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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended January 29, 2005

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 0-5423

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Florida   59-1277135
     
(State of incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
4440 PGA Boulevard, Suite 500
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
  33410
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 627-7171

     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

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

     
Class   Outstanding as of March 1, 2005
     
Common Stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share   48,817,319
 
 

 


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DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.

INDEX

         
    Page No.
       
 
       
       
 
       
    3  
 
       
    4  
 
       
    5  
 
       
    6-7  
 
       
    8-18  
 
       
    19-28  
 
       
    28  
 
       
    28  
 
       
       
 
       
    28  
 
       
    29  
 
       
    30  
 Registered Stock Agreement dated November 23,2004
 Registered Stock Agreement dated January 3, 2005
 Section 302 CEO Certification
 Section 302 CFO Certification
 Section 906 CEO Certification
 Section 906 CFO Certification

 


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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
                 
    January 29,     July 31,  
    2005     2004  
ASSETS
               
CURRENT ASSETS:
               
Cash and equivalents
  $ 51,834,290     $ 31,383,185  
Short-term investments
    19,379,494       20,009,924  
Accounts receivable, net
    115,650,789       131,926,512  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    54,225,648       58,175,272  
Deferred tax assets, net
    12,950,239       11,922,558  
Income taxes receivable
    8,160,936       6,988,164  
Inventories
    6,120,687       5,352,586  
Other current assets
    16,185,541       10,275,142  
 
           
Total current assets
    284,507,624       276,033,343  
 
           
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net
    110,531,156       100,352,913  
 
           
OTHER ASSETS:
               
Goodwill
    223,261,141       224,140,641  
Intangible assets, net
    34,970,652       35,178,721  
Deferred tax assets, net non-current
          5,560,872  
Other
    15,051,372       10,568,343  
 
           
Total other assets
    273,283,165       275,448,577  
 
           
TOTAL
  $ 668,321,945     $ 651,834,833  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 26,195,084     $ 34,347,637  
Notes and capital leases payable
    3,881,741       4,162,978  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    538,945       141,568  
Accrued self-insured claims
    26,253,541       22,296,987  
Other accrued liabilities
    37,079,120       41,528,467  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    93,948,431       102,477,637  
 
           
NOTES AND CAPITAL LEASES PAYABLE
    5,077,631       7,094,018  
ACCRUED SELF-INSURED CLAIMS
    22,075,253       22,473,163  
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, net
    28,035        
OTHER LIABILITIES
    521,328       829,058  
 
           
Total liabilities
    121,650,678       132,873,876  
 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, Note 12
               
 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share:
               
1,000,000 shares authorized: no shares issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share:
               
150,000,000 shares authorized: 48,813,447 and 48,596,049 issued and outstanding, respectively
    16,271,144       16,198,678  
Additional paid-in capital
    354,307,758       348,570,091  
Deferred compensation
    (3,484,922 )     (2,390,667 )
Retained earnings
    179,577,287       156,582,855  
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    546,671,267       518,960,957  
 
           
TOTAL
  $ 668,321,945     $ 651,834,833  
 
           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements—unaudited.

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DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
                 
    For the Three Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004  
REVENUES:
               
Contract revenues earned
  $ 224,538,572     $ 196,368,974  
 
           
 
EXPENSES:
               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation
    181,986,298       151,224,328  
General and administrative
    18,931,176       18,862,246  
Depreciation and amortization
    12,800,023       11,008,530  
 
           
Total
    213,717,497       181,095,104  
 
           
 
Interest income
    259,561       180,159  
Interest expense
    (67,389 )     (464,621 )
Other income, net
    1,182,781       582,869  
Gain on sale of long-term accounts receivable
          11,359,379  
 
           
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    12,196,028       26,931,656  
 
           
 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES:
               
Current
    1,812,272       10,364,592  
Deferred
    3,010,166       124,922  
 
           
Total
    4,822,438       10,489,514  
 
           
 
NET INCOME
  $ 7,373,590     $ 16,442,142  
 
           
 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.34  
 
           
 
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.34  
 
           
 
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
               
 
Basic
    48,689,374       48,285,294  
 
           
Diluted
    49,343,172       48,922,381  
 
           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements—unaudited.

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DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
                 
    For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004  
REVENUES:
               
Contract revenues earned
  $ 487,704,177     $ 392,390,416  
 
           
 
EXPENSES:
               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation
    390,655,998       298,274,063  
General and administrative
    36,913,431       36,369,888  
Depreciation and amortization
    24,065,155       20,342,940  
 
           
Total
    451,634,584       354,986,891  
 
           
 
Interest income
    375,851       499,877  
Interest expense
    (229,855 )     (466,088 )
Other income, net
    1,776,938       1,428,412  
Gain on sale of long-term accounts receivable
          11,359,379  
 
           
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    37,992,527       50,225,105  
 
           
 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES:
               
Current
    10,436,869       20,315,757  
Deferred
    4,561,226       (460,033 )
 
           
Total
    14,998,095       19,855,724  
 
           
 
NET INCOME
  $ 22,994,432     $ 30,369,381  
 
           
 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.47     $ 0.63  
 
           
 
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.47     $ 0.62  
 
           
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
               
Basic
    48,646,979       48,157,178  
 
           
 
Diluted
    49,257,391       48,712,420  
 
           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements—unaudited.

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DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
                 
    For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004  
Increase (decrease) in Cash and Equivalents from:
               
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net income
  $ 22,994,432     $ 30,369,381  
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash inflow from operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    24,065,155       20,342,940  
Bad debts expense
    13,497       1,545,380  
Gain on disposal of assets
    (1,419,174 )     (898,173 )
Gain on sale of long-term accounts receivable
          (11,359,379 )
Deferred income taxes
    4,561,226       (460,033 )
Non-cash compensation expense from the issuance of restricted stock
    420,890       60,996  
Other
          37,926  
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures:
               
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
               
Proceeds on sale of long-term accounts receivable, net
          34,242,345  
Accounts receivable, net
    20,540,056       16,622,279  
Unbilled revenues, net
    8,081,629       3,184,479  
Income tax receivable
    (157,535 )      
Other current assets
    (6,640,375 )     (3,692,929 )
Other assets
    (4,494,550 )     478,913  
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
    (8,152,551 )     (416,069 )
Accrued self-insured claims and other liabilities
    (1,767,138 )     (544,460 )
Accrued income taxes payable
          (6,583,834 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    58,045,562       82,929,762  
 
           
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Capital expenditures
    (32,928,359 )     (9,480,394 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    2,247,980       2,518,867  
Proceeds from the sale of short-term investments
    32,979,475       117,105,724  
Purchase of short-term investments
    (32,349,045 )     (77,933,556 )
Acquisition expenditures, net of cash acquired
    (8,526,635 )     (174,667,063 )
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (38,576,584 )     (142,456,422 )
 
           
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Borrowings on notes payable
          85,000,000  
Principal payments on notes and capital leases payable
    (2,297,624 )     (845,779 )
Exercise of stock options and other
    3,279,751       3,037,220  
 
           
Net cash provided by financing activities
    982,127       87,191,441  
 
           
 
Net increase in cash and equivalents
    20,451,105       27,664,781  
 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    31,383,185       74,702,068  
 
           
 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ 51,834,290     $ 102,366,849  
 
           

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements— unaudited.

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DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(Unaudited)

                 
    For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004  
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW AND NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
 
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 235,560     $ 156,249  
Income taxes
  $ 10,881,032     $ 27,495,583  
 
Issuance of restricted stock
  $ 1,515,145     $ 2,881,010  
 
Income tax benefit from stock options exercised
  $ 1,015,237     $ 681,365  
 
During the six months ended January 29, 2005, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of RJE Telecom, Inc. (‘RJE”) and assumed certain liabilities associated with these assets. See Note 3.
               
Fair market value of net assets acquired
  $ 9,776,635          
 
             
Acquisition expenditures
  $ 9,776,635          
 
             
 
During the six months ended January 24, 2004, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of UtiliQuest Holdings Corp. See Note 3.
               
Fair market value of net assets acquired, including goodwill
          $ 116,082,226  
Less: Cash acquired
            (1,393,830 )
 
             
Acquisition expenditures, net of cash acquired
          $ 114,688,396  
 
             
During the six months ended January 24, 2004, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of First South Utility Construction, Inc. and assumed certain liabilities associated with these assets. See Note 3.
               
