NEWS RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert G. Rouse, Chief Financial Officer
(631) 777-8900
info@comtechtel.com
COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP. ANNOUNCES RECORD RESULTS
FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2006
Melville, New York – December 6, 2005 --- Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) today reported its operating results for the three months ended October 31, 2005. Net sales, operating profit, EBITDA, net income and diluted earnings per share were at all-time highs. The record results for the quarter were driven by strong performances in all three of the Company’s business segments.
Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 surpassed the $100.0 million mark for the first time in the Company’s history to $106.6 million, compared to $56.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. GAAP net income in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 was $11.5 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, a significant increase over the first quarter of fiscal 2005 net income of $7.1 million, or $0.28 per diluted share.
GAAP net income in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 included $1.3 million of pre-tax compensation expense related to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) which requires the expensing of stock option awards. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 were $0.47.
Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (including the amortization of stock-based compensation), or EBITDA, were $20.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 versus $12.2 million for the same period in fiscal 2005. Cash flow from operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 was $7.2 million compared to $20.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2005, reflecting an increase in accounts receivable on certain large contracts during the fiscal 2006 period and the liquidation of a significant receivable in the fiscal 2005 period.
Backlog as of October 31, 2005 was $156.8 million compared to $153.3 million at July 31, 2005. Bookings for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 were $110.1 million.
In commenting on the Company’s record performance during the first quarter of fiscal 2006, Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., said, “The first quarter of fiscal 2006 was yet another remarkable quarter for Comtech. Achieving in excess of $100.0 million of sales in a quarter, when our annual sales just a few short years ago were less than $120.0 million, is tangible evidence of the strong leadership positions we enjoy in the markets we serve, and the dedication and talent of our management team and employees.”
Mr. Kornberg added, “As expected, the first quarter of fiscal 2006 benefited from strong backlog and pent-up demand, particularly relating to the MTS contract in our mobile data communications segment and the improvised explosive device jamming contract in our RF microwave amplifier segment. As I’ve mentioned many times before, our quarterly sales and earnings can fluctuate dramatically from quarter-to-quarter, based on the timing of the receipt, and subsequent performance, on large contracts.”
Mr. Kornberg concluded, “We remain optimistic about our businesses and continue to believe that fiscal 2006 is well-positioned to be another record year for Comtech.”
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. designs, develops, produces and markets innovative products, systems and services for advanced communications solutions addressing commercial and government markets. The Company conducts its business through three complementary segments: telecommunications transmission, mobile data communications and RF microwave amplifiers. The Company offers specialized products, systems and services where it believes it has technological, engineering, systems design or other expertise that differentiate its product offerings.
The Company has scheduled an investor conference call for 11:30 AM (ET) on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. Investors and the public are invited to access a live webcast of the conference call from the news section of the Comtech web site at www.comtechtel.com. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location for 30 days following the conference call. Alternatively, investors can access the conference call by dialing (877) 210-6102 (domestic), or (785) 830-1921 (international) and using the conference I.D. of “Comtech.” A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days by dialing (402) 220-2982. In addition, an updated investor presentation, including earnings guidance, will be available on our web site shortly after the conference call.
Certain information in this press release 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 Securities and Exchange Commission filings identify many 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 in its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, stockholders’ rights plan and Delaware law; |
| • | 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. |
– Tables follow –
COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
| | Three months ended October 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | | 2004 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net sales | | $ | 106,567,000 | | | | 56,122,000 | |
Cost of sales | | | 66,363,000 | | | | 29,001,000 | |
Gross profit | | | 40,204,000 | | | | 27,121,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Expenses: | | | | | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative | | | 16,048,000 | | | | 11,224,000 | |
Research and development | | | 6,749,000 | | | | 4,896,000 | |
Amortization of intangibles | | | 596,000 | | | | 569,000 | |
| | | 23,393,000 | | | | 16,689,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Operating income | | | 16,811,000 | | | | 10,432,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other expense (income): | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | | | 674,000 | | | | 669,000 | |
