UNITED STATES
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):
October 30, 2024
Uniti
Group Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
| Maryland |
|
001-36708 |
|
46-5230630 |
(State or other
jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
|
(Commission
File Number) |
|
(IRS Employer
Identification
No.) |
2101
Riverfront Drive, Suite A
Little
Rock, AR,
72202
(Address of Principal
Executive Offices)
Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code: (501) 850-0820
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:
| x |
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)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
| Title
of each class |
Trading
Symbol(s) |
Name
of each exchange on which
registered |
| Common
Stock |
UNIT |
The
NASDAQ Global Select Market |
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 October 31, 2024, Uniti Group Inc. (the
“Company”) issued a press release announcing the Company’s results for its fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024.
A copy of the Company’s press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated
herein solely for purposes of this Item 2.02 disclosure.
Item 4.02 Non-Reliance on Previously
Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review
During the third quarter of 2023, the Company recorded
a goodwill impairment and related income tax benefits, which it reflected in its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 (the “2023 Interim Financial Statements”) included in
the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. As previously disclosed in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2023 10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2023, during the fourth quarter of
2023, the Company identified certain errors with respect to the income tax benefit it recorded associated with the goodwill impairment.
As a result, the goodwill impairment and income tax benefit were understated, netting to a $38.0 million increase in the net loss for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. As discussed in Note 2 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements
(the “2023 Audited Financial Statements”) included in the 2023 10-K, the Company concluded that the error was immaterial,
and the error was corrected as an immaterial correction to the 2023 Interim Financial Statements. Also, as disclosed in Item 9A of the
2023 10-K, the Company concluded that the error was caused by a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting and that the Company’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting were not effective
as of December 31, 2023.
On October 30, 2024, the audit committee of
the board of directors of the Company (the “Audit Committee”), in consultation with senior management of the Company and KPMG
LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, concluded that the error was material to the 2023 Interim Financial
Statements and should have been reflected as a restatement of 2023 Interim Financial Statements and, accordingly, the 2023 Interim Financial
Statements included in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 should no
longer be relied upon. The Company will include restated 2023 Interim Financial Statements in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Because the impairment charge was corrected in the fourth quarter of 2023, the adjustments
to the 2023 Interim Financial Statements did not have any impact on the 2023 Audited Financial Statements or the 2023 10-K, which appropriately
reflected the full goodwill impairment charge and related tax benefits. Additionally, the impact of the error and correction to the 2023
Interim Financial Statements were previously disclosed in Note 2 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in
the 2023 10-K. The Company’s press release also reflected the correction in the comparative 2023 Interim Financial Statements.
The Audit Committee and senior
management have discussed with KPMG LLP the matters disclosed in this Item 4.02.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
The Company is furnishing certain financial and
other information of Windstream Holdings II, LLC, successor in interest to Windstream Holdings, Inc., and its consolidated subsidiaries
(collectively, “Windstream”) regarding the period ended September 30, 2024 as Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3.
The information furnished herein was provided to the Company by Windstream; the Company did not assist in the preparation or review of
this information and makes no representation as to its accuracy.
***
The
information contained in Items 2.02 and 7.01, including the exhibits attached hereto, are being “furnished” and shall not
be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18
of the Exchange Act. The information in Items 2.02 and 7.01, including the exhibits attached hereto, shall not be incorporated by reference
into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),
or into any filing or other document pursuant to the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in any such filing.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication and the information contained
in it are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to be and shall not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval,
or an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, or an invitation or recommendation to subscribe for, acquire or buy securities
of the Company, Windstream or Windstream Parent, Inc., the proposed combined company following the closing of the Merger (as defined
below) (“New Uniti”) or any other financial products or securities, in any place or jurisdiction, nor shall there be any offer,
solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent
registration under the Securities Act. or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the contemplated merger (the
“Merger”), New Uniti has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that contains a proxy statement/prospectus
and other documents, which has not yet become effective. Once effective, the Company will mail the proxy statement/prospectus contained
in the Form S-4 to its stockholders. This communication is not a substitute for any registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus
or other documents that may be filed with the SEC in connection with the Merger.
THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, WINDSTREAM, NEW UNITI, THE MERGER AND
RELATED MATTERS. INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR
ENTIRETY, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND SUCH DOCUMENTS, BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY DECISION
WITH RESPECT TO THE MERGER. The proxy statement/prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto and all other documents filed with the
SEC in connection with the Merger will be available free of charge on the SEC’s website (at www.sec.gov). Copies of documents filed
with the SEC by the Company will be made available free of charge on the Company's investor relations website (at https://investor.uniti.com/financial-information/sec-filings).
Participants in the Solicitation
The Company, Windstream and their respective directors
and certain of their executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s
stockholders in connection with the Merger. Information about the Company’s directors and executive officers is set forth in the
sections titled “Proposal No. 1 Election of Directors” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management” included in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, which was
filed with the SEC on April 11, 2024 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1620280/000110465924046100/0001104659-24-046100-index.htm),
the section titled “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1620280/000162828024008054/unit-20231231.htm),
and subsequent statements of beneficial ownership on file with the SEC and other filings made from time to time with the SEC. Additional
information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the Company
stockholders in connection with the Merger, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise,
is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed by New Uniti with the SEC. These documents can be obtained
free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K
may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended from
time to time. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact, including, without limitation,
our 2024 financial outlook, expectations regarding lease-up of our network, strong demand trends, business strategies, growth prospects,
and statements regarding our merger with Windstream and potential synergies, cost savings and the future performance of New Uniti (together
with Windstream and Uniti, the “Merged Group”). In addition, this communication contains statements concerning the intentions,
beliefs and expectations, plans, strategies and objectives of the directors and management of Uniti and Windstream for Uniti and Windstream,
respectively, and the Merged Group, the anticipated timing for and outcome and effects of the Merger (including expected benefits to shareholders
of Uniti), expectations for the final capital structure, ongoing development and growth potential of the Merged Group and the future operation
of Uniti, Windstream and the Merged Group.
Words such as "anticipate(s)," "expect(s),"
"intend(s)," “estimate(s),” “foresee(s),” "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "may,"
"will," "would," "could," "should," "seek(s)," “appear(s),” “target(s),”
“project(s),” “contemplate(s),” “predict(s),” “potential,” “continue(s)” and
similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based
on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results
differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. Factors which could materially alter our expectations
include, but are not limited to, the future prospects of Windstream, our largest customer; the ability and willingness of our customers
to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, and the ability to reposition our properties on the same or better terms in the event
of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant; the availability of and our ability to identify suitable acquisition opportunities
and our ability to acquire and lease the respective properties on favorable terms; the risk that we fail to fully realize the potential
benefits of acquisitions or have difficulty integrating acquired companies; our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service our
outstanding indebtedness and fund our capital funding commitments; our ability to access debt and equity capital markets; the impact on
our business or the business of our customers as a result of credit rating downgrades and fluctuating interest rates; our ability to retain
our key management personnel; changes in the U.S. tax law and other state, federal or local laws, whether or not specific to real estate
investment trusts; covenants in our debt agreements that may limit our operational flexibility; the possibility that we may experience
equipment failures, natural disasters, cyber-attacks or terrorist attacks for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage; other
risks inherent in the communications industry and in the ownership of communications distribution systems, including potential liability
relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the consummation
of the Merger, including, without limitation, the receipt of shareholder and regulatory approvals on the terms desired or anticipated;
unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Merger, including, without limitation, difficulties that result in the failure
to realize expected synergies, efficiencies and cost savings from the Merger within the expected time period (if at all); potential difficulties
in Uniti’s and Windstream’s ability to retain employees as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Merger; risks
relating to the value of New Uniti’s securities to be issued in connection with the Merger; disruptions of Uniti’s and Windstream’s
current plans, operations and relationships with customers caused by the announcement and pendency of the Merger; legal proceedings that
may be instituted against Uniti or Windstream following announcement of the Merger; funding requirements; regulatory restrictions (including
changes in regulatory restrictions or regulatory policy); and additional factors described in our reports filed with the SEC.
There can be no assurance that the Merger will
be implemented or that plans of the respective directors and management of Uniti and Windstream for the Merged Group will proceed as currently
expected or will ultimately be successful. Investors are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
including in respect of the financial or operating outlook for Uniti, Windstream or the Merged Group (including the realization of any
cost savings or expected synergies). See also “Additional Information and Where to Find it.”
All forward-looking statements are based on information
and estimates available at the time of this communication and are not guarantees of future performance.
