FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2009
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
|X| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009
--------------
or
--
| | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _________to__________
Commission file number: 001-11001
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FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 06-0619596
------------------------------- ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
3 High Ridge Park
Stamford, Connecticut 06905
---------------------------------------- ------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(203) 614-5600
----------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
----------------------------------------------------
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and
posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required
to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to submit and post such files).
Yes No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See
definition of "accelerated filer," "large accelerated filer" and "smaller
reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer [X] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [ ] Smaller reporting company [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes No X
--- ---
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock as of May 1,
2009 was 312,356,567.
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index
Page No.
--------
Part I. Financial Information (Unaudited)
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 3
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the year ended December 31, 2008
and the three months ended March 31, 2009 4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 15
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 27
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 28
Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 29
Item 1A. Risk Factors 29
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 29
Item 6. Exhibits 31
Signature 32
1
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
--------------------
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2009 December 31, 2008
------------------ ------------------
ASSETS
------
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 177,431 $ 163,627
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $37,975 and $40,125, respectively 217,631 222,247
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 70,059 82,085
------------------ ------------------
Total current assets 465,121 467,959
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,201,965 3,239,973
Goodwill, net 2,642,323 2,642,323
Other intangibles, net 315,403 359,674
Investments 3,118 8,044
Other assets 172,355 170,703
------------------ ------------------
Total assets $ 6,800,285 $ 6,888,676
================== ==================
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt due within one year $ 3,872 $ 3,857
Accounts payable and other current liabilities 321,885 378,918
------------------ ------------------
Total current liabilities 325,757 382,775
Deferred income taxes 676,558 670,489
Other liabilities 584,072 584,121
Long-term debt 4,720,713 4,721,685
Equity:
Shareholders' equity of Frontier:
Common stock, $0.25 par value (600,000,000 authorized shares; 312,364,000
and 311,314,000 outstanding, respectively, and 349,456,000
issued at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008) 87,364 87,364
Additional paid-in capital 1,026,418 1,117,936
Retained earnings 74,466 38,163
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax (233,121) (237,152)
Treasury stock (473,155) (487,266)
------------------ ------------------
Total shareholders' equity of Frontier 481,972 519,045
Noncontrolling interest in a partnership 11,213 10,561
------------------ ------------------
Total equity 493,185 529,606
------------------ ------------------
Total liabilities and equity $ 6,800,285 $ 6,888,676
================== ==================
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these
Consolidated Financial Statements.
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009 AND 2008
($ in thousands, except for per-share amounts)
(Unaudited)
2009 2008
--------------- --------------
Revenue $ 537,956 $ 569,205
--------------- --------------
Operating expenses:
Network access expenses 60,684 60,549
Other operating expenses 200,204 203,264
Depreciation and amortization 137,558 141,080
--------------- --------------
Total operating expenses 398,446 404,893
--------------- --------------
Operating income 139,510 164,312
Investment and other income (loss), net 8,247 (907)
Interest expense 88,749 90,860
--------------- --------------
Income before income taxes 59,008 72,545
Income tax expense 22,053 26,628
--------------- --------------
Net income 36,955 45,917
Less: Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in a partnership 652 328
--------------- --------------
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier $ 36,303 $ 45,589
=============== ==============
Basic income per common share $ 0.12 $ 0.14
=============== ==============
Diluted income per common share $ 0.12 $ 0.14
=============== ==============
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these
Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009 ($ and shares in
thousands, except for per-share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Frontier Shareholders
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated
Common Stock Additional Other Treasury Stock
------------------ Paid-In Retained Comprehensive ------------------ Noncontrolling Total
Shares Amount Capital Earnings Loss Shares Amount Interest Equity
------------------ ---------- ------------ ---------- -------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Balance January 1, 2008 349,456 $87,364 $1,280,508 $ 14,001 $ (77,995) (21,707) $(305,979) $ 12,447 $1,010,346
Stock plans - - (11,547) - - 999 14,277 - 2,730
Acquisition of Commonwealth - - - - - 1 10 - 10
Conversion of EPPICS - - (7) - - 2 37 - 30
Dividends on common stock of
$0.25 per share - - (82,103) - - - - - (82,103)
Shares repurchased - - - - - (2,317) (24,784) - (24,784)
Net income - - - 45,589 - - - 328 45,917
Other comprehensive income,
net of tax and
reclassification adjustment - - - - 417 - - - 417
------------------ ---------- ------------ ---------- -------- ---------- ------------- -----------
Balance March 31, 2008 349,456 87,364 1,186,851 59,590 (77,578) (23,022) (316,439) 12,775 952,563
Stock plans - - 9,788 - - 97 1,267 - 11,055
Acquisition of Commonwealth - - 1 - - 2 28 - 29
Conversion of EPPICS - - (67) - - 49 627 - 560
Conversion of Commonwealth
Notes - - (801) - - 193 2,467 - 1,666
Dividends on common stock of -
$0.75 per share - - (77,836) (158,498) - - - - (236,334)
Shares repurchased - - - - - (15,461) (175,216) - (175,216)
Net income - - - 137,071 - - - 1,286 138,357
Other comprehensive loss,
net of tax and
reclassification adjustment - - - - (159,574) - - - (159,574)
Distributions - - - - - - - (3,500) (3,500)
------------------ ---------- ------------ ---------- -------- ---------- ------------- -----------
Balance December 31, 2008 349,456 87,364 1,117,936 38,163 (237,152) (38,142) (487,266) 10,561 529,606
Stock plans - - (13,433) - - 1,050 14,111 - 678
Dividends on common stock of
$0.25 per share - - (78,085) - - - - - (78,085)
Net income - - - 36,303 - - - 652 36,955
Other comprehensive income,
net of tax and
reclassification adjustment - - - - 4,031 - - - 4,031
------------------ ---------- ------------ ---------- -------- ---------- ------------- -----------
Balance March 31, 2009 349,456 $87,364 $1,026,418 $ 74,466 $(233,121) (37,092) $(473,155) $ 11,213 $ 493,185
================== ========== ============ ========== ======== ========== ============= ===========
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009 AND 2008
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
2009 2008
------------------ -------------------
Net income $ 36,955 $ 45,917
Other comprehensive income, net
of tax and reclassification adjustments 4,031 417
------------------ -------------------
Total other comprehensive income 40,986 46,334
Less: Other comprehensive income
attributable to the noncontrolling
interest in a partnership (652) (328)
------------------ -------------------
Comprehensive income attributable to
the common shareholders of Frontier $ 40,334 $ 46,006
================== ===================
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated
Financial Statements.
