Claims Act. Mr. Grynberg, as relator, seeks his statutory share of any recovery, plus expenses and attorney fees and costs. The Department of Justice has decided not to intervene in support of the action. The complaint is part of a larger series of similar complaints filed by Mr. Grynberg against 77 natural gas pipelines (approximately 330 other defendants). An earlier single action making substantially similar allegations against the pipeline industry was dismissed by Judge Hogan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on grounds of improper joinder and lack of jurisdiction. As a result, Mr. Grynberg filed individual complaints in various courts throughout the country. In 1999, these cases were consolidated by the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation, and transferred to the District of Wyoming. The MDL case is called In Re Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation, Docket No. 1293. Motions to dismiss were filed and an oral argument on the motion to dismiss occurred on March 17, 2000. On July 20, 2000, the United States of America filed a motion to dismiss those claims by Grynberg that deal with the manner in which defendants valued gas produced from federal leases (referred to as valuation claims). Judge Downes denied the defendant's motion to dismiss on May 18, 2001. The United States' motion to dismiss most of the plaintiff's valuation claims has been granted by the Court. Mr. Grynberg has appealed that dismissal to the 10th Circuit, which has requested briefing regarding its jurisdiction over that appeal. Discovery to determine issues related to the Court's subject matter jurisdiction, arising out of the False Claims Act, is complete, and briefing is underway. On May 7, 2003, Grynberg sought leave to file a Third Amended Complaint, which adds allegations of undermeasurement related to CO2 production. Defendants have filed briefs opposing leave to amend.

Lamb v. Kinder Morgan, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 00-M-516, (formerly Adams v. Kinder Morgan, Inc. et al.) filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. The case was originally filed on March 8, 2000 and is a purported class action. As of this date no class has been certified. Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages against all defendants jointly and severally, together with interest, attorney fees and expenses. The plaintiffs brought claims alleging securities fraud under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of all people who purchased the common

21


stock of Kinder Morgan during the class period from October 30, 1997 to June 21, 1999. The class period occurred prior to the installation of our current management team in October 1999. The complaint centers on allegations of misleading statements concerning operations of the Bushton Processing Plant and certain contracts, as well as allegations of overstatement of income in violation of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America during the class period. On February 23, 2001, the federal district court dismissed several claims raised by the plaintiff, with prejudice, and dismissed the remaining claims, without prejudice. On April 27, 2001, the Adams plaintiffs filed their second amended complaint. On March 29, 2002, the federal district court dismissed the Adams plaintiffs' second amended complaint with prejudice. On May 2, 2002, the Adams plaintiffs appealed the dismissal to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. In a published decision, on August 11, 2003, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court's dismissal, but upheld the dismissal of Mr. Kinder, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, from this action. The mandate from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals was issued on October 17, 2003. Briefing regarding class certification is complete and a decision is pending. Merits discovery commenced on June 7, 2004. The Court granted Mr. Adam's motion to withdraw as a lead plaintiff. As a result, the case is now styled as Lamb v. Kinder Morgan, Inc. et al. A settlement conference occurred on August 2, 2004. No settlement was reached.

Darrell Sargent d/b/a Double D Production v. Parker & Parsley Gas Processing Co., American Processing, L.P. and Cesell B. Cheatham, et al., Cause No. 878, filed in the 100th Judicial District Court, Carson County, Texas. The plaintiff filed a purported class action suit in 1999 and amended its petition in late 2002 to assert claims on behalf of over 1,000 producers who process gas through as many as ten gas processing plants formerly owned by American Processing, L.P. ("American Processing"), a former wholly owned subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc. in Carson and Gray counties and other surrounding Texas counties. The plaintiff claims that American Processing (and subsequently, ONEOK, Inc. ("ONEOK"), which purchased American Processing from us in 2000) improperly allocated liquids and gas proceeds to the producers. In particular, among other claims, the plaintiff challenges the methods and assumptions used at the plants to allocate liquids and gas proceeds among the producers and processors. The petition asserts claims for breach of contract and Natural Resources Code violations relating to the period from 1994 to the present. To date, the plaintiff has not made a specific monetary demand nor produced a specific calculation of alleged damages. The plaintiff has alleged generally in the petition that damages are "not to exceed $200 million" plus attorney's fees, costs and interest. The defendants have filed a counterclaim for overpayments made to producers.

Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., formerly known as Parker & Parsley Gas Processing Company ("Parker & Parsley"), is a co-defendant. Parker & Parsley has claimed indemnity from American Processing based on its sale of assets to American Processing on October 4, 1995. We have accepted indemnity and defense subject to a reservation of rights pending resolution of the suit. The plaintiff has also named ONEOK as a defendant. We and ONEOK are defending the case pursuant to an agreement whereby ONEOK is responsible for any damages that may be attributable to the period following ONEOK's acquisition of American Processing from us in 2000.

The purported class has not been certified. Class discovery is proceeding. The defendants expect to assert objections to class certification upon the completion of class discovery.

Manna Petroleum Services, L.P. et al. v. American Processing, L.P. and Cesell B. Cheatham, et al., Cause No. 31,485, filed in the 223rd Judicial District Court of Gray County, Texas. Plaintiff filed suit in late 1999 and alleged that American Processing, L.P., a former wholly owned subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc., and subsequently ONEOK, which purchased American Processing from us in 2000, misallocated proceeds from the sale of compression liquids at a gas processing plant in Pampa, Texas. On March 17, 2004, following a bench trial, the Court issued a letter ruling which stated that plaintiff

22


Manna Petroleum Services is entitled to recover damages in the principal sum of $556,932. The letter ruling also stated that the plaintiff may seek attorney's fees and costs and instructed the plaintiff to file proposed findings of fact and rulings of law before final judgment is entered. On April 28, 2004, defendants filed a motion for reconsideration of the Court's letter ruling and this motion is pending. Plaintiffs filed an application to recover $534,172 in attorney's fees and defendants have opposed this application. Plaintiff has not filed proposed findings of facts and rulings of law, and the trial court's judgment shall not be entered until a ruling on defendants' motion for reconsideration.

Energas Company, a Division of Atmos Energy Company v. ONEOK Energy Marketing and Trading Company, L.P., et al., Cause No. 2001-516,386, filed in the 72nd District Court of Lubbock County, Texas. The plaintiff is suing several ONEOK entities for alleged overcharges in connection with gas sales, transportation, and other services, and alleged misallocations and meter errors, in and around Lubbock, under three different gas contracts. While the petition is vague, it is broad enough to include claims for the period before and after March 1, 2000 when the assets in question were conveyed by us to ONEOK. We have been defending the case pursuant to an agreement whereby ONEOK is responsible for any damages that may be attributable to the period following ONEOK's acquisition of the pertinent assets on March 1, 2000. On or about October 1, 2003, the plaintiff and ONEOK settled claims that relate to the period after March 1, 2000. Notwithstanding such settlement, the plaintiff continues to assert and we continue to defend against claims that relate to the period before March 1, 2000. In an amended petition filed in mid-2002, the plaintiff alleged damages in excess of $12 million. The defendants have filed a counterclaim for offsetting damages and accounting corrections under the contracts with the plaintiff. The parties are engaged in fact discovery and trial is expected to occur in 2005 upon a date to be determined. Based on discovery obtained to date, we believe that resolution of the plaintiff's claims will be for amounts substantially less than the amounts sought.

