Mobile data communications segment sales decreased $4.6 million, or 28.2%, from $16.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2003 to $11.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004. The sales decrease in this segment was primarily the result of (i) lower sales of our Movement Tracking System to the U.S. Army and (ii) lower sales relating to a battle command application for the U.S. Army. Since most of our current activity in this segment relates to the U.S. Army, funding levels and the timing of the receipt of orders can significantly impact our sales from quarter-to-quarter. Quarterly net sales in this segment were expected, and are still expected, to be lower during the second half of fiscal 2004 as compared to the first half of fiscal 2004 due to the timing of orders received to date in fiscal 2004. Our mobile data communications segment represented 22.9% of total net sales for the three months ended April 30, 2004 as compared to 33.4% for the three months ended April 30, 2003.
Sales from our RF microwave amplifier segment were $4.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 compared to $5.7 million for the three months ended April 30, 2003, representing a decrease of $1.0 million, or 17.5%. The decrease was the result of continued softness in certain commercial product lines, including our commercial aviation product line. Our RF microwave amplifier segment represented 9.3% of total net sales for the three months ended April 30, 2004 as compared to 11.7% for the three months ended April 30, 2003. Although we continue to be impacted by continued softness in certain commercial product lines, we have recently experienced an increase in demand for our amplifiers that are used in defense-related applications.
International sales (including sales to domestic companies for inclusion in products which are sold to international customers) represented 46.6% and 34.4% of total net sales for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Domestic commercial sales represented 16.9% and 15.5% of total net sales for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Sales to the U.S. government (including sales to prime contractors to the U.S. government) represented 36.5% and 50.1% of total net sales for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
During the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, sales to one customer, a prime contractor, represented 10.9% and 22.1% of total net sales, respectively. Direct and indirect sales to a North African country, including certain sales to the prime contractor mentioned above, during the three months ended April 30, 2004 represented 15.9% of total net sales. No foreign country represented 10% or more of total net sales in the three months ended April 30, 2003.
Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, was 40.2% for the three months ended April 30, 2004, as compared to 33.8% for the three months ended April 30, 2003 primarily for the reasons discussed in the preceding paragraph.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $8.8 million and $7.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, representing an increase of $1.5 million, or 20.5%. The increase was due to higher expenses relating to the increase in sales and profitability during the fiscal 2004 period, as well as compliance costs in connection with recently enacted corporate governance regulations and higher insurance costs. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 17.2% and 15.0% for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses were $4.0 million and $3.0 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Approximately $3.6 million and $2.8 million of such amounts, respectively, related to our telecommunications transmission segment. As an investment for the future, we are continually enhancing our existing products and developing new products and technologies. Whenever possible, we seek customer funding for research and development to adapt our products to specialized customer requirements. During the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, customers reimbursed us $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, which amounts are not reflected in the reported research and development expenses, but are included in sales with the related costs included in cost of sales.
Amortization of Intangibles. Amortization of intangibles of $0.5 million in both periods represents the amortization of intangibles with definite lives which we acquired in connection with various acquisitions.
Operating Income. Operating income for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, was $7.3 million and $5.7 million. The $1.6 million, or 28.1%, increase was the result of the higher sales and gross profit, discussed above, partially offset by higher operating expenses.
Operating income in our telecommunications transmission segment increased to $7.8 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 from $4.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2003 as a result of significantly higher sales combined with the related increased operating efficiencies and overhead absorption, as well as the impact of the gross margin adjustments, approximately $1.6 million net of related operating expenses, on two large over-the-horizon microwave system contracts discussed above. Our mobile data communications segment generated operating income of $1.0 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 compared to $2.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2003, a $1.1 million decrease due primarily to the decrease in sales and a change in product mix. Operating income in our RF microwave amplifier segment decreased to $0.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 from $0.4 million for the three months ended April 30, 2003 as a result of the decrease in sales. Unallocated expenses increased to $1.6 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 from $1.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2003 due primarily to higher incentive compensation expense, increased costs associated with recent corporate governance regulations and higher insurance costs.
Interest Expense. Interest expense for the three months ended April 30, 2004 was $0.7 million, which primarily represented interest expense associated with our 2% convertible senior notes issued in January 2004. Interest expense for the three months ended April 30, 2003 was also $0.7 million, which related primarily to our long-term debt that we repaid in full in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.