Except as required by applicable law, Uniti does
not assume any obligation to, and expressly disclaims any duty to, provide any additional or updated information or to update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. Nothing in this communication will, under
any circumstances (including by reason of this communication remaining available and not being superseded or replaced by any other presentation
or publication with respect to Uniti, Windstream or the Merged Group, or the subject matter of this communication), create an implication
that there has been no change in the affairs of Uniti or Windstream since the date of this communication.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
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.
| Date: October 31, 2024 |
UNITI GROUP INC. |
| |
|
|
| |
By: |
/s/
Daniel L. Heard |
| |
|
Name: |
Daniel
L. Heard |
| |
|
Title: |
Executive Vice President
– General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
Press Release
Release date: October 31,
2024
Uniti Group Inc.
Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results
Third Quarter
Consolidated Bookings Monthly Recurring Revenue of $0.9 Million Increased Over 20% From Prior Year
Updates 2024
Outlook
| · | Net
Income of $12.2 Million for the Third Quarter |
| · | Net
Income of $0.05 Per Diluted Common Share for the Third Quarter |
| · | AFFO
of $0.33 Per Diluted Common Share for the Third Quarter |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.,
October 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Uniti Group Inc. (“Uniti” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: UNIT) today
announced its results for the third quarter 2024.
“We continue
to see solid demand for our mission critical fiber infrastructure at Uniti with consolidated bookings of nearly $1 million in monthly
recurring revenue during the quarter. Demand from our Hyperscaler customers also remains strong as we recently announced a long-term
award in Montgomery, AL that will add fiber in a strategic market for Uniti that will be available for lease-up,” commented President
and Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Gunderman.
Mr. Gunderman
continued, “Turning to our transformational merger with Windstream that we announced earlier this year, we continue to make significant
progress and remain on track to close the merger by the second half of 2025. Through the recent credit agreement amendments and successful
refinancing activity at Windstream, we now have a clear path to collapsing the dual debt silos of Uniti and Windstream upon closing of
the merger, thus greatly simplifying the capital structure of the combined company. Finally, Windstream now has the capital on-hand to
accelerate Kinetic’s fiber-to-the-home buildout, further strengthening its position within the residential fiber market.”
QUARTERLY RESULTS
Consolidated revenues
for the third quarter of 2024 were $292.2 million. Net income and Adjusted EBITDA were $12.2 million and $235.3 million, respectively,
for the same period, achieving Adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 81%. Net income attributable to common shares was $11.9 million
for the period. AFFO attributable to common shareholders was $87.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted common share.
Uniti Fiber contributed
$69.3 million of revenues and $25.6 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024. Uniti Fiber’s net success-based capital
expenditures during the quarter were $26.2 million.
Uniti Leasing contributed
revenues of $222.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $215.2 million for the third quarter. During the quarter, Uniti Leasing deployed capital
expenditures of $35.5 million, including $34.2 million of GCI capex.
LIQUIDITY
At quarter-end,
the Company had approximately $529.1 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, and undrawn borrowing availability under its
revolving credit agreement. The Company’s leverage ratio at quarter-end was 6.05x based on net debt to third quarter 2024 annualized
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding the debt and the net contributions from the ABS loan facility.
UPDATED FULL
YEAR 2024 OUTLOOK
The Company is
updating its 2024 outlook primarily for business unit level revisions, and transaction related and other costs incurred to date. Our
outlook excludes any impact from the expected merger with Windstream, future acquisitions, capital market transactions, and future transaction-related
and other costs not mentioned herein.
The Company’s consolidated outlook
for 2024 is as follows (in millions):
| | |
Full Year 2024 | |
| Revenue | |
$ | 1,157 | | |
to | |
$ | 1,177 | |
| Net income attributable to common shareholders | |
| 88 | | |
to | |
| 108 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA (1) | |
| 930 | | |
to | |
| 950 | |
| Interest expense, net (2) | |
| 514 | | |
to | |
| 514 | |
| | |
| | | |
| |
| | |
| Attributable to common shareholders: | |
| | | |
| |
| | |
| FFO (1) | |
| 290 | | |
to | |
| 310 | |
| AFFO (1) | |
| 351 | | |
to | |
| 371 | |
| | |
| | | |
| |
| | |
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted | |
| 285 | | |
to | |
| 285 | |
(1) See
“Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
(2) See
“Components of Interest Expense” below.
CONFERENCE CALL
Uniti will hold
a conference call today to discuss this earnings release at 8:30 AM Eastern Time (7:30 AM Central Time). The conference call will be
webcast live on Uniti’s Investor Relations website at investor.uniti.com. Those parties interested in participating via telephone
may register on the Company’s Investor Relations website or by clicking here. A replay of the call will also be made available
on the Investor Relations website.
ABOUT UNITI
Uniti, an internally
managed real estate investment trust, is engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission critical communications infrastructure,
and is a leading provider of fiber and other wireless solutions for the communications industry. As of September 30, 2024, Uniti
owns approximately 144,000 fiber route miles, 8.7 million fiber strand miles, and other communications real estate throughout the United
States. Additional information about Uniti can be found on its website at www.uniti.com.
NO OFFER OR
SOLICITATION
This communication
and the information contained in it are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to be and shall not constitute a
solicitation of any vote or approval, or an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, or an invitation or recommendation to subscribe
for, acquire or buy securities of Uniti, Windstream Holdings II (“Windstream”) or Windstream Parent, Inc., the proposed
combined company following the closing of the Merger (as defined below) (“New Uniti”) or any other financial products or
securities, in any place or jurisdiction, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which
such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND WHERE TO FIND IT
In connection with
the contemplated merger (the “Merger”), New Uniti has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that contains
a proxy statement/prospectus and other documents, which has not yet become effective. Once effective, Uniti will mail the proxy statement/prospectus
contained in the Form S-4 to its stockholders. This communication is not a substitute for any registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus
or other documents that may be filed with the SEC in connection with the Merger.
THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT UNITI, WINDSTREAM, NEW UNITI,
THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY
AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND SUCH DOCUMENTS, BEFORE THEY MAKE
ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE MERGER. The proxy statement/prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto and all other documents
filed with the SEC in connection with the Merger will be available free of charge on the SEC’s website (at www.sec.gov). Copies
of documents filed with the SEC by Uniti will be made available free of charge on Uniti's investor relations website (at https://investor.uniti.com/financial-information/sec-filings).
PARTICIPANTS
IN THE SOLICITATION
Uniti, Windstream
and their respective directors and certain of their executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation
of proxies from Uniti’s stockholders in connection with the Merger. Information about Uniti’s directors and executive officers
is set forth in the sections titled “Proposal No. 1 Election of Directors” and “Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management” included in Uniti’s proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, which
was filed with the SEC on April 11, 2024 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1620280/000110465924046100/0001104659-24-046100-index.htm),
the section titled “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024 (and which is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1620280/000162828024008054/unit-20231231.htm),
and subsequent statements of beneficial ownership on file with the SEC and other filings made from time to time with the SEC. Additional
information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Uniti stockholders
in connection with the Merger, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set
forth in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed by New Uniti with the SEC. These documents can be obtained
free of charge from the sources indicated above.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Certain statements
in this press release and today’s conference call may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended from time to time. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical
statements of fact, including, without limitation, our 2024 financial outlook, expectations regarding lease-up of our network, strong
demand trends, business strategies, growth prospects, and statements regarding our merger with Windstream and potential synergies, cost
savings and the future performance of New Uniti (together with Windstream and Uniti, the “Merged Group”). In addition, this
communication contains statements concerning the intentions, beliefs and expectations, plans, strategies and objectives of the directors
and management of Uniti and Windstream for Uniti and Windstream, respectively, and the Merged Group, the anticipated timing for and outcome
and effects of the Merger (including expected benefits to shareholders of Uniti), expectations for the final capital structure, ongoing
development and growth potential of the Merged Group and the future operation of Uniti, Windstream and the Merged Group.