We believe that we have meritorious defenses to all lawsuits and legal proceedings in which we are defendants and will vigorously defend against them. Based on our evaluation of the above matters, and after consideration of reserves established, we believe that the resolution of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial position or results of operations.

In addition, we are a defendant in various lawsuits arising from the day-to-day operations of our businesses. Although no assurance can be given, we believe, based on our investigation and experience to date, that the ultimate resolution of such items will not have a material adverse impact on our business, cash flows, financial position or results of operations.

17.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position ("FSP") FAS 106-1, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the "Act"). This FSP permits a sponsor of a postretirement health care plan that provides a prescription drug benefit to make a one-time election to postpone accounting for the effects of the Act. Regardless of whether a company elects that deferral, the FSP requires certain disclosures pending further consideration of the underlying accounting issues. We have elected to defer accounting for the effects of the Act and have applied the disclosure provisions of the FSP effective December 31, 2003. In May 2004, the FASB issued FSP FAS 106-2, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, which supersedes FSP FAS 106-1 effective July 1, 2004. FSP FAS 106-2 provides transitional guidance for accounting for the effects of the Act on the accumulated projected benefit obligation and periodic postretirement health care benefit expense.

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In December 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. This interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, addresses consolidation by business enterprises of certain variable interest entities.

This interpretation explains how to identify variable interest entities and how an enterprise assesses its interests in a variable interest entity to decide whether to consolidate that entity. It requires existing unconsolidated variable interest entities to be consolidated by their primary beneficiaries if the entities do not effectively disperse risks among parties involved. Variable interest entities that effectively disperse risks will not be consolidated unless a single party holds an interest or combination of interests that effectively recombines risks that were previously dispersed.

An enterprise that consolidates a variable interest entity is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity. The primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity is the party that absorbs a majority of the entity's expected losses, receives a majority of its expected residual returns, or both, as a result of holding variable interests, which are the ownership, contractual, or other monetary interests in an entity that change with changes in the fair value of the entity's net assets excluding variable interests. This interpretation requires the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and an enterprise that holds significant variable interests in a variable interest entity but is not the primary beneficiary, to make certain disclosures about the variable interest entity.

Application of this interpretation is required in financial statements of public entities that have interests in variable interest entities or potential variable interest entities commonly referred to as special-purpose entities for periods ending after December 15, 2003. Application by public entities (other than small business issuers) for all other types of entities is required in financial statements for periods ending after March 15, 2004.

The principal impact of this interpretation on us is that, effective December 31, 2003, we began consolidation of Triton Power Company LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary Triton Power Michigan LLC, which is the lessee of the Jackson, Michigan power generation facility. We operate and have a preferred interest in this entity in which the common interest is owned by others. Triton Power Company LLC has no debt but, as a result of this consolidation, we are including the lease obligation on the Jackson plant in our consolidated financial statements. The difference between the earnings impact under consolidation and under the previously applied equity method is not material.

In addition, as a result of the implementation of this interpretation, effective December 31, 2003, we (i) no longer include the transactions and balances of our business trusts, K N Capital Trust I and K N Capital Trust III, in our consolidated financial statements and (ii) began including our Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures issued to the Capital Trusts in a separate caption under the heading "Long-term Debt" in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In December 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 132 (revised 2003), Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits. The statement revises employers' financial statement disclosures about defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. The statement does not change the measurement or recognition of those plans and retains the disclosures required by the original SFAS No. 132, which standardized the disclosure requirements for pensions and other postretirement benefits to the extent practicable and required additional information on changes in the benefit obligations and fair values of plans assets.

24


The revised statement requires additional disclosures to those in the original SFAS No. 132 about the assets, obligations, cash flows, and net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension plans and other defined benefit postretirement plans. The revised statement also requires interim disclosures; see Note 14.

This revised statement is effective for financial statements with fiscal years ending after December 15, 2003. The interim period disclosures required by this statement are effective for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2003. Disclosure of estimated future benefit payments required by portions of this revised statement is effective for fiscal years ending after June 15, 2004. We adopted SFAS No. 132 (revised 2003) effective December 31, 2003.

 

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Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

General

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with (i) the accompanying interim Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes and (ii) the Consolidated Financial Statements, related Notes and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2003 Form 10-K. Due to the seasonal variation in energy demand, among other factors, the following interim results may not be indicative of the results to be expected over the course of an entire year. In this report Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., a publicly traded pipeline master limited partnership in which we own the general partner interest and significant limited partner interests, is referred to as "Kinder Morgan Energy Partners." Additional information on Kinder Morgan Energy Partners is contained in its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and in its report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based on our interim consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as applicable to interim financial statements to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and contained within this report. Certain amounts included in or affecting our financial statements and related disclosure must be estimated, requiring us to make certain assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty at the time the financial statements are prepared. The reported amounts of our assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and associated disclosures with respect to contingent assets and obligations are necessarily affected by these estimates. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis, utilizing historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods we consider reasonable in the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from our estimates.

In preparing our financial statements and related disclosures, we must use estimates in determining the economic useful lives of our assets, obligations under our employee benefit plans, provisions for uncollectible accounts receivable, unbilled revenues for our natural gas distribution deliveries for which meters have not yet been read, exposures under contractual indemnifications and various other recorded or disclosed amounts. Certain of these accounting estimates are of more significance in our financial statement preparation process than others. Information regarding our accounting policies and estimates that we consider to be "critical" can be found in our 2003 Form 10-K. There have not been any significant changes in these policies and estimates during the first six months of 2004.

 

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Consolidated Financial Results

Three Months Ended June 30,

Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands except per share amounts)

  
Operating Revenues

$  236,867 

$  251,865 

$  (14,998)

Gas Purchases and Other Costs of Sales

    52,210 

    79,852 

   (27,642)

General and Administrative Expenses

    19,879 

    18,786 

     1,093 

Other Operating Expenses

    76,092 

    67,979 

     8,113 

Operating Income

    88,686 

    85,248 

     3,438 

Other Income and (Expenses)

    83,331 

    68,787 

    14,544 

Income Taxes

    67,627 

    59,841 

     7,786 

Net Income

$  104,390 

$   94,194 

$   10,196 

========== 

========== 

========== 

  
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

$     0.84 

$     0.76 

$     0.08 

========== 

========== 

========== 

  
Number of Shares Used in Computing Diluted
  Earnings Per Common Share

   124,955 

   123,474 

     1,481 

========== 

========== 

========== 

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands except per share amounts)

  
Operating Revenues

$  589,453 

$  570,733 

$   18,720 

Gas Purchases and Other Costs of Sales

   185,681 

   192,807 

    (7,126)

General and Administrative Expenses

    42,167 

    35,194 

     6,973 

Other Operating Expenses

   150,148 

   134,679 

    15,469 

Operating Income

   211,457 

   208,053 

     3,404 

Other Income and (Expenses)

