Company Achieves RMR Additions Growth and Launches Revenue-Enhancing,
Interactive Web-Based e-Secure Product
Conference Call Scheduled for 10 A.M. Eastern Time Today
to Review Results
LAWRENCE, Kan., May 14, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Protection One, Inc. (Nasdaq:PONE), one of the leading providers of security monitoring services in the United States, reported its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 on Monday. As previously reported, Protection One (the "Company") completed its merger ("Merger") with Integrated Alarm Services Group, Inc. ("IASG") on April 2, 2007, thus the results described below for 2007 include the performance of only Protection One and do not include IASG. All comparisons are to the quarter ended March 31, 2007 unless otherwise indicated.
Total revenue in the first quarter of 2008 increased by 33.3% to $91.6 million, largely due to the Merger. As a result of the increased debt assumed in connection with the Merger and the fair valuation of customer and dealer accounts acquired in the Merger, interest expense and non-cash amortization increased by 27.0% and 84.4%, respectively. The retirement of the Company's Senior Subordinated Notes with the proceeds from the $110.3 million Unsecured Term Loan on March 14th resulted in a $12.8 million loss on retirement of debt. The impact of these items was largely responsible for the increase in the Company's net loss to $(23.1) million, or $(0.91) per share, from $(5.3) million, or $(0.29) per share in 2007.
The Company's adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2008 increased 32.4% to $26.8 million compared to $20.2 million in the same period of 2007. Total Company RMR as of March 31, 2008 was $26.6 million, up from $20.1 million as of March 31, 2007 due to contributions from the Merger.
Richard Ginsburg, Protection One's president and chief executive officer, commented, "Operationally, we accomplished a great deal in the first quarter. As a result of significant efforts, we have largely completed our program to address the cellular industry's movement to digital technology. In addition, our Retail segment delivered another quarter of exceptional growth in RMR additions, notwithstanding the generally uncertain economic conditions. Retail additions increased 12.7% compared to additions in the first quarter of 2007 of which commercial additions, our principal area of focus, increased 26.0% with a slight benefit from the Merger. Our Multifamily segment also contributed additions growth, and our Wholesale business' RMR at the end of the quarter was up 3.5% from year end."
Ginsburg continued, "In the middle of the first quarter, we launched a new marketing program, from which we expect to see benefits in the current quarter and going forward. Of the national monitoring providers, we were first to market with an interactive service under the e-Secure(sm) product name, and we expect our enhanced targeting and service bundles based on e-Secure to deliver improved residential and commercial average revenue per unit. Finally, we continued our efforts to build our national accounts program, capitalizing on our national footprint and expertise in this area."
Ginsburg closed, "With respect to cancels, we are seeing indications that attrition in the IASG portfolio has stabilized and expect a decrease in the second quarter. We will continue to focus on reducing attrition and operating costs in order to drive improvement in adjusted EBITDA. We were also very pleased to have been the only monitored security provider recently named by Forbes.com as one of 'America's Most Trustworthy Companies,' and we will strive to continually operate in a manner to be deserving of such recognition, demonstrating a strong commitment to integrity and service throughout our organization."
Adjusted EBITDA, Recurring Monthly Revenue ("RMR") and Net Debt, as described in this release, are all non-GAAP financial measures and are described in greater detail in the attached schedules. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures, see the attached schedules.
Segment Results
Retail
The Company's Retail segment sells, installs, monitors and maintains electronic security and life safety systems directly for residential and commercial customers. As of March 31, 2008, the Company served approximately 596,000 retail customers, generating approximately $20.5 million RMR, up 23.7% from one year earlier, principally as a result of the Merger. Excluding the effect of the Merger, the Company estimates that Retail RMR of $16.5 million at March 31, 2007, would have increased by approximately 2.6% in the year since that date due to growth in RMR additions, less attrition, and price increases.
Total Retail segment revenue in the first quarter of 2008 increased 24.9% to $71.9 million, and monitoring and related services revenue increased 24.5%. An increase in outright sales of commercial security systems and the retail customers acquired in the Merger were the primary growth drivers. Excluding the impact of the Merger, the increase in monitoring and related services revenue would have been consistent with the growth in RMR noted above.
Monitoring and service costs as a percentage of related revenue was approximately 31% during the first quarters of both 2008 and 2007. Field service savings from the Merger were offset by faster relative growth of the commercial customer base, which has lower margins than residential customers, by an increase in fuel costs of almost $200,000, and by the costs of moving to digital technology.
