form10q.htm




UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM 10-Q


(Mark One)
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

[  ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ________ to ________

 
Commission File Number 001-10613

 
DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Florida
 
59-1277135
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
11770 US Highway 1, Suite 101, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
 
33408
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

 
(561) 627-7171
 
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 

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 [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
Yes [ ] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer [ ]     Accelerated filer [X]      Non-accelerated filer [ ]      Smaller reporting company [ ]
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes [ ] No [X]

 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common stock
Outstanding shares February 26, 2010
Common stock, par value of $0.33 1/3
39,128,111






Dycom Industries, Inc.

Table of Contents
     
 
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Financial Statements
3
     
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
27
     
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
40
     
Controls and Procedures
40
     
 
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Legal Proceedings
41
     
Risk Factors
41
     
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
42
     
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
42
     
Exhibits
43
     
 
44
   EX-10.1    
   EX-10.2    
   EX-31.1
   
   EX-31.2
   
   EX-32.1
   
   EX-32.2
   


2




PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
             
Item 1.  Financial Statements
           
             
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
             
   
January 23,
   
July 25,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
ASSETS
           
CURRENT ASSETS:
           
Cash and equivalents
  $ 135,928     $ 104,707  
Accounts receivable, net
    90,786       116,968  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    42,855       67,111  
Deferred tax assets, net
    13,425       15,779  
Income taxes receivable
    9,122       7,016  
Inventories
    10,814       8,303  
Other current assets
    13,516       7,323  
     Total current assets
    316,446       327,207  
                 
Property and equipment, net
    142,559       142,132  
Goodwill
    157,851       157,851  
Intangible assets, net
    52,875       56,056  
Other
    10,078       10,211  
     Total non-current assets
    363,363       366,250  
     TOTAL
  $ 679,809     $ 693,457  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 23,980     $ 28,977  
Current portion of debt
    348       926  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    408       151  
Accrued insurance claims
    25,911       27,386  
Other accrued liabilities
    45,010       52,590  
     Total current liabilities
    95,657       110,030  
LONG-TERM DEBT
    135,350       135,377  
ACCRUED INSURANCE CLAIMS
    29,451       29,759  
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, net non-current
    23,581       22,910  
OTHER LIABILITIES
    4,752       4,758  
     Total liabilities
    288,791       302,834  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
               
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share:
               
       1,000,000 shares authorized: no shares issued and outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share:
               
       150,000,000 shares authorized: 39,125,701 and 38,998,513
               
       issued and outstanding, respectively
    13,042       12,999  
Additional paid-in capital
    172,863       172,112  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    112       69  
Retained earnings
    205,001       205,443  
     Total stockholders' equity
    391,018       390,623  
     TOTAL
  $ 679,809     $ 693,457  
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

3

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
   
For the Three Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
       
REVENUES:
           
Contract revenues
  $ 216,331     $ 245,522  
                 
EXPENSES:
               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    180,936       205,860  
General and administrative  (including stock-based compensation
               
  expense of $0.7 and $0.3 million, respectively)
    23,898       21,535  
Depreciation and amortization
    15,516       16,817  
Goodwill impairment charge
    -       94,429  
Total
    220,350       338,641  
                 
Interest income
    22       40  
Interest expense
    (3,541 )     (4,099 )
Other income, net
    903       1,832  
                 
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    (6,635 )     (95,346 )
                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES:
               
Current
    (3,722 )     (2,352 )
Deferred
    1,052       (15,041 )
Total
    (2,670 )     (17,393 )
                 
NET LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    (3,965 )     (77,953 )
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX
    -       -  
NET LOSS
  $ (3,965 )   $ (77,953 )
                 
LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC AND DILUTED:
               
                 
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (0.10 )   $ (1.98 )
Loss from discontinued operations
    -       -  
Net loss
  $ (0.10 )   $ (1.98 )
                 
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING LOSS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
Basic and Diluted
    39,069,364       39,379,470  
                 
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

4

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
       
REVENUES:
           
Contract revenues
  $ 475,447     $ 579,489  
                 
EXPENSES:
               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    390,908       474,506  
General and administrative  (including stock-based compensation
               
  expense of $1.7 and $1.9 million, respectively)
    47,401       49,074  
Depreciation and amortization
    30,707       33,429  
Goodwill impairment charge
    -       94,429  
Total
    469,016       651,438  
                 
Interest income
    58       174  
Interest expense
    (7,084 )     (8,151 )
Other income, net
    2,008       2,234  
                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    1,413       (77,692 )
                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES:
               
Current
    (573 )     1,753  
Deferred
    2,428       (12,077 )
Total
    1,855       (10,324 )
                 
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    (442 )     (67,368 )
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX
    -       (37 )
NET LOSS
  $ (442 )   $ (67,405 )
                 
LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC AND DILUTED:
               
                 
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (0.01 )   $ (1.71 )
Loss from discontinued operations
    -       -  
Net loss
  $ (0.01 )   $ (1.71 )
                 
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING LOSS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
Basic and Diluted
    39,029,822       39,350,611  
                 
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

5

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net loss
  $ (442 )   $ (67,405 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash inflow from
               
operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    30,707       33,429  
Bad debts expense (recovery), net
    (6 )     23  
Gain on sale of fixed assets, net
    (1,835 )     (1,520 )
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net
    -       (1,300 )
Write-off of deferred financing costs
    -       551  
Deferred income tax provision
    2,428       (12,077 )
Stock-based compensation
    1,676       1,877  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    523       472  
Goodwill impairment charge
    -       94,429  
Excess tax benefit from share-based awards
    (69 )     -  
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    24,843       31,252  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net
    24,513       36,072  
Other current assets and inventory
    (7,717 )     (6,165 )
Other assets
    (445 )     572  
Income taxes receivable
    (2,106 )     (4,902 )
Accounts payable
    (5,413 )     (7,141 )
Accrued liabilities and insurance claims
    (9,784 )     (22,957 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    56,873       75,210  
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Changes in restricted cash
    -       (233 )
Capital expenditures
    (27,275 )     (18,313 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    2,529       1,840  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (24,746 )     (16,706 )
                 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
    Proceeds from long-term debt
    -       30,000  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (722 )     (31,268 )
Purchase of senior subordinated notes
    -       (3,242 )
    Debt issuance costs
    -       (1,795 )
Restricted stock tax withholdings
    (269 )     (246 )
    Exercise of stock options and other
    16       16  
    Excess tax benefit from share based awards
    69       -  
Net cash used in financing activities
    (906 )     (6,535 )
                 
Net increase in cash and equivalents
    31,221       51,969  
                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    104,707       22,068  
                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ 135,928     $ 74,037  
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF OTHER CASH FLOW ACTIVITIES
               
AND NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
                 
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 6,518     $ 7,119  
Income taxes
  $ 5,752     $ 6,581  
Purchases of capital assets included in accounts payable or other accrued liabilities at period end
  $ 4,858     $ 1,221  
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

6


NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation – Dycom Industries, Inc. (“Dycom” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of specialty contracting services. These services are provided throughout the United States and include engineering, construction, maintenance and installation services to telecommunications providers, underground facility locating services to various utilities including telecommunications providers, and other construction and maintenance services to electric utilities and others. Additionally, Dycom provides services on a limited basis in Canada.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of Dycom and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned.  All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the financial information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of such statements.  The results of operations for the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year.  These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended July 25, 2009 included in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009.

Discontinued Operations – During fiscal 2007, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Apex Digital, LLC (“Apex”) notified its primary customer of its intention to cease performing installation services in accordance with its contractual rights. Effective December 2006, this customer, a satellite broadcast provider, transitioned its installation service requirements to others and Apex ceased providing these services. As a result, the Company discontinued the operations of Apex.  The results of Apex were not material in fiscal 2009 or 2010.

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. For the Company, key estimates include: recognition of revenue for costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, the fair value of goodwill and intangible assets, income taxes, accrued insurance claims, asset lives used in computing depreciation and amortization, allowance for doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation expense for performance-based stock awards, and accruals for contingencies, including legal matters. At the time they are made, the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial position and results of operations taken as a whole. However, actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

Restricted Cash — As of January 23, 2010 and July 25, 2009, the Company had approximately $4.9 million in restricted cash which is held as collateral in support of the Company’s insurance obligations.  Restricted cash is included in other current assets and other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and changes in restricted cash are reported in cash flows used in investing activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

Comprehensive Loss – During the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, the Company did not have any material changes in its equity resulting from non-owner sources.  Accordingly, comprehensive loss approximated the net loss amounts presented for the respective period’s operations.

Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plan – A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company participates in a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan that covers certain of its employees.  This subsidiary makes periodic contributions to the plan to meet its benefit obligations.  During the three months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, the subsidiary contributed approximately $1.4 million and $1.8 million to the plan, respectively.  During the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, the subsidiary contributed approximately $2.6 million and $3.0 million to the plan, respectively.


7


Fair Value of Financial Instruments — Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 825 requires certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, income taxes receivable and payable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and long-term debt. The carrying amounts of these instruments approximate their fair value due to the short maturity of these items, except for the Company’s 8.125% senior subordinated notes due October 2015 (the “Notes”). The Company determined that the fair value of the Notes at January 23, 2010 was $125.4 million based on quoted market prices compared to a carrying value of $135.35 million.

Segment Information — The Company operates in one reportable segment as a specialty contractor, providing engineering, construction, maintenance and installation services to telecommunications providers, underground facility locating services to various utilities including telecommunications providers, and other construction and maintenance services to electric utilities and others. All of the Company’s operating segments have been aggregated into one reporting segment due to their similar economic characteristics, products and production methods, and distribution methods. The Company’s services are provided by its various subsidiaries throughout the United States and, on a limited basis, in Canada. One of the Company’s operating segments earned revenues from contracts in Canada of approximately $1.9 million and $3.5 million during the three and six months ended January 23, 2010, respectively, and $0.8 million and $1.9 million during the three and six months ended January 24, 2009, respectively. The Company had no material long-lived assets in the Canadian operations at January 23, 2010 or July 25, 2009.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements – ASC Topic 860, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets”, eliminates the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity, creates more stringent conditions for reporting a transfer of a portion of a financial asset as a sale, clarifies other sale-accounting criteria, and changes the initial measurement of a transferor’s interest in transferred financial assets. This pronouncement is effective for the Company in fiscal 2011. The adoption of ASC Topic 860 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

ASC Topic 810, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation: Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”, requires an analysis to determine whether a variable interest gives an enterprise a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity.  This pronouncement requires an ongoing reassessment of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity.  This pronouncement is effective for the Company in fiscal 2011.  The adoption of ASC Topic 810 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

2. Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

FASB Staff Position No. EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities” (ASC Topic 260) addresses whether unvested share-based payment awards with rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents should be considered as participating securities for the purposes of applying the two-class method of calculating earnings (loss) per share.  Unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents are participating securities, and thus, should be included in the two-class method of computing earnings (loss) per share.  The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 and the adoption did not change the Company’s earnings (loss) per share calculation for any prior period presented.

Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period, excluding unvested restricted shares and restricted share units. Diluted earnings per common share includes the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period plus dilutive potential common shares, including unvested time vesting and certain performance vesting restricted shares and restricted share units. Performance vesting restricted shares and restricted share units are only included in diluted earnings per common share calculations for the period if all the necessary performance conditions are satisfied and their impact is not anti-dilutive.  Common stock equivalents related to stock options are excluded from diluted earnings (loss) per common share calculations if their effect would be anti-dilutive. For the three months and six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, all common stock equivalents related to stock options and unvested restricted shares and restricted share units were excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation as their effect would be anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net loss for the periods. The following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share computation as required by ASC Topic 260.