   168,444 

   127,866 

    40,578 

Income Taxes

   148,469 

   130,655 

    17,814 

Net Income

$  231,432 

$  205,264 

$   26,168 

========== 

========== 

========== 

  
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

$     1.85 

$     1.66 

$     0.19 

========== 

========== 

========== 

  
Number of Shares Used in Computing Diluted
  Earnings Per Common Share

   124,942 

   123,285 

     1,657 

========== 

========== 

========== 

Our net income increased from $94.2 million in the second quarter of 2003 to $104.4 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 11 percent. This increase is comprised of a $3.4 million increase in operating income and a $14.5 million increase in "Other Income and (Expenses)," partially offset by a $7.8 million increase in income tax expense. Our net income increased from $205.3 million in the first six months of 2003 to $231.4 million in the first six months of 2004, an increase of 13 percent. This increase is comprised of a $3.4 million increase in operating income and a $40.6 million increase in "Other Income and (Expenses)," partially offset by a $17.8 million increase in income tax expense. Following is a discussion of items affecting operating income and other income and expenses. Please refer to the individual business segment discussions included elsewhere herein for additional information regarding business segment results. Refer to the headings "Other Income and (Expenses)" and "Income Taxes" included elsewhere herein for additional information regarding these items.

Our results for the second quarter of 2004, in comparison to 2003, reflect a decrease of $15.0 million (6%) in operating revenues and an increase of $3.4 million (4%) in operating income. The decrease in operating revenues was principally attributable to decreased revenues in our Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America business segment (see the individual business segment discussions following for

27


additional information). Operating income was positively impacted in the second quarter of 2004, relative to 2003, by (i) increased earnings from our Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America business segment and (ii) the consolidation of the results of operations of our Triton Power affiliates in our 2004 consolidated results due to our adoption of a recent accounting pronouncement. Triton's second quarter $3.9 million contribution to our consolidated operating income is entirely offset by minority interests. These positive impacts were partially offset by (i) decreased earnings from our Power and Kinder Morgan Retail business segments and (ii) increased general and administrative expenses due principally to increased legal expenses.

Our results for the first six months of 2004, in comparison to 2003, reflect increases of $18.7 million (3%) in operating revenues and $3.4 million (2%) in operating income. The increase in operating revenues was attributable to increased revenues in our Kinder Morgan Retail and Power business segments, partially offset by decreased revenues in our Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and TransColorado business segments. Operating income was positively impacted in the first six months of 2004, relative to 2003, by (i) increased earnings from our Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and Kinder Morgan Retail business segments and (ii) the consolidation of the results of operations of our Triton Power affiliates in our 2004 consolidated results. Triton's $2.0 million contribution to our consolidated operating income for the first six months of 2004 is entirely offset by minority interests. These positive impacts were offset by (i) decreased earnings from our Power and TransColorado business segments and (ii) increased general and administrative expenses due principally to the timing of bonus accruals and increased legal and employee benefit expenses.

Below the operating income line, "Other Income and (Expenses)" increased from $68.8 million in the second quarter of 2003 to $83.3 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 21 percent. This increase reflected increased equity in earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners in the second quarter of 2004 due principally to the improved performance from the assets held by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, partially offset by the inclusion of the minority interests in Triton Power, as discussed previously, and by an increase of $1.5 million in minority interest expense attributable to the minority interests in Kinder Morgan Management, LLC.

For the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, "Other Income and (Expenses)" increased from $127.9 million in 2003 to $168.4 million in 2004, an increase of 32 percent. This increase reflected (i) increased equity in earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners in 2004 due principally to the improved performance from the assets held by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and (ii) decreased 2004 interest expense resulting from our lower weighted-average interest rates and our lower debt balances. These positive impacts were partially offset by the inclusion of the minority interests in Triton Power, as discussed previously, and by an increase of $2.4 million in minority interest expense attributable to the minority interests in Kinder Morgan Management, LLC.

Diluted earnings per common share increased from $0.76 in the second quarter of 2003 to $0.84 in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of 11 percent, reflecting, in addition to the increase attributable to financial and operating impacts discussed preceding, a partially offsetting decrease attributable to an increase of 1.5 million (1.2%) in average shares outstanding resulting from (i) newly-issued shares due to (1) the employee stock purchase plan and (2) exercise of stock options by employees and (ii) the increased dilutive effect of stock options resulting from the increase in the market price of our shares, partially offset by our share repurchases (see Notes 2 and 11 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Diluted earnings per common share increased from $1.66 in the first six months of 2003 to $1.85 in the first six months of 2004, an increase of 11 percent, reflecting, in addition to the increase attributable to

28


financial and operating impacts discussed preceding, a partially offsetting decrease attributable to an increase of 1.7 million (1.3%) in average shares outstanding. Average shares outstanding increased for the first six months of 2004 for principally the same reasons as the second quarter as discussed previously.

Results of Operations

The following comparative discussion of our results of operations is by segment for factors affecting segment earnings, and on a consolidated basis for other factors.

We manage our various businesses by, among other things, allocating capital and monitoring operating performance. This management process includes dividing the company into business segments so that performance can be effectively monitored and reported for a limited number of discrete businesses. Currently, we manage and report our operations in four business segments. In addition, we derive a substantial portion of earnings from our investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, which is discussed under "Earnings from Investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners" following.

Business Segment Business Conducted Referred to As:
  
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
  America and certain affiliates
  
The ownership and operation of a major interstate natural gas pipeline and storage system
  
  
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America
TransColorado Gas Transmission
  Company

  
The ownership and operation of an interstate natural gas pipeline system in Colorado and New Mexico
  
TransColorado


Retail Natural Gas Distribution




The regulated sale and transportation of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers (including a small distribution system in Hermosillo, Mexico) and the sales of natural gas to certain utility customers under the Choice Gas program
  
Kinder Morgan Retail




Power Generation

The operation and, in previous periods, construction of natural gas-fired electric generation facilities Power

The accounting policies we apply in the generation of business segment earnings are generally the same as those applied to our consolidated operations and described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K, except that (i) certain items below the "Operating Income" line (such as interest expense) are either not allocated to business segments or are not considered by management in its evaluation of business segment performance and (ii) equity in earnings of equity method investees, other than Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and certain insignificant international investees, are included in segment results. These equity method earnings are included in "Other Income and (Expenses)" in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, (i) certain items included in operating income (such as general and administrative expenses) are not allocated to individual business segments and (ii) gains and losses from incidental sales of assets are included in

29


segment earnings. We account for intersegment sales at market prices, while we account for asset transfers at either market value or, in some instances, book value.

Following are operating results by individual business segment (before intersegment eliminations), including explanations of significant variances between the periods presented.