4
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009 AND 2008
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
2009 2008
---------------- ----------------
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income $ 36,955 $ 45,917
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense 137,558 141,080
Stock based compensation expense 2,122 3,019
Pension expense 8,246 (530)
Loss on extinguishment of debt - 6,290
Other non-cash adjustments (3,759) (1,741)
Deferred income taxes 4,125 (282)
Change in accounts receivable 9,211 19,057
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities (47,409) (69,731)
Change in prepaid expenses and other current assets 26 (1,568)
---------------- ----------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 147,075 141,511
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures (54,572) (47,986)
Other assets (purchased) distributions received, net 158 654
---------------- ----------------
Net cash used by investing activities (54,414) (47,332)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Long-term debt borrowings - 135,000
Long-term debt payments (962) (129,332)
Settlement of interest rate swaps - 15,521
Financing costs paid - (857)
Premium paid to retire debt - (6,290)
Issuance of common stock 680 591
Common stock repurchased - (24,784)
Dividends paid (78,085) (82,103)
Repayment of customer advances for construction (490) (757)
---------------- ----------------
Net cash used by financing activities (78,857) (93,011)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 13,804 1,168
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1, 163,627 226,466
---------------- ----------------
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, $ 177,431 $ 227,634
================ ================
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest $ 116,408 $ 121,396
Income taxes $ 1,255 $ 1,859
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps $ - $ 7,909
Conversion of EPPICS $ - $ 30
Shares issued for Commonwealth acquisition $ - $ 10
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated
Financial Statements.
5
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
-------------------------------------------
(a) Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates:
-------------------------------------------
Frontier Communications Corporation (formerly Citizens Communications
Company through July 30, 2008) and its subsidiaries are referred to as
"we," "us," "our," or the "Company" in this report. Our unaudited
consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America (U.S. GAAP) and should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Certain
reclassifications of balances previously reported have been made to
conform to the current presentation. All significant intercompany
balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These
unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments
(consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary to
present fairly the results for the interim periods shown.
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S.
GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements, the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Estimates and judgments are used when accounting for allowance for
doubtful accounts, impairment of long-lived assets, intangible assets,
depreciation and amortization, income taxes, purchase price
allocations, contingencies, and pension and other postretirement
benefits, among others. Certain information and footnote disclosures
have been excluded and/or condensed pursuant to Securities and
Exchange Commission rules and regulations. The results of the interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full
year.
(b) Revenue Recognition:
--------------------
Revenue is recognized when services are provided or when products are
delivered to customers. Revenue that is billed in advance includes:
monthly recurring network access services, special access services and
monthly recurring local line charges. The unearned portion of this
revenue is initially deferred as a component of other liabilities on
our consolidated balance sheet and recognized in revenue over the
period that the services are provided. Revenue that is billed in
arrears includes: non-recurring network access services, switched
access services, non-recurring local services and long-distance
services. The earned but unbilled portion of this revenue is
recognized in revenue in our consolidated statements of operations and
accrued in accounts receivable in the period that the services are
provided. Excise taxes are recognized as a liability when billed.
Installation fees and their related direct and incremental costs are
initially deferred and recognized as revenue and expense over the
average term of a customer relationship. We recognize as current
period expense the portion of installation costs that exceeds
installation fee revenue.
The Company collects various taxes from its customers and subsequently
remits such funds to governmental authorities. Substantially all of
these taxes are recorded through the consolidated balance sheet and
presented on a net basis in our consolidated statements of operations.
We also collect Universal Service Fund (USF) surcharges from customers
(primarily federal USF) which we have recorded on a gross basis in our
consolidated statements of operations and included in revenue and
other operating expenses at $7.5 million and $8.5 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
(c) Goodwill and Other Intangibles:
-------------------------------
Intangibles represent the excess of purchase price over the fair value
of identifiable tangible net assets acquired. We undertake studies to
determine the fair values of assets and liabilities acquired and
allocate purchase prices to assets and liabilities, including
property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other identifiable
intangibles. We annually (during the fourth quarter) examine the
carrying value of our goodwill and trade name to determine whether
there are any impairment losses. We test for impairment at the
"operating segment" level, as that term is defined in Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, "Goodwill and Other
Intangibles Assets." The Company revised its management and operating
structure during the first quarter of 2009 and now has three
"operating segments." Our "operating segments" are aggregated into one
reportable segment.
