Pitney Bowes Announces Fourth Quarter Results

STAMFORD, Conn., February 05, 2007 - Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) today reported fourth quarter and full year 2006 financial results.

The companys Chairman and CEO Michael J. Critelli noted, 2006 was a year of significant accomplishment for Pitney Bowes, capped off by the passage of historic postal reform legislation. There are four things of particular note for our customers and shareholders. First, we had good financial performance during the quarter and throughout the year, meeting our revenue and earnings targets. Second, we completed our restructuring program which continues to make us more efficient and competitive. Third, the sale of Capital Services and our tax settlement agreement with the Internal Revenue Service earlier in the year provides greater stability, transparency and visibility into our business. Fourth, our strategies to expand into higher growth segments throughout the mailstream have solidly positioned us to take advantage of the stability, flexibility, technology and partnerships that postal reform will bring. We are focused on the many growth opportunities available to us and committed to providing end-to-end, integrated mailstream solutions for our customers.

FOURTH QUARTER 2006 RESULTS

For the fourth quarter 2006, revenue increased eight percent to $1.55 billion. Income from continuing operations increased from $84 million in the fourth quarter 2005 to $163 million in the fourth quarter 2006, which was an increase of 95 percent. Earnings per diluted share from continuing operations increased 101 percent from $.36 in the fourth quarter 2005 to $.73 this quarter.

The company completed its previously announced restructuring program and recorded an after-tax restructuring charge of $12 million or $.05 per diluted share during the quarter. The company also recorded an after-tax gain of $2 million in other income or $0.01 per diluted share, primarily due to a revised liability estimate associated with a previous legal settlement.

Excluding the impact of the restructuring charge and gain resulting from a revised liability estimate with respect to a legal settlement, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased eleven percent from $.69 in the prior year to $.77 this quarter. This was in line with the companys guidance of $.76 to $.78 per diluted share. For the full year 2006, the adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $2.69 versus $2.46 in 2005, which was a nine percent increase. The following table presents a reconciliation of earnings per share from continuing operations both on a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis and on an adjusted basis.

               
  4Q06 4Q05 Full Year 2006 Full Year 2005
Adjusted EPS $0.77  $0.69  $2.69  $2.46 
Restructuring ($0.05) ($0.09) ($0.10) ($0.16)
Foundation Contributions N/A  N/A  N/A  ($0.03)
Tax Reserve Increase N/A  ($0.24) ($0.09) ($0.24)
Other Income $0.01  N/A  $0.01  N/A 
GAAP EPS $0.73  $0.36  $2.51  $2.04 

The company also had a $0.02 per share loss in discontinued operations resulting from interest costs associated with the tax payments made to the IRS related to Capital Services. This compares with $0.02 per share of income from discontinued operations in the prior year. For the full-year 2006, the company had a $2.04 per share loss in discontinued operations versus income of $0.15 per share in the prior year.

As previously discussed, the company adopted the new accounting rule for pension and other retiree benefits (FAS 158). The company recorded a $297 million reduction to equity, which was less than it had originally anticipated due to a higher discount rate and the strong performance of pension plan investments in 2006. In the U.S. the companys qualified pension plans are fully funded on both an accumulated benefit obligation and projected benefit obligation basis.

Net cash used in operating activities was $622 million during the quarter. The net use of cash during the quarter includes the payment of $802 million of taxes related to the sale of Capital Services and the settlement with the IRS as previously disclosed. This payment was funded by cash received from the sale of Capital Services, which had been placed in short-term investments. Excluding the tax payment, net cash from operating activities was $180 million for the quarter.

Free cash flow was $126 million for the quarter and $523 million for the full-year. Free cash flow included $81 million for the quarter and $208 million for the full-year of investments in finance receivables, net of reserve account deposits.

The companys Board of Directors authorized a one-cent increase of its quarterly common stock dividend to $.33 per share. The increased dividend will be paid in the first quarter, marking the 25th consecutive year that the company has increased the dividend on its common stock.

The company used $88 million to repurchase 1.9 million of its shares during the quarter and still has authorization to repurchase $141 million of its common shares. During the year, the company repurchased 9.2 million shares for $400 million.