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Increase

Six Months Ended
June 30,

Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands except systems throughput)

Operating Revenues

$171,672 

$188,188 

$(16,516)

$395,684 

$402,256 

$ (6,572)

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
Gas Purchases and Other
   Costs of Sales

$ 30,134 

$ 56,753 

$(26,619)

$ 99,918 

$126,310 

$(26,392)

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
Segment Earnings

$ 93,427 

$ 84,335 

$  9,092 

$200,173 

$184,411 

$ 15,762 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
  
Systems Throughput (Trillion
   Btus)

   343.0 

   340.8 

     2.2 

   787.4 

   786.7 

     0.7 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's segment earnings increased by $9.1 million (11%) from the second quarter of 2003 to the second quarter of 2004. Segment earnings for the second quarter of 2004 were positively impacted, relative to 2003, by (i) $4.0 million in contractual customer penalty charges recognized in the current period due to the finalization of FERC Order 637 (see below for further discussion), (ii) increased transportation and storage service revenues resulting, in part, from successful re-contracting of transportation capacity and the recent expansion of our storage system and (iii) increased margins from operational gas sales due largely to the effectiveness of our hedging program. The $4.0 million in customer penalty charges were billed prior to December 1, 2003, the effective date for Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's Order 637 provisions, but had been reserved pending the final outcome of its Order 637 filings (see Note 15 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). These positive impacts were partially offset by an increase of $1.4 million in operations, maintenance, depreciation and property tax expenses due, in part, to (i) our North Lansing storage expansion and (ii) higher property tax valuations. The decrease in operating revenues in the second quarter of 2004, relative to 2003, was largely the result of decreased operational gas sales volumes, partially offset by the increase in transportation and storage and penalty revenues as discussed above.

Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America's segment earnings increased by $15.8 million (9%) from the first six months of 2003 to the first six months of 2004. Segment results for the first six months of 2004 were impacted, relative to 2003, by principally the same factors affecting second quarter results, as discussed previously, except that on a year-to-date basis, operations, maintenance, depreciation and property tax expenses increased by $4.5 million. The decrease in operating revenues in the first six months of 2004, relative to 2003, was also largely the result of decreased operational gas sales volumes, partially offset by the increase in transportation and storage and penalty revenues. The small increases in systems throughput for both the second quarter and first six months of 2004, relative to 2003, did not have a significant direct impact on revenues or segment earnings due to the fact that transportation revenues are derived primarily from "demand" contracts in which shippers pay a fee to reserve a set amount of system capacity for their use.

30


During the second quarter of 2004, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America completed construction of its previously announced 10.7 Bcf storage service expansion at its existing North Lansing storage facility in east Texas, all of which is fully subscribed under long-term contracts. Please refer to our 2003 Form 10-K for additional information regarding Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America.

TransColorado

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

Increase

2004

2003

Decrease

(In thousands except systems throughput)

Total Operating Revenues

$  7,776 

$  7,615 

$    161 

$ 15,681 

$ 17,114 

$ (1,433)

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
Segment Earnings

$  5,384 

$  5,297 

$     87 

$ 11,011 

$ 12,557 

$ (1,546)

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
  
Systems Throughput (Trillion
   Btus)

    46.1 

    42.2 

     3.9 

    88.4 

    88.7 

    (0.3)

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

TransColorado's segment earnings increased by $0.1 million (2%) from the second quarter of 2003 in comparison to the second quarter of 2004. Segment results for the second quarter of 2004 were impacted, relative to 2003, by increased natural gas transportation revenues. The increases in TransColorado's natural gas transportation revenues and systems throughput volumes reflect, in part, the continued development of natural gas supply areas on the Western Slope of Colorado.

TransColorado's segment earnings decreased by $1.5 million (12%) from the first six months of 2003 to the first six months of 2004. Segment results for the first six months of 2004 were impacted, relative to 2003, by decreased natural gas transportation revenues resulting principally from the reduction of basis differentials in 2004 and the fact that in 2003 a larger proportion of natural gas transportation contracts were tied to the basis differential. "Basis differential" is a term that refers to the difference in natural gas prices between two locations or two points in time. These price differences can be affected by, among other things, natural gas supply and demand, available transportation capacity, storage inventories and deliverability, prices of alternative fuels and weather conditions. As a result of recent contracting activities, in which we entered into long-term, fixed price contracts for most of TransColorado's long haul capacity, the volume of activity that is subject to changes in basis differentials has decreased from 17% to 12% of its current long haul capacity.

On September 25, 2003, we announced that we had signed a 10-year, firm natural gas transportation contract with an undisclosed shipper that would allow us to construct facilities resulting in a 125,000 dekatherm per day expansion of capacity on the TransColorado system. The facilities consist of three new compressor stations and modifications at two existing compressor stations, which will increase compression by 20,000 horsepower. In March 2004, we received FERC approval to construct the facilities and place them into service. We expect to complete the expansion project in August 2004. Please refer to our 2003 Form 10-K for additional information regarding TransColorado.

31


Kinder Morgan Retail

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Increase

Six Months Ended
June 30,

2004

2003

(Decrease)

2004

2003

Increase

(In thousands except systems throughput)

Total Operating Revenues

$ 42,630 

$ 43,323 

$   (693)

$154,089 

$132,312 

$ 21,777 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
Gas Purchases and Other
   Costs of Sales

$ 21,082 

$ 21,247 

$   (165)

$ 83,298 

$ 63,655 

$ 19,643 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
Segment Earnings

$  4,971 

$  6,331 

$ (1,360)

$ 38,652 

$ 37,790 

$    862 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
  
Systems Throughput (Trillion
   Btus)1

     6.2 

     5.9 

     0.3 

    24.6 

    23.3 

     1.3 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

1 Excludes transport volumes of intrastate pipelines.

Kinder Morgan Retail's segment earnings decreased by $1.4 million (21%) from the second quarter of 2003 in comparison to the second quarter of 2004. Segment earnings decreased in the second quarter of 2004, relative to 2003, due principally to (i) reduced irrigation demand in 2004 and (ii) increased operations and maintenance and depreciation expenses in 2004 due, in part, to system expansion. These negative impacts were partially offset by continued customer growth in Colorado. The decrease in operating revenues in the second quarter of 2004, relative to 2003, primarily resulted from (i) reduced irrigation demand in 2004 and (ii) an increase in the percentage of our Wyoming customers on our regulated rate structures, which pass-through the cost of gas to the customer. The decrease in operating revenues due to the above factors was partially offset by (i) higher natural gas prices in 2004, (ii) continued customer growth in Colorado and (iii) increased revenues from non-regulated merchandise sales.

Kinder Morgan Retail's segment earnings increased by $0.9 million (2%) from the first six months of 2003 to the first six months of 2004. Segment earnings increased in the first six months of 2004, relative to 2003, due principally to (i) increased space heating demand in the first quarter of 2004 and (ii) continued customer growth in Colorado. These positive impacts were partially offset by (i) reduced irrigation demand in the second quarter of 2004 and (ii) increased operations and maintenance and depreciation expenses in 2004 due, in part, to system expansion. The increase in operating revenues in the first six months of 2004, relative to 2003, (which was largely offset by an increase in gas purchases and other costs of sales) was principally due to (i) higher natural gas prices in 2004, (ii) the fact that a higher percentage of our Wyoming customers chose us as their natural gas supplier in 2004, either through regulated rates that pass-through the cost of gas to the customer, or through our Choice Gas commodity program that allows customers connected to our natural gas distribution system to choose from among several natural gas commodity suppliers, (iii) increased 2004 throughput volumes, (iv) increased revenues from non-regulated merchandise sales and (v) continued customer growth in Colorado. Our weather hedging program continued to contribute to stability in Kinder Morgan Retail's earnings pattern by reducing the impact of weather-related demand fluctuations. Our hedging strategy is discussed in detail in our 2003 Form 10-K.

