Rye, NY – March 30, 2015 – LICT Corporation (“LICT”; OTC Pink®: LICT) reports preliminary, unaudited results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2014. LICT’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 are in the process of being finalized, including final review of impairment of goodwill, and audited by the company’s firm of independent certified public accountants. This process could result in adjustments to our preliminary fourth quarter 2014 results.
FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS – Revenues increased by $0.8 million, or 4.0%, to $21.7 million compared to the corresponding quarter in 2013. EBITDA before corporate costs was $9.4 million, as compared to $9.1 million in the previous year’s fourth quarter.
Regulated revenues were $13.3 million in the 2014 quarter, the same as the prior year quarter. Non-regulated revenues increased 10.1% to $8.3 million from the prior year’s $7.5 million, principally due to increased broadband and competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) revenues. Operating costs, excluding depreciation, increased by $0.6 million from $12.1 million to $12.8 million. Corporate expenses were $0.3 million, which was $0.4 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2013, due to certain accrual adjustments for compensation and audit fees.
In December 2014, the Company closed the sale of its DFT Communications Corporation (“DFT”) subsidiary to Brick Skirt Holdings, Inc., an entity owned by DFT’s founding family, the Maytums of Fredonia, NY. DFT provides broadband, voice and other telecommunications services in areas of western New York State, principally the Dunkirk/Fredonia, Cassadaga and Jamestown areas. Effective as of the sale, LICT is treating the results of DFT as a discontinued operation and its contributions to LICT’s consolidated operating results have been separated from amounts previously reported.
Earnings per share, excluding the results of DFT, during the fourth quarter were $101 in 2014 versus $80 in 2013, an increase of 26.7%. Shares outstanding at December 31, 2014, were 22,272 versus 22,486 at December 31, 2013.
FULL YEAR RESULTS – For the year ended December 31, 2014, LICT recorded revenues of $85.9 million and EBITDA, prior to corporate costs but including cash received from our equity affiliates, of $37.8 million. The company is currently expecting that revenues in 2015 will be approximately $87 million and EBITDA, prior to corporate costs but including cash received from our equity affiliates, will be approximately $38 million.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND DEPRECIATION EXPENSE – In 2014, capital expenditures were $4.9 million for the fourth quarter and $16.3 million for the full year. This reflects our commitment to provide the communities we serve with enhanced communication capabilities and our continued investment in the improvement of our products and in our network infrastructure, particularly our broadband networks. Through upgraded electronics and fiber extensions deeper into our networks, we have improved the speed, the capacity and the reliability of our broadband service offerings.
FCC SPECTRUM AUCTION 97-Advanced Wireless Service (AWS-3) – A subsidiary of the Company, Lynch 3G Communications Corporation, participated in the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) Auction 97, Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) Spectrum. We were outbid by behemoths, some of which received small business discounts. The Auction concluded in February 2014 and the subsidiary received back from the FCC its Auction deposit of $19.0 million.
BROADBAND REGULATION – In April 2014, the FCC ordered further modifications to Intercarrier Compensation (‘ICC’) and the Universal Service Fund (“USF”), and issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”). Due to the many unresolved items in the FNPRM, which may impact “rate-of-return carriers” including many of our companies, it is not possible to predict the impact that the FCC’s ICC and USF reforms will have on LICT’s future revenues at this time. ICC and USF programs generate, on a combined basis, approximately 40% of our revenues. We believe that government policy will continue to encourage and support communication services in rural areas, but there is no certainty that such support will be continued at historical levels. As a result of this, as well as opportunities created from new technologies, including the internet, we have focused on developing non-regulated, high speed businesses, such as broadband service by fiber optic and DSL technologies, to supplement our traditional rural telephone services.
OPERATING STATISTICS – As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s DSL penetration in its franchised telephone service territories, based on total RLEC voice lines, was 71.6%, compared to 68.5% as of December 31, 2013. Our summary operating statistics, excluding DFT in 2013, are as follows:
| 12/31/2014 | 12/31/2013 | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |
| ILEC voice lines | 28,001 | 29,018 | (1,017) | (3.5%) |
| CLEC voice lines | 5,019 | 4,165 | 854 | 20.5% |
| Total voice lines | 33,020 | 33,183 | (163) | (0.5%) |
| Broadband lines | 26,072 | 24,546 | 1,526 | 6.2% |
| LD Resale lines | 15,531 | 15,211 | 320 | 2.1% |
| Video Subscribers | 6,117 | 6,575 | (458) | (7.0%) |
BALANCE SHEET – As of December 31, 2014, the company had approximately $18.2 million in cash and $73.5 million in total debt. In February 2015, the Auction 97 deposit was returned and the associated loan was repaid. Pro forma for the return of the deposit, the company’s net debt at December 31, 2014 was of $36.3 million.
REFINANCING THE COMPANY – In December 2014, the Company secured a $30 million line of credit agreement to replace its existing $25 million line of credit. This replacement line expires in December 2017. The line provides the company with increased financial flexibility for potential shareholder compensation, expanded business initiatives, higher borrowing capacity, and a lower interest rate.
SHARE REPURCHASES – During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company repurchased 214 shares for $0.8 million at an average price of $3,618 per share. As of December 31, 2014, 22,272 shares were outstanding. We have 755 shares left in our 1,000 share buyback authorization.
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This release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including without limitation anticipated financial results, financing, capital expenditures and corporate transactions. It should be recognized that such information is based upon certain assumptions, projections and forecasts, including without limitation business conditions and financial markets, regulatory and other approvals, and the cautionary statements set forth in documents filed by LICT on its website, www.lictcorp.com. As a result, there can be no assurance that any possible transactions will be accomplished or be successful or that financial targets will be met, and such information is subject to uncertainties, risks and inaccuracies, which could be material.
LICT Corporation is a holding company with subsidiaries in broadband and other telecommunications services that actively seeks acquisitions, principally in its existing business areas.
LICT Corporation is listed on the OTC Pink® under the symbol LICT. For further information visit our website at http://www.lictcorp.com.
Contact: Robert E. Dolan
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
914/921-8821
Release: 15-1