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8-K - FORM 8-K - OTELCO INC.t71855_8-k.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1
 
GRAPHIC
 
Contact:
 
Curtis Garner
   
Chief Financial Officer
   
Otelco Inc.
   
205-625-3571
   
Curtis@otelcotel.com

Otelco Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results

ONEONTA, Alabama (November 2, 2011) Otelco Inc. (NASDAQ: OTT) (TSX: OTT.un), a wireline telecommunications services provider in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Vermont and West Virginia, today announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2011.  Key highlights for Otelco include:

 
· 
Total revenues of $25.3 million for third quarter 2011.
 
· 
Operating income of $6.1 million for third quarter 2011.
 
· 
Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) of $11.1 million for third quarter 2011.

“Third quarter results softened a bit as we completed the expansion of our CLEC market coverage in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and northern Maine,” said Mike Weaver, President and Chief Executive Officer of Otelco. “With all nine of the new collocation sites now operational, our sales and marketing efforts are underway to address each of these new markets.  We originally projected these new sites to be operational early in the second quarter and the delay negatively impacted our margins as cost of services increased with little opportunity to increase revenue in these areas for the first nine months of this year.

“We continue to find ways to reduce costs and improve margins in our business,” continued Weaver.  “In our CLEC operations, significant changes have been made in our sales and marketing organization this quarter.  In addition, we expanded our product offerings with additional hosted IP products.  In our RLEC business, we recently consolidated our Alabama business offices resulting in reduced costs and increased efficiencies.  There is approximately $150,000 of nonrecurring expense in the third quarter related to these changes.

“The acquisition of Shoreham Telephone Company in Vermont was completed on October 14, adding some 5,000 access line equivalents to the Otelco family,” added Weaver.  “Shoreham will anchor our CLEC expansion into the fourth New England state next year.

“In 2004, we indicated our intent to build value at Otelco and return cash to our shareholders. Our twenty-seventh consecutive IDS dividend is evidence of that continuing commitment,” Weaver concluded.

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 November 15, 2011.  The scheduled interest and any dividend declared will be paid on December 30, 2011, to holders of record as of the close of business on December 15, 2011.  The interest payment will cover the period from September 30, 2011 through December 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-seven successive quarterly distributions of dividends and interest since its IDSs were originally offered to the public in December 2004.
 
- MORE -
 
 

 
 
Otelco Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results
Page 2
November 2, 2011 

 
 
Third Quarter 2011 Financial Summary
                       
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                       
                         
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Change
       
   
2010
   
2011
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Revenues
  $ 26,145     $ 25,303     $ (842 )     (3.2 ) %
Operating income
  $ 6,728     $ 6,124     $ (604 )     (9.0 ) %
Interest expense
  $ (6,321 )   $ (6,222 )   $ (99 )     (1.6 ) %
Net income available to stockholders
  $ 63     $ 885     $ 822       *  
  Basic net income per share
  $ -     $ 0.07     $ 0.07       *  
  Diluted net income per share
  $ -     $ 0.07     $ 0.07       *  
                                 
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
  $ 12,671     $ 11,094     $ (1,577 )     (12.4 ) %
Capital expenditures
  $ 2,357     $ 2,097     $ (260 )     (11.0 ) %
                                 
             * Not a meaningful calculation
                               
                                 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Change
         
    2010     2011    
Amount
   
Percent
 
Revenues
  $ 78,450     $ 76,196     $ (2,254 )     (2.9 ) %
Operating income
  $ 19,608     $ 18,771     $ (837 )     (4.3 ) %
Interest expense
  $ (18,489 )   $ (18,592 )   $ 103       0.6 %
Net income available to stockholders
  $ 95     $ 2,173     $ 2,078       *  
  Basic net income per share
  $ 0.01     $ 0.16     $ 0.15       *  
  Diluted net income per share
  $ 0.01     $ 0.16     $ 0.15       *  
                                 
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
  $ 37,891     $ 34,393     $ (3,498 )     (9.2 ) %
Capital expenditures
  $ 6,444     $ 8,448     $ 2,004       31.1 %
                                 
             * Not a meaningful calculation
                               
                                 
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income
                               
   
Three Months ended September 30,
   
Nine Months ended September 30,
 
    2010     2011     2010     2011  
Net income
  $ 63     $ 885     $ 95     $ 2,173  
Add:  Depreciation
    3,264       2,922       10,164       8,751  
          Interest expense - net of premium
    5,979       5,880       17,470       17,566  
          Interest expense - amortize loan cost
    342       342       1,019       1,026  
          Income tax expense (benefit)
    136       (323 )     137       36  
          Change in fair value of derivatives
    359       (654 )     1,421       (1,641 )
          Loan fees
    19       19       57       57  
          Amortization - intangibles
    2,509       2,023       7,528       6,425  
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 12,671     $ 11,094     $ 37,891     $ 34,393  
 
