Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

x

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008

 

 

 

OR

 

 

 

¨

 

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   0-13721

 

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Minnesota

 

41-1524393

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

221 East Hickory Street

Mankato, Minnesota  56002-3248

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(800) 326-5789

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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   x      No   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer o

Smaller reporting company o

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes  ¨   No  x

 

The total number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of July 25, 2008: 13,330,284

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Other Information

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits Listing

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

2



Table of Contents

 

Item 1.    Financial Statements

 

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

June 30

 

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Operating revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telecom Sector

 

$

17,999

 

$

20,448

 

$

36,293

 

$

39,485

 

Enventis Sector

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment revenue

 

12,709

 

17,869

 

22,877

 

29,303

 

Services revenue

 

9,037

 

7,285

 

16,475

 

13,741

 

Total Enventis Sector

 

21,746

 

25,154

 

39,352

 

43,044

 

Total operating revenue

 

39,745

 

45,602

 

75,645

 

82,529

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales, equipment, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

10,718

 

16,559

 

19,415

 

26,873

 

Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

12,627

 

10,778

 

24,319

 

21,695

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

5,463

 

5,891

 

11,147

 

11,727

 

Depreciation

 

4,757

 

4,432

 

9,426

 

8,936

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

289

 

289

 

578

 

578

 

Total costs and expenses

 

33,854

 

37,949

 

64,885

 

69,809

 

Operating income

 

5,891

 

7,653

 

10,760

 

12,720

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income and expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other income

 

15

 

47

 

42

 

131

 

Interest expense

 

(1,478

)

(2,031

)

(3,175

)

(4,213

)

Total other (expense)

 

(1,463

)

(1,984

)

(3,133

)

(4,082

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

4,428

 

5,669

 

7,627

 

8,638

 

Income tax provision

 

1,931

 

2,415

 

3,349

 

3,616

 

Income from continuing operations

 

2,497

 

3,254

 

4,278

 

5,022

 

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations of discontinued component

 

 

(13

)

 

(15

)

Income tax benefit

 

 

(5

)

 

(6

)

Loss on discontinued operations

 

 

(8

)

 

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

2,497

 

$

3,246

 

$

4,278

 

$

5,013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share - continuing operations:

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.38

 

Basic loss per share - discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

13,324,200

 

13,247,508

 

13,312,804

 

13,241,079

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share - continuing operations:

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.38

 

Diluted loss per share - discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding

 

13,326,719

 

13,247,508

 

13,317,145

 

13,241,079

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends per share

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.24

 

$

0.24

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)

 

2008

 

2007

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

920

 

$

171

 

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $958 and $1,184

 

32,187

 

28,357

 

Inventories

 

9,273

 

7,054

 

Income taxes receivable

 

 

1,013

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

1,334

 

1,334

 

Prepaid expenses

 

1,640

 

1,713

 

Other

 

858

 

1,196

 

Total current assets

 

46,212

 

40,838

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

4,066

 

3,830

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

329,365

 

322,249

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

177,725

 

169,318

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

151,640

 

152,931

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

25,239

 

25,239

 

Intangible assets, net

 

1,405

 

1,983

 

Deferred costs and other

 

2,452

 

2,674

 

Total other assets

 

29,096

 

29,896

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

231,014

 

$

227,495

 

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Extended term payable

 

$

13,041

 

$

14,443

 

Accounts payable

 

4,027

 

4,538

 

Accrued expenses

 

7,098

 

7,740

 

Accrued income taxes

 

364

 

 

Advanced billings and deposits

 

5,226

 

5,158

 

Current maturities of long-term obligations

 

1,341

 

731

 

Total current liabilities:

 

31,097

 

32,610

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Debt obligations, net of current maturities

 

132,313

 

128,475

 

Financial derivative instruments

 

1,053

 

1,451

 

Accrued income taxes

 

7,930

 

7,747

 

Deferred income taxes

 

15,072

 

14,901

 

Deferred revenue

 

1,506

 

1,527

 

Accrued employee benefits and deferred compensation

 

8,925

 

8,852

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

166,799

 

162,953

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

197,896

 

195,563

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, no par value, $.10 stated value

 

 

 

 

 

Shares authorized: 100,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

Shares issued and outstanding: 13,330,284 in 2008 and 13,284,903 in 2007

 

1,333

 

1,329

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

11,527

 

11,031

 

Retained earnings

 

21,724

 

20,639

 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)

 

(1,466

)

(1,067

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

33,118

 

31,932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

231,014

 

$

227,495

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

4,278

 

$

5,013

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

9

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

10,004

 

9,514

 

Amortization of gain on sale of financial derivative instrument

 

(664

)

(609

)

Deferred income tax provision (benefit)

 

 

(40

)

Accrued patronage refunds

 

(293

)

75

 

Other

 

480

 

180

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities net of effects of dispositions:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

(3,674

)

(7,254

)

Prepaids

 

73

 

268

 

Inventories

 

(2,219

)

2,125

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

(1,148

)

(695

)

Deferred revenue, billings, and deposits

 

47

 

(789

)

Income taxes

 

1,557

 

2,871

 

Other

 

616

 

872

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

9,057

 

11,540

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment

 

(7,960

)

(6,035

)

Other

 

14

 

46

 

Net cash (used in) investing activities

 

(7,946

)

(5,989

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in extended term payables arrangement

 

(1,402

)

4,230

 

Change in cash overdraft

 

 

(1,475

)

Payments of capital lease obligations

 

(185

)

(202

)

Borrowings on credit facility

 

15,900

 

4,000

 

Repayments on credit facility

 

(11,600

)

(10,650

)

Proceeds from the sale of financial derivative instrument

 

 

1,936

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

118

 

119

 

Dividends paid

 

(3,193

)

(3,174

)

Net cash (used in) financing activities

 

(362

)

(5,216

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) operating activities

 

 

(9

)

Net cash (used in) discontinued operations

 

 

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

749

 

326

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

 

171

 

84

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

 

$

920

 

$

410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

3,966

 

$

4,614

 

Net cash paid for income taxes

 

$

1,792

 

$

756

 

Non-cash investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment acquired with capital leases

 

$

334

 

$

455

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

JUNE 30, 2008

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.      Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

Note 1.      Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Hickory Tech Corporation (HickoryTech or the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial statements and present fairly the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows of the Company for the interim periods presented as required by Regulation S-X, Rule 10-01. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures at the date of the financial statements and during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year as a whole or any other interim period.

 

Our consolidated financial statements include HickoryTech Corporation and its subsidiaries in the following two business segments: the Telecom Sector and the Enventis Sector. All inter-company transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

 

Cost of Sales - equipment (excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

Cost of sales for the Enventis Sector includes costs associated with the installation of products for customers. These costs are primarily for equipment and materials. Labor associated with installation work is not included in this category, but is included in cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) described below.

 

Cost of Services (excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

Cost of services includes all costs related to delivery of communication services and products for all sectors. These operating costs include all costs of performing services and providing related products including engineering, customer service, billing and collections, network monitoring, and transport costs.