Fair market value of net assets acquired, including goodwill
          $ 63,447,805  
Less: Common stock issued
            (4,184,288 )
 
             
Acquisition expenditures
          $ 59,263,517  
 
             

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements—unaudited.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Unaudited

1. Basis of Presentation

     Dycom Industries, Inc. (“Dycom” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of specialty contracting services, including engineering, construction, installation and maintenance services to telecommunications providers throughout the United States. The Company also provides underground locating services to various utilities and other construction and maintenance services to electric utilities and others. The Company uses a fiscal year ending the last Saturday in July. Fiscal year 2005 consists of 52 weeks, while fiscal year 2004 consisted of 53 weeks.

     The condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and include the results of Dycom and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets of the Company and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the three and six months reflect all normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of such statements. The results of operations for the six months ended January 29, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. For a better understanding of the Company and its financial statements, the Company recommends reading these condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2004, which are included in Dycom’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on October 12, 2004.

     Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The more significant estimates relate to the Company’s revenue recognition of work-in-process, the allowance for doubtful accounts, self-insured claims liability, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, asset lives used in computing depreciation and amortization, including amortization of intangibles, and accounting for income taxes, contingencies and litigation. While the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial position and results of operations taken as a whole, the actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

     Restricted Cash – At January 29, 2005 and July 31, 2004, the Company had approximately $8.3 million and $6.5 million, respectively, in restricted cash included in other current assets and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. The amount primarily relates to cash held as collateral to support projected workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability obligations .

     Short-term Investments – Short-term investments consist of market auction rate debt securities that are classified as “available for sale” securities. The Company maintains its investments with various financial institutions and minimizes its credit risk associated with investments by only investing in investment grade, highly liquid securities. The securities are reported at fair value and the Company uses market quotes provided by third parties to adjust the carrying value of its investments to fair value at the end of each period with any related unrealized gains and losses included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of applicable taxes. Realized gains and losses and interest and dividends are included in interest income or interest expense, as appropriate. There were no material realized or unrealized gains or losses related to the securities for any of the periods presented. The Company has reclassified approximately $20.0 million of short-term investments as of July 31, 2004 that were previously presented as cash and equivalents to conform to current period presentation. Additionally, for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, the net change in short-term investments of $0.6 million and $39.2 million, respectively, is included as a component of cash flows used in investing activities. At January 29, 2005, the available for sale securities had contractual maturities ranging from 2008 through 2039. Consistent with the Company’s past practice, management intends to sell the securities at the scheduled auction dates within the next twelve months and has classified the securities as current.

     Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 and No. 148, companies are permitted to continue to apply Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, which recognizes compensation cost based on the intrinsic value of the equity instrument awarded. The Company continues to apply APB Opinion No. 25 to its stock-based compensation awards. The fair value of the options granted in fiscal 2005 and 2004 has been estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The Company’s options do not have the characteristics of traded options and the option valuation models do not necessarily provide a reliable measure of the fair value as they require the use of subjective assumptions. Changes in these assumptions can materially impact the fair value of the Company’s options. No stock-based compensation cost for stock option grants is reflected in net income as all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. During the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, 913,800 and 874,676 options were granted, respectively. The pro forma weighted average fair value of options granted during the six months ended January 29, 2005 was $19.93 per share based on a risk-free interest rate of 3.6%, an expected life of six years, expected volatility of 58.7% and no expected dividends. The pro forma weighted average fair value of options granted during the six months ended January 24, 2004 was $14.63 per share based on a risk-free interest rate of 3.6%, an expected life of six years, expected

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volatility of 59.6% and no expected dividends. The pro forma disclosures required by SFAS No. 148 are reflected below.

                                 
    For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,     January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Net income, as reported
  $ 7,373,590     $ 16,442,142     $ 22,994,432     $ 30,369,381  
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based methods for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (1,491,677 )     (927,310 )     (2,830,689 )     (1,863,849 )
 
                       
 
Pro forma net income
  $ 5,881,913     $ 15,514,832     $ 20,163,743     $ 28,505,532  
 
                       
 
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic — as reported
  $ 0.15     $ 0.34     $ 0.47     $ 0.63  
 
                       
Basic — pro forma
  $ 0.12     $ 0.32     $ 0.41     $ 0.59  
 
                       
Diluted — as reported
  $ 0.15     $ 0.34     $ 0.47     $ 0.62  
 
                       
Diluted — pro forma
  $ 0.12     $ 0.32     $ 0.41     $ 0.59  
 
                       

     In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, an Amendment of SFAS No. 123. SFAS No. 123(R) requires measurement of the cost of share-based payment transactions to employees at the fair value of the award on the grant date and recognition of expense over the requisite service or vesting period. Prior to SFAS No. 123(R), only certain pro-forma disclosures of fair value were required. The pro forma compensation costs presented in the table above and in prior filings for the Company have been calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and may not be indicative of amounts which should be expected in future years. SFAS No. 123(R) is effective for public companies at the beginning of the first interim or annual period beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 123(R) and believes the adoption of this statement could have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company commencing with fiscal 2006.

     Comprehensive Income — During the first six months of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 the Company did not have any changes in its equity resulting from non-owner sources and, accordingly, comprehensive income was equal to the net income amounts presented for the respective periods in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

2. Earnings Per Share

     Earnings per common share-basic is computed using the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Earnings per common share-diluted is computed with the treasury stock method using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents, except in cases where the effect would be anti-dilutive.

     The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computation as required by SFAS No. 128.

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    For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,     January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Net income available to common stockholders (numerator)
  $ 7,373,590     $ 16,442,142     $ 22,994,432     $ 30,369,381  
 
                       
Weighted-average number of common shares (denominator)
    48,689,374       48,285,294       48,646,979       48,157,178  
 
                       
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.34     $ 0.47     $ 0.63  
 
                       
 
Weighted-average number of common shares
    48,689,374       48,285,294       48,646,979       48,157,178  
Potential common stock arising from stock options
    653,798       637,087       610,412       555,242  
 
                       
Total shares-diluted (denominator)
    49,343,172       48,922,381       49,257,391       48,712,420  
 
                       
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.34     $ 0.47     $ 0.62  
 
                       
 
Antidilutive weighted shares excluded from the calculation of earnings per share
    1,333,649       1,406,794       1,110,500       1,682,205  
 
                       

3. Acquisitions

     On November 25, 2003, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities associated with the assets of First South Utility Construction, Inc. (“First South”), for approximately $50.3 million in cash, adjusted for cash received by the Company for settlement of an escrow agreement in the second quarter of 2005, and 175,840 shares of Dycom’s common stock. In conjunction with the acquisition, the Company also paid approximately $9 million for excess working capital consisting primarily of accounts receivable and unbilled revenue. The Company paid the purchase price from cash on hand. First South provides specialty contracting services to telecommunications customers.

     On December 3, 2003, the Company acquired UtiliQuest Holdings Corp. (“UtiliQuest”) for a purchase price of approximately $116.1 million. UtiliQuest is a provider of utility locating services. Under the terms of the merger agreement, UtiliQuest merged with a newly-formed subsidiary of the Company with UtiliQuest surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company borrowed approximately $85.0 million under its previous credit agreement in connection with this acquisition and subsequently repaid the borrowed amount during fiscal 2004 .

     On September 21, 2004, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of RJE Telecom, Inc.(“RJE”) for a purchase price of approximately $9.8 million in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment. RJE provides specialty contracting services primarily to telephone companies.

