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
 
For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2011
   
[   ]
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 )

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 627-7171
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per share
 
New York Stock Exchange
Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
 
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

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]

There were 34,045,788 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.33 1/3 outstanding at May 27, 2011.
 



 
 

 
Dycom Industries, Inc.

Table of Contents

     
   
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36
     
37
     
 
38
    EX-31.1
   
    EX-31.2
   
    EX-32.1
   
    EX-32.2
   


 
2


 
 
   
DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
   
April 30,
   
July 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
ASSETS
           
CURRENT ASSETS:
           
Cash and equivalents
  $ 89,027     $ 103,320  
Accounts receivable, net
    101,789       110,117  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    73,899       66,559  
Deferred tax assets, net
    14,869       14,944  
Income taxes receivable
    6,836       3,626  
Inventories
    17,648       16,058  
Other current assets
    10,890       8,137  
     Total current assets
    314,958       322,761  
                 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    127,068       136,028  
GOODWILL
    173,364       157,851  
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
    59,414       49,625  
OTHER
    14,222       13,291  
     TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
    374,068       356,795  
     TOTAL
  $ 689,026     $ 679,556  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 27,862     $ 25,881  
Current portion of debt
    383       47  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    877       376  
Accrued insurance claims
    26,289       28,086  
Other accrued liabilities
    44,427       42,813  
     Total current liabilities
    99,838       97,203  
                 
LONG-TERM DEBT
    187,603       135,350  
ACCRUED INSURANCE CLAIMS
    22,974       24,844  
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, NET NON-CURRENT
    28,567       24,159  
OTHER LIABILITIES
    3,685       3,445  
     Total liabilities
    342,667       285,001  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, Notes 10, 11, and 16
               
                 
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: 34,045,742 and 38,656,190 issued and outstanding, respectively
    11,348       12,885  
Additional paid-in capital
    120,281       170,209  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    295       169  
Retained earnings
    214,435       211,292  
     Total stockholders' equity
    346,359       394,555  
     TOTAL
  $ 689,026     $ 679,556  
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

 


DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
             
   
For the Three Months Ended
 
   
April 30,
   
April 24,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
REVENUES:
           
Contract revenues
  $ 252,363     $ 231,636  
                 
EXPENSES:
               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    207,045       191,333  
General and administrative  (including stock-based compensation expense of $1.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively)
    23,678       24,297  
Depreciation and amortization
    15,491       15,852  
Total
    246,214       231,482  
                 
Interest income
    27       27  
Interest expense
    (4,422 )     (3,386 )
Loss on debt extinguishment
    (2,557 )     -  
Other income, net
    3,500       4,451  
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    2,697       1,246  
                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES:
               
                 
Current
    (1,326 )     7  
Deferred
    2,534       (409 )
                 
Total
    1,208       (402 )
                 
NET INCOME
  $ 1,489     $ 1,648  
 
               
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.04  
                 
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.04  
                 
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES USED IN COMPUTING EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
Basic
    34,706,822       39,021,043  
Diluted
    35,323,667       39,054,443  
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

 

 
4


DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
       
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30,
   
April 24,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
REVENUES:
           
Contract revenues
  $ 732,150     $ 707,082  
                 
EXPENSES:
               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    597,987       582,241  
General and administrative  (including stock-based compensation expense of $3.1 million and $2.5 million, respectively)
    68,338       71,698  
Depreciation and amortization
    46,894       46,558  
Total
    713,219       700,497  
                 
Interest income
    90       85  
Interest expense
    (11,903 )     (10,470 )
Loss on debt extinguishment
    (8,296 )     -  
Other income, net
    7,464       6,459  
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    6,286       2,659  
                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES:
               
                 
Current
    (1,350 )     (566 )
Deferred
    4,494       2,019  
                 
Total
    3,144       1,453  
                 
NET INCOME
  $ 3,142     $ 1,206  
 
               
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.09     $ 0.03  
                 
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.09     $ 0.03  
                 
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES USED IN COMPUTING EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
               
Basic
    35,800,175       39,028,637  
Diluted
    36,130,585       39,102,612  
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

 

 
5


DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
             
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30,
   
April 24,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income
  $ 3,142     $ 1,206  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
         
Depreciation and amortization
    46,894       46,558  
Bad debt expense, net
    12       62  
Gain on sale of fixed assets
    (6,810 )     (6,143 )
Deferred income tax provision
    4,494       2,019  
Stock-based compensation
    3,086       2,488  
Amortization and write-off of debt issuance costs
    3,312       791  
Excess tax benefit from share-based awards
    (251 )     (69 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    14,590       18,782  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net
    (6,073 )     7,675  
Other current assets and inventory
    (3,361 )     (6,895 )
Other assets
    807       (960 )
Income taxes receivable
    (3,210 )     (1,380 )
Accounts payable
    (1,144 )     (1,212 )
Accrued liabilities and insurance claims
    (3,398 )     (14,240 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    52,090       48,682  
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Capital expenditures
    (32,255 )     (38,222 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    9,690       6,571  
Cash paid for acquisitions
    (36,500 )     -  
Changes in restricted cash
    216       -  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (58,849 )     (31,651 )
                 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    187,500       -  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (135,667 )     (920 )
Debt issuance costs
    (5,105 )     -  
Repurchases of common stock
    (55,491 )     (4,489 )
Exercise of stock options and other
    1,174       30  
Restricted stock tax withholdings
    (196 )     (273 )
Excess tax benefit from share-based awards
    251       69  
Net cash used in financing activities
    (7,534 )     (5,583 )
                 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and equivalents
    (14,293 )     11,448  
                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    103,320       104,707  
                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ 89,027     $ 116,155  
 
               
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF OTHER CASH FLOW ACTIVITIES AND NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
                 
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 10,327     $ 12,570  
Income taxes
  $ 2,786     $ 5,788  
Purchases of capital assets included in accounts payable or other accrued liabilities at period end
  $ 2,138     $ 3,818  
                 
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 and gas 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 and the financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring accruals which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of such statements. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). However, the financial statements do not include all of the financial information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Additionally, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011 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 31, 2010 included in the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2010.

On November 19, 2010, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Communication Services, Inc. On December 23, 2010, the Company acquired the outstanding common stock of NeoCom Solutions, Inc. The operating results of the businesses acquired by the Company are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements from their respective acquisition dates.

Debt issuance and debt repurchases– On January 21, 2011, Dycom Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, issued $187.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) in a private placement.  A portion of the net proceeds was used (1) to fund the Company’s purchase in January 2011 of $86.96 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 8.125% senior subordinated notes due 2015 (the “2015 Notes”) at a price of 104.313% of the principal amount pursuant to a tender offer for any and all of its $135.35 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2015 Notes, and (2) to fund the Company’s redemption in February 2011 of the remaining $48.39 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes at a price of 104.063% of the principal amount. As a result, during the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011, the Company recognized debt extinguishment costs of $2.0 million and $6.0 million, respectively, comprised of tender premiums and legal and professional fees associated with the tender offer and redemption and $0.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively, for the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs related to the transaction (see Note 10).

Accounting Period – The Company uses a fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in July. Fiscal 2011 will consist of 52 weeks, while fiscal 2010 consisted of 53 weeks, with the fourth quarter having 14 weeks of operations.

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, purchase price allocations, the fair value of goodwill, the assessment of impairment of intangibles and other long-lived 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 April 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $4.7 million and $4.9 million, respectively, 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 Income – During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, the Company did not have any material changes in its equity resulting from non-owner sources. Accordingly, comprehensive income approximated the net income amounts presented for the respective period’s operations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC Topic 820”), defines fair value, establishes a measurement framework and expands disclosure requirements. The Company adopted ASC Topic 820 for financial assets and liabilities on the first day of fiscal 2009 and adopted non-recurring measurements for non-financial assets and liabilities on the first day of fiscal 2010. The adoption of ASC Topic 820 did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. ASC Topic 820 requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: (1) Level 1 - Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; (2) Level 2 - Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data; and (3) Level 3 - Unobservable inputs not corroborated by market data which require the reporting entity’s own assumptions. 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 outstanding 2021 Notes. The Company determined that the fair value of the 2021 Notes at April 30, 2011 was $193.1 million based on quoted market prices, which reflect Level 1 inputs, as compared to a carrying value of $187.5 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 and gas utilities and others. All of the Company’s operating segments have been aggregated into one reporting segment due to their similar economic characteristics, nature of services and production processes, type of customers, and service 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 $1.0 million and $4.2 million during the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011, respectively, and $1.5 million and $5.0 million during the three and nine months ended April 24, 2010, respectively. The Company had no material long-lived assets in the Canadian operations at April 30, 2011 or July 31, 2010.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No.  2010-29, Business Combinations (Topic 805) (“ASU 2010-29”). ASU 2010-29 is intended to address diversity in practice regarding pro-forma revenue and earnings disclosure requirements for business combinations. ASU 2010-29 specifies that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments also expand the supplemental pro-forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, non-recurring pro-forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro-forma revenue and earnings. The amendments affect any public entity as defined by ASU 2010-29 that enters into business combinations that are material on an individual or aggregate basis. ASU 2010-29 is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-28, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts (“ASU 2010-28”). ASU 2010-28 modifies Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The amendments in ASU 2010-28 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
7


2. Computation of Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period, excluding unvested 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 share units. Performance vesting 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 per common share calculations if their effect would be anti-dilutive. The following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted earnings  per common share computation as required by FASB ASC Topic 260.


   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
Net income available to common stockholders (numerator)
  $ 1,489     $ 1,648     $ 3,142     $ 1,206  
                                 
Weighted-average number of common shares (denominator)
    34,706,822       39,021,043       35,800,175       39,028,637  
                                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.04     $ 0.09     $ 0.03  
                                 
Weighted-average number of common shares
    34,706,822       39,021,043       35,800,175       39,028,637  
Potential common stock arising from stock options, and unvested restricted share units
    616,845       33,400       330,410       73,975  
Total shares-diluted (denominator)
    35,323,667       39,054,443       36,130,585       39,102,612  
                                 
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.04     $ 0.04     $ 0.09     $ 0.03  
                                 
Antidilutive weighted shares excluded from the calculation of earnings per share
    2,051,652       3,618,970       2,054,837       2,547,418  
                                 
 
3. Acquisitions

On November 19, 2010, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Communication Services, Inc. (“Communication Services”), a provider of outside plant construction services to telecommunications companies in the Southeastern and south central United States. The anticipated benefits of this acquisition include incremental growth opportunities with existing customers and geographic expansion. The purchase price for Communication Services was $9.0 million paid from cash on hand and the assumption of approximately $0.7 million in capital lease obligations. Approximately $0.9 million of the purchase price has been placed in escrow until November 19, 2012 and will be used to satisfy indemnification obligations of the sellers that may arise.