Retail's operating income in the first quarter of 2008 of $0.6 million, compared to income of $1.6 million in 2007, reflects a $5.7 million, or 73.8%, increase in amortization of intangibles and depreciation expense, offset by additional gross profit due to the Merger.
The Company added approximately $0.6 million Retail RMR in the first quarter, an increase of 12.7% compared to the year earlier period. Continuing a recent trend, commercial additions as a percent of total Retail additions increased, comprising 47.3% of total internal RMR additions in the first quarter of 2008, up from 40.4% one year ago. The Company ended the quarter with $5.8 million of commercial RMR, an increase of approximately 18%, excluding the impact of the Merger, compared to commercial RMR at the same time last year. Commercial RMR was 28.2% of total Retail RMR on March 31, 2008 compared to 24.4% one year earlier. The Company's Retail unit incurred costs (both expensed and deferred) totaling $18.4 million to create and acquire RMR in the first quarter, including approximately $1.8 million relating to the movement to digital technology.
An increase in annualized gross attrition on the Retail base, excluding IASG, in the first quarter of 2008 to 12.0% combined with gross attrition on the IASG retail portfolio resulted in annualized total Retail gross attrition of 13.6% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 10.9% one year earlier. The Company believes the increase in attrition on the Retail base, excluding the acquired IASG portfolio, is related to a higher incidence of cancellations for non-payment and financial reasons due to economic conditions. On a trailing 12-months basis, gross attrition on the Retail base, excluding IASG, was essentially unchanged, while relatively higher attrition on the acquired IASG portfolio resulted in an increase in gross attrition to 13.8% from 12.3% one year earlier. For the same reasons noted above, annualized total Retail attrition net of resigns in the first quarter of 2008 was 11.8% compared to 8.8% in 2007 and, on a trailing 12-months basis, was 11.9% compared to 10.1%. As a result of RMR reductions arising from the movement to digital technology and increased attrition, Retail RMR decreased by approximately $160,000 in the first quarter of 2008. The loss of RMR related to the movement to digital technology had no material impact on operating results because the Company offered the service essentially at cost to its customers.
Wholesale
The Company's Wholesale business contracts with independent security alarm dealers nationwide to provide alarm system monitoring services to residential and business customers. As of March 31, 2008, this unit served approximately 4,600 dealers by monitoring approximately 894,000 homes and businesses on their behalf. These relationships provided approximately $3.7 million RMR compared to $1.0 million one year earlier just prior to the Merger. The combination of CMS, Protection One's pre-Merger wholesale subsidiary, and Criticom, IASG's wholesale operation, is known as Criticom Monitoring Services, or CMS.
Total revenue in the first quarter of 2008 increased to $11.8 million, up from $3.0 million one year ago, principally as a result of the Merger. Excluding the impact of the Merger, the Company estimates revenue would have increased by 3.8% due to internal sales efforts and growth of the Wholesale dealer account base.
The Wholesale reporting unit realized operating income of $0.2 million compared to $0.8 million in 2007. The growth in our Wholesale segment as a result of the Merger and corresponding increase in monitoring revenue was more than offset by the costs of additional selling efforts to support its expanded size as well as increased amortization of intangibles and depreciation expense.
Wholesale added $317,000 RMR during the first quarter compared to $60,000 RMR added one year ago as a result of a larger dealer base adding accounts and an expanded sales force soliciting new dealer relationships. The Wholesale unit incurred selling costs totaling $0.5 million in the first quarter, compared to $68,000 in 2007.
Wholesale annualized RMR attrition in the first quarter was 21.1%, an improvement over the 25.7% recorded in the year earlier period. Calculated on a trailing 12-months basis, RMR attrition in the quarter was 21.9%, up from 19.8% in 2007. The current period's results are consistent with Wholesale attrition previously recorded by IASG's Criticom operation. To a much greater extent than Retail, Wholesale attrition can be affected significantly by the decisions of its largest dealers.
Multifamily
The Company's Multifamily reporting unit provides monitoring and maintenance of electronic security systems for tenants of multifamily residences under long-term contracts with building owners and managers. As of March 31, 2008, Multifamily had $2.4 million of RMR arising from approximately 265,000 units in more than 1,600 rental properties in 520 cities.
Multifamily revenue decreased 3.6% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 2007 because RMR cancels have exceeded additions in the 12 months since March 31, 2007 resulting in lower average RMR in the first quarter of 2008. Principally as a result of lower revenues, Multifamily operating income declined to $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2008 from $2.0 million one year earlier.