     The Company accounted for the above acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the purchase price has been allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed on the basis of their respective fair values on the acquisition date. The purchase price for the RJE acquisition is preliminary as the Company assesses the valuation of acquired assets and liabilities. The purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired has been allocated to goodwill. Under SFAS No.142, goodwill associated with these acquisitions will be reviewed annually for impairment. The operating results of the companies acquired are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements from their respective date of purchase. The purchase price of the above acquisitions is derived as follows:

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    ($ in thousands)  
    RJE     First South     UtiliQuest  
Cash paid
  $ 9,710     $ 58,979 (*)   $ 115,165  
Transaction costs
    67       285       917  
Dycom common stock issued
          4,184        
 
                 
 
Total purchase price
  $ 9,777     $ 63,448     $ 116,082  
 
                 


*   Includes $9.0 million for excess working capital

     Management determined the fair values used in the purchase price allocation for intangible assets with the assistance of independent valuation specialists based on estimated discounted future cash flows, royalty rates and historical data, among other information. Goodwill of approximately $42.8 million and $37.0 million is expected to be deductible for tax purposes related to the acquisitions of First South and UtiliQuest, respectively. The purchase price of the acquisitions was allocated as follows:

                         
    (in thousands)  
    RJE     First South     UtiliQuest  
Assets:
                       
Cash and equivalents
  $     $     $ 1,394  
Accounts receivable, net
    4,278       7,069       15,652  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    3,735       6,069        
Deferred tax asset, net
                2,074  
Other current assets
          551       3,277  
Property and equipment
    395       6,530       15,141  
Goodwill
          42,842       73,910  
Tradename
          155       4,870  
Intangibles — customer relationships
    1,423       3,300       27,500  
Other tangibles, net
          800        
Deferred tax asset, net
                5,484  
Other assets
    37             5,096  
 
                 
Total assets
    9,868       67,316       154,398  
 
                 
Liabilities:
                       
Accounts payable
          2,094       1,110  
Capitalizable leases — short term
                5,110  
Accrued self-insured claims
                11,755  
Other accrued liabilities
    91       1,774       6,053  
Capitalizable leases — long term
                5,688  
Notes payable — long term
                3,797  
Accrued self-insured claims — long term
                4,803  
 
                 
Total liabilities
    91       3,868       38,316  
 
                 
 
Net assets acquired
  $ 9,777     $ 63,448     $ 116,082  
 
                 

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     The following unaudited pro forma summaries present the Company’s consolidated results of operations as if RJE, First South and UtiliQuest acquisitions had occurred on July 27, 2003, the first day of the Company’s fiscal year 2004.

                                 
    For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,     January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Total revenues
  $ 224,538,572     $ 217,770,828     $ 493,766,177     $ 469,974,837  
Income before income taxes
    12,196,028       27,879,745       38,367,349       53,570,835  
Net income
    7,373,590       16,996,376       23,219,325       32,290,365  
 
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.15     $ 0.35     $ 0.48     $ 0.67  
Diluted
  $ 0.15     $ 0.35     $ 0.47     $ 0.66  

4. Accounts Receivable

     Accounts receivable consist of the following:

                 
    January 29,     July 31,  
    2005     2004  
Contract billings
  $ 115,775,102     $ 131,297,850  
Retainage
    1,695,864       3,798,657  
Other receivables
    673,281       617,705  
 
           
Total
    118,144,247       135,714,212  
Less allowance for doubtful accounts
    2,493,458       3,787,700  
 
           
Accounts receivable, net
  $ 115,650,789     $ 131,926,512  
 
           

     The allowance for doubtful accounts changed as follows:

                                 
    For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,     January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Allowance for doubtful accounts at October 30, 2004 and October 25, 2003 for the three months ended, and July 31, 2004 and July 26, 2003 for the six months ended, respectively
  $ 3,405,516     $ 4,939,644     $ 3,787,700     $ 3,978,538  
Allowance for doubtful account balances from acquisitions
    105,913       350,000       214,678       350,000  
Amounts charged to bad debt expense
    397,300       731,969       13,497       1,545,380  
Write-offs, net of recoveries
    (1,415,271 )     (1,837,097 )     (1,522,417 )     (1,689,402 )
 
                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 2,493,458     $ 4,184,516     $ 2,493,458     $ 4,184,516  
 
                       

     As of January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, the Company expected to collect all retainage balances within the next twelve months.

     During the quarter ended January 29, 2005, the Company collected $6.5 million of outstanding accounts receivable, net of reserve, from a customer that is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. As of January 29, 2005, the Company no longer had any remaining receivables from this customer. The Company does not believe that any of its significant customers are experiencing significant financial difficulty as of January 29, 2005.

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     In the second quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company sold accounts receivable which consisted of pre-petition trade receivables due from Adelphia Communications Corporation (“Adelphia”) with a carrying value of $21.6 million. Adelphia filed for bankruptcy protection in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002. The Company received proceeds on the sale of $34.2 million and recorded a gain on the sale, net of expenses, of $11.4 million.

5. Costs and Estimated Earnings on Contracts in Progress

     The accompanying consolidated balance sheets include costs and estimated earnings on contracts in progress, net of progress billings as follows:

                 
    January 29,     July 31,  
    2005     2004  
Costs incurred on contracts in progress
  $ 44,393,886     $ 44,920,291  
Estimated to date earnings
    10,174,682       13,270,608  
 
           
Total costs and estimated earnings
    54,568,568       58,190,899  
Less billings to date
    881,865       157,195  
 
           
 
  $ 53,686,703     $ 58,033,704  
 
           
 
Included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under the captions:
               
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
  $ 54,225,648     $ 58,175,272  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    (538,945 )     (141,568 )
 
           
 
  $ 53,686,703     $ 58,033,704  
 
           

     The Company performs services under unit based and non-unit based contracts and the amounts presented above aggregate the effects of these types of contracts.

6. Property and Equipment

     The accompanying consolidated balance sheets include the following property and equipment:

                 
    January 29,     July 31,  
    2005     2004  
Land
  $ 4,671,162     $ 4,671,162  
Buildings
    10,827,435       10,417,351  
Leasehold improvements
    1,608,800       1,500,904  
Vehicles
    150,490,641       136,423,499  
Furniture and fixtures
    26,708,540       23,543,950  
Equipment and machinery
    112,348,020       103,132,612  
 
           
Total
    306,654,598       279,689,478  
Less accumulated depreciation
    196,123,442       179,336,565  
 
           
Property and equipment, net
  $ 110,531,156     $ 100,352,913  
 
           

     Expenses for maintenance and repairs of property and equipment amounted to $4,300,327 and $3,407,645 for the three months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively, and $9,071,346 and $6,466,362 for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively. Depreciation expense amounted to $11,962,327 and $10,544,467 for the three months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively, and $22,434,564 and $19,814,229 for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively.

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7. Intangible Assets

     Information regarding the Company’s intangible assets is as follows:

                         
    Weighted              
    Average Life              
    In Years     January 29, 2005     July 31, 2004  
Carrying amount:
                       
Licenses
    5     $ 51,030     $ 51,030  
Covenants not to compete
    5-7       1,250,843       1,250,843  
UtiliQuest tradename
          4,700,000       4,700,000  
Tradenames
    4-5       325,000       325,000  
Customer relationships
    15       32,222,522       30,800,000  
Backlog
    4       1,236,154       1,236,154  
 
                   
 
            39,785,549       38,363,027  
Accumulated amortization:
                       
Licenses
            50,906       45,803  
Covenants not to compete
            591,698       486,697  
Tradenames
            146,419       117,669  
Customer relationships
            3,057,536       1,692,999  
Backlog
            968,338       841,138  
 
                   
 
            4,814,897       3,184,306  
 
                   
Net
          $ 34,970,652     $ 35,178,721  
 
                   

     Amortization expense was $837,696 and $464,063 for the three months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively, and $1,630,591 and $528,711 for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively. Amortization for the Company’s customer relationships is recognized on an accelerated basis related to the expected economic benefit and amortization for other finite-lived intangibles is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the intangible assets. Estimated amortization expense for fiscal 2005 and each of the four succeeding years is as follows:

         
Fiscal year ending July:   Amount:  
 
     
2005
  $ 3,274,199  
2006
  $ 3,184,855  
2007
  $ 3,005,853  
2008
  $ 2,977,517  
2009
  $ 2,515,092  
Thereafter
  $ 16,943,726  

8. Accrued Self-Insured Claims

     The Company retains the risk, up to certain limits, for automobile liability, general liability and locate damage claims, workers’ compensation, and employee group health claims. A liability for unpaid claims and the associated claim expenses, including incurred but not reported losses, is actuarially determined and reflected in the consolidated financial statements as an accrued liability. The locate damages included in general liability represent claims resulting from damages to the underground utility where the Company provided utility locating services. Claims are estimated and developed by the Company based on facts, circumstances and historical evidence. The self-insured claims liability include incurred but not reported losses of approximately $23.5 million and $20.7 million at January 29, 2005 and July 31, 2004, respectively.

     Factors affecting the determination of amounts to be accrued for self-insured claims include, but are not limited to, the expected cost for existing and anticipated claims, frequency, or payment patterns resulting from new types of claims, the hazard level of the Company’s operations, the overall level of medical cost inflation, changes in the medical conditions of claimants, economic factors such as inflation, tort reform or other legislative changes, unfavorable jury decisions and court interpretations.