Words such as
"anticipate(s)," "expect(s)," "intend(s)," “estimate(s),” “foresee(s),” "plan(s),"
"believe(s)," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seek(s),"
“appear(s),” “target(s),” “project(s),” “contemplate(s),” “predict(s),” “potential,”
“continue(s)” and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
could lead to actual results differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions
underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. Factors which
could materially alter our expectations include, but are not limited to, the future prospects of Windstream, our largest customer; the
ability and willingness of our customers to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, and the ability to reposition our properties
on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant; the availability of and our ability
to identify suitable acquisition opportunities and our ability to acquire and lease the respective properties on favorable terms; the
risk that we fail to fully realize the potential benefits of acquisitions or have difficulty integrating acquired companies; our ability
to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness and fund our capital funding commitments; our ability to access
debt and equity capital markets; the impact on our business or the business of our customers as a result of credit rating downgrades
and fluctuating interest rates; our ability to retain our key management personnel; changes in the U.S. tax law and other state, federal
or local laws, whether or not specific to real estate investment trusts; covenants in our debt agreements that may limit our operational
flexibility; the possibility that we may experience equipment failures, natural disasters, cyber-attacks or terrorist attacks for which
our insurance may not provide adequate coverage; other risks inherent in the communications industry and in the ownership of communications
distribution systems, including potential liability relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; the
satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the Merger, including, without limitation, the receipt of shareholder
and regulatory approvals on the terms desired or anticipated; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Merger, including,
without limitation, difficulties that result in the failure to realize expected synergies, efficiencies and cost savings from the Merger
within the expected time period (if at all); potential difficulties in Uniti’s and Windstream’s ability to retain employees
as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Merger; risks relating to the value of New Uniti’s securities to be issued
in connection with the Merger; disruptions of Uniti’s and Windstream’s current plans, operations and relationships with customers
caused by the announcement and pendency of the Merger; legal proceedings that may be instituted against Uniti or Windstream following
announcement of the Merger; funding requirements; regulatory restrictions (including changes in regulatory restrictions or regulatory
policy); and additional factors described in our reports filed with the SEC.
There can be
no assurance that the Merger will be implemented or that plans of the respective directors and management of Uniti and Windstream for
the Merged Group will proceed as currently expected or will ultimately be successful. Investors are strongly cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements, including in respect of the financial or operating outlook for Uniti, Windstream or the Merged
Group (including the realization of any cost savings or expected synergies). See also “Additional Information and Where to Find
it.”
All forward-looking
statements are based on information and estimates available at the time of this communication and are not guarantees of future performance.
Except as required
by applicable law, Uniti does not assume any obligation to, and expressly disclaims any duty to, provide any additional or updated information
or to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. Nothing
in this communication will, under any circumstances (including by reason of this communication remaining available and not being superseded
or replaced by any other presentation or publication with respect to Uniti, Windstream or the Merged Group, or the subject matter of
this communication), create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Uniti or Windstream since the date of this
communication.
NON-GAAP PRESENTATION
This release
and today’s conference call contain certain supplemental measures of performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance
with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Such measures should not be considered as alternatives
to GAAP. Further information with respect to and reconciliations of such measures to the nearest GAAP measure can be found herein.
Uniti Group Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except per share data)
| |
|
September 30,
2024 |
|
|
December 31,
2023 |
|
| Assets: |
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|
|
| Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
$ |
4,156,542 |
|
|
$ |
3,982,069 |
|
| Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
34,077 |
|
|
|
62,264 |
|
| Restricted cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
19,311 |
|
|
|
— |
|
| Accounts receivable, net |
|
|
51,604 |
|
|
|
46,358 |
|
| Goodwill |
|
|
157,380 |
|
|
|
157,380 |
|
| Intangible assets, net |
|
|
282,839 |
|
|
|
305,115 |
|
| Straight-line revenue receivable |
|
|
105,823 |
|
|
|
90,988 |
|
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
|
|
126,791 |
|
|
|
125,105 |
|
| Other assets |
|
|
39,996 |
|
|
|
118,117 |
|
| Deferred income tax assets, net |
|
|
124,077 |
|
|
|
109,128 |
|
| Assets held for sale |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
28,605 |
|
| Derivative asset |
|
|
231 |
|
|
|
— |
|
| Total Assets |
|
$ |
5,098,671 |
|
|
$ |
5,025,129 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
$ |
95,844 |
|
|
$ |
119,340 |
|
| Settlement payable |
|
|
95,147 |
|
|
|
163,583 |
|
| Intangible liabilities, net |
|
|
148,377 |
|
|
|
156,397 |
|
| Accrued interest payable |
|
|
56,562 |
|
|
|
133,683 |
|
| Deferred revenue |
|
|
1,299,759 |
|
|
|
1,273,661 |
|
| Dividends payable |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
36,162 |
|
| Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
78,785 |
|
|
|
84,404 |
|
| Finance lease obligations |
|
|
17,869 |
|
|
|
18,110 |
|
| Notes and other debt, net |
|
|
5,782,633 |
|
|
|
5,523,579 |
|
| Liabilities held for sale |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
331 |
|
| Total liabilities |
|
$ |
7,574,978 |
|
|
$ |
7,509,250 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shareholders’ Deficit: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Preferred stock, $ 0.0001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
| Common stock, $ 0.0001 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding: 237,488 shares at September 30, 2024 and 236,559 shares at December 31, 2023 |
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
| Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
1,232,228 |
|
|
|
1,221,824 |
|
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(820 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
| Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings |
|
|
(3,708,705 |
) |
|
|
(3,708,240 |
) |
| Total Uniti shareholders’ deficit |
|
|
(2,477,273 |
) |
|
|
(2,486,392 |
) |
| Noncontrolling interests – operating partnership units and non-voting convertible preferred stock |
|
|
966 |
|
|
|
2,271 |
|
| Total shareholders’ deficit |
|
|
(2,476,307 |
) |
|
|
(2,484,121 |
) |
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit |
|
$ |
5,098,671 |
|
|
$ |
5,025,129 |
|
Uniti
Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements
of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
| | |
Three Months Ended
September 30, | | |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
| Revenues: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Uniti Leasing | |
$ | 222,922 | | |
$ | 214,588 | | |
$ | 658,829 | | |
$ | 637,849 | |
| Uniti Fiber | |
| 69,325 | | |
| 76,067 | | |
| 214,783 | | |
| 226,326 | |
| Total revenues | |
| 292,247 | | |
| 290,655 | | |
| 873,612 | | |
| 864,175 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Costs and Expenses: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Interest expense, net | |
| 131,007 | | |
| 120,691 | | |
| 381,693 | | |
| 389,243 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | |
| 79,325 | | |
| 77,337 | | |
| 234,862 | | |
| 231,379 | |
| General and administrative expense | |
| 26,697 | | |
| 25,481 | | |
| 80,546 | | |
| 77,331 | |
| Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | |
| 34,519 | | |
| 37,392 | | |
| 106,753 | | |
| 109,878 | |
| Transaction related and other costs | |
| 14,404 | | |
| 1,441 | | |
| 31,068 | | |
| 9,805 | |
| Gain on sale of real estate | |
| — | | |
| (1,424 | ) | |
| (18,999 | ) | |
| (1,424 | ) |
| Goodwill impairment | |
| — | | |
| 203,998 | | |
| — | | |
| 203,998 | |
| Other expense (income), net | |
| — | | |
| 1,435 | | |
| (301 | ) | |
| 21,323 | |
| Total costs and expenses | |
| 285,952 | | |
| 466,351 | | |
| 815,622 | | |
| 1,041,533 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | |
| 6,295 | | |
| (175,696 | ) | |
| 57,990 | | |
| (177,358 | ) |
| Income tax benefit | |
| (5,935 | ) | |
| (56,130 | ) | |
| (13,869 | ) | |
| (62,899 | ) |
| Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | |
| — | | |
| (670 | ) | |
| — | | |
| (1,990 | ) |
| Net income (loss) | |
| 12,230 | | |
| (118,896 | ) | |
| 71,859 | | |
| (112,469 | ) |
| Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | |
| 1 | | |
| (53 | ) | |
| 23 | | |
| (50 | ) |
| Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders | |
| 12,229 | | |
| (118,843 | ) | |
| 71,836 | | |
| (112,419 | ) |
| Participating securities’ share in earnings | |
| (334 | ) | |
| (321 | ) | |
| (1,493 | ) | |
| (890 | ) |
| Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock | |
| (5 | ) | |
| (5 | ) | |
| (15 | ) | |
| (15 | ) |
| Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders | |
$ | 11,890 | | |
$ | (119,169 | ) | |
$ | 70,328 | | |
$ | (113,324 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders – Basic | |
| 11,890 | | |
| (119,169 | ) | |
| 70,328 | | |
| (113,324 | ) |
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders – Diluted | |
$ | 11,890 | | |
$ | (119,169 | ) | |
$ | 70,328 | | |
$ | (113,324 | ) |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Basic | |
| 237,480 | | |
| 236,533 | | |
| 237,242 | | |
| 236,352 | |
| Diluted | |
| 237,480 | | |
| 236,533 | | |
| 237,242 | | |
| 236,352 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Earnings per common share: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Basic | |
$ | 0.05 | | |
$ | (0.50 | ) | |
$ | 0.30 | | |
$ | (0.48 | ) |
| Diluted | |
$ | 0.05 | | |
$ | (0.50 | ) | |
$ | 0.30 | | |
$ | (0.48 | ) |
Uniti Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
| |
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30, |
|
| |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
| Cash flow from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
71,859 |
|
|
$ |
(112,469 |
) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
234,862 |
|
|
|
231,379 |
|
| Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount |
|
|
16,774 |
|
|
|
13,975 |
|
| Loss on extinguishment of debt, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
31,187 |
|
| Interest rate cap amortization |
|
|
1,149 |
|
|
|
— |
|
| Deferred income taxes |
|
|
(14,949 |
) |
|
|
(63,196 |
) |
| Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,990 |
) |
| Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated entities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,959 |
|
| Cash paid for interest rate cap |
|
|
(2,200 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
| Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles |
|
|
(24,358 |
) |
|
|
(28,795 |
) |
| Stock-based compensation |
|
|
10,120 |
|
|
|
9,408 |
|
| Goodwill impairment |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
203,998 |
|
| Loss (gain) on asset disposals |
|
|
292 |
|
|
|
(242 |
) |
| Gain on sale of real estate |
|
|
(18,999 |
) |
|
|
(1,424 |
) |
| Accretion of settlement obligation |
|
|
5,081 |
|
|
|
8,273 |
|
| Other |
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
| Changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Accounts receivable |
|
|
(5,247 |
) |
|
|
(4,194 |
) |
| Other assets |
|
|
12,103 |
|
|
|
10,530 |
|
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
|
(105,475 |
) |
|
|
(108,826 |
) |
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
181,080 |
|
|
|
190,575 |
|
| Cash flow from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Capital expenditures |
|
|
(327,762 |
) |
|
|
(368,264 |
) |
| Proceeds from sale of other equipment |
|
|
528 |
|
|
|
1,581 |
|
| Proceeds from sale of real estate |
|
|
40,039 |
|
|
|
1,530 |
|
| Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated entity |
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
| Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(247,195 |
) |
|
|
(365,153 |
) |
| Cash flow from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Repayment of debt |
|
|
(122,942 |
) |
|
|
(2,263,662 |
) |
| Proceeds from issuance of notes |
|
|
309,000 |
|
|
|
2,600,000 |
|
| Dividends paid |
|
|
(108,445 |
) |
|
|
(107,395 |
) |
| Payments of settlement payable |
|
|
(73,516 |
) |
|
|
(73,516 |
) |
| Borrowings under revolving credit facility |
|
|
130,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
| Payments under revolving credit facility |
|
|
(333,000 |
) |
|
|
(367,000 |
) |
| Proceeds from ABS Loan Facility |
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
| Finance lease payments |
|
|
(2,020 |
) |
|
|
(1,601 |
) |
| Payments for financing costs |
|
|
(15,778 |
) |
|
|
(26,955 |
) |
| Payment for settlement of common stock warrant |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(56 |
) |
| Termination of bond hedge option |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
59 |
|
| Costs related to the early repayment of debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(44,303 |
) |
| Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests |
|
|
(37 |
) |
|
|
(48 |
) |
| Payment for exchange of noncontrolling interest |
|
|
(92 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
| Employee stock purchase program |
|
|
656 |
|
|
|
730 |
|
| Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation |
|
|
(1,587 |
) |
|
|
(1,359 |
) |
| Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
57,239 |
|
|
|
164,894 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net decrease in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
(8,876 |
) |
|
|
(9,684 |
) |
| Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
|
|
62,264 |
|
|
|
43,803 |
|
| Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
|
$ |
53,388 |
|
|
$ |
34,119 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-cash investing and financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Property and equipment acquired but not yet paid |
|
$ |
7,371 |
|
|
$ |
12,134 |
|
| Tenant capital improvements |
|
|
163,592 |
|
|
|
94,322 |
|
Uniti Group Inc.
Reconciliation of Net Income to FFO and AFFO
(In thousands, except per
share data)
| | |
Three Months Ended
September 30, | | |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
| Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders | |
$ | 11,890 | | |
$ | (119,169 | ) | |
$ | 70,328 | | |
$ | (113,324 | ) |
| Real estate depreciation and amortization | |
| 56,370 | | |
| 55,405 | | |
| 167,915 | | |
| 164,983 | |
| Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax | |
| — | | |
| (1,424 | ) | |
| (18,951 | ) | |
| (1,424 | ) |
| Participating securities share in earnings | |
| 334 | | |
| 321 | | |
| 1,493 | | |
| 890 | |
| Participating securities share in FFO | |
| (1,871 | ) | |
| (321 | ) | |
| (4,166 | ) | |
| (1,298 | ) |
| Real estate depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities | |
| — | | |
| 435 | | |
| — | | |
| 1,305 | |
| Adjustments for noncontrolling interests | |
| (9 | ) | |
| (24 | ) | |
| (34 | ) | |
| (74 | ) |
| FFO attributable to common shareholders | |
| 66,714 | | |
| (64,777 | ) | |
| 216,585 | | |
| 51,058 | |
| Transaction related and other costs | |
| 14,404 | | |
| 1,441 | | |
| 31,068 | | |
| 9,805 | |
| Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount | |
| 5,824 | | |
| 4,521 | | |
| 16,774 | | |
| 13,975 | |
| Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 10,412 | |
| Costs related to the early repayment of debt | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 51,997 | |
| Stock based compensation | |
| 3,375 | | |
| 3,148 | | |
| 10,120 | | |
| 9,408 | |
| Non-real estate depreciation and amortization | |
| 22,955 | | |
| 21,932 | | |
| 66,947 | | |
| 66,396 | |
| Goodwill impairment | |
| — | | |
| 203,998 | | |
| — | | |
| 203,998 | |
| Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles | |
| (7,320 | ) | |
| (9,579 | ) | |
| (24,358 | ) | |
| (28,795 | ) |
| Maintenance capital expenditures | |
| (1,891 | ) | |
| (1,594 | ) | |
| (5,889 | ) | |
| (5,338 | ) |
| Other, net | |
| (16,999 | ) | |
| (63,998 | ) | |
| (44,297 | ) | |
| (90,076 | ) |
| Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | |
| — | | |
| 320 | | |
| — | | |
| 960 | |
| Adjustments for noncontrolling interests | |
| (3 | ) | |
| (72 | ) | |
| (11 | ) | |
| (109 | ) |
| AFFO attributable to common shareholders | |
$ | 87,059 | | |
$ | 95,340 | | |
$ | 266,939 | | |
$ | 293,691 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Reconciliation of Diluted FFO and AFFO: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| FFO Attributable to common shareholders – Basic | |
$ | 66,714 | | |
$ | (64,777 | ) | |
$ | 216,585 | | |
$ | 51,058 | |
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | |
| 5,958 | | |
| — | | |
| 19,858 | | |
| — | |
| FFO Attributable to common shareholders – Diluted | |
$ | 72,672 | | |
$ | (64,777 | ) | |
$ | 236,443 | | |
$ | 51,058 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| AFFO Attributable to common shareholders – Basic | |
$ | 87,059 | | |
$ | 95,340 | | |
$ | 266,939 | | |
$ | 293,691 | |
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | |
| 5,747 | | |
| 6,977 | | |
| 19,530 | | |
| 21,062 | |
| AFFO Attributable to common shareholders – Diluted | |
$ | 92,806 | | |
$ | 102,317 | | |
$ | 286,469 | | |
$ | 314,753 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings per common share (1) | |
| 237,480 | | |
| 236,533 | | |
| 237,242 | | |
| 236,352 | |
| Impact of dilutive non-participating securities | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| — | |
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | |
| 42,044 | | |
| 53,428 | | |
| 50,032 | | |
| 53,837 | |
| Weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO and AFFO per common share (1) | |
| 279,524 | | |
| 289,961 | | |
| 287,274 | | |
| 290,189 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Per diluted common share: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| EPS | |
$ | 0.05 | | |
$ | (0.50 | ) | |
$ | 0.30 | | |
$ | (0.48 | ) |
| FFO | |
$ | 0.26 | | |
$ | (0.27 | ) | |
$ | 0.82 | | |
$ | 0.22 | |
| AFFO | |
$ | 0.33 | | |
$ | 0.35 | | |
$ | 1.00 | | |
$ | 1.08 | |
| (1) |
For periods in which FFO to common shareholders is a loss,
the weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO per common share is equal to the weighted average common shares used
to calculate basic earnings per share. |
Uniti Group Inc.