On December 23, 2010, the Company acquired NeoCom Solutions, Inc. (“NeoCom”), based in Woodstock, Georgia. NeoCom provides services to construct, install, optimize and maintain wireless communication facilities in the Southeastern United States. The anticipated benefits of this acquisition include incremental growth opportunities with new and existing customers, including wireless service providers. The purchase price for NeoCom was $27.5 million paid from cash on hand. Approximately $2.8 million of the purchase price has been placed in escrow until June 23, 2012 and will be used to satisfy indemnification obligations of the seller that may arise.

The Communication Services and NeoCom acquisitions were not material to the Company. Approximately $0.2 million of transaction costs directly related to the acquisitions were incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s fiscal 2011 condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended April 30, 2011.


4. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists of the following:


   
April 30, 2011
   
July 31, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
Contract billings
  $ 100,402     $ 109,537  
Retainage
    1,833       1,139  
Total
    102,235       110,676  
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts
    446       559  
Accounts receivable, net
  $ 101,789     $ 110,117  

 
As of April 30, 2011, the Company expected to collect all retainage balances above within the next twelve months.

The allowance for doubtful accounts changed as follows:

 
   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                 
Allowance for doubtful accounts at beginning of period
  $ 546     $ 605     $ 560     $ 808  
Bad debt expense (recovery), net
    (75 )     68       12       62  
Amounts charged against the allowance
    (25 )     (91 )     (126 )     (288 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts at end of period
  $ 446     $ 582     $ 446     $ 582  

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

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


   
April 30, 2011
   
July 31, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
Costs incurred on contracts in progress
  $ 60,018     $ 52,601  
Estimated to date earnings
    13,881       13,958  
Total costs and estimated earnings
    73,899       66,559  
Less: billings to date
    877       376  
    $ 73,022     $ 66,183  
                 
Included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under the captions:
               
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
  $ 73,899     $ 66,559  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    (877 )     (376 )
    $ 73,022     $ 66,183  

 
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.
 

6. Property and Equipment

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

 
   
April 30, 2011
   
July 31, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
Land
  $ 3,165     $ 3,165  
Buildings
    11,684       11,630  
Leasehold improvements
    4,546       4,540  
Vehicles
    197,882       203,420  
Computer hardware and software
    55,106       52,506  
Office furniture and equipment
    5,432       5,397  
Equipment and machinery
    125,441       119,285  
Total
    403,256       399,943  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    276,188       263,915  
Property and equipment, net
  $ 127,068     $ 136,028  

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


   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                 
Depreciation expense
  $ 13,672     $ 14,286     $ 41,823     $ 41,812  
Repairs and maintenance expense
  $ 3,907     $ 3,375     $ 11,156     $ 10,743  
 
 
 
7. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for fiscal 2011 are as follows:


         
Nine Months Ended
       
         
April 30, 2011
       
   
July 31, 2010
   
Additions
   
Impairment Losses
   
Other
   
April 30, 2011
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                         
 Goodwill
  $ 353,618     $ 15,513     $ -     $ -     $ 369,131  
 Accumulated impairment losses
    (195,767 )     -       -       -       (195,767 )
    $ 157,851     $ 15,513     $ -     $ -     $ 173,364  

 
The Company’s intangible assets consist of the following:


 
   
Useful Life
             
   
In Years
   
April 30, 2011
   
July 31, 2010
 
         
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 Intangible Assets:
                 
 Carrying amount:
                 
 Customer relationships
    5-15     $ 90,545     $ 76,095  
 UtiliQuest tradename
 
Indefinite
      4,700       4,700  
 Tradenames
    4-15       2,860       2,600  
  Non-compete agreements
    5       150       -  
              98,255       83,395  
 Accumulated amortization:
                       
 Customer relationships
            37,943       33,020  
 Tradenames
            887       750  
  Non-compete agreements
            11       -  
 Net Intangible Assets
          $ 59,414     $ 49,625  

 


During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company acquired Communication Services and NeoCom (see Note 3). The Company accounted for these acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting and the purchase price has been allocated on a preliminary basis to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values. Management determined the fair values of the identifiable intangible assets based primarily on historical data, estimated discounted future cash flows, and expected royalty rates for trademarks and tradenames. The purchase price allocations for the acquisitions are preliminary as the Company continues to assess the valuation of the acquired assets and liabilities. The purchase price paid for each of the acquired companies reflects expectations of anticipated future cash flows and exceeded the fair value of identifiable net assets. As a result, goodwill was recognized in the amount of the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets. The carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets increased by approximately $15.5 million and $14.9 million, respectively, as a result of these acquisitions. The full amount of goodwill related to the Communication Services and NeoCom acquisitions is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 was $1.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 was $5.1 million and $4.7 million, respectively. The customer relationships of Communication Services and NeoCom have an estimated useful life of 15 years. 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.

As of April 30, 2011, 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 customer relationship, tradenames, and non-compete intangibles. As of April 30, 2011, 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.


8. 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, and employee group health. With regard to losses occurring in fiscal 2011, 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 $37.3 million for fiscal 2011. For losses under the Company's employee health plan, the Company is party to a stop-loss agreement under which it retains the risk of loss, on an annual basis, of the first $250,000 of claims per participant.

Accrued insurance claims consist of the following:

 
   
April 30, 2011
   
July 31, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Amounts expected to be paid within one year:
           
Accrued auto, general liability and workers' compensation
  $ 15,443     $ 15,596  
Accrued employee group health
    3,900       3,894  
Accrued damage claims
    6,946       8,596  
      26,289       28,086  
Amounts expected to be paid beyond one year:
               
Accrued auto, general liability and workers' compensation
    19,914       21,174  
Accrued damage claims
    3,060       3,670  
      22,974       24,844  
Total accrued insurance claims
  $ 49,263     $ 52,930  
 
 
9. Other Accrued Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities consist of the following:


   
April 30, 2011
   
July 31, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
Accrued payroll and related taxes
  $ 17,412     $ 18,930  
Accrued employee benefit and incentive plan costs
    5,477       5,595  
Accrued construction costs
    9,517       7,892  
Accrued interest and related bank fees
    3,822       3,347  
Other
    8,199       7,049  
Total other accrued liabilities
  $ 44,427     $ 42,813  
 

 
11

 
10. Debt

The Company’s outstanding indebtedness consists of the following:

 
   
April 30, 2011
   
July 31, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                 
7.125% senior subordinated notes, due January 2021
  $ 187,500     $ -  
8.125% senior subordinated notes, repaid February 2011
    -       135,350  
Capital leases
    486       47  
      187,986       135,397  
Less: current portion
    383       47  
Long-term debt
  $ 187,603     $ 135,350  
 

On January 6, 2011, Dycom Investments, Inc. (“Issuer”), a subsidiary of the Company, announced a tender offer to purchase, for cash, any and all of its $135.35 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding 8.125% senior subordinated notes due 2015 (the “2015 Notes”). Concurrently with the tender offer, the Issuer also solicited consents to eliminate certain covenants in, and amend certain provisions of, the indenture governing the 2015 Notes. On January 21, 2011, the Issuer accepted tenders for $86.96 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2015 Notes in connection with the early acceptance date of the tender offer, with the holders of the accepted 2015 Notes receiving total consideration of $1,043.13 per $1,000 principal amount of 2015 Notes tendered (which included a $20 consent payment per $1,000 principal amount of 2015 Notes tendered). The total cash payment to purchase the tendered 2015 Notes, including accrued and unpaid interest, was approximately $92.6 million, which the Issuer obtained from the net proceeds of the sale of the 7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021 described below. The tender offer expired on February 3, 2011, and no additional 2015 Notes were tendered to the Issuer after January 20, 2011.

On January 21, 2011, the Issuer issued a notice of redemption for the outstanding 2015 Notes that were not tendered pursuant to the tender offer described above. On February 21, 2011, the Issuer redeemed the remaining $48.39 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes at a redemption price of 104.063% of the principal amount of the 2015 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. As a result, the Company recognized debt extinguishment costs of approximately $2.0 million and $6.0 million during the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011, respectively, comprised of tender premiums and legal and professional fees associated with the tender offer and redemption and $0.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively, for the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs.

Furthermore, on January 21, 2011, the Issuer issued $187.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) in a private placement. A portion of the net proceeds was used to fund the Company’s purchase of the $86.96 million aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes pursuant to the tender offer described above and to fund its redemption of the remaining $48.39 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes in February 2011. The 2021 Notes are guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of the Company (see Note 18). In March 2011, the Issuer filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, under which the Issuer intends to offer to exchange the 2021 Notes for registered notes with substantially similar terms.  The registration statement has not yet become effective.

The indenture governing the 2021 Notes contains covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional debt and issue preferred stock, make certain restricted payments, consummate specified asset sales, enter into transactions with affiliates, incur liens, impose restrictions on the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or make payments to the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, merge or consolidate with another person, and dispose of all or substantially all of its assets. As of April 30, 2011, the principal amount outstanding under the 2021 Notes was $187.5 million.

On June 4, 2010, the Company entered into a five-year $225.0 million senior secured revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks. The Credit Agreement has an expiration date of June 4, 2015 and provides for maximum borrowings of $225.0 million, including a sublimit of $100.0 million for the issuance of letters of credit. Subject to certain conditions, the Credit Agreement provides for the ability to enter into one or more incremental facilities, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $75.0 million, either by increasing the revolving commitments under the Credit Agreement and/or in the form of term loans. In connection with issuance of the 2021 Notes, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement. The Amendment modified the Credit Agreement to permit the issuance of the 2021 Notes in an aggregate principal amount of up to $175.0 million, so long as the net cash proceeds of the notes are used to refinance, prepay, repurchase, redeem, retire and/or defease the Company's 2015 Notes in their entirety within sixty days of issuance of the additional notes. Any remaining net cash proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes. The issuance of the portion of the 2021 Notes in excess of the $175.0 million reduced the amount of other indebtedness permitted by the Credit Agreement by $12.5 million.

In addition, the Amendment provides for the incremental repurchase of the Company's common stock in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30.0 million for the period beginning January 5, 2011 through the maturity date of the Credit Agreement, subject to certain conditions. This incremental amount is in addition to amounts otherwise available under the Credit Agreement to purchase the Company’s common stock.

