Richard Davies wrote: The UK has a good crop of technology pioneers in cloud computing - for example ElasticHosts, FlexiScale, Flexiant, OnApp - and also some strong government initiatives such as G-Cloud.
We will have to see whether this kind of technical leadership converts into swift mass-market adoption or not.
West Corporation, a leading provider of technology-driven,
voice-oriented solutions, today announced its fourth quarter and full
year 2009 results.
Financial Summary (unaudited)
(Dollars in millions)
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2009
2008
Percent
2009
2008
Percent
Change
Change
Revenue
$
602.9
$
571.7
5.4
%
$
2,375.7
$
2,247.4
5.7
%
Adjusted EBITDA(1) See
Reconciliation of Financial
Measures below.
$
164.6
$
177.6
-7.3
%
$
647.9
$
633.6
2.3
%
Adjusted
EBITDA Margin
27.3
%
31.1
%
27.3
%
28.2
%
Cash Flow from
Operations
$
72.1
$
126.8
-43.1
%
$
272.9
$
287.4
-5.0
%
1 See Reconciliation of Financial Measures below.
Consolidated Operating Results
For the fourth quarter of 2009, revenue was $602.9 million compared to
$571.7 million for the same quarter last year, an increase of 5.4
percent. Revenue from an acquired entity1 was $8.6 million
during the fourth quarter of 2009.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, revenue was $2,375.7 million
compared to $2,247.4 million for 2008, an increase of 5.7 percent.
Revenue from automated services increased 16 percent in 2009 while
revenue from agent-based services decreased nine percent.
Cash flow from operations was $72.1 million for the fourth quarter of
2009, a decrease of 43.1 percent over the same period in 2008. This
decrease was due to the timing of the year-end payroll cycle and
interest payment dates. For the year 2009, cash flow from operations was
$272.9 million, 5.0 percent lower than that in 2008.
Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $164.6 million, or
27.3 percent of revenue, compared to $177.6 million, or 31.1 percent of
revenue, for the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year 2009, Adjusted
EBITDA was $647.9 million, or 27.3 percent of revenue. A reconciliation
of Adjusted EBITDA to cash flow from operating activities is presented
below.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
At December 31, 2009, West Corporation had cash and cash equivalents
totaling $59.1 million and working capital of $175.0 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company invested $27.3 million in
capital expenditures primarily for software, equipment, information
technology systems and data centers.
Acquisition
The Company also announced that it acquired the assets of Stream57, LLC
(“Stream57”), a leading provider of fully customizable web event and
streaming media solutions and services, on December 31, 2009 for $28.2
million. Stream57's cutting-edge webcast and rich media software suite
brings a new level of interactivity to online video presentations and
e-learning. The business was founded in 2001 and has provided software
and services for rich media delivery, webcasting and e-learning
solutions for a wide range of distinguished clients, including several
Fortune 1000 corporations, charities, B2B publishers, higher education
institutions and health care organizations. Stream57 will be integrated
with InterCall to expand its offerings in the event services market.
2010 Guidance
For 2010, the Company expects the following results. This guidance
includes the results of Stream57 but assumes no additional acquisitions
or changes in the current operating environment or exchange rates.
In millions
2009 Actual
2010 Guidance
Revenue
$
2,375.7
$2.42B - $2.50B
Adjusted EBITDA
$
647.9
$
675 - $705
Cash Flow from Operations
$
272.9
$
295 - $325
Capital Expenditures
$
122.7
$
110 - $130
Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these topics on
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time (10:00 AM Central
Time). Investors may access the call by visiting the Financials section
of the West Corporation website at www.west.com
and clicking on the Webcast link. A replay of the call will be available
on the Company’s website at www.west.com.
About West Corporation
West Corporation is a leading provider of technology-driven,
voice-oriented solutions. West offers its clients a broad range of
communications and infrastructure management solutions that help them
manage or support critical communications. West’s customer contact
solutions and conferencing services are designed to improve its clients’
cost structure and provide reliable, high-quality services. West also
provides mission-critical services, such as public safety and emergency
communications.
Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, West serves
Fortune 1000 companies and other clients in a variety of industries,
including telecommunications, banking, retail, financial, technology and
healthcare. West has sales and operations in the United States, Canada,
Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America. For more
information on West Corporation, please call 1-800-841-9000 or visit www.west.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may,"
"should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates,"
"predicts," "intends," "continue" or similar terminology. These
statements reflect only West's current expectations and are not
guarantees of future performance or results. These statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to, the effects of global economic trends on the businesses of West’s
clients; competition in West’s highly competitive industries; West’s
ability to keep pace with its clients’ needs for rapid technological
change and systems availability; the loss, financial difficulties or
bankruptcy of any key clients; the non-exclusive nature of West’s client
contracts and the absence of revenue commitments; increases in the cost
of voice and data services or significant interruptions in these
services; the cost of pending and future litigation; extensive
regulation affecting many of West’s businesses; security and privacy
breaches of the systems West uses to protect personal data; West’s
ability to protect its proprietary information or technology; the cost
of defending West against intellectual property infringement claims;
service interruptions to West’s data and operation centers; West’s
ability to retain key personnel and attract a sufficient number of
qualified employees; increases in labor costs and turnover rates; the
political, economic and other conditions in the countries where West
operates; changes in foreign exchange rates; West’s ability to complete
future acquisitions and integrate or achieve the objectives of its
recent and future acquisitions; West’s ability to recover charged-off
consumer receivables and decreases in collections in its receivables
management business. In addition, West is subject to risks related to
its level of indebtedness. Such risks include West’s ability to generate
sufficient cash to service its indebtedness and fund its other liquidity
needs; West’s ability to comply with covenants contained in its debt
instruments; the incurrence of significant additional indebtedness by
West and its subsidiaries and the ability of West’s lenders to fulfill
their lending commitments. West is also subject to other risk factors
described in documents filed by the company with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the
statements were made. West undertakes no obligation to update or revise
publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required
by applicable law.
2 Revenue from an acquired entity includes Positron revenue
through November 21, 2009 in the Communication Services segment.
WEST CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in thousands except selected operating data)
Three Months Ended December 31,
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
2009
2008
% Change
2009
2008
% Change
Revenue
$
602,870
$
571,718
5.4
%
$
2,375,748
$
2,247,434
5.7
%
Cost of services
268,889
258,839
3.9
%
1,067,777
1,015,028
5.2
%
Selling, general and administrative expenses
226,583
223,632
1.3
%
907,358
881,586
2.9
%
Operating income
107,398
89,247
20.3
%
400,613
350,820
14.2
%
Interest expense
60,261
95,095
-36.6
%
254,103
313,019
-18.8
%
Other expense (income), net
361
8,323
-95.7
%
(1,326
)
8,621
-115.4
%
Income (loss) before tax
46,776
(14,171
)
430.1
%
147,836
29,180
406.6
%
Income tax
19,502
(5,610
)
447.6
%
56,862
11,731
384.7
%
Net income (loss)
27,274
(8,561
)
418.6
%
90,974
17,449
421.4
%
Less net income (loss) - Noncontrolling interest
-
197
NM
2,745
(2,058
)
233.4
%
Net income (loss) - West Corporation