 
(a) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income 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 Third Quarter 2011 Results
Page 3
November 2, 2011 

 
Key Operating Statistics
                                   
                                  Quarterly  
                                 
% Change
 
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
   
June 30,
   
September 30,
   
from
 
   
2009
   
2010
   
2011
   
2011
   
2011
   
June 30, 2011
 
Otelco access line equivalents(1)
    100,356       99,639       99,271       98,304       97,958       (0.4 ) %
                                                 
RLEC and other services:
                                               
Voice access lines
    48,215       45,461       44,770       44,113       43,444       (1.5 ) %
Data access lines
    20,066       20,852       21,158       21,137       21,162       0.1 %
Access line equivalents(1)
    68,281       66,313       65,928       65,250       64,606       (1.0 ) %
Cable television customers
    4,195       4,227       4,029       4,054       4,156       2.5 %
Satellite television customers
    100       125       217       222       224       0.9 %
Additional internet customers
    9,116       6,975       6,435       6,046       5,654       (6.5 ) %
RLEC dial-up
    786       393       341       307       274       (10.7 ) %
Other dial-up
    6,439       4,300       3,786       3,403       3,085       (9.3 ) %
Other data lines
    1,891       2,282       2,308       2,336       2,295       (1.8 ) %
                                                 
CLEC:
                                               
Voice access lines
    28,647       29,944       30,084       29,842       30,145       1.0 %
Data access lines
    3,428       3,382       3,259       3,212       3,207       (0.2 ) %
Access line equivalents(1)
    32,075       33,326       33,343       33,054       33,352       0.9 %
Wholesale network connections
    132,324       149,043       152,101       154,785       155,691       0.6 %
                                                 
                                                 
   
For the Year Ended
   
For the Three Months Ended
         
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
   
June 30,
   
September 30,
         
      2009       2010     2011     2011     2011          
Total revenues (in millions):
  $ 103.8     $ 104.4     $ 25.4     $ 25.5     $ 25.3          
RLEC
  $ 60.8     $ 58.4     $ 14.2     $ 14.3     $ 14.1          
CLEC
  $ 43.0     $ 46.0     $ 11.2     $ 11.2     $ 11.2          
                                                 
(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 THIRD QUARTER 2011:

Revenues

Total revenues decreased 3.2% in the three months ended September 30, 2011, to $25.3 million from $26.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010.  Decreases in RLEC voice access line related revenues in 2011 and one-time benefits in 2010 from the resolution of several contingent items accounted for the majority of the difference.  The table below provides the components of our revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period of 2010.
 

 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
    Change  
   
2010
   
2011
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
    (dollars in thousands)  
Local services
  $ 12,423     $ 11,715     $ (708 )     (5.7 ) %
Network access
    8,077       8,048       (29 )     (0.4 )
Cable television
    717       770       53       7.4  
Internet
    3,521       3,442       (79 )     (2.2 )
Transport services
    1,407       1,328       (79 )     (5.6 )
       Total
  $ 26,145     $ 25,303     $ (842 )     (3.2 )
 
- MORE -
 
 

 
 
Otelco Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results
Page 4
November 2, 2011 

 
Local services revenue decreased 5.7% in the third quarter to $11.7 million from $12.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2010.  RLEC revenue decreased $0.4 million reflecting the decline in RLEC voice access lines. One-time benefits in 2010 from the resolution of several contingent items accounted for the remaining decline. Network access revenue decreased 0.4% in the third quarter to $8.0 million from $8.1 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2010. A small decline in interstate and intrastate switched access revenue was offset by an increase in end user related charges. Cable television revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2011, increased 7.4% to $0.8 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2011 compared to $0.7 million for the same period in 2010.  Growth in IPTV subscribers, video on demand and the shift to high-definition packages in Alabama was offset by the decline in basic cable revenue and revenue associated with the conversion of our Missouri cable customers to satellite services during first quarter 2011. Internet revenue for the third quarter 2011 decreased 2.2% to $3.4 million from $3.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010. Growth in broadband data lines partially offset the loss of dial-up subscribers.  Transport services revenue decreased 5.6% to $1.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $1.4 million for the same period in 2010.  Market price changes for new and existing customers caused the decline.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2011, decreased 1.2% to $19.2 million from $19.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010.  Cost of services and products increased 6.3% to $11.0 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2011, from $10.3 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2010. Higher costs associated with the implementation of new hosted PBX customers and the expanded sales organization  were partially offset by reduced RLEC expenses, long distance costs and overhead expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 1.8% to $3.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $3.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010, primarily related to a reduction in employee and benefit costs partially offset by higher legal costs associated with the Shoreham acquisition and uncollectible expenses associated with carrier billing and customer credits. Depreciation and amortization for third quarter 2011 decreased 14.4% to $4.9 million from $5.8 million in third quarter 2010.  Amortization of intangible assets associated with the Country Road acquisition decreased $0.3 million, including contract and customer base intangible assets. Amortization of the telephone plant adjustment associated with the Mid-Maine acquisition was completed at the end of second quarter 2011, accounting for a decrease of $0.2 million. The remaining decrease of $0.3 million reflects lower depreciation of plant assets in Otelco’s regulated entities as assets become fully depreciated.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased 1.6% to $6.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011, from $6.3 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in interest expense reflects lower senior long-term notes outstanding resulting from voluntary principal prepayments of $6.5 million.

