Frontier Communications Reports 2013 First Quarter Results

Frontier Communications Reports 2013 First Quarter Results

• Strong new broadband subscriber growth of 28,200; greater than full year 2012

• Residential customer retention improved by 38% quarter over quarter; 57% year over year

• First quarter operating cash flow margin maintained at 47%

• Net expense reductions of $100 million on track for 2013

• Dividend payout ratio of 48%

• 2013 guidance for cash flow, capital expenditures and cash taxes reaffirmed

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Frontier Communications Corporation (NAS: FTR) today reported first quarter 2013 revenue of $1,205.4 million, operating income of $250.8 million and net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier of $48.1 million, or $0.05 per share.

"In the first quarter of 2013 Frontier achieved the strongest rate of broadband net additions since our acquisition of the Verizon properties in July, 2010," said Maggie Wilderotter, Chairman and CEO of Frontier Communications. "We accelerated growth every month in the first quarter as we phased out the Apple Gift Card Promotion and replaced it with aggressive bundled price offers for packages and our standalone broadband offering, Simply Broadband. In addition, our customer retention and sales efforts substantially improved our residential net customer losses by 17,300 from Q4 2012, which improved our rate of loss from 1.5% in Q4 2012 to 1.0% in Q1 2013. We are maintaining this strong broadband and customer retention momentum into this second quarter through strong sales, continued investments in our network and exceptional customer service. As a result of these efforts, we expect revenue decline improvements in Q2. Finally, we are on track to achieve our goal of reduced net operating expenses of $100 million for 2013."

Revenue for the first quarter of 2013 was $1,205.4 million as compared to $1,232.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 and $1,268.1 million in the first quarter of 2012. The decrease in revenue for the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the first quarter of 2012 is attributable to decreases in voice revenues, and lower switched and nonswitched access revenue, partially offset by an $18.3 million, or 9%, increase in data services revenue.

At March 31, 2013, the Company had approximately 281,100 business customers and2,859,200 residential customers. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company lost approximately 32,900 customers as compared to 50,400 customers in the three months ended December 31, 2012 and 72,600 customers in the three months ended March 31, 2012. Also, during the most recent quarter, the average monthly business revenue per customer was $644.55, or 4% higher than the first quarter of 2012, and the average monthly residential revenue per customer was $58.82, or 2% higher than the first quarter of 2012.

The Company's broadband customer net additions were approximately 28,200 during the first quarter of 2013, which was greater than the 23,400 broadband customer net additions for all of 2012. The Company had approximately 1,782,600 broadband customers at March 31, 2013. The Company added 18,300 video customers during the first quarter of 2013. The Company had approximately 365,000 video customers at March 31, 2013.

Network access expenses for the first quarter of 2013 were $109.4 million as compared to $108.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 and $115.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. The Company incurred promotion costs of $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2013 and $5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 related to its Apple gift card promotion. Excluding promotion costs, network access expenses in the first quarter of 2013 decreased $12.9 million, or 11%, as compared to the first quarter of 2012.

Other operating expenses for the first quarter of 2013 were $541.5 million as compared to $570.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 and $551.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. Included in other operating expenses were severance costs of $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2013. Other operating expenses, excluding severance costs, in the first quarter of 2013 were lower than the fourth quarter of 2012 by $14.4 million, primarily due to decreased compensation costs resulting from reduced headcount, lower outside service costs and the absence of storm related costs.

Depreciation and amortization for the first quarter of 2013 was $303.7 million as compared to $304.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 and $357.3 million in the first quarter of 2012. Amortization expense decreased by $59.9 million in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the first quarter of 2012, primarily due to the accelerated amortization in the first quarter of 2012 of certain software licenses, as well as certain other items that were fully amortized in 2012.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2013 was $250.8 million (reflecting lower amortization and other operating expenses, as well as the absence of integration costs, as compared to the first quarter of 2012) and operating income margin was 20.8 percent as compared to operating income of $235.7 million and operating income margin of 19.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 and operating income of $208.5 million and operating income margin of 16.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012.

Excluding adjustments for integration costs and severance costs, operating income and operating income margin would have been $253.2 million and 21.0 percent, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013, $266.5 million and 21.6 percent, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and $250.1 million and 19.7 percent, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Operating income, excluding integration costs and severance costs, decreased $13.3 million in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 principally due to lower revenue.

Interest expense for the first quarter of 2013 was $171.4 million as compared to $164.9 million in the first quarter of 2012, a $6.5 million increase, primarily due to higher average debt levels and lower capitalized interest in 2013. Interest expense in the first quarter of 2013 was $7.5 million lower than the $178.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2012, primarily due to lower average debt levels resulting from the retirement of $502.7 million of the Company's 6.25% senior notes that matured on January 15, 2013.

Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2013 was $33.3 million as compared to $18.7 million in the first quarter of 2012, a $14.6 million increase, principally due to higher pretax income. The Company had an effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2013 and 2012 of 39.6% and 38.0%, respectively.

Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier was $48.1 million, or $0.05 per share, in the first quarter of 2013, as compared to $26.8 million, or $0.03 per share, in the first quarter of 2012. The first quarter of 2013 includes severance costs of $2.4 million, partially offset by an investment gain of $1.3 million (combined impact of $0.7 million after tax). Excluding the impact of the aforementioned items, non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier for the first quarter of 2013 would be $48.8 million, or $0.05 per share, as compared to $52.5 million, or $0.05 per share, in the first quarter of 2012.

Capital expenditures for Frontier business operations were $189.0 million for the first quarter of 2013 as compared to $208.5 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Operating cash flow, as adjusted and defined by the Company in the attached Schedule A, was $561.9 million for the first quarter of 2013 resulting in an operating cash flow margin of 46.6 percent. Operating cash flow, as reported, of $554.5 million has been adjusted to exclude $2.4 million of severance costs and $5.0 million of non-cash pension and other postretirement benefit costs.

Free cash flow, as defined by the Company in the attached Schedule A,was $206.2 million for the first quarter of 2013. The Company's dividend represents a payout of 48 percent of free cash flow for the first quarter of 2013.

Working Capital

At March 31, 2013, the Company had a working capital surplus of $632.2 million. On January 15, 2013, the Company retired $502.7 million of our 6.25% senior notes that matured on such date. The repayment was made with cash available on hand.

Debt Refinancing

On April 10, 2013, the Company completed a registered debt offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% senior unsecured notes due 2024, issued at a price of 100% of their principal amount. The Company received net proceeds of $736.9 million from the offering after deducting underwriting fees. The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the notes, together with cash on hand, to finance the cash tender offers discussed below.

Subsequent to March 31, 2013, the Company repurchased, through a cash tender offer and privately negotiated transactions, $906.6 million aggregate principal amount of various senior notes tendered for total consideration of $1,052.4 million, consisting of $194.9 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.625% senior notes due 2015 (the March 2015 Notes); $277.9 million aggregate principal amount of the 7.875% senior notes due 2015 (the April 2015 Notes); and $433.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 8.250% senior notes due 2017 (the 2017 Notes), respectively.

The repurchases of the senior notes resulted in a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of approximately $143.8 million ($89.0 million, or $0.09 per share, after tax), which will be recognized in the second quarter of 2013. As of April 30, 2013, approximately $105.0 million aggregate principal amount of the March 2015 Notes, $96.9 million aggregate principal amount of the April 2015 Notes and $606.9 million aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Notes remained outstanding.

Renewal of Revolving Credit Facility

On May 3, 2013, the Company entered into a new $750.0 million revolving credit facility that will mature on November 3, 2016. Upon entering into the new facility, the existing facility was terminated.

Sale of Mohave Partnership Interest

On April 1, 2013, the Company closed on the sale of Mohave Cellular Limited Partnership (Mohave) to Verizon Wireless, and the Company will recognize a gain on sale of approximately $15.3 million before taxes (approximately $9.4 million, or $0.01 per share, after taxes) in the second quarter of 2013.

2013 Guidance Remains Unchanged

For the full year of 2013, the Company's expectations for capital expenditures and free cash flow remain unchanged and are within a range of $625 million to $675 million and $825 million to $925 million, respectively. The Company expects that in 2013, absent any further legislative changes in 2013, its cash taxes guidance remains unchanged and will be in the range of $125 million to $150 million.

Non-GAAP Measures

The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its performance. These include non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier, free cash flow and operating cash flow. A reconciliation of the differences between non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier, free cash flow and operating cash flow and the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is included in the tables that follow. The non-GAAP financial measures are by definition not measures of financial performance under GAAP, and are not alternatives to operating income or net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier as reflected in the statement of operations or to cash flow as reflected in the statement of cash flows, and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund all cash flow needs. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors regarding the Company's financial condition and results of operations because these measures, when used in conjunction with related GAAP financial measures, (i) together provide a more comprehensive view of the Company'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) presents measurements that investors and rating agencies have indicated to management are useful to them in assessing the Company and its results of operations. In addition, the Company believes that non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier, free cash flow and operating cash flow, as the Company defines them, can assist in comparing performance from period to period, without taking into account factors affecting operating income or net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier in the statement of operations, or cash flow reflected in the statement of cash flows, including changes in working capital and the timing of purchases and payments. The Company has shown adjustments to its financial presentations to exclude losses on the early extinguishment of debt, investment gains, discrete tax items, integration costs, severance costs and non-cash pension and other postretirement benefit costs, as disclosed in the attached Schedules A and B, because investors have indicated to management that such adjustments are useful to them in assessing the Company and its results of operations.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to (i) assist in analyzing the Company's underlying financial performance from period to period, (ii) evaluate the financial performance of its business units, (iii) analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions, (iv) establish criteria for compensation decisions, and (v) assist management in understanding the Company's ability to generate cash flow and, as a result, to plan for future capital and operational decisions. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with related GAAP financial measures.