     For losses occurring in fiscal year 2005, the Company has retained the risk on a per occurrence basis for workers compensation, in states where the Company is allowed to retain risk, and for automobile liability to $1,000,000 and for general liability excluding UtiliQuest to $250,000. For UtiliQuest’s general liability and damage claims, the Company has retained the risk to $2,000,000. For fiscal year 2005, the Company has an aggregate stop loss coverage for these exposures at a stated retention of approximately $30.8 million. In addition, the Company has umbrella liability coverage to a policy limit of $75.0 million. Within the umbrella coverage, the Company has retained the risk of loss for automobile liability and general liability and damage claims between $2.0 and $5.0 million, on a per occurrence basis, with an aggregate stop loss for this layer of $10.0 million.

     For losses related to the Company’s employee health plan occurring during fiscal 2005, the Company has retained the risk, on an annual basis, of $200,000 per participant. For fiscal 2005, the Company has aggregate stop loss coverage for this exposure at the stated retention of approximately $23.2 million. For losses related to the UtiliQuest health plan, the Company has retained the risk, there is no aggregate stop loss coverage.

     The method of calculating the estimated accrued liability for self-insured claims is subject to inherent uncertainty. If actual results significantly differ from the Company’s estimates used to calculate the liability, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially impacted.

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      Accrued self-insured claims consist of the following:

                 
    January 29,     July 31,  
    2005     2004  
Current:
               
Accrued auto, general liability and workers’ compensation
  $ 12,385,588     $ 10,030,304  
Accrued employee group health
    3,879,095       2,932,153  
Accrued damage claims
    9,988,858       9,334,530  
 
           
 
    26,253,541       22,296,987  
Non-current:
               
Accrued auto, general liability and workers’ compensation
    18,903,244       19,524,261  
Accrued damage claims
    3,172,009       2,948,902  
 
           
 
    22,075,253       22,473,163  
 
           
Total accrued self-insured claims
  $ 48,328,794     $ 44,770,150  
 
           

9. Other Accrued Liabilities

     Other accrued liabilities consist of the following:

                 
    January 29,     July 31,  
    2005     2004  
Accrued payroll and related taxes
  $ 15,529,792     $ 17,882,725  
Accrued employee bonus and benefit costs
    4,113,132       9,127,699  
Accrued construction costs
    7,806,950       5,268,133  
Other
    9,629,246       9,249,910  
 
           
 
Total accrued liabilities
  $ 37,079,120     $ 41,528,467  
 
           

10. Notes and Capital Leases Payable

     Notes and capital leases payable are summarized as follows:

                 
    January 29,     July 31,  
    2005     2004  
Capital leases
  $ 5,257,913     $ 7,515,737  
Notes payable
    3,684,770       3,721,100  
Equipment loans
    16,689       20,159  
 
           
 
    8,959,372       11,256,996  
Less current portion
    3,881,741       4,162,978  
 
           
Notes and capital leases payable — non-current
  $ 5,077,631     $ 7,094,018  
 
           

     During the quarter ended January 29, 2005, the Company entered into a new five-year $300 million unsecured revolving Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks that replaced the Company’s prior credit agreement. The Credit Agreement provides the Company with a commitment of $300 million for a five-year period and includes a $100 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit. As of January 29, 2005, the Company had $34.5 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement. The outstanding letters of credit are all issued to insurance companies as part of the Company’s self-insurance program.

     The Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain certain financial covenants and imposes certain conditions including restricting its ability to encumber assets or incur certain types of indebtedness. The Company must maintain a leverage ratio of not greater than 2.75:1.00 and maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75:1.00, in each case as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. The Company must also maintain consolidated tangible net worth of not less than (i) $200,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of consolidated net income (if positive) from December 21, 2004 to the date of computation plus (iii) 75% of the equity issuances

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made from December 21, 2004 to the date of computation. At January 29, 2005, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants and conditions under the Credit Agreement.

     Loans under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either the bank’s base rate or LIBOR, plus a spread based upon the Company’s current leverage ratio. The bank’s base rate is the higher of the annual rate of the lead bank’s prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50%. Based upon the Company’s current leverage ratio, borrowings would be at the bank’s base rate for revolving borrowings based on the prime rate or the federal funds rate and 1.0% spread for revolving borrowings based on LIBOR. The Company deferred approximately $1.7 million of fees related to the Credit Agreement, which are being amortized over its five year term. The Company is required to pay a quarterly facility fee, at rates that range from 0.200% to 0.375% of the unutilized commitments depending on the Company’s leverage ratio, provided that in the event the Company is utilizing less than one-third of the facility the fee will be .375% of the unutilized commitments. The payments under the agreement are guaranteed by certain material subsidiaries of the Company.

     As part of the acquisition of UtiliQuest, the Company assumed the obligations of UtiliQuest under a long-term note payable in the amount of $3.6 million to a former owner of a subsidiary of UtiliQuest. This note bears interest at 6%, payable semi-annually on March 31 and September 30, and is due on November 16, 2006. Amounts due may be set-off against certain indemnification claims, if any, by UtiliQuest against the obligor. Additionally, as part of the acquisition, the Company acquired non-cancelable capital lease obligations with respect to certain vehicles and computer equipment that expire at various dates into fiscal 2007. Future minimum lease payments for the capital leases are as follows:

         
    Capital  
    Leases  
2005
  $ 2,002,244  
2006
    2,908,369  
2007
    573,090  
 
     
Future minimum lease payments
    5,483,703  
Less: portion representing interest
    225,790  
 
     
Future minimum lease payments, net
  $ 5,257,913  
 
     

11. Other income, net

     The components of other income, net, are as follows:

                                 
    For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,     January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Gain on sale of fixed assets
  $ 1,027,014     $ 303,280     $ 1,419,174     $ 898,173  
Miscellaneous income
    155,767       279,589       357,764       530,239  
 
                       
Total other income, net
  $ 1,182,781     $ 582,869     $ 1,776,938     $ 1,428,412  
 
                       

12. Commitments and contingencies

     The federal employment tax returns for two of the Company’s subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). As a result of the audit, the Company received an original proposed assessment from the IRS in March 2004. At issue, according to the examination reports, are the taxpayers’ characterization of certain employee reimbursements for the years 2000 and 2001. The Company reached an agreed assessment with the IRS regarding one of the two subsidiaries. The amount of the agreed assessment, which was paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2005, was recorded against the reserve for this matter that the Company established in fiscal 2004. Subsequent to this agreement, $7.4 million of the proposed assessment is still at issue. The Company continues to disagree with the amount of the proposed assessment with respect to the other subsidiary and is pursuing an administrative appeal of this matter which the Company intends to vigorously defend. The Company believes it has a number of legal defenses available that may substantially reduce the proposed assessment and has therefore not recorded any significant liability with respect to the remaining assessment.

     In the normal course of business, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries have pending claims and legal proceedings. It is the opinion of the Company’s management, based on information available at this time, that none of the current claims or proceedings will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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13. Capital Stock

     On November 23, 2004 and January 3, 2005, the Company granted 3,500 and 46,500 restricted shares, respectively, of its common stock to the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The restricted shares vest over a period of four years on December 31 of each year. Upon issuance of the restricted shares, deferred compensation of $1.5 million was charged to stockholders’ equity for the fair value of the restricted stock and is being recognized as compensation expense ratably over the four year vesting period. Non-cash compensation expense recognized during the quarter and six months ended January 29, 2005 related to the vesting of the restricted shares was not material.

     On November 25, 2003 and January 2, 2004, the Company granted 5,000 and 100,000 restricted shares, respectively, of its common stock to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The restricted shares vest over a period of four years on December 31 of each year. Upon issuance of the restricted shares, deferred compensation of $2.8 million was charged to stockholders’ equity for the fair value of the restricted stock and is being recognized as compensation expense ratably over the four year vesting period. Non-cash compensation expense of approximately $0.2 million and $0.4 million was recognized during the quarter and six months ended January 29, 2005 related to the vesting of the restricted shares.

     On November 25, 2003, the Company issued 175,840 shares of common stock in connection with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of First South and the assumption of certain liabilities associated with these assets.

     On February 24, 2003, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $25 million worth of the Company’s common stock over an eighteen-month period. No shares were repurchased under this program which expired in August 2004.

     On November 26, 2002, the shareholders of the Company approved the 2002 Directors Restricted Stock Plan whereby non-employee directors must elect to receive a minimum percentage of their annual retainer fees in restricted shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company has reserved 100,000 shares of its common stock for issuance under the plan. The number of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock to be granted is based on the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date such fees are payable. As of January 29, 2005, 8,889 shares had been issued under this plan at a weighted average market price of $21.39 per share.

