StarTek, Inc. (NYSE:SRT) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010. The Company reported fourth quarter 2010 revenue of $64.7 million and annual revenue of $265.4 million. Net loss was $0.44 per share in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $1.30 per share for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company continued to execute on its three point strategy: expanding offshore, rationalizing U.S. operations, and reducing its Canadian exposure. Fourth quarter revenue from offshore facilities grew 22% vs. the third quarter of 2010 and 155% vs. the fourth quarter of 2009. The offshore operations also returned to profitability with a gross margin of 6% in the fourth quarter of 2010. During the quarter, the Company consolidated two U.S. sites in Greeley and Grand Junction, Colorado, and announced the ramp-down of its Alexandria, Louisiana facility, which will result in future utilization and margin improvements. Also in the quarter, the Company completed the closure of its Sarnia, Ontario site announced earlier in 2010 leaving only three sites in its Canadian operation. All three of these initiatives are intended to increase offshore delivery capacity and restore profitability through utilization and margin improvements. Financial Highlights Fourth quarter 2010 revenue decreased 1.4% compared to the third quarter of 2010, and 10.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. For the full year, revenue decreased 8.2% from $289 million in 2009. The decline from 2009 was due to six North American site closures during 2010, the ramp-down of another site that closed in early 2011, and lower North American wireless and wireline volumes. Revenue was down slightly from third quarter 2010, due to site closures and consolidations, partially offset by offshore segment growth, which expanded by $2.1 million, or 21%, compared to the third quarter of 2010.
Gross margin was 9.7% in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 10.1% in the third quarter of 2010, and 16.2% for the fourth quarter of 2009. The decline from 2009 was driven by the North American site closures, lower North American call volumes and the ramp-up of two new offshore locations. The decrease compared to last quarter, was a result of the ramp-down of sites in Sarnia, Ontario, Alexandria, Louisiana, Greeley and Grand Junction, Colorado, as well as approximately $0.3 million in severance expense, resulting from Company-wide reductions to site overhead costs. The offshore segment turned profitable, delivering 6% gross margin in the fourth quarter compared to a loss of 3.9% last quarter.
SG&A expense for the quarter totaled $11.8 million, compared to $10.3 million in the third quarter of 2010, and $11.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase from third quarter 2010 was due primarily to $0.9 million of severance costs associated with measures to reduce future SG&A expense. The Company reported a fourth quarter 2010 operating loss before impairment and restructuring charges of $5.5 million and adjusted EBITDA of negative $0.7 million, compared to a third quarter 2010 operating loss before impairment and restructuring of $3.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 million. The Company had a net loss of $6.6 million, or $0.44 per share, during the fourth quarter of 2010. The current quarter net loss compares to a net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.30 per share, in the third quarter of 2010, and net income of $0.9 million, or $0.06 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2009. Net loss for the full year 2010 was $1.30 per share compared to net income from continuing operations of $0.00 per share in 2009. The Company ended 2010 with approximately $18.7 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt. The Company also had $3.2 million and $16.9 million in capital expenditures during the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010, respectively.Operational Highlights
Full Year 2010 During the year, the Company:- Expanded its offshore platform by:
- Opening a 440-seat facility in Costa Rica.
- Launching its second facility in the Philippines equipped with 2,100 agent seats and the potential for future expansion of an additional 1,000 seats.
- More than tripling the number of FTEs in its offshore centers from approximately 600 in the fourth quarter of 2009 to nearly 2,100 in the fourth quarter of 2010.
- Strengthened its management team by hiring experienced call center industry leaders to fill the EVP, Chief Operating Officer and SVP, Sales and Marketing roles.
- Closed six North American sites, and announced the ramp-down of one more in the first quarter of 2011.
- Expanded into new verticals with clients in the cable, online retail and social media segments.
- Launched its second generation home agent platform, called StarTek@Home.
- Appointed two new members to its Board of Directors.
- Continued its offshore expansion efforts by growing offshore FTEs by over 30% to nearly 2,100 for the fourth quarter.
