Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)
Table of Contents
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
þ | Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2007
or
o | Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the Transition Period from to
Commission File Number 000-51446
CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 02-0636095 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
121 South 17th Street
Mattoon, Illinois 61938-3987
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Mattoon, Illinois 61938-3987
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (217) 235-3311
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer see definition of accelerated filer and large
accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer o Accelerated Filer þ Non-accelerated Filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
The number of shares of the registrants common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding as of
November 1, 2007 was 26,130,618.
Table of Contents
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 80,320 | $ | 80,323 | $ | 244,244 | $ | 239,089 | ||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Cost of services and products
(exclusive of depreciation and
amortization shown separately below) |
27,698 | 24,140 | 79,115 | 72,764 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
21,800 | 23,764 | 66,395 | 70,947 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
16,350 | 16,961 | 49,585 | 50,876 | ||||||||||||
Income from operations |
14,472 | 15,458 | 49,149 | 44,502 | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
253 | 239 | 694 | 854 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(12,118 | ) | (11,414 | ) | (35,420 | ) | (32,195 | ) | ||||||||
Investment income |
1,987 | 1,709 | 5,041 | 4,692 | ||||||||||||
Minority interest |
(251 | ) | (203 | ) | (541 | ) | (499 | ) | ||||||||
Other, net |
10 | 139 | 286 | 186 | ||||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
4,353 | 5,928 | 19,209 | 17,540 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
2,012 | 3,913 | 6,756 | 3,752 | ||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,341 | $ | 2,015 | $ | 12,453 | $ | 13,788 | ||||||||
Net income per common share - |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.08 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.48 | ||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.48 | ||||||||
Cash dividends declared per common share |
$ | 0.39 | $ | 0.39 | $ | 1.16 | $ | 1.16 | ||||||||
See accompanying notes
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Table of Contents
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 24,355 | $ | 26,672 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $1,692
and $2,110, respectively |
37,067 | 34,396 | ||||||
Inventories |
4,529 | 4,170 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
2,432 | 2,081 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
7,889 | 6,898 | ||||||
Total current assets |
76,272 | 74,217 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
298,923 | 314,381 | ||||||
Intangibles and other assets: |
||||||||
Investments |
40,649 | 40,314 | ||||||
Goodwill |
316,034 | 316,034 | ||||||
Customer lists, net |
100,622 | 110,273 | ||||||
Tradenames |
14,291 | 14,291 | ||||||
Deferred financing costs and other assets |
15,276 | 20,069 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 862,067 | $ | 889,579 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 7,130 | $ | 11,004 | ||||
Advance billings and customer deposits |
17,327 | 15,303 | ||||||
Dividends payable |
10,051 | 10,040 | ||||||
Accrued expenses |
27,431 | 29,399 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
61,939 | 65,746 | ||||||
Long-term debt |
594,000 | 594,000 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
52,130 | 55,893 | ||||||
Pension and postretirement benefit obligations |
49,858 | 54,187 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
3,209 | 1,100 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
761,136 | 770,926 | ||||||
Minority interest |
4,236 | 3,695 | ||||||
Stockholders equity |
||||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares, authorized, 26,130,618 and 26,001,872 issued and outstanding, respectively |
261 | 260 | ||||||
Additional paid in capital |
202,811 | 199,858 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(105,060 | ) | (87,362 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(1,317 | ) | 2,202 | |||||
Total stockholders equity |
96,695 | 114,958 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
$ | 862,067 | $ | 889,579 | ||||
See accompanying notes
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Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 12,453 | $ | 13,788 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
49,585 | 50,876 | ||||||
Provision for bad debt losses |
3,194 | 3,666 | ||||||
Deferred income tax |
(4,114 | ) | (645 | ) | ||||
Partnership income |
(1,667 | ) | (4,407 | ) | ||||
Non-cash stock compensation |
2,942 | 1,875 | ||||||
Minority interest in net income of subsidiary |
541 | 499 | ||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
2,507 | 2,437 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(5,865 | ) | (5,180 | ) | ||||
Inventories |
(359 | ) | (628 | ) | ||||
Other assets |
(400 | ) | (1,377 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable |
(3,874 | ) | (3,969 | ) | ||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
(2,164 | ) | 2,628 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
52,779 | 59,563 | ||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Proceeds from sale of investments |
10,625 | 5,921 | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of land |
| 590 | ||||||
Securities purchased |
(10,625 | ) | | |||||
Capital expenditures |
(24,648 | ) | (25,037 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(24,648 | ) | (18,526 | ) | ||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of stock |
12 | | ||||||
Proceeds from long-term obligations |
| 39,000 | ||||||
Payment of deferred financing costs |
(320 | ) | (262 | ) | ||||
Purchase of treasury shares |
| (56,736 | ) | |||||
Dividends on common stock |
(30,140 | ) | (34,550 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(30,448 | ) | (52,548 | ) | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(2,317 | ) | (11,511 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
26,672 | 31,409 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 24,355 | $ | 19,898 | ||||
See accompanying notes
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Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders Equity
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
(Amounts in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders Equity
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
(Amounts in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Additional | Accumulated | Comprehensive | |||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Paid in Capital | Deficit | Income | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2007 |
26,001,872 | $ | 260 | $ | 199,858 | $ | (87,362 | ) | $ | 2,202 | $ | 114,958 | ||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | 12,453 | | 12,453 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividends on common stock |
| | | (30,151 | ) | | (30,151 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock |
662 | 1 | 11 | | | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued under employee
plan, net of forfeitures |
128,084 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Non-cash stock compensation |
| | 2,942 | | | 2,942 | ||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of cash
flow
hedges, net of $1,830 of tax |
| | | | (3,519 | ) | (3,519 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2007 |
26,130,618 | $ | 261 | $ | 202,811 | $ | (105,060 | ) | $ | (1,317 | ) | $ | 96,695 | |||||||||||
See accompanying notes
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CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
1. Description of Business
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the
Company) operate under the name Consolidated Communications. The Company is an established rural
local exchange company (RLEC) providing communications services to residential and business
customers in Illinois and Texas. With approximately 227,186 local access lines, 62,546 digital
subscriber lines (DSL) and 11,063 Internet protocol television (IPTV) lines, Consolidated
Communications offers a wide range of telecommunications services, including local dial tone,
custom calling features, private line services, long distance, dial-up and high-speed Internet
access, IPTV, inside wiring service and maintenance, carrier access, billing and collection
services, telephone directory publishing and wholesale transport services on a fiber optic network.
The Company also operates a number of complementary businesses, including telephone services to
county jails and state prisons, operator services, equipment sales and telemarketing and order
fulfillment services.
2. Presentation of Interim Financial Statements
These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts
of Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries and subsidiaries in
which it has a controlling financial interest. All material intercompany balances and transactions
have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim statements have been prepared in accordance
with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines and do not include all of the
information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for
complete financial statements. These interim financial statements reflect all adjustments that
are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of its financial position and
results of operations for the interim periods. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring
nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the
entire year. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2006, which were included in our
annual report on Form 10-K previously filed with the SEC.
3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair
Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about
fair value measurements. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 157 effective January 1, 2008 and
is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on its future results of operations and
financial condition.
In September 2006, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158,
"Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (SFAS 158).
SFAS 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined
benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to
recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through
comprehensive income. SFAS 158 also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as
of the date of its year-end statement of financial position. The Company was required to adopt
SFAS 158 effective December 31, 2006. The Company adopted the recognition and related disclosure
provisions of SFAS 158 effective December 31, 2006. The measurement provision of SFAS 158 is
effective at the end of 2008. The Company does not expect the measurement date provision of SFAS
58 to have a significant impact on future results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2007, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair
Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115(SFAS 159). SFAS 159 allows entities to voluntarily elect to measure many
financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. The election is made on an
instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable. The Company is required to adopt Statement 159
at the beginning of 2008. The impact of the adoption of SFAS 159 will be dependent upon the extent
to which the Company elects to measure eligible items at fair value. The Company is currently
evaluating the impact, if any, of adopting SFAS 159 on its future results of operations and
financial condition.
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4. Marketable Securities
In the second quarter of 2007, the Company acquired $10,625 of investments in auction rate
securities which were considered available-for-sale under SFAS 115. These securities were sold in
the third quarter of 2007 with no gain or loss to the Company.
