UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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): February 26, 2019
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
001-11001 | 06-0619596 | |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | |
401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, Connecticut | 06851 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(203) 614-5600
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging Growth Company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On February 26, 2019, Frontier Communications Corporation (Frontier) issued a press release announcing its fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
As previously announced, Frontier will hold a conference call at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 26, 2019, to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018. Also furnished and incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit 99.2 is supplemental material to be used in connection with the conference call. This information is available on Frontiers Investor Relations website at www.frontier.com/ir.
The information provided pursuant to this Item 2.02, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, is being furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of Frontiers other filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit Number |
Description | |
99.1 | Press Release | |
99.2 | Presentation Regarding Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Financial Results |
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.
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION | ||||||
Date: February 26, 2019 | By: | /s/ Mark D. Nielsen | ||||
Mark D. Nielsen | ||||||
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
401 Merritt 7
Norwalk, CT 06851
(203) 614-5600
www.frontier.com
Frontier Communications Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Results
| Total fourth quarter revenue of $2.12 billion, stable sequentially |
| Net loss of $219 million in the fourth quarter, with loss driven by goodwill impairment |
| Adjusted EBITDA1 of $895 million, a sequential increase driven by improved Consumer revenue performance, continued strong expense management, and early benefits from the companys transformation program |
| Transformation program initiatives expanded further in the fourth quarter, and the program enters 2019 with strong momentum |
Norwalk, Conn., February 26, 2019 Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:FTR) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018.
I am very pleased that fourth quarter results reflect our improving execution as well as initial benefits from our transformation program, said Dan McCarthy, President and CEO. A robust result in Consumer, together with strong expense management, drove a sequential increase in fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA, McCarthy added. We continued to expand the scope of initiatives underway in our transformation program in the fourth quarter, and multiple teams are now scaling a range of solutions that were developed through transformation initiatives. I look forward to continued progress and expansion of the program over the course of 2019 and 2020 as we advance toward our targeted $500 million EBITDA benefit.
Consolidated Results
Consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $2.12 billion. Within consolidated revenue, Consumer revenue was $1.09 billion, Commercial revenue was $942 million, and subsidy and other regulatory revenue was $94 million.
1 | See Non-GAAP Measures for a description of this measure and its calculation. See Schedule A for a reconciliation to net income/(loss). |
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $219 million, representing a net loss per common share of $2.12. Net loss included a goodwill impairment of $241 million ($214 million net of tax). Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $895 million, for an Adjusted EBITDA margin2 of 42.1%.
Net cash provided from operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $603 million and operating free cash flow3 was $358 million. For the full year 2018, net cash provided from operating activities was $1,812 million and operating free cash flow was $620 million.
Consumer Business Highlights
| Revenue of $1.09 billion. |
| Customer churn of 1.94% (1.79% for Legacy markets and 2.17% for CTF markets), with each measure improving both sequentially and relative to the fourth quarter of 2017. |
| Average Revenue Per Customer (ARPC) of $88.37; excluding adoption of ASC 606, ARPC was $86.05, an increase both sequentially and relative to the fourth quarter 2017. |
Commercial Business Highlights
| Revenue of $942 million. |
| Total commercial customers of 411,000 compared with 422,000 during the third quarter of 2018. |
| Commercial wholesale revenue declined sequentially, driven by wireless backhaul and voice revenue, and Commercial SME revenue was stable sequentially. |
Capital Structure and Capital Allocation
| As of December 31, 2018, Frontiers leverage ratio was 4.72:1. |
| Frontier remains committed to reducing debt and improving its financial leverage profile. |
o | Retired the $431 million principal amount outstanding of its senior unsecured notes maturing October 1, 2018, as scheduled. |
o | Purchased $56 million principal amount of its March 15, 2019 senior unsecured notes in the open market during the fourth quarter of 2018. |
| In January 2019 Frontier closed the sale of wireless towers for $76 million. The transaction is expected to be immaterial to revenue, earnings, and Adjusted EBITDA. |
2 | Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP measure of performance, calculated as Adjusted EBITDA, divided by total revenue. See Non-GAAP Measures for a description of this measure and its calculation. See Schedule A for a reconciliation of EBITDA to net loss. |
3 | Operating free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure of liquidity derived from net cash provided from operating activities. See Non-GAAP Measures for a description of this measure and its calculation and Schedule A for a reconciliation to net cash provided from operating activities. |
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Guidance
Frontier is issuing the following financial guidance for 2019:
| Adjusted EBITDA $3.45 billion to $3.55 billion |
| Capital expenditures Approximately $1.15 billion |
| Cash taxes Less than $25 million |
| Cash pension/OPEB Approximately $175 million |
| Cash interest expense Approximately $1.475 billion |
| Operating free cash flow $575 million to $675 million |
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Frontier uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its performance, including EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, operating free cash flow, and adjusted operating expenses, each of which is described below. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to (i) assist in analyzing Frontiers underlying financial performance from period to period, (ii) analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions, (iii) establish criteria for compensation decisions, and (iv) assist in the understanding of Frontiers ability to generate cash flow and, as a result, to plan for future capital and operational decisions. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors regarding Frontiers financial condition and results of operations because these measures, when used in conjunction with related GAAP financial measures (i) provide a more comprehensive view of Frontiers core operations and ability to generate cash flow, (ii) provide investors with the financial analytical framework upon which management bases financial, operational, compensation, and planning decisions and (iii) present measurements that investors and rating agencies have indicated to management are useful to them in assessing Frontier and its results of operations.
A reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is included in the accompanying tables. These non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP, nor are they alternatives to GAAP measures and they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) less income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, investment and other income, pension settlement costs, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by total revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA, as described above, adjusted to exclude acquisition and integration costs, certain pension/OPEB expenses, restructuring costs and other charges, stock-based compensation expense, goodwill impairment charges, and certain other non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing adjusted EBITDA by total revenue.