8




   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Numerator:
                       
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (3,965 )   $ (77,953 )   $ (442 )   $ (67,368 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    -       -       -       (37 )
Net loss
  $ (3,965 )   $ (77,953 )   $ (442 )   $ (67,405 )
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Basic & Diluted
                               
Weighted-average number of common shares
    39,069,364       39,379,470       39,029,822       39,350,611  
                                 
Antidilutive weighted shares excluded from the calculation of earnings per common share
    3,553,522       3,145,042       3,408,514       2,901,314  
                                 
LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC AND DILUTED:
                               
                                 
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (0.10 )   $ (1.98 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (1.71 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    -       -       -       -  
Net loss
  $ (0.10 )   $ (1.98 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (1.71 )


3. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists of the following:

     January 23,      July 25,  
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Contract billings
  $ 89,330     $ 113,275  
Retainage and other receivables
    2,061       4,501  
Total
    91,391       117,776  
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts
    605       808  
Accounts receivable, net
  $ 90,786     $ 116,968  



The allowance for doubtful accounts changed as follows:


   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Allowance for doubtful accounts at beginning of period
  $ 820     $ 474     $ 808     $ 769  
Bad debt expense (recovery), net
    (30 )     161       (6 )     23  
Amounts charged against the allowance
    (185 )     (34 )     (197 )     (191 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts at end of period
  $ 605     $ 601     $ 605     $ 601  


As of January 23, 2010, the Company expected to collect all retainage balances within the next twelve months.

9



4. Costs and Estimated Earnings on Contracts in Excess of Billings

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net, consists of the following:


     January 23,      July 25,  
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Costs incurred on contracts in progress
  $ 35,415     $ 53,823  
Estimated to date earnings
    7,440       13,288  
Total costs and estimated earnings
    42,855       67,111  
Less: billings to date
    408       151  
    $ 42,447     $ 66,960  
                 
Included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under the captions:
               
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
  $ 42,855     $ 67,111  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    (408 )     (151 )
    $ 42,447     $ 66,960  


The above amounts include revenue for services from contracts based both on the units of delivery and the cost-to-cost measures of the percentage of completion method.

5. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, including amounts for assets subject to capital leases, consists of the following:

     January 23,      July 25,  
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Land
  $ 3,165     $ 2,974  
Buildings
    11,625       9,875  
Leasehold improvements
    4,392       4,361  
Vehicles
    206,430       199,372  
Computer hardware and software
    49,026       42,323  
Office furniture and equipment
    5,210       5,030  
Equipment and machinery
    125,890       123,709  
Total
    405,738       387,644  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    263,179       245,512  
Property and equipment, net
  $ 142,559     $ 142,132  



Depreciation expense and repairs and maintenance, including amounts for assets subject to capital leases, were as follows:


   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Depreciation expense
  $ 13,951     $ 15,116     $ 27,526     $ 29,904  
Repairs and maintenance expense
  $ 3,452     $ 3,836     $ 7,368     $ 8,315  




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6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company’s goodwill and intangible assets consist of the following:


   
Useful Life
   January 23,      July 25,  
   
In Years
 
2010
   
2009
 
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
 Goodwill
    N/A   $ 157,851     $ 157,851  
                       
 Intangible Assets:
                     
 Carrying amount
                     
 UtiliQuest tradename
 
Indefinite
    4,700       4,700  
 Tradenames
    4-15     2,600       2,925  
 Customer relationships
    5-15     77,555       77,555  
            84,855       85,180  
 Accumulated amortization:
                     
 Tradenames
          659       897  
 Customer relationships
          31,321       28,227  
            31,980       29,124  
 Net Intangible Assets
        $ 52,875     $ 56,056  


For finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense for the three months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009 was $1.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively.  For finite-lived intangible assets, amortization expense for the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009 was $3.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively.  Amortization of the Company’s customer relationships is recognized on an accelerated basis related to the expected economic benefit of the intangible asset, while amortization of other finite-lived intangibles is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life.

The Company’s goodwill resides in multiple reporting units. The profitability of individual reporting units may periodically suffer from downturns in customer demand and other factors resulting from the cyclical nature of the Company’s business, the high level of competition existing within the Company’s industry, the concentration of the Company’s revenues within a limited number of customers, and the level of overall economic activity. During times of economic slowdown, the Company’s customers may reduce their capital expenditures and defer or cancel pending projects. Individual reporting units may be relatively more impacted by these factors than the Company as a whole. As a result, demand for the services of one or more of the Company’s reporting units could decline resulting in an impairment of goodwill or intangible assets.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company’s market capitalization was significantly impacted by the extreme volatility in the U.S. equity and credit markets and was below the book value of shareholders’ equity by a substantial margin. As a result, the Company evaluated whether the decrease in its market capitalization reflected factors that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the Company’s reporting units below their carrying value. Based on a combination of factors, including the economic environment, the sustained period of decline in the Company’s market capitalization, and the implied valuation and discount rate assumptions in the Company’s industry, the Company concluded there were sufficient indicators to perform an interim impairment test of the reporting units and related intangible assets as of January 24, 2009, and, as a result, recognized a preliminary goodwill impairment charge of $94.4 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The Company’s interim impairment analysis was finalized during the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and no further charges were incurred. The Company performed its annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 and there was no impairment of goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets. However, the estimated fair value of the Prince Telecom (“Prince”) reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by a margin of less than 25%. There were also smaller margins of fair value over carrying value for the Broadband Installations Services, Ervin Cable Construction (“Ervin”), and UtiliQuest reporting units, as their carrying values were written down to their estimated fair values during fiscal 2009. Broadband Installation Services, Ervin, Prince, and UtiliQuest have remaining goodwill balances of $19.7 million, $7.4 million, $39.7 million, and $35.6 million, respectively, as of January 23, 2010.

Except for the goodwill impairment charges described above, none of the Company’s reporting units with remaining goodwill balances incurred material losses in fiscal 2009 or 2010. The estimates and assumptions used in assessing the fair value of the Company’s reporting units and the valuation of the underlying assets and liabilities are inherently subject to significant uncertainties. Changes in the Company’s judgments and estimates could result in a significantly different estimate of the fair value of the reporting units and could result in impairments of goodwill or intangible assets at additional reporting units. A change in the estimated discount

11


rate used would have impacted the amount of the goodwill impairment charges recorded during fiscal 2009. Additionally, continued adverse conditions in the economy and future volatility in the equity and credit markets could further impact the valuation of the Company’s reporting units. The Company can provide no assurances that, if such conditions continue, they will not trigger additional impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets in future periods.

 
The Company continually monitors the economic environment and the impact on its reporting units and market capitalization.  When determining the fair value of its reporting units, the Company estimates a premium associated with the control of such reporting unit. The premium is market based and the Company believes it is reasonable based on the industry in which it operates. The Company does not believe that conditions presently exist which would require testing goodwill or intangible assets for impairment in advance of the tests it performs annually in the fourth fiscal quarter of each year.  However, future adverse changes in general economic and market conditions and future volatility in the equity and credit markets could trigger an impairment test and impact the Company’s valuation of its reporting units.

As of January 23, 2010, the Company believes the carrying value of its goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible asset is recoverable; however, there can be no assurances that they will not be impaired in future periods. Certain of the Company’s reporting units also have other intangible assets including tradenames and customer relationship intangibles. As of January 23, 2010, management believes that the carrying amounts of the intangible assets are recoverable. However, if adverse events were to occur or circumstances were to change indicating that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable, the assets would be reviewed for impairment and the assets may become impaired.


7. Accrued Insurance Claims

The Company retains the risk of loss, up to certain limits, for claims relating to automobile liability, general liability (including locate damages), workers’ compensation, employee group health. With regard to losses occurring in fiscal 2010, the Company has retained the risk of loss up to $1.0 million on a per occurrence basis for automobile liability, general liability and workers’ compensation. These retention amounts are applicable to all of the states in which the Company operates, except with respect to workers’ compensation insurance in three states in which the Company participates in a state sponsored insurance fund. Aggregate stop loss coverage for automobile liability, general liability and workers’ compensation claims is $43.8 million for fiscal 2010. For losses under the Company’s employee health plan occurring during fiscal 2010, it has retained the risk of loss, on an annual basis, of $250,000 per participant.

Accrued insurance claims consist of the following:


     January 23,      July 25,  
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amounts expected to be paid within one year:
           
Accrued auto, general liability and workers' compensation
  $ 14,183     $ 15,559  
Accrued employee group health
    3,534       3,698  
Accrued damage claims
    8,194       8,129  
      25,911       27,386  
Amounts expected to be paid beyond one year:
               
Accrued auto, general liability and workers' compensation
    23,854       23,866  
Accrued damage claims
    5,597       5,893  
      29,451       29,759  
Total accrued insurance claims
  $ 55,362     $ 57,145  



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8.  Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities consist of the following:


     January 23,      July 25,  
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Accrued payroll and related taxes
  $ 19,211     $ 22,041  
Accrued employee benefit and incentive plan costs
    2,384       7,195  
Accrued construction costs
    8,109       8,083  
Accrued interest and related bank fees
    3,208       3,228  
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
    344       528  
Other
    11,754       11,515  
Total other accrued liabilities
  $ 45,010     $ 52,590  


9. Debt

The Company’s outstanding indebtedness consists of the following:


     January 23,      July 25,  
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Senior subordinated notes
  $ 135,350     $ 135,350  
Capital leases
    348       953  
      135,698       136,303  
Less: current portion
    348       926  
Long-term debt
  $ 135,350     $ 135,377  


During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company entered into a new three-year $195.0 million revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks.  The Credit Agreement was subsequently amended to add an additional bank to the syndicate of banks and increase the maximum borrowing available under the Credit Agreement from $195.0 million to $210.0 million. The Credit Agreement has an expiration date of September 12, 2011 and includes a sublimit of $100.0 million for the issuance of letters of credit. Subject to certain conditions, the Credit Agreement provides for two one-year extensions and, after giving affect to the amendment, also provides the ability to borrow an incremental $85.0 million (the “Incremental Revolving Facility”).

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either (a) the administrative agent’s base rate, described in the Credit Agreement as the higher of the administrative agent’s prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, or (b) LIBOR (a publicly published rate) plus, in either instance, a spread determined by the Company’s condensed consolidated leverage ratio.  Since the Credit Agreement has been in place, the spread above the administrative agent’s base rate ranged from 0.75% to 1.00% and the spread above LIBOR ranged from 1.75% to 2.00%. The Credit Agreement requires the payment of fees for outstanding letters of credit and unutilized commitments, in each case based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. Since inception of the Credit Agreement, fees for outstanding letters of credit ranged from 1.875% to 2.125% per annum and fees for unutilized commitments ranged from 0.625% to 0.75% per annum. The payments under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain subsidiaries and secured by a pledge of (i) 100% of the equity of the Company’s material domestic subsidiaries, as defined, and (ii) 100% of the non-voting equity and 65% of the voting equity of first tier material foreign subsidiaries, if any, in each case excluding certain unrestricted subsidiaries.

The Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, distributions, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, sale-leaseback transactions and transactions with affiliates. It also contains defined financial covenants which require the Company to (i) maintain a leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter, (ii) maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75 to 1.00, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter and (iii) maintain condensed consolidated total tangible net worth, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter, of not less than $50.0 million plus (A) 50% of condensed consolidated net income (if positive) from September 12, 2008 to the date of computation plus (B) 75% of equity issuances made from September 12, 2008 to the date of computation.