Reconciliation of EBITDA
and Adjusted EBITDA
(In thousands)
| | |
Three Months Ended
September 30, | | |
Nine Months Ended
September 30, | |
| | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
| Net income (loss) | |
$ | 12,230 | | |
$ | (118,896 | ) | |
$ | 71,859 | | |
$ | (112,469 | ) |
| Depreciation and amortization | |
| 79,325 | | |
| 77,337 | | |
| 234,862 | | |
| 231,379 | |
| Interest expense, net | |
| 131,007 | | |
| 120,691 | | |
| 381,693 | | |
| 389,243 | |
| Income tax benefit | |
| (5,935 | ) | |
| (56,130 | ) | |
| (13,869 | ) | |
| (62,899 | ) |
| EBITDA | |
$ | 216,627 | | |
$ | 23,002 | | |
$ | 674,545 | | |
$ | 445,254 | |
| Stock-based compensation | |
| 3,375 | | |
| 3,148 | | |
| 10,120 | | |
| 9,408 | |
| Transaction related and other costs | |
| 14,404 | | |
| 1,441 | | |
| 31,068 | | |
| 9,805 | |
| Gain on sale of real estate | |
| — | | |
| (1,424 | ) | |
| (18,999 | ) | |
| (1,424 | ) |
| Goodwill impairment | |
| — | | |
| 203,998 | | |
| — | | |
| 203,998 | |
| Other, net | |
| 918 | | |
| 2,091 | | |
| 3,877 | | |
| 23,073 | |
| Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | |
| — | | |
| 754 | | |
| — | | |
| 2,264 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | |
$ | 235,324 | | |
$ | 233,010 | | |
$ | 700,611 | | |
$ | 692,378 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Adjusted EBITDA: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Uniti Leasing | |
$ | 215,188 | | |
$ | 208,561 | | |
$ | 636,718 | | |
$ | 620,079 | |
| Uniti Fiber | |
| 25,557 | | |
| 29,857 | | |
| 80,486 | | |
| 88,712 | |
| Corporate | |
| (5,421 | ) | |
| (5,408 | ) | |
| (16,593 | ) | |
| (16,413 | ) |
| | |
$ | 235,324 | | |
$ | 233,010 | | |
$ | 700,611 | | |
$ | 692,378 | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Annualized Adjusted EBITDA (1) | |
$ | 922,288 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| As of September 30, 2024: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Total Debt (2) | |
$ | 5,609,369 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents | |
| 34,077 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Net Debt | |
$ | 5,575,292 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Net Debt/Annualized Adjusted EBITDA | |
| 6.05 | x | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| (1) |
| Calculated as Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently reported three-month
period, excluding net contributions of $4.8 million from the ABS Loan Facility subsidiaries,
multiplied by four. Annualized Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared on a pro forma basis
in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X. |
| (2) |
| Includes $17.9 million of finance leases, but excludes $83.9 million
of unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs and excludes the principal balance
from the $275.0 million ABS loan facility. |
Uniti Group Inc.
Projected Future Results (1)
(In millions)
| | |
Year Ended
December 31, 2024 | |
| Net income attributable to common shareholders – Basic | |
| $88 to $108 | |
| Participating securities’ share in earnings | |
| 2 | |
| Net income (2) | |
| 90 to 110 | |
| Interest expense, net (3) | |
| 514 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | |
| 313 | |
| Income tax benefit | |
| (15) | |
| EBITDA (2) | |
| 902 to 922 | |
| Stock-based compensation | |
| 13 | |
| Gain on sale of real estate | |
| (19) | |
| Transaction related and other costs (4) | |
| 34 | |
| Adjusted EBITDA (2) | |
| $930 to $950 | |
| (1) |
| These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on
the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital
market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our
projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially
from the estimates set forth above. |
| (2) |
| The components of projected future results may not add due to rounding. |
| (3) |
| See “Components of Projected Interest Expense” below. |
| (4) |
| Future transaction related costs not mentioned herein are not included
in our current outlook. |
Uniti Group Inc.
Projected Future Results (1)
(Per Diluted Share)
| | |
Year Ended
December 31, 2024 | |
| Net income attributable to common shareholders – Basic | |
| $0.37 to $0.46 | |
| Real estate depreciation and amortization | |
| 0.94 | |
| Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax | |
| (0.08) | |
| Participating securities’ share in earnings and FFO, net | |
| (0.01) | |
| FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) | |
| $1.22 to $1.31 | |
| Impact of if-converted securities | |
| (0.14) | |
| FFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted (2) | |
| $1.08 to $1.17 | |
| | |
| | |
| FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) | |
| $1.22 to $1.31 | |
| Transaction related and other costs (3) | |
| 0.13 | |
| Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount | |
| 0.10 | |
| Accretion of settlement payable (4) | |
| 0.03 | |
| Stock-based compensation | |
| 0.06 | |
| Non-real estate depreciation and amortization | |
| 0.37 | |
| Straight-line revenues | |
| (0.13) | |
| Maintenance capital expenditures | |
| (0.03) | |
| Other, net | |
| (0.27) | |
| AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) | |
| $1.48 to $1.56 | |
| Impact of if-converted securities | |
| (0.17) | |
| AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted (2) | |
| $1.32 to $1.39 | |
| (1) |
| These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on
the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital
market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our
projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially
from the estimates set forth above. |
| (2) |
| The components of projected future results may not add to FFO and
AFFO attributable to common shareholders due to rounding. |
| (3) |
| Future transaction related and other costs are not included in our
current outlook. |
| (4) |
| Represents the accretion of the Windstream settlement payable to
its stated value. At the effective date of the settlement, we recorded the payable on the
balance sheet at its initial fair value, which will be accreted based on an effective interest
rate of 4.2% and reduced by the scheduled quarterly payments. |
Uniti Group Inc.
Components of Projected
Interest Expense (1)
(In millions)
| | |
Year Ended
December 31, 2024 | |
| Interest expense on debt obligations | |
$ | 484 | |
| Accretion of Windstream settlement payable | |
| 6 | |
| Amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discounts | |
| 24 | |
| Interest expense, net (2) | |
$ | 514 | |
| (1) |
| These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on
the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital
market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our
projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially
from the estimates set forth above. |
| (2) |
| The components of interest expense may not add to the total due
to rounding. |
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We refer to EBITDA,
Adjusted EBITDA, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) (as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”))
and Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) in our analysis of our results of operations, which are not required by, or presented
in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). While we believe that net income,
as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings measure, we also believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO are important
non-GAAP supplemental measures of operating performance for a REIT.
We define “EBITDA”
as net income, as defined by GAAP, before interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We define “Adjusted
EBITDA” as EBITDA before stock-based compensation expense and the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of transaction and integration
related costs, costs associated with Windstream’s bankruptcy, costs associated with litigation claims made against us, and costs
associated with the implementation of our enterprise resource planning system, (collectively, “Transaction Related and Other Costs”),
costs related to the settlement with Windstream, goodwill impairment charges, severance costs, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use
assets, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early
tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, gains or losses on dispositions,
changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments, and other similar or infrequent items (although we may
not have had such charges in the periods presented). Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of Adjusted
EBITDA from unconsolidated entities. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are important supplemental measures to net income because they
provide additional information to evaluate our operating performance on an unleveraged basis. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated
similar to defined terms in our material debt agreements used to determine compliance with specific financial covenants. Since EBITDA
and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered as alternatives to net income determined
in accordance with GAAP.
Because the historical
cost accounting convention used for real estate assets requires the recognition of depreciation expense except on land, such accounting
presentation implies that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, since real estate values have historically
risen or fallen with market and other conditions, presentations of operating results for a REIT that uses historical cost accounting for
depreciation could be less informative. Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of operating performance for REITs that excludes
historical cost depreciation and amortization, among other items, from net income, as defined by GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net
income attributable to common shareholders computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from real estate dispositions,
plus real estate depreciation and amortization and impairment charges, and includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of
FFO from unconsolidated entities. We compute FFO in accordance with NAREIT’s definition.
The Company defines
AFFO, as FFO excluding (i) Transaction Related and Other Costs; (ii) costs related to the litigation settlement with Windstream,
accretion on our settlement obligation, and gains on the prepayment of our settlement obligation as these items are not reflective of
ongoing operating performance; (iii) goodwill impairment charges; (iv) certain non-cash revenues and expenses such as stock-based
compensation expense, amortization of debt and equity discounts, amortization of deferred financing costs, depreciation and amortization
of non-real estate assets, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, straight line revenues, non-cash income taxes, and the amortization
of other non-cash revenues to the extent that cash has not been received, such as revenue associated with the amortization of tenant capital
improvements; and (v) the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees, additional
costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the
termination of related hedging activities, severance costs, taxes associated with tax basis cancellation of debt, gains or losses on dispositions,
changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments and similar or infrequent items less maintenance capital
expenditures. AFFO includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of AFFO from unconsolidated entities. We believe that the
use of FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, combined with the required GAAP presentations, improves the understanding
of operating results of REITs among investors and analysts, and makes comparisons of operating results among such companies more meaningful.
