WARWICK, NY--(Marketwire - August 13, 2008) - Warwick Valley Telephone Company ("WVT
Communications") ("the Company") (
NASDAQ:
WWVY) announced today that its
financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2008
showed an improvement in net income for both periods. The Company
increased its net income by 20%, from $1,350 to $1,618 in comparison to the
three-month period over the same period in 2007 and by 15% from $2,076 to
$2,378 for the six-month period over the same period in 2007. This increase
was attributable primarily to an improvement in Orange County-Poughkeepsie
Limited Partnership ("O-P") income and a one time curtailment gain of $469
before tax for post-retirement benefit costs resulting from the Company's
new contracts with its union employees. Without this one time curtailment
gain the net income for the three-month period ended June 30, 2008
decreased by 3% from $1,350 to $1,313 in comparison to the three-month
period ended June 30, 2007. This decrease was due to increased wages
associated with the ramp-up of our sales and sales support force and
infrastructure costs focusing on the small and medium-sized business
market, the continued loss of access lines due to competition and
technology substitution, as well as one time separation costs for
management employees.
Operating revenues decreased 9% from $5,878 to $5,377 for the three months
ended June 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in the prior year and
decreased 6% from $11,769 to $11,021 for the six months ended June 30, 2008
as compared to the same period in the prior year. These decreases were due
to the following reductions: network access revenues decreased as the
result of lower local switch support revenues received from the Universal
Service Fund and declining billable switched minutes; and our long distance
revenues and Online service revenues decreased due to losses in our
customer base access lines as our customers continue to switch to high
speed broadband services for Internet access and the loss of customers
switching to our competitors' services which were offset by an increase in
other services and sales resulting from the improved sales of customer
business telephone systems.
Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2008 decreased 6%
from $6,034 to $5,670 for the three months ended June 30, 2008 as compared
to the same period in the prior year and decreased 4% from $12,625 to
$12,144 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 as compared to the same
period in the prior year. These decreases were mainly due to a
postretirement curtailment gain resulting from the elimination of benefits
of certain union employees as a result of the negotiation of a new union
agreement, lower corporate operations expense associated with the reduction
of management's portion of its 401K match, lower professional fees and
corporate insurance costs, partially offset by an increase in legal fees.
Depreciation expense also decreased due to fully depreciated Internet
equipment. Partially offsetting the lower costs were increases in plant
specific expenses resulting from an increase in trunk line costs for the
telephone segment and salaries associated with the addition of employees in
the operations department. Customer operations increased due to salaries
associated with the addition of employees in the marketing and sales
departments and other plant non-specific expense increased as a result of
costs associated with the Company's wireless service as well as salaries
associated with the addition of employees in the network department.
The Company has a long history in successful deployments of new technology.
We were one of the first telephone companies to install digital switching,
to offer Internet access as an Internet Service Provider ("ISP"), and to
offer video service as an alternative to cable TV companies. We have
continued to invest in our operations to gain enhanced operating
efficiencies and to enable the introduction of new services to our
customers. The Company has continued to deploy capital to upgrade video
services and Voice over Internet Protocol to a greater number of our
customers.
Commenting on the second quarter results, Duane Albro, the President and
CEO, said, "We clearly recognize the benefit we gain from our interest in
the O-P wireless partnership and we are diligently working to bring our
primary telephone business to profitability. Our aggressive ramp up of
sales activities is resulting in increased customer contracts that will
drive our top-line revenue. We are also continuing our aggressive expense
control to improve our operating margin and enhance our competitiveness. We
are firmly committed to creating value for our shareholders by the
successful implementation of these initiatives. We also remain committed
to expansion of our Competitive Local Exchange Carrier activities through
either building or acquiring the capability. WVT Communications continues
to demonstrate that it is a great company with great customers and great
employees... with a solid plan for growth."
About WVT Communications
WVT Communications is a leading voice, Internet, video and wireless
provider servicing consumers and businesses in the lower Hudson Valley of
New York and New Jersey. Additional information about the Company is
available at
www.wvtc.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release forward-looking statements as defined be the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements
concerning expectations, estimates, and projections about the industry,
management beliefs and assumptions of Warwick Valley Telephone Company.