Mailstream Solutions includes worldwide revenue and related expenses from the sale, rental, and financing of mail finishing, mail creation, shipping, and production mail equipment; supplies; mailing and multi-vendor support services; payment solutions; and mailing and customer communication software.

In the fourth quarter, Mailstream Solutions revenue increased nine percent to $1.1 billion and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased six percent to $343 million, when compared with the prior year.

Within Mailstream Solutions:

U.S. Mailing operations had fourth quarter revenue growth of five percent to $620 million and EBIT growth of four percent to $246 million. Growth in the quarter was driven by placements of the companys networked digital mailing systems and strong growth of supplies and payment solutions as customers took advantage of our broad range of offerings. There also continued to be good growth in the companys shipping solutions that allow businesses to determine the best and most cost effective way to ship packages and documents.

International Mailing revenue grew 13 percent to $272 million while EBIT was flat at $48 million. International Mailing revenue benefited from a recent postal rate change in France, double-digit growth in supplies, and ongoing strong placements of mailing equipment with small businesses. Incremental investments to expand our marketing channels in Europe and transitional expenses related to the consolidation and outsourcing of administrative functions in Europe continued to adversely affect International Mailing EBIT margins. The company expects to start seeing the benefits of these initiatives in 2007.

Worldwide revenue for Production Mail grew 10 percent to $179 million and EBIT increased 15 percent to $33 million. Revenue growth was favorably affected by continued strong placements of equipment and the companys high-speed metering system in the U.S.

Software revenue increased 24 percent to $63 million and EBIT increased 45 percent to $16 million. Revenue growth for the quarter benefited from strong sales of document composition software that enables companies to customize and personalize their mailstream communications. The software business had double-digit revenue growth in all major markets and EBIT was favorably impacted by positive operating leverage.

Mailstream Services includes worldwide revenue and related expenses from facilities management contracts, reprographics, document management, and other value-added services for targeted customer markets; mail services operations, which include presort mail services and international outbound mail services; and marketing services.

For the quarter, Mailstream Services reported revenue growth of seven percent to $412 million and EBIT growth of 38 percent to $43 million, versus the prior year.

Within Mailstream Services:

Management Services revenue increased three percent to $276 million for the quarter while EBIT increased seven percent to $22 million, consistent with the companys strategy to focus on higher value service offerings while reducing administrative costs.

Mail Services revenue grew eight percent to $94 million and EBIT grew 79 percent to $13 million. Revenue growth was driven by both presort and international mail services, while EBIT benefited from the ongoing successful integration of acquired sites and increased operating efficiencies.

Marketing Services revenue increased 41 percent to $43 million and EBIT grew 127 percent to $8 million driven by continued expansion of our marketing services programs.

Outlook

The company anticipates revenue growth in the range of six to nine percent for the first quarter and full year.

The company expects fully diluted earnings per share in first quarter 2007 in the range of $0.66 to $0.68 and $2.90 to $2.98 for the full year. The earnings expectations for first quarter and the full year are further summarized as follows:

               
  1Q07 1Q06 Full Year 2007 Full Year 2006
Adjusted EPS $0.66 to $0.68 $0.61  $2.90 to $2.98 $2.69 
Restructuring N/A  ($0.02) N/A  ($0.10)
Tax Reserve Increase N/A  N/A  N/A  ($0.09)
Other Income N/A  N/A  N/A  $0.01 
GAAP EPS $0.66 to $0.68 $0.60  $2.90 to $2.98 $2.51 

Management of Pitney Bowes will discuss the companys results in a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. EST. Instructions for listening to the conference call over the Web are available on the Investor Relations page of the companys web site at www.pb.com/investorrelations.

Pitney Bowes engineers the flow of communication. The company is a $5.7 billion global leader of mailstream solutions headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. For more information about the company, its products, services and solutions, visit www.pitneybowes.com.