5. Goodwill and Customer Lists
The following table summarizes the carrying value of goodwill by segment:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Telephone Operations |
$ | 308,850 | $ | 308,850 | ||||
Other Operations |
7,184 | 7,184 | ||||||
$ | 316,034 | $ | 316,034 | |||||
The Companys customer lists consist of an established core base of customers that
subscribe to its services. The carrying amount of customer lists is as follows:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Gross carrying amount |
$ | 156,648 | $ | 156,648 | ||||
Less: accumulated amortization |
(56,026 | ) | (46,375 | ) | ||||
Net carrying amount |
$ | 100,622 | $ | 110,273 | ||||
The aggregate amortization expense associated with customer lists was $3,209 and $3,567
for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively and was $9,651 and $10,708 for
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Customer lists are being
amortized using a weighted average life of approximately 12.0 years.
6. Pension Costs and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company has several defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all of its
hourly employees and certain salaried employees, primarily those located in Texas. The plans
provide retirement benefits based on years of service and earnings. The pension plans are generally
noncontributory. The Companys funding policy is to contribute amounts sufficient to meet the
minimum funding requirements as set forth in employee benefit and tax laws.
The Company currently provides other postretirement benefits (Other Benefits)
consisting of health care and life insurance benefits for certain groups of retired employees.
Retirees share in the cost of health care benefits. Retiree contributions for health care benefits
are adjusted periodically based upon collective bargaining agreements for former hourly employees
and as total costs of the program change for former salaried employees. The Companys funding
policy for retiree health benefits is generally to pay covered expenses as they are incurred.
Postretirement life insurance benefits are fully insured.
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The following tables present the components of net periodic benefit cost:
Pension Benefits | Other Benefits | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 672 | $ | 545 | $ | 119 | $ | 188 | ||||||||
Interest cost |
3,203 | 2,046 | 294 | 386 | ||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(3,540 | ) | (1,914 | ) | | (10 | ) | |||||||||
Other, net |
(62 | ) | (227 | ) | 65 | (212 | ) | |||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | 274 | $ | 450 | $ | 478 | $ | 352 | ||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, |
||||||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 1,362 | $ | 1,565 | $ | 558 | $ | 562 | ||||||||
Interest cost |
5,543 | 5,413 | 1,064 | 1,159 | ||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(6,007 | ) | (5,719 | ) | | | ||||||||||
Other, net |
19 | 92 | (430 | ) | (666 | ) | ||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | 918 | $ | 1,351 | $ | 1,192 | $ | 1,055 | ||||||||
For the three months ending September 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company contributed $4,164 and
$189, respectively, to its pension plans. For the nine months ending September 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively, the Company contributed $4,760 and $214, respectively to its pension plan. No
further contributions are expected in 2007.
7. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Senior Secured Credit Facility |
||||||||
Revolving loan |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Term loan D |
464,000 | 464,000 | ||||||
Senior notes |
130,000 | 130,000 | ||||||
594,000 | 594,000 | |||||||
Less: current portion |
| | ||||||
$ | 594,000 | $ | 594,000 | |||||
On February 26, 2007, the Company entered into Amendment No. 5 to its credit facilities. The
Amendment provides for a decrease in the applicable margin on the entire amount of the term D
facility from 200 basis points to 175 basis points on Eurodollar loans and from 100 basis points to
75 basis points on alternative base rate loans, as well as an amendment to change the date, from
November 5, 2006 to February 28, 2008, prior to which the Company must pay a prepayment fee in
connection with any prepayment of the term D facility under the Credit Agreement.
8. Derivative Instruments
The Company maintains interest rate swap agreements that effectively convert a portion of
its floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on
future interest expense. At September 30, 2007, the Company had interest rate swap agreements
covering $460,000 in aggregate principal amount of its variable rate debt at fixed LIBOR rates
ranging from 4.5% to 5.5%. The swap agreements expire on various dates ranging from December 31,
2008 to September 30, 2011.
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The fair value of the Companys derivative instruments, comprised solely of its interest rate
swaps, amounted to a net liability of $1,619 and a net asset of $3,730 at September 30, 2007 and
December 31, 2006, respectively. The fair value is included in Other Assets and Other Liabilities
in the accompanying Balance Sheets. The Company recognized a net reduction of $42 and $73 in
interest expense during the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively related to
its derivative instruments and recognized a reduction of $170 and $220 in interest expense during
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The change in the fair value of
derivative instruments, net of related tax effect, is recorded in Other Comprehensive Income
(Loss). The Company recognized comprehensive loss of $5,372 and $4,287 during the three months
ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively and comprehensive loss of $3,519 and $163 for the
nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively related to its derivative instruments.
9. Restricted Share Plan
The following table summarizes restricted stock activity:
Restricted shares outstanding, December 31, 2006 |
248,745 | |||
Shares granted |
135,584 | |||
Shares vested |
(4,500 | ) | ||
Shares forfeited or retired |
(7,500 | ) | ||
Restricted shares outstanding, September 30, 2007 |
372,329 | |||
The Company recognized non-cash compensation expense associated with the restricted
shares totaling $1,236 and $625 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively and $2,942 and $1,875 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively. The non-cash compensation expense is included in Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses in the accompanying statements of income.
10. Income Taxes
In June 2006, FASB issued Financial Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes, an interpretation of SFAS 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for
uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a companys financial statements and prescribes a
recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides
guidance on description, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods,
disclosure and transition. The Company adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007 with no impact on
its results of operations or financial condition, and has analyzed filing positions in all of the
federal and state jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as all
open tax years in these jurisdictions. The only periods subject to examination for the Companys
federal return are the 2003 through 2006 tax years. The periods subject to examination for the
Companys state returns are years 2002 through 2006. The implementation of FIN 48 did not impact
the amount of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. As of January 1, 2007 and September
30, 2007, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $5,610, the recognition of which would have
no effect on the effective tax rate. In addition, the Company did not record a cumulative effect
upon adoption of FIN 48. The Company is continuing its practice of recognizing interest and
penalties related to income tax matters in
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interest expense and general and administrative expense,
respectively. Upon adoption of FIN 48 the Company had no accrual balance for interest and
penalties. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company accrued $88 of interest and
penalties. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax
positions over the next 12 months. There were no material changes to any of these amounts during
the third quarter of 2007. The following table sets forth the computation of the Companys
effective tax rate by period:
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
$ | 4,353 | $ | 5,928 | $ | 19,209 | $ | 17,540 | ||||||||
Income tax expense |
2,012 | 3,913 | 6,756 | 3,752 | ||||||||||||
Effective tax rate |
46.2 | % | 66.0 | % | 35.2 | % | 21.4 | % |
During the third quarter of 2007, the Company completed and filed its 2006 tax return, filed
amended returns for 2005, and recognized approximately $40 of additional net taxes to adjust its
provision to match the returns. During the second quarter of 2007, the State of Texas amended the
tax legislation enacted during the second quarter of 2006. The most significant impact of this
amendment on the Company was the revision to the temporary credit on taxable margin. This new
legislation resulted in a reduction of the Companys net deferred tax liabilities and a
corresponding credit to its tax provision of approximately $1,728. Exclusive of these adjustments,
the effective tax rate would have been approximately 45% and 44% for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2007, respectively.
During the third quarter of 2006, the Company completed and filed its 2005 tax return,
filed amended returns for 2003 and 2004, and recognized approximately $780 of additional net taxes
to adjust its provision to match the returns. During the second quarter of 2006, the State of
Texas enacted new tax legislation. The most significant impact of this legislation on the Company
was the modification of the Texas franchise tax calculation to a new margin tax calculation used
to derive taxable income. This new legislation resulted in a reduction of the Companys net
deferred tax liabilities and corresponding credit to its state tax provision of approximately
$5,182. Exclusive of these adjustments, the Companys effective tax rate would have been
approximately 52% and 46% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.
11. Net Income per Common Share
The following table sets forth the computation of net income per common share:
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Basic: |
||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,341 | $ | 2,015 | $ | 12,453 | $ | 13,788 | ||||||||
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding |
25,758,289 | 26,721,886 | 25,757,746 | 28,466,394 | ||||||||||||
Net income per common share |
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.08 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.48 | ||||||||
Diluted: |
||||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,341 | $ | 2,015 | $ | 12,453 | $ | 13,788 | ||||||||
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding |
26,144,943 | 27,157,631 | 26,102,020 | 28,900,902 | ||||||||||||
Net income per common share |
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.48 | ||||||||
Non-vested shares issued pursuant to the Restricted Share Plan (Note 9) were considered
outstanding for the computation of diluted net income per share as the recipients are entitled to
dividends and voting rights.
In accordance with SFAS 128, 14,482 contingent performance based shares were included in the
weighted average diluted shares based on the Companys results through the nine months ended
September 30, 2007.
