Rye, NY – October 28, 2014 – LICT Corporation (“LICT”; Pink Sheets®: LICT) reports solid results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.
THIRD QUARTER RESULTS –Revenues increased by $1.7 million, or 6.8% to $25.8 million compared to the corresponding quarter in 2013. EBITDA before corporate costs was $10.2 million versus $9.1 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 11.6%, compared to 2013.
Regulated revenues were $14.9 million in the 2014 quarter, versus $14.1 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of 5.7% from 2013. Non-regulated revenues increased 11.1% to $10.9 million from the prior year’s $9.8 million, principally due to increased broadband and competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) revenues. Operating costs, excluding depreciation, increased by $0.6 million from $15.7 million to $16.4 million. Corporate expenses were $0.7 million, $0.1 million lower than the third quarter of 2013.
Earnings per share, excluding unusual items, during the third quarter were $101.53 in 2014 versus $85.58 in 2013, an increase of 19%. Shares outstanding at September 30, 2014, were 22,327 versus 22,486 at September 30, 2013.
FULL YEAR RESULTS –LICT continues to estimate that 2014 revenues and EBITDA, prior to corporate costs but including cash received from our equity affiliates, will be roughly $100 million and $41 million, respectively, as compared to 2013 revenues of $96.2 million and EBITDA of $37.2 million. These 2014 estimates include the results of DFT Communications Corporation for the full year, estimated at $16.0 million in revenue and $3.0 million in EBITDA. LICT previously announced it has a contract to sell DFT in an “MBO” (Management Led Buy Out). A request for approval of this transaction was filed with the New York State Public Service Commission in July 2014, and we continue to anticipate that the transaction will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND DEPRECIATION EXPENSE – Capital expenditures were $5.3 million for the third quarter. This reflects our continued investment in the improvement of our products and investment in our network infrastructure, particularly our broadband networks. Through upgraded electronics and fiber extensions deeper into our networks, we have improved both the speed and capacity of our broadband service offerings.
FCC SPECTRUM AUCTION 97-Advanced Wireless Service (AWS-3) – On October 14, 2014, a subsidiary of the Company, Lynch 3G Communications Corporation, made a deposit with the Federal Communications Commission to participate in Auction 97, Advanced Wireless Services (AWS-3) Spectrum.
UTAH- CENTRACOM- GROWTH INITIATIVE- On September, 2014, LICT’s Utah operation, CentraCom completed the acquisition of fiber optic facilities in downtown Salt Lake City from Syringa Networks, LLC (“Syringa”). Eddie Cox, President of CentraCom, said: “We are very pleased with the acquisition of the fiber in Salt Lake City which will significantly expand our ability to provide businesses with high capacity broadband services. In addition, in a separate but related transaction, we transferred to Syringa our Logan PCS Spectrum. We look forward to potentially partnering with Syringa in the future on various expansion opportunities.”
BROADBAND REGULATION – In April 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (“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 maintained 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 September 30, 2014, the company’s in-territory DSL penetration, based on total ILEC voice lines, was 72.5%, compared to 69.5% as of December 31, 2013. Our summary operating statistics are as follows:
| 09/30/2014 | 12/31/2013 | Increase (Decrease) | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |
| ILEC voice lines | 36,515 | 37,276 | (761) | (2.0%) |
| CLEC voice lines | 8,773 | 8,002 | 771 | 9.6% |
| Total voice lines | 45,288 | 45,278 | 10 | — % |
| Broadband lines | 30,387 | 28,618 | 1,769 | 9.17% |
| LD Resale lines | 26,716 | 26,224 | 492 | 1.9% |
| Video Subscribers | 6,307 | 6,575 | (268) | (4.1%) |
BALANCE SHEET – As of September 30, 2014, the company had approximately $11.0 million in cash and $67.0 million in total debt, resulting in net debt of $56.0 million, compared to net debt of $64.1 million at September 30, 2013. Pro Forma for the sale of DFT Communications, including estimated tax payments, the Company’s net debt as of September 30, 2014 is estimated at $39.8 million.
On October 14, 2014, a subsidiary of the Company borrowed $15.0 million from its Chairman and CEO to fund, in part, its deposits to participate in Auction 97. The loan bears interest at the rate of .38% per year and is due the earlier of 5 days after the Auction 97 deposits are returned from the FCC, estimated in the First Quarter of 2015, or October 14, 2015.
REFINANCING THE COMPANY – In May 2014, the Company secured a $25 million line of credit agreement to replace its existing $ 17.5 million line of credit. This replacement line expires on June 30, 2015. The Company continues to pursue refinancing of this line, and expects to have a replacement line of credit in place during the fourth quarter of 2014.
SHARE REPURCHASES – During the first nine months of 2014, the company repurchased 159 shares for $0.5 million at an average price of $3,211 per share. As of September 30, 2014, 22,327 shares were outstanding. On June 4, 2014, the Board of Directors authorized an additional 1,000 shares for our repurchase program, of which 26 have been purchased through September 30, 2014.
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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 future financial results, anticipated 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 Pink Sheets® under the symbol LICT. Its World Wide Web address is: http://www.lictcorp.com.
Contact: Robert E. Dolan
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
914/921-8821
Release: 14-13