We consider FFO and AFFO to be useful measures for reviewing comparative operating performance. In particular, we believe AFFO, by excluding
certain revenue and expense items, can help investors compare our operating performance between periods and to other REITs on a consistent
basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated items and events, such as transaction and integration related
costs. The Company uses FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, only as performance measures, and FFO and AFFO do not purport
to be indicative of cash available to fund our future cash requirements. While FFO and AFFO are relevant and widely used measures of operating
performance of REITs, they do not represent cash flows from operations or net income as defined by GAAP and should not be considered an
alternative to those measures in evaluating our liquidity or operating performance.
Further, our
computations of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO may not be comparable to that reported by other REITs or companies that do not define
FFO in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition or define EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA
and AFFO differently than we do.
INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS:
Paul Bullington, 251-662-1512
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer & Treasurer
paul.bullington@uniti.com
Bill DiTullio, 501-850-0872
Vice President, Investor Relations &
Treasury
bill.ditullio@uniti.com
Exhibit 99.2
3Q24 Financial Earnings October 30, 2024
2 This presentation includes forward - looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events and results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward - looking statements. Forward - looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “will,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “e xpect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “target,” “forecast” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward - looking statements include, but are not limited to, guidance regarding 2024 financial and operational results and our ab ility to execute our 2024 company strategic goals supporting the guidance, including our quality initiatives designed to improve our customer’s experiences; anticipated Kinetic broadband subscribers and market pene tra tion growth, including broadband additions and fiber cohort performance; availability and timing of delivery of fiber broadband to customers, including fiber broadband penetration rates; number of households or loc ations that may be served generally and related to funding from various state and federal broadband programs, including future programs, public - private partnerships with government entities, and the Rural Digital Oppor tunity Fund; opportunities related to strategic sales, products, and strategic revenue growth across all of our business units; expectations regarding expense management activities, including continuation of redu cti on in interconnection and access expense, and the timing and benefit of such activities; statements regarding possible benefits and opportunities related to the proposed transaction with Until Group, Inc., announce d p ublicly in May 2024; and any other statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements, along with other forward - looking statements regarding Windstream’s overall business outlook, are based on estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions that Windstream believes are reasonable but are not guarantees of future events, performance, or res ult s. Actual future events and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward - looking statements as the result of a number of important factors. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward - looking statements i nclude risks and uncertainties relating to increased competitive pressures as state and federal broadband funding programs provide opportunities for new entrants in our markets and possible overbuilding of our network; our ability to, and the extent to which, we participate in broadband funding programs, such as BEAD and are able to successfully secure funding via competitive bidding processes over competitors; loss o f f unding from the Affordable Connectivity Program leading to customer disconnects; the effect of any changes in federal or state governmental regulations or statutes, including any new regulations regarding alleg ed digital discrimination and net neutrality in the marketplace; uncertainty created in the federal Universal Service Fund program based on pending legal actions; oversight or enforcement activities by state or federa l a gencies; that the proposed transaction with Uniti Group, Inc., could cause distraction by management and an allocation of resources that otherwise would have been attributed to the business; adverse changes in econo mic conditions, including the impact of foreign wars or unrest or political upheaval; risks and uncertainties from cost pressures and inflation on our customers’ communications and payment decisions and on the business of our vendors; adverse economic, political or market conditions related to epidemics, pandemics, or disease outbreaks, and the impact of these conditions on our business operations and financial position and on our customers; impact of any supply chain disruption on our business operations and on our customers’ ability to operate their business; that the expected benefits of cost reduction and expense management activities are not realized or adversely affect our sales and operations or are otherwise disruptive to our business and personnel; the impact of new, emerging, or competing technologies and our ability to utilize these technolog ies to provide services to our customers; and general U.S. and worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties. Windstream does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward - looking statem ent, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
3 Paul Sunu Chief Executive Officer Drew Smith Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer Genesis White VP, Investor Relations & Assistant Treasurer
4 Be the PREMIER broadband provider Be the TRUSTED communications and security advisor Be the INNOVATIVE wholesale leader OPERATIONS & SUPPORT Be the unwavering foundation that aligns, nurtures and enables us to be our best Focus o diversity and inclusion Prioritize quality and trust. Do it right the first time, every time. Give our best in everything we do.
5 Adjusted EBITDAR of $361M, up 2% year to date (1) Strong Strategic Revenue Trends ▪ Continued focus on Strategic & Advanced IP portfolios, which now represent 88% of total Enterprise Market service revenue (3)(4) ▪ Wholesale had solid performance highlighted by high demand from telecom, cable and content customers Consumer Highlights ▪ Strong fiber additions of 17K in quarter ▪ Consumer Broadband ARPU of $87.26 up slightly y - o - y ▪ Kinetic consumer service revenue down 2% YTD largely driven by impact of the ACP step - down (2) Interconnection Expense Reduction (4) ▪ Total interconnection expense fell by 16% y - o - y; legacy - TDM related expenses (5) fell by 24% y - o - y ▪ Of the $628 million in annualized interconnection expense remaining, $274 million relates to TDM services (5) & (1) Adjusted EBITDAR excluding gain on sale of IPv4 assets in 1Q24 (2) Step - down of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) b egan in 2Q24; Windstream’s ACP customer base received ~$3M in monthly subsidy under this program (3) Excludes End user surcha rge s; (4) Based on 3Q24 results on an annualized basis (5) Includes TDM expenses as shown on Slide 11, plus Network Facilities (excluding Fi ber Expense) & Fiber Build Momentum Continues ▪ 136K new consumer premises added year to date ▪ Approximately 1.6 million consumer premises now have access to FTTH services ▪ 36% coverage of consumer households was achieved by quarter end
1,290 1,352 1,396 1,437 1,466 1,485 34 40 48 54 64 77 12 14 15 17 23 33 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 1,600 1,700 2Q23 3Q23 4Q23 1Q24 2Q24 3Q24 1 Gbps Consumer Premises Passed by Type (in 000’s) RDOF PPP Strategic 136K 1 Gbps Consumer Premises Constructed Year to Date 6 1,553 1,595 1,336 1,406 1,459 1,508
72% 76% 79% 81% 81% 44% 50% 53% 57% 58% 10% 22% 29% 34% 36% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 2020 2021 2022 2023 3Q24 25 Mbps+ 100 Mbps+ 1Gbps % of Homes in Kinetic Footprint with Access to Available Speeds 7
23 20 18 17 17 25.8% 26.3% 26.6% 26.9% 27.3% 20% 21% 22% 23% 24% 25% 26% 27% 28% 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 3Q23 4Q23 1Q24 2Q24 3Q24 401 383 363 418 435 Ended 3Q with Consumers on 1G capable facilities, up 17K from 2Q24 Penetration Consumer Fiber Subscription Growth Shows Strong Adoption of New 1 Gbps Facilities ▪ Ending Fiber Subscribers (1) ▪ Penetration Rate Note: Consumer Subscriber counts in 000’s (1) Subscriber counts reflected in the inset represent net additions for the respective period 8
