-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, TvUl5Ax3DCpdEfDcXB7wrmRkHVTXwYLVU4D3d5FUfknRjtxV3IE///ZfL+3+Awzb rwBvF9+29HNi022v84fbUw== 0000854727-01-500007.txt : 20010522 0000854727-01-500007.hdr.sgml : 20010522 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000854727-01-500007 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20010331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20010515 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000854727 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: 4813 IRS NUMBER: 232565087 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-24064 FILM NUMBER: 1639218 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 202 EAST FIRST ST CITY: BIRDSBORO STATE: PA ZIP: 19508 BUSINESS PHONE: 6105826226 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 202 EAST FIRST STREET STREET 2: 202 EAST FIRST STREET CITY: BIRDSBORO STATE: PA ZIP: 19508 10-Q 1 cei10q.htm CEI 2001 10Q

FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13
OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

For quarter ended March 31, 2001
Commission File Number 0-24064

CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

PENNSYLVANIA
(State of Incorporation)

23-2565087
(IRS Employer Number)

202 East First Street, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania 19508
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (610) 582-8711

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

As of March 31, 2001, the outstanding number of shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00, was 7,879,435.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ( UNAUDITED ) 
March 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000

(In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)       
ASSETS   
  March 31   December 31
  2001   2000
Current Assets    
   Cash and Cash Equivalents $2,043   $5,529
   Accounts receivable, including unbilled      
   revenue 11,054   10,212
   Inventories, at average cost 2,926   2,391
   Prepaid taxes 229   0
   Prepaid expenses 2,182   2,242
      Total Current Assets 18,434   20,374
       
Investments and Other Assets      
   Assets held for sale 9,969   9,849
   Cost in Excess of Net Assets of Businesses Acquired 43,132   43,477
   Investments in partnerships     51
   Investments in equity securities 491   491
   Prepaid Pension Costs 3,108   3,053
   Other 2,008   1,883
  58,708   58,804
Plant      
   In Service 196,654   191,463
       
   Under Construction 9,669   10,148
  206,323   201,611
   Less accumulated depreciation 101,722   98,419
  104,601   103,192
       
      Total Assets $181,743   $182,370
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
       
SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      
       
       
       
       
CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC.   
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ( UNAUDITED )
March 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000 

( In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)   
       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY      
  March 31   December 31
  2001   2000
Current Liabilities   
   Current maturities of long term debt $5,455   $4,705
   Current liability under capital lease 66   65
   Notes payable 0   0
   Accounts payable 6,830   6,132
   Accrued:      
      Taxes 0   895
      Payroll & Vacation Pay 1,075   1,007
      Other 4,696   4,394
       
         Total Current Liabilities 18,122   17,198
       
Long Term Liabilities   
   Long term debt, less current maturities 67,545   68,545
   Liability under capital lease, less current maturities 2,777   2,794
   Accrued post retirement cost 1,065   1,123
   Other 1,410   1,270
  72,797   73,732
Deferred Income Taxes 9,779   9,794
       
Convertible\Redeemable Preferred Stock      
   Par value $65 per share; authorized 900,000 shares; issued and
    outstanding; 3/31/01 - 139,333  12/31/00 - 141,288
9,057    9,184 
       
   Common Stockholders' Equity      
   Common Stock par value $1 per share; authorized      
   200,000,000 shares; Issued 7,897,914 7,898   7,898
   Additional Paid-In Capital 44,053   44,123
   Retained earnings 20,140   20,820
   Net unrealized appreciation on      
   marketable equity securities 238   238
   Less cost of treasury stock; 3/31/01 18,479 shares and      
   12/31/00 33,427 shares (341)    (617) 
  71,988   72,462
       
         Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity 181,743   182,370
       
       
       

 

 

 

 

CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2001 and 2000

( In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)   

  THREE MONTHS ENDED
  2001   2000*
       
Operating Revenues:      
   Local Services $4,370   $3,390
   Long Distance and Access Services 12,201   12,096
   Wireless Services 1,335   704
   Equipment and Other 4,852   5,498
  22,758   21,688
       
Operating Expenses:      
   Cost of Operations 11,044   10,910
   Depreciation and Amortization 4,371   4,112
   Selling, General and Administrative 4,071   5,104
  19,486   20,126
       
