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8-K - FORM 8-K - Enventis Corpform8k.htm

 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 Contacts:     David Christensen, CFO 
    507-387-3355 
    Jennifer Spaude, Investor Relations 
   
507-386-3765
 
HickoryTech Reports First Quarter 2012 Results
Total revenue increased 22 percent
Equipment Segment revenue up 67 percent, Fiber and Data revenue increased 22 percent
 Successful closing of IdeaOne Acquisition

MANKATO, Minn., April 30, 2012 — HickoryTech Corporation (NASDAQ: HTCO) today reported earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 of $2.3 million, up 8 percent over the comparable quarter last year and earnings per share totaled 17 cents per diluted share, a 6 percent increase from last year.  Revenue totaled $46.9 million, up 22 percent year over year.
 
“Our business product lines continue to produce excellent results and drove the strong revenue increases in the first quarter, giving us a solid start to the year,” said John Finke, HickoryTech’s president and chief executive officer.  “A significant backlog of customer orders for equipment flowed into fiscal 2012 and contributed to our Equipment Segment revenue of $17.4 million which increased 67 percent over the first quarter last year.  Additionally, fiber and data revenue increased 22 percent, demonstrating our success in growing our business data services.  Also contributing to our successful quarter was the addition of one month of IdeaOne results.”

Close of IdeaOne Acquisition
The company completed its IdeaOne acquisition on March 1, 2012, financed by a $22 million expansion of the company’s senior credit facility and approximately $6 million cash.  Debt as of March 31, 2012, was $141.9 million, representing a debt-to-EBITDA leverage ratio of less than three-to-one using a full year of IdeaOne historical operations.

IdeaOne, a facilities-based fiber CLEC operating in the Fargo, North Dakota area, provides data networking, Internet, colocation, phone and hosting services to approximately 3,600 business and residential customers in the Fargo area. The acquisition added a robust metro fiber network to HickoryTech’s regional fiber network.  The company reports IdeaOne results as part of its Fiber and Data Segment operations.

Fiber and Data Segment (before inter-segment eliminations)
First quarter fiber and data segment revenue totaled $13.4 million, up 22 percent year over year, and is attributed to success in commercial and wholesale transport and data services, and the one month addition of IdeaOne operations.  Costs and expenses totaled $11.1 million, an increase of 16 percent year over year.  Net income totaled $1.4 million, up 58 percent from one year ago.
·  
Fiber and data segment revenue totaled $13.4 million, up $1.4 million or 11 percent increase sequentially over the fourth quarter of 2011.
·  
Fiber and data segment operating income totaled $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2012, a 58 percent increase year over year.  As a percent of revenue, the segment’s operating margin of 17.5 percent increased over last year due to the IdeaOne acquisition as well as efficiencies obtained with higher proportions of revenue from on-net applications.

Equipment Segment (before inter-segment eliminations)
First quarter Equipment Segment revenue totaled $17.4 million, up 67 percent year over year, primarily due to an active period of equipment installations.
·  
Hardware sales increased 87 percent versus first quarter 2011 while support services revenue decreased 5 percent for the comparable period.
·  
Equipment segment operating income totaled $820,000 in the first quarter of 2012, up $322,000 or 65 percent year-over-year.  As a percent of revenue, the operating margin of 4.7 percent is consistent with the prior year.
 