< 1 Year Cohorts 18% 16% 22% 15% 15% 20% 22% 25% 26% 27% 24% 29% 28% 26% 23% 23% 29% 22% 21% 26% 27% 29% 30% 30% 2Q20 3Q20 4Q20 1Q21 2Q21 3Q21 4Q21 1Q22 2Q22 3Q22 4Q22 1Q23 2Q23 3Q23 26% 24% 19% 4Q23 1Q24 2Q24 Newest Fiber Cohorts Are Showing Strong Penetration Early Note: Cohort penetration reflects consumers on 1G capable facilities, within the respective cohort, at the 12 - month (Year 1 Penetratio n) and 24 - month (Year 2 Penetration) anniversary of the cohort being launched. Less than 1 Year cohort penetration is shown as of September 30, 2024, reflecting penetration at the 9 - , 6 - and 3 - month mark for cohorts c ompleted in the fourth quarter of 2023, and first and second quarter of 2024, respectively. 40% Target Penetration Over a 4 Year Period 6 - Month Penetration 3 - Month Penetration Year 1 & Year 2 Cohort Penetration Year 1 Penetration Year 2 Penetration 9 - Month Penetration 9
Financial Overview 2023 2023 2023 2024 2024 2024 Q3 Q4 YE Q1 Q2 Q3 Revenue and Sales Kinetic Market 530$ 540$ 2,143$ 547$ 529$ 512$ Enterprise Market 346 314 1,369 316 287 279 Wholesale Market 115 103 437 114 100 112 Service Revenue 991$ 958$ 3,948$ 977$ 916$ 903$ Product & Fiber Sales 11 9 39 24 11 13 Total Revenue and Sales 1,002$ 967$ 3,987$ 1,001$ 926$ 916$ Expenses Direct Segment Expenses 363$ 337$ 1,421$ 343$ 326$ 321$ Network Access & Facilities 127 118 505 111 109 105 Shared Network & Operations 75 72 302 70 64 66 Information Techology/Shared Corporate 68 60 271 71 65 64 Total Expenses 632$ 588$ 2,499$ 595$ 565$ 556$ Adjusted EBITDAR 370$ 379$ 1,488$ 406$ 362$ 361$ Adjusted EBITDAR Margin % 36.9% 39.2% 37.3% 40.6% 39.1% 39.4% (Dollars in Millions) 10 (1) 1Q24 Adjusted EBITDAR excluding gain on sale of IPv4 assets (1)
TDM Retirement Accelerates Cost Reduction and Improves Customer Experience 11 Interconnection Expenses (in millions) 3Q23 3Q24 YoY Annualized Annualized Change % TDM 64$ 32$ (51%) IP/Ethernet 235$ 210$ (10%) Last Mile Access 299$ 242$ (19%) TDM 38$ 9$ (77%) IP/Ethernet 18$ 14$ (22%) Network Access 56$ 23$ (59%) Network Facilities (excluding Fiber Expense) 59$ 38$ (35%) Fiber Expense & Other 21$ 18$ (15%) Network Facilities Expense 80$ 56$ (29%) Enterprise Interconnect and Network Facilities Expense 435$ 321$ (26%) Network Facilities (excluding Fiber Expense) 198$ 195$ (2%) Fiber Expense & Other 112$ 112$ (0%) Kinetic & Wholesale Network Facilities Expense 310$ 307$ (1%) Total Interconnect and Network Facilities Expense 745$ 628$ (16%) ▪ 3Q24 annualized run - rate of $628 million in interconnection and network facilities expenses; annualized decline of 16% ▪ $274 million of Legacy TDM - related expense (1) including Network Facility expense; annualized decline of 24% ▪ Continued execution of multi - year program to migrate legacy TDM customers to newer technologies, moving from circuit - level to market - level optimization ▪ The focus on market - level TDM removal will enable greater reductions in network real estate and colocation expenses (1) Includes TDM expenses as shown, plus Network Facilities (excluding Fiber Expense)
$0 $0 $0 $0 $1,400 $800 $- $250 $500 $750 $1,000 $1,250 $1,500 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 $475 Debt Maturity as of November 10, 2022 Revolver Draw Note : Available capacity under credit facility excludes outstanding letters of credit of $133.9 million of which $104.7 million w as issued to Universal Service Administrative Company as a condition for Windstream receiving RDOF funding Effective September 21, 2024, the borrowing capacity under the credit facility decreased from $500 million to $475 million. Net Liquidity Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Debt Maturity as of 3Q 2024 Pro Forma for Recent Financing Transactions 12 Term Loan 7.75% Sr First Lien Notes Undrawn Revolver 8.25% Sr First Lien Notes Ended 3Q with and $500
Fiber Route Miles (1)(4) Fiber Broadband Consumers (1) Broadband Consumers (1) Windstream Owns 100GB POPs (1) Fiber Households – Build Plan (1) Fiber Households Today (1) E&W Owned Assets (3) Kinetic Owned Assets (3) Total Consumer Revenues (2) Kinetic Fully Owned and Operated Metrics 208K (20.9%) 115K (31.2%) 456K (28.6%) 655K (34.5%) $229M $2.5B E&W Owned & Operated 81K (75.1%) 1,358 (100.0%) $ 1.0B (1) Metric represents number and percentage of Windstream total not associated or encumbered by Uniti Master Lease Agreements as of September 30, 2024 (2) Consumer Revenues for FY 2023 that are not within in - footprint ILEC markets governed by Uniti ILEC Master Lease Agreement (3) Kinetic and E&W Owned Assets represent net PP&E, excluding CWIP, as of December 31, 2023, for Windstream owned assets (4) Beginning in 2Q24, the calculation of Fiber Route Miles was modified to align with Uniti disclosures 13
14 2024 Guidance 2023 Results (all $ in millions) Approximately flat y - o - y (adjusted for ACP expiration) (2) $1,488M Adjusted EBITDAR (1) Approximately $700M $798M Capex, net (3) Approximately $140M $155M Unlevered Free Cash Flow (4) 75K (lowered from previous: “Similar to 2023”) 96K Fiber Consumer Customer Additions 180K - 200K (lowered from previous: Approximately 200K) 232K Fiber Premises Constructed (1) 2024 Adjusted EBITDAR guidance excludes the impact of non - core operating asset sales during the period (2) Adjusted for expected wind - down of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in 2Q 2024. Windstream’s ACP customer base currently receives ~ $3M in monthly subsidy under this program (3) Adjusted Capex, less GCI reimbursements (4) Total change in cash, excluding cash interest, cash taxes and debt amortization payments
Quarterly supplemental schedules (Pro Forma) Appendix 15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Exhibit 99.3
3Q24
Earnings Presentation Script October 30, 2024
Genesis
White
Good
morning everyone and thank you for joining Windstream’s third quarter 2024 earnings conference call.
Joining
me on the call today are:
| ● | Drew
Smith, our CFO and Treasurer |
To
accompany today’s call, we have posted the presentation slides and supplemental schedule on our various investor websites. If you
do not have access to these websites, please reach out to me at Genesis dot White at windstream dot com.
Our
financial statements, prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, will be available by mid- November to our lenders and investors, in compliance
with the terms of the Credit Agreement, Indenture, and Amended and Restated LLC Agreement.
Today’s
discussion includes statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties
and the disclosure to our forward-looking statements will be contained in our financial statements. Let me now turn it over to Paul Sunu.
Paul
Sunu
Good
morning and thank you for joining us.
Today,
we are pleased to share with you our third quarter results, which showed solid financial and operational performance across our business
and demonstrated progress towards our 2024 priorities, as shown on Slide 4.
We
have been focused on quality this year and every segment of our operations from construction to installation to repair and care are all
showing solid improvements.
As
a result, we are delivering better service and this is showing up in the near 9% year-to- date reduction in our overall consumer broadband
disconnects, excluding ACP.
We
are focused on providing an outstanding service experience to our customers and the communities we serve.
This
is exemplified by our recovery and restoration initiatives from the recent hurricanes in the Southeast this quarter.
As
you know, last quarter, we were impacted by tornados and wildfires that tore through a number of our exchanges.
However,
Hurricane Helene impacted a far wider swath of our service territory.
At
its peak, over 20 percent of our customer base was out of service but through the valiant efforts and dedication of our construction
and repair teams, we have made significant progress and are, for the most part, back to normal operations.
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
| | | |
| | | 2 |
Whether
helping to clear impacted areas, restoring service or providing meals and water, our teams continue to demonstrate the very essence of
our commitment to quality, service and community.
Let’s
turn to Slide 5, which provides an overview of our third quarter financial and operational highlights.
For
the quarter, we delivered adjusted EBITDAR of $361 million, which was up approximately 2% for the full year.
Within
Kinetic, our consumer revenues declined 2% for the full year.
These
results include the impact of funding elimination from the ACP, which began in May. We remain hopeful that Congress will address the
need to continue this support mechanism.
In
the meantime, as previously reported, we are continuing for the time being a $30 monthly credit to this cohort.
As
a reminder, this impact is included in our 2024 guidance that was provided in February.
Turning
to slide 6, we extended our fiber coverage by constructing over 136,000 consumer premises so far this year, bringing our total to approximately
1.6 million consumer premises passed.
And
this represents 36% coverage of our Kinetic footprint as outlined on slide 7.
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
| | | |
| | | 3 |
While
we are making steady progress on our RDOF and PPP builds, the pace of construction has slowed over the past two quarters.
This
is driven in large part by the shift in resources toward restoration initiatives arising from the higher storm- and fire- related activity
experienced in our footprint over the past two quarters, as well as delays in permitting.
Permitting
is an industry-wide challenge and as you know there has been advocacy seeking to facilitate a more predictable timeline and faster flow
through.
In
the meantime, we are incorporating the anticipated permitting delays in our planning process to allow for smoother execution.
