Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - OTELCO INC.t69793_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1
 
GRAPHIC
 
Contact:  Curtis Garner
  Chief Financial Officer
  Otelco Inc.
  205-625-3571
  Curtis@otelcotel.com.
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter and Year 2010 Results

ONEONTA, Alabama (February 16, 2011) Otelco Inc. (NASDAQ: OTT) (TSX: OTT.un), a wireline telecommunications services provider in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire and West Virginia, today announced results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.  Key highlights for Otelco include:

·  
 
Total revenues of $25.9 million for fourth quarter and $104.4 million for 2010.
·  
 
Operating income of $6.8 million for fourth quarter and $26.4 million for 2010.
·  
 
Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) of $12.8 million for fourth quarter and $50.7 million for 2010.

“We were pleased with our strong fourth quarter financial results, as the Company generated operating income of $6.8 million and adjusted EBITDA of $12.8 million,” said Mike Weaver, President and Chief Executive Officer of Otelco. “For the first time in our corporate history, we generated annual adjusted EBITDA in excess of $50 million, with an increase in total annual revenue and improving EBITDA margins.

“Our cash position remains strong,” continued Weaver.  “We increased our cash for the year by $0.5 million after making a voluntary repayment of senior debt of $6.1 million and an increase in capital expenditures of $0.6 million to expand our CLEC operations in New England, our video products in Alabama and our wireless data offerings in Missouri.

“Our plans for 2011 include continuing the expansion of our CLEC services into New Hampshire as well as establishing CLEC services in Massachusetts,” added Weaver.  “To lead this expansion, we have completed the reorganization of our sales and marketing departments and more than doubled our sales team.  Although we experienced some loss of access line equivalents in the fourth quarter, we believe this was primarily due to our refusal to compete solely on price and our commitment to providing quality products and services to our customers.

“One of our goals for 2010 was to control our cost of services and products and reduce our selling and administrative costs. Our efforts on this front were successful as evidenced by the improvement in our EBITDA margin of 1.5%,” Weaver concluded.  “We will continue to explore alternative means of delivering products and services to our customers as we remain focused on controlling our costs.   Our commitment to building value for and returning cash to our shareholders is unwavering, as evidenced by our twenty-fourth consecutive IDS dividend.”

Distribution to Income Deposit Security Holders
 
Each quarter, the Board will consider the declaration of dividends during its normally scheduled meeting.  For this quarter, the Board is meeting on February 23, 2011.  The scheduled interest and any dividend declared will be paid on March 30, 2011, to holders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2011.  The interest payment will cover the period from December 30, 2010 through March 29, 2011.  Currently, it is anticipated that the Company’s dividends in 2011 will continue to be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes.  The Company has made twenty-four successive quarterly distributions of dividends and interest since its IDS units were originally offered to the public in December 2004.
 
 
-MORE-

 
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Page 2
February 16, 2011

 
Fourth Quarter 2010 Financial Summary
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Change
 
   
2009
   
2010
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Revenues
  $ 26,055     $ 25,950     $ (105 )     (0.4 ) %
Operating income
  $ 5,537     $ 6,761     $ 1,224       22.1 %
Interest expense
  $ (5,901 )   $ (6,258 )   $ 357       6.0 %
Net income (loss) available to stockholders
  $ (200 )   $ 596     $ 796       *  
  Basic net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.04     $ 0.06       *  
  Diluted net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.04     $ 0.06       *  
                                 
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
  $ 12,211     $ 12,780     $ 569       4.7 %
Capital expenditures
  $ 3,204     $ 3,782     $ 578       18.0 %
                                 
             * Not a meaningful calculation
                               
                                 
   
Year Ended December 31,
   
Change
 
      2009       2010    
Amount
   
Percent
 
Revenues
  $ 103,755     $ 104,400     $ 645       0.6 %
Operating income
  $ 21,927     $ 26,369     $ 4,442       20.3 %
Interest expense
  $ (25,416 )   $ (24,747 )   $ (669 )     (2.6 ) %
Net income (loss) available to stockholders
  $ (3,118 )   $ 691     $ 3,809       *  
  Basic net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.25 )   $ 0.05     $ 0.30       *  
  Diluted net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.25 )   $ 0.05     $ 0.30       *  
                                 
