The number of access lines we serve as an ILEC has been decreasing, which is consistent with a general industry trend. To help offset declines in local service revenue, we implemented an overall strategy that continues to focus on selling a competitive bundle of services. Our focus on marketing competitive service bundles to our customers helps create value for the customer and aids in the retention of our voice lines.
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Bill Processing – We provide bill processing and collection as a service to other telephone service providers. We receive a fee for providing this service. The revenue received for these services has been declining as more providers are directly billing their customers and as we limit other telephone and enhanced service providers access to our billing services.
Cellular – Prior to September 1, 2009, we were an authorized agent for Alltel. As an authorized agent, we earned revenue through the sales and service of cellular phone and accessories. In addition, we received commissions for selling Alltel services. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we began offering a Company-branded service (Tech Trends Wireless) and agency sales for Unicel. Due to these changes in our cellular revenue structure starting in 2009, our cellular revenue was $14,131, which is $157,186, or 91.8% lower, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009.
Other Revenue – Other revenue consists primarily of sales of customer premise equipment (CPE), transport services, maintenance and adds/moves/change revenue. Other revenue was $895,974, which is $272,449, or 23.3% lower, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in CPE revenue as the result of the current United States economic downturn as customers are delaying the replacement and upgrades of their equipment.
Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)
Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) was $2,727,160, which is $491,304, or 15.3% lower, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. This decrease was primarily due to lower costs associated with lower revenues and management efforts to contain costs in the current economic climate.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,567,761, which is $125,407, or 7.4% lower in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. This decrease was primarily due to management efforts to contain costs in the current economic climate.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization was $2,461,615, which is $113,737, or 4.8% higher, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. This increase was primarily due to $66,667 in additional quarterly amortization recognized as a result of management’s determination that our trade name intangible asset acquired with the purchase of HTC had become a definite-lived intangible asset as of December 31, 2009.
Operating Income
Operating income was $1,125,337, which is $60,969, or 5.1% lower, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. This decrease was primarily due to a 6.7% decrease in operating revenues, which was offset by a 6.9% decrease in operating expenses, all of which are described above.
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Other Income and Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased $66,832 in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. This decrease was primarily the result of lower outstanding debt balances and lower interest rates.
Interest income decreased $9,120 in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. As a result of the HTC acquisition, excess cash available to purchase investments was lower, and combined with lower interest rates offered by banks and other investment institutions, our interest income has declined.
HCC investment income was $175,540, which is $36,411, or 17.2% lower, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. This decrease reflects our equity portion of HCC net income. HCC operating net income was $526,620, which is $109,234, or 17.2% lower, in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009 and was a result of declining revenues and decreased profitability.
Other investment income increased $14,994 in the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. Other investment income includes our equity ownerships in several partnerships and limited liability companies. We recorded $21,785 in income from equity investments for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $6,791 in income for the three month ended March 31, 2009.
Other income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 included a patronage credit earned with CoBank, ACB as a result of our debt agreements with them. The patronage credit allocated and received in 2010 totaled $513,436 compared to $556,318 allocated and received in 2009. CoBank, ACB determines and pays the patronage credit annually, generally in the first quarter of the calendar year based on its results from the prior year. We record these patronage credits as income when they are received.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense decreased $21,723 to $548,406 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. The effective tax rates for March 31, 2010 and 2009 was 45.0% and 44.4%, respectively. The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to state income taxes and other permanent differences.
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Hector Communications Corporation Investment
In accordance with GAAP, we currently report our one-third ownership of HCC on the equity method. Under this method, we report income or loss each period from HCC’s operations. In the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, we reported income of $175,540 and $211,951, respectively, which reflect one-third ownership. As set forth in Note 12 – “Hector Communications Corporation” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, however, in the first quarter of 2010, HCC had revenues of $6.9 million that are not reflected in our financial statements.
The pro forma information for our investment in HCC is shown in the following table using the proportionate consolidation method. We are providing this pro forma information to show the effect that our HCC investment has on our net income and would have on our operating income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (OIBITDA) if we included these earnings in our operating income.
| | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2010 | | 2009 | |
|
Proportionate Method: | | | | | | | |
Operating Revenues | | $ | 2,309,405 | | $ | 2,362,498 | |
| | | | | | | |
Operating Expenses, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization | | | 975,602 | | | 990,264 | |
Depreciation and Amortization | | | 800,909 | | | 748,293 | |
Total Operating Expenses | | | 1,776,511 | | | 1,738,557 | |
| | | | | | | |
Operating Income | | | 532,894 | | | 623,941 | |
| | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 175,540 | | $ | 211,951 | |
NU Telecom OIBITDA was $3,586,952 and $3,534,184 for the periods ending March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. If we included our proportionate share of HCC’s OIBITDA, NU Telecom OIBITDA would have increased to $4,920,755 and $4,906,418 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
| | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2010 | | 2009 | |
|
NU Telecom Operating Income | | $ | 1,125,337 | | $ | 1,186,306 | |
NU Telecom Depreciation and Amortization | | | 2,461,615 | | | 2,347,878 | |
| | | | | | | |
NU Telecom OIBITDA | | $ | 3,586,952 | | $ | 3,534,184 | |
| | | | | | | |
HCC Operating Income | | $ | 532,894 | | $ | 623,941 | |
HCC Depreciation and Amortization | | | 800,909 | | | 748,293 | |
| | | | | | | |
HCC OIBITDA | | $ | 1,333,803 | | $ | 1,372,234 | |
| | | | | | | |
Combined OIBITDA | | $ | 4,920,755 | | $ | 4,906,418 | |
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Adjusted OIBITDA is a common measure of operating performance in the telecommunications industry. The presentation of OIBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for consolidated net income (loss) as a measure of performance and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
A recap of our net income, using the equity method to record earnings on our investment in HCC is contained in the following table.
| | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended March 31, | |
| | 2010 | | 2009 | |
|
Operating Revenues: | | $ | 7,881,873 | | $ | 8,445,816 | |
| | | | | | | |
Operating Expenses, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization | | | 4,294,921 | | | 4,911,632 | |
Depreciation and Amortization Expenses | | | 2,461,615 | | | 2,347,878 | |
Operating Expenses | | | 6,756,536 | | | 7,259,510 | |
| | | | | | | |
Operating Income | | | 1,125,337 | | | 1,186,306 | |
| | | | | | | |
Interest Expense | | | (691,607 | ) | | (758,439 | ) |
Interest Income | | | 71,609 | | | 80,729 | |
HCC Investment Income | | | 175,540 | | | 211,951 | |
CoBank Patronage | | | 513,436 | | | 556,318 | |
Other Income (Expense) | | | 25,786 | | | 6,791 | |
Income Taxes | | | (548,406 | ) | | (570,129 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 671,695 | | $ | 713,527 | |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capital Structure
NU Telecom’s total capital structure (long-term and short-term debt obligations, plus shareholders’ equity) was $100,957,200 at March 31, 2010, reflecting 51.5% equity and 48.5% debt. This compares to a capital structure of $101,632,365 at December 31, 2009, reflecting 51.0% equity and 49.0% debt. Management believes adequate operating cash flows and other internal and external resources are available to finance ongoing operating requirements, including capital expenditures, business development, debt service and temporary financing of trade accounts receivable.
Cash Flows
Our short-term and long-term liquidity needs arise primarily from: (i) capital expenditures; (ii) working capital requirements needed to support the growth of our business; (iii) debt service, (iv) dividend payments on our common stock and (v) potential acquisitions.
Our primary sources of liquidity for the three months ended March 31, 2010 were proceeds from cash generated from operations and cash reserves held at the beginning of the period.
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While it is often difficult for us to predict the impact of general economic conditions on our business, we believe that we will be able to meet our current and long-term cash commitments through our operating cash flows. We were in full compliance with our debt covenants as of March 31, 2010 and anticipate that we will be able to plan for and match future liquidity needs with future internal and external resources.
Cash Flows from Operations
Cash generated by operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $2,702,124, compared to cash generated by operations of $760,811 for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase in cash flows provided by operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009 was primarily due to changes in income taxes receivable and accrued income taxes.
Cash generated by operations continues to be our primary source of funding for existing operations, capital expenditures, debt service and dividend payments to shareholders. Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2010 were $2,675,767, compared to $2,526,490 at December 31, 2009.
Cash Flows used in Investing Activities
We operate in a capital intensive business. We continue to upgrade our local networks for changes in technology in order to provide advanced services to our customers.
Cash flows used in investing activities were $1,399,253 for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $1,514,865 used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009. Capital expenditures relating to on-going operations were $1,335,468 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and $1,377,686 for the three months ended March 31, 2009. We expect total plant additions of approximately $5,000,000 in 2010. We will finance these upgrades through our existing working capital and cash flow from operations.
Cash Flows used in Financing Activities
Cash used in financing activities was $1,153,594 for the three months ended March 31, 2010. This included long-term debt repayments of $744,359 and dividends paid to shareholders of $409,235. Cash used in financing activities was $245,928 for the three months ended March 31, 2009, which was the result of long-term debt repayments of $134,385 and dividends paid to shareholders of $511,543, offset by the issuance of long-term debt of $400,000.
Working Capital
Working capital (i.e. current assets minus current liabilities) was $1,638,315 as of March 31, 2010 compared to working capital of $1,691,572 as of December 31, 2009. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.2 and 1.2 as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
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Dividends
We declared a quarterly dividend of $.08 per share for the first quarter of 2010, which totaled $409,235. We declared a quarterly dividend of $.10 per share for the first quarter of 2009, which totaled $511,543. Our Board of Directors reviews quarterly dividend declarations based on anticipated earnings, capital requirements and our operating and financial condition. The cash requirements of our current dividend payment practices are in addition to our other expected cash needs, both of which we expect to be funded with cash flow from operations. In addition, if it becomes necessary, we will have sufficient availability under our revolving credit facility to fund dividend payments in addition to any expected fluctuations in working capital and other cash needs, although we do not intend to borrow under this facility to pay dividends.