("Warwick," "we," "us," or "our"). Words such as "anticipates," "expects,"
"intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," and variations of
such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such
forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions
that are difficult to forecast. Therefore, our actual results may
materially differ from those expressed or forecasted in any such
forward-looking statements. When considering these risks, uncertainties
and assumptions, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements
elsewhere in this report and in any document incorporated herein by
reference. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time and we can
not predict those events or how they may affect us. For a more detailed
discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect Warwick's
operating and financial results and its ability to achieve its financial
objectives, interested parties should review the "Risk Factors" sections in
the Warwick's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2007. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
WARWICK VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
-------------------- --------------------
2008 2007 2008 2007
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating revenues:
Local network service $ 758 $ 794 $ 1,507 $ 1,619
Network access service 1,722 2,066 3,635 4,015
Long distance services 745 825 1,567 1,735
Directory advertising 317 331 642 669
Online services 1,342 1,440 2,682 2,915
Other services and sales 493 422 988 816
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating revenues 5,377 5,878 11,021 11,769
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating expenses:
Plant specific 1,262 871 2,576 2,057
Plant non-specific:
Depreciation and
amortization 1,067 1,294 2,426 2,588
Other 820 746 1,583 1,447
Customer operations 1,051 895 2,181 1,947
Corporate operations 1,263 1,587 2,561 3,137
Cost of services and sales 279 294 540 685
Property, revenue and payroll
taxes 397 347 746 764
Postretirement liability
curtailment (gains) (469) - (469) -
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses 5,670 6,034 12,144 12,625
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating loss (293) (156) (1,123) (856)
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense),
net of capitalized interest 192 (92) 105 (126)
Income from equity method
investments 2,574 2,265 4,721 4,135
Other income (expense), net 10 28 (39) 10
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total other income (expense) 2,776 2,201 4,787 4,019
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before income taxes 2,483 2,045 3,664 3,163
Income taxes 865 695 1,286 1,087
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income 1,618 1,350 2,378 2,076
Preferred dividends 7 7 13 13
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income applicable to common
stock $ 1,611 $ 1,343 $ 2,365 $ 2,063
========= ========= ========= =========
Basic and diluted earnings
per share of outstanding
common stock $ 0.30 $ 0.25 $ 0.44 $ 0.39
========= ========= ========= =========
Weighted average shares of
common stock outstanding 5,351,780 5,351,780 5,351,780 5,351,780
========= ========= ========= =========
WARWICK VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands except share and per share amounts)
June 30, December 31,
2008 2007
------------ ------------
(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,735 $ 5,849
Accounts receivable - net of allowance
for uncollectibles - $187 and $214, in
2008 and 2007, respectively 2,474 3,067
Other accounts receivable 163 152
Materials and supplies 1,534 1,591
Prepaid expenses 809 769
Deferred income taxes 105 119
------------ ------------
Total current assets 10,820 11,547
------------ ------------
Property, plant and equipment, net 35,354 35,791
Unamortized debt issuance costs 58 65
Other deferred charges 746 762
Investments 8,700 8,276
Other assets 210 210
------------ ------------
Total assets $ 55,888 $ 56,651
============ ============
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 1,147 $ 940
Current maturities of long-term debt 1,519 1,519
Advance billing and payments 266 234
Customer deposits 104 116
Accrued taxes 682 80
Pension and post retirement benefit
obligations 929 929
Other accrued expenses 1,425 1,830
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 6,072 5,648
------------ ------------
Long-term debt, net of current
maturities 4,936 5,695
Deferred income taxes 3,741 3,334
Long term income taxes payable - 640
Other liabilities and deferred credits 591 591
Pension and post retirement benefit
obligations 3,879 4,324
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 19,219 20,232
------------ ------------
Shareholders' equity
Preferred shares - $100 par value;
authorized and issued shares of 5,000;
$0.01 par value authorized and
unissued shares of 10,000,000; 500 500
Common stock - $0.01 par value;
authorized shares of 10,000,000
issued 5,985,463 shares 60 60
Treasury stock - at cost, 633,683
common shares (4,748) (4,748)
Additional paid in capital 3,487 3,487
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (849) (875)
Retained earnings 38,219 37,995
------------ ------------
Total shareholders' equity 36,669 36,419
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity $ 55,888 $ 56,651
============ ============
Contact Information: Contact:
WVT Communications
Kenneth H. Volz
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
845-986-8080