Obligations 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 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 replaces the Company’s prior credit facility which was due to expire in September 2011.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement (other than swingline loans as defined in the Credit Agreement) bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either (a) the administrative agent’s base rate, described in the Credit Agreement as the highest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%; (ii) the administrative agent’s prime rate; and (iii) the eurodollar rate (defined in the Credit Agreement as the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate, divided by one (1) minus a reserve percentage (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 1.00%, or (b) the eurodollar rate, plus, in each case, an applicable margin based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. Swingline loans bear interest at a rate equal to the administrative agent’s base rate plus a margin based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. Based on the Company’s current consolidated leverage ratio, revolving borrowings would be eligible for a margin of 1.50% for borrowings based on the administrative agent’s base rate and 2.50% for borrowings based on the eurodollar rate.

The Company incurs a facility fee, at rates that range from 0.500% to 0.625% of the unutilized commitments depending on its leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement also requires the payment of fees for outstanding letters of credit and unutilized commitments, in each case based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. Based on the Company’s current consolidated leverage ratio, fees for outstanding letters of credit and fees for unutilized commitments would be 1.250% and 0.50% per annum, respectively.

The Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, distributions, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions of assets, sale-leaseback transactions, transactions with affiliates and capital expenditures. The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that require the Company to (i) maintain a consolidated leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00, as measured on a trailing four quarter basis at the end of each fiscal quarter and (ii) maintain a consolidated interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75 to 1.00 for fiscal quarters ending July 31, 2010 through April 28, 2012 and not less than 3.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending July 28, 2012 and each fiscal quarter thereafter, as measured on a trailing four quarter basis at the end of each fiscal quarter.

As of April 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and $37.8 million and $44.1 million, respectively, of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement as part of the Company’s insurance program. These letters of credit provide financial assurance to the Company’s insurance carriers in connection with the settlement of potential claims. At April 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, the Company had additional borrowing availability of $127.8 million and $124.1 million, respectively, as determined by the most restrictive covenants of the Credit Agreement.

The Company has $0.5 million in capital lease obligations it assumed in connection with the November 2010 acquisition of Communication Services as of April 30, 2011. The capital leases include obligations for certain vehicles and equipment and expire at various dates in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.



 
12


11. 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. The Company’s effective income tax rate differs from the statutory rate for the tax jurisdictions where it operates primarily as the result of the impact of non-deductible and non-taxable items and tax credits recognized in relation to pre-tax results. In addition, 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. Additionally, during the three months ended April 24, 2010 the provision for income taxes included the reversal of $1.0 million of certain income tax liabilities which were no longer required.

As of April 30, 2011, the Company has total unrecognized tax benefits of $2.1 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 benefits was immaterial for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010.


12. Other Income, Net

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

   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                 
Gain on sale of fixed assets
  $ 3,300     $ 4,308     $ 6,810     $ 6,143  
Miscellaneous income
    200       143       654       316  
Total other income, net
  $ 3,500     $ 4,451     $ 7,464     $ 6,459  

 
13. Capital Stock


On February 23, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $20.0 million of the Company’s common stock in open market or private transactions though August 2011. On each of September 29, 2010 and November 22, 2010, the Board of Directors increased the amount authorized for repurchases by $20.0 million and extended the repurchase date for 18 months.

The Company has made the following repurchases under the share repurchase authorization set forth above:
Three Months
Ending
 
Number of Shares Repurchased
   
Total Consideration
(Dollars in thousands)
   
Average Price
Per Share
 
April 24, 2010
    475,602     $ 4,489     $ 9.44  
October 30, 2010
    3,239,900     $ 31,036     $ 9.58  
January 29, 2011
    291,500     $ 3,203     $ 10.99  
April 30, 2011
    1,278,100     $ 21,252     $ 16.63  
 
All shares repurchased have been subsequently cancelled.  On May 25, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized an additional $20.0 million to repurchase shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock to be made over the next 18 months in open market or private transactions.

 
13

 
14. 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” and, together with the 2003 Plan, “the Plans”). The Company also has several other plans under which awards are outstanding but 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 nine months ended April 30, 2011:

 
   
Stock Options
   
RSUs
   
Performance RSUs
 
   
Shares
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price
   
Share Units
   
Weighted Average Grant Price
   
Share Units
   
Weighted Average Grant Price
 
Outstanding as of July 31, 2010
    3,519,383     $ 18.53       190,101     $ 10.95       300,090     $ 19.29  
Granted
    930,150     $ 13.90       104,954     $ 13.60       69,720     $ 10.60  
Options Exercised/Share Units Vested
    (133,933 )   $ 8.76       (78,783 )   $ 12.62       -     $ -  
Forfeited or cancelled
    (399,102 )   $ 37.16       (683 )   $ 24.71       (220,258 )   $ 22.51  
Outstanding as of April 30, 2011
    3,916,498     $ 15.87       215,589     $ 11.58       149,552     $ 10.49  
                                                 
Exercisable options as of April 30, 2011
    1,878,419                                          
 
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 220,000 Performance RSUs were cancelled during fiscal 2011 related to fiscal 2010 performance criteria not being met.

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 and restricted share units for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 are as follows:
 
   
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                 
Stock-based compensation expense
  $ 1,314     $ 812     $ 3,086     $ 2,488  
Tax benefit recognized
  $ (414 )   $ (166 )   $ (905 )   $ (652 )
 
The Company evaluates compensation expense quarterly and recognizes expense for performance based awards only 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 of compensation expense recognized during current and prior periods may not be representative of future stock-based compensation expense.

Under the Plans, the maximum total unrecognized compensation expense and weighted-average period over which the expense would be recognized subsequent to April 30, 2011 is shown below. For performance based awards, the unrecognized compensation cost is based upon the maximum amount of restricted share units that can be earned under outstanding awards. If the performance goals are not met, no compensation expense will be recognized for these share units and compensation expense previously recognized will be reversed.

   
Unrecognized Compensation Expense
   
Weighted-Average Period
 
   
(In thousands)
   
(In years)
 
             
Stock options
  $ 11,294     3.1  
Unvested RSUs
  $ 2,135     2.9  
Unvested Performance RSUs
  $ 1,506     1.1  

 
15. 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 $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively, and $1.1 million and $0.9 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively.


 
14

 
16. Commitments and Contingencies

In October 2010, Prince Telecom, LLC (“Prince”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.  The plaintiffs, three former employees of Prince, alleged various wage and hour claims, including that employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs sought to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Oregon.  In October 2010, the plaintiffs’ attorneys and Prince entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed to the terms of a proposed settlement with respect to the lawsuit.  As a result, the Company recorded approximately $0.5 million in other accrued liabilities with respect to the proposed settlement during the first quarter of fiscal 2011.   On May 18, 2011, the Court entered an Order approving the settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice subject to final administration of the terms of the settlement.  The Order may be appealed for 30 days from the date on which it was entered.
 
   In May 2011, a proposed settlement was reached with respect to the Company’s other two outstanding wage and hour class action lawsuits described below. In connection with an agreement to settle the two lawsuits entered into by the Company, Prince, Cavo Broadband Communications, LLC, Broadband Express, LLC (“BBX”) and the plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Company recorded $0.6 million in other accrued liabilities during the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  The first of the two lawsuits, which commenced in June 2010, was brought by a former employee of Prince against Prince, the Company and certain unnamed U.S. affiliates of Prince and the Company (the “Affiliates”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleged that Prince, the Company and the Affiliates violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiff sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of himself and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of Prince, the Company and/or the Affiliates.  The second of the lawsuits, which commenced in September 2010, was brought by two former employees of  BBX against BBX in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit alleged that BBX violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiffs sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of themselves and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of BBX.  The proposed settlement and the consolidation of the two lawsuits are subject to the approval of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

In May 2009, the Company and Prince 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, alleged various wage and hour claims, including those employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs sought to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Washington. The Company estimated the liability of the proposed settlement at $2.0 million and recorded a pre-tax charge for this amount during the quarter ended October 24, 2009. 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.  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 Court held a hearing regarding the plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of the Class Action Settlement in April 2010, at which time it entered an Order approving the settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice subject to final administration of the terms of the settlement.  Excluding legal expenses of the Company, approximately $1.6 million was incurred pursuant to the settlement and was paid in June 2010.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various other claims and legal proceedings. Additionally, as part of the Company’s insurance program, it 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 needed to satisfy its insurance deductibles or retentions. 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.

Performance Bonds and Guarantees

The Company has obligations under performance, bid and other surety contract 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. Bid bonds are issued by a surety to protect owners if the Company fails to perform its obligations arising from a successful bid. As of April 30, 2011, the Company had $77.6 million of outstanding performance, bid and other surety contract bonds and no events have occurred in which the customers have exercised their rights under the bonds.

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

Letters of Credit

The Company has letters of credit issued under its Credit Agreement as part of its insurance program. These letters of credit provide financial assurance to our insurance carriers in connection with the settlement of potential claims.  As of April 30, 2011, the Company had $37.8 million outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement.

 
 
15

 
17. Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company’s customer base is concentrated, with the top five customers for the nine month period ending April 30, 2011 accounting for approximately 62.3% and 64.6% of revenue for the nine month periods ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively. AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”), Comcast Corporation (“Comcast”), CenturyLink, Inc. (“CenturyLink”), and Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) represent a significant portion of the Company’s customer base and were over 10% or more of total revenue for the three months or nine months ended April 30, 2011 or April 24, 2010 as follows:


 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
April 30, 2011
 
April 24, 2010
 
April 30, 2011
 
April 24, 2010
AT&T
21.1%
 
22.4%
 
22.2%
 
20.1%
Comcast
13.7%
 
14.0%
 
15.1%
 
14.4%
CenturyLink*
11.0%
 
11.8%
 
10.2%
 
11.6%
Verizon
8.7%
 
9.7%
 
8.0%
 
12.4%
               
*For comparison purposes, revenues from CenturyTel, Inc. and Qwest Communications International, Inc. have been combined for periods prior to their April 2011 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 April 30, 2011. Customers representing 10% or more of combined amounts of trade accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings as of April 30, 2011 or July 31, 2010 had the following outstanding balances and the related percentage of the Company’s total outstanding balances:


   
April 30, 2011
 
July 31, 2010
 
   
Amount
   
% of Total
 
Amount
   
% of Total
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
                           
CenturyLink*
  $ 31.7     18.0%   $ 28.4     16.0%  
AT&T
  $ 28.9     16.4%   $ 30.9     17.4%  
Comcast
  $ 18.0     10.2%   $ 19.6     11.1%  
Verizon
  $ 16.9     9.6%   $ 22.4     12.7%  
                           
*For comparison purposes, amounts for CenturyTel, Inc. and Qwest Communications International, Inc. have been combined for periods prior to their April 2011 merger.
 