Our
internal construction team continues to demonstrate their productivity and quality in execution.
Based
on these demonstrated gains, we are ramping up our construction recruitment and training in advance of our anticipated level of future
construction including BEAD.
Now
let’s look at our fiber broadband subscribers, as seen on Slide 8.
Despite
a challenging environment in the third quarter, we produced consistent fiber subscriber growth of 17,000 net additions.
We
ended the quarter with 435,000 subscribers on our fiber network, representing a 27.3% penetration rate, an improvement of 40 basis points
sequentially.
Additionally,
you can see the performance from our Fiber Fast Start initiative on Slide 9, as our latest cohorts continue to show impressive penetration
results.
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Furthermore,
we launched our Fiber Forward initiative during the second quarter, which leverages the tactics and learning from Fiber Fast Start to
reinvigorate our older cohorts.
While this program is still in its early stages, we are seeing encouraging improvements in the markets
launched, including a 50 percent increase in sales.
These
early indicators are a positive sign that our tactics are working and positions us well to continue to drive penetration in our older
cohorts.
With
the benefit to customer additions from these two marketing programs, as well as the churn improvements from our quality initiatives,
we see opportunities ahead to further propel our fiber penetration.
Enterprise
and Wholesale continued their solid performance.
Within
Enterprise, we continue our focus on Strategic and Advanced IP portfolios, which now represent 88% of our total Enterprise Market service
revenues on an annualized basis, excluding end-user surcharges.
Windstream
Wholesale continues to demonstrate its technological prowess.
In
partnership with Colt Technology and Nokia, Windstream Wholesale successfully trialed the first ever 800 Gigabit Ethernet service connecting
London with Chicago over a production network.
Overall,
I am pleased with the progress we made during the quarter and the operational momentum we are building through our quality initiatives.
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
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And
finally, before we get to our financial results, let me address the progress on our planned merger with Uniti.
We
recently completed refinancing efforts that position us well for a combined capital structure post close.
Drew
will touch on this in greater detail.
In
addition, we have received thirteen state approvals and have five state approvals in process.
We
continue to defer to Uniti management on specifics of the transaction and the closing process, but from our perspective, this combination
makes a lot of sense as it will bring the leased network assets back with our operations and creates the opportunity to unlock additional
value from our Kinetic operations while eliminating certain complexity of the lease arrangement with Uniti.
The
merger is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory and
Uniti shareholder approvals.
In
the meantime, we remain focused on executing on our initiatives and running our day- to-day business, while providing support to Uniti
where needed to close the transaction.
With
that, let me now turn the call over to Drew to hit some of the highlights on the financial results.
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
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Drew
Smith
Thank
you, Paul, and good morning everyone.
First,
I wanted to take time to highlight the financing transactions that we have recently completed. During the third quarter, we initiated,
and successfully completed, a consent solicitation for our 2028 Senior First Lien Notes, which allows for the adoption of certain amendments
to the related indenture. Effectively, these amendments will allow for the consolidation of Windstream and Uniti’s debt into a
single capital structure following the merger. In addition, we completed refinancing transactions earlier this month which included the
issuance of $800M in senior first lien notes, as well as a new $500M incremental term loan, both of which mature in 2031. This refinancing
resulted in the repayment of our existing Term Loans, thus improving our debt maturity profile, as well as adding additional liquidity
of over $300 million.
Turning
to Slide 10, we show our third quarter financial results.
During
the quarter, Windstream generated:
| ● | Total
revenues of $916 million, and |
| ● | Adjusted
EBITDAR of $361 million, which was largely flat sequentially and translated into a consolidated
margin of 39.4% during the quarter, an improvement of 250 basis points over last year’s
levels. Additionally, the current quarter results include funding step-downs from the ACP
program, as mentioned earlier. Excluding this, adjusted EBITDAR was flat year-over-year. |
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
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Moving
to our market-level business revenue trends:
Within
Kinetic:
| ● | Service
revenue was $512 million, which was down 3.5% year-over-year, with consumer service revenue
down 4.7% year-over-year, driven mostly by the ACP funding step-downs. In addition, we saw
strong growth in our next-generation subscriber base. |
| ● | Kinetic
consumer broadband ARPU of $87.26 was up slightly year-over-year, but down sequentially primarily
due to impacts from the ACP wind-down |
| ● | Next-Generation
broadband subscribers grew by 16,700 during the quarter. This was offset by a loss of 29,200
DSL customers, resulting in a net decrease in total broadband units of 12,500 for the quarter. |
Within
Enterprise:
| ● | Service
revenue was $279 million, down 19%, as legacy-TDM revenues continue to see ongoing declines
as expected. |
| ● | Notably,
approximately 88% of Enterprise Market service revenues, excluding end- user surcharges,
came from our Strategic and Advanced IP portfolios. These combined revenues were down 3.8%
for the full year driven primarily by ancillary legacy products within this portfolio. |
| ● | TDM
and Other revenue declined approximately 55% year-over-year as we continue to execute our
TDM exit strategy and transition customers to our strategic and advanced products, which
produce a higher margin for the business. |
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
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Within
Wholesale:
| ● | Service
revenue was $112 million, down 2.6% year-over-year, driven by declines in legacy revenues.
Strategic revenues had solid performance during the quarter highlighted by high demand being
seen from telecom, cable and content customers. |
Turning
to expenses:
| ● | Total
cash expenses during the third quarter fell by $77 million, or 12%, year-over- year, as our
quality and unification efforts across the company continue to deliver solid results. |
On
slide 11, I wanted to provide our regular update on our interconnection expense reduction activities. Our total interconnection and
network facility expenses fell by 16% on a year-over-year basis during the third quarter. We reduced these total expenses on a
recurring annualized basis by almost $120 million year-over-year. Notably, we still have $628 million of total interconnection
expenses, of which $274 million are legacy TDM- related including network facilities expense. These expenses fell by 24%
year-over-year. In particular, the Enterprise access and service delivery teams have fully exited 490 collocations associated with
our TDM migration plans year-to-date.
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
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Transitioning
to slide 12, Windstream has a strong balance sheet, and following the refinancing transactions mentioned earlier, we have no current
debt maturities until 2028. As of September 30th, we ended with $373 million in total liquidity and a net debt to adjusted EBITDA
ratio of 2.27x. We intend to use the incremental liquidity, of approximately $300 million created from the refinancing transactions,
for general corporate purposes, which may include investments in our network, such as expansion and acceleration of our Kinetic
fiber-to-the-home buildout. Overall, these transactions put us in a great position as it relates to the combined capital structure
with Uniti post- merger close, while also providing opportunities for us to maximize our fiber build program.
As
seen on slide 13, Windstream fully owns and operates substantial assets. Within our Kinetic markets, approximately 31% of our current
fiber broadband consumers are on a network that is entirely owned and operated by Kinetic.
Our
financial and operational guidance as seen on slide 14 remains unchanged, with the exception of the following updates to our fiber operational
metrics:
| ● | Fiber
Premises Constructed are now expected to be between 180,000 and 200,000 for the year to account
for delays in permitting for our RDOF and PPP builds, as well as resource shifts to accommodate
the major storm activity experienced in our footprint over the last several months that Paul
mentioned earlier. This results in a shift of the remaining households, originally planned
for this year, to early next year. |
| ● | Further,
fiber consumer customer additions are now expected to be 75,000 for the year to account for
the slowdown in construction just mentioned. We remain encouraged by the performance in our
fiber markets and are confident in our ability to reach our long-term penetration targets. |
Now,
I will turn the call back over to Paul for some closing comments.
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
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| | | 10 |
Paul
Sunu
Thank
you, Drew.
In
closing, Windstream delivered solid financial and operational results across our business during the third quarter.
We
continue to extend our fiber footprint within our Kinetic markets.
Based
on improvements in our operations and service and the resulting reduction in our overall churn, we expect to accelerate our fiber build
program beginning in 2025.
The
ramp in our internal construction hiring and the work we are doing today to plan and engineer our 2025 builds, along with the additional
funding from our recent refinancing, all contribute to the execution of our strategic vision to advance fiber deployment in our service
areas.
We
expect to meet our RDOF and PPP commitments and advance our strategic build locations including such attractive markets as Broken Arrow,
Oklahoma.
While
we expect to provide specifics around our 2025 guidance in our normal cadence, we did want to share with you the natural progression
to market expansion and penetration that arises from quality-based operations.
We
want to be the premier company for service and quality; the go-to company for the most reliable, resilient, and responsive network; and
through our quality initiative, provide our customers with outstanding service experience.
With
that, we can now open the call up for questions.
| | 3Q24 Earnings Call Script | |
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