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12. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following table presents the components of comprehensive income (loss):
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2,341 | $ | 2,015 | $ | 12,453 | $ | 13,788 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||
Unrealized gain on marketable securities,
net of tax |
| | | 49 | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges,
net of tax |
(5,372 | ) | (4,287 | ) | (3,519 | ) | (163 | ) | ||||||||
Total comprehensive income (loss) |
$ | (3,031 | ) | $ | (2,272 | ) | $ | 8,934 | $ | 13,674 | ||||||
13. Business Segments
The Company is viewed and managed as two separate, but highly integrated, reportable business
segments, Telephone Operations and Other Operations. Telephone Operations consists of a wide
range of telecommunications services, including local dial tone, custom calling features, private
line services, long-distance, dial-up and high speed Internet access, IPTV, inside wiring service
and maintenance, carrier access, wholesale transport services on a fiber optic network, telephone
directory publishing and billing and collection services. The Company also operates a number of
complementary businesses that comprise Other Operations, including telephone services to county
jails and state prisons, operator services, equipment sales and telemarketing and order fulfillment
services. Management evaluates the performance of these business segments based upon revenue,
gross margins, and net operating income.
In the first quarter of 2007, based upon a review of its internal cost allocations, the
Company changed its method of allocating certain employee costs, resulting in increased costs to
the Other Operations Segment. This change gives management a more complete picture of the
profitability of each business. The 2006 financial results for each segment have been reclassified
to reflect this change.
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Telephone | Other | |||||||||||
Operations | Operations | Total | ||||||||||
Three months ended September 30, 2007: |
||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 70,052 | $ | 10,268 | $ | 80,320 | ||||||
Cost of services and products |
20,651 | 7,047 | 27,698 | |||||||||
49,401 | 3,221 | 52,622 | ||||||||||
Operating expenses |
18,413 | 3,387 | 21,800 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
15,721 | 629 | 16,350 | |||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 15,267 | $ | (795 | ) | $ | 14,472 | |||||
Three months ended September 30, 2006: |
||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 70,131 | $ | 10,192 | $ | 80,323 | ||||||
Cost of services and products |
17,413 | 6,727 | 24,140 | |||||||||
52,718 | 3,465 | 56,183 | ||||||||||
Operating expenses |
20,249 | 3,515 | 23,764 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
15,620 | 1,341 | 16,961 | |||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 16,849 | $ | (1,391 | ) | $ | 15,458 | |||||
Telephone | Other | |||||||||||
Operations | Operations | Total | ||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2007: |
||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 213,570 | $ | 30,674 | $ | 244,244 | ||||||
Cost of services and products |
58,152 | 20,963 | 79,115 | |||||||||
155,418 | 9,711 | 165,129 | ||||||||||
Operating expenses |
56,200 | 10,195 | 66,395 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
47,713 | 1,872 | 49,585 | |||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 51,505 | $ | (2,356 | ) | $ | 49,149 | |||||
Nine months ended September 30, 2006: |
||||||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ | 209,160 | $ | 29,929 | $ | 239,089 | ||||||
Cost of services and products |
53,398 | 19,366 | 72,764 | |||||||||
155,762 | 10,563 | 166,325 | ||||||||||
Operating expenses |
60,152 | 10,795 | 70,947 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
46,823 | 4,053 | 50,876 | |||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
$ | 48,787 | $ | (4,285 | ) | $ | 44,502 | |||||
14. Merger with North Pittsburgh Systems Inc.
On July 1, 2007 the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire North Pittsburgh
Systems, Inc. (North Pittsburgh) for $25 per share in a cash and stock transaction with a total
consideration of approximately $375.1 million. North Pittsburgh shareholders may elect to exchange
each share of North Pittsburgh common stock for either $25 in cash or 1.1061947 shares of the
Companys common stock, subject to proration so that 80 percent of the North Pittsburgh shares will
be exchanged for cash and 20 percent for stock. The share exchange ratio is fixed and is not
subject to any collars. The Company intends to finance the cash portion of the purchase price with
debt and cash on hand. The Company has obtained a commitment for the financing necessary to
complete the transaction from Wachovia Bank, N.A.
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The merger is subject to approval by North Pittsburghs shareholders, with a vote scheduled
for November 13, 2007, other regulatory approvals and customary
closing conditions. The Federal Communications Commission (the
FCC) has approved the transfer of control of North
Pittsburgh to the Company under the rules and regulations of the FCC. The FTC has
granted early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period, and the Company expects to be on
the docket for Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission prior to the end of the year. The Company
expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2007 or the first quarter of 2008.
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Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
We present below Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations of Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our historical financial
statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this Report.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this Report that are not statements of historical fact, including
statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and should be
evaluated as such. The words anticipates, believes, expects, intends, plans, estimates,
targets, projects, should, may, will and similar words and expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are contained throughout
this Report, including, but not limited to, statements found in this Part I Item 2 -
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Part I -
Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk and Part II Item 1 Legal
Proceedings. Such forward-looking statements reflect, among other things, our current
expectations, plans, strategies, and anticipated financial results and involve a number of known
and unknown risks, uncertainties, and factors that may cause our actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including but not
limited to:
| various risks to stockholders of not receiving dividends and risks to our ability to pursue growth opportunities if we continue to pay dividends according to our current dividend policy; | ||
| various risks to the price and volatility of our common stock; | ||
| our substantial amount of debt and our ability to incur additional debt in the future; | ||
| our need for a significant amount of cash to service and repay our debt and to pay dividends on our common stock; | ||
| restrictions contained in our debt agreements that limit the discretion of our management in operating our business; | ||
| the ability to refinance our existing debt as necessary; | ||
| rapid development and introduction of new technologies and intense competition in the telecommunications industry; | ||
| risks associated with our possible pursuit of acquisitions; | ||
| economic conditions in our service areas in Illinois and Texas; | ||
| system failures; | ||
| loss of large customers or government contracts; | ||
| risks associated with the rights-of-way for our network; | ||
| disruptions in our relationship with third party vendors; | ||
| loss of key management personnel and the inability to attract and retain highly qualified management and personnel in the future; | ||
| changes in the extensive governmental legislation and regulations governing telecommunications providers and the provision of telecommunications services and subsidies; | ||
| telecommunications carriers disputing and/or avoiding their obligations to pay network access changes for use of our network; | ||
| high costs of regulatory compliance; |
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| the competitive impact of legislation and regulatory changes in the telecommunications industry; | ||
| liability and compliance costs regarding environmental regulations; | ||
| the ability to obtain required approvals and satisfy closing conditions may delay or prevent completion of the merger; | ||
| transaction, integration and restructuring costs in connection with the proposed merger, whether or not the merger is completed; | ||
| disruptions in our business caused by the pendency of the merger transaction; | ||
| the integration of the Company and North Pittsburgh following the merger; and | ||
| the additional risk factors outlined in Part II Other Information Item IA Risk Factors herein and Part I Item 1A Risk Factors incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007, as well as the other documents that we file with the SEC from time to time that could cause our actual results to differ from our current expectations and from the forward-looking statements discussed in this Report. |
Many of these risks are beyond our ability to control or predict. All forward-looking
statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statements contained throughout this Report. Because of these risks,
uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.
Except as required under the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do
not undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
We are an established rural local exchange company that provides communications services to
residential and business customers in Illinois and Texas. Our main sources of revenues are our
local telephone businesses in Illinois and Texas, which offer an array of services, including local
dial tone, custom calling features, private line services, long distance, high-speed Internet
access, which we refer to as Digital Subscriber Line or DSL, inside wiring service and maintenance,
carrier access, billing and collection services, telephone directory publishing, dial-up internet
access, and wholesale transport services on a fiber optic network in Texas. In addition, as of the
end of the first quarter of 2007, we have launched our Internet Protocol digital video service,
which we refer to as IPTV, across all of our Illinois and Texas markets.. We also operate a
number of complementary businesses, which offer telephone services to county jails and state
prisons, operator services, equipment sales and telemarketing and order fulfillment services.
Acquisition
On July 1, 2007 we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire North Pittsburgh Systems,
Inc. for $25 per share in a cash and stock transaction with a total consideration of approximately
$375.1 million, based on our June 29, 2007 closing price. North Pittsburgh shareholders may elect
to exchange each share of North Pittsburgh common stock for either $25 in cash or 1.1061947 shares
of our common stock, subject to proration so that 80 percent of the North Pittsburgh shares will be
exchanged for cash and 20 percent for stock. The share exchange ratio is fixed and is not subject
to any collars. We intend to finance the cash portion of the purchase price with debt and cash on
hand. We have obtained a commitment for the financing necessary to complete the transaction from
Wachovia Bank, N.A.
We believe that the North Pittsburgh service area contains affluent markets that are supported
by an advanced network. The network can be leveraged to increase the penetration of broadband
products and, with limited capital investment, to rollout video service. Approximately 99 percent
of North Pittsburgh access lines are currently DSL capable, and we expect to launch our video
product in the Western Pennsylvania markets in 2008.