- Consolidated sites in Greeley, Colorado and Grand Junction, Colorado, closed its site in Sarnia, Ontario and ramped down a site in Alexandria, Louisiana.
- Reduced its annual SG&A overhead cost structure by approximately $4 million.
- Hired call center industry veteran Shelia Fisher as SVP, Sales and Marketing.
- Signed three new agreements for approximately 250 FTEs.
For additional information on revenue, margin and operating metrics, please refer to the Financial Scorecard posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website (investor.startek.com). Further, a visual presentation will accompany the Company’s earnings call which may be found on the Company’s website. Further details regarding the earnings call are described below.
Conference Call and Webcast Details The Company will host a conference call today, February 22, 2011, to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results, at 9:00 a.m. MST (11:00 a.m. EST). To participate in the teleconference, please call toll-free 866-543-6411 (or 617-213-8900 for international callers) and enter “22453553”. You may also listen to the teleconference live via the Company’s website at www.startek.com. For those that cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the Company’s website at www.startek.com. About StarTek StarTek, Inc. (NYSE: SRT) is a leading customer experience expert in the business process outsourcing industry. Our clients rely on us to ensure a great customer experience resulting in improved customer satisfaction and retention and an increase in revenue and cost efficiencies for our clients. StarTek has the platforms and the expertise to compete with the largest companies but we remain small enough to focus on partnering with our clients to develop creative solutions that fit their unique needs. StarTek’s comprehensive suite of solutions includes sales, order management and provisioning, customer care, technical support, receivables management, and retention programs. Our company also offers clients a variety of multi-channel customer interaction capabilities including voice, chat, email, IVR and back-office support. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, StarTek has delivery centers onshore in North America, near shore in Costa Rica, offshore in the Philippines and virtually through its StarTek@Home workforce. For more information, visit www.StarTek.com or call +1 303.262.4500. Forward-Looking Statements The matters regarding the future discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “possible,” “potential,” “should” and similar expressions. As described below, such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause StarTek's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to our reliance on two significant customers, consolidation by our clients, the concentration of our business in the telecommunications industry, pricing pressure, maximization of capacity utilization, lack of success of our clients products and services, consolidation of vendors by our clients, interruptions to the Company’s business due to geopolitical conditions and/or natural disasters, foreign currency exchange risk, lack of minimum purchase requirements in our contracts, ability to hire and retain qualified employees, the timely development of new products or services, failure to implement new technological advancements, increases in labor costs, lack of wide geographic diversity, continuing unfavorable economic conditions, our ability to effectively manage growth, increases in the cost of telephone and data services, unauthorized disclosure of confidential client or client customer information, risks inherent in the operation of business outside of North America, ability of our largest stockholder to affect decisions, stock price volatility, variation in quarterly operating results, inability to renew or replace sources of capital funding and, should we make acquisitions, the effective and timely integration of such acquisitions. Readers are encouraged to review Item 1A. - Risk Factors and all other disclosures appearing in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for further information on risks and uncertainties that could affect StarTek’s businesses, financial condition and results of operation.| STARTEK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 64,692 | $ | 72,517 | $ | 265,376 | $ | 288,980 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of services | 58,393 | 60,742 | 237,672 | 239,879 | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 6,299 | 11,775 | 27,704 | 49,101 | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 11,796 | 11,531 | 43,281 | 43,196 | ||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses and restructuring charges | 1,621 | - | 2,835 | 6,437 | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating (loss) income | (7,118 | ) | 244 | (18,412 | ) | (532 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net interest and other income (expense) | 30 | 6 | 273 | (210 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes | (7,088 | ) | 250 | (18,139 | ) | (742 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (526 | ) | (625 | ) | 1,244 | (751 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income from continuing operations | (6,562 | ) | 875 | (19,383 | ) | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | - | - | - | 4,640 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (6,562 | ) | $ | 875 | $ | (19,383 | ) | $ | 4,649 | ||||||||||