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
  $ 48,848     $ 50,672     $ 1,824       3.7 %
Capital expenditures
  $ 9,596     $ 10,225     $ 629       6.6 %
                                 
             * Not a meaningful calculation
                               
                                 
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss)
                               
   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
      2009       2010       2009       2010  
Net income (loss)
  $ (200 )   $ 596     $ (3,118 )   $ 691  
Add: Depreciation
    3,850       3,673       14,445       13,837  
          Interest expense - net of premium
    5,564       5,916       22,896       23,385  
          Interest expense - caplet cost
    -       -       1,168       -  
          Interest expense - amortize loan cost
    338       342       1,352       1,361  
          Income tax expense (benefit)
    (258 )     473       (1,367 )     610  
          Change in fair value of derivatives
    185       (543 )     1,355       879  
          Loan fees
    19       19       76       76  
          Amortization - intangibles
    2,713       2,304       12,041       9,833  
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 12,211     $ 12,780     $ 48,848     $ 50,672  
 
(a) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income (loss) plus interest expense, depreciation and amortization, income taxes and certain non-recurring fees, expenses or charges and other non-cash charges reducing consolidated net income.  Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure calculated in accordance with generally acceptable accounting principles (GAAP).  While providing useful information, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for consolidated statement of operations data prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful as a tool to analyze the Company on the basis of operating performance and leverage.  The definition of Adjusted EBITDA corresponds to the definition of Adjusted EBITDA in the indenture governing the Company’s senior subordinated notes and its credit facility and certain of the covenants contained therein.  The Company’s presentation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
 
 
-MORE-

 
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Page 3
February 16, 2011

 
Otelco Inc. - Key Operating Statistics
                                   
                                     
                           
Quarterly
   
Annual
 
                           
% Change
   
% Change
 
   
December 31,
   
Sept. 30,
   
Dec. 31,
   
Sept. 30-Dec. 31
       
   
2008
   
2009
   
2010
   
2010
   
2010
    2009-2010  
Otelco access line equivalents(1)
    100,043       100,356       100,872       99,639       (1.2 ) %     (0.7 ) %
                                                 
RLEC and other services:
                                               
Voice access lines
    51,530       48,215       46,359       45,461       (1.9 ) %     (5.7 ) %
Data access lines
    18,709       20,066       20,890       20,852       (0.2 ) %     3.9 %
Access line equivalents(1)
    70,239       68,281       67,249       66,313       (1.4 ) %     (2.9 ) %
Cable television customers
    4,082       4,195       4,248       4,227       (0.5 ) %     0.8 %
Additional internet customers
    11,864       9,116       7,483       6,975       (6.8 ) %     (23.5 ) %
RLEC dial-up
    1,183       786       447       393       (12.1 ) %     (50.0 ) %
Other dial-up
    9,213       6,439       4,804       4,300       (10.5 ) %     (33.2 ) %
Other data lines
    1,468       1,891       2,232       2,282       2.2 %     20.7 %
                                                 
CLEC:
                                               
Voice access lines
    26,558       28,647       30,118       29,944       (0.6 ) %     4.5 %
Data access lines
    3,246       3,428       3,505       3,382       (3.5 ) %     (1.3 ) %
Access line equivalents(1)
    29,804       32,075       33,623       33,326       (0.9 ) %     3.9 %
Wholesale network connections
    98,187       132,324       145,300       149,043       2.6 %     12.6 %
                                                 
                                                 
   
At and for the Years Ended
           
Annual Change
 
   
December 31,
            2009-2010  
    2008     2009     2010            
Amount
   
Percent
 
Total Revenues (in millions):
  $ 77.1     $ 103.8     $ 104.4             $ 0.6       0.6 %
RLEC
  $ 54.4     $ 60.8     $ 58.4             $ (2.4 )     (3.9 ) %
CLEC
  $ 22.7     $ 43.0     $ 46.0             $ 3.0       7.0 %
                                                 
                                                 
 
(1) We define access line equivalents as voice access lines and data access lines (including cable modems, digital subscriber lines, and dedicated data access trunks).