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As of January 23, 2010, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and $43.9 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement. The outstanding letters of credit are issued as part of the Company’s insurance program. At January 23, 2010, the Company had additional borrowing availability of $153.4 million as determined by the most restrictive covenants of the Credit Agreement and was in compliance with the financial covenants.

In October 2005, Dycom Investments, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.125% senior subordinated notes due October 2015 (“Notes”). Interest on the Notes is due on April 15th and October 15th of each year. The Company purchased $14.65 million principal amount of the Notes during fiscal 2009 for $11.3 million. As of January 23, 2010, the principal amount outstanding under the Notes was $135.35 million. The indenture governing the Notes contains covenants that restrict the Company’s ability to, among other things:

·      make certain payments, including the payment of dividends;
        ·      redeem or repurchase capital stock;
·      incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred stock;
        ·      make investments or create liens;
·      enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
        ·      merge or consolidate with another entity;
·      sell certain assets; and
        ·      enter into transactions with affiliates.


10. Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. This approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Prior to fiscal 2009, the Company incurred non-cash impairment charges on an investment for financial statement purposes and recorded a deferred tax asset reflecting the tax benefits of those impairment charges.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the investment became impaired for tax purposes and the Company determined that it was more likely than not that the associated tax benefit would not be realized prior to its eventual expiration.   Accordingly, the Company recognized a non-cash income tax charge of $1.1 million for a valuation allowance of the associated deferred tax asset during the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

As of January 23, 2010, the Company has total unrecognized tax benefits of $2.9 million, which would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate during future periods if it is subsequently determined that those liabilities are not required.  The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in general and administrative expenses.  Interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefit was immaterial for the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009.

11. Other Income, net

The components of other income, net, are as follows:


   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Gain on sale of fixed assets
  $ 809     $ 499     $ 1,835     $ 1,520  
Miscellaneous (loss) income
    94       33       173       (35 )
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net
    -       1,300       -       1,300  
Write-off of deferred financing costs
    -       -       -       (551 )
Total other income, net
  $ 903     $ 1,832     $ 2,008     $ 2,234  



12. Capital Stock

On February 23, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $20.0 million of its common stock to be made over the next eighteen months in open market or private transactions. This repurchase program replaces the Company’s existing program, scheduled to expire in February 2010, under which there was a remaining authorization of $16.9 million.


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13. Stock-Based Awards

Stock-based awards are granted by the Company under its 2003 Long-term Incentive Plan (“2003 Plan”) and the 2007 Non-Employee Directors Equity Plan (“2007 Directors Plan”), (collectively, “the Plans”).  The Company also has several other plans under which no further awards will be granted, including expired plans.  The Company’s policy is to issue new shares to satisfy equity awards under the Plans. Under the terms of the Plans, stock options are granted at the closing price on the date of the grant and are exercisable over a period of up to ten years.  The Plans also provide for the grants of time based restricted share units (“RSUs”), that currently vest ratably over a four year period from the date of grant.  Additionally, the 2003 Plan provides for the grants of performance based restricted share units (“Performance RSUs”).  Outstanding Performance RSUs vest over a three year period from the grant date if certain Company performance goals are achieved.

The following table summarizes the stock-based awards activity during the six months ended January 23, 2010:


   
Stock Options
   
RSUs
   
Performance RSUs
 
   
Shares
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price
   
Shares/Units
   
Weighted Average Grant Price
   
Shares/Units
   
Weighted Average Grant Price
 
Outstanding as of July 25, 2009
    2,866,675     $ 23.36       177,400     $ 13.78       680,342     $ 21.34  
Granted
    1,034,248     $ 8.55       112,436     $ 8.56       55,746     $ 12.25  
Options Exercised/Shares and Units Vested
    (2,375 )   $ 6.83       (83,617 )   $ 13.66       (82,428 )   $ 22.55  
Forfeited or cancelled
    (210,130 )   $ 25.62       (9,300 )   $ 8.49       (349,468 )   $ 20.93  
Outstanding as of January 23, 2010
    3,688,418     $ 19.09       196,919     $ 11.10       304,192     $ 19.40  
                                                 
Exercisable options as of January 23, 2010
    2,045,723     $ 27.87                                  


The Performance RSUs in the above table represent the maximum number of awards which may vest under the outstanding grants assuming that all performance criteria are met.  Approximately 310,000 Performance RSUs were cancelled during 2010 related to fiscal 2009 performance criteria not being achieved.

Compensation expense for stock-based awards is based on the fair value at the measurement date and is included in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The compensation expense and the related tax benefit recognized related to stock options, restricted share and restricted share units for the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009 is as follows:


   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Stock-based compensation expense
  $ 705     $ 330     $ 1,676     $ 1,877  
Tax benefit recognized
    (172 )     (89 )     (486 )     (685 )


The Company evaluates compensation expense quarterly and only recognizes expense for performance based awards if management determines it is probable that the performance criteria for the awards will be met.  The total amount of expense ultimately recognized is based on the number of awards that actually vest.  Accordingly, the amount recognized during current and prior periods may not be representative of future stock-based compensation expense.


15


Under the Plans, the maximum total unrecognized compensation expense and weighted-average period over which the expense would be recognized subsequent to January 23, 2010 is as follows:


   
Unrecognized Compensation Expense
   
Weighted-Average Period
 
   
(In thousands)
   
(In years)
 
             
Stock options
  $ 7,470     3.5  
Unvested RSUs
  $ 2,028     2.9  
Unvested Performance RSUs
  $ 5,900     1.1  


For Performance RSUs, the unrecognized compensation cost above is based upon the maximum amount of restricted units that can be earned under outstanding awards. If performance goals are not met related to future performance periods, no compensation expense will be recognized for these units and compensation expense previously recognized on the unvested awards will be reversed.

14. Related Party Transactions

The Company leases administrative offices from entities related to officers of the Company’s subsidiaries.  The total expense under these arrangements was $0.3 million for both the three month periods ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, and $0.6 million and $0.7 million the six month periods ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, respectively.


15. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings.

In May 2009, the Company and one of its subsidiaries were named as defendants in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The plaintiffs, all former employees of the subsidiary, allege various wage and hour claims, including that employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs seek to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Washington. In November 2009, the plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Company and the subsidiary entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed to the terms of a proposed settlement with respect to the lawsuit.  The proposed settlement provides for the resolution of all claims against the Company and the subsidiary in exchange for an aggregate payment of not more than $2.2 million.  In January 2010, the Court granted preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. Notice of the terms of the proposed settlement and claim forms were mailed to members of the plaintiffs' class in February 2010. The settlement is contingent upon final Court approval. The Company estimated the liability of this proposed settlement at $2.0 million and recorded a pre-tax charge for this amount during the first quarter of fiscal 2010.  The actual amount of the settlement to be paid will depend on the number of class members that participate in the settlement, and could differ from the estimated amount.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are also party to various other claims and legal proceedings. Additionally, as part of the Company’s insurance program, the Company retains the risk of loss, up to certain limits, for claims related to automobile liability, general liability, workers’ compensation, employee group health, and locate damages. For these claims, the effect on the Company’s financial statements is generally limited to the amount of the Company’s insurance deductible or insurance retention. It is the opinion of the Company’s management, based on information available at this time, that none of such other pending claims or proceedings will have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.


16


Performance Bonds and Guarantees.

The Company has obligations under performance bonds related to certain of its customer contracts. Performance bonds generally provide the Company’s customer with the right to obtain payment and/or performance from the issuer of the bond if the Company fails to perform its contractual obligations. As of January 23, 2010, the Company had $35.5 million of outstanding performance bonds and no events have occurred in which the customers have exercised their rights under the performance bonds.

The Company has periodically guaranteed certain obligations of its subsidiaries, including obligations in connection with obtaining state contractor licenses and leasing real property.


16. Customer Concentrations

The Company provides specialty contracting services to telecommunications providers, utilities and others. Revenue information by type of customer is as follows:


   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Telecommunications
  $ 173,716     $ 191,301     $ 378,613     $ 454,504  
Underground facility locating
    37,322       39,659       84,262       91,176  
Electric utilities and other
       construction and maintenance
    5,293       14,562       12,572       33,809  
Total contract revenues
  $ 216,331     $ 245,522     $ 475,447     $ 579,489  


The Company’s customer base is highly concentrated, with the top five customers accounting for approximately 65.3% and 64.6% of total contract revenues for the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, respectively. AT&T, Inc. (“AT&T”), Comcast Cable Corporation (“Comcast”), Verizon Communications, Inc. (“Verizon”), and CenturyTel, Inc. (“Century Link”) represent a significant portion of the Company’s customer base and were over 10% or more of total revenue for the three months or six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009. For the three and six month periods ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009 as follows:


 
 For the Three Months Ended
 
 For the Six Months Ended
 
January 23, 2010
 
January 24, 2009
 
January 23, 2010
 
January 24, 2009
               
AT&T
19.8%
 
19.7%
 
18.9%
 
17.4%
Comcast
13.3%
 
15.4%
 
14.6%
 
15.8%
Verizon
12.5%
 
14.8%
 
13.7%
 
17.4%
CenturyLink*
11.1%
 
6.2%
 
9.6%
 
6.0%

*For comparison purposes, CenturyTel, Inc. and Embarq Corporation revenues have been combined for periods prior to their July 2009 merger.

The Company believes that none of its significant customers were experiencing financial difficulties that would impact the collectability of the Company’s trade accounts receivable and costs in excess of billings as of January 23, 2010. Customers representing 10% or more of revenue had the following combined amounts of trade accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings outstanding and the related percentage of the Company's total outstanding balances:

   
January 23, 2010
   
July 25, 2009
 
   
Amount
   
% of Total
   
Amount
   
% of Total
 
         
(Dollars in millions)
       
AT&T
  $ 22.8       17.0 %   $ 28.5       15.6 %
Comcast
  $ 14.3       10.6 %   $ 21.6       11.8 %
Verizon
  $ 19.8       14.7 %   $ 48.0       26.2 %
CenturyLink*
  $ 15.3       11.4 %   $ 8.8       4.8 %



17


17. Supplemental Consolidating Financial Statements

As of January 23, 2010, the principal amount outstanding of the Company’s Notes was $135.35 million. The Notes were issued in fiscal 2006 by Dycom Investments, Inc. (“Issuer”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The following condensed consolidating financial statements present, in separate columns, financial information for (i) Dycom Industries, Inc. (“Parent”) on a parent only basis, (ii) the Issuer, (iii) the guarantor subsidiaries for the Notes on a combined basis, (iv) other non-guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis, (v) the eliminations and reclassifications necessary to arrive at the information for the Company on a consolidated basis, and (vi) the Company on a consolidated basis. The condensed consolidating financial statements are presented in accordance with the equity method. Under this method, the investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost and adjusted for the Company’s share of subsidiaries’ cumulative results of operations, capital contributions, distributions and other equity changes. Intercompany charges (income) between the Parent and subsidiaries are recognized in the condensed consolidating financial statements during the period incurred and the settlement of intercompany balances is reflected in the condensed consolidating statement of cash flows based on the nature of the underlying transactions.

Each guarantor and non-guarantor subsidiary is wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer and the Parent. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by each guarantor subsidiary and Parent. There are no contractual restrictions limiting transfers of cash from guarantor and non-guarantor subsidiaries to Issuer or Parent, within the meaning of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X.