 
18. Supplemental Consolidating Financial Statements

As of April 30, 2011, the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2021 Notes was $187.5 million. The 2021 Notes were issued by the Issuer (Dycom Investments, Inc.) in fiscal 2011 (see Note 10). 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 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.



DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
 
APRIL 30, 2011
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
ASSETS
                                   
                                     
CURRENT ASSETS:
                                   
Cash and equivalents
  $ -     $ -     $ 88,479     $ 548     $ -     $ 89,027  
Accounts receivable, net
    -       -       100,753       1,036       -       101,789  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    -       -       73,392       507       -       73,899  
Deferred tax assets, net
    1,056       -       13,854       97       (138 )     14,869  
Income taxes receivable
    6,836       -       -       -       -       6,836  
Inventories
    -       -       17,563       85       -       17,648  
Other current assets
    5,085       22       4,919       864       -       10,890  
Total current assets
    12,977       22       298,960       3,137       (138 )     314,958  
                                                 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    9,439       -       98,509       19,695       (575 )     127,068  
GOODWILL
    -       -       173,364       -       -       173,364  
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
    -       -       59,414       -       -       59,414  
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS, NET
    -       -       19,424       -       (19,424 )     -  
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES
    682,108       1,326,905       -       -       (2,009,013 )     -  
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLES
    -       -       815,374       -       (815,374 )     -  
OTHER
    7,108       4,771       1,958       385       -       14,222  
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
    698,655       1,331,676       1,168,043       20,080       (2,844,386 )     374,068  
TOTAL
  $ 711,632     $ 1,331,698     $ 1,467,003     $ 23,217     $ (2,844,524 )   $ 689,026  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                               
                                                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
                                               
Accounts payable
  $ 691     $ -     $ 26,668     $ 503     $ -     $ 27,862  
Current portion of debt
    -       -       383       -       -       383  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    -       -       877       -       -       877  
Accrued insurance claims
    619       -       25,590       80       -       26,289  
Deferred tax liabilities
    -       138       -       -       (138 )     -  
Other accrued liabilities
    3,486       4,265       35,601       1,075       -       44,427  
Total current liabilities
    4,796       4,403       89,119       1,658       (138 )     99,838  
                                                 
LONG-TERM DEBT
    -       187,500       103       -       -       187,603  
ACCRUED INSURANCE CLAIMS
    723       -       22,198       53       -       22,974  
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, NET NON-CURRENT
    1,059       332       45,228       1,373       (19,425 )     28,567  
INTERCOMPANY PAYABLES
    356,001       457,355       -       2,030       (815,386 )     -  
OTHER LIABILITIES
    2,694       -       985       6       -       3,685  
Total liabilities
    365,273       649,590       157,633       5,120       (834,949 )     342,667  
Total stockholders' equity
    346,359       682,108       1,309,370       18,097       (2,009,575 )     346,359  
TOTAL
  $ 711,632     $ 1,331,698     $ 1,467,003     $ 23,217     $ (2,844,524 )   $ 689,026  
                                                 




DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
JULY 31, 2010
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
ASSETS
                                   
                                     
CURRENT ASSETS:
                                   
Cash and equivalents
  $ -     $ -     $ 102,858     $ 462     $ -     $ 103,320  
Accounts receivable, net
    -       -       109,141       976       -       110,117  
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
    -       -       66,180       379       -       66,559  
Deferred tax assets, net
    1,056       -       13,959       67       (138 )     14,944  
Income taxes receivable
    3,626       -       -       -       -       3,626  
Inventories
    -       -       15,958       100       -       16,058  
Other current assets
    2,395       9       4,761       972       -       8,137  
Total current assets
    7,077       9       312,857       2,956       (138 )     322,761  
                                                 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    10,379       -       106,069       20,165       (585 )     136,028  
GOODWILL
    -       -       157,851       -       -       157,851  
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
    -       -       49,625       -       -       49,625  
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS, NET NON-CURRENT
    -       -       13,267       -       (13,267 )     -  
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES
    678,966       1,256,518       -       -       (1,935,484 )     -  
INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLES
    -       -       744,064       -       (744,064 )     -  
OTHER
    7,461       2,527       2,812       491       -       13,291  
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
    696,806       1,259,045       1,073,688       20,656       (2,693,400 )     356,795  
TOTAL
  $ 703,883     $ 1,259,054     $ 1,386,545     $ 23,612     $ (2,693,538 )   $ 679,556  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND
                                               
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                               
                                                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
                                               
Accounts payable
  $ 137     $ -     $ 25,548     $ 196     $ -     $ 25,881  
Current portion of debt
    -       -       47       -       -       47  
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
    -       -       376       -       -       376  
Accrued insurance claims
    615       -       27,395       76       -       28,086  
Deferred tax liabilities
    -       138       -       -       (138 )     -  
Other accrued liabilities
    3,317       3,255       34,565       1,676       -       42,813  
Total current liabilities
    4,069       3,393       87,931       1,948       (138 )     97,203  
                                                 
LONG-TERM DEBT
    -       135,350       -       -       -       135,350  
ACCRUED INSURANCE CLAIMS
    739       -       24,046       59       -       24,844  
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, NET NON-CURRENT
    1,059       333       32,938       3,096       (13,267 )     24,159  
INTERCOMPANY PAYABLES
    300,875       441,012       -       2,189       (744,076 )     -  
OTHER LIABILITIES
    2,586       -       853       6       -       3,445  
Total liabilities
    309,328       580,088       145,768       7,298       (757,481 )     285,001  
Total stockholders' equity
    394,555       678,966       1,240,777       16,314       (1,936,057 )     394,555  
TOTAL
  $ 703,883     $ 1,259,054     $ 1,386,545     $ 23,612     $ (2,693,538 )   $ 679,556  
                                                 



DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2011
 
                           
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 250,533     $ 1,830     $ -     $ 252,363  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       205,221       1,824       -       207,045  
General and administrative
    5,702       196       15,829       1,951       -       23,678  
Depreciation and amortization
    815       -       13,356       1,331       (11 )     15,491  
Intercompany charges (income), net
    (7,291 )     -       7,202       65       24       -  
Total
    (774 )     196       241,608       5,171       13       246,214  
                                                 
Interest income
    -       -       27       -       -       27  
Interest expense
    (774 )     (3,640 )     (8 )     -       -       (4,422 )
Loss on debt extinguishment
    -       (2,557 )     -       -       -       (2,557 )
Other income, net
    -       -       3,437       63       -       3,500  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (6,393     12,381       (3,278     (13     2,697  
                                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    -       (2,912 )     5,608       (1,488 )     -       1,208  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (3,481     6,773       (1,790     (13     1,489  
                                                 
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES
    1,489       4,970       -       -       (6,459 )     -  
                                                 
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 1,489     $ 1,489     $ 6,773     $ (1,790 )   $ (6,472 )   $ 1,489  
                                                 



DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2011
 
                           
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 725,863     $ 6,287     $ -     $ 732,150  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       592,033       5,954       -       597,987  
General and administrative
    15,970       467       46,005       5,896       -       68,338  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,379       -       40,703       3,846       (34 )     46,894  
Intercompany charges (income), net
    (20,793 )     -       20,547       223       23       -  
Total
    (2,444 )     467       699,288       15,919       (11 )     713,219  
                                                 
Interest income
    -       -       90       -       -       90  
Interest expense
    (2,444 )     (9,442 )     (17 )     -       -       (11,903 )
Loss on debt extinguishment
    -       (8,296 )     -       -       -       (8,296 )
Other income (expense), net
    -       -       7,405       59       -       7,464  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (18,205     34,053       (9,573     11       6,286  
                                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    -       (9,083 )     17,004       (4,777 )     -       3,144  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (9,122     17,049       (4,796     11       3,142  
                                                 
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES
    3,142       12,264       -       -       (15,406 )     -  
                                                 
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 3,142     $ 3,142     $ 17,049     $ (4,796 )   $ (15,395 )   $ 3,142  
                                                 



DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 24, 2010
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 229,541     $ 2,095     $ -     $ 231,636  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       189,562       1,771       -       191,333  
General and administrative
    5,297       13       16,159       2,828       -       24,297  
Depreciation and amortization
    842       -       14,053       968       (11 )     15,852  
Intercompany charges (income), net
    (6,672 )     -       6,616       56       -       -  
Total
    (533 )     13       226,390       5,623       (11 )     231,482  
                                                 
Interest income
    -       -       27       -       -       27  
Interest expense
    (533 )     (2,835 )     (18 )     -       -       (3,386 )
Other income (expense), net
    -       -       4,349       102       -       4,451  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (2,848     7,509       (3,426     11       1,246  
                                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    -       (1,126 )     2,073       (1,349 )     -       (402 )
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (1,722     5,436       (2,077     11       1,648  
                                                 
EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    1,648       3,370       -       -       (5,018 )     -  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 1,648     $ 1,648     $ 5,436     $ (2,077 )   $ (5,007 )   $ 1,648  
                                                 


DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 24, 2010
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
REVENUES:
                                   
Contract revenues
  $ -     $ -     $ 700,493     $ 6,589     $ -     $ 707,082  
                                                 
EXPENSES:
                                               
Costs of earned revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization
    -       -       576,301       5,940       -       582,241  
General and administrative
    16,155       137       47,488       7,918       -       71,698  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,404       -       41,327       2,860       (33 )     46,558  
Intercompany charges (income), net
    (20,471 )     -       19,985       485       1       -  
Total
    (1,912 )     137       685,101       17,203       (32 )     700,497  
                                                 
Interest income
    12       -       73       -       -       85  
Interest expense
    (1,925 )     (8,496 )     (49 )     -       -       (10,470 )
Other income (expense), net
    1       -       6,387       71       -       6,459  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    -       (8,633     21,803       (10,543     32       2,659  
                                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    1,090       (4,259 )     9,824       (5,202 )     -       1,453  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    (1,090     (4,374     11,979       (5,341     32       1,206  
                                                 
EQUITY IN EARNINGS (LOSSES) OF SUBSIDIARIES
    2,296       6,670       -       -       (8,966 )     -  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
  $ 1,206     $ 2,296     $ 11,979     $ (5,341 )   $ (8,934 )   $ 1,206  
                                                 



DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2011
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                                 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ 2,640     $ (5,719 )   $ 58,167     $ (2,975 )   $ (23 )   $ 52,090  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Capital expenditures
    (1,277 )     -       (27,641 )     (3,360 )     23       (32,255 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    -       -       9,550       140       -       9,690  
Cash paid for acquisitions
    -       (27,500 )     (9,000 )     -       -       (36,500 )
Changes in restricted cash
    25       -       191       -       -       216  
Capital contributions to subsidiaries
    -       (21,614 )     -               21,614       -  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,252 )     (49,114 )     (26,900 )     (3,220 )     21,637       (58,849 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from long-term debt
    -       187,500       -       -       -       187,500  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    -       (135,350 )     (317 )     -       -       (135,667 )
Debt issuance costs
    (456 )     (4,649 )     -       -       -       (5,105 )
Repurchases of common stock
    (55,491 )     -       -       -       -       (55,491 )
Exercise of stock options and other
    1,174       -       -       -       -       1,174  
Restricted stock tax withholdings
    (196 )     -       -       -       -       (196 )
Excess tax benefit from share-based awards
    251       -       -       -       -       251  
    Intercompany funding
    53,330       7,332       (45,329 )     6,281       (21,614 )     -  
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (1,388 )     54,833       (45,646 )     6,281       (21,614 )     (7,534 )
                                                 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and equivalents
    -       -       (14,379 )     86       -       (14,293 )
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    -       -       102,858       462       -       103,320  
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ -     $ -     $ 88,479     $ 548     $ -     $ 89,027  
                                                 



DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 24, 2010
 
                                     
   
Parent
   
Issuer
   
Subsidiary Guarantors
   
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
   
Eliminations and Reclassifications
   
Dycom Consolidated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                                                 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (2,168 )   $ (6,956 )   $ 60,546     $ (2,740 )   $ -     $ 48,682  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Capital expenditures
    (2,364 )     -       (32,194 )     (3,664 )     -       (38,222 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    -       -       6,506       65       -       6,571  
Capital contributions to subsidiaries
    -       (10,240 )     -       -       10,240       -  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,364 )     (10,240 )     (25,688 )     (3,599 )     10,240       (31,651 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Principal payments on long-term debt
    -       -       (920 )     -       -       (920 )
Repurchases of common stock
    (4,489 )     -       -       -       -       (4,489 )
Exercise of stock options and other
    30       -       -       -       -       30  
Restricted stock tax withholdings
    (273 )     -       -       -       -       (273 )
Excess tax benefit from share-based awards
    69       -       -       -       -       69  
    Intercompany funding
    9,195       17,196       (23,464 )     7,313       (10,240 )     -  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    4,532       17,196       (24,384 )     7,313       (10,240 )     (5,583 )
                                                 
Net increase in cash and equivalents
    -       -       10,474       974       -       11,448  
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    -       -       104,582       125       -       104,707  
                                                 
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ -     $ -     $ 115,056     $ 1,099     $ -     $ 116,155  
                                                 

 


19. Subsequent Events

On May 25, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized $20 million to repurchase shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, as the Company had used the remainder of its previous repurchase authorization during the quarter ended April 30, 2011. The stock repurchases are authorized to be made over the next 18 months in open market or private transactions.


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 31, 2010. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 3, 2010 and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.dycomind.com.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

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 values of our assets are impaired;
     
 
plans for future operations, growth and acquisitions, dispositions, or financial needs;
     
 
availability of financing;
     
 
plans relating to our services, including our contract backlog;
     
 
future 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 our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on September 3, 2010 and other risks outlined in our periodic filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, we may not update forward-looking statements to reflect changes as they occur after the forward-looking statements are made, 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 and gas utilities and others. Additionally, we provide services on a limited basis in Canada. For the nine months ended April 30, 2011, the percentage of our revenue by customer type from telecommunications, underground facility locating, and electric and gas utilities and other customers, was approximately 81.5%, 15.0%, and 3.5%, respectively.

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, changes in the general level of construction activity, as well as overall economic conditions. The capital expenditures and maintenance budgets of our telecommunications customers may be impacted by consumer demands on telecommunications providers, the introduction of new communication technologies, the physical maintenance needs of their infrastructure, the actions of our government and 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 Nine Months Ended
 
April 30, 2011
 
April 24, 2010
 
April 30, 2011
 
April 24, 2010
Multi-year master service agreements
74.6%
 
78.1%
 
75.7%
 
76.4%
Other long-term contracts
11.5%
 
12.6%
 
12.1%
 
14.2%
Total long-term contracts
86.1%
 
90.7%
 
87.8%
 
90.6%
               

 


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 nine months ended April 30, 2011 or April 24, 2010:

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
April 30, 2011
 
April 24, 2010
 
April 30, 2011
 
April 24, 2010
AT&T Inc.
21.1%
 
22.4%
 
22.2%
 
20.1%
Comcast Corporation
13.7%
 
14.0%
 
15.1%
 
14.4%
CenturyLink (CenturyTel, Inc.)*
11.0%
 
11.8%
 
10.2%
 
11.6%
Verizon Communications Inc.
8.7%
 
9.7%
 
8.0%
 
12.4%
Windstream Corporation**
7.1%
 
3.4%
 
5.3%
 
3.4%
Charter Communications, Inc.
7.0%
 
6.7%
 
6.8%
 
6.1%
Time Warner Cable Inc.
4.5%
 
8.1%
 
6.0%
 
8.4%
               
*For comparison purposes, revenues from CenturyTel, Inc. and Qwest Communications International, Inc. have been combined for periods prior to their April 2011 merger.
**For comparison purposes, revenues from Windstream Corporation and Kentucky Data Link, Inc. have been combined for periods prior to their December 2010 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), direct materials 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 locate damages. Locate damage claims result from property and other damages arising in connection with our underground facility locating services. 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 nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 includes a $0.6 million and $1.6 million charge, respectively, related to the settlement of legal matters. See “Legal Proceedings” below.

General and administrative expenses include costs of management personnel and administrative overhead at our subsidiaries as well as our corporate costs. The costs primarily consist of employee compensation and related expenses, including stock-based compensation, legal, consulting 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 performance of 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 to 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.

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 and gas 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 April 30, 2011.

Legal Proceedings

In October 2010, Prince Telecom, LLC (“Prince”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.  The plaintiffs, three former employees of Prince, alleged various wage and hour claims, including that employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs sought to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Oregon.  In October 2010, the plaintiffs’ attorneys and Prince entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed to the terms of a proposed settlement with respect to the lawsuit.  As a result, the Company recorded approximately $0.5 million in other accrued liabilities with respect to the proposed settlement during the first quarter of fiscal 2011.   On May 18, 2011, the Court entered an Order approving the settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice subject to final administration of the terms of the settlement.  The Order may be appealed for 30 days from the date on which it was entered.

In May 2011, a proposed settlement was reached with respect to the Company’s other two outstanding wage and hour class action lawsuits described below. In connection with an agreement to settle the two lawsuits entered into by the Company, Prince, Cavo Broadband Communications, LLC, Broadband Express, LLC (“BBX”) and the plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Company recorded $0.6 million in other accrued liabilities during the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The first of the two lawsuits, which commenced in June 2010, was brought by a former employee of Prince against Prince, the Company and certain unnamed U.S. affiliates of Prince and the Company (the “Affiliates”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleged that Prince, the Company and the Affiliates violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiff sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of himself and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of Prince, the Company and/or the Affiliates.  The second of the lawsuits, which commenced in September 2010, was brought by two former employees of BBX against BBX in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit alleged that BBX violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiffs sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of themselves and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of BBX.  The proposed settlement and the consolidation of the two lawsuits are subject to the approval of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

In May 2009, the Company and Prince 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, alleged various wage and hour claims, including those employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs sought to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Washington. The Company estimated the liability of the proposed settlement at $2.0 million and recorded a pre-tax charge for this amount during the quarter ended October 24, 2009. 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.  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 Court held a hearing regarding the plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of the Class Action Settlement in April 2010, at which time it entered an Order approving the settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice subject to final administration of the terms of the settlement.  Excluding legal expenses of the Company, approximately $1.6 million was incurred pursuant to the settlement and was paid in June 2010.

From time to time, we 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 our 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.

 
26

 
Acquisitions

On November 19, 2010, we acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Communication Services, Inc. (“Communication Services”), a provider of outside plant construction services to telecommunications companies in the Southeastern and south central United States. The anticipated benefits of this acquisition include incremental growth opportunities with existing customers and geographic expansion. The purchase price for Communication Services was $9.0 million paid from cash on hand and the assumption of approximately $0.7 million in capital lease obligations. Approximately $0.9 million of the purchase price has been placed in escrow until November 19, 2012 and will be used to satisfy indemnification obligations of the sellers that may arise.

On December 23, 2010, we acquired NeoCom Solutions, Inc. (“NeoCom”), based in Woodstock, Georgia. NeoCom provides services to construct, install, optimize and maintain wireless communication facilities in the Southeastern United States. The anticipated benefits of this acquisition include incremental growth opportunities with new and existing customers, including wireless service providers. The purchase price for NeoCom was $27.5 million paid from cash on hand. Approximately $2.8 million of the purchase price has been placed in escrow until June 23, 2012 and will be used to satisfy indemnification obligations of the seller that may arise.

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 of America. 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, purchase price allocations, the fair value of goodwill, the assessment of impairment of intangibles and other long-lived 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. 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. There have been no changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates in the nine months ended April 30, 2011. See “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 31, 2010 for further information regarding our critical accounting policies and estimates.

Results of Operations

The Company uses a fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in July. Fiscal 2011 will consist of 52 weeks, while fiscal 2010 consisted of 53 weeks, with the fourth quarter having 14 weeks 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
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
                                                 
Revenues
  $ 252.4   100.0 %   $ 231.6   100.0 %   $ 732.1   100.0 %   $ 707.1   100.0 %
Expenses:
                                               
Cost of earned revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization
    207.0   82.0       191.3   82.6       598.0   81.7       582.2   82.3  
General and administrative
    23.7   9.4       24.3   10.5       68.3   9.3       71.7   10.1  
Depreciation and amortization
    15.5   6.1       15.9   6.8       46.9   6.4       46.6   6.6  
Total
    246.2   97.6       231.5   99.9       713.2   97.4       700.5   99.1  
Interest income
    -   -       -   -       0.1   -       0.1   -  
Interest expense
    (4.4 ) (1.7 )     (3.4 ) (1.5 )     (11.9 ) (1.6 )     (10.5 ) (1.5 )
Loss on debt extinguishment
    (2.6 ) (1.0 )     -   -       (8.3 ) (1.1 )     -   -  
Other income, net
    3.5   1.4       4.5   1.9       7.5   1.0       6.5   0.9  
Income before income taxes
    2.7   1.1       1.2   0.5       6.3   0.9       2.7   0.4  
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    1.2   0.5       (0.4 ) (0.2 )     3.1   0.4       1.5   0.2  
Net income
  $ 1.5   0.6 %   $ 1.6   0.7 %   $ 3.1   0.4 %   $ 1.2   0.2 %
                                                 

 
 
Revenues. The following table presents information regarding total revenues by type of customer for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 (totals may not add due to rounding):


   
For the Three Months Ended
         
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
     
%
 
   
Revenue
 
% of Total
   
Revenue
 
% of Total
 
Increase (decrease)
 
Increase (decrease)
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
         
                                         
Telecommunications
  $ 211.4     83.8
%
  $ 184.7     79.8
%
$ 26.7     14.5 %
Underground facility locating
    34.6     13.7       41.8     18.0     (7.2 )   (17.2 )
Electric and gas utilities and other customers
    6.4     2.5       5.2     2.2     1.2     22.6  
Total contract revenues
  $ 252.4     100.0
%
  $ 231.6     100.0
%
$ 20.7     8.9 %
 
Revenues increased $20.7 million, or 8.9%, during the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the three months ended April 24, 2010. Of this increase, $14.4 million was generated by businesses acquired subsequent to the year ago quarter, April 24, 2010.