Multifamily added $38,000 RMR in the first quarter 2008, compared to $17,000 RMR in the comparable periods of 2007, which more than doubled additions in the prior year. The Multifamily unit incurred costs (both expensed and deferred) totaling $1.5 million creating RMR in the first quarter, up approximately 26% for the quarter compared to investments in 2007, though significantly more efficient than in the prior year.
Multifamily's annualized gross attrition rate in the first quarter of 2008 increased to 17.5% from 11.8% in 2007 in part due to the decision not to renew by a large account with multiple properties. Calculated on a trailing 12-months basis, RMR attrition improved to 12.1% from 14.9% in the prior period. Combined with modest RMR additions and price increases, the net decrease in RMR for the quarter was $51,000. As of March 31, 2008, Multifamily continues to carry a backlog of nearly 8,000 sold but uninstalled units and installed units not yet billing.
Net Debt
The Company's cash and equivalents as of March 31, 2008 were $33.5 million compared to $41.0 million at December 31, 2007, with the decrease primarily due to cash payments in connection with the redemption of the Senior Subordinated Notes.
The Company's total debt and capital leases, excluding debt discounts and premiums, as of March 31, 2008 was $525.1 million, compared to $526.0 million as of December 31, 2007. The Company borrowed approximately $110.3 million under the new Unsecured Term Loan facility to redeem all of the Senior Subordinated Notes. A loss of $12.8 million was recorded in connection with the retirement of the Senior Subordinated Notes, which consisted of the write-off of unamortized discount, a make-whole payment, and termination fees.
The Company recently entered into interest rate swaps on $150 million and $100 million tranches of its Senior Secured Term loan fixing LIBOR at 3.19% and 3.15%, respectively, for approximately 30 months. With the execution of these hedges, $365.3 million, or approximately 70%, of the Company's debt carries a fixed interest rate. At current LIBOR, the Company's annualized cash interest expense is approximately $48 million.
Net debt as of March 31, 2008 was $491.6 million compared to $485.0 million at December 31, 2007. While not included in net debt, the Company also has notes receivable due from its Wholesale dealers of approximately $5.7 million as of March 31, 2008.
See "Non-GAAP Reconciliations" in the attached schedules for a reconciliation of net debt to reported debt and cash and equivalents.
Shares Outstanding
The Company had 25,306,913 weighted average number of shares outstanding in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 18,239,953 in the first quarter of 2007.
Conference Call and Webcast
Protection One will host a conference call and audio webcast today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to review these results. The call may be accessed by dialing (877) 545-1407 (inside the United States and Canada) or via a webcast at www.ProtectionOne.com. The reference code associated with the call is 9034814.
A webcast replay will be available shortly after the call at www.ProtectionOne.com. A telephonic replay of the call also will be available until May 28, 2008. To listen to the telephonic replay, dial (719) 457-0820 or (888) 203-1112 and enter the following passcode: 9034814.
Forward-looking Statements: Certain matters discussed in this news release are "forward-looking statements." The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 has established that these statements qualify for safe harbors from liability. Forward-looking statements may include words or phrases such as "we believe," "we anticipate," "we expect" or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements may describe our future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Such statements may address future events and conditions concerning customer retention, debt levels and debt service capacity. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed here as a result of numerous factors, including our significant debt obligations, net losses and competition. See our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008, which was filed with the SEC on May 12, 2008, for a further discussion of factors affecting our performance. Protection One disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this news release.
Protection One is one of the largest vertically integrated national providers of sales, installation, monitoring, and maintenance of electronic security systems to homes and businesses and has been recognized as one of "America's Most Trustworthy Companies" by Forbes.com. Network Multifamily, Protection One's wholly owned subsidiary, is the largest security provider to the multifamily housing market. The company also owns the nation's largest provider of wholesale monitoring services, the combined operations of CMS and Criticom International. For more information about Protection One, visit www.ProtectionOne.com. (PONENR)
The Protection One, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5001
PROTECTION ONE, INC.
and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(unaudited)
Three Months
Ended March 31,
------------------
(in thousands, except per share amounts) 2008 2007
---------------------------------------- ---- ----
Revenue
Monitoring & related services $ 82,826 $ 62,092
Installation and other 8,751 6,591
-------- --------
Total revenue 91,577 68,683
Cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization and
depreciation shown below):
Monitoring & related services 28,429 18,780
Installation and other 11,210 8,845
-------- --------
Total cost of revenue (exclusive of
amortization and depreciation shown below) 39,639 27,625
Selling expenses 13,430 11,117
General & administrative 19,266 16,049
Amortization and depreciation 17,033 9,520
-------- --------
Total operating expenses 49,729 36,686
-------- --------
Operating income 2,209 4,372
Other expense (income)
Interest expense 12,563 9,896
Interest income (319) (369)
Loss on retirement of debt 12,788 --
Other (23) (22)
-------- --------
Total other expense 25,009 9,505
-------- --------
Loss before income taxes (22,800) (5,133)
Income tax expense 278 162
-------- --------
Net loss $(23,078) $ (5,295)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate caps 67 (162)
-------- --------
Comprehensive loss $(23,011) $ (5,457)
======== ========
Basic and diluted net loss per common share(a) $ (0.91) $ (0.29)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
(in thousands) 25,307 18,240
(a) -- Options are not included in the computation of diluted
earnings per share because to do so would have been antidilutive for
each of the periods presented.