         Operating Income 3,272   1,562
       
Other Income(Deductions), Net:      
   Interest Expense (1,314)   (1,029)
   Loss from unconsolidated      
   partnership interest (33)   (86)
   Gain on Sale of Securities 0   807
   Other, Net 53   126
  (1,294)   (182)
       
         Income Before Income Taxes 1,978   1,380
Income Taxes 1,004   999
               Net Income $974   $381
       
Basic earnings per common share $0.11   $0.03
Diluted earnings per common share $0.11   $0.03
Dividends per common share $0.21   $0.21
* Some 2000 amounts have been restated to conform to current years presentation.      
       

 

 

     
       

 

 

     
 

 

 

   
       

 

 

 

 

CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
 THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2001 and 2000

( In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)   

    2001 2000
Net Income  $974 $381
Unrealized gains on Securities     
Unrealized holding gains during period  (101)
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income  0  (531) 
Comprehensive Income $974 ($251)

CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED)

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2001 AND 2000
(in thousands)    
  2001 2000
Cash Flows from Operating Activities   
   Net cash provided by operating activities  $3,865 $3,447
      
Cash Flows From Investing Activities     
   Purchase of Plant, net of removal costs and salvage  (5,522) (4,390)
   Proceeds from sale of marketable equity securities  0 1,237
   Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated partnership interests  0 0
   Capital investments in unconsolidated partnershp interests  0 (324)
  
      Net cash used in investing activities  (5,522) (3,477)
   
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
   
   Proceeds from long-term borrowing  0 500
   Proceeds from short-term borrowing (net)  0 13,745
   Proceeds from capital lease financing  0 0
   Principal payments on long term borrowing  (250) (12,596)
   Principal payments on capital lease financing  (16) 0
   Proceeds from issuance of stock   29 29
   Proceeds from issuance of stock under the     
   dividend reinvestment plan  189 201
   Common stock dividends paid  (1,654) (1,641)
   Preferred stock redemption  (127) (85)
   Preferred stock dividends paid  0 (1)
   Purchase of common stock for the treasury  0 0
  
      Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  (1,829) 152
  
      Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (3,486) 122

Cash and cash equivalents
   
      Beginning  5,529 2,507
      Ending  $2,043 $2,629
       
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
     
Cash Payments for:   
Interest  $1,396 $979
Income Taxes  $592 $427

 

CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

   The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2001 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2001. The December 31, 2000 condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in Conestoga's 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

   The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of the 2000 revenues and expenses have been restated to conform to the current reporting period presentation.

NOTE 2: EARNINGS PER SHARE

   Per share data for the three months ended March 31, 2001 and 2000 are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding of 7,867,516 and 7,817,394 for 2001 and 2000 respectively. Net income available for the common shareholders was approximately $841,000 and $247,000 for 2001 and 2000 respectively. Net income available for common shareholders differs from net income on the consolidated statement of income by the amount of preferred stock dividends.

   The effect of convertible preferred stock and the effect of stock options outstanding were anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

NOTE 3: OPERATING SEGMENTS

   The Company's reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different services. They are managed separately because each business unit requires different technology and marketing strategies. The Company has three reportable segments: Telephone - traditional telephone service provided by Conestoga Telephone and Telegraph Company (CTT) and Buffalo Valley Telephone Company (BVT); Wireless paging and PCS communication services provided by Conestoga Wireless Company (CWC) and Conestoga Mobile Systems (CMS); and CLEC and full service inter-exchange long distance provided by Conestoga Networks, Inc. (CNI). The "Other" column primarily includes equipment sale and consulting services provided by Infocore, Inc.(INF), and corporate related items.

   The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of accounting policies. The Company evaluates performance based on profit or loss from operations before corporate allocations, interest, income taxes and non-recurring gains and losses. Transactions occurring between segments are recorded on the same basis as transactions with third parties.