18


 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
 
JANUARY 23, 2010
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
ASSETS
                                   
CURRENT ASSETS:
                                   
Cash and equivalents
  $ -     $ -     $ 135,400     $ 528     $ -     $ 135,928  
Accounts receivable, net
    -       -       89,475       1,311       -       90,786  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    -       -       42,218       637       -       42,855  
Deferred tax assets, net
    470       -       13,019       48       (112 )     13,425  
Income taxes receivable
    9,122       -       -       -       -       9,122  
Inventories
    -       -       10,714       100       -       10,814  
Other current assets
    6,937       36       5,221       1,322       -       13,516  
Total current assets
    16,529       36       296,047       3,946       (112 )     316,446  
                                                 
Property and equipment, net
    13,364       -       112,676       17,126       (607 )     142,559  
Goodwill
    -       -       157,851       -       -       157,851  
Intangible assets, net
    -       -       52,875       -       -       52,875  
Deferred tax assets, net non-current
    -       -       14,652       -       (14,652 )     -  
Investment in subsidiaries
    672,674       1,226,700       -       -       (1,899,374 )     -  
Intercompany receivables
    -       -       732,822       -       (732,822 )     -  
Other
    4,518       2,728       2,267       565       -       10,078  
Total non-current assets
    690,556       1,229,428       1,073,143       17,691       (2,647,455 )     363,363  
TOTAL
  $ 707,085     $ 1,229,464     $ 1,369,190     $ 21,637     $ (2,647,567 )   $ 679,809  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND
                                               
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                               
                                                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
                                               
Accounts payable
  $ 264     $ -     $ 22,982     $ 734     $ -     $ 23,980  
Current portion of debt
    -       -       348       -       -       348  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    -       -       408       -       -       408  
Accrued insurance claims
    552       -       25,313       46       -       25,911  
Income taxes payable
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Deferred tax liabilities
    -       112       -       -       (112 )     -  
Other accrued liabilities
    2,170       3,058       38,373       1,409       -       45,010  
Total current liabilities
    2,986       3,170       87,424       2,189       (112 )     95,657  
                                                 
LONG-TERM DEBT
    -       135,350       -       -       -       135,350  
ACCRUED INSURANCE CLAIMS
    806       -       28,584       61       -       29,451  
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, net non-current
    1,363       390       33,410       3,070       (14,652 )     23,581  
INTERCOMPANY PAYABLES
    307,047       417,880       -       7,905       (732,832 )     -  
OTHER LIABILITIES
    3,865       -       879       8       -       4,752  
Total liabilities
    316,067       556,790       150,297       13,233       (747,596 )     288,791  
Total stockholders' equity
    391,018       672,674       1,218,893       8,404       (1,899,971 )     391,018  
TOTAL
  $ 707,085     $ 1,229,464     $ 1,369,190     $ 21,637     $ (2,647,567 )   $ 679,809  

19

 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
 
JULY 25, 2009
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
ASSETS
                                   
CURRENT ASSETS:
                                   
Cash and equivalents
  $ -     $ -     $ 104,582     $ 125     $ -     $ 104,707  
Accounts receivable, net
    3       -       115,631       1,334       -       116,968  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    -       -       66,780       331       -       67,111  
Deferred tax assets, net
    1,275       -       14,562       112       (170 )     15,779  
Income taxes receivable
    7,028       -       -       -       (12 )     7,016  
Inventories
    -       -       8,189       114       -       8,303  
Other current assets
    2,202       8       4,454       659       -       7,323  
Total current assets
    10,508       8       314,198       2,675       (182 )     327,207  
                                                 
Property and equipment, net
    13,114       -       113,032       16,615       (629 )     142,132  
Goodwill
    -       -       157,851       -       -       157,851  
Intangible assets, net
    -       -       56,056       -       -       56,056  
Deferred tax assets, net non-current
    -       -       15,576       113       (15,689 )     -  
Investment in subsidiaries
    672,026       1,216,440       -       2       (1,888,468 )     -  
Intercompany receivables
    -       -       716,687       -       (716,687 )     -  
Other
    4,796       2,906       1,875       634       -       10,211  
Total non-current assets
    689,936       1,219,346       1,061,077       17,364       (2,621,473 )     366,250  
TOTAL
  $ 700,444     $ 1,219,354     $ 1,375,275     $ 20,039     $ (2,621,655 )   $ 693,457  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND
                                               
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                               
                                                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
                                               
Accounts payable
  $ 258     $ -     $ 28,019     $ 700     $ -     $ 28,977  
Current portion of debt
    -       -       926       -       -       926  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    -       -       151       -       -       151  
Accrued insurance claims
    670       -       26,641       75       -       27,386  
Deferred tax liabilities
    -       105       10       55       (170 )     -  
Other accrued liabilities
    4,937       3,073       43,026       1,566       (12 )     52,590  
Total current liabilities
    5,865       3,178       98,773       2,396       (182 )     110,030  
                                                 
LONG-TERM DEBT
    -       135,350       27       -       -       135,377  
ACCRUED INSURANCE CLAIMS
    970       -       28,676       113       -       29,759  
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, net non-current
    491       428       34,413       3,267       (15,689 )     22,910  
INTERCOMPANY PAYABLES
    298,713       408,372       -       9,614       (716,699 )     -  
OTHER LIABILITIES
    3,782       -       964       12       -       4,758  
Total liabilities
    309,821       547,328       162,853       15,402       (732,570 )     302,834  
Total stockholders' equity
    390,623       672,026       1,212,422       4,637       (1,889,085 )     390,623  
TOTAL
  $ 700,444     $ 1,219,354     $ 1,375,275     $ 20,039     $ (2,621,655 )   $ 693,457  

20

 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 23, 2010
 
                           
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 213,936     $ 2,395     $ -     $ 216,331  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       178,800       2,136       -       180,936  
General and administrative
    5,285       -       15,544       3,069       -       23,898  
Depreciation and amortization
    826       -       13,740       962       (12 )     15,516  
Intercompany charges (income) , net
    (6,801 )     -       6,557       244       -       -  
Total
    (690 )     -       214,641       6,411       (12 )     220,350  
                                                 
Interest income
    6       -       16       -       -       22  
Interest expense
    (696 )     (2,832 )     (13 )     -       -       (3,541 )
Other income, net
    -       -       940       (37 )     -       903  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
                                               
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (2,832 )     238       (4,053 )     12       (6,635 )
                                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    -       (1,872 )     1,748       (2,546 )     -       (2,670 )
                                                 
LOSS FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE EQUITY IN LOSSES
                                               
OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (960 )     (1,510 )     (1,507 )     12       (3,965 )
                                                 
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
                                               
OF TAX
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                 
NET LOSS  BEFORE EQUITY IN LOSSES
                                               
OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (960 )     (1,510 )     (1,507 )     12       (3,965 )
                                                 
EQUITY IN LOSSES OF SUBSIDIARIES
    (3,965 )     (3,005 )     -       -       6,970       -  
                                                 
                                                 
NET LOSS
  $ (3,965 )   $ (3,965 )   $ (1,510 )   $ (1,507 )   $ 6,982     $ (3,965 )

21

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 23, 2010
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 470,953     $ 4,494     $ -     $ 475,447  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       386,739       4,169       -       390,908  
General and administrative
    10,858       124       31,330       5,089       -       47,401  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,563       -       27,273       1,893       (22 )     30,707  
Intercompany charges (income) , net
    (13,799 )     -       13,369       430       -       -  
Total
    (1,378 )     124       458,711       11,581       (22 )     469,016  
                                                 
Interest income
    12       -       46       -       -       58  
Interest expense
    (1,391 )     (5,662 )     (31 )     -       -       (7,084 )
Other income, net
    1       -       2,037       (30 )     -       2,008  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
                                               
EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (5,786 )     14,294       (7,117 )     22       1,413  
                                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    1,090       (3,133 )     7,751       (3,853 )     -       1,855  
                                                 
INCOME  (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE EQUITY IN EARNINGS
                                               
(LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    (1,090 )     (2,653 )     6,543       (3,264 )     22       (442 )
                                                 
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
                                               
OF TAX
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)  BEFORE EQUITY IN
                                               
EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    (1,090 )     (2,653 )     6,543       (3,264 )     22       (442 )
                                                 
EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    645       3,301       -       -       (3,946 )     -  
                                                 
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ (445 )   $ 648     $ 6,543     $ (3,264 )   $ (3,924 )   $ (442 )

22

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 24, 2009
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 244,246     $ 1,276     $ -     $ 245,522  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       203,958       1,902       -       205,860  
General and administrative
    4,918       -       14,862       1,755       -       21,535  
Depreciation and amortization
    694       -       15,250       884       (11 )     16,817  
Goodwill impairment charge
    -       -       94,429       -       -       94,429  
Intercompany charges (income) , net
    (6,603 )     (23 )     7,273       (647 )     -       -  
Total
    (991 )     (23 )     335,772       3,894       (11 )     338,641  
                                                 
Interest income
    -       -       40       -       -       40  
Interest expense
    (989 )     (3,064 )     (46 )     -       -       (4,099 )
Other income (expense), net
    (2 )     1,300       528       6       -       1,832  
                                                 
LOSS FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
                                               
EQUITY IN LOSSES OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (1,741 )     (91,004 )     (2,612 )     11       (95,346 )
                                                 
BENEFIT FOR INCOME TAXES
    -       (809 )     (15,420 )     (1,164 )     -       (17,393 )
                                                 
LOSS FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE EQUITY IN LOSSES
                                               
OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (932 )     (75,584 )     (1,448 )     11       (77,953 )
                                                 
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
                                               
OF TAX
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                 
NET LOSS  BEFORE EQUITY IN LOSSES
                                               
OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (932 )     (75,584 )     (1,448 )     11       (77,953 )
                                                 
EQUITY IN LOSSES OF SUBSIDIARIES
    (77,953 )     (77,021 )     -       -       154,974       -  
                                                 
                                                 
NET LOSS
  $ (77,953 )   $ (77,953 )   $ (75,584 )   $ (1,448 )   $ 154,985     $ (77,953 )

23

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 24, 2009
 
                           
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 576,743     $ 2,746     $ -     $ 579,489  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       470,893       3,829       (216 )     474,506  
General and administrative
    12,067       125       33,215       3,667       -       49,074  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,329       -       30,483       1,628       (11 )     33,429  
Goodwill impairment charge
    -       -       94,429       -       -       94,429  
Intercompany charges (income) , net
    (15,807 )     (23 )     16,776       (1,227 )     281       -  
Total
    (2,411 )     102       645,796       7,897       54       651,438  
                                                 
Interest income
    -       -       174       -       -       174  
Interest expense
    (1,858 )     (6,203 )     (90 )     -       -       (8,151 )
Other income (expense), net
    (553 )     1,300       1,616       (129 )     -       2,234  
                                                 
LOSS FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
                                               
EQUITY IN LOSSES OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (5,005 )     (67,353 )     (5,280 )     (54 )     (77,692 )
                                                 
BENEFIT FOR INCOME TAXES
    -       (2,116 )     (5,976 )     (2,232 )     -       (10,324 )
                                                 
LOSS FROM CONTINUING
                                               
OPERATIONS BEFORE EQUITY IN LOSSES
                                               
OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (2,889 )     (61,377 )     (3,048 )     (54 )     (67,368 )
                                                 
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET
                                               
OF TAX
    -       -       (37 )     -       -       (37 )
                                                 