Revenues from specialty construction services provided to telecommunications companies were $211.4 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011, compared to $184.7 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010, an increase of 14.5%. Of this increase, $14.4 million was generated by businesses acquired subsequent to the year ago quarter, April 24, 2010. Additionally, we experienced a $5.3 million increase for a significant telephone customer deploying fiber within its network, a $4.7 million increase from two leading cable multiple system operators for installation, maintenance and construction services, including services to provision fiber to cellular sites, and a $3.7 million increase for another telephone customer increasing the capabilities of its networks. Other customers had net increases of $7.4 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the three months ended April 24, 2010. Partially offsetting these increases was a $7.4 million decrease in installation, maintenance and construction services from a leading cable multiple system operator.  We also experienced a $1.4 million net decrease for a customer engaged in a fiber deployment project as compared to the prior year quarter, this decrease was partially offset by work performed under a new contract with this customer.
 
Total revenues from underground facility locating customers during the three months ended April 30, 2011 were $34.6 million, compared to $41.8 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010, a decrease of 17.2%. The decrease resulted primarily from contracts that were terminated since fiscal 2010, reflecting our recent shift away from technician intensive customer contracts.

Total revenues from electric and gas utilities and other construction and maintenance customers during the three months ended April 30, 2011 were $6.4 million, compared to $5.2 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in work performed for several electric utilities and increases in work for gas customers during the quarter as compared to the same prior year period.

The following table presents information regarding total revenues by type of customer for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 (totals may not add due to rounding):


   
For the Nine Months Ended
           
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
       
%
 
   
Revenue
 
% of Total
   
Revenue
 
% of Total
   
Increase (decrease)
 
Increase (decrease)
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
           
                                           
Telecommunications
  $ 596.8     81.5 %   $ 563.3     79.6 %   $ 33.5     5.9 %
Underground facility locating
    110.1     15.0       126.0     17.8       (15.9 )   (12.6 )
Electric and gas utilities and other customers
    25.3     3.5       17.8     2.6       7.5     42.3  
Total contract revenues
  $ 732.1     100.0 %   $ 707.1     100.0 %   $ 25.1     3.5 %
 
Revenues increased $25.1 million, or 3.5%, during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the nine months ended April 24, 2010. Of this increase, $19.6 million was generated by businesses acquired subsequent to the year ago quarter, April 24, 2010.
 
Revenues from specialty construction services provided to telecommunications companies were $596.8 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011, compared to $563.3 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010, an increase of 5.9%. Of this increase, $19.6 million was generated by businesses acquired subsequent to the year ago quarter, April 24, 2010. Additionally, we experienced a $27.4 million increase for a significant telephone customer deploying fiber within its network, a $15.9 million increase from two leading cable multiple system operators for installation, maintenance and construction services, including services to provision fiber to cellular sites, and a $5.6 million increase for another telephone customer increasing the capabilities of its networks. Other customers had net increases of $12.6 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the nine months ended April 24, 2010.  Partially offsetting these increases was a $27.6 million decrease for a customer engaged in a fiber deployment project, a $15.5 million decrease from a leading cable multiple system operator for installation, maintenance and construction services.  We also experienced a $4.5 million net decrease for another significant telephone customer upgrading their network compared to the prior year period, this decrease was partially offset by work performed under a new contract with this customer.
 
Total revenues from underground facility locating during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 were $110.1 million compared to $126.0 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010, a decrease of 12.6%. The decrease resulted from contracts that were terminated since fiscal 2010, reflecting our recent shift away from technician intensive customer contracts.

Total revenues from electric and gas utilities and other construction and maintenance customers during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 were $25.3 million, compared to $17.8 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010. The increase was primarily attributable to a short-term project for a gas customer that began during the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and an increase in work performed for several electric utilities during the current nine month period as compared to the same prior year period.

 
28

 
Costs of Earned Revenues. Costs of earned revenues were $207.0 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011, compared to $191.3 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010. Included in cost of earned revenues for the three months ended April 30, 2011 is a $0.6 million charge recorded in connection with a legal matter described under “Legal Proceedings” above. Excluding such charge, there was a $15.1 million increase in costs of earned revenues. The net increase was primarily due to higher levels of operations during the three months ended April 30, 2011, including the operating costs of Communication Services and NeoCom since their acquisitions during the second quarter of fiscal 2011. The primary components of the increase were a $6.2 million aggregate increase in direct labor and subcontractor costs, a $6.0 million increase in other direct costs, and a $2.9 million increase in direct materials.

Costs of earned revenues as a percentage of contract revenues decreased 0.6% for the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the same period last year. Excluding the legal settlement charge referred to above, cost of earned revenue as a percentage of contract revenues decreased 0.8% for the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the three months ended April 24, 2010. Labor and subcontractor costs represented a lower percentage of total revenue for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and decreased 2.5% compared to the same period last year as a result of improved operating efficiency and the mix of work performed. Offsetting these decreases, direct materials and other costs increased 1.3% as a percentage of total revenue as our mix of work included a higher level of projects where we provided materials to the customer. Additionally, fuel costs increased 0.4% as a percentage of contract revenues as compared to the same period last year.

Costs of earned revenues were $598.0 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011, compared to $582.2 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010. Included in cost of earned revenues for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 are $0.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in charges recorded in connection with legal matters described under “Legal Proceedings” above. Excluding such charges, there was a $16.7 million increase in costs of earned revenues. The net increase was primarily due to higher levels of operations during the nine months ended April 30, 2011, including the operating costs of Communication Services and NeoCom since their acquisitions during the second quarter of fiscal 2011. The primary components of the increase were a $12.1 million increase in direct materials and a $6.4 million increase in other direct costs, partially offset by a $1.8 million aggregate decrease in direct labor and subcontractor costs.

Costs of earned revenues as a percentage of contract revenues decreased 0.7% for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the same period last year. Excluding the legal settlement charges referred to above, cost of earned revenue as a percentage of contract revenues decreased 0.5% for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the nine months ended April 24, 2010. Labor and subcontractor costs represented a lower percentage of total revenue for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and decreased 2.4% compared to the same period last year as a result of improved operating efficiency and the mix of work performed. Offsetting this decrease, direct materials increased 1.5% as a percentage of total revenue as our mix of work included a higher level of projects where we provided materials to the customer. Additionally, fuel costs increased 0.3% as a percentage of contract revenues as compared to the same period last year and other direct costs increased 0.1% as compared to the prior year period.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.6 million to $23.7 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to $24.3 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010. The decrease in total general and administrative expenses primarily resulted from a reduction of payroll expense and reduced legal and professional fees related to certain information technology initiatives that were completed. Partially offsetting these decreases were incremental general and administrative expenses of Communication Services and NeoCom which were acquired during the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Additionally, stock-based compensation expense increased to $1.3 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011 from $0.8 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010.

General and administrative expenses decreased $3.4 million to $68.3 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to $71.7 million for the nine months ended April 24, 2010. The decrease in total general and administrative expenses primarily resulted from a reduction of payroll expense and reduced legal and professional fees related to certain information technology initiatives that were completed. Partially offsetting these decreases were incremental general and administrative expenses of Communication Services and NeoCom which were acquired during the second quarter of fiscal 2011, and approximately $0.2 million of acquisition related expenses. Stock-based compensation expense was $3.1 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to $2.5 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010.

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of contract revenues were 9.4% and 10.5% for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of contract revenues were 9.3% and 10.1% for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of contract revenues reflects the reduction in payroll expense and legal and professional fees as a percentage of revenue related to certain information technology initiatives that were completed.

 
29

 
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased to $15.5 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011 from $15.9 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010, and totaled 6.1% and 6.8% as a percentage of contract revenues during the current and prior year period, respectively. The decreases for the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the same prior year period resulted primarily from asset sales and assets becoming fully depreciated. For the nine months ended April 30, 2011, depreciation and amortization increased to $46.9 million from $46.6 million for the nine months ended April 24, 2010, and totaled 6.4% and 6.6% as a percentage of contract revenues during the current and prior year period, respectively. The dollar increase for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to the same prior year period resulted primarily from the addition of fixed assets and amortizable intangible assets related to the Communication Services and NeoCom acquisitions during the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net was $4.4 million and $3.4 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively. Interest expense, net increased to $11.8 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to $10.4 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010. The increase for the three and nine month periods ended April 30, 2011 reflects higher debt balances outstanding during the current period. However, the Company’s overall effective interest rate on borrowings has been reduced as a result of the issuance of our 7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021 in January 2011, as described below, and the related purchase and redemption of our outstanding 8.125% senior subordinated notes due 2015.

Loss on Debt Extinguishment. On January 21, 2011, Dycom Investments, Inc., one of our subsidiaries, issued $187.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021 (the "2021 Notes") in a private placement. A portion of the net proceeds was used (1) to fund our purchase in January 2011 of $86.96 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8.125% senior subordinated notes due 2015 (the "2015 Notes") at a price of 104.313% of the principal amount pursuant to our tender offer to purchase, for cash, any and all of the $135.35 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2015 Notes, and (2) to fund our redemption in February 2011 of the remaining $48.39 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes at a price of 104.063% of the principal amount. As a result, during the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011, we recognized debt extinguishment costs of $2.0 million and $6.0 million, respectively, comprised of tender premiums and legal and professional fees associated with the tender offer and redemption and $0.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively, for the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs related to the transactions.

Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased to $3.5 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011 from $4.5 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010, and increased to $7.5 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 from $6.5 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010. The fluctuations in other income were the result of a number of assets sold and pricing during the periods.