During the second quarter of 2004, Kinder Morgan Retail completed and placed into service its $20 million, 58-mile natural gas transmission pipeline from Montrose to Ouray, Colorado. We anticipate placing the distribution mains in service in the third quarter and adding customers to the distribution system in the third and fourth quarters. We expect to add about 3,000 Western Slope customers via this

32


pipeline over the next five years. Please refer to our 2003 Form 10-K for additional information regarding Kinder Morgan Retail.

Power

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Increase

Six Months Ended
June 30,

Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands)

Total Operating Revenues

$ 14,789 

$ 12,739 

$  2,050 

$ 23,999 

$ 19,051 

$  4,948 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
Gas Purchases and Other
   Costs of Sales

$    915 

$  1,319 

$   (404)

$  2,386 

$  2,309 

$     77 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  
Segment Earnings

$  3,908 

$ 10,778 

$ (6,870)

$  7,631 

$ 13,698 

$ (6,067)

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

======== 

Due to the adoption of a recently issued accounting standard, the results of operations of our Triton Power affiliates are included in our consolidated operating results and in the results of our Power segment beginning with the first quarter of 2004. Although the results of Triton have an impact on the total operating revenues and expenses of the Power business segment, after taking into account the associated minority interests, Triton had no effect on Power's segment earnings.

Power's segment earnings decreased by $6.9 million (64%) from the second quarter of 2003 to the second quarter of 2004. Segment earnings for the second quarter of 2004 were negatively impacted, relative to 2003, by the fact that 2003 results included $6.8 million in development fees for the Jackson, Michigan power plant.

Power's segment earnings decreased by $6.1 million (44%) from the first six months of 2003 to the first six months of 2004, primarily due to the previously mentioned 2003 development fees. This negative impact was partially offset by (i) a $1.5 million charge to 2003 depreciation expense related to the retirement of gas turbine components that were replaced, (ii) increased earnings from Thermo Cogeneration Partnership and (iii) lower staffing costs. Please refer to our 2003 Form 10-K for additional information regarding Power.

Certain surplus power generation equipment was sold during 2004. See Note 7 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

33


Earnings from Investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

The impact on our pre-tax earnings from our investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners was as follows:

Three Months Ended
June 30,

Earnings
Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands)
General Partner Interest, Including Minority Interest in the Operating
   Limited Partnerships

$ 97,912 

$ 82,243 

$ 15,669 

Limited Partner Units (Kinder Morgan Energy Partners)

   9,228 

   8,803 

     425 

Limited Partner i-units (Kinder Morgan Management)

  25,662 

  22,686 

   2,976 

 132,802 

 113,732 

  19,070 

Pre-tax Minority Interest in Kinder Morgan Management

 (18,312)

 (15,960)

  (2,352)

    Pre-tax Earnings from Investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

$114,490 

$ 97,772 

$ 16,718 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  

Six Months Ended
June 30,

Earnings
Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands)
General Partner Interest, Including Minority Interest in the Operating
   Limited Partnerships

$191,427 

$160,412 

$ 31,015 

Limited Partner Units (Kinder Morgan Energy Partners)

  18,827 

  18,312 

     515 

Limited Partner i-units (Kinder Morgan Management)

  51,315 

  46,503 

   4,812 

 261,569 

 225,227 

  36,342 

Pre-tax Minority Interest in Kinder Morgan Management

 (36,567)

 (32,715)

  (3,852)

    Pre-tax Earnings from Investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

$225,002 

$192,512 

$ 32,490 

======== 

======== 

======== 

The increase in our earnings from this investment in 2004, relative to 2003, is principally due to improved operating results from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' various businesses. Additional information regarding Kinder Morgan Energy Partners is contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2004 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

34


Other Income and (Expenses)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Earnings
Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands)

  
Interest Expense, Net

$(32,361)

$(31,314)

$ (1,047)

Interest Expense - Deferrable Interest Debentures1

  (5,478)

       - 

  (5,478)

Equity in Earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

 132,802 

 113,732 

  19,070 

Equity in Earnings of Power Segment2

   2,254 

   2,305 

     (51)

Equity in Earnings of Horizon Pipeline3

     441 

     402 

       39 

Equity in Earnings of Other Equity Investments

       - 

      12 

     (12)

Minority Interests1

 (15,089)

 (15,476)

     387 

Other, Net

     762 

    (874)

   1,636 

    

$ 83,331 

$ 68,787 

$ 14,544 

======== 

======== 

======== 

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

Earnings
Increase

2004

2003

(Decrease)

(In thousands)

  
Interest Expense, Net

$(64,795)

$(71,288)

$  6,493 

Interest Expense - Deferrable Interest Debentures1

 (10,956)

       - 

 (10,956)

Equity in Earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

 261,569 

 225,227 

  36,342 

Equity in Earnings of Power Segment2

   4,673 

   4,478 

     195 

Equity in Earnings of Horizon Pipeline3

     829 

     731 

      98 

Equity in Losses of Other Equity Investments

       - 

      (7)

       7 

Minority Interests1

 (24,397)

 (31,397)

   7,000 

Other, Net

   1,521 

     122 

   1,399 

    

$168,444 

$127,866 

$ 40,578 

======== 

======== 

======== 

___________________
  
1

Due to our adoption of a recently issued accounting standard, the expense associated with our Deferrable Interest Debentures is recorded as interest expense for the periods ended June 30, 2004. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, the corresponding expense of $5,478 and $10,956, respectively, was included in "Minority Interests." See Note 17 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2

Included in Power segment earnings.

3

Included in Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America segment earnings.

"Other Income and (Expenses)" increased from income of $68.8 million in the second quarter of 2003 to income of $83.3 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of $14.5 million (21%). This increase was principally due to (i) an increase of $19.1 million in equity in the earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners due, in part, to the strong performance from the assets held by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (which was partially offset by an increase in expense of $1.5 million due to additional minority interest in Kinder Morgan Management) and (ii) the inclusion in 2003 results of a $4.3 million pre-tax loss due to the sale of our interest in the Igasamex joint venture. These positive impacts were partially offset by (i) an increase of $1.0 million in net interest expense in 2004, which was the net result of (1) a $3.1 million decrease in 2004 interest expense due to lower weighted average interest rates and lower average debt balances and (2) the inclusion in 2003 results of a $4.1 million reduction in interest expense recorded in conjunction with the final settlement of a regulatory matter at Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, (ii) the inclusion in 2003 results of a $2.9 million pre-tax gain from receipt of loan principal in excess of our carrying value and (iii) $3.7 million of 2004 minority interest expense associated with our Triton Power affiliates (which is offset by Triton Power's operating income in our consolidated statement of operations).

35


"Other Income and (Expenses)" increased from income of $127.9 million in the first six months of 2003 to income of $168.4 million in the first six months of 2004, an increase of $40.5 million (32%). This increase was principally due to (i) an increase of $36.3 million in equity in the earnings of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners due, in part, to the strong performance from the assets held by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (which was partially offset by an increase in expense of $2.4 million due to additional minority interest in Kinder Morgan Management), (ii) a net decrease of approximately $6.5 million in 2004 interest expense, which was the net result of (1) a $10.6 million decrease in interest expense in 2004 due to lower weighted average interest rates and lower average debt balances and (2) the inclusion in 2003 results of a $4.1 million reduction in interest expense recorded in conjunction with the final settlement of a regulatory matter at Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and (iii) the inclusion in 2003 results of a $4.3 million pre-tax loss due to the sale of our interest in the Igasamex joint venture. These positive impacts were partially offset by (i) the inclusion in 2003 results of a $2.9 million pre-tax gain from receipt of loan principal in excess of our carrying value and (ii) $1.7 million of 2004 minority interest expense associated with our Triton Power affiliates (which is offset by Triton Power's operating income in our consolidated statement of operations).

Income Taxes

The income tax provision increased from $59.8 million in the second quarter of 2003 to $67.6 million in the second quarter of 2004, an increase of $7.8 million (13%) due principally to an increase of $18.0 million in pre-tax income. The income tax provision increased from $130.7 million in the first six months of 2003 to $148.5 million in the first six months of 2004, an increase of $17.8 million (14%) due principally to an increase of $44.0 million in pre-tax income.

Discontinued Operations

During 1999, we adopted and implemented a plan to discontinue a number of lines of business. During 2000, we essentially completed the disposition of these discontinued operations. The cash flow impacts associated with discontinued operations are discussed under "Cash Flows" following. Note 9 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contains additional information on these matters.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Primary Cash Requirements

Our primary cash requirements, in addition to normal operating, general and administrative expenses, are for debt service, capital expenditures, common stock repurchases and quarterly cash dividends to our common shareholders. Our capital expenditures (other than sustaining capital expenditures), our common stock repurchases and our quarterly cash dividends to our common shareholders are discretionary. We expect to fund these expenditures with existing cash and cash flows from operating activities. In addition to utilizing cash generated from operations, we could meet these cash requirements through borrowings under our credit facilities or by issuing short-term commercial paper, long-term notes or additional shares of common stock.

36


Invested Capital

The following table illustrates the sources of our invested capital. The balances at December 31, 2002 and thereafter reflect the impact of Kinder Morgan Management's August 2002 public sale of its shares. Our ratio of total debt to total capital has declined significantly since 2001. This decline has resulted from a number of factors, including our increased cash flows from operations as discussed under "Cash Flows" following. In recent periods, we have significantly increased our dividends per common share and have announced our intention to consider further increases on an annual basis, and we maintain an ongoing program to repurchase outstanding shares of our common stock. For these reasons, among others, any declines in our ratio of total debt to total capital in the future are expected to be smaller.

In addition to the direct sources of debt and equity financing shown in the following table, we obtain financing indirectly through our ownership interests in unconsolidated entities as shown under "Significant Financing Transactions" following. Our largest such unconsolidated investment is in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. See "Investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners" following.

June 30,

December 31,

2004

2003

2002

2001

(Dollars in thousands)

Long-term Debt:
     Outstanding Notes and Debentures

$2,187,533 

$2,837,487 

$2,852,181 

$2,409,798 

     Deferrable Interest Debentures
       Issued to Subsidiary Trusts1

   283,600 

   283,600 

         - 

         - 

     Value of Interest Rate Swaps2

    31,062 

    88,242 

   139,589 

    (4,831)

2,502,195 

3,209,329 

2,991,770 

2,404,967 

Minority Interests

 1,040,061 

 1,010,140 

   967,802 

   817,513 

Common Equity

 2,742,130 

 2,666,117 

 2,354,997 

 2,259,997 

Capital Trust Securities1

         - 

         - 

   275,000 

   275,000 

 6,284,386 

 6,885,586 

 6,589,569 

 5,757,477 

Less Value of Interest Rate Swaps

   (31,062)

   (88,242)

  (139,589)

     4,831 

     Capitalization

 6,253,324 

 6,797,344 

 6,449,980 

 5,762,308 

Short-term Debt, Less Cash and Cash Equivalents3

   713,785 

   121,824 

   465,614 

   613,918 

     Invested Capital

$6,967,109 

$6,919,168 

$6,915,594 

$6,376,226 

========== 

========== 

========== 

========== 

  
Capitalization:
     Outstanding Notes and Debentures

35.0%

41.7%

44.2%

41.8%

     Minority Interests

16.6%

14.9%

15.0%

14.2%

     Common Equity

43.9%

39.2%

36.5%

39.2%

     Deferrable Interest Debentures
       Issued to Subsidiary Trusts

 4.5%

 4.2%

   - 

   - 

     Capital Trust Securities

   - 

   - 

 4.3%

 4.8%

  
Invested Capital:
     Total Debt4

41.6%

42.8%

48.0%

47.4%

     Equity, Including Capital Trust
        Securities, Deferrable Interest
        Debentures Issued to Subsidiary
        Trusts and Minority Interests

58.4%

57.2%

52.0%

52.6%

  
1

As a result of a recent change in accounting standards effective December 31, 2003, the subsidiary trusts associated with these securities are no longer consolidated. See Note 17 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2 See "Significant Financing Transactions" following.
3

Cash and cash equivalents netted against short-term debt were $6,715, $11,076, $35,653 and $16,134 for June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

4

Outstanding notes and debentures plus short-term debt, less cash and cash equivalents.

37


The discussion under the heading "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2003 Form 10-K includes a comprehensive discussion of (i) our investments in and obligations to unconsolidated entities, (ii) our contractual obligations and (iii) our contingent liabilities. These disclosures, which reflected balances and contractual arrangements existing as of December 31, 2003, also reflect current balances and contractual arrangements except for changes discussed following. Changes in our long-term debt and commercial paper are discussed under "Net Cash Flows from Financing Activities" following and in Note 10 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Short-term Liquidity

Our principal sources of short-term liquidity are our revolving bank facilities, our commercial paper program (which is supported by our revolving bank facilities) and cash provided by operations. As of June 30, 2004, we had available a $445 million 364-day facility dated October 14, 2003, and a $355 million three-year revolving credit agreement dated October 15, 2002. These bank facilities can be used for general corporate purposes, including as backup for our commercial paper program. At June 30, 2004 and July 30, 2004, we had $65.5 million and $81.2 million, respectively, of commercial paper issued and outstanding. After inclusion of applicable letters of credit, the remaining available borrowing capacity under the bank facilities was $700.2 million and $684.5 million at June 30, 2004 and July 30, 2004, respectively.

In August 2004, we intend to replace our existing revolving bank facilities with an $800 million five-year revolving credit facility. This new credit facility, if completed as expected, will include covenants and require payment of facility fees that are similar in nature to the covenants and facility fees required by our current revolving bank facilities as discussed in our 2003 Form 10-K.

Our current maturities of long-term debt of $655 million at June 30, 2004 consisted of (i) $5 million of current maturities of our 6.50% Series Debentures due September 1, 2013, (ii) our $500 million of 6.65% Series Debentures due March 1, 2005 and (iii) our $150 million of 6.67% Series Debentures due November 1, 2027, which are redeemable at par at the option of the holders on November 1, 2004. We currently do not know whether the holders will require us to redeem the 6.67% debentures (which is a one-time election) or will choose to leave them outstanding. Apart from our notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt, our current liabilities, net of our current assets, represent an additional short-term obligation of approximately $23.4 million at June 30, 2004. Given our expected cash flows from operations and our unused debt capacity as discussed preceding, including our three-year revolving credit facility, and based on our projected cash needs in the near term, we do not expect any liquidity issues to arise. Our next significant debt maturity, apart from our 6.65% Senior Notes in 2005 mentioned above, is our $300 million of 6.80% Senior Notes in 2008.