FINANCIAL DISCUSSION FOR FOURTH QUARTER 2010:

Revenue
Total revenues decreased 0.4% in the three months ended December 31, 2010, to $26.0 million from $26.1 million in the three months ended December 31, 2009.  CLEC revenue gains for local services and network access were offset by lower RLEC revenues.   Local services revenue decreased 0.5% in the fourth quarter and held at $12.1 million in both quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.  Expansion of CLEC revenue produced a $0.3 million increase, which was offset by $0.3 million in lower RLEC basic service revenues.  Network access revenue decreased 1.2% in the fourth quarter to $8.3 million from $8.4 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Access revenue related to RLEC subscriber usage and lower NECA settlements accounted for a decrease of $0.3 million, including 2010 cost study estimates.  CLEC state access and special access revenues increased $0.2 million as the Company continued its expansion into the New Hampshire market.  Cable television revenue in the three months ended December 31, 2010, increased 9.3% to just over $0.7 million in fourth quarter 2010 compared to just under $0.7 million in the same period in 2009.  Growth in digital family packages of $0.1 million was partially offset by a $0.1 million decrease in basic cable.  Internet revenue for the fourth quarter 2010 decreased 0.8% to stay at $3.5 million in both quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. Growth in broadband data lines was offset by the loss of dial-up subscribers.  Transport services revenue increased 2.0% to $1.4 million in the three months ended December 31, 2010 and the same period in 2009.
 
 
-MORE-

 
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Page 4
February 16, 2011

 
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses in the three months ended December 31, 2010, decreased 6.5% to $19.2 million from $20.5 million in the three months ended December 31, 2009.  Cost of services and products decreased 0.2% to stay at $9.9 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2010 and for the same period last year.   Reductions in RLEC costs and adjustments related to the settlement of the FairPoint bankruptcy were offset by higher costs associated with increasing CLEC revenue.  Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 18.0% to $3.3 million in the three months ended December 31, 2010, from $4.0 million in the three months ended December 31, 2009.  Settlements with several carriers in 2010 decreased uncollectible reserves by $0.5 million coupled with decreases of $0.2 million in legal fees and insurance for a net change of $0.7 million.  Depreciation and amortization for fourth quarter 2010 decreased 8.9% to $6.0 million from $6.6 million in the fourth quarter 2009.  Amortization of intangible assets associated with the Country Road acquisition decreased $0.4 million, including a covenant not to compete and contract and customer base intangible assets. The remaining decrease of $0.2 million reflected lower depreciation of plant assets in Alabama partially offset by an increase in depreciation in Missouri.

Interest Expense
Interest expense increased 6.0% to $6.3 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2010, from $5.9 million a year ago. The increase in interest expense included $0.1 million in interest on the additional senior subordinated notes issued in the Class B conversion that occurred in June 2010 with the remaining change of $0.3 million due to changes in interest rates associated with a second interest rate swap becoming effective in 2010.

Change in Fair Value of Derivatives
As a requirement of the existing senior debt, the Company has two interest rate swap agreements intended to hedge changes in interest rates on its senior debt. The swap agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting under the technical requirements of Accounting Standards Codification 815. Changes in value for the two swaps are reflected in change in the fair value of derivatives on the income statement and have no impact on cash. Over the life of the swaps, the change in value will be zero, with no impact on Adjusted EBITDA or operations. The value of the swaps increased $0.5 million in fourth quarter 2010 compared to a decrease of $0.2 million in the same period of 2009.

Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2010, was $12.8 million compared to $12.2 million for the same period in 2009 and $12.7 million in the third quarter of 2010.  See financial tables for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss).

Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2010, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $18.2 million compared to $17.7 million at the end of 2009.  Total long-term notes payable was reduced to $271.6 million, reflecting a voluntary prepayment of $6.1 million made in November 2010. The fourth quarter distribution of $5.6 million in interest and dividends to our shareowners and $0.3 million in interest to our bond holders occurred on December 30, 2010.  This represents the twenty-fourth consecutive quarterly distribution since going public in December 2004.

Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures were $3.8 million for the quarter as the Company continues to grow and invest in its infrastructure.  The Company is expanding its CLEC capabilities in Maine and New Hampshire; enhancing DSL and wireless broadband capacity; and expanding IPTV capability in Alabama.

Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call
Otelco has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet, on Thursday, February 17, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. ET.  To participate in the call, participants should dial (913) 312-1471 and ask for the Otelco call 10 minutes prior to the start time.  Investors, analysts and the general public will also have the opportunity to listen to the conference call free over the internet by visiting the Company's website at www.OtelcoInc.com  or www.earnings.com. To listen to the live call online, please visit the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.  For those who cannot listen to the live webcast, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website at www.OtelcoInc.com or www.earnings.com for 30 days.  A one-week telephonic replay may also be accessed by calling (719) 457-0820 and using the passcode 6468816.
 
 
-MORE-

 
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Page 5
February 16, 2011

 
ABOUT OTELCO
Otelco Inc. provides wireline telecommunications services in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire and West Virginia.  The Company’s services include local and long distance telephone, network access, transport, digital high-speed data lines and dial-up internet access, cable television and other telephone related services. With more than 99,000 voice and data access lines, which are collectively referred to as access line equivalents, Otelco is among the top 25 largest local exchange carriers in the United States based on number of access lines.  Otelco operates ten incumbent telephone companies serving rural markets, or rural local exchange carriers.  It also provides competitive retail and wholesale communications services through several subsidiaries.  For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.OtelcoInc.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms “believes”, “belief,” “expects,” ‘intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” or similar terms to be uncertain and forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 
-MORE-

 
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Page 6
February 16, 2011

 
OTELCO INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
As of
   
As of
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2010
 
Assets
           
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 17,731,044     $ 18,226,374  
Accounts receivable:
               
Due from subscribers, net of allowance for doubtful
               
accounts of $473,572 and $230,752, respectively
    4,650,909       4,406,257  
Unbilled receivables
    2,444,979       2,161,277  
Other
    3,200,945       3,257,882  
Materials and supplies
    1,969,966       1,817,311  
Prepaid expenses
    1,342,249       1,305,028  
Income tax receivable
    389,486       -  
Deferred income taxes
    744,531       626,267  
Total current assets
    32,474,109       31,800,396  
                 
Property and equipment, net
    69,028,973       63,887,213  
Goodwill
    188,190,078       188,190,078  
Intangible assets, net
    34,218,115       25,934,042  
Investments
    1,991,158       1,967,095  
Deferred financing costs
    6,964,015       5,757,825  
Deferred income taxes
    4,482,430       4,415,097  
Prepaid expenses
    -       106,685  
Other assets
    179,325       77,261  
Total assets
  $ 337,528,203     $ 322,135,692  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 3,145,728     $ 1,523,944  
Accrued expenses
    6,167,023       6,129,859  
Advance billings and payments
    1,665,422       1,595,133  
Deferred income taxes
    394,850       353,285  
Customer deposits
    172,109       172,479  
Total current liabilities
    11,545,132       9,774,700  
Deferred income taxes
    42,239,262       42,512,576  
Interest rate swaps
    1,592,813       2,471,331  
Advance billings and payments
    698,352       656,968  
Other liabilities
    165,968       368,349  
Long-term notes payable
    273,717,301       271,595,855  
Total liabilities
    329,958,828       327,379,779  
                 
Class B common convertible to senior subordinated notes
    4,085,033       -  
                 
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
               
Class A  Common Stock, $.01 par value-authorized 20,000,000 shares;
               
issued and outstanding 12,676,733 and 13,221,404 shares, respectively
    126,767       132,214  
Class B  Common Stock, $.01 par value-authorized 800,000 shares; issued
               
and outstanding 544,671 and 0 shares, respectively
    5,447       -  
Additional paid in capital
    10,340,862       921,718  
Retained deficit
    (6,988,734 )     (6,298,019 )
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
    3,484,342       (5,244,087 )
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)
  $ 337,528,203     $ 322,135,692  
 