Interest Income. Interest income for the three months ended April 30, 2004 was $0.3 million, as compared to $0.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2003. The $0.2 million increase was due primarily to a higher average cash position resulting from our private placement of common stock in July 2003 and issuance of our 2% convertible senior notes in January 2004.
Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes was $2.2 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The effective tax rate was 32.0% in both periods.
COMPARISON OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2004 AND APRIL 30, 2003
Net Sales. Consolidated net sales were $164.3 million and $122.4 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, representing an increase of $41.9 million, or 34.2%. The increase was driven by significant growth in our telecommunications transmission and mobile data communications segments, as described below.
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Sales from our telecommunications transmission segment were $103.5 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004, as compared to sales of $70.9 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003, an increase of $32.6 million, or 46.0%. The significant sales growth in this segment resulted primarily from (i) incremental sales of our over-the-horizon microwave systems relating to two large contract awards received in fiscal 2003, including the impact of the cumulative gross margin adjustments discussed in the comparison of the three months’ results, and (ii) strong sales of our satellite earth station products. Our telecommunications transmission segment represented 63.0% of total net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 as compared to 57.9% for the prior year period. We continue to expect that the timing of our performance on large contracts in our over-the-horizon microwave systems product line can cause sales to fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter. In addition, as most of our satellite earth station products are booked and shipped in the same quarter, fluctuations in market demand and the receipt of orders from our customers can cause sales of these products to fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter.
Mobile data communications segment sales increased $13.5 million, or 41.0%, from $32.9 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003 to $46.4 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004. The significant sales growth in this segment was primarily the result of (i) higher sales of our Movement Tracking System to the U.S. Army and (ii) higher sales relating to a battle command application for the U.S. Army. Since most of our current activity in this segment relates to the U.S. Army, funding levels and the timing of the receipt of orders can significantly impact our sales from quarter-to-quarter. Quarterly net sales in this segment were expected, and are still expected, to be lower during the second half of fiscal 2004 as compared to the first half of fiscal 2004 due to the timing of orders received to date in fiscal 2004. Our mobile data communications segment represented 28.2% of total net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 as compared to 26.9% for the nine months ended April 30, 2003.
Sales from our RF microwave amplifier segment were $14.4 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 compared to $18.6 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003, representing a decrease of $4.2 million, or 22.6%. The decrease was the result of continued softness in certain commercial product lines, including our commercial aviation product line. Our RF microwave amplifier segment represented 8.8% of total net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 as compared to 15.2% for the nine months ended April 30, 2003. Although we continue to be impacted by continued softness in certain commercial product lines, we have recently experienced an increase in demand for our amplifiers that are used in defense-related applications.
International sales (including sales to domestic companies for inclusion in products which are sold to international customers) represented 44.5% and 38.3% of total net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Domestic commercial sales represented 15.2% and 16.8% of total net sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Sales to the U.S. government (including sales to prime contractors to the U.S. government) represented 40.3% and 44.9% of total net sales for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
During the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, sales to one customer, a prime contractor, represented 15.2% and 15.5% of total net sales, respectively. Direct and indirect sales to a North African country, including certain sales to the prime contractor mentioned above, during the nine months ended April 30, 2004 represented 15.9% of total net sales. No foreign country represented 10% or more of total net sales in the nine months ended April 30, 2003.
Gross Profit. Gross profit was $62.2 million and $41.7 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, representing an increase of $20.5 million, or 49.2%. The increase was primarily due to the higher total sales and associated increased operating efficiencies and overhead absorption, the greater proportion of higher margin telecommunications transmission segment sales and the impact of the gross margin adjustments on two large over-the-horizon microwave system contracts discussed in the comparison of the three months’ results. Included in cost of sales for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, are provisions for excess and obsolete inventory of $1.0 million and $1.7 million. As discussed above under “Critical Accounting Policies – Provisions for Excess and Obsolete Inventory,” we regularly review our inventory and record a provision for excess and obsolete inventory based on historical and future usage assumptions.
Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, was 37.9% for the nine months ended April 30, 2004, as compared to 34.1% for the nine months ended April 30, 2003, primarily for the reasons discussed in the preceding paragraph.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $26.2 million and $20.0 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, representing an increase of $6.2 million, or 31.0%. The increase was due to higher expenses relating to the significant increase in sales and profitability during the fiscal 2004 period, as well as compliance costs in connection with recently enacted corporate governance regulations and
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higher insurance costs. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 15.9% and 16.3% for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses were $11.2 million and $9.3 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Approximately $10.3 million and $8.4 million of such amounts, respectively, related to our telecommunications transmission segment. As an investment for the future, we are continually enhancing our existing products and developing new products and technologies. Whenever possible, we seek customer funding for research and development to adapt our products to specialized customer requirements. During the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, customers reimbursed us $3.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively, which amounts are not reflected in the reported research and development expenses, but are included in sales with the related costs included in cost of sales.
Amortization of Intangibles. Amortization of intangibles for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003 was $1.5 million. The amortization relates to intangibles with definite lives which we acquired in connection with various acquisitions.
Operating Income. Operating income for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, was $23.4 million and $10.9 million. The $12.5 million increase was the result of the higher sales and gross profit, discussed above, partially offset by higher operating expenses.
Operating income in our telecommunications transmission segment increased to $21.6 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 from $8.8 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003 as a result of significantly higher sales combined with the related increased operating efficiencies and overhead absorption, as well as the impact of the gross margin adjustments on two large over-the-horizon microwave system contracts discussed above. Our mobile data communications segment generated operating income of $6.1 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 compared to $3.3 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003 due primarily to the increase in sales and more favorable product mix. Operating income in our RF microwave amplifier segment decreased to $0.6 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 from $1.7 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003 as a result of the decrease in sales. Unallocated expenses increased to $5.0 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 from $3.0 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003 due primarily to higher incentive compensation expense, increased costs associated with recent corporate governance regulations and higher insurance costs.
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased from $2.1 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003 to $0.8 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004. The decrease was due to the prepayment of our long-term debt in July 2003. Interest expense for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 primarily represents interest expense associated with our 2% convertible senior notes issued in January 2004.
Interest Income. Interest income for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 was $0.5 million, as compared to $0.2 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2003. The $0.3 million increase was due primarily to a higher average cash position resulting from our private placement of common stock in July 2003 and issuance of our 2% convertible senior notes in January 2004.
Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes was $7.4 million and $2.9 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, as a result of the significant increase in pre-tax profit. The effective tax rate was 32.0% in both periods.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our cash and cash equivalents increased to $152.8 million at April 30, 2004 from $48.6 million at July 31, 2003.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.3 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2004. Such amount reflects (i) net income of $15.7 million plus the impact of depreciation, amortization, the provisions for doubtful accounts and inventory reserves, and the income tax benefit from stock-related transactions aggregating $7.0 million and (ii) changes in working capital balances, most notably increases in accounts receivable of $22.0 million and inventory of $3.5 million. Also impacting net cash provided by operating activities were increases in accrued expenses, customer advances and deposits and deferred service revenue aggregating $9.7 million. The increase in billed receivables is the result of the increase in sales during the nine months ended April 30, 2004 and the timing of related cash receipts. The increase in unbilled receivables reflects additional work performed on our long-term contracts, including a large contract with a North African country for which we have recently obtained credit insurance covering a significant portion of the credit risk associated with this contract.
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Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended April 30, 2004 was $4.3 million, representing capital expenditures.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2004, as a result of recent growth in our mobile data communications segment, we entered into a new lease agreement for approximately 32,000 square feet of office space located near our current facility in Germantown, Maryland. It is our intention to move to this new facility by December 31, 2004. As part of this relocation, we will build a state-of-the-art network operations center in the new facility. We also anticipate implementing a company-wide information reporting system. In connection with these activities, we expect to incur total capital expenditures of approximately $3.0 million, a substantial portion of which we believe will be incurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 and first quarter of fiscal 2005.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $102.2 million, due primarily to the net proceeds of $101.2 million from the sale of our 2% convertible senior notes in January 2004, as well as the proceeds from stock option exercises and employee stock purchase plan shares aggregating $1.8 million. These amounts were partially offset by principal payments on capital lease obligations of $0.8 million.
FINANCING ARRANGEMENT
On January 27, 2004, we issued $105.0 million of our 2% convertible senior notes in a private offering pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The net proceeds from this transaction were $101.2 million after deducting the initial purchaser’s discount and other transaction costs. For further information concerning this financing, see “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note (6) 2.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024.”
