Startek Reports Quarterly Financial Results

Startek, Inc. (NYSE:SRT), a global provider of customer experience management solutions, is reporting financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Management Commentary

"Since the onset of the pandemic, we have continued to prioritize our employees’ health and safety while providing ongoing support for our clients,” said Aparup Sengupta, Executive Chairman and Global CEO of Startek. "As a global company, the degree of COVID-19 related impacts to our business has varied by geography. However, I can proudly state that we have taken very effective measures to partially offset the impact of this unprecedented challenge faced by the world.

"Beginning in late March, we experienced sudden lockdowns and movement restrictions which impacted our operations. We quickly enabled employees to work from home in many of our geographies after gaining approval from clients and other regulatory authorities. As more economies begin to reopen, we are preparing our delivery campuses to operate efficiently with proper safety and social distancing standards. However, we plan to remain flexible with our business operations until we are certain of what the new normal will be.”

Rajiv Ahuja, President of StarTek added, "The demand from our clients remains very strong, particularly within our largest verticals, such as telecom, e-commerce, media/cable, and healthcare. As we look ahead, like most businesses around the world, we cannot predict the full impact from COVID-19, as the aftermath from the pandemic and its effect on the global economy remains uncertain. Nevertheless, we expect to continue adapting to the new environment accordingly, with a key focus on cost controls and managing adequate liquidity.

"I am incredibly proud of our team for their hard work and dedication to serving our clients despite the various challenges we have faced, and our deepest condolences go to all the families dealing with the health and economic consequences of this tragic pandemic.”

First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Net revenue for the quarter was $160.9 million compared to $161.1 million in the first quarter of 2019. Net revenue in the first quarter was impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns in most geographies.

Gross profit in the first quarter was $20.1 million compared to $27.2 million in the year ago quarter. Gross margin was 12.5% compared to 16.9% in the year ago quarter. Lower gross margins was primarily driven by higher costs relative to revenues as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns in geographies such as India, Philippines and Honduras.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased to $17.3 million compared to $24.1 million in the year-ago quarter. As a percentage of revenue, SG&A improved 420 basis points to 10.7% compared to 14.9% in the year-ago quarter as the company has implemented a series of cost reductions over the last 12 months. This is also reflected in the sequential decline in SG&A costs over the last three quarters.

Net loss attributable to Startek shareholders for the quarter was $26.6 million or $(0.69) per share, compared to a net loss of $3.3 million or $(0.09) per share in the year-ago quarter. Net loss in the first quarter of 2020 included an approximate $22.7 million goodwill impairment primarily due to COVID-19 related forecasted declines in the Company’s business in India, South Africa, and Australia.

Adjusted net loss* in the first quarter of 2020 was $0.7 million, or $(0.02) per share, compared to an adjusted net loss* of $0.3 million or $(0.01) in the first quarter of 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA* for the quarter was $10.5 million compared to $10.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

At March 31, 2020, cash and restricted cash increased to $39.7 million compared to $32.6 million at December 31, 2019. Total debt at the end of the quarter was $175.2 million compared to $174.9 million at the end of 2019. This resulted in a reduction of net debt to $135.5 million compared to $142.1 million. The company continues to focus on ensuring adequate liquidity for future needs and is comfortable with its cash balance today.

*A non-GAAP measure defined below.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Startek management will hold a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its financial results. The conference call will be followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Toll-free dial-in number: (844) 239-5283
International dial-in number: (574) 990-1022
Conference ID: 3042088

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Investor Relations at (949) 574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here, as well as in the investor relations section of the company’s website at www.startek.com.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through June 17, 2020.

Toll-free replay number: (855) 859-2056
International replay number: (404) 537-3406
Replay ID: 3042088

About Startek

Startek is a leading global provider of technology-enabled business process outsourcing solutions. The company provides omni-channel customer experience management, back office and technology services to corporations around the world across a range of industries. The company has more than 45,000 outsourcing experts across 49 delivery campuses worldwide that are committed to delivering transformative customer experience for clients. Services include omni-channel customer care, customer acquisition, order processing, technical support, receivables management and analytics through automation, voice, chat, email, social media and IVR, resulting in superior business results for its clients. To learn more about Startek’s global solutions, please visit www.startek.com.

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. Readers are encouraged to review risk factors and all other disclosures appearing in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020, as well as other filings with the SEC, for further information on risks and uncertainties that could affect Startek's business, financial condition and results of operation. Copies of these filings are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company’s website or the Company’s investor relations department. Startek assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date herein.

STARTEK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

This press release contains references to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. Reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to its comparable GAAP measure is included below. This non-GAAP information should not be construed as an alternative to the reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. It is provided solely to assist in an investor’s understanding of these items on the comparability of the Company’s operations.

Adjusted EBITDA:

The Company defines non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA as Net loss plus Income tax expense, Interest and other expense, net, Depreciation and amortization expense, Impairment losses and restructuring/exit cost, Share-based compensation expense and Warrant contra revenue. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure to analyze the performance of our business. Management believes that excluding these non-cash and other non-recurring items permits a more meaningful comparison and understanding of our strength and performance of our ongoing operations for our investors and analysts.

Adjusted EPS:

Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure presenting the earnings generated by our ongoing operations that we believe is useful to investors in making meaningful comparisons to other companies, although our measure of Adjusted EPS may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies, and period-over-period comparisons. Adjusted EPS is defined as our diluted earnings per common share attributable to StarTek shareholders adjusted to exclude the effects of the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, investments that investors may want to evaluate separately (such as based on fair value) and the impact of certain events, gains, losses or other charges that affect period-over-period comparisons. Acquisition-related intangible assets are recognized as a result of the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic ("ASC”) 805, Business Combinations (such as customer relationships and Brand), and their amortization is significantly affected by the size and timing of our acquisitions.

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