8-K 1 a2110943z8-k.htm FORM 8-K
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 12, 2003

FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  333-56365
(Commission File
Number)
  13-3725229
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)


521 East Morehead Street, Suite 250, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (704) 344-8150

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report):





Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)    Exhibits

        * 99.1    Press release issued May 12, 2003 entitled "FairPoint Announces First Quarter Operating Results and Divestiture of South Dakota Rural Local Exchange Companies."


Item 9.    Regulation FD Disclosure

        On May 12, 2003, FairPoint Communications, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

        The Company has presented its EBITDA for the 2003 first quarter in the press release, which is a "non-GAAP" financial measure under Regulation G. The components of EBITDA are computed by using amounts, which are determined in accordance with GAAP. As part of the Company's press release information, the Company has provided a reconciliation of EBITDA to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations, which is its nearest comparable GAAP financial measure. However, because EBITDA is not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP, it is not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company included EBITDA in the press release because it believes that EBITDA is useful to investors because EBITDA is commonly used in the telecommunications industry to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance, leverage and liquidity. The Company believes that EBITDA allows a standardized comparison between companies in the industry, while minimizing the differences from depreciation policies, financial leverage and tax strategies. EBITDA is also used in covenants in credit facilities and high yield debt indentures to measure a borrower's ability to incur debt and for other purposes, and may be the preferred measure for these purposes. Covenants in the Company's credit facility and in its indentures for its senior subordinated notes and senior notes that limit its ability to incur debt are based on EBITDA. While providing useful information, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for consolidated statement of operations and cash flows data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

        The foregoing information set forth under "Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure" is intended to be furnished under said Item 9 and also under "Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Conditions" in accordance with Securities Exchange Commission Release Nos. 33-8216 and 34-47583. Such information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"), as amended, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.


*
Filed herewith.


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
WALTER E. LEACH, JR.      
Name:  Walter E. Leach, Jr.
Title:    Senior Vice President and
             Chief Financial Officer

Date: May 12, 2003

 

 

 



QuickLinks

SIGNATURES