 

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses include direct and indirect selling expenses, advertising and all other general and administrative costs associated with the operations of the business.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

Recent Accounting Developments

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141(R)”), which establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquired company and the goodwill acquired. SFAS No. 141(R) also establishes disclosure requirements to enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2008, and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of 2009. SFAS No. 141(R) is currently not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS No. 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be re-characterized as non-controlling interests and classified as a component of equity. This new consolidation method will significantly change the accounting for transactions with minority interest holders. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and we will adopt it in the first quarter 2009. We do not expect adoption of SFAS No. 160 to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“SFAS No. 161”). SFAS No. 161 requires enhanced disclosures about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities and is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. We are currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 161 on our disclosures.

 

Note 2.  Earnings and Cash Dividends per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share (EPS) are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the applicable period. Shares used in the EPS dilution calculation are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased by potentially dilutive common shares. Potentially dilutive common shares include stock options and stock subscribed under the HickoryTech Corporation Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Dilution is determined using the treasury stock method.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

June 30

 

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

2,497

 

$

3,254

 

$

4,278

 

$

5,022

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

(8

)

 

(9

)

Net Income

 

$

2,497

 

$

3,246

 

$

4,278

 

$

5,013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

13,324,200

 

13,247,508

 

13,312,804

 

13,241,079

 

Stock options (dilutive only)

 

2,228

 

 

3,210

 

 

Stock subscribed (ESPP)

 

291

 

 

1,131

 

 

Total dilutive shares outstanding

 

13,326,719

 

13,247,508

 

13,317,145

 

13,241,079

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic - continuing operations

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.38

 

Basic - discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted - continuing operations

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.38

 

Diluted - discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

Options to purchase 436,200 shares and 486,050 shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS, because their effect on diluted EPS would have been anti-dilutive.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

Cash dividends are based on the number of common shares outstanding at their respective record dates. Listed below is the number of shares outstanding as of the record date for the first and second quarters of 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Shares outstanding on record date

 

2008

 

2007

 

First quarter (Feb. 15)

 

13,292,419

 

13,207,970

 

Second quarter (May 15)

 

13,319,782

 

13,243,525

 

 

Dividends per share are based on the quarterly dividend per share as declared by the HickoryTech Board of Directors. HickoryTech paid dividends of $.12 per share in the second quarter of 2008 and 2007.

 

During the first six months of 2008 and 2007, shareholders have elected to reinvest $118,000 and $119,000, respectively, of dividends into HickoryTech common stock pursuant to the HickoryTech Corporation Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

Note 3.  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

 

Comprehensive income includes changes in unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments qualifying and designated as cash flow hedges and recognized Net Periodic Benefit Cost related to our Post-Retirement Benefit Plans. Comprehensive income for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was $3,409,000 and $3,337,000, respectively. Comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was $3,879,000 and $5,246,000, respectively.

 

In March 2007, we terminated our two outstanding interest-rate swap agreements with original maturities in June 2008, in exchange for $1,936,000 in proceeds. Immediately following the termination of these two agreements, we executed a new interest-rate swap agreement, effectively locking in the interest rate on $60,000,000 of variable-interest rate debt through March 2010. On March 28, 2008, we entered into a second interest-rate swap agreement, effectively locking in the interest rate on an additional $40,000,000 of variable interest rate debt through February 2010.

 

The market value of the cumulative gain or (loss) on financial derivative instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity and will be recognized in earnings over the term of the original swap agreement.

 

The following summary sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

Unrecognized

 

Unrecognized

 

Unrecognized

 

Unrealized

 

Other

 

 

 

Net Actuarial

 

Prior Service

 

Transition

 

Gain/(Loss)

 

Comprehensive

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Loss (1)

 

Credit (1)

 

Asset (1)

 

on Derivatives

 

Income/(Loss)

 

December 31, 2007

 

$

(954

)

$

279

 

$

(181

)

$

(211

)

$

(1,067

)

2008 Activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,324

)

(1,324

)

Net Periodic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit Cost

 

12

 

(8

)

9

 

 

13

 

March 31, 2008

 

$

(942

)

$

271

 

$

(172

)

$

(1,535

)

$

(2,378

)

2008 Activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

899

 

899

 

Net Periodic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit Cost

 

12

 

(8

)

9

 

 

 

13

 

June 30, 2008

 

$

(930

)

$

263

 

$

(163

)

$

(636

)

$

(1,466

)

 


(1) Amounts pertain to our postretirement benefit plans.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

Note 4.  Acquisition, Disposition and Discontinued Operations

 

Effective December 31, 2006, we sold all of the outstanding capital stock in Collins Communications Systems Co. (“Collins”) to Skyview Capital, LLC for an initial price of $100,000, paid by delivery of a promissory note, plus up to $1,650,000 of earn-out payments. Skyview Capital, LLC paid us $100,000 in February 2007. The remaining selling price is due in contingent payments payable over the next three years if financial targets are reached by Skyview Capital, LLC. We have received no payments to-date related to this earn-out provision. The $100,000 mentioned above has been included in the calculation of the net loss on sale mentioned below, while the contingent payments have not been included in the net loss. The agreement contains covenants against competition by the new owner in south-central Minnesota. We recorded a pre-tax loss on the sale of $3,385,000 ($2,040,000 net of income taxes). The Collins results of operations were formerly reported in the Enterprise Solutions Sector. The consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented have been restated to reflect the Collins operations as discontinued operations.

 

Note 5.  Inventories

 

Inventory includes parts, materials and supplies stored in our warehouses to support basic levels of service and maintenance as well as scheduled capital projects and equipment awaiting configuration for customers. Inventory also includes parts and equipment shipped directly from vendors to customer locations while in transit and parts and equipment returned from customers which is being returned to vendors for credit, as well as maintenance contracts associated with customer sales which have not yet transferred to the customer. The inventory value in the Telecom Sector, comprised of materials, as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was $3,874,000 and $3,312,000, respectively. The inventory value in the Enventis Sector, comprised of finished goods, as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was $5,399,000 and $3,742,000, respectively.

 

Inventories are valued using the lower of cost (perpetual weighted average-cost or specific identification) or market method. We adjust our inventory carrying value for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory to the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. As market and other conditions change, additional inventory write-downs may be recorded at the time acts that give rise to the lower value become known.