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The merger is subject to approval by North Pittsburghs shareholders, with the vote scheduled
for November 13, 2007, other regulatory approvals as described below and other customary closing
conditions. Approval by our shareholders is not required. The FCC has
approved the transfer of control of North Pittsburgh to us under the
rules and regulations of the FCC. In addition, we have
received notice that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, has been terminated, and expect to be on the docket for Pennsylvania Public
Utility Commission prior to the end of the year. We have identified officers from
both companies who will have overall responsibility for the integration planning. Our integration
planning will be a collaborative process with North Pittsburgh management and employees. Detailed
planning discussions are underway between process owners from both Consolidated and North
Pittsburgh.
Share Repurchase and Credit Facility Amendments
On July 28, 2006, we completed the repurchase of 3,782,379 shares of our common stock from
Providence Equity for $56.7 million, or $15.00 per share. This represented 12.7% of our total
shares outstanding. The repurchase was funded with $17.7 million of cash on hand and $39.0 million
of new borrowings under our existing credit facility. Upon completion of the share repurchase,
neither of our original equity sponsors remained as a shareholder.
The effect of the transaction was an annual increase of $3.0 million of cash flow due to
the:
| reduction in our annual dividend obligation of $5.9 million; | ||
| an increase in our after tax net cash interest of $2.9 million due to the increased borrowings incurred, an increase in the interest rate on our credit facility of 25 basis points and a decrease of cash on hand. |
As discussed in Note 7 to the financial statements, the credit facility was further amended in
February 2007 to reduce the interest rate on the Companys borrowings to the levels that were in
place prior to the share repurchase.
Factors Affecting Results of Operations
Revenues
Telephone Operations and Other Operations. To date, our revenues have been derived primarily
from the sale of voice and data communications services to residential and business customers in
our rural telephone companies service areas. We do not anticipate significant growth in revenues
in our Telephone Operations segment due to its primarily rural service area, other than as a result
of acquisitions, such as the North Pittsburgh acquisition, but we do expect relatively consistent
cash flow from year-to-year due to stable customer demand, limited competition and a generally
supportive regulatory environment.
Local Access Lines and Bundled Services. Local access lines are an important element of our
business. An access line is the telephone line connecting a persons home or business to the
public switched telephone network. The monthly recurring revenue we generate from end users, the
amount of traffic on our network and related access charges generated from other carriers, the
amount of federal and state subsidies we receive and most other revenue streams are directly
related to the number of local access lines in service. We had 227,186, 233,689 and 235,983 local
access lines in service as of September 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006,
respectively.
Many rural telephone companies have experienced a loss of local access lines due to
challenging economic conditions, increased competition from wireless providers, competitive local
exchange carriers and, in some cases, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offerings from cable
television operators. We have not been immune to these conditions. We also lost local access
lines due to the disconnection of second telephone lines by our residential customers in connection
with their substituting DSL or cable modem service for dial-up Internet access and wireless service
for wireline service. As of September 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, we had
7,146, 7,756 and 8,000 second lines, respectively. The disconnection of second lines represented
10.9% and 24.8% of our residential line loss in 2007 and 2006, respectively. We expect to continue
to experience modest erosion in access lines.
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We have mitigated the decline in local access lines and increased average revenue per access
line by focusing on the following:
| aggressively promoting DSL service with a variety of speeds and price points to meet customer demands; | ||
| bundling our triple play offering of DSL, IPTV and voice services; | ||
| maintaining excellent customer service standards while actively promoting new services to our customers; and | ||
| keeping a strong local presence in the communities we serve. |
We have implemented a number of initiatives to gain new local access lines and retain existing
local access lines by enhancing the attractiveness of the bundle with new service offerings such as
unlimited long distance. To that end, a major area of focus has been on launching our triple
play offering which includes local service, DSL and IPTV. Our triple play offering provides value
for the customer, increases revenue for the Company and, we believe, better solidifies our customer
relationship. We launched IPTV in our key Illinois markets in September 2005 and in selected Texas
markets in August 2006. In both states, the initial roll-out was initiated in a controlled manner
with little advertising or promotion. Upon completion of back-office testing, vendor
interoperability between system components and final network preparation, we began aggressively
marketing our triple play bundle. As of the end of the first quarter of 2007 we have now
launched our IPTV offering across all of our markets in both Illinois and Texas. As of September
30, 2007, IPTV was available to over 107,000 homes in our markets. Our IPTV subscriber base has
grown from 6,954 as of December 31, 2006 to 11,063 as of September 30, 2007 and approximately 90%
of our IPTV subscribers take the triple play.
Additionally, we continue to look for ways to enhance current products and introduce new
services to
insure that we remain competitive and continue to meet our customers needs. These
initiatives include offering:
| hosted VoIP, which was launched in certain Texas markets in 2005 to meet the needs of small to medium sized business customers who want robust function without having to purchase a traditional key or PBX phone system; | ||
| DSL service which has been made available to users who do not have our access line. This expands our customer base and creates additional revenue generating opportunities; | ||
| a DSL tier with speeds up to 10 Mbps is now being offered for those customers desiring greater Internet speed; and | ||
| High Definition video service, which was introduced in Texas in May and was launched in Illinois in the third quarter of 2007. |
These efforts may act to mitigate the financial impact of any access line loss we may
experience.
With our promotional efforts, the number of DSL subscribers we serve grew by 26.7% from
September 30, 2006 to September 30, 2007. Currently over 95% of our rural telephone companies
local access lines are DSL capable. The penetration rate for DSL lines in service was
approximately 38.6% of our primary residential access lines at September 30, 2007.
We have also been successful in generating Telephone Operations revenues by bundling
combinations of local service, custom calling features, voicemail and Internet access. Our service
bundles totaled 45,911, 43,175, and 42,100 at September 30, 2007, December 31, 2006, and September
30, 2006, respectively.
Our plan is to continue to execute our customer retention program by delivering excellent
customer service and improving the value of our bundle with DSL and IPTV. However, if these
actions fail to mitigate access line loss, or we experience a higher degree of access line loss
than we currently expect, it could have an adverse impact on our revenues and earnings.
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The following sets forth several key metrics as of the end of the periods presented:
September 30, | December 31, | September 30, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Local access lines in service: |
||||||||||||
Residential |
149,735 | 155,354 | 157,609 | |||||||||
Business |
77,451 | 78,335 | 78,374 | |||||||||
Total local access lines |
227,186 | 233,689 | 235,983 | |||||||||
IPTV subscribers |
11,063 | 6,954 | 5,638 | |||||||||
DSL subscribers |
62,546 | 52,732 | 49,360 | |||||||||
Total connections |
300,795 | 293,375 | 290,981 | |||||||||
Long distance lines (1) |
151,320 | 149,358 | 148,167 | |||||||||
Dial-up subscribers |
8,858 | 11,942 | 11,740 | |||||||||
Service bundles |
45,911 | 43,175 | 42,100 |
(1) | Reflects the inclusion of long distance services provided as part of the VoIP offering. |
Expenses
Our primary operating expenses consist of cost of services, selling, general and
administrative expenses, and depreciation and amortization expenses.
Cost of Services and Products
Our cost of services includes the following:
| operating expenses relating to plant costs, including those related to the network and general support costs, central office switching and transmission costs, and cable and wire facilities; | ||
| general plant costs, such as testing, provisioning, network, administration, power and engineering; and | ||
| the cost of transport and termination of long distance and private lines outside our rural telephone companies service area. |
We have agreements with carriers to provide long distance transport and termination services.
These agreements contain various commitments and expire at various times. We believe we will meet
all of our commitments in these agreements and believe we will be able to procure services for
future periods. We are currently procuring services for future periods, and at this time, the
costs and related terms under which we will purchase long distance transport and termination
services have not been determined. We do not expect, however, any material adverse affects from
any changes in any new service contract.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
In general, selling, general and administrative expenses include the following:
| selling and marketing expenses; | ||
| expenses associated with customer care; | ||
| billing and other operating support systems; and | ||
| corporate expenses, including professional service fees and non-cash stock compensation. |
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Our Telephone Operations segment incurs selling, marketing and customer care expenses from its
customer service centers and commissioned sales representatives. Our customer service centers are
the primary sales channels
for residential and business customers with one or two phone lines,
whereas commissioned sales representatives provide customized proposals to larger business
customers. In addition, we use customer retail centers for various communications needs, including
new telephone, Internet and paging service purchases in Illinois.
Each of our Other Operations businesses primarily uses an independent sales and marketing team
comprised of dedicated field sales account managers, management teams and service representatives
to execute our sales and marketing strategy.