These non-GAAP financial measures have certain shortcomings. In particular, free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures, since items such as debt repayments and dividends are not deducted in determining such measure. Operating cash flow has similar shortcomings as interest, income taxes, capital expenditures, debt repayments and dividends are not deducted in determining this measure. Management compensates for the shortcomings of these measures by utilizing them in conjunction with their comparable GAAP financial measures. The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in our documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company 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, the Company furnished today on a Current Report on Form 8-K certain materials regarding first quarter 2013 results. The conference call will be webcast and may be accessed at:

http://investor.frontier.com/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=128130

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available for one week beginning at 7:30 P.M. Eastern time, Monday, May 6, 2013 via dial-in at 888-203-1112 for U.S. and Canadian callers or, outside the U.S. and Canada, at 719-457-0820, passcode 9321559. A webcast replay of the call will be available at www.frontier.com/ir.

About Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications Corporation (NAS: FTR) offers broadband, voice, satellite video, wireless Internet data access, data security solutions, bundled offerings and specialized bundles for residential customers, small businesses and home offices, and advanced business communications for medium and large businesses in 27 states. Frontier's approximately 14,400 employees are based entirely in the United States. More information is available at www.frontier.com and www.frontier.com/ir.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of management's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance. Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements (including oral representations) involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties are based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: the effects of greater than anticipated competition which could require us to implement new pricing, marketing strategies or new product or service offerings and the risk that we will not respond on a timely or profitable basis; reductions in the number of our voice customers that we cannot offset with increases in broadband subscribers and sales of other products and services; the effects of competition from cable, wireless and other wireline carriers; our ability to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; the effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry as a result of federal and state legislation and regulation, or changes in the enforcement or interpretation of such legislation and regulation; the effects of any unfavorable outcome with respect to any current or future legal, governmental or regulatory proceedings, audits or disputes; the effects of changes in the availability of federal and state universal funding to us and our competitors; our ability to adjust successfully to changes in the communications industry and to implement strategies for growth; continued reductions in switched access revenues as a result of regulation, competition or technology substitutions; our ability to effectively manage service quality in our territories and meet mandated service quality metrics; our ability to successfully introduce new product offerings, including our ability to offer bundled service packages on terms that are both profitable to us and attractive to customers; the effects of changes in accounting policies or practices adopted voluntarily or as required by generally accepted accounting principles or regulations; our ability to effectively manage our operations, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and to repay, reduce or refinance our debt; the effects of changes in both general and local economic conditions on the markets that we serve, which can affect demand for our products and services, customer purchasing decisions, collectability of revenues and required levels of capital expenditures related to new construction of residences and businesses; the effects of technological changes and competition on our capital expenditures, products and service offerings, including the lack of assurance that our network improvements in speed and capacity will be sufficient to meet or exceed the capabilities and quality of competing networks; the effects of increased medical, pension and postemployment expenses and related funding requirements; the effects of changes in income tax rates, tax laws, regulations or rulings, or federal or state tax assessments; our ability to successfully renegotiate union contracts in 2013 and thereafter; changes in pension plan assumptions and/or the value of our pension plan assets, which could require us to make increased contributions to the pension plan in 2013 and beyond; the effects of customer bankruptcies and home foreclosures, which could result in difficulty in collection of revenues and loss of customers; adverse changes in the credit markets or in the ratings given to our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations, which could limit or restrict the availability, or increase the cost, of financing; our cash flow from operations, amount of capital expenditures, debt service requirements, cash paid for income taxes and liquidity may affect our payment of dividends on our common shares; the effects of state regulatory cash management practices that could limit our ability to transfer cash among our subsidiaries or dividend funds up to the parent company; and the effects of severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms or other natural or man-made disasters. These and other uncertainties related to our business are described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and the foregoing information should be read in conjunction with these filings. We do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances.