Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Otter Tail Corporation’s Third Quarter 2014 Conference Call. At this time all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later we will conduct a question-and-session and instructions will follow at that time. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder this conference is being recorded. I would like to now introduce your host for today’s conference Mr. Loren Hanson. Sir, you may begin.

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our call. My name is Loren Hanson and I manage the Investor Relations area at Otter Tail. Last night, we announced our third quarter 2014 results. Our complete earnings release and slides accompanying this earnings call are available on our website at www.ottertail.com. A replay of the call will be available on our website later today. With me on the call today is Jim McIntyre, Otter Tail Corporation’s CEO; Chuck MacFarlane, Otter Tail Corporation’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Moug, Otter Tail Corporation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before we begin, I would like to remind you that during the course of this call, we will be making forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are covered under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes statements regarding Otter Tail Corporation’s future financial and operating results, or other statements that are not historical facts. Please be advised that actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied by our forward-looking statements, due to certain risks and uncertainties, including those described in our most recent Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Otter Tail Corporation disclaims any duty to update or revise our forward-looking statements, as a result of new information, future events, developments or otherwise. For opening remarks, I would now like to turn the call over to Otter Tail Corporation’s CEO, Mr. Jim McIntyre. Jim?

Good morning and thanks for joining our call today. This quarter we anticipated continued strong performance of our electric, manufacturing and infrastructure businesses. And that was our overall experience. You read the news release which is posted on our website. In a moment Chuck will speak to some of the company specific actions that took place this quarter and Kevin will speak to the financials. I’ll use my time address the comment I made in earnings release that we are considering strategic alternatives for our construction companies. Clearly, they are doing well. Together they posted their eight consecutive quarter-over-quarter improvement in earnings. I’ve explained on previous calls that we continually assess each company’s fit with our portfolio criteria and strategic plan. Through that assessment we believe we may best strengthen our overall portfolio by investing primarily in electric and manufacturing base of companies. If we review of our alternatives for the construction company led us to divest some, our remaining diversified companies in addition our electric utility, would all be manufacturing companies: BTD Manufacturing, our metal fabricating company; T.O. Plastics, our plastic thermoforming company; and Northern Pipe Products and Vinyltech are PVC pipe manufacturing companies. By focusing our diversification efforts primarily on manufacturing, we believe we will be better able to strategically and operationally support and grow these and other similar businesses. Within and among these businesses, there’s sufficient diversity to retain our original goal of providing some measure of protection from a downturn in any one market. But also the similarity among manufacturing businesses provides a greater opportunity to use operational excellence, derive performance, and create or expand a competitive advantage. To further underscore this point and as reflected in our earnings release the Otter Tail Corporation’s board of directors, upon recommendation from management supported about $33 million in…

Thanks, Jim. As Jim said, we continue to see good results from our capital investments at the utility and a focus on operational excellence at the manufacturing and infrastructure companies. As pointed out in the earnings release net income at Otter Tail Power Company was slightly lower this quarter due to cooler summer weather and increased maintenance and repair expenses. The increased expenses were largely due to an extended maintenance outage at our Hoot Lake Plant in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Hoot Lake is an older 140 megawatt coal plant with two active units. One of the units was brought online in 1959, the other in 1964. It’s not unusual to open our turbine generator set in older plants for maintenance and find more potential problems than anticipated. We’ve addressed those issues, Unit III returned to service in July and Unit II in august. This is the last planned major overhaul for Hoot Lake plant prior to its projected retirement in the 2020 timeframe. In late October the Minnesota public utilities commission approved our integrated resource plant to replace Hoot Lake with a natural gas resource. Earnings from non-asset based energy sales were also less than forecast this quarter. Trading margins have been declining for some time now. Reduced natural gas prices, lower wholesale market prices and mature centralized markets have produced price transparency that has eliminated most of the trading opportunities we capitalized since forming in the trading function in 1997. The efficiency of the centralized market has narrowed margins to a point where we cannot sustain a non-asset base trading group within our relatively small utility unless we engage in more speculative positions. So Otter Tail Power Company will exit the non-asset base trading, energy trading function by year-end. This function is projected to be break-even in 2014. As…

Good morning. Please refer to Slide 11, as I discuss our third quarter results. We delivered strong results in the third quarter. Consolidated revenues increased 5.5%, across all of our operating segments. We’ve reported $0.43 of share from continuing operations, which is approximately 5% increase in quarter-over-quarter earnings per share. This is in spite of milder than normal weather and increased maintenance costs associated with the Hoot Lake Plant’s extended outage. The strong performance is reflective of our strategy to maintain a diversified portfolio of operating companies. We continue to see the benefit of our rate base expansion. Our electric retail revenues increased $6.2 million quarter-over-quarter driven largely by $4.9 million increase in environmental and transmission rider revenues. We continue to see the volume growth and revenues from increased sales to pipeline customers over the past three years the utility has experienced a growth rate in retail electric sales of about 1.3%, and is projected to grow around 1.7% over the next three years to four years. This volume growth of $1.6 million in revenues was offset by an equivalent dollar amount due to milder than normal third quarter weather. Our manufacturing segment’s revenues increased nearly 13% quarter-over-quarter as a result of volume increases at BTD, this growth is from higher sales to energy related recreational and lawn and garden end-markets. The slight decrease in earnings from the third quarter a year-ago is mainly a result of increased material costs along with increased operating expenses to support sales growth in 2014. T.O. Plastics’ revenues declined $1.3 million quarter-over-quarter as a result of no longer producing, low margin packaging products for one of our customers. While revenues declined related to this our product mix improved resulting in improved gross margins quarter-over-quarter. This allowed T.O to generate earnings equal to the same…