   Segment information as of March 31, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

  Telephone Wireless CLEC
and
Long
Distance
Other Total
 

( in thousands )

Three months ended March 31, 2001:
Operating revenuesfrom external customers;
         
   Local Service $ 3,449 $ - $ 921 $ - $ 4,370
   Long distance and access service 8,026 $ - 4,175 $ - 12,201
   Wireless service $ - 1,335 $ - $ - 1,335
   Equipment and Other 1,958 295 562 2,037 4,852
  13,433 1,630 5,658 2,037 22,758
           
Inter-segment operating Revenues 668 19 71 0 758
   Operating profit (loss) 5,922 (2,100) (595) 45 3,272
   Total Assets 118,308 38,978 30,097 5,189 192,572
   Capital expenditures 2,897 1,670 915 40 5,522
   Depreciation and Amortization 2,781 1,102 439 49 4,371
           
           
Three months ended March 31, 2000:
Operating revenues from external customers;
         
   Local Service $ 3,099 $ - $ 291 $ - $ 3,390
   Long distance and access service 7,456 - 4,640 - 12,096
   Wireless service - 704 - - 704
   Equipment and Other 1,904 238 584 2,772 5,498
  12,459 942 5,515 2,772 21,688
           
Inter-segment operating Revenues 904 30 21 - 955
   Operating profit (loss) 4,651 (2,241) (635) (213) 1,562
   Total Assets 117,740 31,008 19,593 6,653 174,994
   Capital expenditures 2,053 1,884 359 94 4,390
   Depreciation and Amortization 2,621 919 294 278 4,112


Certain items in the schedule above need to be reconciled to the consolidated financial statements and are provided in the schedules below:

 

 

 

 

 

 


  Three Months Ended
  March 31
2001
March 31
2000
Revenues:    
  Total revenue for Reportable segments $ 21,479 $ 19,871
  Other Revenues 2,037 2,772
  Elimination of Intersegment revenues (758) (955)
Total consolidated revenues $ 22,758 $ 21,688
Total Assets:    
  Total assets forReportable segments $187,383 $ 168,341
  Other assets 5,189 6,653
  Elimination and adjustments (10,829) (7,061)
Total consolidated assets $181,743 $ 167,933
     

 

NOTE 4: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

   During 2000, the Company decided to sell its existing towers, leaseback space on the towers for its antennae and utilize the proceeds for capital expenditures. Accordingly, the book value of the towers, which are included in the Company's wireless segment, have been classified as assets held for sale.

   On April 26, 2001, the Company announced that it had entered into an Asset Acquisition Agreement, a Master Lease Agreement and a Build-to-Suit Agreement with Mountain Union Telecom, LLC for digital communication towers located throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania. The cash transaction is valued at approximately $21 million. Under the agreement Mountain Union will acquire 76 towers from Conestoga and build 20 additional towers for Conestoga over the next two years. Conestoga will lease back space on the towers purchased by Mountain Union under a ten-year license agreement, with rights to renew each license for two additional five-year terms.

   On April 27, 2001 the Company announced that it has engaged Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc. as its financial advisor to assist the Company in the exploration and evaluation of strategic alternatives. These alternatives include the potential sale or merger of the Company, spinning off or selling certain of the Company's properties, entering into other business combinations and/or remaining independent.

NOTE 5: OTHER

   Certain items of the March 31, 2000 consolidated financial statements have been restated to conform to the March 31, 2001 financial statements. There was no impact on net income.

   Inventories, at average cost, are both material and supplies used to provide service, and equipment held for resale.

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF THE QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENTS

Overview

   During the first quarter of 2001, the Company's net income was $974 thousand, $0.11 per common share, compared to $381 thousand, $0.03 per common share, in the first quarter of 2000, and $602 thousand, $0.06 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 2000.

   The Company's net income during the first three months of 2000 included an after tax gain totaling $532 thousand from the sale of investment securities. No such investment securities were sold during the first three months of 2001.

   The Company's net income for the first three months of 2000 also included $837 thousand in one time acquisition costs associated with the acquisition of TeleBeam.

   After normalizing the Company's net income for the first three months of 2000 for the two events mentioned above net income would have been $686.