| Basic net (loss) income per share from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | (0.44 | ) | $ | 0.06 | $ | (1.30 | ) | $ | 0.00 | ||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | - | - | - | 0.31 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (0.44 | ) | $ | 0.06 | $ | (1.30 | ) | $ | 0.31 | ||||||||||
| Diluted net (loss) income per share from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | (0.44 | ) | $ | 0.06 | $ | (1.30 | ) | $ | 0.00 | ||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | - | - | - | 0.31 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (0.44 | ) | $ | 0.06 | $ | (1.30 | ) | $ | 0.31 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 14,964 | 14,823 | 14,903 | 14,792 | ||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 14,964 | 14,971 | 14,903 | 14,837 | ||||||||||||||||
| STARTEK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS & STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| As of | ||||||||
| December 31, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and investments | $ | 18,740 | $ | 20,091 | ||||
| Trade accounts receivable | 47,210 | 50,521 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 11,939 | 14,794 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 77,889 | 85,406 | ||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 46,930 | 58,045 | ||||||
| Other assets | 7,936 | 5,617 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 132,755 | $ | 149,068 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 27,665 | 24,973 | |||||
| Other liabilities | 4,443 | 7,379 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 32,108 | 32,352 | ||||||
| Stockholders' equity | 100,647 | 116,716 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 132,755 | $ | 149,068 | ||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating Activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (6,562 | ) | $ | 875 | $ | (19,383 | ) | $ | 4,649 | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 4,325 | 4,169 | 17,155 | 15,977 | |||||||||||||
| Impairment losses | 1,049 | - | 4,112 | 1,756 | |||||||||||||
| Non-cash compensation cost | 523 | 550 | 2,108 | 1,987 | |||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets & liabilities and other, net | 943 | (2,529 | ) | 10,755 | (8,715 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 278 | 3,065 | 14,747 | 15,654 | |||||||||||||
| Investing Activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from investments available for sale, net | - | (2 | ) | 606 | 8,019 | ||||||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (3,193 | ) | (4,102 | ) | (16,942 | ) | (14,683 | ) | |||||||||
| Proceeds from note receivable | 135 | - | 245 | - | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations | - | - | - | 7,075 | |||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | (3,058 | ) | (4,104 | ) | (16,091 | ) | 411 | ||||||||||
| Financing Activities | |||||||||||||||||
| Payments on borrowings | - | - | - | (6,855 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other financing, net | 122 | (3 | ) | 268 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 122 | (3 | ) | 268 | (6,849 | ) | |||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 84 | 170 | 225 | 795 | |||||||||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (2,574 | ) | (872 | ) | (851 | ) | 10,011 | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents (not including investments) at beginning of period | 21,314 | 20,463 | 19,591 | 9,580 | |||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents (not including investments) at end of period | $ | 18,740 | $ | 19,591 | $ | 18,740 | $ | 19,591 | |||||||||
Operating loss excluding impairment and restructuring charges:
| Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 | Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| GAAP | Adj. | Non- GAAP | GAAP | Adj. | Non- GAAP | |||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 64,692 | $ | 64,692 | $ | 65,598 | $ | 65,598 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of services | 58,393 | 58,393 | 58,964 | 58,964 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 6,299 | 6,299 | 6,634 | 6,634 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross margin | 9.7 | % | 9.7 | % | 10.1 | % | 10.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general & administrative expenses | 11,796 | 11,796 | 10,327 | 10,327 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses and restructuring charges | 1,621 | (1,621 | ) | (a) | - | 450 | (450 | ) | (a) | - | ||||||||||||||
| Operating loss | $ | (7,118 | ) | $ | (5,497 | ) | $ | (4,143 | ) | $ | (3,693 | ) | ||||||||||||
| (a) Adjustment to subtract impairment and restructuring charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||
| December 31, 2010 | September 30, 2010 | |||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (6,562 | ) | $ | (4,482 | ) | ||||
| Income tax expense | (526 | ) | 368 | |||||||
| Interest income | (32 | ) | (16 | ) | ||||||
| Impairment losses and restructuring charges | 1,621 | 450 | ||||||||
| Depreciation expense | 4,325 | 4,250 | ||||||||
| Stock compensation expense | 523 | 561 | ||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (651 | ) | $ | 1,131 | |||||