Significant Financing Transactions

On August 14, 2001, we announced a program to repurchase $300 million of our outstanding common stock, which program was increased to $400 million, $450 million, $500 million and $550 million in February 2002, July 2002, November 2003 and April 2004, respectively. As of June 30, 2004, we had repurchased a total of approximately $492.0 million (9,699,000 shares) of our outstanding common stock under the program, of which $37.2 million (631,200 shares) and $39.3 million (666,200 shares) were repurchased in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2004, respectively. We repurchased $1.1 million (22,500 shares) and $2.5 million (53,600 shares) of our common stock in the three months and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively. In January 2003, our board of directors

38


approved a plan to purchase shares of Kinder Morgan Management on the open market. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, we purchased $0.9 million (29,000 shares) of Kinder Morgan Management shares on the open market.

As further described under "Risk Management" in Item 7A of our 2003 Form 10-K, we have outstanding fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreements. These agreements had a notional principal amount of $1.5 billion at June 30, 2004. These agreements, entered into in August 2001, September 2002 and November 2003, effectively convert the interest expense associated with our 7.25% Debentures due in 2028 and our 6.50% Senior Notes due in 2012 from fixed to floating rates based on the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus a credit spread. These swaps are accounted for as fair value hedges under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

On March 25, 2004, Kinder Morgan Management closed the issuance and sale of 360,664 listed shares in a limited registered offering. None of the shares in the offering were purchased by us. Kinder Morgan Management used the net proceeds of approximately $14.9 million from the offering to buy additional i-units from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.

On March 3, 2003, we terminated the interest rate swap agreements associated with our 6.65% Senior Notes due in 2005 and received $28.1 million. We are amortizing this amount (as a reduction to interest expense) over the remaining period the 6.65% Senior Notes are outstanding. The unamortized balance of $9.4 million at June 30, 2004 is included in the caption "Value of Interest Rate Swaps" under the heading "Long-term Debt" in the accompanying interim Consolidated Balance Sheet.

On March 3, 2003, our $500 million of 6.45% Senior Notes matured, and we paid the holders of the notes, utilizing a combination of cash on hand and incremental short-term borrowing.

Certain of our and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' customers are experiencing financial problems that have had a significant impact on their creditworthiness. We are working to implement, to the extent allowable under applicable laws, tariffs and regulations, prepayments and other security requirements such as letters of credit to enhance our credit position relating to amounts owed from these customers. We cannot assure that one or more financially distressed customers will not default on their obligations to us or to Kinder Morgan Energy Partners or that such a default or defaults will not have a material adverse effect on our business.

Investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

At June 30, 2004, we owned, directly, and indirectly in the form of i-units corresponding to the number of shares of Kinder Morgan Management, LLC we owned, approximately 32.9 million limited partner units of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. These units, which consist of 13.0 million common units, 5.3 million Class B units and 14.6 million i-units, represent approximately 16.7 percent of the total limited partner interests of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. In addition, we are the sole stockholder of the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, which holds an effective 2 percent interest in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and its operating partnerships. Together, our limited partner and general partner interests represented approximately 18.4 percent of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' total equity interests at June 30, 2004. We receive quarterly distributions on the i-units owned by Kinder Morgan Management in additional i-units, while distributions on our other units are received in cash.

In addition to distributions received on our limited partner interests as discussed above, we also receive an incentive distribution from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners as a result of our ownership of the

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general partner interest in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. This incentive distribution is calculated in increments based on the amount by which quarterly distributions to unit holders exceed specified target levels as set forth in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' partnership agreement, reaching a maximum of 50% of distributions allocated to the general partner for distributions above $0.23375 per limited partner unit.

We reflect our investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners under the equity method of accounting and, accordingly, report our share of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' earnings as "Equity in Earnings" in our interim Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period in which such earnings are reported by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. See Notes 7 and 8 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners.

CASH FLOWS

The following discussion of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and related supplemental disclosures, and the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and related supplemental disclosures included in our 2003 Form 10-K.

Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities

"Net Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities" decreased from $296.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 to $245.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004, a decrease of $50.5 million (17.1%). This negative variance is principally due to (i) a $54.1 million increase in cash paid for income taxes during 2004, (ii) a decrease of $51.8 million in cash inflows for gas in underground storage during 2004 and (iii) the fact that 2003 included $28.1 million of cash proceeds received from termination of an interest rate swap (see "Significant Financing Transactions" for further information regarding this transaction). Significant period-to-period variations in cash used or generated from gas in storage transactions are due to changes in injection and withdrawal volumes as well as fluctuations in natural gas prices. These negative impacts were partially offset by, in addition to increased cash earnings in 2004, (i) a $30.7 million increase in cash distributions received in 2004 attributable to our interest in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, (ii) a $14.7 million reduction in cash paid for interest during 2004 and (iii) an increase of $17.9 million in 2004 cash attributable to deferred purchased gas costs. Cash flows attributable to deferred purchased gas costs vary with the relationship between the amount actually paid for natural gas and the amount currently included in regulated rates. This difference is recovered or refunded through subsequent rate adjustments.

Net Cash Flows from Investing Activities

"Net Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities" decreased from $48.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 to $44.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004, a decrease of $4.1 million (8.5%). This decreased use of cash is principally due to (i) $25.7 million of proceeds received for sales of turbines and (ii) an increase of $8.3 million in 2004 proceeds from return of margin deposits associated with hedging activities utilizing energy derivative instruments, partially offset by (i) an additional $15.7 million investment in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners during 2004 and (ii) additional capital expenditures of $13.6 million during 2004.

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Net Cash Flows from Financing Activities

"Net Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities" decreased from $253.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 to $205.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004, a decrease of $47.8 million (18.9%). This decrease is principally due to (i) the fact that 2003 included $500 million of cash used to retire our $500 million 6.45% Senior Notes, (ii) $14.9 million of proceeds, net of issuance costs, from the issuance of Kinder Morgan Management shares in March 2004 and (iii) an increase of $5.5 million received in 2004 for issuance of our common stock, principally as a result of the exercise of employee stock options. Partially offsetting these factors were (i) a $62.4 million reduction in short-term debt during the six months ended June 30, 2004 versus incremental short-term borrowings of $221.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2003, (ii) a $102.8 million increase in cash paid for dividends in 2004, principally due to the increased dividends declared per share, (iii) a $58.1 million decreased source of cash from short-term advances to unconsolidated affiliates during 2004 and (iv) a $36.8 million increase in cash paid during 2004 to repurchase shares.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 17 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.