   The Company's net income for the first three months of 2001 and 2000 were negatively impacted by the operating expenses of Conestoga Wireless Company's wireless telecommunications system, known as Personal Communications Service ("PCS"), and the operating expenses of the long distance and competitive local exchange services of CEI Networks, Inc. Both segments of the business have shown improvements during the first quarter 2001 when compared with the first quarter of 2000. The PCS revenue increased 73% during this period and the customer base increased 53%, with over 17 thousand customers as of March 31, 2001. The CLEC revenues increased 216% when comparing the two periods, and the customer base increased in excess of 8,000 lines with over 12,500 lines in service on March 31, 2001. Long distance revenues declined 10% during the first quarter 2001 mostly due to pricing competition and lower minutes of use.

   The access lines in service of the Company's local exchange carriers at the end of the first quarters of 2001 and 2000 were 83,750 and 80,006 respectively, an increase of 4.7% during the twelve month period.

   The Company's subscriber and access line data as of March 31, 2001 and December 31, 2000 is as follows:

  Mar. 31 Dec. 31
2001 2000 change
LEC Lines 83,750 82,844 +1%
CLEC Lines 12,593 10,928 +15%
PCS Subscribers 17,179 15,405 +12%
Long Distance Subscribers 37,666 36,754 +2%
Paging Lines 5,514 5,904 -7%
DSL Subscribers 743 567 +31%
Cable Modem Subscribers 381 350 +9%
Video Subscribers 2,690 2,561 +5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

REVENUES

Operating Revenues:
Increase/(Decrease)
(in thousands)
First Quarter Ended March 31, 2001 compared to March 31, 2000
   Local Service $ 980 28.9%
   Long Distance and Access Service 105 0.9%
   Wireless Service 631 89.6%
   Equipment and Other (646) (11.7%)
     
      Total $1,070 4.9%

 

   Operating revenues increased during the first three months of 2001 over the first three months of 2000 by $1.1 million or 4.9% due to substantial increases in local service revenues and wireless PCS revenues. Access revenues from the local exchange carriers increased primarily due to increased inter-lata settlements. The Company's long distance revenues declined mostly due to price competition and due to local exchange carrier's rate reduction in the second quarter of 2000. The increase in wireless revenues is directly related to the increase in subscribers from the first quarter of 2000. Equipment and other revenues are lower primarily due to completion of the installation of security monitoring systems for a major account during the first quarter of 2000.

Local Service

   Conestoga Telephone and Telegraph Company ("Conestoga Telephone") and Buffalo Valley Telephone Company ("Buffalo Valley Telephone"), the local telephone companies, and CEI Networks, the competitive local exchange company, contributed to the increase in local service revenue during the first quarter of 2001. The Company had a total of 96,343 access lines in service as of March 31, 2001, an increase of 2,571 lines during the first three months of 2001.

   The local service rates of Conestoga Telephone and Buffalo Valley Telephone increased during the second quarter of 2000 as a result of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's "Global Order". The competitive local exchange companies' revenue during the first quarter of 2001 was 216% greater than their revenue during the first quarter of 2000 primarily due to the increase in subscribers.

Long Distance and Access Service

   Long Distance and Access Service revenues are generated by Conestoga Telephone and Buffalo Valley Telephone, and CEI Networks. The access revenues of Conestoga Telephone and Buffalo Valley Telephone together increased during the first three months of 2001 mostly due to increased inter-lata settlements. Minutes of use were up slightly this quarter over the first quarter of 2000. As a result of the "Global Order" access rates and long distance were reduced in the second quarter of 2000.

   Intralata competition within Pennsylvania and the long distance rate decrease have caused long distance revenue of Conestoga Telephone, Buffalo Valley Telephone and CEI Networks to decline. During the first three months of 2001 the combined long distance revenues of Conestoga Telephone and Buffalo Valley Telephone declined 27.9%, or $266 thousand, and the long distance revenues of CEI Networks decreased 10.0%, or $465 thousand compared to the first three months of 2000.

Wireless Service

   Wireless Service revenue is generated by Conestoga Wireless Company's PCS service and Conestoga Mobile System's paging service. During the first quarter of 2001, Conestoga Wireless generated $1.220 million in PCS revenue, as compared with $663 thousand during the first quarter of 2000. As of March 31, 2001, Conestoga Wireless had 17,179 subscribers adding 1,774 during the first three months of 2001.