We have operating support and back office systems that are used to enter, schedule, provision
and track customer orders, test services and interface with trouble management, inventory, billing,
collections, and customer care service systems for the local access lines in our operations. We
have migrated most key business processes of our Illinois and Texas operations onto single,
company-wide systems and platforms. Our objective is to improve profitability by reducing
individual company costs through centralization, standardization and sharing of best practices.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 we spent $0.7 million, and $2.3 million,
respectively, on integration and restructuring expenses (which included projects to integrate our
support and back office systems). We completed the third phase of the integration of our Illinois
and Texas billing systems in the third quarter of 2007.
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses
We recognize depreciation expenses for our regulated telephone plant using rates and lives
approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The
provision for depreciation on nonregulated property and equipment is recorded using the
straight-line method based upon the following useful lives:
Years | ||||
Buildings |
15-35 | |||
Network and outside plant facilities |
5-30 | |||
Furniture, fixtures and equipment |
3-17 |
Amortization expenses are recognized primarily for our intangible assets considered to have
finite useful lives on a straight-line basis. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards, or SFAS, 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, goodwill and intangible assets that
have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but rather are tested annually for impairment.
Because trade names have been determined to have indefinite lives, they are not amortized.
Customer relationships are amortized over their useful life, at a weighted average life of
approximately 12 years.
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Results of Operations
Three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to three months ended September 30, 2006
The following summarizes our revenues and operating expenses on a consolidated basis for the
three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||
% of Total | % of Total | |||||||||||||||
$ (millions) | Revenues | $ (millions) | Revenues | |||||||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||
Telephone Operations |
||||||||||||||||
Local calling services |
$ | 20.5 | 25.5 | % | $ | 21.3 | 26.5 | % | ||||||||
Network access services |
17.1 | 21.3 | 17.3 | 21.5 | ||||||||||||
Subsidies |
10.1 | 12.6 | 11.0 | 13.7 | ||||||||||||
Long distance services |
3.6 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 5.1 | ||||||||||||
Data and internet services |
9.9 | 12.3 | 7.9 | 9.8 | ||||||||||||
Other services |
8.9 | 11.1 | 8.5 | 10.6 | ||||||||||||
Total Telephone Operations |
70.1 | 87.3 | 70.1 | 87.3 | ||||||||||||
Other Operations |
10.2 | 12.7 | 10.2 | 12.7 | ||||||||||||
Total operating revenues |
80.3 | 100.0 | 80.3 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||
Expenses |
||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||
Telephone Operations |
39.0 | 48.6 | 37.7 | 46.9 | ||||||||||||
Other Operations |
10.5 | 13.1 | 10.2 | 12.7 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
16.4 | 20.4 | 17.0 | 21.2 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
65.9 | 82.1 | 64.9 | 80.8 | ||||||||||||
Income from operations |
14.4 | 17.9 | 15.4 | 19.2 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense, net |
(11.8 | ) | (14.7 | ) | (11.1 | ) | (13.8 | ) | ||||||||
Other income, net |
1.8 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(2.1 | ) | (2.6 | ) | (3.9 | ) | (4.9 | ) | ||||||||
Net income |
$ | 2.3 | 2.9 | % | $ | 2.0 | 2.5 | % | ||||||||
Segments
In accordance with the reporting requirement of SFAS 131, Disclosure about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information, the Company has two reportable business segments, Telephone
Operations and Other Operations. The results of operations discussed below reflect our
consolidated results.
Results of Operations
Revenues
Our revenues remained constant at $80.3 million for both the three months ended September 30,
2007 and the same period in 2006. Our discussion and analysis of the figures follows.
Telephone Operations Revenues
Local calling services revenues decreased by 3.8%, or $0.8 million, to $20.5 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $21.3 million during the same period in 2006.
The decrease is primarily due to the decline in local access lines as previously discussed under
Factors Affecting Results of Operations.
Network access services revenues decreased by 1.2%, or $0.2 million, to $17.1 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $17.3 million during the same period in 2006.
The decrease was primarily attributable to a decline in minutes of use.
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Subsidies revenues decreased by 8.2%, or $0.9 million, to $10.1 million for the three months
ended September 30, 2007 compared to $11.0 million during the same period in 2006. In the third
quarter of 2007 we refunded $2.1 million of prior period settlements, while we refunded $1.2
million in the third quarter of 2006. The settlements are triggered by the filing of our annual
Interstate Common Line Support cost studies.
Long distance services revenues decreased by 12.2%, or $0.5 million, to $3.6 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $4.1 million during the same period in 2006. The
2006 period reflects the receipt of $0.3 million in settlement of a long distance traffic sharing
dispute with another carrier. The remaining decrease is due to a decline in billable minutes.
Data and Internet revenues increased by 25.3%, or $2.0 million, to $9.9 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $7.9 million during the same period in 2006. The
revenue increase was due to increased DSL and IPTV penetration. The number of DSL lines in service
increased by 13,186 from September 30, 2006 to September 30, 2007 and the number of IPTV customers
increased by 5,425 subscribers over the same period.
Other Services revenues increased by 4.7%, or $0.4 million, to $8.9 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $8.5 million during the same period in 2006. The
increase is comprised of improved revenues from our directory and transport businesses and other
miscellaneous items including increased fees resulting from the application of finance charges for
late payments.
Other Operations Revenue
Other Operations revenues remained constant at $10.2 million for both the three months ended
September 30, 2007 and the same period in 2006.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses increased by 1.5%, or $1.0 million, to $65.9 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $64.9 million during the same period in 2006. Our
discussion and analysis of the components of the variance follows.
Telephone Operations Operating Expense
Operating expenses for Telephone Operations increased by 3.4%, or $1.3 million, to $39.0
million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $37.7 million during the same
period in 2006. The increase was due to the favorable settlement of $0.5 million of vendor
disputes in 2006 that did not repeat in 2007, an increase of $0.6 million in non-cash stock
compensation expense, and increased field overtime due to the heavy rains that occurred in our
Texas properties.
Other Operations Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for Other Operations increased by 2.9%, or $0.3 million, to $10.5 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $10.2 million during the same period in
2006. Our equipment sales and telemarketing and order fulfillment businesses experienced
increased costs of sales to support customer projects.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased by 3.5%, or $0.6 million, to $16.4 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $17.0 million during the same period in
2006. The decrease is primarily the result of decreased amortization of the value of our customer
list. In December of 2006, the Company recognized an $11.0 million impairment related to its
Operator Services and Telemarketing Services customer lists. The reduced carrying value of the
customer lists resulted in decreased amortization expense in 2007.
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Non-Operating Income (Expense)
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net of interest income, increased by 6.3%, or $0.7 million, to $11.8 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $11.1 million during the same period in
2006. In connection with the share repurchase in July of 2006, we borrowed $39.0 million. The
increase in interest expense can be attributed to the incremental borrowings and to increased rates
on our borrowings. The weighted average interest rate on our term debt, including swaps, was 6.58%
on September 30, 2007 compared to 6.35% on September 30, 2006.
Other Income
Other income, net increased by 12.5%, or $0.2 million, to $1.8 million for the three months
ended September 30, 2007 compared to $1.6 million during the same period in 2006 due to increased
investment income.
Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was a $2.1 million in 2007 compared to a $3.9 million net tax
expense in 2006. During the third quarter of 2007, we completed and filed our 2006 tax return,
filed amended returns for 2005, and recognized approximately $40,000 of additional net taxes to
adjust our provision to match the returns. During the third quarter of 2006, we completed and
filed our 2005 tax return, filed amended returns for 2003 and 2004, and recognized approximately
$0.8 million of additional net taxes to adjust our provision to match the returns. Exclusive of
these adjustments, our effective tax rate would have been approximately 45% for the three months
ended September 30, 2007 compared to 52% for the three months ended September 30, 2006.