Management uses EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to assist it in comparing performance from period to period and as measures of operational performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information for investors in evaluating Frontiers operational performance from period to period because they exclude depreciation and amortization expenses related to investments made in prior periods and are determined without regard to capital structure or investment activities. By excluding capital expenditures, debt repayments and dividends, among other factors, these non-GAAP financial measures have certain shortcomings. Management compensates for these shortcomings by utilizing these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Frontier common shareholders is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Frontier common shareholders and excludes acquisition and integration costs, restructuring costs and other charges, pension settlement costs, goodwill impairment charges, certain income tax items and the income tax effect of these items, and certain other non-recurring items. Adjusting for these items allows investors to better understand and analyze Frontiers financial performance over the periods presented.
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Management defines operating free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, as net cash provided from operating activities less capital expenditures. Management uses operating free cash flow to assist it in comparing liquidity from period to period and to obtain a more comprehensive view of Frontiers core operations and ability to generate cash flow. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors in evaluating cash available to service debt and pay dividends. This non-GAAP financial measure has certain shortcomings; it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures, as items such as debt repayments and preferred stock dividends are not deducted in determining such measure. Management compensates for these shortcomings by utilizing this non-GAAP financial measure in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measure.
Adjusted operating expenses is defined as operating expenses adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization, acquisition and integration costs, restructuring and other charges, goodwill impairment charges, certain pension/OPEB expenses, stock-based compensation expense, and certain other non-recurring items. Investors have indicated that this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating Frontiers performance.
The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in Frontiers documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Conference Call and Webcast
Frontier will host a conference call today at 4:30 P.M. Eastern time. In connection with the conference call and as a convenience to investors, Frontier furnished today, under cover of a Current Report on Form 8-K, additional materials regarding fourth quarter 2018 results. The conference call will be webcast and may be accessed in the Webcasts & Presentations section of Frontiers Investor Relations website at www.frontier.com/ir.
A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available from 7:30 P.M. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, through 7:30 P.M. Eastern Time on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 719-457-0820 or 888-203-1112. Use the passcode 3377896 to access the replay. A webcast replay of the call will be available at www.frontier.com/ir.
About Frontier Communications
Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR) is a leader in providing communications services to urban, suburban, and rural communities in 29 states. Frontier offers a variety of services to residential customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks, including video, high-speed internet, advanced voice, and Frontier Secure® digital protection solutions. Frontier Business offers communications solutions to small, medium, and enterprise businesses. More information about Frontier is available at www.frontier.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This earnings release contains forward-looking statements, related to future events. Forward-looking statements address Frontiers expected future business, financial performance, and financial condition, and contain words such as expect, anticipate, intend, plan, believe, seek, see, may, will, would, or target. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For Frontier, particular uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different than those expressed in such forward-looking statements include: declines in revenue from Frontiers voice services, switched and non-switched access and video and data services that it cannot stabilize or offset with increases in revenue from other products and services; Frontiers ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives, including opportunities to
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enhance revenue and realize operational improvements; competition from cable, wireless and wireline carriers, satellite, and OTT companies, and the risk that Frontier will not respond on a timely or profitable basis; Frontiers ability to successfully adjust to changes in the communications industry, including the effects of technological changes and competition on its capital expenditures, products and service offerings; risks related to disruptions in Frontiers networks, infrastructure and information technology that may result in customer loss and/or incurrence of additional expenses; the impact of potential information technology or data security breaches or other cyber attacks or other disruptions; Frontiers ability to retain or attract new customers and to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; Frontiers ability to hire or retain key personnel; Frontiers ability to realize anticipated benefits from recent acquisitions; Frontiers ability to dispose of certain assets or asset groups on terms that are attractive to it, or at all; Frontiers ability to effectively manage its operations, operating expenses, capital expenditures, debt service requirements and cash paid for income taxes and liquidity; Frontiers ability to defend against litigation and potentially unfavorable results from current pending and future litigation; adverse changes in the credit markets, which could impact the availability and cost of financing; Frontiers ability to repay or refinance its debt through, among other things, accessing the capital markets, notes repurchases and/or redemptions, tender offers and exchange offers; adverse changes in the ratings given to Frontiers debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations; covenants in Frontiers indentures and credit agreements that may limit Frontiers operational and financial flexibility as well as its ability to access the capital markets in the future; the effects of state regulatory requirements that could limit Frontiers ability to transfer cash among its subsidiaries or dividend funds up to the parent company; the effects of governmental legislation and regulation on Frontiers business; the impact of regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks; government infrastructure projects that impact capital expenditures; continued reductions in switched access revenue as a result of regulation, competition or technology substitutions; the effects of changes in the availability of federal and state universal service funding or other subsidies to Frontier and its competitors; Frontiers ability to meet its remaining CAF II funding obligations and the risk of penalties or obligations to return certain CAF II funds; Frontiers ability to effectively manage service quality and meet mandated service quality metrics; the effects of changes in accounting policies or practices, including potential future impairment charges with respect to intangible assets; the effects of changes in income tax rates, tax laws, regulations or rulings, or federal or state tax assessments, including the risk that such changes may benefit Frontiers competitors more than it, as wells potential future decreases in the value of Frontiers deferred tax assets; the effects of increased medical expenses and pension and postemployment expenses; Frontiers ability to successfully renegotiate union contracts; changes in pension plan assumptions, interest rates, discount rates, regulatory rules and/or the value of Frontiers pension plan assets, which could require Frontier to make increased contributions to its pension plans; the effects of changes in both general and local economic conditions in the markets that Frontier serves; the effects of severe weather events or other natural or man-made disasters, which may increase operating and capital expenses or adversely impact customer revenue; and the risks and other factors contained in Frontiers filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Frontier has no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements and does not undertake to do so.