PROTECTION ONE, INC.
and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Financial Information
(unaudited)
Three Months
Ended March 31,
------------------
(in thousands) 2008 2007
---- ----
Segment Information
Retail
Revenue
Monitoring & related services $ 63,518 $ 51,027
Installation and other 8,354 6,518
-------- --------
Total revenue 71,872 57,545
Cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization and
depreciation shown below):
Monitoring & related services 19,749 15,661
Installation and other 10,564 8,393
-------- --------
Total cost of revenue (exclusive of
amortization and depreciation shown below) 30,313 24,054
Selling expenses 12,493 10,586
General & administrative 14,965 13,537
Amortization of intangibles and depreciation
expense 13,496 7,765
-------- --------
Total operating expenses 40,954 31,888
Operating income $ 605 $ 1,603
Operating margin 0.8% 2.8%
Wholesale
Revenue
Monitoring & related services $ 11,518 $ 2,972
Other 317 --
-------- --------
Total revenue 11,835 2,972
Cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization and
depreciation shown below):
Monitoring & related services 6,801 1,294
Other -- --
-------- --------
Total cost of revenue (exclusive of
amortization and depreciation shown below) 6,801 1,294
Selling expenses 548 68
General & administrative expense 2,280 647
Amortization of intangibles and depreciation
expense 2,003 176
-------- --------
Total operating expenses 4,831 891
Operating income $ 203 $ 787
Operating margin 1.7% 26.5%
Multifamily
Revenue
Monitoring & related services $ 7,790 $ 8,093
Installation and other 80 73
-------- --------
Total revenue 7,870 8,166
Cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization and
depreciation shown below):
Monitoring & related services 1,879 1,825
Installation and other 646 452
-------- --------
Total cost of revenue (exclusive of
amortization and depreciation shown below) 2,525 2,277
Selling expenses 389 463
General & administrative expense 2,021 1,865
Amortization of intangibles and depreciation
expense 1,534 1,579
-------- --------
Total operating expenses 3,944 3,907
Operating income $ 1,401 $ 1,982
Operating margin 17.8% 24.3%
PROTECTION ONE, INC.
and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Financial Information (cont.)
(unaudited)
Three Months
Ended March 31,
------------------
(in thousands) 2008 2007
---- ----
Supplemental Financial Information
FAS 123(R) Expense in G&A
Retail $ 366 $ 272
Wholesale -- --
Multifamily -- --
-------- --------
FAS 123(R) expense in G&A 366 272
Amortization of Deferred Costs in Excess of Amort.
of Deferred Rev.
Retail $ 6,551 $ 5,730
Wholesale -- --
Multifamily 520 316
-------- --------
Amort. of deferred costs in excess of amort.
of deferred rev. 7,071 6,046
Investment in New Accounts and Rental Equipment,
Net
Retail $ 10,263 $ 6,985
Wholesale -- --
Multifamily 1,035 641
-------- --------
Investment in new accounts and rental
equipment, net 11,298 7,626
Property Additions, Exclusive of Rental Equipment
Retail $ 999 $ 913
Wholesale 282 --
Multifamily 34 528
-------- --------
Property additions, exclusive of rental
equipment 1,315 1,441
PROTECTION ONE, INC.
and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Financial Information (cont.)