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Telecom Segment (before inter-segment eliminations)
First quarter Telecom Segment revenue totaled $16.7 million, a 6 percent decrease year over year.  Telecom results reflect the impact of expected declines in legacy local service and network access service revenues, and were partially offset by increases in bill processing revenue from the company’s Information Solutions subsidiary.  Costs and expenses totaled $14.5 million, a 2 percent decrease year over year. Telecom Segment net income totaled $1.3 million, a 24 percent decrease compared to the first quarter 2011.
·  
Broadband revenue totaled $5.0 million, flat compared to 2011.  Broadband revenue includes DSL, Internet, Data and Digital TV services.
·  
Network access revenue totaled $4.9 million, a 16 percent decrease year over year, which reflects the anticipated declines due to access line and minute-of-use erosion, the expiration of interstate infrastructure support reimbursements, a one-time refund of interstate support fees, and the initial impacts of industry-wide access reform regulation.
·  
Local service revenue totaled $3.4 million, down 7 percent from 2011.
·  
Bill processing revenue totaled $1.2 million, up 64 percent year over year.  The Information Solutions subsidiary provides data processing and billing services to external customers, and includes both recurring and non-recurring service revenue.

Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures in the first quarter 2012 totaled $3.6 million net of grants from the Greater Minnesota Broadband Collaborative Project, compared with $3.7 million in first quarter 2011.

Debt Position
Long-term debt and current maturities of debt, including capitalized leases, totaled $141.9 million as of March 31, 2012.  The 2012 debt balance represents an increase from $120.2 million as of Dec. 31, 2011, as a result of the $22 million deployed to acquire IdeaOne.  Net debt, a measure of actual balance-sheet strength that subtracts the cash balance from total debt, totaled $121.2 million as of March 31, 2012, a $14 million increase from the $107.2 million net debt reported as of Dec. 31, 2011.

“We continue to be diligent in the use of our free cash flows to achieve our strategic objectives,” Finke said.  “The reported $14 million increase in net debt during the first quarter is notable as we used $28 million of cash and debt in closing on the IdeaOne acquisition.  The low increase in net debt can be attributed to the excellent free cash flow generated by Company operations.”

Fiscal Outlook
HickoryTech confirmed its previous fiscal 2012 outlook, as outlined below, without change. Guidance metrics reflect the IdeaOne acquisition as of March 1, 2012.
·  
Revenue is expected to range from $177 million to $183 million
·  
Net Income is expected to range from $7.6 million to $8.6 million (factors in high level of depreciation associated with network expansion)
·  
Diluted Earnings Per Share is expected to range between $0.57 to $0.64 per share
·  
CAPEX is expected to range from $25 million to $29 million (net of government grants for the Greater Minnesota Broadband Collaborative Project)
·  
EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) is expected to range from $46 million to $48 million (factors in Telecom impact resulting from Access Reform Plan)
·  
Debt balance at Dec. 31, 2012 is expected to range from $141 million to $144 million

Conference Call and Webcast
HickoryTech will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, May 1 at 9 a.m. CT. The dial-in number for the call is 877-774-2369 and the conference ID is 71846306.  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., HickoryTech has 500 employees and a five-state fiber network spanning more than 3,250 route miles across Minnesota and into Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.  Enventis provides business IP voice, data and video solutions, MPLS networking, data center and managed hosted services and communication systems.  HickoryTech delivers broadband Internet, Digital TV, voice and data services to businesses and consumers in southern Minnesota and northwest Iowa. The Company trades on the NASDAQ, symbol: 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 these 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.  These 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 Statements of Operations
 
(unaudited)
 
                   
   
Three Months Ended March 31
   
%
 
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
 
2012
   
2011
   
Change
 
Operating revenue:
                 
   Equipment
  $ 15,299     $ 8,195       87 %
   Services
    31,645       30,427       4 %
     Total operating revenue
    46,944       38,622       22 %
                         
Costs and expenses:
                       
   Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization
    13,466       6,999       92 %
   Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization
    15,326       14,735       4 %
   Selling, general and administrative expenses
    6,706       6,543       2 %
   Depreciation
    6,056       5,591       8 %
   Amortization of intangibles
    138       88       57 %
     Total costs and expenses
    41,692       33,956       23 %
                         
Operating income
    5,252       4,666       13 %
                         
   Interest and other income
    20       10       100 %
   Interest expense
    (1,364 )     (1,068 )     28 %
Income before income taxes
    3,908       3,608       8 %
Income tax provision
    1,586       1,466       8 %
                         