 

Note 6.  Intangible Assets

 

We are required to test acquired goodwill for impairment on an annual basis based upon a fair value approach. Additionally, goodwill shall be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of an entity below its carrying value. The carrying value of our goodwill is $25,239,000 as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

 

The components of other intangible assets are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2008

 

As of December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Gross Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Useful Lives

 

Amount

 

Amortization

 

Amount

 

Amortization

 

Definite-Lived Intangible Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

1 - 8 years

 

$

4,229

 

$

2,932

 

$

4,229

 

$

2,456

 

Other intangibles

 

1 - 5 years

 

730

 

622

 

730

 

520

 

Total

 

 

 

$

4,959

 

$

3,554

 

$

4,959

 

$

2,976

 

 

As required by SFAS No. 142, we periodically reassess the carrying value, useful lives and classifications of identifiable assets. Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets was $289,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets was $578,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Total estimated amortization expense for the remaining six months of 2008 and the five years subsequent to 2008 is as follows: 2008 (July 1 – December 31) – $549,000; 2009 - $853,000; 2010 - $3,000; none in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Note 7.  Quarterly Sector Financial Summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Telecom

 

Enventis

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

 

$

17,999

 

$

21,746

 

$

 

$

39,745

 

Intersegment revenue

 

161

 

128

 

(289

)

 

Total operating revenue

 

18,160

 

21,874

 

(289

)

39,745

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,008

 

1,025

 

13

 

5,046

 

Operating income

 

3,006

 

2,838

 

47

 

5,891

 

Interest expense

 

21

 

 

1,457

 

1,478

 

Income taxes(benefit)

 

1,240

 

1,178

 

(487

)

1,931

 

Income/(loss) from continuing operations

 

1,747

 

1,660

 

(910

)

2,497

 

Identifiable assets

 

150,378

 

73,884

 

6,752

 

231,014

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

114,403

 

37,091

 

146

 

151,640

 

Capital expenditures

 

2,545

 

1,984

 

18

 

4,547

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

 

 

Telecom

 

Enventis

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

 

$

20,448

 

$

25,154

 

$

 

$

45,602

 

Intersegment revenue

 

111

 

85

 

(196

)

 

Total operating revenue

 

20,559

 

25,239

 

(196

)

45,602

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

3,789

 

927

 

5

 

4,721

 

Operating income/(loss)

 

6,239

 

1,649

 

(235

)

7,653

 

Interest expense

 

18

 

 

2,013

 

2,031

 

Income taxes(benefit)

 

2,490

 

660

 

(735

)

2,415

 

Income/(loss) from continuing operations

 

3,736

 

990

 

(1,472

)

3,254

 

Identifiable assets

 

153,182

 

66,103

 

7,251

 

226,536

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

117,053

 

33,303

 

90

 

150,446

 

Capital expenditures

 

2,288

 

1,017

 

 

3,305

 

 

10



Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Telecom

 

Enventis

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

 

$

36,293

 

$

39,352

 

$

 

$

75,645

 

Intersegment revenue

 

291

 

266

 

(557

)

 

Total operating revenue

 

36,584

 

39,618

 

(557

)

75,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

7,934

 

2,045

 

25

 

10,004

 

Operating income/(loss)

 

6,553

 

4,259

 

(52

)

10,760

 

Interest expense

 

44

 

 

3,131

 

3,175

 

Income taxes(benefit)

 

2,696

 

1,765

 

(1,112

)

3,349

 

Income/(loss) from continuing operations

 

3,815

 

2,494

 

(2,031

)

4,278

 

Identifiable assets

 

150,378

 

73,884

 

6,752

 

231,014

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

114,403

 

37,091

 

146

 

151,640

 

Capital expenditures

 

4,965

 

2,977

 

18

 

7,960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

 

 

Telecom

 

Enventis

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from unaffiliated customers

 

$

39,485

 

$

43,044

 

$

 

$

82,529

 

Intersegment revenue

 

218

 

147

 

(365

)

 

Total operating revenue

 

39,703

 

43,191

 

(365

)

82,529

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

7,702

 

1,802

 

10

 

9,514

 

Operating income/(loss)

 

10,342

 

3,029

 

(651

)

12,720

 

Interest expense

 

35

 

 

4,178

 

4,213

 

Income taxes(benefit)

 

4,147

 

1,218

 

(1,749

)

3,616

 

Income/(loss) from continuing operations

 

6,175

 

1,812

 

(2,965

)

5,022

 

Identifiable assets

 

153,182

 

66,103

 

7,251

 

226,536

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

117,053

 

33,303

 

90

 

150,446

 

Capital expenditures

 

3,934

 

2,101

 

 

6,035

 

 

Note 8.  Commitments and Contingencies

 

We are involved in certain contractual disputes in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe the ultimate resolution of any of these existing matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We did not experience any changes to material contractual obligations in the first six months of 2008. Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for the discussion relating to commitments and contingencies.

 

Note 9.  Stock Compensation

 

Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for a complete description of all stock-based compensation plans.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Share-based compensation expense recognized for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was $8,000 and $27,000, respectively. Share-based compensation expense recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 was $22,000 and $54,000, respectively. Share-based compensation expense recognized in our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the first six months of 2008 and 2007 included compensation expense for share-based payment awards granted prior to, but not yet completely vested as of June 30, 2008 and 2007. Historical data is used to estimate pre-vesting forfeitures and are estimated at the time of the grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of the grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. We use a seven-year period to calculate the historical volatility of its stock price for use in the valuation model. The dividend yield rate is based on our current dividend payout pattern and current market price. The risk-free rate for options is based on a U.S. Treasury rate commensurate with the expected terms. The expected term of options granted is derived from historical experience and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding.

 

There were no stock option awards granted during the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Although we have authority to issue options under the Stock Award Plan no current compensation programs have options as a component.

 

As of June 30, 2008 there was $8,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock options granted under the Company’s Stock Award Plan. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of two years.

 

A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

Shares

 

Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2008

 

476,000

 

$

12.79

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(4,800

)

13.38

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2008

 

471,200

 

$

12.79

 

Exercisable at June 30, 2008

 

461,200

 

$

12.91

 

 

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options outstanding at June 30, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

Weighted

 

Range of

 

Stock Options

 

Average

 

Average Remaining

 

Exercise Prices

 

Outstanding

 

Exercise Price

 

Contractual Life

 

$6.00 - $8.00

 

15,000

 

$

6.95

 

8.2 years

 

$8.00 - $12.00

 

177,200

 

10.26

 

5.0 years

 

$12.00 - $16.00

 

225,250

 

13.88

 

2.6 years

 

$16.00 - $21.00

 

53,750

 

18.18

 

2.7 years

 

 

 

471,200

 

$

12.79

 

3.7 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value

 

 

 

$

24,800

 

 

 

 

12



Table of Contents

 

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options exercisable at June 30, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

Range of

 

Stock Options

 

Weighted Average

 

Remaining

 

Exercise Prices

 

Exercisable

 

Exercise Price

 

Contractual Life

 

$6.00 - $8.00

 

5,000

 

$

6.95

 

8.2 years

 

$8.00 - $12.00

 

177,200

 

10.26

 

5.0 years

 

$12.00 - $16.00

 

225,250

 

13.88

 

2.6 years

 

$16.00 - $21.00

 

53,750

 

18.18

 

2.7 years

 

 

 

461,200

 

$

12.91

 

3.6 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate intrinsic value:

 

 

 

$

11,600

 

 

 

 

Note 10.  Financial Derivative Instruments

 

We use financial derivative instruments to manage our overall exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. We account for derivative instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133, as amended by SFAS No. 149, which requires derivative instruments to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments must be recognized in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met, in which case the gains and losses are included in other comprehensive income rather than in earnings.