Pitney Bowes has presented in this earnings release diluted earnings per share on an adjusted basis. Also, management has included a presentation of free cash flow on an adjusted basis and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). Management believes this presentation provides a reasonable basis on which to present the adjusted financial information, and is provided to assist in investors' understanding of the company's results of operations. The company's financial results are reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, the earnings per share and free cash flow results are adjusted to exclude the impact of special items such as restructuring charges and write downs of assets, which materially impact the comparability of the company's results of operations. Restructuring charges are infrequent or episodic charges that might mask the periodic income and financial and operating trends associated with our business. Although they represent actual expenses to the company, these episodic charges might mask the periodic income associated with our business. The use of free cash flow has limitations. GAAP cash flow has the advantage of including all cash available to the company after actual expenditures for all purposes. Free cash flow permits a shareholder insight into the amount of cash that management could have available for discretionary uses if it made different decisions about employing its cash. It adjusts for long-term commitments such as capital expenditures, as well as special items like cash used for restructuring charges, unusual tax payments and contributions to its pension funds. Of course, these items use cash that is not otherwise available to the company and are important expenditures. Management compensates for these limitations by using a combination of GAAP cash flow and free cash flow in doing its planning.

The adjusted financial information and certain financial measures such as EBIT are intended to be more indicative of the ongoing operations and economic results of the company. EBIT excludes interest payments and taxes, both cash items, and as a result, has the effect of showing a greater amount of earnings than net income. The company uses EBIT, in addition to net income, for purposes of measuring the performance of its unit management team. The interest rates and tax rates applicable to the company generally are outside the control of management, and it can be useful to judge performance independent of those variables.

The adjusted financial information should be viewed as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, the financial results reported in accordance with GAAP. Further, our definition of this adjusted financial information may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Pitney Bowes has provided in supplemental schedules attached for reference adjusted financial information and a quantitative reconciliation of the differences between the adjusted financial measures with the financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, except with respect to our guidance because it would not be meaningful. Additional reconciliation of adjusted financial measures to financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP may be found at the company's web site www.pb.com/investorrelations in the Investor Relations section.

The information contained in this document is as of February 5, 2007. Quarterly results are preliminary and unaudited. This document contains forward-looking statements about our expected future business and financial performance. Pitney Bowes assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information or future events or developments. Words such as estimate, project, plan, believe, "expect," "anticipate," intend, and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. For us forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about possible restructuring charges and our future guidance, including our expected revenue in the first quarter and full year 2007, and our expected diluted earnings per share for the first quarter and for the full year 2007. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: negative developments in economic conditions, including adverse impacts on customer demand, timely development and acceptance of new products or gaining product approval; successful entry into new markets; changes in interest rates; and changes in postal regulations, as more fully outlined in the company's 2005 Form 10-K Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements are subject to change based on the timing and specific terms of any announced acquisitions or dispositions.

Note: Consolidated statements of income for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2006, September 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005, are attached.

 
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
 

(Dollars in thousands,

except per share data)

 

Three Months Ended
Dec 31,

Twelve Months Ended
Dec 31,

2006  2005 (1) 2006  2005 (1)
Revenue from:
Equipment sales $ 412,883  $ 367,423  $ 1,372,566  $ 1,251,026 
Supplies 89,182  74,354  339,594  297,151 
Software 62,801  50,794  202,415  174,085 
Rentals 194,811  195,256  785,068  801,285 
Financing 186,992  175,150  725,131  663,484 
Support services 187,157  179,620  716,556  697,796 
Business services 412,006  384,774  1,588,688  1,482,109 
 
Total revenue 1,545,832  1,427,371  5,730,018  5,366,936 
 
Costs and expenses:
Cost of equipment sales 207,707  181,735  693,535  625,235 
Cost of supplies 23,560  18,958  90,035  73,330 
Cost of software 10,625  10,158  42,951  36,945 
Cost of rentals 43,421  40,702  171,491  165,963 
Cost of support services 101,298  94,649  400,089  385,547 
Cost of business services 324,941  307,239  1,242,226  1,195,761 
Selling, general and administrative 470,641  434,280  1,764,260  1,655,210 
Research and development 40,959  43,200  165,368  165,751 
Interest, net 51,996  51,390  212,596  187,876 
Restructuring charge 18,590  30,170  35,999  53,650 
Charitable contribution 10,000 
Other income (3,022) (3,022)
 
Total costs and expenses 1,290,716  1,212,481  4,815,528  4,555,268 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
255,116  214,890  914,490  811,668 
 
Provision for income taxes 87,782  128,354  335,004  328,597 
Minority interest 4,013  2,914  13,827  9,828 
 