Net income
  $ 2,322     $ 2,142       8 %
                         
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.17     $ 0.16       6 %
                         
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    13,450,850       13,329,603          
                         
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.17     $ 0.16       6 %
                         
Diluted weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding
    13,468,749       13,341,871          
                         
Dividends per share
  $ 0.14     $ 0.135       4 %
 
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Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
(unaudited)
 
   
 (Dollars and Share Data in Thousands)
 
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
Assets
 
Current assets:
           
     Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 20,724     $ 13,057  
     Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $169 and $436
    20,554       25,317  
     Inventories
    5,460       9,297  
     Income taxes receivable
    -       498  
     Deferred income taxes, net
    1,559       1,559  
     Prepaid expenses
    2,382       1,801  
     Other
    597       964  
         Total current assets
    51,276       52,493  
                 
Investments
    3,199       4,277  
                 
Property, plant and equipment
    409,879       396,816  
     Accumulated depreciation
    (235,184 )     (242,886 )
         Property, plant and equipment, net
    174,695       153,930  
                 
Other assets:
               
    Goodwill
    29,034       27,303  
    Intangible assets, net
    5,476       2,314  
    Deferred costs and other
    3,784       3,669  
        Total other assets
    38,294       33,286  
                 
Total assets
  $ 267,464     $ 243,986  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
Current liabilities:
               
     Accounts payable
  $ 6,481     $ 4,661  
     Extended term payable
    8,615       6,920  
     Accrued income taxes
    1,072       -  
     Deferred revenue
    5,778       6,251  
     Accrued expenses and other
    6,868       10,175  
     Current maturities of long-term obligations
    1,621       1,407  
        Total current liabilities
    30,435       29,414  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
     Debt obligations, net of current maturities
    140,272       118,828  
     Accrued income taxes
    154       154  
     Deferred revenue
    1,125       1,131  
     Financial derivative instruments
    2,516       2,469  
     Accrued employee benefits and deferred compensation
    18,409       18,166  
     Deferred income taxes
    30,660       30,627  
        Total long-term liabilities
    193,136       171,375  
                 
             Total liabilities
    223,571       200,789  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
     Common stock, no par value, $.10 stated value
               
        Shares authorized: 100,000
               
        Shares issued and outstanding:  13,488 in 2012 and 13,396 in 2011
    1,349       1,340  
     Additional paid-in capital
    15,875       15,683  
     Retained earnings
    32,241       31,797  
     Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
    (5,572 )     (5,623 )
           Total shareholders' equity
    43,893       43,197  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 267,464     $ 243,986  

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Fiber and Data Segment
 
(unaudited)
 
                   
   
Three Months Ended March 31
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2012
   
2011
   
% Change
 
Revenue before intersegment eliminations:
                 
   Services
  $ 13,219     $ 10,861       22 %
   Intersegment
    193       161       20 %
Total Fiber and Data revenue
    13,412       11,022       22 %
                         
Cost of services  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    6,595       5,821       13 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    2,506       2,130       18 %
Depreciation and amortization
    1,966       1,586       24 %
   Total costs and expenses
    11,067       9,537       16 %
                         
Operating income
  $ 2,345     $ 1,485       58 %
Net income
  $ 1,395     $ 883       58 %
                         
Capital expenditures
  $ 1,965     $ 1,806       9 %


Equipment Segment
 
(unaudited)
 
                   
   
Three Months Ended March 31
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2012
   
2011
   
% Change
 
Revenue before intersegment eliminations:
                 
   Equipment
  $ 15,299     $ 8,195       87 %
   Support Services
    2,122       2,229       -5 %
Total Equipment revenue
    17,421       10,424       67 %
                         
Cost of sales  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    13,466       6,999       92 %
Cost of services  (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    1,712       1,678       2 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    1,352       1,181       14 %
Depreciation and amortization
    71       68       4 %
   Total costs and expenses
    16,601       9,926       67 %
                         