INVESTOR CONTACT: | MEDIA CONTACT: | |
Luke Szymczak | Brigid Smith | |
Vice President | Assistant Vice President | |
(203) 614-5044 | (203) 614-5042 | |
luke.szymczak@ftr.com | brigid.smith@ftr.com |
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Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Financial Data
For the quarter ended | For the year ended | |||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions and shares in thousands, except |
December 31, 2018(1) | September 30, 2018(1) | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2018(1) | December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Statement of Operations Data |
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Revenue |
$ | 2,124 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,217 | $ | 8,611 | $ | 9,128 | ||||||||||
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Operating expenses: |
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Network access expenses |
347 | 353 | 388 | 1,441 | 1,597 | |||||||||||||||
Network related expenses |
461 | 476 | 490 | (2) | 1,898 | 1,958 | (2) | |||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
441 | 445 | 457 | (2) | 1,815 | 2,017 | (2) | |||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
492 | 471 | 514 | 1,954 | 2,184 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
241 | 400 | 2,078 | 641 | 2,748 | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition and integration costs |
| | 10 | | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Restructuring costs and other charges |
15 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 82 | |||||||||||||||
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Total operating expenses |
1,997 | 2,159 | 3,964 | (2) | 7,784 | 10,611 | (2) | |||||||||||||
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Operating income (loss) |
127 | (33 | ) | (1,747 | )(2) | 827 | (1,483 | )(2) | ||||||||||||
Investment and other income (loss), net |
(3 | ) | 3 | (3 | )(2) | 13 | 1 | (2) | ||||||||||||
Pension settlement costs |
7 | 9 | 6 | 41 | 83 | |||||||||||||||
Gain (Loss) on early extinguishment of debt and debt exchanges |
1 | (2 | ) | 1 | 32 | (88 | ) | |||||||||||||
Interest expense |
388 | 389 | 377 | 1,536 | 1,534 | |||||||||||||||
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Loss before income taxes |
(270 | ) | (430 | ) | (2,132 | ) | (705 | ) | (3,187 | ) | ||||||||||
Income tax benefit |
(51 | ) | (4 | ) | (1,103 | ) | (62 | ) | (1,383 | ) | ||||||||||
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Net loss |
(219 | ) | (426 | ) | (1,029 | ) | (643 | ) | (1,804 | ) | ||||||||||
Less: Dividends on preferred stock |
| | 53 | 107 | 214 | |||||||||||||||
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Net loss attributable to Frontier common shareholders |
$ | (219 | ) | $ | (426 | ) | $ | (1,082 | ) | $ | (750 | ) | $ | (2,018 | ) | |||||
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Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted(3) |
103,680 | 103,665 | 77,805 | 89,683 | 77,736 | |||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share |
$ | (2.12 | ) | $ | (4.11 | ) | $ | (13.91 | ) | $ | (8.37 | ) | $ | (25.99 | ) | |||||
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Other Financial Data: |
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Capital expenditures - Business operations |
$ | 245 | $ | 329 | $ | 308 | $ | 1,192 | $ | 1,154 | ||||||||||
Capital expenditures - Integration activities |
$ | | $ | | $ | 15 | $ | | $ | 34 | ||||||||||
Dividends declared - Common stock |
$ | | $ | | $ | 47 | $ | | $ | 266 | ||||||||||
Dividends declared - Preferred stock |
$ | | $ | | $ | 53 | $ | 107 | $ | 214 |
(1) | We adopted Accounting Standard Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective application. This method does not impact the prior periods, which continue to reflect the accounting treatment prior to the adoption of ASC 606. As a result, for items that were affected by our adoption of ASC 606, financial results of periods prior to January 1, 2018 are not comparable to the current period financial results. To provide comparability to our results, we provide a supplemental schedule (see Schedule D) which contains certain financial information on a pre adoption of ASC 606 basis. |
(2) | Effective January 1, 2018, Frontier adopted ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard requires certain benefit costs to be reclassified from operating expenses to non-operating expenses. This change in policy was applied using a retrospective approach and accordingly we have reclassified $1 and $2 million of net operating expenses as non-operating expense for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively. Additional pension settlement costs of $6 million and $83 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively, were reclassified from operating expense to non-operating expense. |
(3) | As of December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018, there were approximately 106 million of common shares outstanding and 0 shares of preferred stock. |
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Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Financial Data
For the quarter ended | For the year ended | |||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2018(1) | September 30, 2018(1) | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2018(1) | December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) |
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Selected Statement of Operations Data |
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Revenue: |
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Data and Internet services |
$ | 959 | $ | 961 | $ | 939 | $ | 3,878 | $ | 3,862 | (2) | |||||||||
Voice services |
668 | 669 | 687 | 2,721 | 2,864 | |||||||||||||||
Video services |
275 | 260 | 310 | 1,085 | 1,304 | |||||||||||||||
Other |
128 | 141 | 91 | 544 | 322 | |||||||||||||||
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Customer revenue |
2,030 | 2,031 | 2,027 | 8,228 | 8,352 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Subsidy and other regulatory revenue |
94 | 95 | 190 | 383 | 776 | |||||||||||||||
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Total revenue |
$ | 2,124 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,217 | $ | 8,611 | $ | 9,128 | (2) | |||||||||
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Other Financial Data |
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Revenue: |
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Consumer |
$ | 1,088 | $ | 1,069 | $ | 1,086 | $ | 4,380 | $ | 4,476 | ||||||||||
Commercial |
942 | 962 | 941 | 3,848 | 3,876 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
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Customer revenue |
2,030 | 2,031 | 2,027 | 8,228 | 8,352 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Subsidy and other regulatory revenue |
94 | 95 | 190 | 383 | 776 | |||||||||||||||
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Total revenue |
$ | 2,124 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,217 | $ | 8,611 | $ | 9,128 | (2) | |||||||||
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(1) | We adopted Accounting Standard Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective application. This method does not impact the prior periods, which continue to reflect the accounting treatment prior to the adoption of ASC 606. As a result, for items that were affected by our adoption of ASC 606, financial results of periods prior to January 1, 2018 are not comparable to the current period financial results. To provide comparability to our results, we provide a supplemental schedule (see Schedule D) which contains certain financial information on a pre adoption of ASC 606 basis. |
