ROANOKE, Va., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Optical Cable
Corporation (Nasdaq GM: OCCF) ("OCC") today announced financial
results for its fiscal first quarter ended January 31, 2010.
First Quarter 2010 Financial Results
OCC reported improved results of operations during the first
quarter of fiscal year 2010, when compared to the same period last
year. The Company recorded a net loss attributable to OCC of
$316,000, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, for the first
quarter of fiscal year 2010, compared to a net loss of $742,000, or $0.12
per basic and diluted share, for the same period last year.
The improvement in results is attributable to gross profit
margin improvement and cost reduction initiatives started last
year, partially offset by costs associated with adding military and
harsh environment connectivity products to OCC's product offering
following the Company's acquisition of Applied Optical Systems,
Inc. ("AOS") on October 31, 2009.
Excluding the impact of the AOS acquisition, the Company
believes it would have recorded net income before taxes in the
first quarter of fiscal year 2010. Additionally, during the
first quarter of fiscal year 2010, OCC recorded a loss before
income taxes of $364,000 associated
with a business in which OCC acquired a controlling interest on
August 1, 2008.
OCC's consolidated net sales for each of the first quarters of
fiscal years 2010 and 2009 were approximately $15.0 million. Net sales increased in the
Company's specialty markets (partially as a result of the
acquisition of AOS) during the first quarter of fiscal year 2010
compared to the same period last year, but this increase was offset
by decreases in net sales in the Company's commercial markets.
Gross profit increased 14.9% to $5.5
million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, compared to
$4.8 million in the first quarter of
fiscal 2009. Gross profit margin for the first quarter of
fiscal 2010 increased to 36.7% compared to 32.0% for the same
period last year, due to improved gross profit margins on fiber
optic cable products.
Management's Comments
Neil Wilkin, President and Chief
Executive Officer of OCC, said "Our improving results of operations
reflect our efforts to reduce costs and achieve profitable growth.
We are pleased that we maintained our strong balance sheet in
the first quarter while delivering positive EBITDA (earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)."
"While we continue to expect challenging financial conditions
through the first half of 2010, OCC is in an enviable position in
our industry. We have taken steps to grow our business
organically and through acquisitions -- and now OCC provides the
comprehensive suite of products needed by our customers. We
are confident that OCC is well-positioned for further growth and
shareholder value creation as the economy improves," stated Mr.
Wilkin.
Company Information
Optical Cable Corporation is a leading manufacturer of a broad
range of fiber optic and copper data communications cabling and
connectivity solutions primarily for the enterprise market,
offering an integrated suite of high quality, warranted products
which operate as a system solution or seamlessly integrate with
other providers' offerings. OCC's product offerings include
designs for uses ranging from commercial, enterprise network,
datacenter, residential and campus installations to customized
products for specialty applications and harsh environments,
including military, industrial, mining and broadcast applications.
OCC products include fiber optic and copper cabling, fiber
optic and copper connectors, specialty fiber optic and copper
connectors, fiber optic and copper patch cords, pre-terminated
fiber optic and copper cable assemblies, racks, cabinets, datacom
enclosures, patch panels, face plates, multi-media boxes and other
cable and connectivity management accessories, and are designed to
meet the most demanding needs of end-users, delivering a high
degree of reliability and outstanding performance
characteristics.
OCC is internationally recognized for pioneering the design and
production of fiber optic cables for the most demanding military
field applications, as well as of fiber optic cables suitable for
both indoor and outdoor use, and creating a broad product offering
built on the evolution of these fundamental technologies. OCC
also is internationally recognized for its role in establishing
copper connectivity data communications standards, through its
innovative and patented technologies.
Founded in 1983, OCC is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices, manufacturing
and warehouse facilities located in each of Roanoke, Virginia, near Asheville, North Carolina and near
Dallas, Texas. OCC primarily
manufactures its high quality fiber optic cables at its
Roanoke facility which is ISO
9001:2008 registered and MIL-STD-790F certified, its high quality
enterprise connectivity products at its Asheville facility which is ISO 9001:2008
registered, and its high quality military and harsh environment
connectivity products and systems at its Dallas facility which is MIL-STD-790F
certified.
Optical Cable Corporation, OCC, Superior Modular Products, SMP
Data Communications, Applied Optical Systems, and associated logos
are trademarks of Optical Cable Corporation.