6
SFAS No. 142 requires that intangible assets with estimated useful
lives be amortized over those lives and be reviewed for impairment in
accordance with SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for Impairment or Disposal
of Long-Lived Assets" to determine whether any changes to these lives
are required. We periodically reassess the useful life of our
intangible assets to determine whether any changes to those lives are
required.
(2) Recent Accounting Literature and Changes in Accounting Principles:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair Value Measurements
-----------------------
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements,"
which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value,
and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In February 2008,
the FASB amended SFAS No. 157 to defer the application of this standard to
nonfinancial assets and liabilities until 2009. The provisions of SFAS No.
157 related to financial assets and liabilities were effective as of the
beginning of our 2008 fiscal year. Our partial adoption of SFAS No. 157 in
the first quarter of 2008 had no impact on our financial position, results
of operations or cash flows. The adoption of SFAS No. 157, as amended, in
the first quarter of 2009 with respect to its effect on nonfinancial assets
and liabilities had no impact on our financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.
Business Combinations
---------------------
In December 2007, the FASB revised SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations."
The revised statement, SFAS No. 141R, as amended by FSP SFAS No. 141(R)-1,
requires an acquiring entity to recognize all the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition date at fair value,
to recognize and measure preacquisition contingencies, including contingent
consideration, at fair value (if possible), to remeasure liabilities
related to contingent consideration at fair value in each subsequent
reporting period and to expense all acquisition related costs. The
effective date of SFAS No. 141R was for business combinations for which the
acquisition date was on or after the beginning of the first annual
reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of
SFAS No. 141R in the first quarter of 2009 had no impact on our financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements
-------------------------------------------------------------
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests
in Consolidated Financial Statements." SFAS No. 160 establishes
requirements for ownership interest in subsidiaries held by parties other
than the Company (sometimes called "minority interest") be clearly
identified, presented and disclosed in the consolidated statement of
financial position within shareholder equity, but separate from the
parent's equity. All changes in the parent's ownership interest are
required to be accounted for consistently as equity transactions and any
noncontrolling equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries must be
measured initially at fair value. SFAS No. 160 was effective, on a
prospective basis, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008.
However, presentation and disclosure requirements must be retrospectively
applied to comparative financial statements. The adoption of SFAS No. 160
in the first quarter of 2009 did not have a material impact on our
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
are Participating Securities
----------------------------
In June 2008, the FASB ratified FSP EITF No. 03-6-1, "Determining Whether
Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating
Securities." FSP EITF No. 03-6-1 addresses whether instruments granted in
share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to
vesting and, therefore, should be included in the earnings allocation in
computing earnings per share under the two-class method. FSP EITF No.
03-6-1 was effective, on a retrospective basis, for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim
periods within those years. Our outstanding non-vested restricted stock is
a participating security in accordance with FSP EITF No. 03-6-1 and we have
adjusted our previously reported basic and diluted income per common share.
The adoption of FSP EITF No. 03-6-1 in the first quarter of 2009 slightly
reduced our basic and diluted income per common share for the quarter ended
March 31, 2008.
Employers' Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets
---------------------------------------------------------------
In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP SFAS No. 132 (R)-1, "Employers'
Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets." FSP SFAS No. 132
(R)-1 amends SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other
Postretirement Benefits," to provide guidance on an employers' disclosures
about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement
plan. FSP SFAS No. 132 (R)-1 requires additional disclosures about
investment policies and strategies, categories of plan assets, fair value
7
measurements of plan assets and significant concentrations of risk. The
disclosures about plan assets required by FSP SFAS No. 132 (R)-1 are
effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. We do not expect
the adoption of FSP SFAS No. 132 (R)-1 to have a material impact on our
financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We will adopt the
disclosure requirements of FSP SFAS No. 132 (R)-1 in the annual report for
our fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
(3) Accounts Receivable:
--------------------
The components of accounts receivable, net at March 31, 2009 and December
31, 2008 are as follows:
($ in thousands) March 31, 2009 December 31, 2008
---------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
End user $ 234,421 $ 244,395
Other 21,185 17,977
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts (37,975) (40,125)
---------------------- ---------------------
Accounts receivable, net $ 217,631 $ 222,247
====================== =====================
We maintain an allowance for estimated bad debts based on our estimate of
collectibility of our accounts receivable. Bad debt expense, which is
recorded as a reduction of revenue, was $6.7 million and $7.2 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
(4) Property, Plant and Equipment:
------------------------------
Property, plant and equipment at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 is as
follows:
($ in thousands) March 31, 2009 December 31, 2008
---------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Property, plant and equipment $ 7,622,931 $ 7,581,060
Less: Accumulated depreciation (4,420,966) (4,341,087)
--------------------- ---------------------
Property, plant and equipment, net $ 3,201,965 $ 3,239,973
===================== =====================
Depreciation expense is principally based on the composite group method.
Depreciation expense was $92.9 million and $95.1 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Effective with the
completion of an independent study of the estimated useful lives of our
plant assets we adopted new lives beginning October 1, 2008.
(5) Other Intangibles:
------------------
Other intangibles at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are as follows:
($ in thousands) March 31, 2009 December 31, 2008
---------------- ------------------------ ---------------------
Customer base $ 1,265,052 $ 1,265,052
Trade name 133,064 132,664
------------------------ ---------------------
Other intangibles 1,398,116 1,397,716
Less: Accumulated amortization (1,082,713) (1,038,042)
------------------------ ---------------------
Total other intangibles, net $ 315,403 $ 359,674
======================== =====================
Amortization expense was $44.7 million and $45.9 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Amortization expense
for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is comprised of $30.6 million for
amortization associated with our "legacy" properties, which will be fully
amortized in June 2009, and $14.1 million for intangible assets (customer
base and trade name) that were acquired in the acquisitions of Commonwealth
Telephone Enterprises, Inc., Global Valley Networks, Inc. and GVN Services.
(6) Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
------------------------------------
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and estimated fair
values for certain of our financial instruments at March 31, 2009 and
December 31, 2008. For the other financial instruments, representing cash,
accounts receivable, long-term debt due within one year, accounts payable
and other current liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value
due to the relatively short maturities of those instruments. Other equity
method investments for which market values are not readily available are
carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
8
The fair value of our long-term debt is estimated based on quoted market
prices at the reporting date for those financial instruments.
($ in thousands) March 31, 2009 December 31, 2008
---------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------
Carrying Carrying
Amount Fair Value Amount Fair Value
-------------- -------------- -------------- ---------------
Long-term debt $4,720,713 $3,866,486 $4,721,685 $ 3,651,924
(7) Long-Term Debt:
---------------
The activity in our long-term debt from December 31, 2008 to March 31, 2009
is as follows:
Three months ended March 31, 2009
------------------------------------
Interest
Rate* at
December 31, New March 31, March 31,
($ in thousands) 2008 Payments Borrowings 2009 2009
---------------- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------------------------
Rural Utilities Service
Loan Contracts $ 16,607 $ (249) $ - $ 16,358 6.07%
Senior Unsecured Debt 4,702,331 (713) - 4,701,618 7.54%
Industrial Development
Revenue Bonds 13,550 - - 13,550 6.31%
--------------- ----------------- ------------- -----------------
TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT $ 4,732,488 $ (962) $ - $ 4,731,526 7.54%
--------------- ----------------- ------------- -----------------
Less: Debt Discount (6,946) (6,941)
Less: Current Portion (3,857) (3,872)
--------------- -----------------
$ 4,721,685 $ 4,720,713
=============== =================
* Interest rate includes amortization of debt issuance costs, debt premiums
or discounts, and deferred gain on interest rate swap terminations. The
interest rates represent a weighted average of multiple issuances.
During the first three months of 2009, we retired an aggregate principal
amount of $1.0 million of debt, consisting of $0.7 million of senior
unsecured debt and $0.3 million of rural utilities service loan contracts.
As of March 31, 2009, we had an available line of credit with seven
financial institutions in the aggregate amount of $250.0 million.
Associated facility fees vary, depending on our debt leverage ratio, and
were 0.225% per annum as of March 31, 2009. The expiration date for this
$250.0 million five year revolving credit agreement is May 18, 2012. During
the term of the credit facility we may borrow, repay and reborrow funds,
subject to customary borrowing conditions. The credit facility is available
for general corporate purposes but may not be used to fund dividend
payments.
On March 28, 2008, we borrowed $135.0 million under a senior unsecured term
loan facility that was established on March 10, 2008. The loan matures in
2013 and bears interest of 2.250% as of March 31, 2009. The interest rate
is based on the prime rate or LIBOR, at our election, plus a margin which
varies depending on our debt leverage ratio. We used the proceeds to
repurchase, during the first quarter of 2008, $128.7 million principal
amount of our 9.25% Senior Notes due 2011 and to pay for the $6.3 million
of premium on early retirement of these notes.
9
As of March 31, 2009, we were in compliance with all of our debt and credit
facility financial covenants.
(8) Net Income Per Common Share:
----------------------------
The reconciliation of the net income per common share calculation for the
three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, is as follows:
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) For the three months ended March 31,
------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------
2009 2008
---------------- ----------------
Net income used for basic and diluted earnings
per common share:
Net income attributable to common shareholders of
Frontier $ 36,303 $ 45,589
Less: Dividends allocated to unvested restricted
stock awards (576) (447)
---------------- ----------------
Total basic net income available for common shareholders
of Frontier 35,727 45,142
Effect of conversion of preferred securities - EPPICS - 31
---------------- ----------------
Total diluted net income available for common shareholders
of Frontier $ 35,727 $ 45,173
================ ================
Basic earnings per common share:
Total weighted average shares and unvested restricted
stock awards outstanding - basic 311,820 327,665
Less: Weighted average unvested restricted stock awards (1,994) (1,492)
---------------- ----------------
Total weighted average shares outstanding - basic 309,826 326,173
================ ================
Net income per share available for common shareholders
of Frontier $ 0.12 $ 0.14
================ ================
Diluted earnings per common share:
Total weighted average shares outstanding - basic 309,826 326,173
Effect of dilutive shares 388 139
Effect of conversion of preferred securities - EPPICS - 348
---------------- ----------------
Total weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 310,214 326,660
================ ================
Net income per share available for common shareholders
of Frontier $ 0.12 $ 0.14
================ ================
Stock Options
-------------
For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, options to purchase
3,580,000 and 2,658,000 shares, respectively, (at exercise prices ranging
from $8.19 to $18.46) issuable under employee compensation plans were
excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (EPS) for those
periods because the exercise prices were greater than the average market
price of our common stock and, therefore, the effect would be antidilutive.