(2) | Includes revenue from Frontier Secure Strategic Partnerships business, which was sold in May of 2017, $40 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. |
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Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
For the quarter ended | For the year ended | |||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Customers (in thousands) |
4,471 | 4,574 | 4,850 | 4,471 | 4,850 | |||||||||||||||
Consumer customer metrics |
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Customers (in thousands) |
4,060 | 4,152 | 4,397 | 4,060 | 4,397 | |||||||||||||||
Net customer additions (losses) |
(92 | ) | (86 | ) | (89 | ) | (337 | ) | (494 | ) | ||||||||||
Average monthly consumer revenue per customer |
$ | 88.37 | (1) | $ | 84.92 | (1) | $ | 81.61 | $ | 86.26 | (1) | $ | 80.96 | |||||||
Customer monthly churn |
1.94 | % | 2.03 | % | 1.98 | % | 1.97 | % | 2.17 | % | ||||||||||
Commercial customer metrics |
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Customers (in thousands) |
411 | 422 | 453 | 411 | 453 | |||||||||||||||
Broadband subscriber metrics (in thousands) |
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Broadband subscribers |
3,735 | 3,802 | 3,938 | 3,735 | 3,938 | |||||||||||||||
Net subscriber additions (losses) |
(67 | ) | (61 | ) | (63 | ) | (203 | ) | (333 | ) | ||||||||||
Video (excl. DISH) subscriber metrics (in thousands) |
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Video subscribers |
838 | 873 | 961 | 838 | 961 | |||||||||||||||
Net subscriber additions (losses) |
(35 | ) | (29 | ) | (20 | ) | (123 | ) | (184 | ) | ||||||||||
Video - DISH subscriber metrics (in thousands) |
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DISH subscribers |
205 | 211 | 235 | 205 | 235 | |||||||||||||||
Net subscriber additions (losses) |
(6 | ) | (8 | ) | (9 | ) | (30 | ) | (39 | ) | ||||||||||
Employees |
21,173 | 21,375 | 22,736 | 21,173 | 22,736 |
(1) | We adopted Accounting Standard Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective application. This method does not impact the prior periods, which continue to reflect the accounting treatment prior to the adoption of ASC 606. As a result, for items that were affected by our adoption of ASC 606, financial results of periods prior to January 1, 2018 are not comparable to the current period financial results. To provide comparability to our results, we provide a supplemental schedule (see Schedule D) which contains certain financial information on a pre adoption of ASC 606 basis. |
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Frontier Communications Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
($ in millions) |
December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 354 | $ | 362 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net |
723 | 819 | ||||||
Other current assets |
253 | 142 | ||||||
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Total current assets |
1,330 | 1,323 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
14,187 | 14,377 | ||||||
Other assets - principally goodwill |
8,142 | 9,184 | ||||||
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Total assets |
$ | 23,659 | $ | 24,884 | ||||
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LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
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Current liabilities: |
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Long-term debt due within one year |
$ | 814 | $ | 656 | ||||
Accounts payable and other current liabilities |
1,747 | 1,852 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
2,561 | 2,508 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities |
3,140 | 3,132 | ||||||
Long-term debt |
16,358 | 16,970 | ||||||
Equity |
1,600 | 2,274 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities and equity |
$ | 23,659 | $ | 24,884 | ||||
|
|
|
|
- 10 of 15 -
Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Cash Flow Data
For the year ended | ||||||||
($ in millions) |
December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows provided from (used by) operating activities: |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (643 | ) | $ | (1,804 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided from (used by) operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
1,954 | 2,184 | ||||||
(Gain) Loss on extinguishment of debt and debt exchanges |
(32 | ) | 88 | |||||
Special termination benefits |
| 5 | ||||||
Pension settlement costs |
41 | 83 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
18 | 14 | ||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
34 | 33 | ||||||
Other adjustments |
(32 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||
Deferred income taxes |
(67 | ) | (1,385 | ) | ||||
Goodwill impairment |
641 | 2,748 | ||||||
Change in accounts receivable |
65 | 122 | ||||||
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities |
(141 | ) | (298 | ) | ||||
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes, and other assets |
(26 | ) | 74 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided from operating activities |
1,812 | 1,850 | ||||||
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities: |
||||||||
Capital expenditures - Business operations |
(1,192 | ) | (1,154 | ) | ||||
Capital expenditures - Integration activities |
| (34 | ) | |||||
Proceeds on sale of assets |
11 | 110 | ||||||
Other |
5 | 24 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used by investing activities |
(1,176 | ) | (1,054 | ) | ||||
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities: |
||||||||
Long-term debt payments |
(2,515 | ) | (1,811 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings |
1,840 | 1,500 | ||||||
Proceeds from revolving debt |
525 | | ||||||
Repayment of revolving debt |
(250 | ) | | |||||
Financing costs paid |
(43 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||
Dividends paid on common stock |
- | (266 | ) | |||||
Dividends paid on preferred stock |
(107 | ) | (214 | ) | ||||
Premium paid to retire debt |
(17 | ) | (86 | ) | ||||
Capital lease obligation payments |
(36 | ) | (42 | ) | ||||
Other |
(5 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash used by financing activities |
(608 | ) | (942 | ) | ||||
Increase (Decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
28 | (146 | ) | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at January 1, |
376 | 522 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at December 31, |
$ | 404 | $ | 376 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Supplemental cash flow information: |
||||||||
Cash paid (received) during the period for: |
||||||||
Interest |
$ | 1,507 | $ | 1,548 | ||||
Income tax payments (refunds), net |
$ | 4 | $ | (51 | ) |
- 11 of 15 -
SCHEDULE A
Frontier Communications Corporation
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
For the quarter ended | For the year ended | |||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) |
December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
EBITDA |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (219 | ) | $ | (426 | ) | $ | (1,029 | ) | $ | (643 | ) | $ | (1,804 | ) | |||||
Add back (subtract): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax benefit |
(51 | ) | (4 | ) | (1,103 | ) | (62 | ) | (1,383 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest expense |
388 | 389 | 377 | 1,536 | 1,534 | |||||||||||||||
Investment and other (income) loss, net |
3 | (3 | ) | 3 | (13 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
Pension settlement costs |
7 | 9 | 6 | 41 | 83 | |||||||||||||||
(Gain) Loss on extinguishment of debt |
(1 | ) | 2 | (1 | ) | (32 | ) | 88 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
127 | (33 | ) | (1,747 | ) | 827 | (1,483 | ) | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
492 | 471 | 514 | 1,954 | 2,184 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