 

Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted 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 accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

SFAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS 157 also describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

·                  Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

 

·                  Level 2 – observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

 

·                  Level 3 – unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data available, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements were determined based on Level 2 inputs.

 

We utilize interest-rate swap agreements that qualify as cash-flow hedges to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on a portion of our variable-interest rate debt. In March 2007, we terminated two outstanding interest-rate swap agreements, with original maturities of June 2008, in exchange for $1,936,000 in proceeds. Proceeds of $332,000 were recognized as an offset to interest expense in the second quarter of 2008 and 2007. Immediately following the termination of the two swap agreements discussed above, we executed a new interest-rate swap agreement, effectively locking in the interest rate on $60,000,000 of variable-interest rate debt through March, 2010. On March 28, 2008, we entered into a second interest-rate swap agreement, effectively locking in the interest rate on an additional $40,000,000 of variable-interest rate debt through February 2010.

 

The market value of the cumulative gain or (loss) on financial derivative instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity and will be recognized in earnings over the term of the swap agreement. The fair value of our derivatives at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is a net liability of $1,053,000 and $1,451,000, respectively.

 

13



Table of Contents

 

Note 11.  Employee Post-Retirement Benefits

 

HickoryTech provides post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits for certain employees. HickoryTech accounts for these post-retirement benefits in accordance with SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R).” New employees hired on or after January 1, 2007 are not eligible for post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

June 30

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

63

 

$

71

 

$

126

 

$

142

 

Interest cost

 

122

 

114

 

244

 

228

 

Amortization of transition obligation

 

15

 

15

 

30

 

30

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(14

)

(3

)

(28

)

(6

)

Recognized net actuarial loss

 

20

 

18

 

40

 

36

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

206

 

$

215

 

$

412

 

$

430

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

Employer’s contributions for current premiums:

 

 

 

Contributions made for the six months ended June 30, 2008

 

$

 128

 

Expected contributions for remainder of 2008

 

128

 

Total estimated employer contributions for fiscal year 2008

 

$

256

 

 

Note 12. Income Taxes

 

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations of approximately 43.6% for the second quarter of 2008 and 42.6% for the second quarter of 2007 exceeds the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes and accrued interest expense on unrecognized tax benefits. The increase in the effective tax rate from 2008 compared to 2007 is primarily the result of interest accrued on uncertain tax positions according to FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN No. 48) “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”

 

We adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48 on January 1, 2007. Among other things, FIN No. 48 provides guidance to address uncertainty in tax positions and clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold that income tax positions must achieve before being recognized in the financial statements. As of June 30, 2008, we had unrecognized tax benefits totaling $7,255,000 excluding interest. The amount of the unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, that would affect the effective income tax rates of future periods is $7,237,000. There have been no significant changes to these amounts during the six months ended June 30, 2008.

 

We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as income tax expense. As of June 30, 2008, we have accrued $675,000 (net of tax) for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits.

 

We file consolidated income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and combined or separate income tax returns in various state jurisdictions. In general, we are no longer subject to United States federal income tax examinations for the years prior to 2004 except to the extent of losses utilized in subsequent years.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 contains certain safe harbor provisions regarding forward-looking statements. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include forward-looking statements. These statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to anticipated future operating and financial performance, growth opportunities and growth rates, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business strategies, business and competitive outlook, and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “will,” “may,” “continues,” and “should,” and variations of these words and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause HickoryTech’s actual results to differ materially from such statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those contained in Item 1A of Part II, “Risk Factors” of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 which is incorporated herein by reference. The Cautionary Statement in Part 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K provides a comprehensive list of sources for risks and uncertainties, which may influence forward-looking statements and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Because of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions and the fact that any forward-looking statements made by HickoryTech and its management are based on estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions of management, they are not guarantees of future performance and you should not place undue reliance on them. In addition, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. With the exception of the requirements set forth in the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not undertake any obligations or update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We believe that the application of the accounting policies, which are important to our financial position and results of operations, requires significant judgments and estimates on the part of management. A description of the critical accounting policies that we adhere to is contained in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Results of Operations

 

Overview-Trends

 

We operate in two business segments: the Telecom Sector and the Enventis Sector. The Telecom Sector includes our historical rural telephone business operations, including three incumbent local exchange carriers (“ILECs”), a competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) and National Independent Billing, Inc. (“NIBI”), which provides data processing services for the telecommunications industry.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Our consolidated income from continuing operations decreased $757,000 or 23.3% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and $744,000 or 14.8% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The decrease in both comparative periods was primarily due to a settlement with a large interexchange carrier which provided $1,100,000 of non-recurring benefit to the 2007 comparative numbers. Excluding the non-recurring settlement that occurred in June 2007, our consolidated income from continuing operations increased $343,000 or 15.9% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and $356,000 or 9.1% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. Net income in the Enventis sector, which we believe provides a platform for long-term growth, increased $670,000 or 67.7% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and $682,000 or 37.6% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007.

 

Second quarter revenue of $39,745,000 declined $5,857,000 or 12.8% compared to the second quarter of 2007 and was $75,645,000 or $6,884,000 lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The decline in revenue was impacted by two significant items occurring in the second quarter of 2007. The timing and execution of equipment sales within our Enventis Sector drove higher second quarter 2007 equipment revenue. Telecom Sector revenue was also higher due to non-recurring settlement revenue of $1,890,000 from an interexchange carrier. Despite the decrease seen in revenue we continue to focus on strategic revenue streams.

 

The increase in strategic revenue streams in both the Enventis and Telecom Sectors are providing growth needed to offset the downward trends in Telecom local and network access revenue. The service revenue portion of the Enventis sector increased $1,752,000 or 24.1% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and $2,734,000 or 19.9% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The service element of the Enventis sector, with its recurring revenue and higher margin characteristics is a main focus for us.

 

Strategic broadband revenue in our Telecom sector continued to post double-digit increases. Broadband revenue increased $510,000 or 22.7% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and $937,000 or 21.2% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. We continue to experience increased competition from cable TV providers, CLECs, voice over internet protocol, wireless telephone, and other telephone competitors causing reduced customer counts and network access volume declines of $1,277,000 in the Telecom Sector. Telecom Sector results have also been significantly impacted by disputes with USAC and a large interexchange carrier lowering 2008 year-to-date network access revenue by $793,000 from disputes. Comparisons with 2007 revenue are affected by a $1,890,000 settlement with an interexchange carrier received in June 2007. While we continue to work to offset declining Telecom Sector revenue with new services to our customers, we may not be able to match the profitability of services we lose with the same profitability in the new services we provide.