(unaudited)
Three Months
Ended March 31,
------------------
(in thousands) 2008 2007
---- ----
Supplemental Financial Information (Non-GAAP)
Recurring Monthly Revenue (RMR) $ 26,622 $ 20,061
RMR Rollforward - Retail
Beginning RMR $ 20,628 $ 16,429
RMR additions from direct sales 585 523
RMR additions from account purchases 4 --
RMR losses (700) (449)
Price increases and other (48) 46
-------- --------
Ending RMR $ 20,469 $ 16,549
RMR Rollforward - Wholesale
Beginning RMR $ 3,615 $ 963
RMR additions from direct sales 317 60
RMR additions from account purchases -- --
RMR losses (193) (62)
Price increases and other 2 --
-------- --------
Ending RMR $ 3,741 $ 961
RMR Rollforward - Multifamily
Beginning RMR $ 2,463 $ 2,596
RMR additions from direct sales 38 17
RMR additions from account purchases -- --
RMR losses (107) (76)
Price increases and other 18 14
-------- --------
Ending RMR $ 2,412 $ 2,551
RMR Rollforward - Consolidated
Beginning RMR $ 26,706 $ 19,988
RMR additions from direct sales 940 600
RMR additions from account purchases 4 --
RMR losses (1,000) (587)
Price increases and other (28) 60
-------- --------
Ending RMR $ 26,622 $ 20,061
Annualized Three
Months Ended
RMR Attrition March 31,
------------------
2008 2007
---- ----
RMR Attrition - Gross
Retail 13.6% 10.9%
Wholesale 21.1% 25.7%
Multifamily 17.5% 11.8%
RMR Attrition - Net of New Owners
Retail 11.8% 8.8%
March 31, March 31,
Customer Sites 2008 2007
---- ----
Retail Customer Sites 596,053 506,560
Wholesale Customer Sites 893,882 194,489
Multifamily Customer Sites 268,548 289,960
PROTECTION ONE, INC.
and Subsidiaries
Non-GAAP Reconciliations
(unaudited)
Recurring Monthly Revenues (RMR)
RMR is the sum of all the monthly revenue we are entitled to receive
under contracts with customers in effect at the end of a period.
A reconciliation of RMR to Protection One, Inc.'s reported total
revenue follows:
Three Months
Ended March 31,
------------------
(in thousands) 2008 2007
---- ----
RMR at March 31 $26,622 $20,061
Amounts excluded from RMR:
Amortization of deferred revenue 1,043 766
Other revenue(a) 3,039 2,701
-------- --------
Revenue (GAAP basis)
March 30,704 23,528
January - February 60,873 45,155
-------- --------
Total period revenue $91,577 $68,683
(a) Revenue that is not pursuant to periodic contractual billings
The Company believes the presentation of RMR is useful to investors
because the measure is often used by investors and lenders to
evaluate companies such as Protection One with recurring revenue
streams. Management monitors RMR, among other things, to evaluate the
Company's ongoing performance.
Adjusted EBITDA
A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Protection One, Inc.'s
reported loss before income taxes follows:
Three Months
Ended March 31,
------------------
(in thousands) 2008 2007
---- ----
Loss before income taxes $(22,800) $ (5,133)
Plus:
Interest expense, net 12,244 9,527
Amortization and depreciation expense 17,033 9,520
Amort. of deferred costs in excess of amort. of
deferred revenue 7,071 6,046
Stock based compensation expense 366 272
Merger related and other costs 72 -
Loss on retirement of debt 12,788 -
Less:
Other income (23) (22)
-------- --------
$ 26,751 $ 20,210
Adjusted EBITDA is used by management in evaluating segment performance
and allocating resources, and management believes it is used by many
analysts following the security industry. This information should not be
considered as an alternative to any measure of performance as promulgated
under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America, such as loss before income taxes or cash flow from operations.
Items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in
understanding and assessing the consolidated financial performance of the
Company. See the table above for the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to
consolidated loss before income taxes. The Company's calculation of
Adjusted EBITDA may be different from the calculation used by other
companies and comparability may be limited. Management believes the
presentation of non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA is
useful because it allows investors and management to evaluate and compare
the Company's operating results from period to period in a meaningful and
consistent manner in addition to standard GAAP financial measures.
Net Debt reconciled to GAAP measures
March 31, December 31,
(in thousands) 2008 2007
----------- -----------
Senior credit facility, maturing March 31,
2012, variable $ 294,000 $ 294,750
Senior secured notes, maturing November 2011,
fixed 12.00%, face value 115,345 115,345
Unsecured term loan, maturing March 14, 2013,
variable 110,340 --
Senior subordinated notes, maturing January
2009, fixed 8.125%, face value -- 110,340
Capital leases 5,423 5,599
----------- -----------
$ 525,108 $ 526,034
Less cash and cash equivalents (33,471) (40,999)
----------- -----------
Net Debt $ 491,637 $ 485,035
Net Debt is utilized by management as a measure of the Company's
financial leverage and the Company believes that investors also may
find Net Debt to be helpful in evaluating the Company's financial
leverage. This supplemental non-GAAP information should be viewed in
conjunction with the Company's consolidated balance sheets in the
Company's report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008.