Net sales in our telecommunications transmission segment were $50.9 million and $37.5 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, an increase of $13.4 million, or 35.7%. The growth in this segment resulted primarily from incremental sales of our over-the-horizon microwave systems (including sales related to a $77.0 million contract that we received in September 2004) and an increase in demand for our satellite earth station products. We anticipate that average quarterly sales for the balance of fiscal 2006, relating to our over-the-horizon microwave systems, will be lower than the first quarter unless we receive another substantial contract. Sales in such product line can fluctuate dramatically from quarter-to-quarter based on the receipt of large contracts and our performance thereon. Our telecommunications transmission segment represented 47.7% and 66.8% of consolidated net sales for three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Net sales in our mobile data communications segment were $39.4 million and $9.7 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, an increase of $29.7 million, or 306.2%. The increase in net sales was due, in part, to the rollout of our next generation satellite transceiver, known as the MT 2012, and higher sales of battlefield command and control applications to the U.S. military. Tolt, which we acquired in February 2005, contributed $6.5 million of net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2005. Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 were negatively impacted by the timing of the receipt and fulfillment of funded orders. We anticipate that significant quarter-to-quarter fluctuations in sales and profitability will continue in this segment due to quarterly funding fluctuations and the continued rollout of our new transceiver. Our mobile data communications segment represented 37.0% and 17.3% of consolidated net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Net sales in our RF microwave amplifiers segment were $16.3 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005, compared to $8.9 million for the three months ended October 31, 2004, an increase of $7.4 million, or 83.1%. The significant increase in net sales was primarily the result of increased demand for our defense related products. In particular, we experienced a marked increase in demand for our RF microwave amplifiers that are incorporated into improvised explosive device jamming systems. The sustainability of the defense related revenue base in this segment will be dependent upon the receipt of additional orders for improvised explosive device jamming system amplifiers or participation in additional large electronic warfare programs. Our RF microwave amplifiers segment represented 15.3% and 15.9% of consolidated net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
International sales (which include sales to domestic companies for inclusion in products which are sold to international customers) represented 38.9% and 46.7% of consolidated net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Domestic commercial sales represented 13.7% and 14.3% of consolidated net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Sales to the U.S. government (including sales to prime contractors to the U.S. government) represented 47.4% and 39.0% of consolidated net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
During the three months ended October 31, 2005, except for sales to the U.S. government, one customer, a prime contractor, represented 12.5% of consolidated net sales. For the three months ended October 31, 2004, except for sales to the U.S. government, no other customer represented more than 10% of consolidated net sales. Direct and indirect sales to a North African country (including certain sales to the prime contractor mentioned above) during the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004 represented 15.3% and 8.6% of consolidated net sales, respectively.
Gross Profit. Gross profit was $40.2 million and $27.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, representing an increase of $13.1 million, or 48.3%. The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to the increase in net sales, partially offset by a decrease in the gross profit percentage from 48.3% for the three months ended October 31, 2004 to 37.7% for the three months ended October 31, 2005.
The decrease in the gross margin, as a percentage of consolidated net sales, was partly due to a higher proportion of our consolidated net sales being in the mobile data communications segment, which typically realizes lower margins than sales in our other two segments. In addition, the three months ended October 31, 2005 includes sales related to Tolt which we acquired in February 2005. Tolt, which is a value-added reseller of turnkey employee mobility solutions, has lower gross margins than any of our other product lines.
As part of our ongoing operations, we periodically review and adjust total estimated contract revenues and costs on long-term contracts. During the three months ended October 31, 2005, we increased the estimated gross profit at completion on certain contracts in the RF microwave amplifier segment as they draw nearer to completion or were completed. These adjustments resulted in an aggregate $0.5 million cumulative increase to the gross profit recognized on these contracts in prior years. During the three months ended October 31, 2004, we recorded cumulative adjustments of $2.4 million related to two large over-the-horizon microwave system contracts in our telecommunications transmission segment.
Increased demand for our satellite earth station products, as well as the use of our related high-volume manufacturing facility by all three of our business segments, has resulted in increased operating efficiencies. In addition, as part of our strategy to further leverage our high-volume manufacturing center and further develop a diversified customer base, we currently have on-hand $4.0 million of inventory relating to a contract from a third-party commercial customer to outsource its manufacturing. We currently expect to realize sales associated with this inventory by the second half of fiscal 2006.
In our mobile data communications segment, at the request of the U.S. Army, we continue to migrate our technology to the next generation and enhance our network and related software to provide increased speed and performance. We currently expect to complete the new product transition during fiscal 2006. If the current funding levels of MTS and battlefield command and control applications are maintained or increased and if our transition to the next generation product line occurs without major unanticipated costs or delays, we may experience increased operating efficiencies.
17
Included in cost of sales for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004 are provisions for excess and obsolete inventory of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. As discussed 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 projected usage assumptions.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $16.0 million and $11.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, representing an increase of $4.8 million, or 42.9%. The increase in expenses was primarily attributable to (i) the increased level of net sales in all three of our business segments and (ii) expenses associated with Tolt which was acquired in February 2005. In addition, selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended October, 31, 2005 included $1.1 million of stock-based compensation expense. There was no stock-based compensation expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended October 31, 2004. As a percentage of consolidated net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 15.0% and 20.0% for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses were $6.7 million and $4.9 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Approximately $5.1 million and $4.2 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 October 31, 2005 and 2004, customers reimbursed us $0.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively, which is not reflected in the reported research and development expenses, but is included in consolidated net sales with the related costs included in cost of sales.
Amortization of Intangibles. Amortization of intangibles for both the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004 was $0.6 million. The amortization primarily relates to intangibles with definite lives that we acquired in connection with various acquisitions.