 
-MORE-

 
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Page 7
February 16, 2011

 
OTELCO INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
                           
     
Three Months Ended
   
Twelve Months Ended
 
     
December 31,
         
December 31,
       
     
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
 
Revenues
                         
Local services
    $ 12,126,018     $ 12,065,986     $ 48,441,222     $ 49,014,404  
Network access
    8,420,532       8,316,058       33,297,241       32,981,919  
Cable television
    655,848       716,754       2,489,011       2,798,672  
Internet
      3,484,669       3,455,752       14,027,365       14,014,819  
Transport services
    1,368,407       1,395,287       5,500,615       5,590,405  
       Total revenues     26,055,474       25,949,837       103,755,454       104,400,219  
Operating expenses
                                 
Cost of services and products
    9,933,348       9,912,225       41,178,502       41,286,418  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    4,022,110       3,299,539       14,164,465       13,074,794  
Depreciation and amortization
    6,563,245       5,977,344       26,485,628       23,670,243  
       Total operating expenses     20,518,703       19,189,108       81,828,595       78,031,455  
                                   
Income from operations
    5,536,771       6,760,729       21,926,859       26,368,764  
                                   
Other income (expense)
                               
Interest expense
    (5,901,295 )     (6,257,673 )     (25,416,024 )     (24,746,542 )
Change in fair value of derivatives
    (184,887 )     542,764       (1,354,759 )     (878,518 )
Other income
      91,574       23,171       359,484       556,820  
       Total other expenses     (5,994,608 )     (5,691,738 )     (26,411,299 )     (25,068,240 )
                                   
Income (loss) before income tax
    (457,837 )     1,068,991       (4,484,440 )     1,300,524  
Income tax (expense) benefit
    257,977       (472,974 )     1,366,629       (609,809 )
                                   
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ (199,860 )   $ 596,017     $ (3,117,811 )   $ 690,715  
                                   
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
      12,676,733       13,221,404       12,676,733       12,985,629  
Diluted
      13,221,404       13,221,404       13,221,404       13,221,404  
Basic net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.04     $ (0.25 )   $ 0.05  
Diluted net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.04     $ (0.25 )   $ 0.05  
                                   
Dividends declared per share
  $ 0.18     $ 0.18     $ 0.71     $ 0.71  
 
 
-MORE-

 
 
Otelco Reports Fourth Quarter 2010 Results
Page 8
February 16, 2011

 
OTELCO INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(unaudited)  
   
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2009
   
2010
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ (3,117,811 )   $ 690,715  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    14,444,714       13,837,560  
Amortization
    12,040,914       9,832,683  
Interest rate caplet
    1,168,522       -  
Amortization of debt premium
    (82,212 )     (92,307 )
Amortization of loan costs
    1,351,906       1,361,351  
Change in fair value of derivatives
    1,354,759       878,518  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    (1,507,798 )     428,098  
Provision for uncollectible revenue
    920,945       141,474  
Changes in assets and liabilities; net of assets and liabilities acquired:
               
Accounts receivables
    739,921       427,432  
Material and supplies
    339,909       152,655  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (200,341 )     (69,464 )
Income tax receivable
    (207,842 )     389,486  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    1,094,474       (1,657,758 )
Advance billings and payments
    (400,085 )     (111,673 )
Other liabilities
    (30,850 )     202,751  
                 
Net cash from operating activities
    27,909,125       26,411,521  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Acquisition and construction of property and equipment
    (9,596,049 )     (10,225,229 )
Purchase of investment
    -       (1,708 )
Proceeds from retirement of investment
    (1,085 )     1,067  
Wholesale customer acquisition
    (179,554 )     -  
Deferred charges
    (6,551 )     (1,845 )
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (9,783,239 )     (10,227,715 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Cash dividends paid
    (8,937,097 )     (9,225,091 )
Direct cost of exchange of Class B shares for Class A shares
    -       (194,053 )
Loan origination costs
    -       (155,160 )
Repayment of long-term notes payable
    (5,000,000 )     (6,114,172 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (13,937,097 )     (15,688,476 )
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    4,188,789       495,330  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    13,542,255       17,731,044  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 17,731,044     $ 18,226,374  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Interest paid
  $ 23,378,798     $ 23,484,474  
                 
Income taxes paid (received)
  $ 67,658     $ (265,275 )
 
 
 
-END-