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8-K - FORM 8K - Enventis Corpform8k.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: David Christensen, CFO
  507-387-3355 
  Jennifer Spaude, Investor Relations 
  507-386-3765 
 
HickoryTech Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results

·  
Revenue increased 4 percent year-over-year totaling $45.2 million in third quarter
·  
Equipment revenue increased 43 percent, Broadband revenue up 5 percent
·  
Company increased its fiscal outlook for 2011
·  
Favorable new financing agreement secured in third quarter offering low-cost capital growth

MANKATO, Minn., Nov. 1, 2011 — HickoryTech Corporation (NASDAQ: HTCO) today reported earnings for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011.  Revenue totaled $45.2 million, a 4 percent increase year-over-year. Third quarter net income of $3.0 million, or 22 cents per diluted share, was down year over year partially due to a $1.9 million release of income tax reserves and a $1.1 million fiber construction project in third quarter 2010, both which increased net income.  Third quarter net income is 10 percent higher on a sequential basis.

“Our third quarter results show continued positive progress with our growth strategy and key initiatives,” said John Finke, HickoryTech’s president and chief executive officer.  “Managing our strong cash flows and leveraging investments in key strategic areas continues to be our focus.  We see solid demand for our business services and our consumer business remains stable.  Extending our fiber network allows us to pursue new growth opportunities across multiple customer segments in new and existing markets. We are on track to meet and exceed our objectives for fiscal 2011.”

Capital expenditures in the third quarter totaled $5.6 million, down $900,000 from the same period last year. Business Sector capital investments totaled $3.2 million and supported local market expansion, capacity upgrades and success based initiatives. Telecom Sector investments of $2.4 million supported core network services and broadband growth and expansion.

“We broke ground on our Greater Minnesota Broadband Collaborative Project in the third quarter which will further expand our fiber footprint from St. Paul and Minneapolis to Duluth, Minnesota,” said Finke. “The majority of this fiber route will be completed in 2011 and we’ll begin the northwestern Minnesota route in 2012. We continue to invest in long-term growth initiatives while maintaining strong cash flows and a solid balance sheet.”

Business Sector (before inter-segment eliminations)
Third quarter Business Sector revenue totaled $28 million, up 10 percent year-over-year, driven by steady growth in equipment sales.  Costs and expenses totaled $24.8 million, an increase of 12 percent year over year, the result of increased equipment sales and sales and operations expense. Net income totaled $1.9 million, down 7 percent from one year ago.
·  
Fiber and data revenue totaled $11.6 million, down 14 percent year-over-year and relatively flat from the previous quarter.  A unique fiber construction project in 2010 added $3.3 million of revenue and $1.9 million in pretax income to the fiber and data product line in the third quarter 2010. Excluding the 2010 fiber construction project, fiber and data organic revenue grew 14 percent.
 ·  
Equipment product revenue totaled $16.4 million, an increase of 35 percent year-over-year.  Equipment sales increased 43 percent from the third quarter of 2010 and support services revenue was relatively flat year-over-year.
       ·  
Business Sector operating income was $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2011, a 7 percent decrease year over year.  Excluding the fiber construction project in 2010, Business Sector operating income grew 107 percent in third quarter 2011.
 
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Telecom Sector (before inter-segment eliminations)
Telecom Sector revenue totaled $17.9 million, down 4 percent year-over-year.  Telecom Sector results were stable and reflect growth in broadband services offset by the impact of declines in legacy network access and local services.  Costs and expenses totaled $14.9 million, a 5 percent decrease year-over-year. Telecom Sector net income totaled $1.8 million, down 2 percent from the comparable period in 2010.
·  
Broadband revenue totaled $5.1 million, up 5 percent year-over-year.  Broadband revenue includes DSL, Internet, Data and Digital TV services.
·  
Network access revenue totaled $5.5 million, down 5 percent year-over-year.
·  
Local service revenue totaled $3.5 million, down 8 percent from one year ago, and local access lines declined 7 percent.