NET LOSS BEFORE EQUITY IN LOSSES
                                               
OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (2,889 )     (61,414 )     (3,048 )     (54 )     (67,405 )
                                                 
EQUITY IN LOSSES OF SUBSIDIARIES
    (67,405 )     (64,516 )     -       -       131,921       -  
                                                 
                                                 
NET LOSS
  $ (67,405 )   $ (67,405 )   $ (61,414 )   $ (3,048 )   $ 131,867     $ (67,405 )




DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 23, 2010
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (5,090 )   $ (2,548 )   $ 66,803     $ (2,292 )   $ -     $ 56,873  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Capital expenditures
    (1,809 )     -       (23,032 )     (2,434 )     -       (27,275 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    -       -       2,525       4       -       2,529  
Capital contributions to subsidiaries
    -       (6,960 )     -       -       6,960       -  
Net used in investing activities
    (1,809 )     (6,960 )     (20,507 )     (2,430 )     6,960       (24,746 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Principal payments on long-term debt
    -       -       (722 )     -       -       (722 )
Restricted stock tax withholdings
    (269 )     -       -       -       -       (269 )
    Intercompany funding and financing activities
    7,083       9,508       (14,756 )     5,125       (6,960 )     -  
Exercise of stock options and other
    16       -       -       -       -       16  
Excess tax benefit from share based awards
    69       -       -       -       -       69  
                                                 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    6,899       9,508       (15,478 )     5,125       (6,960 )     (906 )
                                                 
Net increase in cash and equivalents
    -       -       30,818       403       -       31,221  
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    -       -       104,582       125       -       104,707  
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ -     $ -     $ 135,400     $ 528     $ -     $ 135,928  
                                                 

 



 
DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 24, 2009
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (3,197 )   $ (4,127 )   $ 83,830     $ (1,232 )   $ (64 )   $ 75,210  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Restricted cash
    (233 )     -       -       -       -       (233 )
Capital expenditures
    (3,556 )     -       (9,606 )     (5,151 )     -       (18,313 )
    Proceeds from sale of assets
    -       -       1,840       -       -       1,840  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (3,789 )     -       (7,766 )     (5,151 )     -       (16,706 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
    Proceeds from long-term debt
    30,000       -       -       -       -       30,000  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (30,000 )     -       (1,268 )     -       -       (31,268 )
Purchase of senior subordinated notes
    -       (3,242 )     -       -       -       (3,242 )
Debt issuance costs
    (1,795 )     -       -       -       -       (1,795 )
    Restricted stock tax withholdings
    (246 )     -       -       -       -       (246 )
    Exercise of stock options and other
    16       -       -       -       -       16  
    Intercompany funding and financing activities
    9,011       7,369       (22,736 )     6,292       64       -  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    6,986       4,127       (24,004 )     6,292       64       (6,535 )
                                                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents
    -       -       52,060       (91 )     -       51,969  
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    -       -       21,568       500       -       22,068  
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ -     $ -     $ 73,628     $ 409     $ -     $ 74,037  


26



18. Subsequent Events

On February 23, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $20.0 million of its common stock to be made over the next eighteen months in open market or private transactions. This repurchase program replaces the Company’s existing program, scheduled to expire in February 2010, under which there was a remaining authorization of $16.9 million.


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 25, 2009.  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 25, 2009 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 3, 2009 and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website, which is www.dycomind.com.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements and Information

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Dycom Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries (referred to as “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) have made forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “project” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements may include, but are not limited to:

·      anticipated outcomes of contingent events, including litigation;
 
·      projections of revenues, income or loss, or capital expenditures;
 
·      whether the carrying value of our assets are impaired;
 
·      plans for future operations, growth and acquisitions, dispositions, or financial needs;
 
·      liquidity and availability of financing;
 
·      plans relating to our services, including our contract backlog;
 
·      current economic conditions and trends in the industries we serve; and
 
·      assumptions relating to any of foregoing.

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results in the future to differ materially from the results projected or implied in any forward-looking statements contained in this report. The factors that could affect future results and cause these results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009 and other risks outlined in our periodic filings with the SEC.  Except as required by law, we may not update forward-looking statements, although our circumstances may change in the future. With respect to forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Overview

We are a leading provider of specialty contracting services. These services are provided throughout the United States and include engineering, construction, maintenance and installation services to telecommunications providers, underground facility locating services to various utilities including telecommunications providers, and other construction and maintenance services to electric utilities and others. Additionally, we provide services on a limited basis in Canada. For the six months ended January 23, 2010, the percentage of our revenue by customer type from telecommunications, underground facility locating, and electric utilities and other customers, was approximately 79.6%, 17.7%, and 2.7%, respectively.


27


We conduct operations through our subsidiaries. Our revenues may fluctuate as a result of changes in the capital expenditure and maintenance budgets of our customers, as well as changes in the general level of construction activity. The capital expenditures and maintenance budgets of our telecommunications customers may be impacted by consumer demands on telecommunication providers, the introduction of new communication technologies, the physical maintenance needs of their infrastructure, the actions of the Federal Communications Commission, and general economic conditions.

A significant portion of our services are performed under master service agreements and other arrangements with customers that extend for periods of one or more years.  We are currently a party to approximately 200 of these agreements. Master service agreements generally contain customer specified service requirements, such as discrete pricing for individual tasks. To the extent that such contracts specify exclusivity, there are often a number of exceptions, including the ability of the customer to issue work orders valued above a specified dollar amount to other service providers, perform work with the customer’s own employees, and use other service providers when jointly placing facilities with another utility. In most cases, a customer may terminate these agreements for convenience with written notice.

The remainder of our services are provided pursuant to contracts for specific projects. Long-term contracts relate to specific projects with terms in excess of one year from the contract date. Short-term contracts for specific projects are generally of three to four months in duration. A portion of our contracts include retainage provisions under which 5% to 10% of the contract invoicing may be withheld by the customer pending project completion.

We recognize revenues under the percentage of completion method of accounting using the units of delivery or cost-to-cost measures. A significant majority of our contracts are based on units of delivery and revenue is recognized as each unit is completed. Revenues from contracts using the cost-to-cost measures of completion are recognized based on the ratio of contract costs incurred to date to total estimated contract costs. Revenues from services provided under time and materials based contracts are recognized as the services are performed.

The following table summarizes our revenues from multi-year master service agreements and other long-term contracts, as a percentage of contract revenues from continuing operations:


 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Six Months Ended
 
January 23, 2010
 
January 24, 2009
 
January 23, 2010
 
January 24, 2009
               
Multi-year master service agreements
76.4%
 
69.8%
 
75.5%
 
66.2%
Other long-term contracts
14.2%
 
15.8%
 
15.1%
 
18.9%
Total long-term contracts
90.6%
 
85.6%
 
90.6%
 
85.1%


The percentage of revenue from long-term contracts varies between periods depending on the volume of work performed under the Company’s contracts.  During the three and six months ended January 23, 2010, revenue from total long-term contracts increased compared to the comparable prior period as more work was performed for contracts with original terms greater than one year.  Revenue during the three and six months ended January 24, 2009 included revenue for services performed under short-term contracts related to the hurricanes that impacted the Southern United States during September 2008.


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A significant portion of our revenue comes from several large customers. The following table reflects the percentage of total revenue from those customers who contributed at least 2.5% of our total revenue from continuing operations in the three or six month periods ended January 23, 2010 or January 24, 2009:


 
For the Three Months Ended
 
 
January 23, 2010
 
January 24, 2009
 
AT&T, Inc.
19.8%
 
19.7%
 
Comcast Corporation
13.3%
 
15.4%
 
Verizon Communications, Inc.
12.5%
 
14.8%
 
CenturyLink (CenturyTel, Inc.)*
11.1%
 
6.2%
 
Time Warner Cable, Inc.
8.4%
 
8.2%
 
Charter Communications, Inc.
6.2%
 
4.7%
 
Windstream Corporation
3.2%
 
3.6%
 
         
         
 
For the Six Months Ended
 
 
January 23, 2010
 
January 24, 2009
 
AT&T, Inc.
18.9%
 
17.4%
 
Comcast Corporation
14.6%
 
15.8%
 
Verizon Communications, Inc.
13.7%
 
17.4%
 
CenturyLink (CenturyTel, Inc.)*
9.6%
 
6.0%
 
Time Warner Cable, Inc.
8.5%
 
8.0%
 
Charter Communications, Inc.
5.8%
 
4.8%
 
Windstream Corporation
3.3%
 
3.4%
 
Qwest Communications International, Inc.
1.9%
 
2.6%
 
         
         
*For comparison purposes, CenturyTel, Inc. and Embarq Corporation revenues have been combined for periods prior to their July 2009 merger.



Cost of earned revenues includes all direct costs of providing services under our contracts, including costs for direct labor provided by employees, services by subcontractors, operation of capital equipment (excluding depreciation and amortization), and insurance claims and other related costs. We retain the risk of loss, up to certain limits, for claims related to automobile liability, general liability, workers’ compensation, employee group health, and underground facility locate damages. Locate damage claims result from property and other damages arising in connection with services for our customers. A change in claims experience or actuarial assumptions related to these risks could materially affect our results of operations. For a majority of the contract services we perform, our customers provide all necessary materials and we provide the personnel, tools, and equipment necessary to perform installation and maintenance services. Materials supplied by our customers, for which the customer retains financial and performance risk, are not included in our revenue or costs of sales. In addition, cost of earned revenues for the six months ended January 23, 2010 includes a $2.0 million charge related to the pending settlement of a legal matter, see “Legal Proceedings” below.

General and administrative costs include all of our corporate costs, as well as costs of our subsidiaries’ management personnel and administrative overhead. These costs primarily consist of employee compensation and related expenses, including stock-based compensation, legal and professional fees, information technology and development costs, provision for or recoveries of bad debt expense, and other costs that are not directly related to our services under customer contracts.  Our senior management, including the senior managers of our subsidiaries, perform substantially all of our sales and marketing functions as part of their management responsibilities and, accordingly, we have not incurred material sales and marketing expenses.  Information technology and development costs included in general and administrative expenses are primarily incurred to support and enhance our operating efficiency. To protect our rights, we have filed for patents on certain of our innovations. In December 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted our first patent as a result of these efforts.

We are subject to concentrations of credit risk relating primarily to our cash and equivalents, trade accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings. Cash and equivalents primarily include balances on deposit in banks. We maintain substantially all of our cash and equivalents at financial institutions we believe to be of high credit quality. To date we have not experienced any loss or lack of access to cash in our operating accounts.

29



We grant credit under normal payment terms, generally without collateral, to our customers. These customers primarily consist of telephone companies, cable television multiple system operators and electric utilities. With respect to a portion of the services provided to these customers, we have certain statutory lien rights which may in certain circumstances enhance our collection efforts. Adverse changes in overall business and economic factors may impact our customers and increase potential credit risks. These risks may be heightened as a result of the current economic climate and market volatility. In the past, some of our customers have experienced significant financial difficulties and likewise, some may experience financial difficulties in the future. These difficulties expose us to increased risks related to the collectability of amounts due for services performed. We believe that none of our significant customers were experiencing financial difficulties that would impact the collectability of our trade accounts receivable and costs in excess of billings as of January 23, 2010.