14. Related Party Transactions

     The Company leases administrative offices from entities related to officers of certain of its subsidiaries. The total expense under these arrangements for the three months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004 was $329,271 and $388,864, respectively, and $630,582 and $788,147, for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively. The remaining future minimum lease commitments under these arrangements during each fiscal year through fiscal year 2009 and thereafter are:

         
    Related Party  
    Future Minimum  
    Lease Payments  
2005
  $ 630,582  
2006
    1,259,739  
2007
    1,227,145  
2008
    1,118,870  
2009
    536,625  
Thereafter
    722,950  
 
     
Total
  $ 5,495,911  
 
     

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15. Segment Information

     The Company operates in one reportable segment as a specialty contractor. The Company provides engineering, construction, installation, and maintenance services to telecommunications providers throughout the United States. The Company also provides underground locating services to various utilities and other construction and maintenance services to electric utilities and others. These services are provided by the Company’s various subsidiaries. All of the Company’s subsidiaries have been aggregated into one reporting segment due to their similar customer bases, products and production methods, and distribution methods. The following table presents information regarding contract revenues by type of customer:

                                 
    For the Three Months Ended     For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,     January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004     2005     2004  
Telecommunications
  $ 168,155,056     $ 159,090,160     $ 365,238,199     $ 326,940,203  
Utility line locating
    46,511,998       29,811,828       100,965,623       47,079,151  
Electrical utilities and other customers
    9,871,518       7,466,986       21,500,355       18,371,062  
 
                       
Total contract revenues
  $ 224,538,572     $ 196,368,974     $ 487,704,177     $ 392,390,416  
 
                       

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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

     We are a leading provider of specialty contracting services. These services are provided throughout the United States and include engineering, construction, installation and maintenance services to telecommunications providers. Additionally, we provide underground locating services to various utilities and electrical and other construction and maintenance services to electric utilities and others. Due to the nature of the services we provide, our revenues may fluctuate as a result of changes in the capital expenditure and maintenance budgets of our customers, and changes in the general level of construction activity. Factors impacting the capital expenditure and maintenance budgets of our customers include consumer demands on telecom providers, actions of the Federal Communications Commission and general economic conditions. For the six months ended January 29, 2005, specialty contracting services related to the telecommunications industry, underground utility locating and electrical and other construction and maintenance to electric utilities and others contributed approximately 74.9%, 20.7% and 4.4%, respectively, to our total contract revenues.

     We provide a significant portion of our services pursuant to multi-year master service agreements and we are currently a party to approximately 208 master service agreements. Master service agreements generally have the following characteristics: contract periods of one or more years, exclusivity and customer specified service requirements. In addition, master service agreements typically provide that we will furnish a specified unit of service for a specified unit price (i.e. fiber optic cable will be installed underground for a specified rate of dollars per foot). In some cases, a customer may terminate these agreements for convenience with at least 90 days prior written notice. Current trends have been toward securing or extending master service agreements on negotiated terms, while historically these agreements have primarily been awarded through a competitive bidding process.

     The remainder of our services are provided pursuant to contracts for particular jobs. Long-term contracts relate to specific projects with terms in excess of one year from the contract date. Short-term contracts are generally from three to four months in duration, depending upon the size of the project. A portion of our contracts include retainage provisions under which 5% to 10% of the contract invoicing is withheld subject to project completion and acceptance by the customer.

     Contract revenues from multi-year master service agreements represented 53.0% and 44.2% of total contract revenues for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively, and contract revenues from long-term contracts, including multi-year master service agreements, represented 88.1% and 84.5% of total contract revenues, respectively. The percentage increase in revenue derived from master service agreements is primarily due to agreements in place at UtiliQuest Holdings Corp. (“UtiliQuest”) which was acquired in December 2003. Many of the UtiliQuest agreements are multi-year master service agreements which have increased the multi-year service agreements as a percentage of long-term contracts.

     We recognize revenue on unit based contracts as the unit is completed. Revenue on non-unit based contracts is recognized under the percentage-of-completion method based primarily on the ratio of contract costs incurred to date to total estimated contract costs. At the time a loss on a contract becomes known, the entire amount of the estimated ultimate loss is accrued.

     We derive a significant amount of our revenue from telecommunications companies. During fiscal 2002 and into fiscal 2003, certain segments of the telecommunications industry suffered a severe downturn that has resulted in certain of our customers experiencing financial difficulties. Several of our customers filed for bankruptcy protection, including Adelphia Communications Corporation (“Adelphia”) and WorldCom, Inc. (“WorldCom”). The downturn in the telecommunications industry in fiscal 2002 and 2003 adversely affected capital expenditures for infrastructure projects even among customers that were not experiencing financial difficulties. Generally, capital expenditures by telecommunications customers increased in fiscal 2004 and 2005. Although the Company does not believe that any of its significant customers are experiencing significant financial difficulty as of January 29, 2005, additional bankruptcies of companies in the telecommunications sector could reduce our cash flows and adversely impact our liquidity.

     A significant portion of our revenue comes from several large customers. The following table reflects the percentage of total contract revenue received from customers contributing at least 2.5% of our total contract revenue in either the three or six month period ending January 29, 2005 or January 24, 2004:

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    For the Three Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004  
Verizon
    24.8 %     1.4 %
BellSouth
    16.7 %     13.2 %
Comcast Corporation
    11.3 %     30.1 %
Sprint
    7.4 %     11.0 %
Qwest
    4.2 %     5.9 %
DIRECTV
    3.7 %     3.0 %
Charter Communications
    3.5 %     3.5 %
Alltel
    2.4 %     2.5 %
Adelphia
    1.2 %     7.2 %
                 
    For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004  
Verizon
    19.7 %     0.9 %
BellSouth
    15.7 %     12.1 %
Comcast Corporation
    15.7 %     32.5 %
Sprint
    7.9 %     12.3 %
Qwest
    4.7 %     5.8 %
DIRECTV
    3.4 %     3.1 %
Charter Communications
    3.4 %     3.2 %
Alltel
    2.3 %     3.3 %
Adelphia
    1.5 %     5.9 %

     Cost of earned revenues includes all direct costs of providing services under our contracts, including all costs of construction personnel, subcontractor costs, all costs associated with operation of equipment (excluding depreciation) and insurance. Generally the customer provides the materials that are to be used for its job. Because we retain the risk for automobile and general liability, including damage claims, worker’s compensation, and employee group health claims subject to certain limits, a change in experience or actuarial assumptions could materially affect results of operations in a particular period.

     General and administrative costs include all our costs at the parent company level, as well as subsidiary management personnel and administrative overhead. Our management personnel, including subsidiary management, perform substantially all sales and marketing functions as part of their management responsibilities and, accordingly, we have not incurred material selling expenses.

Acquisitions

     On September 21, 2004, we acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of RJE Telecom Inc. (“RJE”), for a purchase price of approximately $9.8 million in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment, including transaction fees of approximately $0.1 million. RJE provides specialty contracting services primarily to telephone companies.

     On December 3, 2003, we acquired UtiliQuest for approximately $116.1 million. Under the terms of the merger agreement, UtiliQuest merged with a newly-formed subsidiary of the Company with UtiliQuest surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. We borrowed approximately $85.0 million under our previous credit agreement in connection with the acquisition of UtiliQuest. We repaid this debt during the third quarter of fiscal 2004. UtiliQuest is a provider of utility locating services.

     On November 25, 2003, we acquired substantially all of First South Utility Construction, Inc.’s (“First South”) assets and assumed certain liabilities associated with these assets for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $50.3 million in cash, adjusted for cash received by the Company for settlement of an escrow agreement in the second quarter of fiscal 2005, and 175,840 shares of our common stock. In conjunction with the acquisition, we also paid approximately $9.0 million in excess working capital consisting primarily of accounts receivable and unbilled revenue. We paid the purchase price of First South from cash on hand. First South provides specialty contracting services to telecommunications customers.

     As part of our growth strategy, we may acquire companies that expand, complement, or diversify our business. We regularly review various strategic opportunities and periodically engage in discussions regarding such possible acquisitions. Our ability to sustain growth and maintain our competitive position may be affected by our ability to achieve our acquisition strategy and successfully integrate any businesses acquired.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

     The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate these estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, the allowance for doubtful accounts, self-insured claims liability, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets and related asset lives, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on current information, historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recognition of revenue that are not readily apparent from other sources. We cannot assure you that actual results will not differ from those estimates. Please refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2004 for further information regarding our critical accounting policies and estimates.