Further information about OCC is available on the Internet at
www.occfiber.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release by Optical Cable Corporation and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company" or "OCC") may contain
certain forward-looking information within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may
include, among other information, (i) statements concerning the
Company's outlook for the future, (ii) statements of belief,
anticipation or expectation, (iii) future plans, strategies or
anticipated events, and (iv) similar information and statements
concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such
forwardlooking information is subject to variables, uncertainties,
contingencies and risks that may cause actual events to differ
materially from the Company's expectations. Additionally,
such variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks may
adversely affect the Company and the Company's future results of
operation and future financial condition. Factors that could
cause or contribute to such differences from the Company's
expectations or could adversely affect the Company, include, but
are not limited to: the level of sales to key customers, including
distributors; timing of certain projects and purchases by key
customers; the economic conditions affecting network service
providers; corporate and/or government spending on information
technology; actions by competitors; fluctuations in the price of
raw materials (including optical fiber, copper, gold and other
precious metals, and plastics and other materials affected by
petroleum product pricing); fluctuations in transportation costs;
the Company's dependence on customized equipment for the
manufacture of its products and a limited number of production
facilities; the Company's ability to protect its proprietary
manufacturing technology; the Company's ability to replace royalty
income as existing patented and licensed products expire by
developing and licensing new products; market conditions
influencing prices or pricing; the Company's dependence on a
limited number of suppliers; the loss of or conflict with one or
more key suppliers or customers; an adverse outcome in litigation,
claims and other actions, and potential litigation, claims and
other actions against the Company; an adverse outcome in regulatory
reviews and audits and potential regulatory reviews and audits;
adverse changes in state tax laws and/or positions taken by state
taxing authorities affecting the Company; technological changes and
introductions of new competing products; changes in end-user
preferences for competing technologies, relative to the Company's
product offering; economic conditions that affect the
telecommunications sector, certain technology sectors or the
economy as a whole; changes in demand of our products from certain
competitors for which we provide private label connectivity
products; terrorist attacks or acts of war, and any current
or potential future military conflicts; changes in the level of
military spending by the United
States government; ability to retain key personnel;
inability to recruit needed personnel; poor labor relations; the
inability to successfully integrate the operations of the Company's
new subsidiaries; the impact of changes in accounting policies,
including those by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; the Company's ability to
continue to successfully comply with, and the cost of compliance
with, the provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 or any revisions to that act which apply to the Company; the
impact of changes and potential changes in federal laws and
regulations adversely affecting our business and/or which result in
increases in our direct and indirect costs as we comply with such
laws and regulations; impact of future consolidation among
competitors and/or among customers adversely affecting the
Company's position with its customers and/or its market position;
actions by customers adversely affecting the Company in reaction to
the expansion of its product offering in any manner, including, but
not limited to, by offering products that compete with its
customers, and/or by entering into alliances with, making
investments in or with, and/or acquiring parties that compete with
and/or have conflicts with customers of the Company; adverse
reactions by customers, vendors or other service providers to
unsolicited proposals regarding the management of the Company, and
the additional costs of considering and possibly defending the
Company's position on such unsolicited proposals; impact of weather
or natural disasters in the areas of the world in which the Company
operates and markets its products; the Company's ability to secure
financing to fund working capital needs; economic downturns and/or
changes in market demand, exchange rates, productivity, or market
and economic conditions in the areas of the world in which the
Company operates and markets its products, and the Company's
success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing. The
Company cautions readers that the foregoing list of important
factors is not exclusive and the Company incorporates by reference
those factors included in current reports on Form 8K, in the annual
report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009,
and/or in the Company's other filings.
(Financial Tables Follow)
OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
-----------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended
January 31,
-----------------------
2010 2009
--------- ---------
Net sales $ 15,007 $ 14,958
Cost of goods sold 9,506 10,170
--------- ---------
Gross profit 5,501 4,788
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 6,049 5,810
Royalty income, net (246) (162)
Amortization of intangible assets 147 210
--------- ---------
Loss from operations (449) (1,070)
Interest expense, net (145) (166)
Other, net (7) 24
--------- ---------
Other expense, net (152) (142)
--------- ---------
Loss before income taxes (601) (1,212)
Income tax benefit (222) (470)
--------- ---------
Net loss $ (379) $ (742)
Net loss attributable to
noncontrolling interest (63) —
--------- ---------
Net loss attributable to OCC $ (316) $ (742)
========== ==========
Net loss attributable to OCC per share:
Basic and diluted $ (0.05) $ (0.12)
========== ==========
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted 5,860 6,131
========== ==========
OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
(thousands)
(unaudited)
-------------------------------------------
January 31, October 31,
2010 2009
----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,121 $ 1,948
Trade accounts receivable, net 8,805 9,533
Inventories 13,626 12,306
Other current assets 4,925 3,915
----------- -----------
Total current assets 28,477 27,702
Non-current assets 22,067 22,625
----------- -----------
Total assets $ 50,544 $ 50,327
=========== ===========
Current liabilities $ 7,564 $ 7,632
Non-current liabilities 9,906 9,438
----------- -----------
Total liabilities 17,470 17,070
Total shareholders' equity
attributable to OCC 33,137 33,257
Noncontrolling interest (63) —
----------- -----------
Total shareholders' equity 33,074 33,257
----------- -----------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $ 50,544 $ 50,327
=========== ===========
AT THE
COMPANY:
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Neil
Wilkin
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Tracy
Smith
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President &
CEO
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Senior Vice President
& CFO
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(540)
265-069
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(540)
265-0690
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investorrelations@occfiber.com
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investorrelations@occfiber.com
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AT JOELE FRANK,
WILKINSON BRIMMER KATCHER:
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Andrew
Siegel
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Aaron
Palash
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(212) 355-4449 ext.
127
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(212) 355-4449 ext.
103
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asiegel@joelefrank.com
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apalash@joelefrank.com
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SOURCE Optical Cable Corporation