Growth in economic activity slowed substantially beginning in fiscal 2009. The duration of the current economic weakness and the impact that it will have on our customers remain uncertain. The economic slowdown, when combined with developments in the financial and credit markets, has created a challenging business environment for us and our customers. We are closely monitoring the effects that changes in economic and market conditions may have on our customers and our business, including rising fuel costs, and we continue to manage the areas of the business that we can control. These areas include, but are not limited to, deploying appropriate workforce levels and supervisory employees, practicing sound safety procedures, managing fuel consumption levels and maintaining the investment in our fleet of vehicles and equipment to support current and future business opportunities.


Legal Proceedings

In May 2009, the Company and one of our subsidiaries were named as defendants in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The plaintiffs, former employees of the subsidiary, allege various wage and hour claims, including that employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs seek to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Washington. In November 2009, the plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Company and the subsidiary entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed to the terms of a proposed settlement with respect to the lawsuit.  The proposed settlement provides for the resolution of all claims against us and the subsidiary in exchange for an aggregate payment of not more than $2.2 million.  In January 2010, the Court granted preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. Notice of the terms of the proposed settlement and claim forms were mailed to members of the plaintiffs' class in February 2010. The settlement is contingent upon final Court approval.  The Company has estimated the liability of this proposed settlement at $2.0 million and recorded a pre-tax charge for this amount during the first quarter of fiscal 2010.  The actual amount of the settlement to be paid will depend on the number of class members that participate in the settlement, and could differ from the estimated amount.

From time to time, the Company and our subsidiaries are parties to various other claims and legal proceedings. Additionally, as part of our insurance program, we retain the risk of loss, up to certain limits, for claims related to automobile liability, general liability, workers’ compensation, employee group health, and locate damages. For these claims, the effect on our financial statements is generally limited to the amount needed to satisfy our insurance deductibles or retentions. It is the opinion of management, based on information available at this time, that none of such other pending claims or proceedings will have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements.


Acquisitions

As part of our growth strategy, we may acquire companies that expand, complement, or diversify our business. We regularly review opportunities and periodically engage in discussions regarding possible acquisitions. Our ability to sustain our growth and maintain our competitive position may be affected by our ability to identify, acquire, and successfully integrate companies.


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  On an ongoing basis, we evaluate these estimates and assumptions, including those related to recognition of revenue for costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, the fair value of goodwill and intangible assets, income taxes, accrued insurance claims, asset lives used in determining depreciation and amortization, allowance for doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation expense for performance awards, and the outcome of contingencies,

30


including legal matters.  These estimates and assumptions require the use of judgment as to the likelihood of various future outcomes and, as a result, actual results could differ materially from these estimates.  Please refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 25, 2009 for further information regarding our critical accounting policies and estimates.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, as a percentage of revenues earned, our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated (totals may not add due to rounding):


   
For the Three Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
Revenues
  $ 216.3       100.0 %   $ 245.5       100.0 %
Expenses:
                               
Cost of earned revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization
    180.9       83.6       205.9       83.8  
General and administrative
    23.9       11.0       21.5       8.8  
Depreciation and amortization
    15.5       7.2       16.8       6.8  
Goodwill impairment charge
    -       -       94.4       38.5  
Total
    220.4       101.9       338.6       137.9  
Interest income
    -       -       -       -  
Interest expense
    (3.5 )     (1.6 )     (4.1 )     (1.7 )
Other income, net
    0.9       0.4       1.8       0.7  
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
    (6.6 )     (3.1 )     (95.3 )     (38.8 )
Benefit for income taxes
    (2.7 )     (1.2 )     (17.4 )     (7.1 )
Loss from continuing operations
    (4.0 )     (1.8 )     (78.0 )     (31.7 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    -       -       -       -  
Net loss
  $ (4.0 )     (1.8 )%   $ (78.0 )     (31.7 )%
                                 
                                 
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
Revenues
  $ 475.4       100.0 %   $ 579.5       100.0 %
Expenses:
                               
Cost of earned revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization
    390.9       82.2       474.5       81.9  
General and administrative
    47.4       10.0       49.1       8.5  
Depreciation and amortization
    30.7       6.5       33.4       5.8  
Goodwill impairment charge
    -       -       94.4       16.3  
Total
    469.0       98.7       651.4       112.4  
Interest income
    0.1       0.0       0.2       0.0  
Interest expense
    (7.1 )     (1.5 )     (8.2 )     (1.4 )
Other income, net
    2.0       0.4       2.2       0.4  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
    1.4       0.3       (77.7 )     (13.4 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    1.9       0.4       (10.3 )     (1.8 )
Loss from continuing operations
    (0.4 )     (0.1 )     (67.4 )     (11.6 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    -       -       -       -  
Net loss
  $ (0.4 )     (0.1 )%   $ (67.4 )     (11.6 )%

31




Revenues. The following table presents information regarding total revenues by type of customer for the three months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009 (totals may not add due to rounding):


   
For the Three Months Ended
             
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
             
   
Revenue
   
% of Total
   
Revenue
   
% of Total
   
Decrease
   
Decrease
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
             
Telecommunications
  $ 173.7       80.3 %   $ 191.3       77.9 %   $ (17.6 )     (9.2 )%
Underground facility locating
    37.3       17.3 %     39.7       16.2 %     (2.3 )     (5.9 )%
Electric utilities and other customers
    5.3       2.4 %     14.6       5.9 %     (9.3 )     (63.7 )%
Total contract revenues
  $ 216.3       100.0 %   $ 245.5       100.0 %   $ (29.2 )     (11.9 )%


Revenues decreased $29.2 million, or 11.9%, during the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the three months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease was the result of a $17.6 million decrease in specialty contracting services provided to telecommunications customers, a $9.3 million decrease in revenues from construction and maintenance services provided to electric utilities and other customers, and a $2.3 million decrease in underground facility locating services revenue.

Specialty construction services provided to telecommunications companies were $173.7 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010, compared to $191.3 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009, a decrease of 9.2%. We experienced decreases from significant customers as a result of their reductions in spending, including a $10.1 million decrease for a customer engaged in a fiber deployment project, a $9.9 million net decrease for installation, maintenance and construction services provided to leading cable multiple system operators, and a $3.1 million decline in work performed for two significant telephone customers. Additionally, during the three months ended January 24, 2009, we performed restoration services totaling $3.2 million related to the hurricanes that impacted the Southern United States. There were no services for storm work during the quarter ended January 23, 2010. Partially offsetting these decreases was a $8.7 million increase in services to a significant telephone customer that merged with another telephone customer in July 2009. Net revenues from remaining customers were consistent during each period.

Total revenues from underground facility locating during the three months ended January 23, 2010 were $37.3 million compared to $39.7 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009, a decrease of 5.9%. The decrease resulted from declines in customer demand levels as general economic weakness continued during the current period resulting in a lower level of construction activity.

Our total revenues from electric utilities and other construction and maintenance services decreased $9.3 million, or 63.7%, during the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the three months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decline in construction work performed for gas customers, including a gas pipeline project for a customer that was completed during fiscal 2009.


32


The following table presents information regarding total revenues by type of customer for the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009 (totals may not add due to rounding):


   
For the Six Months Ended
             
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
             
   
Revenue
   
% of Total
   
Revenue
   
% of Total
   
Decrease
   
Decrease
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
             
Telecommunications
  $ 378.6       79.6 %   $ 454.5       78.4 %   $ (75.9 )     (16.7 )%
Underground facility locating
    84.3       17.7 %     91.2       15.7 %     (6.9 )     (7.6 )%
Electric utilities and other customers
    12.6       2.7 %     33.8       5.9 %     (21.2 )     (62.8 )%
Total contract revenues
  $ 475.4       100.0 %   $ 579.5       100.0 %   $ (104.0 )     (18.0 )%


Revenues decreased $104.0 million, or 18.0%, during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the six months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease was the result of a $75.9 million decrease in specialty contracting services provided to telecommunications customers, a $21.2 million decrease in revenues from construction and maintenance services provided to electric utilities and other customers, and a $6.9 million decrease in underground facility locating services revenue.

Specialty construction services provided to telecommunications companies were $378.6 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010, compared to $454.5 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009, a decrease of 16.7%. During the six months ended January 24, 2009, we performed restoration services totaling $17.1 million related to the hurricanes that impacted the Southern United States. There were no services for storm work during fiscal 2010. We also experienced other decreases from significant customers as a result of their reductions in spending, including a $37.7 million decrease for a customer engaged in a fiber deployment project, a $17.2 million net decrease for installation, maintenance and construction services provided to leading cable multiple system operators, and a $8.9 million decline in work performed for two significant telephone customers. Other customers had net decreases of $5.9 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the six months ended January 24, 2009. Partially offsetting these decreases was a $10.9 million increase in services to a significant telephone customer that merged with another telephone customer in July 2009.

Total revenues from underground facility locating during the six months ended January 23, 2010 were $84.3 million compared to $91.2 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009, a decrease of 7.6%. The decrease resulted from declines in customer demand levels as general economic weakness continued during the six month period. Additionally, the six months ended January 24, 2009 included $0.9 million of restoration work related to the hurricanes that impacted the Southern United States compared to none during 2010.

Our total revenues from electric utilities and other construction and maintenance services decreased $21.2 million, or 62.8%, during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the six months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decline in construction work performed for gas customers, including gas pipeline projects for two customers that were completed during fiscal 2009. Additionally, the six months ended January 24, 2009 included $0.4 million of restoration work related to the hurricanes that impacted the Southern United States compared to none during 2010.

Costs of Earned Revenues. Costs of earned revenues decreased $25.0 million to $180.9 million for the three months ended January 23, 2010 compared to $205.9 million for the three months ended January 24, 2009. The primary components of the decrease in cost of earned revenues were direct labor and subcontractor costs taken together, other direct costs, and direct materials, which decreased $18.5 million, $4.5 million, and $1.9 million, respectively. The decrease in costs of earned revenues was primarily due to lower levels of operations during the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the period ended January 24, 2009.

Costs of earned revenues as a percentage of contract revenues decreased 0.2% for the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the three months ended January 24, 2009. Other direct costs decreased 0.8% as a percentage of contract revenues, primarily from reduced costs related to insurance claims and from lower equipment costs. We also experienced a 0.1% decrease in direct materials as a percentage of contract revenues. Offsetting these decreases, fuel costs increased 0.75% as a percentage of contract revenues as compared to the same period last year primarily due to increases in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel. Labor and subcontractor costs remained consistent as a percentage of contract revenues during the three months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009.

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Costs of earned revenues decreased $83.6 million to $390.9 million for the six months ended January 23, 2010 compared to $474.5 million for the six months ended January 24, 2009. Included in costs of earned revenues for the six months ended January 23, 2010 is a $2.0 million charge recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 in connection with the pending settlement of a legal matter described under “Legal Proceedings” above. The primary components of the remaining $85.6 million net decrease in costs of earned revenues were direct labor and subcontractor costs taken together, other direct costs, and direct materials, which decreased $64.4 million, $15.8 million, and $5.4 million, respectively. The decrease in costs of earned revenues was primarily due to lower levels of operations during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the six month period ended January 24, 2009.