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, as a percentage of contract revenues earned, certain items in our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:

                                 
    For the Three Months Ended  
    (dollars in millions)  
    January 29, 2005     January 24, 2004  
Revenues:
                               
Contract revenues earned
  $ 224.5       100.0 %   $ 196.4       100.0 %
 
Expenses:
                               
Cost of earned revenues, excluding depreciation
    182.0       81.0       151.2       77.0  
General and administrative
    18.9       8.4       18.9       9.6  
Depreciation and amortization
    12.8       5.7       11.0       5.6  
 
                       
Total expenses
    213.7       95.1       181.1       92.2  
 
                       
 
Interest income (expense), net
    0.2             (0.3 )     (0.2 )
Other income, net
    1.2       0.5       0.6       0.3  
Gain on sale of long-term accounts receivable
                11.4       5.8  
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    12.2       5.4       26.9       13.7  
 
                       
 
Provision for income taxes
    4.8       2.1       10.5       5.3  
 
                       
 
Net income
  $ 7.4       3.3 %   $ 16.4       8.4 %
 
                       
                                 
    For the Six Months Ended  
    (dollars in millions)  
    January 29, 2005     January 24, 2004  
Revenues:
                               
Contract revenues earned
  $ 487.7       100.0 %   $ 392.4       100.0 %
 
Expenses:
                               
Cost of earned revenues, excluding depreciation
    390.7       80.1       298.3       76.0  
General and administrative
    36.9       7.6       36.4       9.3  
Depreciation and amortization
    24.1       4.9       20.3       5.2  
 
                       
Total expenses
    451.6       92.6       355.0       90.5  
 
                       
 
Interest income, net
    0.2                    
Other income, net
    1.8       0.4       1.4       0.4  
Gain on sale of long-term accounts receivable
                11.4       2.9  
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    38.0       7.8       50.2       12.8  
 
                       
 
Provision for income taxes
    15.0       3.1       19.9       5.1  
 
                       
 
Net income
  $ 23.0       4.7 %   $ 30.4       7.7 %
 
                       

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     Revenues. Contract revenues increased $28.2 million, or 14.3%, to $224.5 million in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 from $196.4 million in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Of this increase, $9.1 million was attributable to an increase in specialty contracting services provided to telecommunications companies, an increase of $16.7 million in underground utility locating services provided to various utilities, and an increase of $2.4 million attributable to construction and maintenance services provided to electrical utilities and others. RJE, acquired in September 2004 and First South, acquired in November 2003, contributed $13.0 million and $12.0 million, respectively, of telecommunications services revenues during the quarter ended January 29, 2005. UtiliQuest, acquired in December 2003, contributed $32.0 million of underground utility locating services revenues during the quarter ended January 29, 2005. Our total contract revenues excluding revenues from RJE, First South and UtiliQuest for each period, was $167.6 million for the quarter ended January 29, 2005 compared to $172.8 million for same period in 2004, a decrease of 3.1%.

     During the quarter ended January 29, 2005, we recognized $168.2 million of contract revenues, or 74.9% of our total contract revenues, from telecommunications services as compared to $159.1 million, or 81.0% for the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Excluding revenue from RJE and First South for each period, contract revenues from telecommunications services for the quarter ended January 29, 2005 was $143.1 million compared to $152.2 million for same period in 2004, a decrease of 6.0%. This decrease in our telecommunications service revenues, excluding the impact of RJE and First South, was primarily attributable to a decline in revenues from two customers that are completing upgrade projects to their networks. These decreases were offset in part by revenues from one of our significant customers engaged in a fiber deployment project.

     We recognized contract revenues of $46.5 million, or 20.7% of our total contract revenues, from underground utility locating services in the quarter ended January 29, 2005, as compared to $29.8 million, or 15.2%, in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Excluding the revenue of UtiliQuest for each period, revenues from underground utility locating services for the quarter ended January 29, 2005 were $14.5 million compared to $13.2 million for same period in 2004, an increase of 9.8%. The revenue increase was primarily attributable to additional work performed for existing customers.

     We recognized contract revenues of $9.9 million, or 4.4% of our total contract revenues, from electrical utilities and other construction and maintenance services in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $7.5 million, or 3.8%, in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. The increase in our revenue from electrical utilities and other construction and maintenance services was primarily attributable to fiscal 2005 electrical maintenance contracts that were in the start-up phase in fiscal 2004.

     Contract revenues from multi-year master service agreements represented 55.4% of total contract revenues in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 as compared to 47.1% in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Contract revenues from multi-year master service agreements and other long-term agreements represented 87.9% of total contract revenues in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 as compared to 87.7% in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. The percentage increase in revenue derived from master service agreements is primarily due to agreements in place at UtiliQuest Holdings Corp. (“UtiliQuest”) which was acquired in December 2003. Many of the UtiliQuest agreements are multi-year master service agreements which have increased the multi-year service agreements as a percentage of long-term contracts.

     Contract revenues increased $95.3 million, or 24.3%, to $487.7 million for the six months ending January 29, 2005 from $392.4 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. Of this increase, $38.3 million was attributable to an increase in specialty contracting services provided to telecommunications companies, an increase of $53.9 million in underground utility locating services provided to various utilities, and an increase of $3.1 million attributable to construction and maintenance services provided to electrical utilities and others. RJE and First South contributed $43.6 million of contract revenues during the six months ended January 29, 2005, primarily in contract revenues from telecommunications services. UtiliQuest contributed $69.8 million of revenues during the six months ended January 29, 2005 from underground utility locating services. Excluding revenues attributable to these acquisitions for each period, our total contract revenues for the six months ended January 29, 2005 were $374.4 million compared to $368.9 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004, an increase of 1.5%.

     During the six months ended January 29, 2005, we recognized $365.2 million of contract revenues, or 74.9% of our total contract revenues, from telecommunications services as compared to $326.9 million, or 83.3% for the six months ended January 24, 2004. Excluding revenue from RJE and First South for each period, contract revenues from telecommunications services for the first half of the current fiscal year were $321.7 million compared to $320.0 million for same period in 2004, an increase of 0.5%. This increase in our telecommunications service revenues, excluding the impact of RJE and First South, was attributable to revenues from one of our significant customers engaged in fiber deployment project, and general increases in construction activities for telecommunications customers. The increase was offset in part by a decline in revenues from two customers that are completing upgrade projects to their networks, and a decline in revenue from a construction and maintenance contract with a significant customer.

     We recognized contract revenues of $101.0 million, or 20.7% of our total contract revenues, from underground utility locating services for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $47.1 million, or 12.0%, for the six months ended January 24,

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2004. Excluding the revenue of UtiliQuest for each period, revenues from underground utility locating services for the six months ended January 29, 2005 were $31.2 million compared to $30.5 million for same period in 2004, an increase of 2.3%. This increase is primarily the result of additional work performed for existing customers.

     We recognized contract revenues of $21.5 million, or 4.4% of our total contract revenues, from electrical utilities and other construction and maintenance services for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $18.4 million, or 4.7%, for the six months ended January 24, 2004. The increase in revenues from electrical utilities and other construction and maintenance services was primarily attributable to fiscal 2005 electrical maintenance contracts that were in the start-up phase in fiscal 2004. This increase was offset in part by the completion of a customer contract in the Southeastern United States during the quarter ended January 29, 2005.

     Contract revenues from multi-year master service agreements represented 53.0% of total contract revenues for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to 44.2% for the six months ended January 24, 2004. Contract revenues from multi-year master service agreements and other long-term agreements represented 88.1% of total contract revenues for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to 84.5% for the six months ended January 24, 2004. The percentage increase in revenue derived from master service agreements is primarily due to agreements in place at UtiliQuest Holdings Corp. (“UtiliQuest”) which was acquired in December 2003. Many of the UtiliQuest agreements are multi-year master service agreements which have increased the multi-year service agreements as a percentage of long-term contracts.

     Costs of Earned Revenues. Costs of earned revenues increased $30.8 million to $182.0 million in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 from $151.2 million in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. The primary components of this dollar increase were direct labor, subcontractor costs, direct materials, equipment and other direct costs which increased $15.9 million, $6.6 million, $4.7 million and $3.5 million, respectively, due to higher levels of operations during the quarter ended January 29, 2005. As a percentage of contract revenues, costs of earned revenues increased 4.0 % to 81.0% in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 from 77.0% in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Included in this increase was 3.4% for direct labor, as we incurred additional costs associated with the ramp-up of activities for the Fiber to the Premises (“FTTP”) initiatives of a telephone company and costs associated with the demobilization activities for a significant customer that is completing an upgrade project to its broadband network. This was also the result of increased utility locating services as a percentage of total revenue which generally has higher costs as a percentage of revenue. Direct materials increased by approximately 0.9% as a percentage of revenue primarily due to an increase in projects in which the Company provided materials to the customer compared to the same period last year. Other direct costs increased in aggregate dollars, but were approximately flat on a percentage of revenue basis, primarily driven by the increase in payroll and related costs related to earned revenue.