Equipment and Other

   Equipment and Other revenues include the sale and lease of communications equipment, including telephones, PBX equipment, pagers and PCS wireless telephones, by all of the subsidiaries. Billing and collection revenue and directory advertising revenue are also included as revenue of the telephone company subsidiaries. Together the local exchange carrier's equipment revenues were even for the first three months of 2001 compared with the first three months of 2000. Infocore's equipment sales decreased due to the completion of the security system installation in the first quarter of 2000, as mentioned above.

 

EXPENSES:

Operating Expenses
Increase (Decrease)
(in thousands)
First Quarter Ended March 31, 2001 compared to March 31, 2000
   Cost of Operations $ 134 1.2%
   Depreciation and Amortization 259 6.3%
   Selling, General and Administrative (1,033) (20.2%)
     
      Total $ (640) (3.2%)
     

 

   The 3.2% decrease in operating expenses during the first quarter of 2001 from the first quarter of 2000 was caused mostly by one-time acquisition costs associated with the TeleBeam acquisition booked during the first quarter of 2000. The telco operating expenses during the first quarter 2001 were 6.1% lower when compared with the first quarter of 2000, mostly in labor related charges. The wireless operating expenses during the first quarter 2001 increased 18.5% over the first quarter 2000, and CLEC and long distance operating expenses increased 2.3%.

Cost of Operations

   The increase in network operations and cost of sales expenses during the first three months of 2001 was caused in large part by the expansion of the Company's PCS, long distance and CLEC businesses. CEI Networks long distance cost of operations declined 6%, or $205 thousand, due to a decline in the rates charged by the long distance carriers that provide its long distance access. CEI Networks CLEC costs and Conestoga Wireless's PCS costs increased 56% and 25% respectively directly related to the expansion of the services. Infocore's equipment costs decreased 57%, or $578 thousand due to completion of the installation contract mentioned above. Conestoga Telephone's and Buffalo Valley Telephone's cost of operations increased by 12%.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

   Depreciation and amortization expenses include charges from all of the subsidiaries. The continued build-out of the wireless PCS and the CLEC infrastructures caused a large portion of the increase in depreciation and amortization expenses from the first quarter of 2001 to the first quarter of 2000. The increase in the depreciation and amortization expenses of the PCS and the CLEC infrastructures was $337 thousand, or 28%, between the two quarters. Comparing the same quarters, the local telephone companies' combined depreciation expense increased $160 thousand or 6%.

   These increases were offset by the completion of the amortization of the purchase price of the 1997 acquisition of Infocore during the second quarter of 2000.

Selling, General and Administrative

   The Company and all of its subsidiaries incur selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling expenses include customer care expenses along with advertising and marketing. General and administrative expenses include executive, accounting and finance, information technology expenses, and taxes other than income. When comparing the first quarter 2001 with the first quarter of 2000 the decrease is primarily due to costs associated with the acquisition of TeleBeam, Inc. as mentioned above, and reduction in Pa Capital stock tax rate in the second quarter of 2000.

   When comparing the first three months of 2001 with the first three months of 2000 the telephone companies selling general and administrative costs declined 28%, or $699 thousand mostly in labor related charges as the result of an allocation study for shared corporate services for sales and marketing, human resource and management information personnel. Conestoga Wireless's selling, general and administrative expenses increased only 2.7%, and CEI Networks were down 16%.

Operating Income Increase (Decrease)
(in thousands)
     
First Quarter Ended March 31, 2001 compared to March 31, 2000 $ 1,710 109.5%
     

   Operating income during the first three months of 2001 compared with the first three months of 2000 reflects improvement from all subsidiaries of the Company. The continued expansion of the Company's CLEC and PCS business produced negative operating results in both periods. The CLEC and long distance business recorded an operating loss of $595 thousand during the first three months of 2001 compared with an operating loss of $635 thousand in the first three months of 2000. The PCS business incurred an operating loss of $2.1 million this current period compared with an operating loss of $2.2 million for the same period of 2000. The first three months of 2000 included $837 thousand one-time costs associated with the TBI acquisition. Without those one-time charges operating income for the first three months of 2001 would have been 36% greater than the first three months of 2000.

   The telephone companies' operating income during the first quarter of 2001 increased $1.2 million, or 27.3%, from the first quarter of 2000.