 Costs of earned revenues as a percentage of contract revenues increased 0.3% for the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the same period last year due in part to the $2.0 million charge related to the pending legal settlement referred to above, or 0.4% of contract revenues. Excluding this legal settlement charge, costs of earned revenues as a percentage of contract revenues decreased 0.1% for the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the six months ended January 24, 2009. Fuel costs decreased 0.2% as a percentage of contract revenues as compared to the same period last year primarily due to declines in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel during the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Offsetting this decrease was an increase in other direct costs of 0.1% as a percentage of contract revenues, primarily from lower absorption of costs for support and field offices in relation to reduced operating levels during the current year period. Labor and subcontractor costs and direct materials as a percentage of contract revenues was consistent for the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased $2.4 million to $23.9 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $21.5 million for the three months ended January 24, 2009. The change resulted from increased payroll costs, higher incentive compensation for subsidiaries that outperformed the prior year results, and higher legal and software-related costs.  Additionally, stock-based compensation expense increased to $0.7 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010 from $0.3 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009. General and administrative expenses decreased $1.7 million to $47.4 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $49.1 million for the six months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease in total general and administrative expenses for the six months ended January 23, 2010 compared to the prior year period resulted from a reduction of payroll and incentive pay expense due to lower operating levels and reduced legal and professional fees and other expenses. Additionally, stock-based compensation expense decreased to $1.7 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 from $1.9 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009.

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of contract revenues were 11.0% and 8.8% for the three months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, respectively. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of contract revenues were 10.0% and 8.5% for the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, respectively. The increase in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of contract revenues for the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the same periods in fiscal 2009 reflects lower absorption of a portion of our expenses, such as certain office and support costs and certain payroll costs, as a result of lower revenues.

Depreciation and Amortization.   Depreciation and amortization decreased to $15.5 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010 from $16.8 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009 and increased as a percentage of contract revenues to 7.2% compared to 6.8% from the same period in the prior year. For the six months ended January 23, 2010, depreciation and amortization decreased to $30.7 million from $33.4 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009 and increased as a percentage of contract revenues to 6.5% compared to 5.8% from the six months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease in amount was primarily a result of certain assets becoming fully depreciated or sold during fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010. Amortization expense also decreased during the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the prior year periods. This reduction related to customer relationship intangible assets of certain prior acquisitions that became fully amortized.

Goodwill Impairment Charge. During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $94.4 million that included impairments at the following reporting units: Broadband Installation Services for $14.8 million, C-2 Utility Contractors for $9.2 million, Ervin Cable Construction for $15.7 million, Nichols Communications for $2.0 million, Stevens Communications for $2.4 million and UtiliQuest for $50.5 million. This charge was the result of an interim test for impairment reflecting valuation assumptions as of the end of our second quarter of fiscal 2009. Our interim analysis was finalized in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and no further charges were incurred during the fiscal year.


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We continually monitor the economic environment and the impact on our reporting units and market capitalization.  When determining the fair value of our reporting units, we estimate a premium associated with the control of such reporting unit. The premium is market based and we believe it is reasonable based on the industry in which we operate. We do not believe that conditions presently exist which would require testing goodwill or intangible assets for impairment in advance of the tests we perform annually in the fourth fiscal quarter of each year.  However, future adverse changes in general economic and market conditions and future volatility in the equity and credit markets could trigger an impairment test and impact the valuation of our reporting units.

Interest Income and Expense. Interest income was less than $0.1 million during each of the three months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009. Interest income decreased to less than $0.1 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $0.2 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease for the six months ended January 23, 2010 is the result of lower interest yield earned on cash balances during the periods.

Interest expense was $3.5 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $4.1 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009. Interest expense decreased to $7.1 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $8.2 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009. The decrease for the three and six month periods ended January 23, 2010 reflects reduced interest expense on our 8.125% senior subordinated notes (“Notes”) as a result of the buyback of $14.65 million principal amount of the Notes during fiscal 2009 and reduced balances for letters of credit.  Additionally, we had no borrowings under our revolving credit agreement ("Credit Agreement") during 2010 compared to $30.0 million which was borrowed and repaid during 2009.

Other Income, Net. Other income decreased to $0.9 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010 from $1.8 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009, and decreased to $2.0 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 from $2.2 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009. During the three and six months ended January 24, 2009 other income included a gain of $1.3 million on extinguishment of debt related to the buyback of $4.65 million principal amount of Notes during the second quarter of fiscal 2009.  Additionally, other income for the six months ended January 24, 2009 includes a charge of $0.6 million for the write-off of deferred financing costs when we replaced our existing credit agreement during the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

Income Taxes. The following table presents our income tax expense and effective income tax rate for continuing operations during the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009:



     
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Six Months Ended
 
                     
     
January 23,
   
January 24,
   
January 23,
   
January 24,
 
     
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
           
(dollars in millions)
       
Income tax provision (benefit)
    $ (2.7 )   $ (17.4 )   $ 1.9     $ (10.3 )
Effective income tax rate
 
    40.2 %     18.2 %     131.3 %     13.3 %




Our effective income tax rate differs from the statutory rate for the tax jurisdictions where we operate as a result of several factors. In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, we recognized a non-cash income tax charge of $1.1 million for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset associated with an investment that became impaired for tax purposes. During the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we incurred a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $94.4 million, of which only $17.4 million was deductible for income tax purposes. Other variations in our tax rate for the three and six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009 are attributable to the impact of non-deductible and non-taxable items in relation to our pre-tax results during the period.  As of January 23, 2010, we had total unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $2.9 million, which would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate during the periods recognized if it is subsequently determined that those liabilities are not required.

Loss from Continuing Operations. Loss from continuing operations was $4.0 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $78.0 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009.   Loss from continuing operations was $0.4 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $67.4 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009.


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Discontinued Operations. During fiscal 2007, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Apex Digital, LLC (“Apex”) notified its primary customer of its intention to cease performing installation services in accordance with its contractual rights. Effective December 2006, this customer, a satellite broadcast provider, transitioned its installation service requirements to others and Apex ceased providing these services. As a result, we discontinued the operations of Apex.  Apex did not have material operations in fiscal 2009 or 2010.

Net Loss. Net loss was $4.0 million during the three months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $78.0 million during the three months ended January 24, 2009. Net loss was $0.4 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to $67.4 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Capital requirements.   Historically, our sources of cash have been operating activities, long-term debt, equity offerings, bank borrowings, and proceeds from the sale of idle and surplus equipment and real property. Our working capital needs vary based upon our level of operations and generally increase with higher levels of revenues. They are also impacted by the time it takes us to collect our accounts receivable for work performed for customers. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $135.9 million at January 23, 2010 compared to $104.7 million at July 25, 2009.  Cash increased for the six months ended January 23, 2010 as a result of cash collected from operations offset by capital expenditures. Working capital (total current assets less total current liabilities) increased by $3.6 million to $220.8 million at January 23, 2010 compared to $217.2 million at July 25, 2009.
 

Capital resources are primarily used to purchase equipment and maintain sufficient levels of working capital in order to support our contractual commitments to customers. We periodically borrow from and repay our Credit Agreement based on our cash requirements. Additionally, to the extent we make acquisitions that involve consideration other than our stock, buyback our common stock or repurchase or call our senior subordinated notes, our capital requirements may increase. In the normal course of business, we may hedge our anticipated fuel purchases with the use of financial instruments. For the six months ended January 23, 2010, we were not party to any such financial instruments. We believe that none of our major customers are experiencing significant financial difficulty as of January 23, 2010 that will materially affect our cash flows or liquidity.


   
For the Six Months Ended
 
   
January 23, 2010
   
January 24, 2009
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
 Net cash flows:
           
 Provided by operating activities
  $ 56.9     $ 75.2  
 Used in investing activities
  $ (24.7 )   $ (16.7 )
 Used in financing activities
  $ (0.9 )   $ (6.5 )


Cash from operating activities. During the six months ended January 23, 2010, net cash provided by operating activities was $56.9 million. Non-cash items during the six months ended January 23, 2010 were primarily depreciation and amortization, gain on disposal of assets, stock-based compensation, and deferred income taxes. Changes in working capital (excluding cash) and changes in other long term assets and liabilities contributed $23.9 million of operating cash flow during the six months ended January 23, 2010. The primary working capital sources during the six months ended January 23, 2010 were decreases in accounts receivable and net costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings of $24.8 million and $24.5 million, respectively. During the three months ended January 23, 2010, the timing of our billing and the collection activity improved compared to the prior year period. Based on average daily revenue during the applicable quarter, days sales outstanding calculated for accounts receivable, net was 38.2 days as of January 23, 2010 compared to 42.7 days as of January 24, 2009. Days sales outstanding calculated for costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings, were 17.9 days as of January 23, 2010 compared to 21.4 days as of January 24, 2009.

 
Working capital changes that used operating cash flow during the six months ended January 23, 2010 were decreases in other accrued liabilities and accrued insurance claims of $11.6 million due to the reduced level of operations during the quarter ended January 23, 2010. Offsetting these decreases was a $2.0 million increase in other accrued liabilities related to the proposed settlement of the legal matter described in “Legal Proceedings” above. Other working capital changes that used operating cash flow during the six months ended January 23, 2010 were net increases in other current and other non-current assets of $8.2 million primarily for prepaid insurance and other prepaid costs that were incurred near the beginning of our fiscal year. Additionally, accounts payable decreased $5.4 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 due to the timing of receipt and payment of invoices and an increase in income taxes receivable, net of $2.2 million due to the timing of applicable tax payments.
 

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For the six months ended January 24, 2009, changes in working capital and changes in other long term assets and liabilities contributed $26.7 million of operating cash flow. Working capital changes that contributed operating cash flow during the six months ended January 24, 2009 included decreases in accounts receivable and net costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings of $31.3 million and $36.1 million, respectively. Other working capital changes that used operating cash flow during the six months ended January 24, 2009 were decreases in other liabilities of $23.0 million primarily attributable to payments of approximately $8.6 million in connection with a wage and hour class action settlement in fiscal 2009, payments for fiscal 2008 incentive pay, and overall decreases in other accrued liabilities due to the reduced level of operations during the latter part of the quarter ended January 24, 2009. Additionally, there were decreases in accounts payable of $7.1 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009 due to the timing of the receipt and payment of invoices and an increase in income taxes receivable of $4.9 million due to the timing of applicable tax payments. We had net increases in other current and other non-current assets of $5.6 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009 primarily as a result of increased prepaid insurance and other prepaid costs.

Cash used in investing activities. For the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, net cash used in investing activities was $24.7 million and $16.7 million, respectively.  Capital expenditures of $27.3 million and $18.3 million during the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, respectively, were offset in part by proceeds from the sale of assets of $2.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively.  Capital expenditures increased during the six months ended January 23, 2010 as compared to the prior period due to the replacement cycle of our assets and for new work opportunities.  Restricted cash, primarily related to funding provisions of our insurance claims program, increased $0.2 million during the six months ended January 24, 2009.

Cash used in financing activities. For the six months ended January 23, 2010, net cash used in financing activities was $0.9 million as compared to $6.5 million for the six months ended January 24, 2009.  During the six months ended January 23, 2010, we paid $0.7 million for principal payments on capital leases compared to $1.3 million for the six months ended January 24, 2009. During the six months ended January 24, 2009 we borrowed and repaid $30 million under our Credit Agreement and paid $1.8 million in debt issuance costs related to entering into the Credit Agreement in September 2008. In addition, we purchased $4.65 million principal amount of Notes during the six months ended January 24, 2009 for $3.2 million.

During the six months ended January 23, 2010 and January 24, 2009, we withheld shares of restricted units and paid $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, to tax authorities in order to meet payroll tax withholdings obligations on restricted units that vested to certain officers and employees during those periods. Additionally, during the six months ended January 23, 2010, we received excess tax benefits of $0.1 million from the vesting of restricted stock units.


Compliance with Notes and Credit Agreement

The indenture governing the Notes contains covenants that restrict our ability to, among other things:

·      make certain payments, including the payment of dividends;
·      redeem or repurchase our capital stock;
·      incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred stock;
·      make investments or create liens;
·      enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
·      merge or consolidate with another entity;
·      sell certain assets; and
·      enter into transactions with affiliates.