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Nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2006
The following summarizes our revenues and operating expenses on a consolidated basis for the
nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||
% of Total | % of Total | |||||||||||||||
$ (millions) | Revenues | $ (millions) | Revenues | |||||||||||||
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||
Telephone Operations |
||||||||||||||||
Local calling services |
$ | 62.8 | 25.7 | % | $ | 64.2 | 26.9 | % | ||||||||
Network access services |
52.9 | 21.7 | 51.3 | 21.5 | ||||||||||||
Subsidies |
32.8 | 13.4 | 35.0 | 14.6 | ||||||||||||
Long distance services |
10.8 | 4.4 | 11.6 | 4.9 | ||||||||||||
Data and internet services |
27.6 | 11.3 | 22.5 | 9.4 | ||||||||||||
Other services |
26.7 | 10.9 | 24.6 | 10.3 | ||||||||||||
Total Telephone Operations |
213.6 | 87.5 | 209.2 | 87.5 | ||||||||||||
Other Operations |
30.6 | 12.5 | 29.9 | 12.5 | ||||||||||||
Total operating revenues |
244.2 | 100.0 | 239.1 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||
Expenses |
||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||
Telephone Operations |
114.3 | 46.8 | 113.6 | 47.5 | ||||||||||||
Other Operations |
31.2 | 12.8 | 30.1 | 12.6 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
49.6 | 20.3 | 50.9 | 21.3 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
195.1 | 79.9 | 194.6 | 81.4 | ||||||||||||
Income from operations |
49.1 | 20.1 | 44.5 | 18.6 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense, net |
(34.7 | ) | (14.2 | ) | (31.3 | ) | (13.1 | ) | ||||||||
Other income, net |
4.8 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 1.8 | ||||||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
(6.8 | ) | (2.8 | ) | (3.7 | ) | (1.5 | ) | ||||||||
Net income |
$ | 12.4 | 5.1 | % | $ | 13.8 | 5.8 | % | ||||||||
Revenues
Our revenues increased by 2.1%, or $5.1 million, to $244.2 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 2007, from $239.1 million during the same period in 2006. Our discussion and
analysis of the components of the variance follows.
Telephone Operations Revenues
Local calling services revenues decreased by 2.2%, or $1.4 million, to $62.8 million for the
nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $64.2 million during the same period in 2006. The
decrease is primarily due to the decline in local access lines as previously discussed under
Factors Affecting Results of Operations.
Network access services revenues increased by 3.1%, or $1.6 million, to $52.9 million for the
nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $51.3 million during the same period in 2006.
The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in switched access rates associated with our
2006 tariff filing and the receipt of $0.7 million as settlement of an outstanding billing claim,
and was offset marginally by a decline in minutes of use in the three months ended September 30,
2007 as described above.
Subsidies revenues decreased by 6.3%, or $2.2 million, to $32.8 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2007 compared to $35.0 million during the same period in 2006. The decrease is
primarily due to the change in out of period settlements in 2007 compared to 2006. In 2007 we
refunded $2.1 million for prior period settlements while we refunded $1.2 million in 2006. The
settlements are triggered primarily by the filing of our
annual Interstate Common Line Support cost
studies. The remainder of the decrease is attributable to a decrease in the interstate common line
revenue requirement.
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Long distance services revenues decreased by 6.9%, or $0.8 million, to $10.8 million for the
nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $11.6 million during the same period in 2006. The
change was primarily driven by a decrease in the average rate per minute being charged for the
services. As part of our bundling strategy we increased the number of long distance lines from
September 30, 2006 to September 30, 2007, which partially offset the decline in rates.
Data and Internet revenues increased by 22.7%, or $5.1 million, to $27.6 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $22.5 million during the same period in 2006. The
revenue increase was due to an increase in DSL and IPTV subscribers as described in Factors
Affecting Results of Operations.
Other Services revenues increased by 8.5%, or $2.1 million, to $26.7 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $24.6 million during the same period in 2006. Higher
directory publishing revenues accounted for $0.3 million of the increase, while increased usage of
our transport network resulted in a $0.5 million increase in revenue. We also recognized $0.1
million related to the settlement of a billing dispute. The remainder of the increase is comprised
of other miscellaneous items including increased fees resulting from the application of finance
charges for late payments.
Other Operations Revenue
Other Operations revenues increased by 2.3%, or $0.7 million, to $30.6 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $29.9 million during the same period in 2006. Revenues
from our prison system business increased by $0.5 million; revenues from our telemarketing and
order fulfillment business increased by $0.3 million; and revenues from equipment sales rose by
$0.2 million.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses increased by 0.3%, or $0.5 million, to $195.1 million for the nine
months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $194.6 million during the same period in 2006. Our
discussion and analysis of the components of the variance follows.
Telephone Operations Operating Expense
Operating expenses for Telephone Operations increased by 0.6%, or $0.7 million, to $114.3
million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $113.6 million during the same
period in 2006. The increase was primarily the result of a $1.1 million increase in non-cash stock
compensation expense and a $0.8 million increase in our incentive compensation accrual. These
increases are offset by $1.5 million of severance which was
incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $0.1 million in severance paid
during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
Other Operations Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for Other Operations increased by 3.7%, or $1.1 million, to $31.2 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $30.1 million during the same period in
2006. Our telemarketing and order fulfillment business and our equipment sales business
experienced increased costs to support higher revenues.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased by 2.6%, or $1.3 million, to $49.6 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $50.9 million during the same period in
2006. The decrease is primarily the result of decreased amortization of the value of our customer
list. In December of 2006, the Company recognized an $11.0 million impairment related to its
Operator Services and Telemarketing Services customer lists.
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The reduced carrying value of the
customer lists resulted in decreased amortization expense in 2007.
Non-Operating Income (Expense)
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net of interest income, increased by 10.9%, or $3.4 million, to $34.7
million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $31.3 million during the same
period in 2006. In connection with the share repurchase in July of 2006, we borrowed $39.0
million. The increase in interest expense can be attributed to the incremental borrowings and to
increased rates on our borrowings.
Other Income
Other income, net increased by 11.6%, or $0.5 million, to $4.8 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2007 compared to $4.3 million during the same period in 2006 due primarily to
the receipt of $0.3 million of life insurance proceeds upon the passing of a former employee and
increased investment income.
Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was a $6.8 million in 2007 compared to $3.7 million in 2006.
During the third quarter of 2007, we completed and filed our 2006 tax return, filed amended returns
for 2005, and recognized approximately $40,000 of additional net taxes to adjust our provision to
match the returns. During the second quarter of 2007, the State of Texas amended the tax
legislation enacted during the second quarter of 2006. The most significant impact of this
amendment for us was the revision to the temporary credit on taxable margin. This new legislation
resulted in a reduction of our net deferred tax liabilities and a corresponding credit to our tax
provision of approximately $1.7 million. During the third quarter of 2006, we completed and filed
our 2005 tax return, filed amended returns for 2003 and 2004, and recognized approximately $0.8
million of additional net taxes to adjust our provision to match the returns. During the second
quarter of 2006, the State of Texas enacted new tax legislation. The most significant impact of
this legislation for us was the modification of our Texas franchise tax calculation to a new
margin tax calculation used to derive taxable income. This new legislation resulted in a
reduction of our net deferred tax liabilities and corresponding credit to our state tax provision
of approximately $5.2 million. Exclusive of these adjustments, our effective tax rate would have
been approximately 44% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to 46% for the nine
months ended September 30, 2006.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the periods presented:
Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
(In millions) | ||||||||
Net Cash Provided by (Used for): |
||||||||
Operating activities |
$ | 52.8 | $ | 59.6 | ||||
Investing activities |
(24.6 | ) | (18.5 | ) | ||||
Financing activities |
(30.4 | ) | (52.5 | ) |
Operating Activities
Net income adjusted for non-cash charges is our primary source of operating cash. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2007, net income adjusted for non-cash charges generated $65.4
million of operating cash. Two primary uses of the operating cash were cash income tax payments of
$11.0 million and pension plan
contributions of $4.8 million. We elected to contribute
approximately $2.3 million in excess of our required minimum contribution to the pension plan in
order to reduce future contribution obligations. Partially offsetting these payments is an
increase in accrued interest of $2.7 million based on the timing of interest payments on our term
debt and senior notes.
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Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities has traditionally been for capital expenditures and
acquisitions. For the nine months ending September 30, 2007, we used $24.6 million for capital
expenditures. Because our network is modern and has been well maintained, we do not believe we
will substantially increase capital spending beyond current levels in the future. Any such
increase would likely occur as a result of a planned growth or expansion plan, if it all. We
expect our capital expenditures for 2007 will be approximately $32.5 million to $33.5 million,
which will be used primarily to maintain and upgrade our network, central offices and other
facilities and information technology for operating support and other systems.
Financing Activities
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we paid $30.1 million of cash to our common
stockholders in accordance with the dividend policy adopted by our board of directors. For the
year we expect to pay approximately $40.3 million of dividends. We also paid $0.3 million of
deferred financing fees in connection with amending our credit facility as discussed in Note 7 to
the financial statements.
Debt
The following table summarizes our indebtedness as of September 30, 2007:
Indebtedness as of September 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||
Balance | Maturity Date | Rate (1) | ||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revolving credit facility |
$ | | April 14, 2010 | LIBOR + 2.25% | ||||||||
Term loan D |
464.0 | October 14, 2011 | LIBOR + 1.75% | |||||||||
Senior notes |
130.0 | April 1, 2012 | 9.75 | % |
(1) | As of September 30, 2007, the 90-day LIBOR rate was 5.23%. |
Credit Facilities
As of March 31, 2007, we had $464.0 million of term D loans outstanding under our credit
facilities, which
mature on October 14, 2011. In addition, our credit facilities provide for a $30.0 million
revolving credit facility, maturing on April 14, 2010. As of September 30, 2007, we had no
borrowings under the revolving credit facility.
