WARWICK, NY--(Marketwire - November 14, 2008) - Warwick Valley Telephone Company ("WVT
Communications") ("the Company") (
NASDAQ:
WWVY) announced today that its
financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30,
2008 showed an improvement in net income for both periods. The Company
increased its net income before extraordinary item by 10%, from $1,557 to
$1,708 in comparison to the
three-month period over the same period in 2007 and by 13% from $3,633 to
$4,086 for the nine-month period over the same period in 2007. The increase
for the three-month period was primarily attributable to an increase in
Universal Service Fund ("USF") revenue received. The increase for the
nine-month period was attributable primarily to an improvement in Orange
County-Poughkeepsie Limited Partnership ("O-P") income, 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 and
higher USF revenue. The Company has determined, in the third quarter of
2008, that it is no longer appropriate to continue the application of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 71 ("SFAS 71"), "Accounting
for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" for reporting its financial
results. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a non-cash extraordinary
loss of $73, net of a tax effect of $39, upon discontinuance of the
provisions of SFAS 71, as required by the provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard No. 101, "Regulated Enterprises - Accounting
for the Discontinuance of the Application of Financial Accounting Standard
Board Statement No. 71." As a result net income increased by 5%, from
$1,557 to $1,635 in comparison to the
three-month period over the same period in 2007 and by 11% from $3,633 to
$4,013 for the nine-month period over the same period in 2007.
Operating revenues increased 2% from $6,137 to $6,245 for the three months
ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in the prior year
and decreased 4% from $17,906 to $17,266 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in the prior year. The
increase for the three months was primarily attributable to additional USF
revenue received. The decrease for the nine months was due to the following
reductions: long distance revenues and Online service revenues decreased
due to access line losses attributable to competition and technology
substitution, partially offset by an increase in network access revenues
due to additional USF revenue and an increase in sales of customer business
telephone systems.
Operating expenses decreased 1% from $6,280 to $6,205 for the three months
ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the same period in the prior year
and decreased 3% from $18,905 to $18,349 for the nine months ended
September 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. Depreciation
expense also decreased due to some types of broadband equipment that were
fully depreciated in 2007. Partially offsetting these lower costs were
increases in sales force personnel and cost of services and products.
Commenting on the third quarter results, Duane Albro, the President and
CEO, said, "While our greatest challenge continues to be maintaining and
growing revenues in an increasing competitive Incumbent Local Exchange
Carrier environment, we are proud of our operating profit during the third
quarter. Our aggressive ramp up of Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
("CLEC") sales activities is resulting in increased customer contracts. Our
launch of DirecTV services as an alternate video service has been
successful and we are now reaching video customers that were heretofore not
served by us. Both of these initiatives 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 and remain committed to expansion of our CLEC activities
through either building or acquisition. 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 Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
-------------------- --------------------
2008 2007 2008 2007
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating revenues: $ 6,245 $ 6,137 $ 17,266 $ 17,906
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and products
(exclusive of depreciation
and amortization expense) 2,427 1,886 6,776 5,804
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 2,672 2,984 8,041 9,103
Depreciation and
amortization 1,106 1,410 3,532 3,998
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses 6,205 6,280 18,349 18,905
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income (loss) 40 (143) (1,083) (999)
Other income (expense):
Interest income (expense),
net of capitalized interest (71) (114) 34 (240)
Income from equity method
investments 2,663 2,626 7,384 6,761
Other income (expense), net (8) (28) (47) (18)
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Total other income (expense) 2,584 2,484 7,371 6,503
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before income taxes
and extraordinary item 2,624 2,341 6,288 5,504
Income taxes 916 784 2,202 1,871
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before extraordinary
item 1,708 1,557 4,086 3,633
Extraordinary item, net of
tax (73) - (73) -
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Net Income 1,635 1,557 4,013 3,633
Preferred dividends 6 6 19 19
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Income applicable to common
stock $ 1,629 $ 1,551 $ 3,994 $ 3,614
========= ========= ========= =========
Basic earnings per common share
Income before extraordinary
item $ 0.32 $ 0.29 $ 0.76 $ 0.68
Extraordinary item (0.01) - (0.01) -
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Basic earnings per share $ 0.31 $ 0.29 $ 0.75 $ 0.68
========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted earnings per common
share
Income before extraordinary
item $ 0.32 $ 0.29 $ 0.76 $ 0.68
Extraordinary item (0.01) - (0.01) -
--------- --------- --------- ---------
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.31 $ 0.29 $ 0.75 $ 0.68
========= ========= ========= =========
Weighted average shares of
common stock used to
calculate earnings per share
Basic 5,351,780 5,351,780 5,351,780 5,351,780
========= ========= ========= =========
Diluted 5,357,816 5,351,780 5,353,792 5,351,780
========= ========= ========= =========
Dividends declared per common
share $ 0.20 $ 0.20 $ 0.60 $ 0.60
========= ========= ========= =========
WARWICK VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands except share and per share amounts)
September 30, December 31,
2008 2007
-------------- --------------
(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,574 $ 5,849
Accounts receivable - net of allowance
for uncollectibles - $207 and $214, in
2008 and 2007, respectively 2,557 3,067
Other accounts receivable 126 152
Materials and supplies 1,218 1,591
Prepaid expenses 840 769
Deferred income taxes 98 119
-------------- --------------
Total current assets 10,413 11,547
-------------- --------------
Property, plant and equipment, net 35,247 35,791
Unamortized debt issuance costs 55 65
Other deferred charges - 762
Investments 8,607 8,276
Other assets 210 210
-------------- --------------
Total assets $ 54,532 $ 56,651
============== ==============
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 771 $ 940
Current maturities of long-term debt 1,519 1,519
Advance billing and payments 243 234
Customer deposits 101 116
Accrued taxes 315 80
Pension and postretirement benefit
obligations 615 929
Other accrued expenses 1,530 1,830
-------------- --------------
Total current liabilities 5,094 5,648
-------------- --------------
Long-term debt, net of current
maturities 4,556 5,695
Deferred income taxes 3,702 3,334
Long term income taxes payable - 640
Other liabilities and deferred credits 40 591
Pension and postretirement benefit
obligations 3,891 4,324
-------------- --------------
Total liabilities 17,283 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 3,495 3,487
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (836) (875)
Retained earnings 38,778 37,995
-------------- --------------
Total shareholders' equity 37,249 36,419
-------------- --------------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity $ 54,532 $ 56,651
============== ==============
Contact Information: Contact:
WVT Communications
Kenneth H. Volz
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
845-986-8080