 

Our focus on debt reduction in 2007 along with our ability to lock in favorable interest rates in the first quarter of 2008 are the factors driving interest expense to be $1,038,000 or 24.6% lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. By locking in our long-term debt rates, we will experience lower interest expense for the year 2008 compared to 2007. Due to the expiration of amortization of previously recognized gains on interest rate hedge instruments, the quarterly interest expense will increase approximately $330,000 per quarter beginning in the third quarter of 2008.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

Sector Results of Operations

 

Telecom Sector

 

The following table provides a breakdown of the Telecom Sector operating results.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

June 30

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue before intersegment eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Service

 

$

4,086

 

$

4,227

 

$

8,217

 

$

8,675

 

Network Access

 

5,952

 

9,378

 

12,777

 

16,737

 

Long Distance

 

1,197

 

1,297

 

2,387

 

2,629

 

Data

 

1,903

 

1,715

 

3,751

 

3,391

 

Internet

 

1,189

 

1,130

 

2,267

 

2,256

 

Digital TV

 

858

 

536

 

1,602

 

1,025

 

Directory

 

1,004

 

899

 

2,004

 

1,784

 

Bill Processing

 

905

 

514

 

1,499

 

1,203

 

Intersegment

 

161

 

111

 

291

 

218

 

Other

 

905

 

752

 

1,789

 

1,785

 

Total Telecom Revenue

 

$

18,160

 

$

20,559

 

$

36,584

 

$

39,703

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Telecom revenue before intersegment eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unaffiliated customers

 

$

17,999

 

$

20,448

 

$

36,293

 

$

39,485

 

Intersegment

 

161

 

111

 

291

 

218

 

 

 

18,160

 

20,559

 

36,584

 

39,703

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization

 

7,845

 

7,158

 

15,492

 

15,013

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

3,301

 

3,373

 

6,605

 

6,646

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,008

 

3,789

 

7,934

 

7,702

 

Operating Income

 

$

3,006

 

$

6,239

 

$

6,553

 

$

10,342

 

Net income

 

$

1,747

 

$

3,736

 

$

3,815

 

$

6,175

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

2,545

 

$

2,288

 

$

4,965

 

$

3,934

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business access lines

 

27,023

 

27,306

 

 

 

 

 

Residential access lines

 

35,872

 

39,716

 

 

 

 

 

Total access lines

 

62,895

 

67,022

 

 

 

 

 

Long distance customers

 

40,565

 

41,287

 

 

 

 

 

Digital Subscriber Line customers

 

18,126

 

16,677

 

 

 

 

 

Digital TV customers

 

7,353

 

5,194

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

Telecom Sector operating revenue before intersegment eliminations was $18,160,000, which is $2,399,000 or 11.7% lower in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $36,584,000, which is $3,119,000 or 7.9% lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The decrease in both periods was primarily due to lower revenue in network access which includes the non-recurrence of a settlement with a large interexchange carrier that provided $1,890,000 of revenue in June 2007.

 

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Local service revenue was $4,086,000, which is $141,000 or 3.3% lower in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007. This is due to a $193,000 decline in first line residential and business access line revenue. Our access lines declined 4,127 or 6.2% from June 30, 2007 to June 30, 2008. This decline was offset by an increase of $70,000 in reciprocal compensation revenue due to a non-recurring adjustment made in 2007 increasing a revenue reserve to account for proposed contracts with wireless carriers.

 

Local Service revenue was $8,217,000, which is $458,000 or 5.3% lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. First line residential and business access revenue declined by $365,000 due to the access line loss mentioned above. Also contributing to lower revenue was a $95,000 decrease in reciprocal compensation revenue received from wireless carriers under contract using minute-of-use pricing. Many of these contracts and their associated pricing were renegotiated in 2007. A higher degree of competition from cable TV providers, ILECs, and CLECs serving in our markets as well as wireless substitution, could continue to impact our local service revenue in future periods.

 

In May of 2008 we were served with a civil lawsuit by the City of St. Peter, Minn. regarding our contract payments to the municipality in support of our CLEC voice and data services. We do not agree with the contract interpretations made by the City of St, Peter, Minn. and are vigorously defending the suit. We cannot predict the outcome of such proceedings nor their impact, if any, on the Company.

 

Network access revenue was $5,952,000, which is $3,426,000 or 36.5% lower in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $3,960,000 or 23.7% lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007.  This is primarily due to the settlement of a switched access dispute with a large interexchange carrier, which resulted in a non-recurring increase in revenue of $1,890,000 in the second quarter of 2007. Without this settlement, network access revenue would have been $1,536,000 or 20.5% lower in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and $2,070,000 or 13.9% lower in the six months June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007.

 

A dispute with the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) stemming from its reversal of earlier interpretations of revenue distribution rules has impacted second quarter 2008 network access revenue. USAC claimed $475,000 of previously distributed revenue for years prior to 2008, and has lowered 2008 revenue by $66,000 in the first and second quarters. Year-to-date 2008 impact is $607,000 of which $541,000 is reflected in the second quarter of 2008. The expected impact of the USAC decision for future quarters is $66,000 of lowered revenue per quarter. We are appealing the USAC interpretation as arbitrary and unprecedented, however USAC is largely unregulated and there is no likely forum for recovery of this lost revenue. Additionally, an ongoing dispute with a large interexchange carrier is resulting in bill non-payment and impacting second quarter network access revenue by a reduction of $105,000. Previously, this carrier dispute reduced first quarter 2008 network access revenue by $81,000. In May of 2008 we filed a lawsuit against the carrier to recover unpaid amounts billed in September 2007 to present. In July of 2008, the carrier filed a counterclaim against us. We intend to continue to pursue collection through litigation. It is not known when an outcome of that litigation will occur. Altogether, the disputes with USAC and the large interexchange carrier have lowered 2008 year-to-date network access revenue by $793,000. The expected future quarterly impact of these two disputes is approximately $160,000, until resolved.

 

Long distance revenue was $1,197,000 which is $100,000 or 7.7% lower in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $2,387,000, which is $242,000 or 9.2% lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The decrease in both periods was primarily due to a decrease of 722 or 1.8% in the customer base at June 30, 2008 compared to June 30, 2007 and large call-volume business customers undergoing economic slowdowns.

 

Data revenue was $1,903,000, which is $188,000 or 11.0% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $3,751,000, which is $360,000 or 10.6% higher the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase in both periods was primarily due to an 8.7% increase in DSL customers between June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2007. Also contributing to the increase were strong sales of our Ethernet service product offset by a decrease in our private line local revenue.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Digital TV revenue was $858,000, which is $322,000 or 60.1% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $1,602,000, which is $577,000 or 56.3% higher in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase in both periods was primarily the result of the offering of digital TV to three additional communities in 2007, which resulted in a 41.6% increase in digital TV customers at June 30, 2008 compared to June 30, 2007. Also contributing to the increase in digital TV revenue was an increase in rates charged to customers of approximately 5.0%, which went into effect in April 2007.

 

Directory revenue was $1,004,000, which is $105,000 or 11.7% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $2,004,000, which is $220,000 or 12.3% higher in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. This increase was the result of increased sales of yellow-page advertising in our directory, which went into effect in the beginning of the third quarter of 2007.