(Operator Instructions) Our first question comes from the line of Matt Tucker from KeyBanc Capital Markets. Your line is now open. Grier Buchanan – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Hey, gentlemen, this is actually Grier Buchanan in for Matt. Congrats on a nice quarter.

Thank you, Grier.

Thank you, Grier. Grier Buchanan – KeyBanc Capital Markets: First question, on construction, you guys did acknowledge this solid performance, but just hoping to get a little more color on what's (inaudible) the decision now, given it seems the segment has outperformed internal expectations year-to-date as reflected in the upward guidance trend?

Thank you, Grier. This is Jim McIntyre, a few comments here. While our two constructions companies are doing well, they are not businesses in which we would expect to make significant further investment. Given the size of the construction businesses and that they are part of our company that has several other businesses, we think they might be a better fit as part of a larger company that has construction as either its primary or it’s only business part of it. And then, construction by its nature has volatility in earnings, and that’s not totally consistent with the – our investor base, which values predictable earnings in increasing dividends. So as we look at where we're at, we're exploring whether or not, there is a better fit with our construction companies that are doing well with someone else where could, as Kevin said in his remarks, replay those proceeds elsewhere in our business expansion. Grier Buchanan – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Okay. That’s helpful, thanks. And along the lines of your investor base, what gives you the confidence that the expansion in manufacturing would meet your return hurdles? And then maybe just a little context on what's driving the need to expand that facility that for our investors who may not be as familiar with the – your manufacturing business in the space in which those companies operate?

Okay, this is Jim, again. I'll start and then, Chuck, will probably add some more to this. One, BTD has been one of the success stories of our diversification networks for a long time. Chuck referenced in this comments the percentage growth of the revenue base, we also shared as we have in the past the customers they have and kind of hallmark names among the manufacturing industry. And we are well regarded by those customers, given our winning business with them. So we are confident in our ability to continue, particularly as we realign our processes around the revised facilities, add paint to the mix and then continue to use operational excellence to drive towards the operational in the financial performance. This is a company that we have substantial confidence in, and as we make these changes, we see a bright future for them and hence we believe they will be able to deliver on the value proposition and earn at or above the cost of capital for the incremental capital. Chuck?

Just to add on to that, as I mentioned in my comments, over the last five years, BTD has had a 15% annual compound growth rate in sales and actually going back to 1995, they also had a very strong sales. We know just from the business that tooling tends to be a leading indicator of the amount of business that will be coming and our tooling area has been very busy over the last three quarters or so. So we continue to believe that we will see growing revenue, growing earnings in this company in this segment. Grier Buchanan – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Okay. That’s helpful, thanks. And you mentioned tooling is – when you are discussing the BTD story with investors, is there a one or more particular end markets that you can kind of point to as really driving the growth? I know, you had that one side, which is helpful.

All right. I mean, rec has been – recreational vehicles have been very strong, lawn and garden has been very strong, ag is a little bit more challenge now. The energy market other side of wind has been very strong. So we know it would be the – that chart has not moved significantly the percentage as rent markets over the last couple of years. Grier Buchanan – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Okay. And then just one more, I'll jump back in the queue. Is the – the manufacturing is that anticipated $0.04 charge per share, is that the only thing driving lower guidance?

Yes, Grier, this is Kevin, that’s the driver of that. When you see that $0.04 reduction in the guidance stable from August to now, that’s the reason for the change. Grier Buchanan – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Okay, great. Thanks, gentlemen. I'll jump back in the queue.

Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of David Arcaro from Sidoti & Co. Your line is now open. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: Hey, thanks for the questions. Good morning. Quick question on the plastic business, wondering if you could talk to whether resin prices have continued to rise so far this quarter?

Dave, this is Kevin. In terms of the third quarter, resin prices held relatively flat. So there wasn’t – we saw collectively from the beginning of the year through the six-month timeframe, there was about a $0.09 per pound increase from the end of the December through June and then they held relatively flat in the third quarter. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: And was that unexpected, I think, I remember in the last earnings call you'd mentioned the $0.02 increase that you had seen so far or thus far in the third quarter and then have they stabilized since then?

We did, you are correct. We did talk about the expected or potential $0.02 increase that was had been announced at the – as a part of the third quarter, and then we did see a stabilizing during the third quarter and didn’t materialize to the extent we thought. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: Got it, thanks. Couple of quick questions on the utility, will you be able to recover the maintenance charges at Hoot Lake that were above expectations, would that be something that you would look for in the future rate case?