In calculating diluted EPS we apply the treasury stock method and include
future unearned compensation as part of the assumed proceeds.
In addition, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the impact
of dividends paid on unvested restricted stock awards of 2,276,000 and
1,764,000 shares, respectively, have been deducted in accordance with FSP
EITF No. 03-6-1, which we adopted in the first quarter of 2009 on a
retrospective basis.
EPPICS
------
As of December 31, 2008, we fully redeemed the 5% Company Obligated
Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities (EPPICS) related
debt outstanding to third parties. As of March 31, 2008, approximately 99%
of the originally issued EPPICS, or about $197.3 million aggregate
principal amount of EPPICS, had converted into 15,920,799 shares of our
common stock, including shares issued from treasury.
10
We had 79,707 shares of potentially dilutive EPPICS at March 31, 2008,
which were convertible into our common stock at a 4.3615 to 1 ratio at an
exercise price of $11.46 per share. If all remaining EPPICS had been
converted, we would have issued approximately 347,642 shares of our common
stock as of March 31, 2008. These securities have been included in the
diluted income per common share calculation for the three months ended
March 31, 2008.
Stock Units
-----------
At March 31, 2009 and 2008, we had 387,818 and 290,724 stock units,
respectively, issued under our Non-Employee Directors' Deferred Fee Equity
Plan (Deferred Fee Plan), our Non-Employee Directors' Equity Incentive Plan
(Directors' Equity Plan) and the Non-Employee Directors' Retirement Plan.
These securities have not been included in the diluted income per share of
common stock calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2008 because
their inclusion would have had an antidilutive effect.
Share Repurchase Programs
-------------------------
In February 2008, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to
$200.0 million of our common stock in public or private transactions over
the following twelve-month period. This share repurchase program commenced
on March 4, 2008. As of March 31, 2008, we had repurchased approximately
2,317,000 shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of approximately
$24.8 million. The $200.0 million share repurchase program was completed on
October 3, 2008 through the repurchase of 17,778,000 shares of our common
stock during the full year of 2008.
(9) Stock Plans:
------------
At March 31, 2009, we had five stock-based compensation plans under which
grants have been made and awards remained outstanding. At March 31, 2009,
there were 16,058,182 shares authorized for grant under these plans and
3,022,416 shares available for grant under two of the plans. No further
awards may be granted under three of the plans: the Management Equity
Incentive Plan (MEIP), the 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (together with the
Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, the EIPs) or the Deferred
Fee Plan.
The following summary presents information regarding outstanding stock
options as of March 31, 2009 and changes during the three months then ended
with regard to options under the MEIP and the EIPs:
Weighted Weighted
Shares Average Average Aggregate
Subject to Option Price Remaining Intrinsic
Option Per Share Life in Years Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at January 1, 2009 3,713,000 $ 13.46 2.5 $ 495,000
Options granted - $ -
Options exercised (105,000) $ 6.45 $ 747,000
Options canceled, forfeited or lapsed (28,000) $ 8.60
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 31, 2009 3,580,000 $ 13.70 2.3 $ -
=====================================================================
Exercisable at March 31, 2009 3,572,000 $ 13.71 2.3 $ -
=====================================================================
There were no options granted during the first three months of 2009. Cash
received upon the exercise of options during the first three months of 2009
totaled $0.7 million.
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the first three
months of 2008 was $0.3 million. The total intrinsic value of stock options
outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2008 was $1.6 million. There were
no options granted during the first three months of 2008. Cash received
upon the exercise of options during the first three months of 2008 totaled
$0.6 million.
11
The following summary presents information regarding unvested restricted
stock as of March 31, 2009 and changes during the three months then ended
with regard to restricted stock under the MEIP and the EIPs:
Weighted
Average
Number of Grant Date Aggregate
Shares Fair Value Fair Value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at January 1, 2009 1,702,000 $ 12.52 $ 14,876,000
Restricted stock granted 1,092,000 $ 8.45 $ 7,839,000
Restricted stock vested (500,000) $ 12.73 $ 3,588,000
Restricted stock forfeited (18,000) $ 12.18
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 31, 2009 2,276,000 $ 10.52 $ 16,342,000
===================================================================
For purposes of determining compensation expense, the fair value of each
restricted stock grant is estimated based on the average of the high and
low market price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. Total
remaining unrecognized compensation cost associated with unvested
restricted stock awards at March 31, 2009 was $22.1 million and the
weighted average period over which this cost is expected to be recognized
is approximately two to three years.
The total fair value of shares granted and vested during the three months
ended March 31, 2008 was approximately $9.2 million and $3.3 million,
respectively. The total fair value of unvested restricted stock at March
31, 2008 was $18.5 million. The weighted average grant date fair value of
restricted shares granted during the three months ended March 31, 2008 was
$11.02. Shares granted during the first three months of 2008 totaled
879,000.