Income from continuing operations 163,321  83,622  565,659  473,243 
Discontinued operations (4,048) 4,948  (460,312) 35,368 
 
Net income $ 159,273  $ 88,570  $ 105,347  $ 508,611 
 
Basic earnings per share
Continuing operations $ 0.74  $ 0.37  $ 2.54  $ 2.07 
Discontinued operations (0.02) 0.02  (2.07) 0.15 
 
Net income $ 0.72  $ 0.39  $ 0.47  $ 2.22 
 
Diluted earnings per share
Continuing operations $ 0.73  $ 0.36  $ 2.51  $ 2.04 
Discontinued operations $ (0.02) 0.02  (2.04) 0.15 
 
Net income $ 0.71  $ 0.38  $ 0.47  $ 2.19 
 
Average common and potential common shares outstanding
224,195,925  230,223,921  225,443,060  232,089,178 
 
 

(1) Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

 
Note: The sum of the earnings per share amounts may not equal the totals above due to rounding.
 
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Revenue and EBIT
Business Segments
December 31, 2006
(Unaudited)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
%
  2006  2005 (2) Change
Fourth Quarter
 
Revenue
 
U.S. Mailing $ 620,301  $ 588,749  5%
International Mailing 271,639  240,816  13%
Production Mail 179,085  162,238  10%
Software   62,801    50,794  24%
Mailstream Solutions 1,133,826  1,042,597  9%
 
Management Services 275,631  267,387  3%
Mail Services 93,851  87,221  8%
Marketing Services   42,524    30,166  41%
Mailstream Services 412,006  384,774  7%
     
Total Revenue $ 1,545,832  $ 1,427,371  8%
 
EBIT (1)
 
U.S. Mailing $ 245,841  $ 236,637  4%
International Mailing 47,812  48,037 
Production Mail 33,063  28,634  15%
Software   16,161    11,159  45%
Mailstream Solutions 342,877  324,467  6%
 
Management Services 21,801  20,314  7%
Mail Services 12,885  7,197  79%
Marketing Services   8,253    3,630  127%
Mailstream Services 42,939  31,141  38%
     
Total EBIT $ 385,816  $ 355,608  8%
 
Unallocated amounts:
Interest, net (51,996) (51,390)
Corporate expense (63,136) (59,158)
Restructuring charge (18,590) (30,170)
Other income   3,022   
Income before income taxes $ 255,116  $ 214,890 
 
 

(1)

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) excludes general corporate expenses.
 

(2)

Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.
 
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Revenue and EBIT
Business Segments
December 31, 2006
(Unaudited)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
%
2006  2005 (2) Change
Year to Date
 
Revenue
 
U.S. Mailing $ 2,350,284  $ 2,259,533  4%
International Mailing 1,013,278  917,237  10%
Production Mail 575,353  533,972  8%
Software   202,415    174,085  16%
Mailstream Solutions 4,141,330  3,884,827  7%
 
Management Services 1,073,911  1,072,395 
Mail Services 369,765  334,746  10%
Marketing Services   145,012    74,968  93%
Mailstream Services 1,588,688  1,482,109  7%
     
Total Revenue $ 5,730,018  $ 5,366,936  7%
 
EBIT (1)
 
U.S. Mailing $ 943,657  $ 905,797  4%
International Mailing 179,377  182,198  (2%)
Production Mail 65,574  48,729  35%
Software   33,343    26,981  24%
Mailstream Solutions 1,221,951  1,163,705  5%
 
Management Services 83,169  68,936  21%
Mail Services 42,986  19,776  117%
Marketing Services   20,056    10,187  97%
Mailstream Services 146,211  98,899  48%
     
Total EBIT $ 1,368,162  $ 1,262,604  8%
 
Unallocated amounts:
Interest, net (212,596) (187,876)
Corporate expense (208,099) (199,410)
Restructuring charge (35,999) (53,650)
Other income/(expense)   3,022    (10,000)
Income before income taxes $ 914,490  $ 811,668 
 
 

(1)

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) excludes general corporate expenses.
 

(2)

Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.
 