As of January 23, 2010, the principal amount outstanding under the Notes was $135.35 million and we were in compliance with the covenants and conditions under the indenture governing the Notes.

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The Company’s $210.0 million Credit Agreement, which expires in September 2011, contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, distributions, mergers and acquisitions, disposition of assets, sale-leaseback transactions and transactions with affiliates.  It also contains defined financial covenants which require us to (i) maintain a leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter, (ii) maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75 to 1.00, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter and (iii) maintain consolidated total tangible net worth, as measured at the end of each fiscal quarter, of not less than $50.0 million plus (A) 50% of consolidated net income (if positive) from September 12, 2008 to the date of computation plus (B) 75% of equity issuances made from September 12, 2008 to the date of computation.  The Credit Agreement has a sublimit of $100.0 million for the issuance of letters of credit. As of January 23, 2010, we had no outstanding borrowings and $43.9 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement. The outstanding letters of credit are issued as part of our insurance program. At January 23, 2010, we had additional borrowing availability of up to $153.4 million, as determined by the most restrictive covenants of the Credit Agreement, and were in compliance with the financial covenants.

Contractual Obligations.  The following tables set forth our outstanding contractual obligations, including related party leases, as of January 23, 2010:

   
Less than 1 Year
   
Years 1-3
   
Years 3 - 5
   
Greater than 5 Years
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Notes
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 135,350     $ 135,350  
Interest payments on debt (excluding capital leases)
    10,997       21,994       21,994       10,998       65,983  
Capital lease obligations (including interest and executory costs)
    432       -       -       -       432  
Operating leases
    8,212       9,474       5,301       4,892       27,879  
Employment agreements
    2,645       2,639       -       -       5,284  
Purchase and other contractual obligations
    2,264       -       -       -       2,264  
Total
  $ 24,550     $ 34,107     $ 27,295     $ 151,240     $ 237,192  


Our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 23, 2010 includes a long term liability of approximately $29.5 million for Accrued Insurance Claims.  This liability has been excluded from the above table as the timing of any cash payments is uncertain. See Note 7 of the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our accrued insurance claims liability.

The liability for unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions at January 23, 2010 was $2.9 million and is included in other liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheet.  This entire amount has been excluded from the contractual obligations table because we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of the resolutions of the underlying tax positions with the relevant tax authorities.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.  We have obligations under performance bonds related to certain of our customer contracts.  Performance bonds generally provide a customer with the right to obtain payment and/or performance from the issuer of the bond if we fail to perform our obligations under a contract.  As of January 23, 2010, we had $35.5 million of outstanding performance bonds and no events have occurred in which customers have exercised their rights under the performance bonds.

Sufficiency of Capital Resources. We believe that our capital resources, including existing cash balances and amounts available under our Credit Agreement, are sufficient to meet our financial obligations. These obligations include interest payments required on our Notes and borrowings, working capital requirements, and the normal replacement of equipment at our current level of operations for at least the next twelve months. Our future operating results and cash flows may be affected by a number of factors including our success in bidding on future contracts and our ability to manage costs effectively. To the extent we seek to grow by acquisitions that involve consideration other than our stock, or to the extent we buyback our common stock or repurchase or call our senior subordinated notes, our capital requirements may increase.

Although the distress in the financial markets has not significantly impacted our financial position or our cash flow as of and for the six month period ending January 23, 2010, management continues to monitor the financial markets and assess general economic conditions. If further changes in financial markets or other areas of the economy adversely impact our ability to access capital markets,

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we would expect to rely on a combination of available cash and the existing committed credit facility to provide short-term funding. We believe that our cash investment policies are conservative and we expect that the current volatility in the capital markets will not have a material impact on our cash investments.

Backlog. Our backlog consists of the uncompleted portion of services to be performed under job-specific contracts and the estimated value of future services that we expect to provide under master service agreements and other long-term requirements contracts. Many of our contracts are multi-year agreements, and we include in our backlog the amount of services projected to be performed over the terms of the contracts based on our historical experience with customers and, more generally our experience in procurements of this type. In many instances, our customers are not contractually committed to procure specific volumes of services under a contract. Our estimates of a customer’s requirements during a particular future period may not prove to be accurate, particularly in light of the current economic conditions and the uncertainty that imposes on changes in our customer’s requirements for our services.

Our backlog totaled $1.078 billion and $935.4 million at January 23, 2010 and July 25, 2009, respectively. We expect to complete 63.4% of the January 23, 2010 backlog during the next twelve months.


Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations

Our revenues are affected by seasonality as a significant portion of the work we perform is outdoors. Consequently, our operations are impacted by extended periods of inclement weather. Generally, inclement weather is more likely to occur during the winter season which falls during our second and third fiscal quarters. Also, a disproportionate percentage of total paid holidays fall within our second quarter, which decreases the number of available workdays. Additionally, our customer premise equipment installation activities for cable providers historically decrease around calendar year end holidays as their customers generally require less activity during this period.

In addition, we have experienced and expect to continue to experience quarterly variations in revenues and net income as a result of other factors, including:

·      the timing and volume of customers’ construction and maintenance projects;
·      seasonal budgetary spending patterns of customers and the timing of budget approvals;
·      the commencement or termination of master service agreements and other long-term agreements with customers;
·      costs incurred to support growth internally or through acquisitions;
·      fluctuations in results of operations caused by acquisitions;
·      fluctuation in the employer portion of  payroll taxes as a result of reaching the limitation on social security withholdings and unemployment obligations;
·      changes in mix of customers, contracts, and business activities;
·      fluctuations in insurance expense due to changes in claims experience and actuarial assumptions;
·      fluctuations in stock-based compensation expense as a result of performance criteria in performance-based share awards, as well as the timing and vesting period of all stock-based awards;
·      fluctuations in performance cash awards as a result of operating results;
·      fluctuations in  interest expense due to levels of debt and related borrowing costs;
·      fluctuations in other income as a result of the timing and levels of capital assets sold during the period, and
·      fluctuations in income tax expense due to levels of taxable earnings.

Accordingly, operating results for any fiscal period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any subsequent fiscal period.


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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks related to interest rates on our cash and equivalents and our debt obligations. We monitor the effects of market changes on interest rates and manage interest rate risks by investing in short-term cash equivalents with market rates of interest and by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates would result in an increase to annual earnings of approximately $1.4 million if our cash and equivalents held as of January 23, 2010 were to be fully invested in interest bearing financial instruments.

Our revolving credit facility permits borrowings at a variable rate of interest; however, we had no outstanding borrowings as of January 23, 2010. Outstanding long-term debt at January 23, 2010 included $135.35 million of our senior subordinated notes due in 2015 (“Notes”), which bear a fixed rate of interest of 8.125%. Due to the fixed rate of interest on the Notes, changes in interest rates would not have an impact on the related interest expense. The fair value of the outstanding Notes totaled approximately $125.4 million as of January 23, 2010, based on quoted market prices. There exists market risk sensitivity on the fair value of the fixed rate Notes with respect to changes in interest rates. A hypothetical 50 basis point change in the market interest rates in effect would result in an increase or decrease in the fair value of the Notes of approximately $3.2 million, calculated on a discounted cash flow basis.

We had $0.3 million of capital leases outstanding at January 23, 2010 with varying rates of interest due through fiscal 2011 under separate lease agreements. A hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates in effect at January 23, 2010 on these capital leases would not have a material impact on the fair value of the leases or on our annual interest cost.

We also have market risk for foreign currency exchange rates related to our operations in Canada. As of January 23, 2010, the market risk for foreign currency exchange rates was not significant as our operations in Canada have not been material.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
 
The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer each concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In May 2009, the Company and one of our subsidiaries were named as defendants in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The plaintiffs, former employees of the subsidiary, allege various wage and hour claims, including that employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs seek to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Washington. In November 2009, the plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Company and the subsidiary entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed to the terms of a proposed settlement with respect to the lawsuit.  The proposed settlement provides for the resolution of all claims against the Company and the subsidiary in exchange for an aggregate payment of not more than $2.2 million. In January 2010, the Court granted preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. Notice of the terms of the proposed settlement and claim forms were mailed to members of the plaintiffs' class in February 2010. The settlement is contingent upon final Court approval. The Company has estimated the liability of this proposed settlement at $2.0 million and recorded a pre-tax charge for this amount during the first quarter of fiscal 2010.  The actual amount of the settlement to be paid will depend on the number of class members that participate in the settlement, and could differ from the estimated amount.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various other claims and legal proceedings. Additionally, as part of our insurance program, we retain the risk of loss, up to certain limits, for claims related to automobile liability, general liability, workers’ compensation, employee group health, and locate damages. For these claims, the effect on our financial statements is generally limited to the amount needed to satisfy our insurance deductibles or retentions. It is the opinion of management, based on information available at this time, that none of such other pending claims or proceedings will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.


Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in our fiscal 2009 Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Form 10-K.



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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(a) During the six months ended January 23, 2010, we did not sell any of our equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) The following table summarizes the Company’s purchases of its common stock:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
   
Average Price Paid Per Share
   
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
October 25, 2009 - November 21, 2009
    -     $ -       -  
(b)
November 22, 2009 - December 19, 2009
    28,726 (a)   $ 8.37       -  
(b)
December 20, 2009 - January 23, 2010
    -     $ -       -  
(b)
                           
(a) Shares were withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations that arose on the vesting of restricted stock units.
   
     
(b) On February 23, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $20.0 million of its common stock to be made over the next eighteen months in open market or private transactions. This repurchase program replaces the Company’s existing program, scheduled to expire in February 2010, under which there was a remaining authorization of $16.9 million.
   


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

An annual meeting of shareholders of the Company was held on November 24, 2009 to consider and take action on the election of three directors and to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for fiscal 2010. The Company’s nominee, Stephen C. Coley, was elected as a director of the Company. Mr. Coley received 33,537,532 votes for and 2,561,558 votes withheld. The Company’s nominee, Patricia L. Higgins, was elected a director of the Company. Ms. Higgins received 20,430,364 votes for and 15,668,726 votes withheld. The Company’s nominee, Steven E. Nielsen, was elected as a director of the Company. Mr. Nielsen received 32,873,531 votes for and 3,225,559 votes withheld. Each of the following directors’ term of office as a director of the Company continued after the annual meeting: Thomas G. Baxter, Charles M. Brennan III, James A. Chiddix, and Charles B. Coe. The proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for fiscal 2010 was approved with 35,616,092 votes for, 472,932 against, and 10,066 abstaining.



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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits furnished pursuant to the requirements of Form 10-Q:

Exhibit number

10.1 +
Credit Agreement and related Schedules, dated September 12, 2008, by and among Dycom Industries, Inc. and the Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent.
   
10.2 +
First Amendment and related Schedule, dated as of April 10, 2009, to Credit Agreement dated as of September 12, 2008 with Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent.
   
11
Statement re computation of per share earnings; All information required by Exhibit 11 is presented within Note 2 of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with the provisions of ASC 260, Earnings Per Share.
   
31.1+
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2+
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.1+
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.2+
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
+ Filed herewith



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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.

DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.
Registrant

Date:
February 26, 2010
/s/ Steven E. Nielsen
 
   
Name:  Steven E. Nielsen
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
 
       
Date:
February 26, 2010
/s/ H. Andrew DeFerrari
 
   
Name:  H. Andrew DeFerrari
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 


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