Borrowings under our credit facilities bear interest at a rate equal to an applicable margin
plus, at the borrowers election, either a base rate or LIBOR. The applicable margin is based
upon the borrowers total leverage ratio. As of September 30, 2007, the applicable margin for
interest rates was 1.75% and 2.25% on LIBOR based term D loans and the revolving credit facility,
respectively. The applicable margin for alternative base rate loans was 0.75% per year for the
term loan D facility and 1.25% for the revolving credit facility. At September 30, 2007, and
September 30, 2006 the weighted average interest rate, including swaps, on our term debt was 6.58%
and 6.35% per annum, respectively.
Derivative Instruments
We maintain interest rate swap agreements that effectively convert a portion of our
floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on
future interest expense. At September 30, 2007, we had interest rate swap agreements covering
$460.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our variable
rate debt to fixed LIBOR rates ranging
from 4.5% to 5.5%. The swap agreements expire in varying amounts on December 31, 2008, 2009 and
2010 as well as September 30, 2009, and 2011.
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Table of Contents
Senior Notes
As of September 30, 2007, we had $130.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes
outstanding. The senior notes are our senior, unsecured obligations. The indenture contains
customary covenants that restrict our, and our restricted subsidiaries ability to incur debt and
issue preferred stock, engage in business other than telecommunication businesses, make restricted
payments (including paying dividends on, redeeming, repurchasing or retiring our capital stock),
enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries ability to pay dividends, make loans, or
transfer assets to us, enter into liens, enter into a change of control without making an offer to
purchase the senior notes, sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of
subsidiaries, engage in transactions with affiliates, and consolidate or merge. In connection with
the acquisition of North Pittsburgh, the Company expects to enter into a new secured credit
facility. Under the terms of the Companys indenture, because the new secured credit facility will
exceed $515 million, the Company will be required to secure its senior notes on an equal and
ratable basis with the indebtedness issued under the new secured credit facility.
Covenant Compliance
In general our credit agreement restricts our ability to pay dividends to the amount of our
Available Cash as defined under Covenant Compliance in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. Based on the results of operations from October 1, 2005
through September 30, 2007, we would have been able to pay a dividend of $56.5 million under the
credit facility covenant. After giving effect to the dividend of $10.0 million which was declared
in August of 2007 but paid on November 1, 2007, we could pay a dividend of $46.5 million under the
credit facility covenant.
We are also restricted from paying dividends under the indenture governing our senior notes.
However, the indenture restriction is less restrictive than the restriction contained in our credit
agreement. That is because the restricted payments covenant in our credit agreement allows a lower
amount of dividends to be paid from the borrowers, Consolidated Communications, Inc. (CCI) and
Consolidated Communications Acquisition Texas, Inc. (CCAT), to the Company than the comparable
covenant in the indenture (referred to as the build-up amount) permits the Company to pay to its
stockholders. However, the amount of dividends the Company will be able to make under the
indenture in the future will be based, in part, on the amount of cash distributed by the borrowers
under the credit agreement to the Company.
Under our credit agreement, if our total net leverage ratio (as such term is defined in the
credit agreement), as of the end of any fiscal quarter, is greater than 4.75:1.00, we will be
required to suspend dividends on our common stock unless otherwise permitted by an exception for
dividends that may be paid from the portion of proceeds of any sale of equity not used to make
mandatory prepayments of loans and not used to fund acquisitions, capital expenditures or make
other investments. During any dividend suspension period, we will be required to
repay debt in an amount equal to 50.0% of any increase in available cash (as such term is defined
in our credit agreement) during such dividend suspension period, among other things. In addition,
we will not be permitted to pay dividends if an event of default under the credit agreement has
occurred and is continuing. Among other things, it will be an event of default if:
| our senior secured leverage ratio, as of the end of any fiscal quarter is greater than 4.00 to 1.00; or | ||
| our fixed charge coverage ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter is not at least 1.75 to 1.00. |
As of September 30, 2007, we were in compliance with our debt covenants. The table below
presents our ratios as of September 30, 2007:
Total net leverage ratio |
4.07:1.00 | |||
Senior secured leverage ratio |
3.26:1.00 | |||
Fixed charge coverage ratio |
2.50:1.00 |
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In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company and two of its
wholly-owned subsidiaries, CCI and CCAT, entered into a Commitment Letter, dated June 30, 2007,
from Wachovia Bank, National Association and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (the Commitment
Letter). The Commitment Letter provides for senior secured credit facilities in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $950,000,000 (the Credit Facilities) consisting of a six-year revolving
credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50,000,000 and a seven-year senior
secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $900,000,000 (the Term Loan
Facility). The Term Loan Facility will be available in up to two separate draws, with the initial
draw in an aggregate principal amount of $760,000,000 and a delayed draw in an aggregate principal
amount of up to $140,000,000. The Credit Facilities will be used to finance the aggregate cash
consideration for the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, to repay certain existing
debt of North Pittsburgh and its subsidiaries, to refinance certain existing debt of the Company
and its subsidiaries, to provide ongoing working capital and for other general corporate purposes
and, if drawn, the delayed draw portion of the Term Loan Facility may be used solely for the
repurchase or redemption in full (including the related fees and expenses) of the indebtedness
outstanding under our existing 9.75% Senior Notes due 2012. The borrowers under the Credit
Facilities will be CCI, CCAT and Merger Sub (and, effective upon the Merger, North Pittsburgh
Systems, Inc. as the surviving entity in the Merger). The Credit Facilities will be guaranteed by
the Company and each existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct and indirect subsidiary
of the Company (including certain of North Pittsburghs subsidiaries, but excluding Illinois
Consolidated Telephone Company (ICTC), North Pittsburgh Telephone Company and Penn Telecom) and
secured by perfected first priority liens and security interests in substantially all of the
tangible and intangible properties and assets of CCI, CCAT, North Pittsburgh and the guarantors
under the Credit Facilities as well as all present and future capital stock or other membership,
equity or profits interests of or in CCI, CCAT, North Pittsburgh, ICTC, North Pittsburgh Telephone
Company, Penn Telecom, and the guarantors under the Credit Facilities (other than Consolidated) and
65% of the voting stock (and 100% of the non-voting stock) of all present and future first-tier
foreign subsidiaries of the Company, CCI, CCAT or North Pittsburgh. Pursuant to the terms of the
Commitment Letter, the definitive agreements to be entered into with respect to the Credit
Facilities will contain customary representations, warranties and covenants, and the closing of the
Credit Facilities will be subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
The terms of the Commitment Letter require that North Pittsburgh Telephone Company and Penn
Telecom each guarantee the Credit Facilities at such time as it is no longer prohibited from
guaranteeing the Credit Facilities by the terms of the Pennsylvania PUC order approving the Merger
and that, when North Pittsburgh Telephone Company or Penn Telecom guarantees the Credit Facilities,
the Credit Facilities also be secured by perfected first priority liens and security interests in
substantially all of the tangible and intangible properties and assets of North Pittsburgh
Telephone Company or Penn Telecom, respectively. With their joint application for approval of the
transfers of control of North Pittsburgh Telephone Company and Penn Telecom to the Company,
North Pittsburgh Telephone Company and Penn Telecom also jointly filed requests for Pennsylvania
PUC approval of such guarantees of the Credit Facilities and the grants of such liens and security
interests, as required under the Pennsylvania Public Utility Code. The Credit Facilities are
expected to contain customary affirmative and negative covenants.
In general, the Credit Facilities will restrict our ability to pay dividends to the amount of
our Cumulative Available Cash, defined as Available Cash accumulated after October 1, 2005, plus
$23.7 million, less certain permitted distributions. Available Cash will be defined in the Credit
Facilities as consolidated EBITDA (generally, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization, subject to certain additions and subtractions to be determined) (a) minus, to the
extent not deducted in the determination of consolidated EBITDA,(i) non-cash dividend income,
(ii) consolidated interest expense net of debt issuance costs incurred in connection with, or prior
to, the Merger, (iii) capital expenditures from internally generated funds,(iv) cash income taxes
paid, (v) scheduled principal payments of indebtedness, (vi) certain prepayments of indebtedness,
(vii) net increases in outstanding revolving loans, (viii) the cash costs of any extraordinary or
unusual losses or charges and (ix) cash payments made on account of losses or charges
expensed,(b) plus, to the extent not included in consolidated EBITDA, (i) cash interest income,
(ii) the cash amount realized in respect of extraordinary or unusual gains, and (iii) net decreases
in outstanding revolving loans.