Operating income
  $ 820     $ 498       65 %
Net income
  $ 486     $ 295       65 %
                         
Capital expenditures
  $ 73     $ 6       1117 %
 
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Telecom Segment
 
(unaudited)
 
                   
   
Three Months Ended March 31
   
%
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
2012
   
2011
   
Change
 
Revenue before intersegment eliminations:
                 
    Local Service
  $ 3,429     $ 3,693       -7 %
    Network Access
    4,903       5,812       -16 %
    Broadband
    5,002       5,054       -1 %
    Directory
    782       872       -10 %
    Long Distance
    648       729       -11 %
    Bill Processing
    1,205       737       64 %
    Intersegment
    410       412       0 %
    Other
    335       440       -24 %
Total Telecom revenue
  $ 16,714     $ 17,749       -6 %
                         
Total Telecom revenue before intersegment eliminations
                       
    Unaffiliated Customers
  $ 16,304     $ 17,337          
    Intersegment
    410       412          
      16,714       17,749          
                         
Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    7,561       7,761       -3 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    2,833       3,084       -8 %
Depreciation and amortization
    4,133       4,003       3 %
    Total costs and expenses
    14,527       14,848       -2 %
                         
Operating income
  $ 2,187     $ 2,901       -25 %
                         
Net income
  $ 1,299     $ 1,716       -24 %
                         
Capital expenditures
  $ 1,596     $ 1,930       -17 %
                         
Key Metrics
                       
     Business access lines
    21,954       23,932       -8 %
     Residential access lines
    23,679       26,678       -11 %
Total access lines
    45,633       50,610       -10 %
Long distance customers
    31,498       33,513       -6 %
Digital Subscriber Line customers
    19,451       20,032       -3 %
Digital TV customers
    10,247       10,591       -3 %

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Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
 
                         
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three months ended
 
Reconciliation of net debt:
 
Mar-12
   
Dec-11
   
Sep-11
   
Jun-11
 
Debt obligations, net of current maturities
  $ 140,272     $ 118,828     $ 119,169     $ 110,230  
Current maturities of long-term obligations
    1,621       1,407       1,436       8,462  
Total Debt
  $ 141,893     $ 120,235     $ 120,605     $ 118,692  
Less:
                               
     Cash and cash equivalents
    20,724       13,057       11,316       14,930  
Net Debt
  $ 121,169     $ 107,178     $ 109,289     $ 103,762  


   
Year Ending December 31, 2012
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Guidance Range
 
Reconciliation of net income to 2012 EBITDA guidance:
 
Low
   
High
 
Projected net income
  $ 7,600     $ 8,600  
Add back:
               
     Depreciation and amortization
    27,400       27,200  
     Interest expense
    5,800       6,200  
     Taxes
    5,200       6,000  
Projected EBITDA guidance 1
  $ 46,000     $ 48,000  
                 
1 EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, is as defined in our credit agreement
         


   
Three months ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Mar-12
   
Dec-11
   
Sep-11
   
Jun-11
 
Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA:
                       
Net income
  $ 2,322     $ 1,430     $ 2,971     $ 2,694  
Add:
                               
Depreciation
    6,056       5,812       5,706       5,593  
Amortization
    138       89       88       89  
Interest expense
    1,364       1,315       1,487       1,015  
Income taxes
    1,586       913       1,910       1,307  
Acquisition related expenses
    -       510       -       -  
EBITDA
  $ 11,466     $ 10,069     $ 12,162     $ 10,698  
                                 
Debt to EBITDA ratio
                               
   Total outstanding debt as of March 31, 2012
          $ 141,893                  
   EBITDA for the last (4) consecutive fiscal quarters as presented above
      44,395                  
   IdeaOne Telecom historical EBITDA (reflects 11 months)
            4,135                  
Debt to EBITDA ratio as of March 31, 2012
            2.9