(10) Segment Information:
--------------------
We operate in one reportable segment, Frontier. Frontier provides both
regulated and unregulated voice, data and video services to residential,
business and wholesale customers and is typically the incumbent provider in
its service areas.
As permitted by SFAS No. 131, we have utilized the aggregation criteria in
combining our operating segments because all of our Frontier properties
share similar economic characteristics, in that they provide the same
products and services to similar customers using comparable technologies in
all of the states in which we operate. The regulatory structure is
generally similar. Differences in the regulatory regime of a particular
state do not materially impact the economic characteristics or operating
results of a particular property.
(11) Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities:
----------------------------------------------
On January 15, 2008, we terminated all of our interest rate swap agreements
representing $400.0 million notional amount of indebtedness associated with
our Senior Notes due in 2011 and 2013. Cash proceeds on the swap
terminations of approximately $15.5 million were received in January 2008.
The related gain has been deferred on the consolidated balance sheet and is
being amortized into interest expense over the term of the associated debt.
We recognized $0.8 million and $3.3 million of deferred gain during the
first three months of 2009 and 2008, respectively, and anticipate
recognizing $2.6 million during the remainder of 2009. At March 31, 2009
and 2008, we do not have any derivative instruments.
12
(12) Investment and Other Income (Loss), Net:
----------------------------------------
The components of investment and other income (loss), net are as follows:
For the three months ended March 31,
---------------------------------
($ in thousands) 2009 2008
---------------- --------------- ----------------
Interest and dividend income $ 3,288 $ 5,104
Premium on debt repurchases - (6,290)
Litigation settlement proceeds 2,203 -
Gains on expiration/settlement of
customer advances 2,513 -
Equity earnings 274 31
Other, net (31) 248
--------------- ----------------
Total investment and other
income (loss), net $ 8,247 $ (907)
=============== ================
(13) Retirement Plans:
-----------------
The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost:
Pension Benefits
---------------------------
For the three months ended
March 31,
---------------------------
2009 2008
------------- ------------
($ in thousands)
----------------
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost $ 1,435 $ 1,619
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 12,964 12,875
Expected return on plan assets (1) (11,096) (16,354)
Amortization of prior service cost /(credit) (64) (64)
Amortization of unrecognized loss 6,920 1,272
------------- ------------
Net periodic benefit cost/(income) $ 10,159 $ (652)
============= ============
Postretirement Benefits
Other Than Pensions
---------------------------
For the three months ended
March 31,
---------------------------
2009 2008
------------- ------------
($ in thousands)
----------------
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost $ 113 $ 149
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 2,857 2,742
Expected return on plan assets (109) (122)
Amortization of prior service cost (1,938) (1,934)
Amortization of unrecognized loss 1,481 1,404
------------- ------------
Net periodic benefit cost $ 2,404 $ 2,239
============= ============
(1) In 2008, our expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was
8.25%, and for 2009 we have assumed a rate of 8.0%.
During the first three months of 2009 and 2008, we capitalized $2.0 million
and $(0.2) million, respectively, of pension expenses into the cost of our
capital expenditures. We expect that our 2009 pension and other
postretirement benefit expenses will be between $50.0 million and $55.0
million, as compared to $11.2 million in 2008.
13
As a result of negative investment returns for the first quarter of 2009 of
(4.7)%, and ongoing benefit payments, the Company's pension plan assets
have declined from $589.8 million at December 31, 2008 to $546.3 million at
March 31, 2009, a decrease of $43.5 million, or 7%. No contributions are
expected to be made by us to our pension plan until 2011, although pension
volatility could require us to make a contribution in 2010, at the
earliest.
(14) Commitments and Contingencies:
------------------------------
We anticipate capital expenditures of approximately $250.0 million to
$270.0 million for 2009. Although we from time to time make short-term
purchasing commitments to vendors with respect to these expenditures, we
generally do not enter into firm, written contracts for such activities.
We are party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of
our business. The outcome of individual matters is not predictable.
However, we believe that the ultimate resolution of all such matters, after
considering insurance coverage, will not have a material adverse effect on
our financial position, results of operations, or our cash flows.
We sold all of our utility businesses as of April 1, 2004. However, we have
retained a potential payment obligation associated with our previous
electric utility activities in the State of Vermont. The Vermont Joint
Owners (VJO), a consortium of 14 Vermont utilities, including us, entered
into a purchase power agreement with Hydro-Quebec in 1987. The agreement
contains "step-up" provisions that state that if any VJO member defaults on
its purchase obligation under the contract to purchase power from
Hydro-Quebec, then the other VJO participants will assume responsibility
for the defaulting party's share on a pro-rata basis. Our pro-rata share of
the purchase power obligation is 10%. If any member of the VJO defaults on
its obligations under the Hydro-Quebec agreement, then the remaining
members of the VJO, including us, may be required to pay for a
substantially larger share of the VJO's total power purchase obligation for
the remainder of the agreement (which runs through 2015). Paragraph 13 of
FASB Interpretation No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure
Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness
of Others"(FIN No. 45) requires that we disclose "the maximum potential
amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to
make under the guarantee." Paragraph 13 of FIN No. 45 also states that we
must make such disclosure "... even if the likelihood of the guarantor's
having to make any payments under the guarantee is remote..." As noted
above, our obligation only arises as a result of default by another VJO
member, such as upon bankruptcy. Therefore, to satisfy the "maximum
potential amount" disclosure requirement we must assume that all members of
the VJO simultaneously default, a highly unlikely scenario given that the
two members of the VJO that have the largest potential payment obligations
are publicly traded with credit ratings equal to or superior to ours, and
that all VJO members are regulated utility providers with regulated cost
recovery. Despite the remote chance that such an event could occur, or that
the State of Vermont could or would allow such an event, assuming that all
the members of the VJO defaulted on January 1, 2009 and remained in default
for the duration of the contract (another 7 years), we estimate that our
undiscounted purchase obligation for 2009 through 2015 would be
approximately $0.8 billion. In such a scenario the Company would then own
the power and could seek to recover its costs. We would do this by seeking
to recover our costs from the defaulting members and/or reselling the power
to other utility providers or the northeast power grid. There is an active
market for the sale of power. We could potentially lose money if we were
unable to sell the power at cost. We caution that we cannot predict with
any degree of certainty any potential outcome.