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 liability for the swap decreased $0.7 million in third quarter 2011 compared to an increase in the liability for the swap of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2010.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2011, was $11.1 million compared to $12.7 million for the same period in 2010 and $11.9 million in the second quarter of 2011.  See financial tables for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $17.8 million compared to $18.2 million at the end of 2010.  The third 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 September 30, 2011.  This represents the twenty-seventh consecutive quarterly distribution since going public in December 2004. The acquisition of Shoreham Telephone Company on October 14, 2011, while not reflected in the current financial statements, was completed with cash from our balance sheet.
 
- MORE -
 
 

 
 
Otelco Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results
Page 5
November 2, 2011

 
Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures were $2.1 million for the quarter, reflecting the completion of infrastructure and cost saving projects. Capital expenditures were $2.8 million and $3.5 million, in first and second quarter 2011, respectively.

Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call

Otelco has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet, on Thursday, November 3, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. ET.  To participate in the call, participants should dial (719) 325-2387 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 4640013.

ABOUT OTELCO

Otelco Inc. provides wireline telecommunications services in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Vermont 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 102,000 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 eleven 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 Third Quarter 2011 Results
Page 6
November 2, 2011


 
OTELCO INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
               
       
December 31,
September 30,
 
       
2010
 
2011
 
Assets
       
(unaudited)
 
Current assets
           
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $
18,226,374
 
 $     17,761,824
 
 
Accounts receivable:
           
 
Due from subscribers, net of allowance for doubtful
         
 
accounts of $230,752 and $273,345 respectively
 
          4,406,257
 
          4,360,122
 
 
Unbilled receivables
   
          2,161,277
 
          2,197,367
 
 
Other
   
          4,299,088
 
          5,486,213
 
 
Materials and supplies
   
          1,817,311
 
          1,999,397
 
 
Prepaid expenses
   
          1,305,028
 
          1,180,987
 
 
Deferred income taxes
   
             626,267
 
             626,267
 
 
Total current assets
   
        32,841,602
 
        33,612,177
 
               
Property and equipment, net
   
        63,887,213
 
        62,616,216
 
Goodwill
     
      188,190,078
 
      188,190,078
 
Intangible assets, net
   
        25,934,042
 
        20,501,145
 
Investments
   
          1,967,095
 
          1,947,963
 
Deferred financing costs
   
          5,757,825
 
          4,731,752
 
Deferred income taxes
   
          4,415,097
 
          4,415,097
 
Other assets
   
             183,946
 
             122,940
 
 
Total assets
  $
323,176,898
 
 $   316,137,368
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit
         
Current liabilities
           
 
Accounts payable
  $
768,055
 
 $       1,460,497
 
 
Accrued expenses
   
          7,926,954
 
          7,217,175
 
 
Advance billings and payments
   
          1,595,133
 
          1,485,017
 
 
Deferred income taxes
   
             353,285
 
             353,285
 
 
Customer deposits
   
             172,479
 
             179,524
 
 
Total current liabilities
   
        10,815,906
 
        10,695,498
 
Deferred income taxes
   
        42,512,576
 
        42,512,576
 
Interest rate swaps
   
          2,471,331
 
             830,299
 
Advance billings and payments
   
             656,968
 
             625,930
 
Other liabilities
   
             368,349
 
             401,144
 
Long-term notes payable
   
      271,595,855
 
      271,133,432
 
 
Total liabilities
   
      328,420,985
 
      326,198,879
 
               
Stockholders' Deficit
           
 
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value-authorized 20,000,000 shares;
       
 
issued and outstanding 13,221,404 shares
   
             132,214
 
             132,214
 
 
Additional paid in capital
   
             921,718
 
                      -
 
 
Retained deficit
   
        (6,298,019
      (10,193,725
 
Total stockholders' deficit
   
        (5,244,087
      (10,061,511
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
  $
323,176,898
 