Information Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This filing includes 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. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "projection," "forecast," "strategy," "position," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "may," "will," or the negative of those terms or other variations of them or by comparable terminology. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning future actions, conditions or events, future operating results or the ability to generate sales, income or cash flow or to pay dividends are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future actions, conditions or events and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Specific factors which could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following:

price trends and overall demand for natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, oil, carbon dioxide, natural gas, electricity, coal and other bulk materials and chemicals in the United States;

  

economic activity, weather, alternative energy sources, conservation and technological advances that may affect price trends and demand;

  

changes in our tariff rates or those of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners implemented by the FERC or another regulatory agency or, with respect to Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the California Public Utilities Commission;

  

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' ability and our ability to acquire new businesses and assets and integrate those operations into existing operations, as well as the ability to make expansions to our respective facilities;

41


  

  

difficulties or delays experienced by railroads, barges, trucks, ships or pipelines in delivering products to or from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' terminals or pipelines or our pipelines;

  

  

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' ability and our ability to successfully identify and close acquisitions and make cost-saving changes in operations;

  

shut-downs or cutbacks at major refineries, petrochemical or chemical plants, ports, utilities, military bases or other businesses that use Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' or our services or provide services or products to Kinder Morgan Energy Partners or us;

  

changes in laws or regulations, third-party relations and approvals, decisions of courts, regulators and governmental bodies that may adversely affect our business or our ability to compete;

  

our ability to offer and sell equity securities and debt securities or obtain debt financing in sufficient amounts to implement that portion of our business plan that contemplates growth through acquisitions of operating businesses and assets and expansions of our facilities;

  

our indebtedness could make us vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions, limit our ability to borrow additional funds and/or place us at competitive disadvantages compared to our competitors that have less debt or have other adverse consequences;

  

interruptions of electric power supply to our facilities due to natural disasters, power shortages, strikes, riots, terrorism, war or other causes;

  

acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other acts causing damage greater than our insurance coverage limits;

  

capital market conditions;

  

the political and economic stability of the oil producing nations of the world;

  

national, international, regional and local economic, competitive and regulatory conditions and developments;

  

the ability to achieve cost savings and revenue growth;

  

inflation;

  

interest rates;

  

the pace of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity;

  

foreign exchange fluctuations;

  

the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil, natural gas, electricity and certain agricultural products; and

  

the timing and success of business development efforts.

You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

See Items 1 and 2 "Business and Properties - Risk Factors" of our 2003 Form 10-K for a more detailed description of these and other factors that may affect the forward-looking statements. The risk factors

42


could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any obligation to update the above list or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments. Our future results also could be adversely impacted by unfavorable results of litigation and the fruition of contingencies referred to in Notes 15 and 16 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

There have been no material changes in market risk exposures that would affect the quantitative and qualitative disclosures presented as of December 31, 2003, in Item 7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" contained in our 2003 Form 10-K. See also Note 13 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.

As of June 30, 2004, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon and as of the date of the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in all material respects to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file and submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required. There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

The reader is directed to Note 16 of the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.  Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2004, we did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Our Purchases of Our Common Stock

Period

Total Number of
Shares Purchased1

Average Price
Paid per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs1

Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs

April 1 to
  April 30, 2004

      -    

$     -   

        -   

$95,235,459    

=======   

===========    

May 1 to
  May 31, 2004

376,400    

$ 58.64   

  376,400   

$73,154,936    

=======   

===========    

June 1 to
  June 30, 2004

254,800    

$ 59.37   

  254,800   

$58,023,187    

=======   

===========    

  
Total

631,200    

$ 58.93   

  631,200   

$58,023,187    

=======    

=======   

=========   

===========    

  
1

All purchases were made pursuant to our publicly announced repurchase plan. On August 14, 2001, we announced a plan to repurchase $300 million of our outstanding common stock, which program was increased to $400 million, $450 million, $500 million and $550 million in February 2002, July 2002, November 2003, and April 2004, respectively.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

a)

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 11, 2004 (the "Annual Meeting").

  
b)

Proxies for the Annual Meeting were solicited pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There was no solicitation in opposition to management's nominees for directors as listed in the Proxy Statement and all such nominees were elected, which included Messrs. Battey, True and Sarofim. In addition, those directors continuing in office after the meeting included Messrs. Kinder, Morgan, Austin, Bliss, Gardner, Hybl, and Randall. The number of votes for and withheld for the nominees elected at the meeting were as follows:

  

For

Withheld

Charles W. Battey

78,413,736

  

24,130,906

H. A. True, III

100,972,314

1,572,328

Fayez Sarofim

100,797,054

1,747,588

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c)

The following matters were also voted on at the Annual Meeting:

  
   (1)

A proposal to ratify and approve the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditors for 2004 was approved and the number of affirmative votes, negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to the matter were as follows:

  
For

100,914,000

Against

1,002,041

Abstain

628,601

Broker Non-votes

N/A

  
(2)

A proposal to amend and restate our Kinder Morgan, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan was approved and the number of affirmative votes, negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to the matter were as follows:

  
For

77,590,988

Against

6,959,038

Abstain

814,766

Broker Non-votes

N/A

  
   (3)

A stockholder proposal relating to the preparation of a sustainability report was not approved and the number of affirmative votes, negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to the matter were as follows:

  
For

16,065,174

Against

61,505,477

Abstain

7,794,141

Broker Non-votes

N/A

  
   (4)

A stockholder proposal relating to expensing stock options was not approved and the number of affirmative votes, negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to the matter were as follows:

  
For

35,298,756

Against

48,439,254

Abstain

1,626,782

Broker Non-votes

N/A

Item 5.  Other Information.

As previously disclosed, on July 21, 2004, Michael C. Morgan resigned as our President. Mr. Morgan continues to serve on our Board of Directors. In connection with his resignation, Mr. Morgan and we executed a Resignation and Non-Compete Agreement pursuant to which Mr. Morgan resigned as our President, agreed not to compete with us or our affiliates through July 21, 2008 and forfeited 76,667 shares of our restricted stock granted in July 2003 that would have vested in July 2006 and July 2008.

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Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

  

(A)     Exhibits.

  

10.12  

Resignation and Non-Compete Agreement, dated as of July 21, 2004, between KMGP Services, Inc. and Michael C. Morgan.

  
31.1

  
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  
31.2

  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  
32.1

  
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  
32.2

  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
   (B)     Reports on Form 8-K.
  
  

(1)

Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 21, 2004 was furnished on April 21, 2004 pursuant to Item 7 and Item 12 of that form.

  

  

Pursuant to Item 12 of that form, we disclosed that on April 21, 2004 we issued a press release regarding our financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, and held a webcast conference call on April 21, 2004 discussing those results.

Pursuant to Item 7 of that form, we filed our press release dated April 21, 2004 as an exhibit.

  
  

(2)

Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 21, 2004 was furnished on July 21, 2004 pursuant to Item 7 and Item 12 of that form.

  

  

Pursuant to Item 12 of that form, we disclosed that on July 21, 2004 we issued a press release regarding our financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, and held a webcast conference call on July 21, 2004 discussing those results.

Pursuant to Item 7 of that form, we filed our press release dated July 21, 2004 as an exhibit.

 

46


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

  

   KINDER MORGAN, INC.
(Registrant)
  
  
August 5, 2004 /s/ C. Park Shaper
C. Park Shaper
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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