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
Assets 12/31/06  9/30/06 (1) 12/31/05 (1)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 239,102  $ 202,865  $ 243,509 

Short-term investments, at cost which approximates market

62,512  830,711  56,193 

Accounts receivable, less allowances: 12/06 $50,052; 09/06 $46,470; 12/05 $46,261

744,073  674,267  658,198 

Finance receivables, less allowances: 12/06 $45,643; 09/06 $44,693; 12/05 $52,622

1,404,070  1,325,764  1,342,446 
Inventories 237,817  244,523  220,918 
Other current assets and prepayments 231,096  239,940  221,051 
 
Total current assets 2,918,670  3,518,070  2,742,315 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net 610,258  614,817  621,954 
Rental property and equipment, net 503,911  491,777  1,022,031 
Property leased under capital leases, net 2,382  2,427  2,611 

Long-term finance receivables, less allowances: 12/06 $36,856; 09/06 $39,140; 12/05 $76,240

1,530,153  1,522,162  1,841,673 
Investment in leveraged leases 215,371  223,169  1,470,025 
Goodwill 1,791,157  1,788,081  1,611,786 
Intangible assets, net 365,192  378,279  347,414 
Other assets 543,326  849,333  961,573 
 
Total assets $ 8,480,420  $ 9,388,115  $ 10,621,382 
 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,677,501  $ 1,568,610  $ 1,538,860 
Income taxes payable 150,511  1,007,700  55,903 
Notes payable and current portion of long-term obligations
490,540  1,007,712  857,742 
Advance billings 465,862  466,511  458,392 
 
Total current liabilities 2,784,414  4,050,533  2,910,897 
 
Deferred taxes on income 318,729  444,822  1,859,950 
Long-term debt 3,847,617  3,348,990  3,849,623 
Other noncurrent liabilities 446,306  281,260  326,663 
 
Total liabilities 7,397,066  8,125,605  8,947,133 
 
Preferred stockholders' equity in a
subsidiary company 384,165  310,000  310,000 
 
Stockholders' equity:

Cumulative preferred stock, $50 par value, 4% convertible

12  17 
Cumulative preference stock, no par value, $2.12 convertible
1,068  1,092  1,158 
Common stock, $1 par value 323,338  323,338  323,338 
Capital in excess of par value 235,558  227,440  222,908 
Retained earnings 4,140,128  4,051,660  4,324,451 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (131,744) 163,406  76,917 
Treasury stock, at cost (3,869,166) (3,814,438) (3,584,540)
 
Total stockholders' equity 699,189  952,510  1,364,249 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 8,480,420  $ 9,388,115  $ 10,621,382 
 
(1) Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Reconciliation of Reported Consolidated Results to Adjusted Results
(Unaudited)
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Three months ended Dec 31, Twelve months ended Dec 31,
  2006    2005    2006    2005 
 
GAAP income from continuing operations after income taxes, as reported
$ 163,321  $ 83,622  $ 565,659  $ 473,243 
Restructuring charge 11,898  20,214  23,039  36,148 
Other income (1,933) (1,933)
Tax settlement 20,000 
Additional tax reserves 56,000  56,000 
Contributions to charitable foundations         6,100 
Income from continuing operations after income taxes, as adjusted
$ 173,286  $ 159,836  $ 606,765  $ 571,491 
 
 
GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, as reported
$ 0.73  $ 0.36  $ 2.51  $ 2.04 
Restructuring charge 0.05  0.09  0.10  0.16 
Other income (0.01) (0.01)
Tax settlement 0.09 
Additional tax settlement 0.24  0.24 
Contributions to charitable foundations         0.03 
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, as adjusted
$ 0.77  $ 0.69  $ 2.69  $ 2.46 
 
 
GAAP net cash (used)/provided by operating activities, as reported
$ (622,365) $ 104,706  $ (286,575) $ 530,441 
Capital expenditures (84,015) (76,104) (327,873) (291,550)
Reserve account deposits 18,390  18,900  28,780  9,800 
Restructuring payments and discontinued operations 11,972  16,962  68,407  7,328 
Pension Plan Contribution 76,508  76,508 
Contributions to charitable foundations 10,000 
IRS/ Capital Services tax payment 802,200  1,040,700 
IRS bond payment         200,000 
 
Free cash flow, as adjusted $ 126,182  $ 140,972  $ 523,439  $ 542,527 
 
 
 
Note: The sum of the earnings per share amounts may not equal the totals above due to rounding.