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Table of Contents
We will also be restricted from paying dividends under the indenture governing our senior
notes. However, the indenture restriction is less restrictive than the restriction that will be
contained in the Credit Facilities. That is
because the restricted payments covenant in the Credit
Facilities will allow a lower amount of dividends to be paid from the borrowers (CCI, CCAT and
North Pittsburgh) to the Company than the comparable covenant in the indenture (referred to as the
build-up amount) permits Consolidated to pay to its stockholders. However, the amount of dividends
we will be able to make under the indenture in the future will be based, in part, on the amount of
cash distributed by the borrowers under the Credit Facilities.
The terms of the Commitment Letter contemplate that the interest rate under the Term Loan
Facility will be LIBOR plus 2.0% or a base rate (the higher of (i) the New York Federal Funds Rate
plus 0.5% or(ii) prime) (the Base Rate) plus 1.0%, each subject to a limited increase in certain
circumstances. The Commitment Letter also specifies that the same provisions apply to the Revolving
Credit Facility, except that, at such time as the borrowers deliver financial statements for the
first full quarter after the closing date for the Credit Facilities, the interest margins over
LIBOR and the Base Rate for the Revolving Credit Facility will be set pursuant to a grid to be
determined.
Under the Credit Facilities, if our total net leverage ratio, as of the end of any fiscal
quarter, is greater than 5.25:1.00 (stepping down to 5.10:1.00 after the first anniversary of the
closing date of the Credit Facilities), we will be required to suspend dividends on our common
stock unless otherwise permitted by an exception for dividends that maybe paid from the portion of
proceeds of any sale of equity not used to make mandatory prepayments of loans and not used to fund
acquisitions, capital expenditures or make other investments. During any dividend suspension
period, we will be required to repay debt in an amount equal to 50.0% of any increase in Available
Cash during such dividend suspension period, among other things. In addition, we will not be
permitted to pay dividends if an event of default under the Credit Facilities has occurred and is
continuing. Among other things, it will be an event of default if:
| Our total net leverage ratio (defined as the ratio of consolidated indebtedness, net of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents in excess of $5,000,000 but not to exceed $25,000,000, to consolidated EBITDA for the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters), as of the end of any fiscal quarter, is greater than 5.50:1.00 (stepping down to 5.25:1.00 after the first anniversary of the closing date of the Credit Facilities); or | ||
| Consolidateds interest coverage ratio (defined as the ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated cash interest expense for the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters) as of the end of any fiscal quarter is not at least 2.25:1.00. |
The description of the covenants above and of our credit agreement and indenture generally in
this Report are summaries only. They do not contain a full description, including definitions, of
the provisions summarized. As such, these summaries are qualified in their entirety by these
documents, which are filed as exhibits to this report.
Surety Bonds
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into surety, performance, and similar bonds. As
of September
30, 2007, we had approximately $1.9 million of these bonds outstanding.
Table of Contractual Obligations and Commitments
As of September 30, 2007, our material contractual obligations and commitments were:
Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(In millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt (a) |
$ | 594.0 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 464.0 | $ | 130.0 | ||||||||||||||
Operating leases |
8.8 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pension and other post
retirement obligations (b) |
46.0 | 0.5 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 23.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 648.8 | $ | 1.3 | $ | 7.5 | $ | 7.3 | $ | 7.4 | $ | 471.1 | $ | 154.2 | |||||||||||||||
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(a) | This item consists of loans outstanding under our credit facilities totaling $464.0 million and our senior notes totaling $130.0 million. The credit facilities consist of a $464.0 million term loan D facility maturing on October 14, 2011 and a $30.0 million revolving credit facility, which was fully available but undrawn as September 30, 2007. | |
(b) | Pension funding is an estimate of our minimum funding requirements to provide pension benefits for employees based on service through September 30, 2007. Obligations relating to other post retirement benefits are based on estimated future benefit payments. Our estimates are based on forecasts of future benefit payments which may change over time due to a number of factors, including life expectancy, medical costs and trends and on the actual rate of return on the plan assets, discount rates, discretionary pension contributions and regulatory rules. |
Under FIN 48, unrecognized tax benefits of $5.6 million are excluded from the contractual
obligations table based on the high degree of uncertainty regarding the timing of future cash
outflows with respect to settlement of these liabilities.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair
Value Measurements (SFAS 157). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about
fair value measurements. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 157 effective January 1, 2008 and
is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on its future results of operations and
financial condition.
In September 2006, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158,
Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans (SFAS 158).
SFAS 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined
benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to
recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through
comprehensive income. SFAS 158 also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as
of the date of its year-end statement of financial position. The Company was required to adopt
SFAS 158 effective December 31, 2006. The Company adopted the recognition and related disclosure
provisions of SFAS 158 effective December 31, 2006. The measurement provision of SFAS 158 is
effective at the end of 2008. The Company does not expect the measurement date provision of SFAS
58 to have a significant impact on future results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2007, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair
Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115(SFAS 159). SFAS 159 allows entities to voluntarily elect to measure many financial assets and
financial liabilities at fair value. The election is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and
is irrevocable. The Company is required to adopt Statement 159 at the beginning of 2008. The impact
of the adoption of SFAS 159 will be dependent upon the extent to which the Company elects to
measure eligible items at fair value. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of
adopting SFAS 159 on its future results of operations and financial condition.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our long-term debt
obligations. We estimate our market risk using sensitivity analysis. Market risk is defined as
the potential change in the fair market value of a fixed-rate long-term debt obligation due to
hypothetical adverse change in interest rates and the potential change in interest expense on
variable rate long-term debt obligations due to a change in market interest rates. The fair value
on long-term debt obligations is determined based on discounted cash flow analysis, using the rates
and the maturities of these obligations compared to terms and rates currently available in
long-term debt markets. The potential change in interest expense is determined by calculating the
effect of the hypothetical rate increase on the portion of variable rate debt that is not hedged
through the interest swap agreements described below and assumes no changes in our capital
structure. As of September 30, 2007, approximately 99.3% of our long-term debt
obligations were
fixed rate obligations and approximately 0.7% were variable rate obligations not subject to
interest rate swap agreements.
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As of September 30, 2007, we had $464.0 million of debt outstanding under our credit
facilities. Our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates was limited by interest rate swap
agreements that effectively converted a portion of our variable debt to a fixed-rate basis, thus
reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest expenses. On September 30, 2007,
we had interest rate swap agreements covering $460.0 million of aggregate principal amount of our
variable rate debt at fixed LIBOR rates ranging from 4.52% to 5.51%. The swaps expire in varying
amounts on December 31, 2008, December 31, 2009, December 31, 2010, September 30, 2009, and
September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2007, we had $4.0 million of variable rate debt not
covered by interest rate swap agreements. If market interest rates averaged 1.0% higher than the
average rates that prevailed from January 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007, interest expense
would have increased by approximately $0.5 million for the period. As of September 30, 2007, the
fair value of interest rate swap agreements amounted to a liability of $1.6 million, net of taxes.
As of September 30, 2007, we had $130.0 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate
long-term debt obligations with an estimated fair market value of $133.9 million based on an
overall weighted average interest rate of 9.75% and an overall weighted maturity of 4.50 years,
compared to rates and maturities currently available in long-term debt markets. Market risk is
estimated as the potential loss in fair value of our fixed rate long-term debt resulting from a
hypothetical increase of 10% in interest rates. Such an increase would have resulted in an
approximately $2.5 million decrease in the fair value of our fixed rate long term debt.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in our report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and
communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and
procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of
achieving the desired control objectives. Our management, with the participation of our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and
operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007. Based upon that
evaluation and subject to the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures provided
reasonable assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to accomplish their
objectives. No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule
13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007 that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We currently and from time to time, are subject to claims and regulatory proceedings
arising in the ordinary course of business. However, we are not currently subject to any such
claims that we believe could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our
results of operation or financial condition.
Item 6. Exhibits
See the Exhibit Index following the signature page of this Report.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (Registrant) |
||||
Date: November 8, 2007 | By: | /s/ Robert J. Currey | ||
Robert J. Currey | ||||
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
||||
Date: November 8, 2007 | By: | /s/ Steven L. Childers | ||
Steven L. Childers | ||||
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer) |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | ||
Number | Description | |
2.1
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 1, 2007, by and among Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc., North Pittsburgh Systems, Inc. and Fort Pitt Acquisition Sub Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 18, 2007) | |
3.2
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 12, 2007) | |
31.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
31.2
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
32.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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