EBITDA |
$ | 619 | $ | 438 | $ | (1,233 | ) | $ | 2,781 | $ | 701 | |||||||||
Add back: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition and integration costs |
| | 10 | | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Pension/OPEB expense |
19 | 21 | 20 | 85 | 92 | |||||||||||||||
Restructuring costs and other charges |
15 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 82 | |||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
4 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Storm-related costs (insurance proceeds) |
(3 | ) | | 13 | (3 | ) | 22 | |||||||||||||
Work stoppage costs |
| | | 8 | | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
241 | 400 | 2,078 | 641 | 2,748 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 895 | $ | 878 | $ | 919 | $ | 3,565 | $ | 3,684 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
EBITDA margin |
29.1 | % | 20.6 | % | -55.6 | % | 32.3 | % | 7.7 | % | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
42.1 | % | 41.3 | % | 41.5 | % | 41.4 | % | 40.4 | % | ||||||||||
Free Cash Flow |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided from operating activities |
$ | 603 | $ | 286 | $ | 665 | $ | 1,812 | $ | 1,850 | ||||||||||
Add back (subtract): | ||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures - Business operations |
(245 | ) | (329 | ) | (308 | ) | (1,192 | ) | (1,154 | ) | ||||||||||
Capital expenditures - Integration activities |
| | (15 | ) | | (34 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating free cash flow |
$ | 358 | $ | (43 | ) | $ | 342 | $ | 620 | $ | 662 | |||||||||
|
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|
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|
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|
- 12 of 15 -
SCHEDULE B
Frontier Communications Corporation
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
For the quarter ended | For the year ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions, except per share amounts) |
Net Income (Loss) |
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share |
Net Income (Loss) |
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share |
Net Income (Loss) |
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share |
Net Income (Loss) |
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share |
Net Income (Loss) |
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to Frontier common shareholders |
$ | (219 | ) | $ | (2.12 | ) | $ | (426 | ) | $ | (4.11 | ) | $ | (1,082 | ) | $ | (13.91 | ) | $ | (750 | ) | $ | (8.37 | ) | $ | (2,018 | ) | $ | (25.99 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition and integration costs |
| | 10 | | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring costs and other charges |
15 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension settlement costs |
7 | 9 | 6 | 41 | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Gain) Loss on extinguishment of debt and debt exchanges |
(1 | ) | 2 | (1 | ) | (32 | ) | 88 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
241 | 400 | 2,078 | 641 | 2,748 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Storm-related costs (insurance proceeds) |
(3 | ) | | 13 | (3 | ) | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Work stoppage costs |
| | | 8 | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effect of tax reform |
| | (830 | ) | | (830 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Certain other tax items(1) |
(14 | ) | 46 | 8 | 24 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax effect on above items: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition and integration costs |
| | (3 | ) | | (9 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring costs and other charges |
(4 | ) | (3 | ) | (10 | ) | (8 | ) | (30 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension settlement costs |
(2 | ) | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | (10 | ) | (30 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Gain) Loss on extinguishment of debt and debt exchanges |
| (1 | ) | 1 | 8 | (32 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
(27 | ) | (46 | ) | (256 | ) | (73 | ) | (394 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Storm-related costs (insurance proceeds) |
1 | | (5 | ) | 1 | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Work stoppage costs |
| | | (2 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 213 | $ | 2.05 | $ | 419 | $ | 4.04 | $ | 1,036 | $ | 13.32 | $ | 630 | $ | 7.02 | $ | 1,723 | $ | 22.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adjusted net loss attributable to Frontier common shareholders(2) |
$ | (6 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (7 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (46 | ) | $ | (0.59 | ) | $ | (120 | ) | $ | (1.34 | ) | $ | (295 | ) | $ | (3.79 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Includes impact arising from federal research and development credits, changes in certain deferred tax balances, state tax law changes, state filing method change, and the net impact of uncertain tax positions. |
(2) | Adjusted net loss attributable to Frontier common shareholders may not sum due to rounding. |
- 13 of 15 -
SCHEDULE C
Frontier Communications Corporation
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
For the quarter ended | For the year ended | |||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) |
December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted Operating Expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
$ | 1,997 | $ | 2,159 | $ | 3,964 | (1) | $ | 7,784 | $ | 10,611 | (1) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Subtract: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
492 | 471 | 514 | 1,954 | 2,184 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
241 | 400 | 2,078 | 641 | 2,748 | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition and integration costs |
- | - | 10 | - | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Pension/OPEB expense |
19 | 21 | 20 | (1) | 85 | 92 | (1) | |||||||||||||
Restructuring costs and other charges |
15 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 82 | |||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
4 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Storm-related costs (insurance proceeds) |
(3 | ) | | 13 | (3 | ) | 22 | |||||||||||||
Work stoppage costs |
| | | 8 | | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Adjusted operating expenses |
$ | 1,229 | $ | 1,248 | $ | 1,298 | $ | 5,046 | $ | 5,444 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Effective January 1, 2018, Frontier adopted ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard requires certain benefit costs to be reclassified from operating expenses to non-operating expenses. This change in policy was applied using a retrospective approach and accordingly we have reclassified $1 and $2 million of net operating expenses as non-operating expense for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively. Additional pension settlement costs of $6 million and $83 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively, were reclassified from operating expense to non-operating expense. |
- 14 of 15 -
SCHEDULE D
Comparability Disclaimer:
We adopted Accounting Standard Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective application. This method does not impact the prior periods, which continue to reflect the accounting treatment prior to the adoption of ASC 606. As a result, for items that were affected by our adoption of ASC 606, financial results of periods prior to January 1, 2018 are not comparable to the current period financial results. To provide comparability to our results, we provide the following supplemental schedule which contains certain financial information on a pre-adoption of ASC 606 basis.