Debt Position
Long-term debt and total current maturities totaled $120.6 million as of Sept. 30, 2011, up slightly from the $119 million as of Dec. 31, 2010.  Net debt, a measure of actual balance-sheet strength that subtracts the cash balance from total debt, totaled $109.3 million as of Sept. 30, 2011, a $9.6 million improvement from the $118.9 million net debt as of Dec. 31, 2010.

The company completed the refinance of its senior credit facility in August 2011 at very favorable terms and conditions.  The new $150 million agreement includes $120 million in secured term loans and a $30 million revolving debt facility which is currently unutilized.  The new agreement offers the company access to additional financing to deploy capital in pursuit of its strategic growth initiatives.

“We are very pleased with the terms and cost of this refinancing,” Finke said. “This refinancing demonstrates the confidence our lenders have in our business plan.”  The term of the new facility runs through 2016. Borrowing under the new credit agreement bears interest at 3.0 percent plus LIBOR based on current leverage ratios of approximately 2.8 to one, with no LIBOR floor amount.

In the third quarter, HickoryTech announced a stock repurchase program in which the company intends to repurchase up to $3 million of HickoryTech’s common stock. Additionally during the same quarter, the company declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share of HickoryTech common stock to be paid in the fourth quarter, representing a 4 percent increase from the previous dividend of $0.135. The company has declared shareholder dividends for more than 60 years and has increased its dividend twice in the past five quarters.
 
HickoryTech increased its fiscal 2011 outlook, as outlined below:
·  
Revenue is expected to range from $162 million to $166 million (previously $158 million to $164 million)
·  
Net Income is expected to range from $9.3 million to $10.2 million (previously $7.4 million to $8.7 million)
·  
Diluted Earnings Per Share is expected to range between $0.69 to $0.77 per share (previously $0.55 and $0.65 per share)
·  
CAPEX is expected to range from $20.5 million to $24 million net of government grants for Broadband Collaborative Project (no change)
·  
EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) is expected to range from $42.3 million to $44 million (previously $41 million to $43.2 million)
·  
Debt balance at Dec. 31, 2011 is expected to range from $118 million to $123 million (no change)

Conference Call and Webcast
HickoryTech will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. CT. The dial-in number for the call is 877-774-2369 and the conference ID is 17033253.  A simultaneous webcast of the call and downloadable presentation will be available through a link on the Investor Relations page at http://investor.hickorytech.com.

About HickoryTech
HickoryTech Corporation is a leading communications provider serving business and residential customers in the upper Midwest.  With headquarters in Mankato, Minn., the corporation has 460 employees and an expanded, multi-state fiber network spanning more than 2,750 route miles serving Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.  Enventis provides IP-based voice and data solutions, MPLS networking, data center and managed hosted services and communication systems to businesses across a five-state region.  HickoryTech delivers broadband Internet, Digital TV, voice and data services to businesses and consumers in southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa.  NASDAQ:  HTCO. For more information, visit www.hickorytech.com.

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Non-GAAP Measures
To supplement the Company’s financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company provides certain non-GAAP financial measures of financial performance and position. The Company’s reference to non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to results prepared under current accounting standards, but are not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.  Non-GAAP measures are provided to enhance investors’ overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance, financial position and ability to generate cash flows. In many cases non-GAAP financial measures are used by analysts and investors to evaluate the Company’s performance and financial position. Reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure included in this press release can be found in the financial table included below. 

Forward-looking statement
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry in which HickoryTech operates and management's beliefs and assumptions. The forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and probabilities. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. HickoryTech undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

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Consolidated Statement of Operations
 
(unaudited)
 
                                     
   
Three Months Ended September 30
   
%
   
Nine Months Ended September 30
   
%
 
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change
 
Revenue:
                                   
Equipment
  $ 14,269     $ 9,954       43 %   $ 31,499     $ 27,906       13 %
Services
    30,975       33,526       -8 %     92,475       92,562       0 %
Total revenue
    45,244       43,480       4 %     123,974       120,468       3 %
                                                 
Costs and Expenses:
                                               
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization
    12,223       8,519       43 %     27,146       23,968       13 %
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization
    14,738       16,458       -10 %     44,244       45,402       -3 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    6,147       6,669       -8 %     19,419       18,425       5 %
Depreciation
    5,706       5,356       7 %     16,890       15,900       6 %
Amortization of intangibles
    88       90       -2 %     265       268       -1 %
Total costs and expenses
    38,902       37,092       5 %     107,964       103,963       4 %
                                                 
Operating income
    6,342       6,388       -1 %     16,010       16,505       -3 %
                                                 
Interest and other income
    26       11       136 %     50       62       -19 %
Interest expense
    (1,487 )     (1,128 )     32 %     (3,570 )     (3,820 )     -7 %
Income before income taxes
    4,881       5,271       -7 %     12,490       12,747       -2 %
Income taxes
    1,910       228       738 %     4,683       2,767       69 %
                                                 
Net income
  $ 2,971     $ 5,043       -41 %   $ 7,807     $ 9,980       -22 %
                                                 
                                                 
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.22     $ 0.38       -42 %   $ 0.58     $ 0.76       -24 %
                                                 
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    13,394,225       13,263,600               13,363,874       13,215,046          
                                                 
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.22     $ 0.38       -42 %   $ 0.58     $ 0.76       -24 %
                                                 
Diluted weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding
    13,409,414       13,264,996               13,376,261       13,217,325          
                                                 
Dividends per share
  $ 0.135     $ 0.13       4 %   $ 0.405     $ 0.39       4 %

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Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
(unaudited)
 
             
(Dollars and Share Data in Thousands)
 
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
ASSETS
 
Current assets:
           
      Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 11,316     $ 73  
      Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $405 and $570
    34,664       24,642  
      Inventories
    5,924       5,205  
      Income taxes receivable
    -       3,814  
      Deferred income taxes
    2,008       2,008  
      Prepaid expenses
    2,506       2,026  
      Other
    829       1,030  
          Total current assets
    57,247       38,798  
                 
Investments
    4,224       4,512  
                 
Property, plant and equipment
    390,508       379,433  
      Accumulated depreciation
    (238,070 )     (224,356 )
          Property, plant and equipment, net
    152,438       155,077  
                 
Other assets:
               
      Goodwill
    27,303       27,303  
      Intangible assets, net
    2,403       2,668  
      Deferred costs and other
    3,311       1,830  
      Total other assets
    33,017       31,801  
                 
Total assets
  $ 246,926     $ 230,188  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
               
      Extended term payable
  $ 12,631     $ 8,254  
      Accounts payable
    3,718       2,840  
      Accrued expenses and other
    9,461       7,929  
      Accrued income taxes
    3,739       -  
      Deferred revenue
    6,049       5,073  
      Financial derivative instruments
    -       1,079  
      Current maturities of long-term obligations
    1,436       4,892  
          Total current liabilities
    37,034       30,067  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
      Debt obligations, net of current maturities
    119,169       114,067  
      Accrued income taxes
    157       562  
      Deferred income taxes
    26,349       26,868  
      Deferred revenue
    1,195       1,397  
      Financial derivative instruments
    2,708       -  
      Accrued employee benefits and deferred compensation
    16,527       15,923  
          Total long-term liabilities
    166,105       158,817  
                 
          Total liabilities
    203,139       188,884  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
      Common stock, no par value, $.10 stated value
               
          shares authorized: 100,000
               
          Shares issued and outstanding: 13,380 in 2011 and 13,299 in 2010
    1,338       1,330  
      Additional paid-in capital
    15,187       14,328  
      Retained earnings
    32,242       29,841  
      Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
    (4,980 )     (4,195 )
          Total shareholders' equity
    43,787       41,304  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 246,926     $ 230,188  
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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Business Sector Recap
 
(unaudited)
 
                                     
   
Three Months Ended September 30
   
%
   
Nine Months Ended September 30
   
%
 
(Dollars In thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change
 
Revenue before intersegment eliminations
                                   
Equipment
  $ 14,269     $ 9,954       43 %   $ 31,499     $ 27,906       13 %
Support Services
    2,147       2,164       -1 %     7,087       6,373       11 %
    Equipment
    16,416       12,118       35 %     38,586       34,279       13 %
                                                 
Fiber and Data
    11,368       13,257       -14 %     33,296       33,578       -1 %
Intersegment
    219       157       39 %     566       387       46 %
Total Business Sector revenue
  $ 28,003     $ 25,532       10 %   $ 72,448     $ 68,244       6 %
                                                 
Total revenue before intersegment eliminations
                                               
   Unaffiliated customers
  $ 27,784     $ 25,375             $ 71,882     $ 67,857          
   Intersegment
    219       157               566       387          
    $ 28,003     $ 25,532             $ 72,448     $ 68,244          
 
                                               
Cost of sales  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    12,223       8,519       43 %     27,146       23,968       13 %
Cost of services  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    7,468       8,600       -13 %     22,343       22,881       -2 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    3,465       3,476       0 %     10,220       9,510       7 %
Depreciation and amortization
    1,671       1,535       9 %     4,952       4,305       15 %
   Total costs and expenses
    24,827       22,130       12 %     64,661       60,664       7 %
                                                 
Operating income
  $ 3,176     $ 3,402       -7 %   $ 7,787     $ 7,580       3 %
Net income
  $ 1,890     $ 2,023       -7 %   $ 4,631     $ 4,498       3 %
                                                 
Capital expenditures
  $ 3,201     $ 4,830       -34 %   $ 7,517     $ 10,801       -30 %

 
Business Equipment Product Line
 
             
   
Three Months Ended September 30
         
Nine Months Ended September 30
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
   
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
 
Revenue before intersegment eliminations
                                   
Equipment
  $ 14,269     $ 9,954       43 %   $ 31,499     $ 27,906       13 %
Support Services
    2,147       2,164       -1 %     7,087       6,373       11 %
      16,416       12,118       35 %     38,586       34,279       13 %
                                                 
Cost of sales  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    12,223       8,519       43 %     27,146       23,968       13 %
Cost of services  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    1,634       1,666       -2 %     5,008       5,078       -1 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    1,235       1,319       -6 %     3,765       3,547       6 %
Depreciation and amortization
    74       120       -38 %     213       270       -21 %
   Total costs and expenses
    15,166       11,624       30 %     36,132       32,863       10 %
                                                 
Operating income
  $ 1,250     $ 494       153 %   $ 2,454     $ 1,416       73 %
Net income
  $ 744     $ 293       154 %   $ 1,458     $ 858       70 %
                                                 
Capital expenditures
  $ 213     $ 78       173 %   $ 306     $ 212       44 %

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Business Fiber and Data Product Line
 
                                     
   
Three Months Ended September 30
         
Nine Months Ended September 30
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
   
2011
   
2010
   
% Change
 
Revenue before intersegment eliminations:
                               
Services
  $ 11,368     $ 13,257       -14 %   $ 33,296     $ 33,578       -1 %
Intersegment
    219       157       39 %     566       387       46 %
      11,587       13,414       -14 %     33,862       33,965       0 %
                                                 
Cost of services  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    5,834       6,934       -16 %     17,335       17,803       -3 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    2,230       2,157       3 %     6,455       5,963       8 %
Depreciation and amortization
    1,597       1,415       13 %     4,739       4,035       17 %
   Total costs and expenses
    9,661       10,506       -8 %     28,529       27,801       3 %
                                                 
Operating income
  $ 1,926     $ 2,908       -34 %   $ 5,333     $ 6,164       -13 %
Net income
  $ 1,146     $ 1,730       -34 %   $ 3,173     $ 3,640       -13 %
                                                 
Capital expenditures
  $ 2,988     $ 4,752       -37 %   $ 7,211     $ 10,589       -32 %


Telecom Sector Recap
 
                                     
   