     Costs of earned revenues increased $92.4 million to $390.7 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005 from $298.3 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. The increase in cost of earned revenues for the six month period was primarily the result of increased levels of operations during the period. The primary components of this dollar increase were direct labor, subcontractor costs, direct materials, equipment and other direct costs which increased $43.8 million, $23.0 million, $12.6 million and $12.9 million, respectively, due to higher levels of operations during the first six months. As a percentage of contract revenues, costs of earned revenues increased 4.0 % to 80.1% in the six months ended January 29, 2005 from 76.0% for the six months ended January 24, 2004. Included in the increase were increases of 3.6% for direct labor and 0.5% for equipment and other costs as the result of higher utility locating services as a percentage of total revenue which generally has higher costs as a percentage of revenue. In addition, we incurred difficult weather conditions during the first quarter of fiscal 2005, costs associated with the ramp-up of activities for the Fiber to the Premises (“FTTP”) initiatives of a telephone company and costs associated with the demobilization activities for a significant customer that is completing an upgrade project to its broadband network. Direct materials also increased by approximately 0.9% as a percentage of revenue primarily due to an increase in projects in which we provided materials to the customer compared to the same period last year. Offsetting the percentage increases was a decrease in subcontractor costs as a percentage of revenue of approximately 0.9% due to higher utility locating services as a percentage of total revenues which does not use sub-contractor labor.

     General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses remained $18.9 million for the quarters ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively. General and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of contract revenues to 8.4% in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 from 9.6% in the quarter ended January 24, 2004. General and administrative expenses increased $0.5 million to $36.9 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005 from $36.4 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. General and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of contract revenues to 7.6% for the six months ended January 29, 2005 from 9.3% for the six months ended January 24, 2004. The percentage decreases in general and administrative expenses for the six month period is primarily due to the impact of the fixed nature of the expenses in relation to the higher contract revenues during the first six months of fiscal 2005 compared to the first six months of fiscal 2004.

     Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased $1.8 million to $12.8 million in the quarter ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $11.0 million in the quarter ended January 24, 2004, and increased as a percentage of contract revenues to 5.7% from 5.6%. Depreciation and amortization increased $3.7 million to $24.1 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $20.3 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004, and decreased as a percentage of contract revenues to 4.9% from 5.2%. The dollar amount increase was primarily due to increased depreciation and amortization from property and

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equipment and intangible assets related to the first quarter acquisition of RJE and the fiscal year 2004 acquisitions of UtiliQuest and First South, and increased levels of capital expenditures during the second half of fiscal 2004 and during fiscal 2005.

     Gain on Sale of Accounts Receivable. At July 26, 2003, we had pre-petition outstanding receivables from Adelphia of approximately $21.6 million after a write-down of $19.1 million. In the second quarter of fiscal 2004, we sold the Adelphia accounts receivable and recorded an $11.4 million gain on the sale.

     Interest Income. Interest income increased to $0.3 million for the three months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $0.2 million for the same period last year. Interest income decreased to $0.4 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to interest income of $0.5 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004.

     Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased by $0.4 million to $0.1 million for the quarter ended January 29, 2005 compared to $0.5 million for the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Interest expense decreased by $0.3 million to $0.2 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to interest expense of $0.5 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. The decrease in both the three and six month periods was due to prior year borrowings in connection with the UtiliQuest acquisition which were repaid during the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and the payments of capital leases.

     Other Income, net. Other income, which primarily includes net gains on the sale of idle assets, increased $0.6 million to $1.2 million for the quarter ended January 29, 2005 compared to $0.6 million for the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Other income increased $0.4 million to $1.8 million in the six months ended January 29, 2005 from $1.4 million in the six months ended January 24, 2004.

     Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes decreased by $5.7 million to $4.8 million for the three months ended January 29, 2005 compared to $10.5 million for the three months ended January 24, 2004. The provision for income taxes decreased $4.9 million to $15.0 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $19.9 million for the same period last year. Our effective tax rate was 39.5% for the three and six months ended January 29, 2005 as compared to 39.0% and 39.5% for the three and six months ended January 24, 2004. Based upon our current expectations for pre-tax income, we do not expect the tax rate to change significantly for the remainder of the year.

     Net Income. Net income was $7.4 million and $23.0 million in the quarter and six months ended January 29, 2005, respectively, as compared to $16.4 million and $30.4 million in the quarter and six months ended January 24, 2004.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     Capital requirements. We primarily need capital for equipment to support our contractual commitments to customers and to maintain sufficient working capital. Our working capital needs are influenced by the level of operations during the period and generally increase with higher levels of contract revenues. Additionally, our working capital requirements are influenced by the timing of the collection of balances outstanding from our customers for work previously performed. Our sources of cash have historically been operating activities, equity offerings, bank borrowings, and proceeds from the sale of idle and surplus equipment and real property. To the extent we seek to grow by acquisitions that involve consideration other than our stock, our capital requirements may increase.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $51.8 million at January 29, 2005 compared to $31.4 million at July 31, 2004.

                 
    For the Six Months Ended  
    January 29,     January 24,  
    2005     2004  
Net cash flows:
               
Provided by operations
  $ 58.0     $ 82.9  
Used in investing activities
  $ (38.6 )   $ (142.5 )
Provided by financing activities
  $ 1.0     $ 87.2  

     Cash from operating activities. For the six months ended January 29, 2005, net cash provided from operating activities was $58.0 million compared to $82.9 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. Net income, adjusted for non-cash items primarily consisting of depreciation, amortization, and provision for bad debts was our main source of operating cash flow. During the six months ended January 24, 2004, we received net proceeds on the sale of long-term accounts receivable of $34.2 million. Changes in working capital and changes in other long term assets and liability items combined provided $8.0 million of operating cash flow during the six month periods ended January 29, 2005 as compared to $9.0 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. Components of these working capital changes during the six months ended January 29, 2005 were decreases in accounts receivable and net unbilled revenue of $20.5 million and

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$8.1 million, respectively, attributable to collection and billing activities and current period operating levels. These cash flow increases were partially offset by decreases in accounts payable of $8.2 million attributable to the timing of receipt and payment of invoices, a decrease in accrued self-insured claims and other liabilities of $1.8 million due to current period payments and an increase in other current assets and other assets of $6.6 million and $4.5 million, respectively, primarily resulting from increases in prepaid insurance and other prepaid costs.

     Based on quarterly revenues, days sales outstanding for current accounts receivable, net was 46.9 days for the quarter ended January 29, 2005 compared to 58.7 days for the quarter ended January 24, 2004. Based on quarterly revenues, days sales outstanding for unbilled revenues, net was 21.8 days for the quarter ended January 29, 2005 compared to 17.8 days for the quarter ended January 24, 2004.

     Cash from investing activities. For the six months ended January 29, 2005, net cash used in investing activities was $38.6 million as compared to $142.5 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. For the six month periods ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, investing activities included capital expenditures of $32.9 million and $9.5 million, respectively, offset in part by $2.2 and $2.5 million, respectively, in proceeds from the sale of idle assets. Net proceeds from the sale and purchase of short-term investments contributed $0.6 million and $39.2 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004, respectively. During the six months ended January 24, 2004, we used proceeds as part of the funding for the First South and UtiliQuest acquisitions, which comprised acquisition expenditures of $174.7 million. During the six months ended January 29, 2005, we paid $9.8 million for the acquisition of RJE and received escrowed funds in connection with the First South acquisition.

     Cash from financing activities. For the six months ended January 29, 2005, net cash provided by financing activities was $1.0 million compared to $87.2 million for the six months ended January 24, 2004. Principal payments of approximately $2.3 million on capital leases were offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $3.3 million for the six months ended January 29, 2005. For the six months ended January 24, 2004, borrowings under our credit agreement were the primary source of cash from financing.

     During the quarter ended January 29, 2005 we entered into a new five-year $300 million revolving unsecured Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks that replaced the Company’s prior credit agreement. The Credit Agreement provides us with a commitment of $300 million for a five-year period expiring on December 21, 2009, and includes a $100 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit. As of January 29, 2005, we had $34.5 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement. The outstanding letters of credit are all issued to insurance companies as part of our self-insurance program.