Frontier Communications Corporation
Consolidated Financial Data
As Reported For the quarter ended |
Amounts Excluding Adoption of ASC 606 For the quarter ended |
|||||||||||||||
($ in millions) |
December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||
Selected Statement of Operations Data |
||||||||||||||||
Revenue: |
||||||||||||||||
Data and Internet services |
$ | 959 | $ | 961 | $ | 947 | $ | 938 | ||||||||
Voice services |
668 | 669 | 617 | 634 | ||||||||||||
Video services |
275 | 260 | 291 | 287 | ||||||||||||
Other |
128 | 141 | 92 | 88 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Revenue from contracts with customers |
2,030 | 2,031 | 1,947 | 1,947 | ||||||||||||
Subsidy and other regulatory revenue |
94 | 95 | 176 | 173 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total revenue |
$ | 2,124 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,123 | $ | 2,120 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other Revenue Data |
||||||||||||||||
Revenue: |
||||||||||||||||
Consumer |
$ | 1,088 | $ | 1,069 | $ | 1,060 | $ | 1,047 | ||||||||
Commercial |
942 | 962 | 887 | 900 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Revenue from contracts with customers |
2,030 | 2,031 | 1,947 | 1,947 | ||||||||||||
Subsidy and other regulatory revenue |
94 | 95 | 176 | 173 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total revenue |
$ | 2,124 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,123 | $ | 2,120 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
As Reported For the quarter ended |
Amounts Excluding Adoption of ASC 606 For the quarter ended |
|||||||||||||||
($ in millions) |
December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | December 31, 2018 | September 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||
Statement of Operations Data |
||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 2,124 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,123 | $ | 2,120 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Network access expenses |
347 | 353 | 349 | 354 | ||||||||||||
Network related expenses |
461 | 476 | 461 | 476 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
441 | 445 | 445 | 447 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
492 | 471 | 491 | 471 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill impairment |
241 | 400 | 241 | 400 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring costs and other charges |
15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total operating expenses |
$ | 1,997 | $ | 2,159 | $ | 2,002 | $ | 2,162 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
127 | (33 | ) | 121 | (42 | ) | ||||||||||
Investment and other income, net |
(3 | ) | 3 | (3 | ) | 3 | ||||||||||
Pension settlement costs |
7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | ||||||||||||
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt |
1 | (2 | ) | 1 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest expense |
388 | 389 | 388 | 389 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Loss before income taxes |
(270 | ) | (430 | ) | (276 | ) | (439 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax benefit |
(51 | ) | (4 | ) | (54 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net loss |
(219 | ) | (426 | ) | (222 | ) | (435 | ) | ||||||||
Less: Dividends on preferred stock |
| | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net loss attributable to Frontier common shareholders |
$ | (219 | ) | $ | (426 | ) | $ | (222 | ) | $ | (435 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other financial data: |
||||||||||||||||
Consumer ARPC |
$ | 88.37 | $ | 84.92 | $ | 86.05 | $ | 83.20 |
- 15 of 15 -
Investor Update Fourth Quarter 2018 | February 26, 2019 Exhibit 99.2
2 Agenda 1 Strategic and Operational Review Daniel McCarthy President & Chief Executive Officer Financial Review Sheldon Bruha Senior Vice President & Interim Chief Financial Officer
Business Update Total Revenue Consumer revenue of $1,088 million Consumer customer churn of 1.94%, improved sequentially and vs. Q4 2017 Consumer ARPC of $88.37; excluding adoption of ASC 606, ARPC of $86.05, a sequential increase Commercial revenue of $942 million Commercial customers of 411,000 $2.12B $895M Adjusted EBITDA1 Increased sequentially $519M Maturities retired and amortization paid Continued focus on improving financial profile $219M Net loss Reflects $214M goodwill impairment, net of tax $500M EBITDA benefit anticipated by YE 2020 Beginning to realize initial benefits from transformation initiatives 1Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure - see Appendix for its calculation
Broadband Unit Trends Net Adds (000s) Strong focus on retention reflecting success with churn initiatives Consumer net additions reflect greater selectivity in customer acquisition Market positioning remains solid Copper trends stable sequentially Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Consumer Fiber Broadband Consumer Copper Broadband Total Broadband (Consumer & Commercial) Commercial Broadband
Customer Churn Trends Q4 churn improved sequentially and versus Q4 2017 Two years of improving churn trends Additional churn initiatives to drive further improvements Customer Churn Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018
Transformation Program Update $200M+ annual benefit potential $50-$100 million benefit expected to be realized during 2019 ~$200 million run rate exiting 2019 ~$500 million run rate exiting 2020 Anticipated EBITDA Benefits Current Status Initiative Examples 4 Initiatives complete 21 Solutions are being scaled 8 in capture phase: ~$60M/yr benefit 13 others in various phases of scaling 14 additional Initiatives underway now Full funnel of Initiatives ready to launch Field Ops – improving management of field resources More responsive allocation of resources Increasing efficiency and reducing rework Further benefits anticipated over course of 2019 Customer Technical Support Already achieved 20% of target to reduce dispatches through better remote diagnosis Call Center/Demand Generation Improving productivity and enhancing customer digital experience Churn improvements Addressing root causes of churn with multiple initiatives
2 Agenda 1 Strategic and Operational Review Daniel McCarthy President & Chief Executive Officer Financial Review Sheldon Bruha Senior Vice President & Interim Chief Financial Officer
Key Financial Highlights ($ in Millions) Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Total Revenue $2,199 $2,162 $2,126 $2,124 Customer $2,102 $2,065 $2,031 $2,030 Regulatory $97 $97 $95 $94 Net Income (Loss) $20 ($18) ($426) ($219) Net Cash provided from Operating Activities $251 $672 $286 $603 Adjusted Operating Expenses* $1,291 $1,278 $1,248 $1,229 Adjusted EBITDA* $908 $884 $878 $895 Adjusted EBITDA Margin* 41.3% 40.9% 41.3% 42.1% CapEx $297 $321 $329 $245 LTM Operating Free Cash Flow* $632 $721 $604 $620 * Adjusted Operating Expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Operating Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP measures - see Appendix for their calculations Q4 revenue stable sequentially Goodwill impairment of $241 million ($214 million net of tax) in Q4 Maintained >40% adjusted EBITDA margin consistently in 2018 Operating FCF of $620 million for 2018
Product & Customer Revenue ASC 605 ASC 606 ($ in Millions) Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Data & Internet Services* $968 $959 $956 $939 $942 $948 $938 $947 $985 $973 $961 $959 Voice Services 751 724 702 687 670 648 634 617 702 682 669 668 Video Services 347 329 318 310 309 297 287 291 280 270 260 275 Other 68 79 84 91 85 86 88 92 135 140 141 128 Total Customer Revenue* $2,134 $2,091 $2,060 $2,027 $2,006 $1,979 $1,947 $1,947 $2,102 $2,065 $2,031 $2,030 Consumer $1,164 $1,124 $1,102 $1,086 $1,089 $1,068 $1,047 $1,060 $1,128 $1,095 $1,069 $1,088 Commercial* 970 967 958 941 917 911 900 887 974 970 962 942 Total Customer Revenue* $2,134 $2,091 $2,060 $2,027 $2,006 $1,979 $1,947 $1,947 $2,102 $2,065 $2,031 $2,030 Regulatory Revenue 197 198 191 190 187 181 173 176 97 97 95 94 Total Revenue* $2,331 $2,289 $2,251 $2,217 $2,193 $2,160 $2,120 $2,123 $2,199 $2,162 $2,126 $2,124 Data & Internet services revenue (under ASC 605) roughly stable for five quarters Voice service revenue declines similar to prior trends Consumer revenue increased sequentially *Frontier Secure Strategic Partnerships revenue excluded from Q1 and Q2 2017 Commercial revenues, reflecting Q2 2017 disposition.