Our loan agreements have put restrictions on our ability to pay cash dividends to our shareholders. However, we are allowed to pay dividends (a) (i) in an amount up to $2,050,000 in any year and (ii) in any amount if NU Telecom’s “Total Leverage Ratio,” that is, the ratio of our “Indebtedness” to “EBITDA” (in each case as defined in the loan documents) is equal to or less than 3:50 to 1:00, and (b) in either case if NU Telecom is not in default or potential default under the loan agreements. If we fail to comply with these covenants, our ability to pay dividends would be limited. At March 31, 2010, we were in compliance with the financial ratios in our loan agreements.
Obligations and Commitments
As of March 31, 2010, we had an unsecured loan in the amount of $41,965 with the City of Redwood Falls, Minnesota that bears interest at 5% and matures on January 1, 2012.
In connection with our acquisition of HTC in 2008, NU Telecom and HTC, as NU Telecom’s new subsidiary, entered into a credit facility with CoBank, ACB. Information about our contractual obligations, including obligations under the credit facility, and along with the cash principal payments due each period on our unsecured note payable and long-term debt is set forth in the following table. For additional information about our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2010, see Note 5 – “Secured Credit Facility” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Total | | April-December 2010 | | 2011-2012 | | 2013-2014 | | Thereafter | |
Deferred Compensation | | $ | 2,155,235 | | $ | 355,839 | | $ | 865,908 | | $ | 133,137 | | $ | 800,351 | |
Long-term Debt | | | 49,007,465 | | | 2,213,606 | | | 6,907,859 | | | 39,886,000 | | | — | |
Interest on Long-term Debt (A) | | | 11,475,158 | | | 2,009,136 | | | 5,099,717 | | | 4,366,305 | | | — | |
Loan Guarantees | | | 506,706 | | | 26,170 | | | 74,415 | | | 251,463 | | | 154,658 | |
Operating Lease | | | 51,345 | | | 22,005 | | | 29,340 | | | — | | | — | |
Purchase Obligations (B) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
Total Contractual Cash Obligations | | $ | 63,195,909 | | $ | 4,626,756 | | $ | 12,977,239 | | $ | 44,636,905 | | $ | 955,009 | |
| | |
| A. | Interest on long-term debt is estimated using rates in effect as of March 31, 2010. We use interest rate swap agreements to manage our cash flow exposure to interest rate movements on a portion of our variable rate debt obligations (see Note 6 – “Interest Rate Swaps” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q). |
| | |
| B. | Purchase obligations consist primarily of commitments incurred for capital improvements. There were no purchase obligations outstanding as of March 31, 2010. |
Long-Term Debt
See Note 5 – “Secured Credit Facility” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information pertaining to our long-term debt.
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Regulation
In March 2010, the FCC released the National Broadband Plan which contemplates significant changes to overall telecommunications policy in relation to access charges and underlying support. At this time, we cannot predict the outcome, timing or potential impact of these recommended changes.
New Accounting Developments
See Note 1 – “Basis of Presentation and Consolidation” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of new accounting developments.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We do not have operations subject to risks of foreign currency fluctuations. We do, however, use derivative financial instruments to manage cash flow exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Our objectives for holding derivatives are to minimize interest rate risks using the most effective methods to eliminate or reduce the impact of these exposures. Variable rate debt instruments are subject to interest rate risk. On March 19, 2008, we executed interest-rate swap agreements, effectively locking in the interest rate on $6.0 million of our variable-rate debt through March 2011 and $33.0 million of our variable-rate debt through March 2013. On June 23, 2008, we executed interest-rate swap agreements, effectively locking in the interest rate on $3.0 million of our variable-rate debt through June 2011 and $3.0 million of variable-rate debt through June 2013. A summary of these agreements is contained in Note 6 – “Interest Rate Swaps” to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
We report the cumulative gain or loss on current derivative instruments as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity. If the protection agreement is concluded prior to reaching full maturity, the cumulative gain or loss is recognized in earnings. At the conclusion of the full term maturity of the protection agreement, no gain or loss is recognized. Our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates as a portion of our long-term debt has variable interest rates based on LIBOR. If interest rates for the portion of our long-term debt based on variable rates had averaged 10% more for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, interest expense would have increased approximately $3,000.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the Evaluation Date), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, regarding the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, that our disclosure controls and procedures ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
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During our most recently completed fiscal quarter, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
Other than routine litigation incidental to our business there are no pending material legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our property is subject.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have not been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Removed and Reserved.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
Item 6. Exhibits.
See “Index to Exhibits” on page 32 of this Form 10-Q.
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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.
| | | | |
| | NEW ULM TELECOM, INC. |
| | | |
Dated: May 12, 2010 | | By | /s/ Bill D. Otis | |
| | | Bill D. Otis, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | |
| | | |
Dated: May 12, 2010 | | By | /s/ Curtis O. Kawlewski | |
| | | Curtis O. Kawlewski, Chief Financial Officer |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
| | | |
Exhibit Number | | Description | |
| | |
31.1 | | Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | |
31.2 | | Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | |
32.1 | | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | |
32.2 | | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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