Other Income (Deductions), Net

   The change in other income (deductions) was impacted by the sale of some of the Company's marketable securities held for investment during the first three months of 2000, and to the additional interest expense associated with the additional long-term debt. The sale of these securities resulted in a before tax gain of $806 thousand. The Company did not sell any investment securities during the first three months of 2001. Interest expense during the first quarter of 2001 was impacted by the receipt of patronage refund of $150 thousand associated with one of the debt obligations.

 

Income Taxes

   Income taxes incurred during the first quarter 2001 and the first quarter 2000 were about the same. The Company's effective tax rate (income tax expense as a percentage of income before income taxes) was 50.8% and 72.4% for the first three months of 2001 and 2000, respectively. The effective tax rate takes into consideration a valuation allowance on state net operating losses and the relationship of nondeductible goodwill amortization and merger costs to pretax income.

NET INCOME

Operating Income Increase (Decrease)
(in thousands)
     
First Quarter Ended March 31, 2001 compared to March 31, 2000 $ 593 155.6%
     

 

   First quarter 2001 net income was $974 thousand compared with $381 thousand for first quarter 2000. Net income for the first three months of both years include additional costs associated with the continued expansions of the PCS, long distance and CLEC businesses. Net income for the three months ending on March 31, 2000, includes a $532 thousand after tax gain on the sale of investment securities, and the one-time acquisition costs. Net Income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2001 not including those one-time transactions would have been $288 thousand or 42% greater than the first three months of 2000.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Liquidity and Capital Commitments
Three Months Ended March 31, 2001 2000
(in thousands)
Cash Flows From (Used In):
Operating activities $ 3,864 $ 3,447
Investing activities (5,522) (3,477)
Financing activities (1,829) 152

 

   The Company uses the net cash generated from its operations and from external financing to fund capital expenditures for network expansion and modernization, pay dividends, and invest in new businesses. The Company's sources of funds, primarily from operations and, to the extent necessary, from readily available external financing arrangements, are sufficient to meet ongoing operating and investing requirements. The Company's capital requirements for additional development activities during the year 2001 will require some additional funding. Accordingly, on April 25, 2001, the Company announced that it and Mountain Union Telecom LLP have entered into an Asset Acquisition Agreement, a Master License Agreement and a Build-to-Suit Agreement for digital communications towers located throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania. The cash transaction is valued at approximately $21 million, and is expected to close in the second quarter 2001.

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

   The Company's primary source of funds continues to be cash generated from operations. Taking into account net income plus various adjustments and depreciation and amortization, the cash flows from operating activities in the first quarter of 2001 were $3.8 million. Net income for accounting purposes is decreased by the amortization of the goodwill arising from the prior years acquisitions, and the higher depreciation expense arising from the capital investment in PCS and CLEC. Amortization and depreciation are non-cash expenses, and consequently a source of cash that the Company can use for the capital investments necessary to maintain and upgrade its network and build and develop PCS and its CLEC operations.

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities

   Capital expenditures are the Company's primary use of cash resources. The Company's capital expenditures during the first three months of 2001 included $2.9 million for the Company's local exchange operations, $1.7 million for the continued build-out of its PCS operations, and $915 thousand for the build-out of its CLEC operations. The Company's capital investments during the first three months of 2001 were $1.1 million greater than during the first three months of 2000. The investments are made to support the Company's businesses in order to facilitate the introduction of new products and services, enhance responsiveness to competitive challenges and increase the operating efficiency and productivity of its networks. Substantial amounts of additional capital will be needed for the remaining build-out of both the PCS and CLEC/LD networks. The budgeted capital requirements for 2001 for Conestoga Wireless and CEI Networks are $6.1 million and $7.9 million respectively. The capital required over the next several years to complete the current phases of the Conestoga Wireless and CEI Networks systems and to maintain state of the art telephone facilities could require additional funding from (1) internal sources, (2) long-term debt (the $50 million line of credit facility), or (3) the issuance of additional common stock or a combination of the three.

Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities

   As in prior years, dividend payments are a significant use of capital resources. In the first quarter of 2001 the Company paid common stock dividends totaling $1.654 million, or $0.21 per common share. During the first three months of 2001, 1,955 shares of preferred stock were redeemed for cash.