 

NIBI bill processing revenue was $905,000, which is $391,000 or 76.1% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $1,499,000, which is $296,000 or 24.6% higher in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. Contributing to the increase in revenue was a $296,000 increase in the three month period and a $342,000 increase in the six month period of project and integration services revenue associated with a new cellular service customer.

 

Other revenue, consisting primarily of sales of customer premise equipment (CPE), circuit private lines, maintenance, and adds, moves and changes was $905,000, which is $153,000 or 20.4% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007.  This increase was due to a higher volume of CPE sales of $93,000 and higher add/move/change revenue of $63,000.

 

Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

 

Telecom Sector cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) was $7,845,000, which is $687,000 or 9.6% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007. This increase was primarily due to a $297,000 increase in bad debt expense. Bad debt expense during the three months ended June 30, 2007 was abnormally low because of a reversal of $325,000 of previously recorded expense when we settled the interexchange carrier dispute. Also contributing to the increase in cost of services was a $199,000 increase in programming expenses incurred in connection with digital TV services, a $108,000 increase in CPE material costs due to the increase in CPE revenue, and a $72,000 increase in directory expense associated with the increase in directory revenue.

 

Telecom Sector cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) was $15,492,000, which is $479,000 or 3.2% higher in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily due to the following items:  1) a $360,000 increase in programming expenses incurred in connection with digital TV services, 2) a $330,000 increase in bad debt expense due an abnormally low expense in 2007, which was due to a $325,000 reversal of previously recorded expense when we settled the interexchange carrier dispute, and 3) a $171,000 increase in directory expenses associated with the increase in directory revenue. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in wages and benefits of $480,000 due to one-time severance payments made in 2007 and a decrease in co-location expenses of $184,000 due primarily to a credit received from a vendor in 2008.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Telecom Sector selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) were $3,301,000, which is 72,000 or 2.1% lower in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007. Telecom Sector selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) were $6,605,000, which is $41,000 or .60% lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The company is actively managing its overhead and administrative costs.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Telecom Sector depreciation and amortization was $4,008,000, which is $219,000 or 5.8% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $7,934,000, which is $232,000 or 3.0% higher in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. This increase was primarily due to an increase in fixed asset spending in 2007. Amortization was $27,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 and was $53,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Operating Income

 

Telecom Sector operating income decreased $3,233,000 or 51.8% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and decreased $3,789,000 or 36.7% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. Excluding the non-recurring interexchange carrier settlement of $1,890,000 our operating income decreased $1,343,000 or 30.9% in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and decreased $1,899,000 or 22.5% in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The decrease in both periods was due to decreases in revenue and increases in cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization), increases in depreciation and amortization expenses offset by a decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses, all of which are described above.

 

Enventis Sector

 

The following table provides a breakdown of the Enventis Sector operating results.

 

ENVENTIS SECTOR

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30

 

June 30

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue before intersegment eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENS equipment revenue

 

$

12,709

 

$

17,869

 

$

22,877

 

$

29,303

 

ENS services revenue

 

3,056

 

2,099

 

5,121

 

3,842

 

ETS services revenue

 

5,981

 

5,186

 

11,354

 

9,899

 

Intersegment

 

128

 

85

 

266

 

147

 

Total Enventis revenue

 

$

21,874

 

$

25,239

 

$

39,618

 

$

43,191

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Enventis revenue before intersegment eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unaffiliated customers

 

$

21,746

 

$

25,154

 

$

39,352

 

$

43,044

 

Intersegment

 

128

 

85

 

266

 

147

 

 

 

21,874

 

25,239

 

39,618

 

43,191

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales, equipment
(excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

10,718

 

16,559

 

19,415

 

26,873

 

Cost of services
(excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

4,880

 

3,786

 

9,159

 

6,984

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

2,413

 

2,318

 

4,740

 

4,503

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,025

 

927

 

2,045

 

1,802

 

Operating income

 

$

2,838

 

$

1,649

 

$

4,259

 

$

3,029

 

Net income

 

$

1,660

 

$

990

 

$

2,494

 

$

1,812

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

1,984

 

$

1,017

 

$

2,977

 

$

2,101

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

HickoryTech Corporation acquired Enventis on December 30, 2005. We continue to manage and evaluate the Enventis operations in their entirety. The table below provides an illustration of the relative contributions and associated trends from each of the Enventis primary product lines. Certain allocations have been made, particularly in the area of selling, general and administrative expenses, in order to develop these tables.

 

ENVENTIS PRODUCT LINE REPORTING

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30

 

Six Months Ended June 30

 

 

 

Network Services

 

Transport Services

 

Network Services

 

Transport Services

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue before intersegment eliminations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment revenue

 

$

12,709

 

$

17,869

 

$

 

$

 

$

22,877

 

$

29,303

 

$

 

$

 

Service revenue

 

3,056

 

2,099

 

5,981

 

5,186

 

5,121

 

3,842

 

11,354

 

9,899

 

Intersegment

 

 

 

128

 

85

 

 

 

266

 

147

 

Total Enventis revenue

 

$

15,765

 

$

19,968

 

$

6,109

 

$

5,271

 

$

27,998

 

$

33,145

 

$

11,620

 

$

10,046

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales, equipment
(excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

10,714

 

16,554

 

4

 

5

 

19,406

 

26,864

 

9

 

9

 

Cost of services
(excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

2,143

 

1,253

 

2,737

 

2,533

 

3,975

 

2,180

 

5,184

 

4,804

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

1,273

 

1,171

 

1,140

 

1,147

 

2,532

 

2,269

 

2,208

 

2,234

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

123

 

153

 

902

 

774

 

244

 

248

 

1,801

 

1,554

 

Operating income

 

$

1,512

 

$

837

 

$

1,326

 

$

812

 

$

1,841

 

$

1,584

 

$

2,418

 

$

1,445

 

Net income

 

$

885

 

$

502

 

$

775

 

$

488

 

$

1,078

 

$

947

 

$

1,416

 

$

865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

156

 

$

112

 

$

1,828

 

$

905

 

$

289

 

$

80

 

$

2,688

 

$

2,021

 

 

Revenue

 

Enventis Sector operating revenue before intersegment eliminations was $21,874,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2008, which is $3,365,000 or 13.3% lower than revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2007.  Similarly, Enventis operating revenue before intersegment eliminations was $39,618,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, which is $3,573,000 or 8.3% lower than revenue earned in the six months ended June 30, 2007. These fluctuations were heavily influenced by the timing and execution of equipment sales under large contracts.