Operating Income. Operating income for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004 was $16.8 million and $10.4 million, respectively. The $6.4 million, or 61.5% increase, was the result of higher sales and gross profit, discussed above, partially offset by higher operating expenses.
Operating income in our telecommunications transmission segment increased to $12.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 from $10.0 million for the three months ended October 31, 2004 as a result of increased net sales and gross profit partially offset by increased operating expenses, including increased research and development expenses. In addition, the three months ended October 31, 2004 included a $2.0 million positive impact on operating income from the cumulative gross margin adjustments discussed above under “Gross Profit” related to two large over-the-horizon microwave contracts.
Our mobile data communications segment generated operating income of $4.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2004 due primarily to the significant increase in net sales, partially offset by increased operating costs, including expenses associated with Tolt and the related continued initiation of our commercial marketing efforts.
Operating income in our RF microwave amplifier segment increased to $4.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 from $1.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2004 primarily as a result of the significant increase in net sales, as well as an increase in the gross profit percentage (including a $0.5 million benefit from positive gross margin adjustments on certain contracts as discussed above under“Gross Profit”).
Unallocated operating expenses increased to $3.8 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 from $1.9 million for the three months ended October 31, 2004 due primarily to the recording of $1.3 million of stock-based compensation expense associated with the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 and increased incentive compensation costs in connection with the significant increase in pre-tax income.
18
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $0.7 million for both the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004. Interest expense primarily represents interest associated with our 2.0% convertible senior notes issued in January 2004.
Interest Income. Interest income for the three months ended October 31, 2005 was $1.8 million, as compared to $0.6 million for three months ended October 31, 2004. The $1.2 million increase was due primarily to an increase in interest rates and additional investable cash primarily provided by our operating cash flow.
Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes was $6.4 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The effective tax rate was 36.0% and 32.0% for the three months ended October 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to the increased level of pre-tax profit and the scheduled expiration, in December 2005, of the Federal research and experimentation credit. In addition, the expensing of stock-based compensation during the three months ended October 31, 2005 resulted in an increase to our effective tax rate of approximately 1% due to the nondeductibility of compensation expense relating to incentive stock options.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents increased to $220.0 million at October 31, 2005 from $214.4 million at July 31, 2005.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $7.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005. Such amount reflects net income of $11.5 million, the impact of depreciation and amortization and the provisions for doubtful accounts and inventory reserves aggregating $2.6 million and stock-based compensation expense of $1.3 million, offset by changes in working capital balances, most notably an increase in accounts receivable. The increase in accounts receivable was driven, in part, by increased unbilled receivables related to a large over-the-horizon microwave system contract in our telecommunications transmission segment. We currently expect that the total receivables (including unbilled receivables) related to this contract will continue to increase during the three months ending January 31, 2006, before liquidating in the second half of fiscal 2006.
Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended October 31, 2005 was $3.0 million, primarily representing capital expenditures.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.5 million for the three months ended October 31, 2005, due primarily to proceeds from stock option exercises and employee stock purchase plan shares aggregating $1.1 million and a $0.4 million excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock options.
FINANCING ARRANGEMENT
On January 27, 2004, we issued $105.0 million of our 2.0% 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 (8)2.0% Convertible Senior Notes.”
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. We do not expect that these commitments as of October 31, 2005 will materially adversely affect our liquidity.
19
At October 31, 2005, we had contractual cash obligations to repay our 2.0% convertible senior notes, capital lease and operating lease obligations (including satellite lease expenditures relating to our mobile data communications segment contracts) and the financing of a purchase of proprietary technology. Payments due under these long-term obligations are as follows:
|
|
Obligations due by fiscal year (in thousands) |
|
Total | | Remainder of 2006 | | 2007 and 2008 | | 2009 and 2010 | | After 2010 |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
2.0% convertible senior notes | $ | 105,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 105,000 |
Operating lease commitments | | 11,767 | | | 3,203 | | | 4,466 | | | 3,314 | | | 784 |
Other obligations | | 646 | | | 203 | | | 330 | | | 113 | | | — |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
Total contractual cash obligations | $ | 117,413 | | | 3,406 | | | 4,796 | | | 3,427 | | | 105,784 |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
We have entered into standby letter of credit agreements with financial institutions relating to the guarantee of our future performance on certain contracts. At October 31, 2005, the balance of these agreements was $1.2 million. Cash we have pledged against such agreements aggregating $1.0 million has been classified as restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2005.
We believe that our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our operating cash requirements for 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.
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 domestic or 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 subject to unique risks; |
| • | 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 ongoing internal control provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; |
| • | The impact of terrorist attacks and threats, and government responses thereto, and threats of war on our businesses; |
| • | The inability to effectuate a change in control of the Company due to provisions of its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, stockholders’ rights plan and Delaware law; |
20
| • | Our inability to satisfy our debt obligations, including the convertible senior notes; |
| • | The impact on our reported results of recent changes to financial reporting standards related to stock option expensing; |
| • | Our stock price being volatile; and |
| • | Our current intention not to declare or pay any cash dividends. |
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our earnings and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in interest rates primarily from our investment of available cash balances. Under our current policies, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. If the interest rate we receive on our investment of available cash balances were to change by 10%, our annual interest income would be impacted by approximately $0.7 million.
Our 2.0% convertible senior notes bear a fixed rate of interest. As such, our earnings and cash flows are not sensitive to changes in interest rates on our long-term debt.
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.
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings
See Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for information regarding legal proceedings.
Item 6.Exhibits
21
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: December 6, 2005
Date: December 6, 2005
| By: /s/ Fred Kornberg ——————————————— Fred Kornberg Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer)
By: /s/ Robert G. Rouse ——————————————— Robert G. Rouse Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
22