(15) Subsequent Event:
-----------------
On April 9, 2009, we completed a registered offering of $600.0 million
aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior unsecured notes due 2014. The
issue price was 91.805% of the principal amount of the notes. We received
net proceeds of approximately $539.0 million from the offering after
deducting underwriting discounts. During the month of April 2009, we used
$206.7 million of the proceeds to repurchase $214.4 million principal
amount of debt. We intend to use the remaining net proceeds from the
offering to reduce, repurchase or refinance our indebtedness or the
indebtedness of our subsidiaries or for general corporate purposes.
14
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
of Operations
-------------
Forward-Looking Statements
--------------------------
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Statements that
are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
(including oral representations) are only predictions or statements of current
plans, which we review continuously. Forward-looking statements may differ from
actual future results due to, but not limited to, and our future results may be
materially affected by, any of the following possibilities:
* Reductions in the number of our access lines and High-Speed Internet
subscribers;
* The effects of competition from cable, wireless and other wireline
carriers (through voice over internet protocol (VOIP) or otherwise);
* Reductions in switched access revenues as a result of regulation,
competition and/or technology substitutions;
* The effects of greater than anticipated competition requiring new
pricing, marketing strategies or new product offerings and the risk
that we will not respond on a timely or profitable basis;
* The effects of changes in both general and local economic conditions
on the markets we serve, which can impact demand for our products and
services, customer purchasing decisions, collectability of revenue and
required levels of capital expenditures related to new construction of
residences and businesses;
* Our ability to effectively manage service quality;
* 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 our customers;
* Our ability to sell enhanced and data services in order to offset
ongoing declines in revenue from local services, switched access
services and subsidies;
* Changes in accounting policies or practices adopted voluntarily or as
required by generally accepted accounting principles or regulators;
* The effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications
industry as a result of federal and state legislation and regulation,
including potential changes in state rate of return limitations on our
earnings, access charges and subsidy payments, and regulatory network
upgrade and reliability requirements;
* Our ability to effectively manage our operations, operating expenses
and capital expenditures, to pay dividends and to reduce or refinance
our debt;
* Adverse changes in the credit markets and/or in the ratings given to
our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations,
which could limit or restrict the availability, and/or increase the
cost, of financing;
* The effects of bankruptcies and home foreclosures, which could result
in increased bad debts;
* The effects of technological changes and competition on our capital
expenditures and product and service offerings, including the lack of
assurance that our ongoing network improvements will be sufficient to
meet or exceed the capabilities and quality of competing networks;
* The effects of increased medical, retiree and pension expenses and
related funding requirements;
15
* Changes in income tax rates, tax laws, regulations or rulings, and/or
federal or state tax assessments;
* Further declines in the value of our pension plan assets, which could
require us to make contributions to the pension plan beginning in
2010, at the earliest;
* The effects of state regulatory cash management policies on our
ability to transfer cash among our subsidiaries and to the parent
company;
* Our ability to successfully renegotiate union contracts expiring in
2009 and thereafter;
* Our ability to pay a $1.00 per common share dividend annually, which
may be affected by our cash flow from operations, amount of capital
expenditures, debt service requirements, cash paid for income taxes
(which will increase in 2009) and our liquidity;
* The effects of increased cash taxes in 2009 and thereafter;
* The effects of any unfavorable outcome with respect to any of our
current or future legal, governmental or regulatory proceedings,
audits or disputes;
* The possible impact of adverse changes in political or other external
factors over which we have no control; and
* The effects of hurricanes, ice storms and other severe weather.
Any of the foregoing events, or other events, could cause financial information
to vary from management's forward-looking statements included in this report.
You should consider these important factors, as well as the risks set forth
under Item 1A. "Risk Factors," in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2008, in evaluating any statement in this report on Form 10-Q
or otherwise made by us or on our behalf. The following information is unaudited
and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and
related notes included in this report. We have no obligation to update or revise
these forward-looking statements.
Overview
--------
We are a full-service communications provider and one of the largest exchange
telephone carriers in the country. As of March 31, 2009, we operated in 24
states with approximately 5,600 employees.
Competition in the telecommunications industry is intense and increasing. We
experience competition from many telecommunications service providers, including
cable operators offering VOIP products, wireless carriers, long distance
providers, competitive local exchange carriers, internet providers and other
wireline carriers. We believe that as of March 31, 2009, approximately 68% of
the households in our territories had VOIP as an available service option from
cable operators. We also believe that competition will continue to intensify in
2009 and may result in reduced revenues. Our business experienced a decline in
access lines and switched access minutes in 2008 and in the first three months
of 2009 primarily as a result of competition and business downsizing. We also
experienced a reduction in revenue for the first three months of 2009 as
compared to the same period in 2008.