Income Taxes. The following table presents our income tax expense and effective income tax rate for continuing operations for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010:


     
For the Three Months Ended
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
                           
     
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
     
(Dollars in millions)
                                   
Income tax provision (benefit)
    $ 1.2     $ (0.4 )   $ 3.1       1.5  
Effective income tax rate
.
    44.8 %     (32.3 )%     50.0 %     54.6 %

   Our effective income tax rates differ from the statutory rate for the tax jurisdictions where we operate as a result of several factors. During the three months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010 the provision for income taxes included the reversal of $1.0 million of certain income tax liabilities which were no longer required.  In addition, during 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.   Excluding the impact of these items, the variations in our effective income tax rate for fiscal 2011 and 2010 are primarily attributable to the impact of non-deductible and non-taxable items and tax credits recognized in relation to our pre-tax results during the period. As a percentage, these tax items will generally have a greater impact on the effective income tax rate in periods of lower pre-tax results. As of April 30, 2011, we had total unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $2.1 million, which would reduce our effective tax rate during the periods recognized if it is determined that those liabilities are not required.

Net Income. Net income was $1.5 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to $1.6 million during the three months ended April 24, 2010. Net income was $3.1 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 as compared to $1.2 million during the nine months ended April 24, 2010.

 
30

 
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. Our working capital is also impacted by the time it takes us to collect our accounts receivable for work performed for customers. Cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $89.0 million at April 30, 2011 compared to $103.3 million at July 31, 2010. Cash decreased during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 primarily as a result of repurchases of our common stock, cash paid for the acquisitions of Communication Services and NeoCom, and capital expenditures, offset by the net proceeds from our debt refinancing described below and cash provided by operating activities. Working capital (total current assets less total current liabilities) was $215.1 million at April 30, 2011 compared to $225.6 million at July 31, 2010.

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 facility based on our cash requirements. Additionally, our capital requirements may increase to the extent we make acquisitions that involve consideration other than our stock, buy back our common stock or repurchase or call our senior subordinated notes. We have not paid cash dividends since 1982. Our board of directors regularly evaluates our dividend policy based on our financial condition, profitability, cash flow, capital requirements, and the outlook of our business. We currently intend to retain any earnings for use in the business, including for investment in acquisitions, and consequently we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Additionally, the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes contains covenants that restrict our ability to make certain payments, including the payment of dividends. We believe that none of our major customers are experiencing significant financial difficulty as of April 30, 2011 that will materially affect our cash flows or liquidity.
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
April 30, 2011
   
April 24, 2010
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
 Net cash flows:
           
 Provided by operating activities
  $ 52.1     $ 48.7  
 Used in investing activities
  $ (58.8 )   $ (31.7 )
 Used in financing activities
  $ (7.5 )   $ (5.6 )

 
Cash from operating activities. During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, net cash provided by operating activities was $52.1 million. Operating cash flow and net income for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was reduced by our payment of $6.0 million in consent and other fees related to our repurchase of $135.35 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2015 Notes. Non-cash items during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 were primarily depreciation and amortization, gain on sale of assets, stock-based compensation, deferred income taxes and the amortization and write-off of approximately $2.6 million of debt issuance costs in connection with the repurchase of debt pursuant to our tender offer and redemption of the 2015 Notes. Changes in working capital (excluding cash) and changes in other long term assets and liabilities used $1.8 million of operating cash flow during the nine months ended April 30, 2011. The primary working capital source during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was a decrease in accounts receivable of $14.6 million. Working capital changes that used operating cash flow during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 were net increases in net costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings of $6.1 million and other current and other non-current assets combined of $2.6 million, primarily for increased levels of inventory, and increases in income taxes receivable of $3.2 million as a result of the timing of federal and state income tax payments. Other uses of working capital included decreases in accounts payable of $1.1 million due to the timing of payments and decreases in other accrued liabilities and accrued insurance claims of $3.4 million. These decreases were primarily attributable to interest payments on our 8.125% senior subordinated notes, including the final interest payments for the 2015 Notes tendered and redeemed during the nine months ended April 30, 2011, and timing of payments made on our accrued insurance claims.

Based on average daily revenue during the applicable quarter, days sales outstanding calculated for accounts receivable, net was 36.7 days as of April 30, 2011 compared to 38.0 days of as April 24, 2010. Days sales outstanding calculated for costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings, were 26.3 days as of April 30, 2011 and 23.3 days as of April 24, 2010.

During the nine months ended April 24, 2010, net cash provided by operating activities was $48.7 million. Non-cash items during the nine months ended April 24, 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 $1.8 million of operating cash flow during the nine months ended April 24, 2010. Working capital changes that contributed operating cash flow during the nine months ended April 24, 2010 included decreases in accounts receivable and net costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings of $18.8 million and $7.7 million, respectively. Working capital changes that used operating cash flow during the nine months ended April 24, 2010 were declines in other accrued liabilities and accrued insurance claims of $14.2 million due to the reduced level of operations during the quarter ended April 24, 2010 and interest payments made in October 2009 and April 2010 in connection with our 8.125% senior subordinated notes. Additionally, we had decreases in accounts payable of $1.2 million and an increase in income taxes receivable, net of $1.4 million due to the timing of applicable tax payments. Other uses of working capital included net increases in other current and non-current assets of $7.9 million primarily for increased levels of inventory and for prepaid insurance and other prepaid costs that were incurred near the beginning of the fiscal year.

Cash used in investing activities. For the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, net cash used in investing activities was $58.8 million and $31.7 million, respectively. During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, we paid $9.0 million and $27.5 million in connection with the acquisitions of Communication Services and NeoCom, respectively. Capital expenditures of $32.3 million and $38.2 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively, were offset in part by proceeds from the sale of assets of $9.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively. Restricted cash, primarily related to funding provisions of our insurance program, decreased approximately $0.2 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2011.

Cash used in financing activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $7.5 million and $5.6 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively. During the nine months ended April 30, 2011, we received $187.5 million in gross proceeds from the issuance of $187.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021 and paid $5.1 million in debt issuance costs. A portion of the net proceeds from the issuance were used in January 2011 to fund the purchase of $86.96 million principal amount of our 8.125% senior subordinated notes due 2015 pursuant to a concurrent tender offer and to fund the redemption of the remaining $48.39 million outstanding aggregate principal amount in February 2011. Additionally, we paid approximately $0.3 million and $0.9 million, during the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, respectively, for principal payments on capital leases.

We repurchased 4,809,500 shares of our common stock for $55.5 million, at an average price of $11.54 per share, in open market transactions during the nine months ended April 30, 2011. Further, we received $1.2 million from the exercise of stock options during the nine months ended April 30, 2011. There were minimal exercises of stock options during the nine months ended April 24, 2010. During the nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, we withheld shares of restricted units and paid $0.2 million and $0.3 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 nine months ended April 30, 2011 and April 24, 2010, we received excess tax benefits of $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, from the vesting of restricted stock units and exercises of stock options during the periods.

 
31

 
Compliance with Notes and Credit Agreement

On January 6, 2011, Dycom Investments, Inc., one of our subsidiaries, announced a tender offer to purchase, for cash, any and all of our $135.35 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2015 Notes. Concurrently with the tender offer, we solicited consents to eliminate certain covenants in, and amend certain provisions of, the indenture governing the 2015 Notes. On January 21, 2011, we accepted tenders for $86.96 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2015 Notes in connection with the early acceptance date of the tender offer, with the holders of the accepted 2015 Notes receiving total consideration of $1,043.13 per $1,000 principal amount of 2015 Notes tendered (which included a $20 consent payment per $1,000 principal amount of 2015 Notes tendered). The total cash payment to purchase the tendered 2015 Notes, including accrued and unpaid interest, was approximately $92.6 million, which was funded from the net proceeds of the sale of the 2021 Notes described below. The tender offer expired on February 3, 2011. No additional 2015 Notes were tendered after January 20, 2011.

On January 21, 2011, we issued a notice of redemption for the outstanding 2015 Notes that were not tendered pursuant to the tender offer described above. On February 21, 2011, we redeemed the remaining $48.39 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes at a redemption price of 104.063% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. As a result, during the nine months ended April 30, 2011, we recognized debt extinguishment costs of $6.0 million, comprised of tender premiums and legal and professional fees associated with the tender offer and redemption and $2.3 million for the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs.

Furthermore, on January 21, 2011, we issued $187.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021 in a private placement. A portion of the net proceeds was used to fund our purchase of the $86.96 million aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes pursuant to the tender offer described above and to fund our redemption of the remaining $48.39 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes in February 2011. The 2021 Notes are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries. In March 2011, we filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, under which we intend to offer to exchange the 2021 Notes for registered notes with substantially similar terms.  The registration statement has not yet become effective.

The indenture governing the 2021 Notes contains covenants that limit, among other things, our ability, and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries, to incur additional debt and issue preferred stock, make certain restricted payments, consummate specified asset sales, enter into transactions with affiliates, incur liens, impose restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make payments to us or our restricted subsidiaries, merge or consolidate with another person, and dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. As of April 30, 2011, the principal amount outstanding under the 2021 Notes was $187.5 million and we were in compliance with the covenants and conditions under the indenture governing the 2021 Notes.

On June 4, 2010, we entered into a five-year $225.0 million senior secured revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks. The Credit Agreement has an expiration date of June 4, 2015 and provides for maximum borrowings of $225.0 million, including a sublimit of $100.0 million for the issuance of letters of credit. Subject to certain conditions, the Credit Agreement provides for the ability to enter into one or more incremental facilities, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $75.0 million, either by increasing the revolving commitments under the Credit Agreement and/or in the form of term loans. In connection with issuance of the 2021 Notes, we entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement. The Amendment modified the Credit Agreement to permit the issuance of the 2021 Notes in an aggregate principal amount of up to $175.0 million, so long as the net cash proceeds of the notes are to be used to refinance, prepay, repurchase, redeem, retire and/or defease our 2015 Notes in their entirety within sixty days of issuance of the additional notes. Any remaining net cash proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes. The issuance of the portion of the 2021 Notes in excess of the $175.0 million reduced the amount of other indebtedness permitted by the Credit Agreement by $12.5 million.

In addition, the Amendment increases by $30.0 million the amount that we are permitted to use to repurchase our common stock during the period beginning January 5, 2011 through the maturity date of the Credit Agreement, subject to certain conditions.

Obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain subsidiaries and secured by a pledge of (i) 100% of the equity of our material domestic subsidiaries 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 replaces our prior credit facility which was due to expire in September 2011.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement (other than swingline loans as defined in the Credit Agreement) bear interest at a rate equal to either (a) the administrative agent’s base rate, described in the Credit Agreement as the highest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%; (ii) the administrative agent’s prime rate; and (iii) the eurodollar rate (defined in the Credit Agreement as the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate, divided by one (1) minus a reserve percentage (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 1.00%, or (b) the eurodollar rate, plus, in each case, an applicable margin based on our consolidated leverage ratio. Swingline loans bear interest at a rate equal to the administrative agent’s base rate plus a margin based on our consolidated leverage ratio. Based on our current consolidated leverage ratio, revolving borrowings would be eligible for a margin of 1.50% for borrowings based on the administrative agent’s base rate and 2.50% for borrowings based on the eurodollar rate.

We incur a facility fee, at rates that range from 0.500% to 0.625% of the unutilized commitments depending on our leverage ratio. The Credit Agreement also requires the payment of fees for outstanding letters of credit and unutilized commitments, in each case based on our consolidated leverage ratio. Based on our current consolidated leverage ratio, fees for outstanding letters of credit and fees for unutilized commitments would be 1.250% and 0.50% per annum, respectively.

The Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, investments, distributions, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions of assets, sale-leaseback transactions, transactions with affiliates and capital expenditures. The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that require us to (i) maintain a consolidated leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00 to 1.00, as measured on a trailing four quarter basis at the end of each fiscal quarter and (ii) maintain a consolidated interest coverage ratio of not less than 2.75 to 1.00 for fiscal quarters ending July 31, 2010 through April 28, 2012 and not less than 3.00 to 1.00 for the fiscal quarter ending July 28, 2012 and each fiscal quarter thereafter, as measured on a trailing four quarter basis at the end of each fiscal quarter. As of April 30, 2011 we had no outstanding borrowings and $37.8 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 April 30, 2011, we had additional borrowing availability of up to $127.8 million, as determined by the most restrictive covenants of the Credit Agreement, and we were in compliance with the financial and other covenants.

 
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Contractual Obligations.   The following tables set forth our outstanding contractual obligations, including related party leases, as of April 30, 2011:


   
Less than 1 Year
   
Years 1-3
   
Years 3 - 5
   
Greater than 5 Years
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                               
7.125% senior subordinated notes due 2021
  -     -     -     $ 187,500     $ 187,500  
Interest payments on debt (excluding capital leases)
    13,359       26,719       26,719       66,797       133,594  
Capital lease obligations (including interest and executory costs)
    403       107       -       -       510  
Operating lease obligations
    10,423       16,126       9,435       3,754       39,738  
Employment agreements
    3,977       1,847       -       -       5,824  
Purchase and other contractual obligations
    27,820       -       -       -       27,820  
Total
  $ 55,982     $ 44,799     $ 36,154     $ 258,051     $ 394,986  
 
Purchase and other contractual obligations in the above table primarily include vehicles and equipment ordered under contract but not yet received or paid for by the Company.

Our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2011 includes a long term liability of approximately $23.0 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 8 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 April 30, 2011 was $2.1 million and is included in other liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheet. This amount has been excluded from the contractual obligations table because we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of the resolution of the underlying tax positions with the relevant tax authorities.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.

Performance Bonds and Guarantees - We have obligations under performance, bid and other surety contract 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. Bid bonds are issued by a surety to protect owners if we fail to perform our obligations arising from a successful bid. Bid bonds are subject to full or partial forfeiture if we fail to enter into contracts under terms provided on our bids. As of April 30, 2011, we had $77.6 million of outstanding performance, bid and other surety contract bonds and no events have occurred in which customers have exercised their rights under the bonds. Additionally, we have periodically guaranteed certain obligations of our subsidiaries, including obligations in connection with obtaining state contractor licenses and leasing real property.

Letters of Credit - We have letters of credit issued under our Credit Agreement as part of our insurance program. These letters of credit provide financial assurance to our insurance carriers in connection with the settlement of potential claims.  As of April 30, 2011, we had $37.8 million outstanding letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement.

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 senior subordinated 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 buy back our common stock or repurchase or call our senior subordinated notes, our capital requirements may increase. Changes in financial markets or other areas of the economy could adversely impact our ability to access capital markets in which case we would expect to rely on a combination of available cash and the existing committed credit facility to provide short-term funding.

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 $1.373 billion and $1.114 billion at April 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively. We expect to complete 54.3% of the April 30, 2011 backlog during the next twelve months. Included in backlog as of April 30, 2011 was approximately $80.0 million of projects for rural broadband deployment for customers that were award recipients under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

 
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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. As a result, we may experience reduced revenue in the second or third quarters of our fiscal years.

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:

 
our fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in July, and as a result, fiscal 2010 consisted of 53 weeks with the fourth quarter having 14 weeks of operations, as compared to other fiscal years consisting of 52 weeks with the fourth quarter having 13 weeks;
     
 
the timing and volume of customers’ construction and maintenance projects;
     
 
seasonal budgetary spending patterns of customers and the timing of their 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;
     
 
fluctuations in the employer portion of payroll taxes as a result of reaching the limitation on payroll withholding obligations;
     
 
changes in the 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 incentive pay 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 and the impact of non-deductible and non-taxable items and tax credits.
     

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 $0.9 million if our cash and equivalents held as of April 30, 2011 were to be fully invested in interest bearing financial instruments.

Our Credit Agreement permits borrowings at a variable rate of interest; however, we had no outstanding borrowings as of April 30, 2011. Outstanding long-term debt at April 30, 2011 included approximately $187.5 million of our senior subordinated notes due in 2021, which bear a fixed rate of interest of 7.125%. Due to the fixed rate of interest on these notes, changes in interest rates would not have an impact on the related interest expense. The fair value of the outstanding notes totaled approximately $193.1 million as of April 30, 2011, 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 $6.6 million, calculated on a discounted cash flow basis.

We also have market risk for foreign currency exchange rates related to our operations in Canada. As of April 30, 2011, the market risk for foreign currency exchange rates was not significant as our operations in Canada have not been material.

For additional information on market risk, refer to Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 30, 2010.


Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of April 30, 2011, the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of April 30, 2011, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance 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 by the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) 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.


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

In October 2010, Prince Telecom, LLC (“Prince”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.  The plaintiffs, three former employees of Prince, alleged various wage and hour claims, including that employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs sought to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Oregon.  In October 2010, the plaintiffs’ attorneys and Prince entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed to the terms of a proposed settlement with respect to the lawsuit.  As a result, the Company recorded approximately $0.5 million in other accrued liabilities with respect to the proposed settlement during the first quarter of fiscal 2011.   On May 18, 2011, the Court entered an Order approving the settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice subject to final administration of the terms of the settlement.  The Order may be appealed for 30 days from the date on which it was entered.

In May 2011, a proposed settlement was reached with respect to the Company’s other two outstanding wage and hour class action lawsuits described below. In connection with an agreement to settle the two lawsuits entered into by the Company, Prince, Cavo Broadband Communications, LLC, Broadband Express, LLC (“BBX”) and the plaintiffs’ attorneys, the Company recorded $0.6 million in other accrued liabilities during the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  The first of the two lawsuits, which commenced in June 2010, was brought by a former employee of Prince against Prince, the Company and certain unnamed U.S. affiliates of Prince and the Company (the “Affiliates”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleged that Prince, the Company and the Affiliates violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiff sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of himself and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of Prince, the Company and/or the Affiliates.  The second of the lawsuits, which commenced in September 2010, was brought by two former employees of BBX against BBX in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit alleged that BBX violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to comply with applicable overtime pay requirements. The plaintiffs sought unspecified damages and other relief on behalf of themselves and a putative class of similarly situated current and former employees of BBX.  The proposed settlement and the consolidation of the two lawsuits are subject to the approval of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

In May 2009, the Company and Prince 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, alleged various wage and hour claims, including those employees were not paid for all hours worked and were subject to improper wage deductions. Plaintiffs sought to certify as a class current and former employees of the subsidiary who worked in the State of Washington. The Company estimated the liability of the proposed settlement at $2.0 million and recorded a pre-tax charge for this amount during the quarter ended October 24, 2009. 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.  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 Court held a hearing regarding the plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of the Class Action Settlement in April 2010, at which time it entered an Order approving the settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice subject to final administration of the terms of the settlement.  Excluding legal expenses of the Company, approximately $1.6 million was incurred pursuant to the settlement and was paid in June 2010.

From time to time, we 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 our 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.


 
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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes in risk factors for the Company in the period covered by this report.  See the discussion of risk factors in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010, and Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 29, 2011.


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

(a)
During the three months ended April 30, 2011, 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
January 30, 2011 - February 26, 2011
    -     $ -       -  
(a)
February 27, 2011 - March 26, 2011
    908,000     $ 16.32       -  
(a)
March 27, 2011 - April 30, 2011
    370,100     $ 17.39       -  
(a)
                           
(a) On February 23, 2010, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $20.0 million of the Company’s common stock in open market or private transactions through August 2011. During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company used $4.5 million to repurchase 475,602 shares of Company common stock at an average price of $9.44 per share. From August 1, 2010 through September 28, 2010, the Company used substantially all of the remaining $15.5 million available from the February 23, 2010 authorization to repurchase 1,786,300 shares at an average price of $8.68 per share. On September 29, 2010, the Board of Directors increased the amount authorized for repurchases in open market or private transactions through March 2012 by $20.0 million. From September 29, 2010 through October 30, 2010, the Company repurchased 1,453,600 shares for $15.5 million, resulting in total repurchases for the quarter ended October 30, 2010 of 3,239,900 shares for $31.0 million, at an average price of $9.58 per share. From October 31, 2010 through January 29, 2011, the Company repurchased 291,500 shares for approximately $3.2 million at an average price of $10.99 per share. On November 22, 2010, the Board of Directors increased the amount authorized for repurchases in open market or private transactions through May 2012 to $20.0 million. During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company repurchased 1,278,100 shares for approximately $21.3 million at an average price of $16.63 per share. All shares repurchased have been subsequently cancelled. On May 25, 2011, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized $20 million to repurchase shares of Dycom’s outstanding common stock as the Company used the remainder of its previous repurchase authorization during the quarter ended April 30, 2011. The stock repurchases are authorized to be made over the next eighteen (18) months in open market or private transactions.

 

 
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Item 6 . Exhibits.

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


Exhibit number

   
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, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


     
DYCOM INDUSTRIES, INC.
     
Registrant
       
Date:
May 31, 2011
  /s/ Steven E. Nielsen 
     
Name: Steven E. Nielsen
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
       
Date:
May 31, 2011
  /s/ H. Andrew DeFerrari 
     
Name: H. Andrew DeFerrari
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


 
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