Interest income | | | (1,775,000 | ) | | | (643,000 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Income before provision for income taxes | | | 17,912,000 | | | | 10,406,000 | |
Provision for income taxes | | | 6,448,000 | | | | 3,330,000 | |
Net income | | $ | 11,464,000 | | | | 7,076,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income per share: | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.51 | | | | 0.33 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.43 | | | | 0.28 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic | | | 22,646,000 | | | | 21,363,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares | | | | | | | | |
outstanding assuming dilution – diluted | | | 27,379,000 | | | | 26,460,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures
| | Three months ended October 31, |
| | 2005 | | | | 2004 |
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Income, Excluding Stock-based
Compensation Expense, To GAAP Net Income(1): | | | | | | | |
Non-GAAP net income, excluding stock-based compensation expense | | $ | 12,486,000 | | | | 7,076,000 |
Pre-tax stock-based compensation expense | | | (1,296,000 | ) | | | — |
Tax effect of stock-based compensation expense | | | 274,000 | | | | — |
GAAP net income | | $ | 11,464,000 | | | | 7,076,000 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share, Excluding
Stock-based Compensation Expense, To GAAP Diluted Earnings Per
Share(1): | | | | | | | |
Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, excluding stock-based compensation | | $ | 0.47 | | | | 0.28 |
Pre-tax stock-based compensation expense | | | (0.05 | ) | | | — |
Tax effect of stock-based compensation expense | | | 0.01 | | | | — |
GAAP diluted earnings per share | | $ | 0.43 | | | | 0.28 |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to EBITDA(2): | | | | | | | |
GAAP net income | | $ | 11,464,000 | | | | 7,076,000 |
Income taxes | | | 6,448,000 | | | | 3,330,000 |
Net interest expense (income) | | | (1,101,000 | ) | | | 26,000 |
Stock-based compensation expense | | | 1,296,000 | | | | — |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,967,000 | | | | 1,814,000 |
EBITDA | | $ | 20,074,000 | | | | 12,246,000 |
(1) Non-GAAP net income is used by management in assessing the Company’s operating results. The Company believes that investors and analysts may use non-GAAP measures that exclude stock-based compensation, along with other information contained in its SEC filings, in assessing the Company’s operating results.
(2) Represents earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (including the amortization of stock-based compensation). EBITDA is a non-GAAP operating metric used by management in assessing the Company’s operating results and ability to meet debt service requirements. The Company’s definition of EBITDA may differ from the definition of EBITDA used by other companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures by other companies. EBITDA is also a measure frequently requested by the Company’s investors and analysts. The Company believes that investors and analysts may use EBITDA, along with other information contained in its SEC filings, in assessing its ability to generate cash flow and service debt.
COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | October 31, | | July 31, |
| | 2005 | | 2005 |
| | (Unaudited) | | |
|---|
Assets | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 220,043,000 | | 214,413,000 |
Restricted cash | | | 1,003,000 | | 1,034,000 |
Accounts receivable, net | | | 69,531,000 | | 56,052,000 |
Inventories, net | | | 49,343,000 | | 45,103,000 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | 5,032,000 | | 4,387,000 |
Deferred tax asset – current | | | 8,092,000 | | 8,092,000 |
Total current assets | | | 353,044,000 | | 329,081,000 |
| | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | | | 20,220,000 | | 18,683,000 |
Goodwill | | | 22,244,000 | | 22,244,000 |
Intangibles with definite lives, net | | | 8,640,000 | | 9,123,000 |
Deferred financing costs, net | | | 2,858,000 | | 2,995,000 |
Other assets, net | | | 279,000 | | 277,000 |
Total assets | | $ | 407,285,000 | | 382,403,000 |
| | | | | |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 28,792,000 | | 23,577,000 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | | | 32,178,000 | | 34,497,000 |
Customer advances and deposits | | | 6,090,000 | | 5,282,000 |
Deferred service revenue | | | 9,878,000 | | 8,210,000 |
Current installments of other obligations | | | 226,000 | | 235,000 |
Interest payable | | | 525,000 | | 1,050,000 |
Income taxes payable | | | 7,636,000 | | 1,540,000 |
Total current liabilities | | | 85,325,000 | | 74,391,000 |
| | | | | |
Convertible senior notes | | | 105,000,000 | | 105,000,000 |
Other obligations, less current installments | | | 348,000 | | 396,000 |
Deferred tax liability – non-current | | | 5,653,000 | | 5,987,000 |
Total liabilities | | | 196,326,000 | | 185,774,000 |
| | | | | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Stockholders’ equity: | | | | | |
Preferred stock, par value $.10 per share; shares authorized | | | | | |
and unissued 2,000,000 | | | — | | — |
Common stock, par value $.10 per share; authorized 30,000,000 shares, | | | | | |
issued 22,919,422 shares and 22,781,678 shares at October 31, 2005 | | | | | |
and July 31, 2005, respectively | | | 2,292,000 | | 2,278,000 |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 130,022,000 | | 127,170,000 |
Retained earnings | | | 78,830,000 | | 67,366,000 |
| | | 211,144,000 | | 196,814,000 |
Less: | | | | | |
Treasury stock (210,937 shares) | | | (185,000 | ) | (185,000 | ) |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 210,959,000 | | 196,629,000 |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 407,285,000 | | 382,403,000 |
| | | | | |
ECMTL
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