$
27,274
$
(8,758
)
411.4
%
$
88,229
$
19,507
352.3
%
SELECTED SEGMENT DATA:
Revenue:
Unified Communications
$
281,156
$
266,833
5.4
%
$
1,126,544
$
995,161
13.2
%
Communication Services
322,937
306,485
5.4
%
1,254,547
1,258,182
-0.3
%
Intersegment eliminations
(1,223
)
(1,600
)
23.6
%
(5,343
)
(5,909
)
9.6
%
Total
$
602,870
$
571,718
5.4
%
$
2,375,748
$
2,247,434
5.7
%
Depreciation & Amortization:
Unified Communications
$
22,966
$
22,869
0.4
%
$
91,491
$
88,948
2.9
%
Communication Services
24,113
25,417
-5.1
%
96,856
94,540
2.4
%
Total
$
47,079
$
48,286
-2.5
%
$
188,347
$
183,488
2.6
%
Operating Income:
Unified Communications
$
67,971
$
77,983
-12.8
%
$
296,096
$
256,853
15.3
%
Communication Services
39,427
11,264
250.0
%
104,517
93,967
11.2
%
Total
$
107,398
$
89,247
20.3
%
$
400,613
$
350,820
14.2
%
Operating Margin:
Unified Communications
24.2
%
29.2
%
-17.1
%
26.3
%
25.8
%
1.9
%
Communication Services
12.2
%
3.7
%
229.7
%
8.3
%
7.5
%
10.7
%
Total
17.8
%
15.6
%
14.1
%
16.9
%
15.6
%
8.3
%
SELECTED OPERATING DATA ($M):
Cash flow from operations
72.1
126.8
272.9
287.4
Term loan facility
2,460.2
2,485.5
Revolving credit facility
72.9
272.2
Senior and senior subordinated notes
1,100.0
1,100.0
Purchases of receivables portfolios
-
5.4
1.7
45.4
Revenue from automated services ($M) (3)
389.6
355.9
9.5
%
1,523.6
1,312.8
16.1
%
Revenue from agent-based services ($M)
213.3
215.8
-1.2
%
852.1
934.6
-8.8
%
Condensed Balance Sheets
Dec. 31,
Dec. 31,
%
2009
2008
Change
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
59,068
$
168,340
-64.9
%
Trust and restricted cash
14,750
9,130
61.6
%
Accounts receivable, net
353,622
359,021
-1.5
%
Portfolio receivables, current
7,973
64,204
-87.6
%
Deferred income taxes receivable
35,356
52,647
-32.8
%
Other current assets
72,847
85,706
-15.0
%
Total current assets
543,616
739,048
-26.4
%
Net property and equipment
333,267
320,152
4.1
%
Portfolio receivables, net
5,766
68,542
-91.6
%
Goodwill
1,665,569
1,642,857
1.4
%
Other assets
497,044
544,190
-8.7
%
Total assets
$
3,045,262
$
3,314,789
-8.1
%
Current liabilities
$
368,609
$
527,638
-30.1
%
Long-term obligations
3,607,873
3,843,536
-6.1
%
Other liabilities
161,524
146,203
10.5
%
Total liabilities
4,138,006
4,517,377
-8.4
%
Class L common stock
1,332,721
1,158,159
15.1
%
Stockholders' deficit
(2,425,465
)
(2,360,747
)
-2.7
%
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
$
3,045,262
$
3,314,789
-8.1
%
3 Automated services includes Unified Communications, Intrado
and West Interactive
Reconciliation of Financial Measures
The common definition of EBITDA is "Earnings Before Interest Expense,
Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization." In evaluating liquidity, we use
earnings before interest expense, share based compensation, taxes,
depreciation and amortization, minority interest, non-recurring
litigation settlement costs, other non-cash reserves, transaction costs
and after acquisition synergies and excluding unrestricted subsidiaries,
or “Adjusted EBITDA.” EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of
financial performance or liquidity under generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"). EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered
in isolation or as a substitute for net income, cash flow from
operations or other income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with
GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to similarly
titled measures of other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is presented as we
understand certain investors use it as one measure of our historical
ability to service debt. Adjusted EBITDA is also used in our debt
covenants, although the precise adjustments used to calculate Adjusted
EBITDA included in our credit facility and indentures vary in certain
respects among such agreements and from those presented below. Set forth
below is a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to cash flow
from operations.