 

Enterprise Network Services’ equipment revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $12,709,000, which is $5,160,000 or 28.9% lower than the three months ended June 30, 2007. Enterprise Network Services equipment revenue was $22,877,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, which is $6,426,000 or 22.0% lower than equipment revenue earned in the six months ended June 30, 2007. The most significant impact was due to recognizing $6,500,000 of revenue related to a single large contract in the second quarter of 2007. Overall operating results from the Enventis Sector can be impacted by the timing of delivery and performance related to large equipment sales and installations. The relationship between revenue and costs associated with the various products and delivery elements of large contracts can also fluctuate depending on the product mix, vendor discounts, and rebates. These fluctuations can be especially dramatic in the Enterprise Network Services’ equipment revenue product line.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The decline in equipment revenue recognition in the first two quarters of 2008 was partly offset by increases in services revenue in both the Enterprise Network Services and Enterprise Transport Services product lines.  Enterprise Network Services’ revenue earned from services in the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $3,056,000, which is $957,000 or 45.6% higher than services revenue earned in the three months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily due to a $767,000 increase in maintenance contract revenue and an increase of $99,000 in support fees revenue related to technology support and monitoring of systems for our customers. Enterprise Network Services’ services revenue in the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $5,121,000, which is $1,279,000 or 33.3% higher than services revenue earned in the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily due to an increase in maintenance contract revenue of $512,000, an increase in contract services revenue of $293,000 associated with an increase in the design, configuration, and installation services related to voice and data equipment, and a $240,000 increase in support fees revenue. The increase in services revenue reflects our business strategy of emphasizing this revenue stream due to its recurring nature as well as its higher and more stable margin characteristics. Maintenance contract sales carry a significant profitability factor. Enventis costs for maintenance contracts are netted against revenue rather than posted to Cost of Services based on our role as an agent in the transaction for Cisco.

 

Enterprise Transport Services revenue was $5,981,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2008, which is $795,000 or 15.3% higher than revenue earned in the three months ended June 30, 2007. Enterprise Transport Services revenue was $11,354,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, which is $1,455,000 or 14.7% higher than revenue earned in the six months ended June 30, 2007.  The increase in both periods was primarily due to increases in fiber transport service revenue due to higher customer demand in the wholesale, business, and managed transport service areas.

 

Cost of Sales – Equipment (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

 

Enventis Sector cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) associated with equipment revenue was $10,718,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2008, which is $5,841,000 or 35.3% lower than cost of sales in the three months ended June 30, 2007. Cost of sales associated with equipment revenue was $19,415,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, which is $7,458,000 or 27.8% lower than cost of sales in the six months ended June 30, 2007.The decrease in both periods was primarily due to the lower equipment revenue experienced in the Enterprise Network Services product line. The relationship between cost of equipment sold to equipment sales revenue can fluctuate and is influenced by a number of factors including product mix, dealer discounts, and vendor incentive rebate programs. The relationship of cost as a percentage of sales revenue in the three and six month periods of 2008 compared to the same periods in 2007 is more favorable (lower) due primarily to the mix of products sold and Enventis’ leverage of vendor incentive programs. Labor associated with installation work is not included in this category, but is included in cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) described below.

 

Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

 

Enventis Sector cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) was $4,880,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2008, which is $1,094,000 or 28.9% higher compared to cost of services in the three months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily due to the following items: 1) a $595,000 increase in wages and benefits due to increased staffing levels, 2) a $561,000 increase in contract labor costs related to external project support,  and 3) a $155,000 increase in circuit expenses, which supported the increase in off-net revenue. The increased staffing and contract labor costs reflect our investment in the growth of the managed service business as well as temporary staffing for high levels of project activity. These increases were partly offset by declines in consulting fees of $247,000 due to lower usage of external project management consultants.

 

Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) was $9,159,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, which is $2,175,000 or 31.1% higher compared to cost of services in the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily due to the following items: 1) a $1,313,000 increase in wages and benefits due to increased staffing levels, 2) an $830,000 increase in contract labor costs related to external project support, and 3) a $288,000 increase in circuit expenses, which supported the increase in off-net revenue. The increased staffing and contract labor costs reflect our investment in the growth of the managed service business as well as temporary staffing for high levels of project activity. These increases were partly offset by declines in consulting fees of $277,000 due to lower usage of external project management consultants.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Enventis Sector selling, general and administrative expenses were $2,413,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2008, which is $95,000 or 4.1% higher than selling, general, and administrative expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily due to a $135,000 increase in commissions and an $86,000 increase in corporate expenses, partly offset by a $129,000 decrease in wages and benefits.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4,740,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2008, which is $237,000 or 5.3% higher than selling, general, and administrative expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was primarily due to a $174,000 increase in commissions, $166,000 increase in corporate expenses, and a $144,000 increase in incentive compensation accruals, partly offset by a $202,000 decrease in wages and benefits.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Enventis Sector depreciation and amortization was $1,025,000, which is $98,000 or 10.6% higher in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007 and was $2,045,000, which is $243,000 or 13.5% higher in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase in both periods was primarily due to the increase in assets placed in service in 2007 and 2008 to support the growth in our Enventis Transport Services line of business. Enventis Sector amortization remained constant in 2008 and 2007, and is attributed to intangible assets related to the Enventis acquisition in 2005.

 

Operating Income

 

Enventis Sector operating income during the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $1,189,000 or 72.1% greater than operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2007. Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $1,230,000 or 40.6% higher than operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The increase was due to higher services revenue and lower cost of sales offsetting the decrease in equipment sales revenue and the increases in cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization), selling, general, and administrative expenses, and depreciation expenses, all of which are described above. The increases in maintenance contract revenue discussed above especially affected this relationship, as revenue from these sales is recognized net of associated costs, directly impacting overall operating income. The increase in both periods was driven by the higher profit margin characteristics of the mix of product and services sold – especially maintenance contracts – and the favorable discounts and rebates offered by vendors.

 

Interest Expense

 

Consolidated interest expense was $1,478,000 which is $553,000 or 27.2% lower in the three months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007. Interest expense was $3,175,000, which is $1,038,000 or 24.6% lower in the six months ended June 30, 2008 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2007. The decrease is a result of a lower average effective interest rate in the first six months of 2008. The outstanding balance of our debt obligations was $133,654,000 at June 30, 2008 and $129,206,000 at December 31, 2007.

 

Interest expense will increase approximately $330,000 per quarter starting in the third quarter of 2008, subject to other normal influences such as debt principal amount and movement in interest rates on un-hedged or unfixed interest rate debt. Quarterly benefits of $330,000 from interest-rate swap agreements sold at a gain in early 2007 become fully amortized in the second quarter of 2008 and no longer offset a portion of interest expense. The combined effects of lower interest rates, interest protection strategies, and lower debt principal indicate that our interest expense will be approximately $1,300,000 lower for the year 2008 than 2007.