Dave, this is Chuck. The majority of those costs were expensed and would not be in a future rate case. We did, of course, with every overhaul, there is a split of capital improvements and operating expense and the overruns here were primarily operating. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: Okay, thanks. What's the status of coal shipments right now, are they back on track or still facing delays, and I guess, if Big Stone doesn’t produce as much power in the fourth quarter heading into the winter, I guess, what's the risk there, would that mean, you have to purchase more, basically purchase more power, but then also maybe see lower wholesale revenues?

Well, I'll start what are the coal shipments back on track. They are not – we have three train sets that serve Big Stone Plant as with most lot of utilities they have taken one set out of circulation and this is occurring across a lot of industries in the railroad area. As far as cost to customers, if we have to continue or curtail, there will be potentially depending on market prices. Some costs – additional costs that will be run through the fuel costs at a situation. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: I see, thanks.

In the wholesale sales, our wholesales sales off of systems, I spoke today about our non-asset base sales. So that these are energy trading, which we have participated in, not associated with our own assets. If we have asset base sales coming of our company-owned units, those any sales for those flow through the fuel costs, if there is a profit on those. So that could be again down based on market prices. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: Got it. And then just one question on BTD, wondering what you – I guess, what are the goals with the investment? Are you aiming for higher margins with the addition of paint in assembly capabilities, is this the way to drive higher revenue growth, I guess, and when would you expect that benefit to start to hit the financials?

I guess, we would expect increased revenues. We would expect increased margin effectively what's happening as we have a number. We have a warehousing facility that is not associated with each of the plants for taking the Detroit Lakes in Lakeville facilities and effectively making them a facility that’s large enough to take raw materials in one part of the plant have produced payment parts, come out the other, all under one roof. Currently, we have as Kevin mentioned, the Otsego warehouse is not located near either of the other, relatively not very close to either of the other production facilities. And we expect that we’ll have a reduced logistics costs and just a better flow of materials though the plants, which should have improved the efficiency. And the turnaround time to customers for things that we outsource now, we hope to take that timeframe or cut that down, while we do that internally all under one roof so to speak. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: And in terms of timing, is this a CapEx and OpEx outlay in 2015, and then with the benefits being realized in 2016?

Yes, I think, we'll start to see benefits as soon as the paint line goes in, that space is already constructed. The paint line is not in there, but additional space is under construction. Now, so we should start to see improvements by mid-2015. David Arcaro – Sidoti & Co.: Excellent. Thanks so much. That’s all I had.

Thank you. (Operator Instructions) We have a follow-up from Matt Tucker from KeyBanc Capital Markets. Your line is now open. Matt Tucker – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Hey, just a quick one on the lower corporate expense versus 3Q 2013. Is this – can we think about this as like new run rate and is it mainly due to in the – what was referenced in the press release, the reallocation of certain expenses through the operating companies?

Yes, Grier [ph] this is Kevin. The reallocation of certain class two of the operating companies, that’s new for 2014. We had previously not been allocating any costs to our manufacturing and infrastructure businesses. We look at the costs that we have at corporate as part of the Varistar entity that we have, and we do send a charge down now starting in 2014. So, it’s a savings at corporate, but it’s increased costs at the other segments. And so, this is the first year of doing that. As we move forward into 2015, you’ll see similar results and so it’s first this year and then we’ll continue it in years forward. Matt Tucker – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Okay, great. Thanks, Kevin.

Thank you. We have a question from the line of (inaudible). Your line is now open.

Congratulations on a great quarter, guys.

Thanks, Brendon [ph]. Kevin Moug Thank you, Brendon.

Just wanted to understand, I guess from a value perspective the sale process on the construction business. Just on the shareholder value – shareholder side of Otter Tail, people involved with equity. I guess, the utility, let’s say, on average trade 16 times earnings on PE basis. Do you guys think you can monetize these – the construction business at a similar multiple, so it’s kind of a value neutral perspective, and then reinvest that into the utility, or how are you guys just thinking about that from that perspective?

: :

Okay.

:

Got it. Thanks so much.

Brendon, this is Jim McIntyre, I'll just add a little bit to that. And that is that that we believe what we would end up ultimately divesting within end up with our utility platform and manufacturing platform. And that allows them to have synergies within manufacturing, where we can focus our resources on manufacturing, better understand and really drive the performance of those sides of businesses. The talent development that we think is a critical part of a strategic plan with a move people across those different companies within manufacturing. And then it increases the transparency of the businesses both internally and externally as far as what is Otter Tail Corporation makes us easier to understand and hopefully for investors as well.

Thanks, Jim. It makes sense.

Thank you. (Operator Instructions) I'm showing no more questions in the queue at this time. I would like to now hand it over to Mr. Jim McIntyre for closing remarks.

Thank you, Roland. As we entered into the final quarter of the year, we believe we're well-positioned to deliver earnings on the upper range of our 2014 guidance. It’s gratifying to see the positive results from delivering on our strategy of rate base growth at the utility, and improved operational and financial performance of our manufacturing and infrastructure companies. We’re also excited about the growth potential from our investment at BTD, as they expand our services to a solid customer base. Thank you joining our call, and for your interest in Otter Tail Corporation. We look forward to speaking with you next quarter.