     The Credit Agreement requires that we maintain certain financial covenants and imposes certain conditions including restricting our ability to encumber assets or incur certain types of indebtedness. We must maintain a leverage ratio of not greater than 2.75:1.00 and maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75:1.00, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. We must also maintain consolidated tangible net worth of not less than (i) $200,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of consolidated net income (if positive) from December 21, 2004 to the date of computation plus (iii) 75% of the equity issuances made from December 21, 2004 to the date of computation. At January 29, 2005, we were in compliance with all financial covenants and conditions under the Credit Agreement.

     Loans under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at our option, at either the bank’s base rate or LIBOR, plus a spread based upon our current leverage ratio. The bank’s base rate is the higher of the annual rate of the lead bank’s prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50%. Based upon our current leverage ratio, borrowings would be at the bank’s base rate for revolving borrowings based on the prime rate or the federal funds rate and 1.0% spread for revolving borrowings based on LIBOR. We deferred approximately $1.7 million of fees related to the Credit Agreement, which are being amortized over its five year term. We are required to pay a quarterly facility fee, at rates that range from 0.200% to 0.375% of the unutilized commitments depending on our leverage ratio, provided that in the event we are utilizing less than one-third of the facility the fee will be .375% of the unutilized commitments. The payments under the agreement are guaranteed by certain of our material subsidiaries.

     Certain subsidiaries have outstanding obligations under real estate leases and equipment and vehicle financing arrangements. The obligations are payable in monthly installments, expiring at various dates through November 2023.

Contractual Obligations

     The following tables set forth our contractual obligations, including interest, for each of our fiscal years through 2009 and thereafter, including related party leases:

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    Notes and Loans     Capital     Operating     Employment        
    Payable     Leases     Leases     Agreements     Total  
2005
  $ 74,773     $ 2,002,244     $ 3,939,860     $ 1,863,547     $ 7,880,424  
2006
    157,567       2,908,369       4,923,570       2,823,160       10,812,666  
2007
    3,642,111       573,090       3,079,282       1,705,643       9,000,126  
2008
                1,670,533       1,078,557       2,749,090  
2009
                802,560       211,667       1,014,227  
Thereafter
                832,125             832,125  
 
                             
Total
  $ 3,874,451     $ 5,483,703     $ 15,247,930     $ 7,682,574     $ 32,288,658  
 
                             

     Related party transactions. We lease some of our administrative offices from officers of our subsidiaries or entities related to officers of our subsidiaries. The total expense under these arrangements for the six months ended January 29, 2005 and January 24, 2004 was $0.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

     Stock Repurchase Program. On February 24, 2003, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $25 million worth of the Company’s common stock over an eighteen-month period. No shares were repurchased under this program which expired in August 2004.

     Sufficiency of Capital Resources. We believe that our capital resources, together with existing cash balances, are sufficient to meet our financial obligations, including lease commitments, and to support our normal replacement of equipment at our current level of business for at least the next twelve months. Our future operating results and cash flows may be affected by a number of factors including our success in bidding on future contracts and our continued ability to manage controllable costs effectively.

     Backlog. Our backlog is comprised of the uncompleted portion of services to be performed under job-specific contracts and the estimated value of future services that we expect to provide under long-term requirements contracts. For certain recently initiated multi-year projects relating to fiber deployments, we have included in backlog only those amounts relating to calender year 2005. In many instances our customers are not contractually committed to specific volumes of services under a contract. However, the customer is obligated if the services are requested by the customer. Many of these contracts are multi-year agreements, and we include in our backlog the amount of services projected to be performed over the terms of the contracts based on our historical relationships with customers and our experience in procurements of this nature. However, there can be no assurance as to a customer’s requirements during a particular period or that such estimates at any point in time are accurate.

     Our backlog at January 29, 2005 and July 31, 2004 was $1.4 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively. We expect to complete approximately 59.0% of our current backlog during the next twelve months.

Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations

     Our revenues can be affected by seasonality. Since most of the work we perform is done outdoors, our results of operations can be impacted by extended periods of inclement weather. Generally, inclement weather occurs during the winter months, the second and third quarters of our fiscal year. In addition, a disproportionate number of holidays fall within our second quarter which impacts our number of available weekdays and productivity.

     In addition, we have experienced and expect to continue to experience quarterly variations in revenues and net income as a result of other factors, including:

  •   the timing and volume of customers’ construction and maintenance projects,
 
  •   budgetary spending patterns of customers,
 
  •   the commencement or termination of master service agreements and other long-term agreements with customers,
 
  •   costs incurred to support growth internally or through acquisitions,
 
  •   fluctuation in result of operations caused by acquisitions,
 
  •   changes in mix of customers, contracts, and business activities, and
 
  •   fluctuations in insurance expense accruals due to changes in claims experience and actuarial assumptions.

     Accordingly, operating results for any fiscal period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any subsequent fiscal period.

Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

     This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “project,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

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Such statements may include, but may not be limited to, the anticipated outcome of contingent events, including litigation, projections of revenues, income or loss, capital expenditures, plans for future operations, growth and acquisitions, financial needs or plans and the availability of financing, and plans relating to our services including backlog, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. Forward–looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results in the future to differ materially from the results projected or implied in any forward-looking statements contained in this report. Such risks and uncertainties include: business and economic conditions in the telecommunications industry affecting our customers, a change in our customers’ financial condition, the adequacy of our insurance and other reserves and allowances for doubtful accounts, whether the carrying value of our assets may be impaired, the anticipated outcome of contingent events, including litigation, liquidity needs and the availability of financing. Such forward looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     We considered the provision of Financial Reporting Release No. 48, “Disclosure of Accounting Policies for Derivative Financial Instruments and Derivative Commodity Instruments, and Disclosure of Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risk Inherent in Derivative Financial Instruments, Other Financial Instruments and Derivative Commodity Instruments” in determining our market risk. We had no significant holdings of derivative financial or commodity instruments at January 29, 2005. A review of our other financial instruments and risk exposures at that date revealed that we had exposure to interest rate risk. At January 29, 2005, we performed sensitivity analyses to assess the potential effect of this risk and concluded that a hypothetical change in interest rates of 100 basis points would not materially affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flow.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer each concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15(d)–15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1914, as amended, that occurred during the quarter ended January 29, 2005 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

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

     An annual meeting of shareholders of the Company was held on November 23, 2004 to consider and take action on the election of two directors and the approval of the Dycom Industries, Inc. Annual Incentive Plan.

     The Company’s nominee, Charles M. Brennan, III, was elected as a director of the Company. Mr. Brennan received 41,740,596 votes for and 2,212,756 votes abstained. The Company’s nominee, Joseph M. Schell, was elected as a director of the Company. Mr. Schell received 42,790,307 votes for and 1,163,045 votes abstained. Each of the following directors’ term of office as a director of the Company continued after the annual meeting: Stephen C. Coley, Kristina M. Johnson, Steven E. Nielsen, and Tony G. Werner.

     The Dycom Industries, Inc. Annual Incentive Plan was approved by the shareholders. The votes were 42,476,879 for approval of the plan, 1,367,037 votes against approval of the plan, and 109,436 votes abstained.

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Item 6. Exhibits

     Exhibits furnished pursuant to the requirements of Form 10-Q:

     
Number
  Description
 
   
(10.1)
  Credit Agreement dated December 21, 2004 by and among Dycom Industries, Inc. and the Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent (incorporated by reference to Dycom’s Form 8-K filed with the commission on December 23, 2004)
 
   
(10.2)
  Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Timothy R. Estes and Dycom Industries Inc. dated as of November 4, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Dycom’s Form 8-K filed with the commission on November 10, 2004)
 
   
(10.3)
  Restricted Stock Agreement between Timothy R. Estes and Dycom Industries, Inc. dated as of November 23, 2004
 
   
(10.4)
  Restricted Stock Agreement between Timothy R. Estes and Dycom Industries, Inc. dated as of January 3, 2005
 
   
(11)
  Statement re computation of per share earnings; All information required by Exhibit 11 is presented within Note 2 of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 128
 
   
(31.1)
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) 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)/15d-14(a) 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

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SIGNATURES

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.

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.

Registrant
         
     
Date: March 10, 2005  /s/ Steven E. Nielsen    
  Name:   Steven E. Nielsen   
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer   
 
         
     
Date: March 10, 2005  /s/ Richard L. Dunn    
  Name:   Richard L. Dunn   
  Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   
 

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