 

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Income Taxes

 

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations of approximately 43.6% for the second quarter of 2008 and 42.6% for the second quarter of 2007 exceeds the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes and interest expense accrued on unrecognized tax benefits. The change in the effective tax rate from 2008 to 2007 is the result of interest accrued on uncertain tax positions according to FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN No. 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash Flows

 

Cash generated from operations was $9,057,000 in the first six months of 2008 compared to $11,540,000 in the first six months of 2007. Cash provided by operations in the first six months of 2008 and 2007 was primarily attributable to net income plus non-cash expenses for depreciation and amortization. Outstanding accounts receivable balances increased by $3,674,000 and $7,254,000 in the first six months of 2008 and 2007, respectively as a result of customer installations in progress evolving into the billing stage primarily in the Enventis Sector. In 2008, inventory in the Enventis Sector increased primarily due to customer activity levels at the end of the second quarter. Inventory for the Enventis Sector is a temporary staging point in the customized equipment ordering/installation cycle. The decrease in inventory of $2,125,000 in the first six months of 2007 was primarily due to a decrease in inventory in the Enventis Sector which was a direct consequence of the increased billings to customers noted above.

 

Cash used in investing activities was driven by capital expenditures which increased $1,925,000 during the first six months of 2008 compared to the first six months of 2007. We are making a concentrated effort to focus spending on revenue generating products, services, and key strategic initiatives. We anticipate the level of total capital spending in 2008 to be slightly higher than the level of capital spending seen in 2007.

 

Cash used in financing activities in the first six months of 2008 was $362,000 compared to $5,216,000 in the first six months of 2007. In 2007, a decrease in the overall credit facility of $6,650,000 resulted from repayments of $10,650,000, offset by borrowings of $4,000,000. During the first six months of 2008, we experienced an increase in our long term debt position of $4,300,000 which resulted from repayments of $11,600,000 offset by borrowings of $15,900,000. In 2008, we anticipate that our growth initiatives will cause minimal reductions in our current debt level by year end. In 2007, we terminated two outstanding interest-rate swap agreements which had original maturities of June 2008 resulting in proceeds of $1,936.000.

 

Working Capital

 

Working capital (i.e. current assets minus current liabilities) was $15,115,000 as of June 30, 2008, compared to working capital of $8,228,000 as of December 31, 2007. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.5 as of June 30, 2008 and 1.3 as of December 31, 2007.

 

Extended-Term Payable

 

Enventis has a $20,000,000 wholesale financing agreement with a financing company to fund inventory purchased from certain approved vendors. Advances under the financing arrangement are collateralized by the accounts receivable and inventory of Enventis and a guaranty of up to $16,000,000 from HickoryTech Corporation. The financing agreement provides sixty-day interest-free payment terms for inventory purchases and can be terminated at any time by either party. The balance outstanding under the financing arrangement was $13,041,000 at June 30, 2008 and $14,443,000 at December 31, 2007. These balances are classified as current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets and are not considered part of our debt financing.

 

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Long-Term Obligations

 

Our long-term obligations as of June 30, 2008 were $132,313,000, excluding current maturities of $1,025,000 on debt and $316,000 on current maturities of capital leases. Long-term obligations as of December 31, 2007, were $128,475,000 excluding current maturities of $475,000 on debt and $256,000 of capital leases. On December 30, 2005, we entered into a $160,000,000 credit agreement with a syndicate of banks (subsequently reduced to a $155,575,000 facility as of June 30, 2008 through normal quarterly amortization), which amended our previous credit facility. The credit facility is comprised of a $30,000,000 revolving credit component that expires on December 30, 2011 and a $130,000,000 term loan component (subsequently reduced to $125,575,000 as of June 30, 2008 through normal quarterly amortization).

 

The term loan component is comprised of two components, which are defined as term loan B and term loan C. The outstanding principal balance of term loan B is $106,075,000 as of June 30, 2008, and is held by commercial lenders. Under the terms of term loan B, we are required to make quarterly principal payments of $275,000 from March 31, 2008 through December 31, 2011 with the remainder of the aggregate principal due in two payments on March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012. Due to the aggressive pay down of debt in 2007, we are not required to make quarterly principal payments during the first three quarters of 2008. The outstanding principal balance of term loan C is $19,500,000 as of June 30, 2008 and is held entirely by the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (“RTFC”). Under the terms of term loan C, we are required to make quarterly principal payments of $50,000 on the aggregate principal amount from March 31, 2008 through December 31, 2012 with the remainder of the aggregate principal due in two payments on March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013. Under the terms of the revolving credit facility, any outstanding principal is payable in full on December 30, 2011. The outstanding balance of the revolving credit facility is $7,400,000 as of June 30, 2008.

 

Our debt requires us to comply, on a consolidated basis, with specified financial ratios and tests. These financial ratios and tests include maximum leverage ratio, minimum interest coverage ratio, and maximum capital expenditures. We were in full compliance with these ratios and tests as of June 30, 2008. Our obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first-priority lien on all property and assets, tangible and intangible of HickoryTech and its current subsidiaries, including, but not limited to accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and intellectual property; general intangibles, cash and proceeds of the foregoing. HickoryTech has also given a first-priority pledge of the capital stock of HickoryTech’s current subsidiaries to secure the credit facility.

 

Other

 

We believe that cash flow from operations and current cash balances, are adequate to meet our anticipated operating, capital expenditures, and debt service requirements for the foreseeable future.

 

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 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. In March 2007, we terminated two outstanding interest-rate swap agreements, with original maturities of June 2008, in exchange for $1,936,000 in proceeds. Proceeds of $664,000 and $609,000 were recognized as an offset to interest expense during the first six months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. Immediately following the termination of the two agreements discussed above, we executed a new interest-rate swap agreement, effectively locking in the interest rate on $60,000,000 of variable-rate debt through March of 2010. On March 28, 2008, we entered into a second interest-rate swap agreement, effectively locking in the interest rate on an additional $40,000,000 of variable-interest rate debt through February 2010.

 

The cumulative gain or loss on current derivative instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity and is recognized in earnings when the term of the protection agreement is concluded. 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 June 30, 2008, our interest expense would have increased $16,000.

 

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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 were effective in ensuring 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.

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter 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, 2007.

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

None.

 

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

a.

 

The annual shareholders’ meeting was held on May 6, 2008. The only matter presented to the shareholders at the annual meeting was the reelection of four directors to terms expiring in 2011. Lyle T. Bosaker, Myrita T. Craig, and John W. Finke continued as directors after the meeting whose terms expire in 2009, and John H. Holdredge, Lyle G. Jacobson, and Starr J. Kirklin continued as directors after the meeting whose terms expire in 2010.

 

 

 

b.

 

The names of the directors elected at the annual meeting and the applicable votes were as follows:

 

Director

 

For

 

Withheld

 

Robert D. Alton, Jr.

 

9,423,123

 

836,638

 

James W. Bracke

 

9,922,806

 

336,955

 

R. Wynn Kearney, Jr.

 

9,908,513

 

351,249

 

Dale E. Parker

 

9,912,701

 

347,060

 

 

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Item 5.  Other Information.

 

None.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits Listing.

 

Exhibit 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

 

Exhibit 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

 

Exhibit 32.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Exhibit 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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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.

 

Dated:

July 29, 2008

 

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John W. Finke

 

 

 

John W. Finke, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Christensen

 

 

 

David A. Christensen, Senior Vice President and

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

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