COMMITMENTS
In the normal course of business, we routinely enter into binding and non-binding purchase obligations primarily covering anticipated purchases of inventory and equipment, and from time to time, technology licenses. We do not expect that these commitments as of April 30, 2004 will materially adversely affect our liquidity.
At April 30, 2004, we had contractual cash obligations to repay our 2% convertible senior notes, capital lease and operating lease obligations. Payments due under these long-term obligations are as follows:
| | Obligations due by fiscal year (in thousands) | |
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| | Total | | Remainder of 2004 | | 2005 and 2006 | | 2007 and 2008 | | After 2008 | |
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2% convertible senior notes | | $ | 105,000 | | — | | — | | — | | 105,000 | |
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Capital lease obligations | | | 537 | | 144 | | 364 | | 29 | | — | |
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Operating lease commitments | | | 15,359 | | 3,433 | | 7,797 | | 2,296 | | 1,833 | |
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Total contractual cash obligations | | $ | 120,896 | | 3,577 | | 8,161 | | 2,325 | | 106,833 | |
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We have entered into standby letter of credit agreements with financial institutions relating to the guarantee of our future performance on certain contracts. At April 30, 2004, the balance of these agreements was $4.2 million. Cash we have pledged against such agreements aggregating $4.2 million has been classified as restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheet.
We believe that our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our operating cash requirements for at least the foreseeable future. In the event that we identify a significant acquisition that requires additional cash, we would seek to borrow funds or raise additional equity capital.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, information relating to the future performance and financial condition of the Company, the plans and objectives of the Company’s management and the Company’s assumptions regarding such performance and plans that are forward-looking in nature and involve certain significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from such forward-looking information. The Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission identify many of such risks and uncertainties, which include the following:
| • | Our operating results being difficult to forecast and subject to volatility; |
| • | Our inability to maintain our government business; |
| • | Our inability to keep pace with technological changes; |
| • | Our dependence on international sales; |
| • | The impact of a continued domestic and foreign economic slow-down and reduction in telecommunications equipment and systems spending on the demand for our products, systems and services; |
| • | Our mobile data communications business being in an early stage; |
| • | Our backlog being subject to cancellation or modification; |
| • | Our dependence on component availability, subcontractor availability and performance by key suppliers; |
| • | Our fixed price contracts being subject to risk; |
| • | The impact of adverse regulatory changes on our ability to sell products, systems and services; |
| • | The impact of prevailing economic and political conditions on our businesses; |
| • | Whether we can successfully integrate and assimilate the operations of acquired businesses; |
| • | The impact of the loss of key technical or management personnel; |
| • | The highly competitive nature of our markets; |
| • | Our inability to protect our proprietary technology; |
| • | Our operations being subject to environmental regulation; |
| • | The impact of recently enacted and proposed changes in securities laws and regulations on our costs; |
| • | The impact of terrorist attacks and threats, and government responses thereto, and threats of war on our businesses; and |
| • | Our inability to satisfy our debt obligations, including the recently issued convertible senior notes. |
| Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
The Company’s earnings and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in interest rates primarily from its investment of available cash balances. Under its current policies, the Company does not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. If the interest rate the Company receives on its investment of available cash balances were to change by 10%, the effect would be immaterial.
| Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures was carried out by the Company under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures have been designed and are being operated in a manner that provides reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. A system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the system of controls are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
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PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
| Item 6. | Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K |
(a) | Exhibits |
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| Exhibit 31.1 - Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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| Exhibit 31.2 - Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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| Exhibit 32.1 - Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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| Exhibit 32.2 - Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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(b) | Reports on Form 8-K |
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| Form 8-K, dated March 10, 2004 - Item 7 - Press release announcing the Company’s results of operations for the second quarter of fiscal year 2004. |
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| Form 8-K, dated April 19, 2004 - Item 5 - Press release announcing agreement to acquire Memotec, Inc. |
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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.
COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP.
(Registrant)
Date: June 8, 2004
| | By: | /s/ Fred Kornberg
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| | | Fred Kornberg Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer) |
Date: June 8, 2004
| | By: | /s/ Robert G. Rouse
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| | | Robert G. Rouse Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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