ASC 605 ASC 606 Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Customers 4.7M 4.6M 4.5M 4.4M 4.3M 4.2M 4.2M 4.1M 4.3M 4.2M 4.2M 4.1M ARPC Consumer ARPC Consumer ARPC increased sequentially Continued to improve base management techniques Maintaining an attractive mix of new customers
Expanding Gigabit broadband availability across fiber footprint CAF II: ~486K locations enabled with CAF II broadband New FTTH builds of >30K in 2018 reflecting new housing growth Upgrading FTTH to 10 Gbps to enable 10 Gbps Ethernet and expand 5G backhaul capacity Building FTTH to ~19K rural HHs with state funding sources Fixed wireless broadband builds continue in CAF areas Capital Spending Update $1.19 Billion in CapEx Spent in 2018 Growth initiatives comprise ~75% of FY 2018 capital spending PROJECTS COMPLETED & UNDERWAY CapEx
Manageable Near-term Debt Maturities 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031+ Unsecured Debt Secured Debt Drawn Revolver Balance ($ in Millions) Maturity profile is as of December 31, 2018 Repaid $431M of 8.125% unsecured notes at October 1, 2018 maturity $56M principal amount open-market purchases of 7.125% March 15, 2019 unsecured notes Closed $76M tower sale in January 2019 $4,514 $1,603 $1,364 $500 $547 $2,981 $14 $50 $2,380 As of December 31, 2018
2019 Guidance * Adjusted EBITDA and Operating free cash flow are non-GAAP measures - see Appendix for their calculations. $3.45- $3.55B Adjusted EBITDA* Operating Free Cash Flow* Cash Interest Expense Cash Pension/ OPEB Cash Taxes Capital Expenditures ~$1.15B <$25M ~$175M $575- $675M ~$1.475B
Appendix
Safe Harbor Statement Forward-looking Language This earnings release contains "forward-looking statements," related to future events. Forward-looking statements address Frontier’s expected future business, financial performance, and financial condition, and contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "may," "will," "would," or "target." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For Frontier, particular uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different than those expressed in such forward-looking statements include: declines in revenue from Frontier’s voice services, switched and non-switched access and video and data services that it cannot stabilize or offset with increases in revenue from other products and services; Frontier’s ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives, including opportunities to enhance revenue and realize operational improvements; competition from cable, wireless and wireline carriers, satellite, and OTT companies, and the risk that Frontier will not respond on a timely or profitable basis; Frontier’s ability to successfully adjust to changes in the communications industry, including the effects of technological changes and competition on its capital expenditures, products and service offerings; risks related to disruptions in Frontier’s networks, infrastructure and information technology that may result in customer loss and/or incurrence of additional expenses; the impact of potential information technology or data security breaches or other cyber attacks or other disruptions; Frontier’s ability to retain or attract new customers and to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; Frontier’s ability to hire or retain key personnel; Frontier’s ability to realize anticipated benefits from recent acquisitions; Frontier’s ability to dispose of certain assets or asset groups on terms that are attractive to it, or at all; Frontier’s ability to effectively manage its operations, operating expenses, capital expenditures, debt service requirements and cash paid for income taxes and liquidity; Frontier’s ability to defend against litigation and potentially unfavorable results from current pending and future litigation; adverse changes in the credit markets, which could impact the availability and cost of financing; Frontier’s ability to repay or refinance its debt through, among other things, accessing the capital markets, notes repurchases and/or redemptions, tender offers and exchange offers; adverse changes in the ratings given to Frontier’s debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations; covenants in Frontier’s indentures and credit agreements that may limit Frontier’s operational and financial flexibility as well as its ability to access the capital markets in the future; the effects of state regulatory requirements that could limit Frontier’s ability to transfer cash among its subsidiaries or dividend funds up to the parent company; the effects of governmental legislation and regulation on Frontier’s business; the impact of regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks; government infrastructure projects that impact capital expenditures; continued reductions in switched access revenue as a result of regulation, competition or technology substitutions; the effects of changes in the availability of federal and state universal service funding or other subsidies to Frontier and its competitors; Frontier’s ability to meet its remaining CAF II funding obligations and the risk of penalties or obligations to return certain CAF II funds; Frontier’s ability to effectively manage service quality and meet mandated service quality metrics; the effects of changes in accounting policies or practices, including potential future impairment charges with respect to intangible assets; the effects of changes in income tax rates, tax laws, regulations or rulings, or federal or state tax assessments, including the risk that such changes may benefit Frontier’s competitors more than it, as wells potential future decreases in the value of Frontier’s deferred tax assets; the effects of increased medical expenses and pension and postemployment expenses; Frontier’s ability to successfully renegotiate union contracts; changes in pension plan assumptions, interest rates, discount rates, regulatory rules and/or the value of Frontier’s pension plan assets, which could require Frontier to make increased contributions to its pension plans; the effects of changes in both general and local economic conditions in the markets that Frontier serves; the effects of severe weather events or other natural or man-made disasters, which may increase operating and capital expenses or adversely impact customer revenue; and the risks and other factors contained in Frontier’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Frontier has no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements and does not undertake to do so.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures Frontier uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its performance, including EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, operating free cash flow, and adjusted operating expenses, each of which is described below. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to (i) assist in analyzing Frontier's underlying financial performance from period to period, (ii) analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions, (iii) establish criteria for compensation decisions, and (iv) assist in the understanding of Frontier's ability to generate cash flow and, as a result, to plan for future capital and operational decisions. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors regarding Frontier’s financial condition and results of operations because these measures, when used in conjunction with related GAAP financial measures (i) provide a more comprehensive view of Frontier’s core operations and ability to generate cash flow, (ii) provide investors with the financial analytical framework upon which management bases financial, operational, compensation, and planning decisions and (iii) present measurements that investors and rating agencies have indicated to management are useful to them in assessing Frontier and its results of operations. A reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is included in the accompanying tables. These non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP, nor are they alternatives to GAAP measures and they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) less income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, investment and other income, pension settlement costs, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by total revenue. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA, as described above, adjusted to exclude acquisition and integration costs, certain pension/OPEB expenses, restructuring costs and other charges, stock-based compensation expense, goodwill impairment charges, and certain other non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing adjusted EBITDA by total revenue. Management uses EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to assist it in comparing performance from period to period and as measures of operational performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information for investors in evaluating Frontier’s operational performance from period to period because they exclude depreciation and amortization expenses related to investments made in prior periods and are determined without regard to capital structure or investment activities. By excluding capital expenditures, debt repayments and dividends, among other factors, these non-GAAP financial measures have certain shortcomings. Management compensates for these shortcomings by utilizing these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures. Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Frontier common shareholders is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Frontier common shareholders and excludes acquisition and integration costs, restructuring costs and other charges, pension settlement costs, goodwill impairment charges, certain income tax items and the income tax effect of these items, and certain other non-recurring items. Adjusting for these items allows investors to better understand and analyze Frontier’s financial performance over the periods presented. Management defines operating free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, as net cash provided from operating activities less capital expenditures. Management uses operating free cash flow to assist it in comparing liquidity from period to period and to obtain a more comprehensive view of Frontier’s core operations and ability to generate cash flow. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors in evaluating cash available to service debt and pay dividends. This non-GAAP financial measure has certain shortcomings; it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures, as items such as debt repayments and preferred stock dividends are not deducted in determining such measure. Management compensates for these shortcomings by utilizing this non-GAAP financial measure in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measure. Adjusted operating expenses is defined as operating expenses adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization, acquisition and integration costs, restructuring and other charges, goodwill impairment charges, certain pension/OPEB expenses, stock-based compensation expense, and certain other non-recurring items. Investors have indicated that this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating Frontier’s performance. The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in Frontier’s documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures ($ in Millions) Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2017 Net Income (Loss) (219) (426) (1,029) Add back (Subtract): Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (51) (4) (1,103) Interest Expense 388 389 377 Investment and Other (Income) Loss, Net 3 (3) 3 Pension Settlement Costs 7 9 6 (Gain) Loss on Extinguishment of Debt and Debt Exchanges (1) 2 (1) Operating Income (Loss) 127 (33) (1,747) Depreciation and Amortization 492 471 514 EBITDA $619 $438 ($1,233) Add back: Acquisition and Integration Costs - - 10 Pension/OPEB Expense 19 21 20 Restructuring Costs and Other Charges 15 14 27 Stock-based Compensation Expense 4 5 4 Storm Related Costs (Insurance Proceeds) (3) - 13 Goodwill Impairment 241 400 2,078 Adjusted EBITDA $895 $878 $919 EBITDA Margin 29.1% 20.6% (55.6%) Adjusted EBITDA Margin 42.1% 41.3% 41.5%
Non-GAAP Financial Measures ($ in Millions) Q4 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2017 Total Operating Expenses $1,997 $2,159 $3,9641 Subtract: Depreciation and Amortization 492 471 514 Goodwill Impairment 241 400 2,078 Acquisition and Integration Costs - - 10 Pension/OPEB Expense 19 21 201 Restructuring Costs and Other Charges 15 14 27 Stock-based Compensation Expense 4 5 4 Storm Related Costs (Insurance Proceeds) (3) - 13 Adjusted Operating Expenses $1,229 $1,248 $1,298 (1) Effective January 1, 2018, Frontier adopted ASU 2017-07, "Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost." The standard requires certain benefit costs to be reclassified from operating expenses to non-operating expenses. This change in policy was applied using a retrospective approach. Pension settlement costs of $6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 were reclassified from operating expense to non-operating expense.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures Quarterly Results ($ in Millions) Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Net Cash Provided from Operating Activities $300 $529 $356 $665 $251 $672 $286 $603 Add Back (Subtract): Capital Expenditures – Business Operations (315) (263) (268) (308) (297) (321) (329) (245) Capital Expenditures – Integration (1) (4) (14) (15) - - - - Operating Free Cash Flow ($16) $262 $74 $342 ($46) $351 ($43) $358 Trailing Four Quarter Results ($ in Millions) Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Net Cash Provided from Operating Activities $2,028 $1,864 $1,899 $1,850 $1,801 $1,944 $1,874 $1,812 Add Back (Subtract): Capital Expenditures – Business Operations (1,367) (1,280) (1,145) (1,154) (1,136) (1,194) (1,255) (1,192) Capital Expenditures – Integration (91) (59) (62) (34) (33) (29) (15) - Operating Free Cash Flow $570 $525 $692 $662 $632 $721 $604 $620
Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 CTF & Legacy Broadband and Video Unit Trends CTF Net Adds (000s) CTF FiOS® Broadband Video (excl. Dish®) CTF Copper Broadband CTF FiOS broadband net adds reflect greater selectivity in customer acquisition Four quarters of stable CTF Copper broadband trends Legacy broadband net additions improved slightly sequentially and stable with Q4 2017 Legacy Broadband Legacy Net Adds (000s)