 $   316,137,368
 
               
 
- MORE -
 
 

 
 
Otelco Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results
Page 7
November 2, 2011


OTELCO INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
(unaudited)
 
                                   
             
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
             
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Revenues
         
      26,145,227
   
       25,302,747
   
      78,450,381
   
       76,195,806
 
                                   
Operating expenses
                           
 
Cost of services and products
 
      10,336,220
   
       10,985,814
   
      31,374,193
   
       32,762,538
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
        3,307,743
   
         3,248,746
   
        9,775,255
   
         9,485,763
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
        5,773,298
   
         4,944,033
   
      17,692,899
   
       15,176,030
 
   
Total operating expenses
 
      19,417,261
   
       19,178,593
   
      58,842,347
   
       57,424,331
 
                                   
 
Income from operations
 
        6,727,966
   
         6,124,154
   
      19,608,034
   
       18,771,475
 
                                   
Other income (expense)
                         
 
Interest expense
     
      (6,320,757
)  
        (6,222,487
)  
    (18,488,869
)  
      (18,591,790
)
 
Change in fair value of derivatives
 
         (358,833
)  
            654,791
   
      (1,421,282
)  
         1,641,032
 
 
Other income
     
           150,790
   
                6,189
   
           533,649
   
            388,686
 
   
Total other expenses
 
      (6,528,800
)  
        (5,561,507
)  
    (19,376,502
)  
      (16,562,072
)
                                   
Income before income tax
   
           199,166
   
            562,647
   
           231,532
   
         2,209,403
 
Income tax (expense) benefit
 
         (136,091
)  
            322,815
   
         (136,835
)  
             (36,013
)
                                   
Net income available to common stockholders
 
 $          63,075
   
 $         885,462
   
 $          94,697
   
 $      2,173,390
 
                                   
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                       
 
Basic
         
      13,221,404
   
       13,221,404
   
      12,906,173
   
       13,221,404
 
 
Diluted
       
      13,221,404
   
       13,221,404
   
      13,221,404
   
       13,221,404
 
Basic net income per common share
 
 $                  -
   
 $               0.07
   
 $              0.01
   
 $               0.16
 
Diluted net income per common share
 
 $                  -
   
 $               0.07
   
 $              0.01
   
 $               0.16
 
                                   
Dividends declared per common share
 
 $              0.18
   
 $               0.18
   
 $              0.53
   
 $               0.53
 
 
- MORE -
 
 

 
 
Otelco Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results
Page 8
November 2, 2011


 
OTELCO INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2011
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 94,697     $ 2,173,390  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    10,164,224       8,751,166  
Amortization
    7,528,676       6,424,864  
Amortization of debt premium
    (68,220 )     (76,595 )
Amortization of loan costs
    1,019,326       1,026,072  
Change in fair value of derivatives
    1,421,282       (1,641,032 )
Provision for uncollectible revenue
    179,634       545,338  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities; net of operating assets and liabilities acquired:
               
Accounts receivable
    (1,574,850 )     (1,654,102 )
Material and supplies
    205,834       (182,086 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    206,918       111,735  
Income tax receivable
    389,486       -  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (142,257 )     (17,338 )
Advance billings and payments
    (59,859 )     (141,154 )
Other liabilities
    69,397       39,841  
                 
Net cash from operating activities
    19,434,288       15,360,099  
                 
Cash flows used in investing activities:
               
Acquisition and construction of property and equipment
    (6,443,959 )     (8,448,004 )
Deferred charges
    (1,041 )     -  
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (6,445,000 )     (8,448,004 )
                 
Cash flows used in financing activities:
               
Cash dividends paid
    (6,894,819 )     (6,990,817 )
Direct cost of exchange of Class B shares for Class A common shares
    (194,053 )     -  
Principal repayment of long-term debt
    -       (385,828 )
Loan origination costs
    (155,160 )     -  
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (7,244,032 )     (7,376,645 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    5,745,256       (464,550 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    17,731,044       18,226,374  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 23,476,300     $ 17,761,824  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Interest paid
  $ 17,345,346     $ 17,642,313  
                 
Income taxes paid (received)
  $ (197,534 )   $ 165,061  
 
- END -