Three Months Ended September 30
   
%
   
Nine Months Ended September 30
   
%
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
   
Change
   
2011
   
2010
   
Change
 
Revenue
                                   
Local Service
  $ 3,534     $ 3,832       -8 %   $ 10,822     $ 11,528       -6 %
Network Access
    5,512       5,812       -5 %     17,088       17,791       -4 %
Long Distance
    717       800       -10 %     2,173       2,420       -10 %
Broadband
    5,101       4,857       5 %     15,245       13,825       10 %
Directory
    845       912       -7 %     2,563       2,717       -6 %
Bill Processing
    1,330       1,148       16 %     2,917       2,725       7 %
Intersegment
    404       562       -28 %     1,220       1,459       -16 %
Other
    421       744       -43 %     1,284       1,605       -20 %
Total Telecom Revenue
  $ 17,864     $ 18,667       -4 %   $ 53,312     $ 54,070       -1 %
                                                 
Total Telecom revenue before intersegment eliminations
                                               
Unaffiliated Customers
  $ 17,460     $ 18,105             $ 52,092     $ 52,611          
Intersegment
    404       562               1,220       1,459          
      17,864       18,667               53,312       54,070          
                                                 
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization
    7,844       8,539       -8 %     23,540       24,252       -3 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    2,919       3,185       -8 %     9,035       9,168       -1 %
Depreciation and amortization
    4,101       3,881       6 %     12,137       11,772       3 %
Total costs and expenses
    14,864       15,605       -5 %     44,712       45,192       -1 %
                                                 
Operating income
  $ 3,000     $ 3,062       -2 %   $ 8,600     $ 8,878       -3 %
                                                 
Net income
  $ 1,787     $ 1,818       -2 %   $ 5,102     $ 4,998       2 %
                                                 
Capital expenditures
  $ 2,440     $ 1,688       45 %   $ 6,615     $ 6,209       7 %
                                                 
Key Metrics
                                               
     Business access lines
    23,378       24,468       -4 %                        
     Residential access lines
    25,329       28,028       -10 %                        
Total access lines
    48,707       52,496       -7 %                        
Long distance customers
    32,730       34,459       -5 %                        
DSL customers
    19,749       19,642       1 %                        
Digital TV customers
    10,503       10,301       2 %                        
 
- more -
 
 
 

 
 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
(Dollars in thousands)
                 
Reconciliation of net debt:
 
September 30, 2011
   
June 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Debt obligations, net of current maturities
  $ 119,169     $ 8,462     $ 114,067  
Current maturities of long-term obligations
    1,436       110,230       4,892  
Total Debt
  $ 120,605     $ 118,692     $ 118,959  
Less:
                       
     Cash and cash equivalents
    11,316       14,930       73  
Net Debt
  $ 109,289     $ 103,762     $ 118,886  
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
Sep-11
   
Jun-11
   
Mar-11
   
Dec-10
 
(Dollars in thousands)
                       
Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA:
                       
Net income
  $ 2,971     $ 2,694     $ 2,142     $ 2,114  
Add:
                               
Depreciation
    5,706       5,593       5,591       5,765  
Amortization of intangibles
    88       89       88       89  
Interest expense
    1,487       1,015       1,068       1,094  
Taxes
    1,910       1,307       1,466       1,266  
EBITDA
  $ 12,162     $ 10,698     $ 10,355     $ 10,328  
                                 
                                 
Debt to EBITDA ratio
                               
Total outstanding debt as of September 30, 2011
                    $ 120,605  
EBITDA for the last (4) consecutive fiscal quarters as presented above
      43,543  
Debt to EBITDA ratio as of September 30, 2011
                      2.8  
 
 
   
Year Ending December 31, 2011
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Guidance Range
 
Reconciliation of net income to 2011 EBITDA guidance:
 
Low
   
High
 
Projected net income
  $ 9,300     $ 10,200  
Add back:
               
     Depreciation and amortization
    22,700       23,000  
     Interest expense
    4,700       4,800  
     Taxes
    5,600       6,000  
Projected EBITDA guidance 1
  $ 42,300     $ 44,000  
                 
1 EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, is as defined in our debt agreement
 
 
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