   During the first quarter of 2001, the Company paid $250 thousand on principal of long-term debt in accordance with its long-term debt obligations.

   The lines of credit available to the Company, in addition to the $50 million line mentioned above, now total $20 million. The Company did not borrow against its lines of credit during the first three months of 2001 accordingly there was no balance of short-term debt outstanding as of March 31, 2001.

Equity Investments

   The Company continues to invest in the future of the telecommunications industry through ownership of publicly traded stock of other telecommunication companies. Management views this investment as a source of future liquidity. During 2000 the Company sold a portion of its investment portfolio and will most likely sell the balance during this year. There was no sale of these securities during the first three months of 2001. The remaining portfolio had an estimated market value of $491 thousand on March 31, 2001.

   The Company's long-term debt obligations are unsecured, but impose certain financial covenants upon the company including, but not limited to, restrictions upon types of investments, the amount of dividends paid, and the incurrence of additional debt by the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company is currently in compliance with all loan covenants.

OTHER FACTORS:

PCS SERVICE:

   Conestoga Wireless holds licenses to provide wireless services known as Personal Communication Services ("PCS") in the C and D block radio spectrums. The Basic Trading Areas in which Conestoga Wireless holds licenses are Reading, Pottsville, Sunbury, Williamsport, and State College, covering ten counties in Pennsylvania.

   Conestoga Wireless is the provider of the Company's digital wireless telecommunications services. It began commercial operation in May 1998. By March 31, 2001 it had 127 base stations in service, covering more than 70% of the population in its service area. Conestoga Wireless plans to put an additional 24 base stations into service during 2001, to augment coverage in those markets. The capital required to add these additional base stations will be funded by the tower acquisition agreement with Mountain Union Telecom LLP entered into during the first quarter 2001. CWC has 8 retail locations.

 

 

Regulated Industry

   CTT and BVT are both regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). An amendment to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Act passed in 1993, provides for streamlined rate regulation and a method for determining rates other than the historic method of rate of return regulation for the state jurisdiction. This new regulation referred to as Chapter 30, provides a price stability mechanism in which a telephone company's annual revenues from non-competitive services may be permitted to change in line with the Gross Domestic Product Price Index, minus a productivity offset, with no limitation on earnings by the regulated company. In order for the Company to avail itself of the procedures permitted by Chapter 30, CTT and BVT must commit to providing universal broadband services by 2015. Both Companies filed Chapter 30 Plans in July 1998 and approval was received in January 2001. The interstate jurisdiction remains subject to rate of return regulation.

   The telecommunication industry continues to undergo fundamental changes, which may have a significant impact on financial performance. The Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, creates a regulatory environment that encourages competition. As rural companies, CTT and BVT are exempt from many of the most onerous aspects of competition unless prospective competitors can pass a public interest standard and agree to offer service throughout the telephone companies' territories. In addition, in March 1998 CTT and BVT received approval by the Pennsylvania PUC of a petition that has significantly strengthened the companies' competitive position relative to non-facilities based competition. However, facilities based competition is not precluded.

Forward-Looking Statements

   Information contained in this Management's Discussion and Analysis and elsewhere in this quarterly report with respect to expected financial results and future events and trends is forward-looking, based on our estimates and assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

   The following important factors could affect the future results of our company and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: (i) changes in economic and market conditions; (ii) effects of state and federal regulation; (iii) the impact of new technologies. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are applicable only as of the date hereof. We have no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE and QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISKS

   The Company does not invest funds in derivative financial instruments or other market risk sensitive instruments for any purpose. Furthermore, management believes that the market risk of its fixed-rate debt is immaterial to the Company's financial statement as a whole.

 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1
   
Legal Proceedings

          None

ITEM 2
   
Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

          None

ITEM 3
   
Default upon Senior Securities

          None

ITEM 4
   
SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

          None

ITEM 5
   
Other Information

          None

 

ITEM 6
   
EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

          None



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




CONESTOGA ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

 

 

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.

DATE May 15, 2001 \s\ Albert H Kramer
Albert H Kramer
President
   
DATE May 15, 2001 \s\ Donald R Breitenstein
Donald R Breitenstein Sr. Vice President/
Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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