The recent severe contraction in the global financial markets and ongoing
recession is impacting customer behavior to reduce expenditures by not
purchasing our services and/or by discontinuing some or all of our services. The
ongoing recession and downturn in the economy has also affected our business
customers, resulting in a decline in revenues for the first three months of 2009
as compared to the same period of 2008. These trends are likely to continue and
may result in a challenging revenue environment. These factors could also result
in increased delinquencies and bankruptcies and, therefore, affect our ability
to collect money owed to us by residential and business customers.
We employ a number of strategies to combat the competitive pressures and changes
to consumer behavior noted above. Our strategies are focused in the following
areas: customer retention, upgrading and up-selling services to our existing
customer base, new customer growth, win backs, new product deployment, and
operating expense and capital expenditure reductions.
16
We seek to achieve our customer retention goals by bundling services around the
local access line and providing exemplary customer service. Bundled services
include High-Speed Internet, unlimited long distance calling, enhanced telephone
features and video offerings. We tailor these services to the needs of our
residential and business customers in the markets we serve and continually
evaluate the introduction of new and complementary products and services, which
can also be purchased separately. Customer retention is also enhanced by
offering one, two and three year price protection plans where customers commit
to a term in exchange for predictable pricing and/or promotional offers.
Additionally, we are focused on enhancing the customer experience as we believe
exceptional customer service will differentiate us from our competition. Our
commitment to providing exemplary customer service is demonstrated by the
expansion of our customer services hours, shorter scheduling windows for in-home
appointments and the implementation of call reminders and follow-up calls for
service appointments. In addition, due to the realignment and restructuring of
approximately 70 local area markets during 2008, those markets are now operated
by local managers with responsibility for the customer experience, as well as
the financial results, in those markets.
We utilize targeted and innovative promotions to sell new customers, including
those moving into our territory, win back previously lost customers, upgrade and
up-sell existing customers a variety of service offerings including High-Speed
Internet, video, and enhanced long distance and feature packages in order to
maximize the average revenue per access line (wallet share) paid to Frontier.
Depending upon market and economic conditions, we may offer such promotions to
drive sales in the future.
We have restructured and augmented our sales distribution channels to improve
coverage of all segments of the commercial customer base. This included adding
new sales teams dedicated to small business customers and enhancing the skills
in our customer sales and service centers. In addition, we are introducing new
products utilizing wireless and internet technologies. We believe the
combination of new products and distribution channel improvements will help us
improve commercial customer acquisition and retention efforts.
Lastly, we are focused on introducing a number of new products that our
customers desire, including unlimited long distance minutes, bundles of long
distance minutes, wireless data, internet portal advertising and the "Frontier
Peace of Mind" product suite. This last category is a suite of products aimed at
managing the total communications and personal computing experience for our
customers. The Peace of Mind products and services are designed to provide value
and simplicity to meet our customers' ever changing needs. The Peace of Mind
products and services suite includes services such as an in-home, full
installation of our high-speed product, two hour appointment windows for the
installation, hard drive back-up services, enhanced help desk PC support and
inside wire maintenance. Although we are optimistic about the opportunities
provided by each of these initiatives, we can provide no assurance about their
long term profitability or impact on revenue.
We believe that the combination of offering multiple products and services to
our customers pursuant to price protection programs, billing them on a single
bill, providing superior customer service, and being active in our local
communities will make our customers more loyal to us, and will help us generate
new, and retain existing, customer revenue.
Revenues from data and internet services such as High-Speed Internet continue to
increase as a percentage of our total revenues and revenues from services such
as local line and access charges (including federal and state subsidies) are
decreasing as a percentage of our total revenues. Federal and state subsidy
revenue was $27.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, or 5% of
our revenues, down from $29.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008,
or 5% of our revenues. We expect this trend to continue during the remainder of
2009. The decreasing revenue from traditional sources, along with the potential
for increasing operating costs, could cause our profitability and our cash
generated by operations to decrease.
17
a) Liquidity and Capital Resources
-------------------------------
As of March 31, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents aggregating $177.4
million. Our primary source of funds continued to be cash generated from
operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, we used cash flow from
operations and cash on hand to fund all of our investing and financing
activities, including debt repayments.
We believe our operating cash flows, existing cash balances, and revolving
credit facility will be adequate to finance our working capital requirements,
fund capital expenditures, make required debt payments through 2009, pay taxes,
pay dividends to our stockholders in accordance with our dividend policy and
support our short-term and long-term operating strategies. However, a number of
factors, including but not limited to, increased cash taxes, losses of access
lines, increases in competition, lower subsidy and access revenues and the
impact of the current economic environment are expected to reduce our cash
generated by operations. In addition, although we believe, based on information
available to us, that the financial institutions syndicated under our revolving
credit facility would be able to fulfill their commitments to us, given the
current economic environment and the recent severe contraction in the global
financial markets, this could change in the future. The current credit market
turmoil and our below-investment grade credit ratings may also make it more
difficult and expensive to refinance our maturing debt, although we do not have
any significant maturities until 2011. We have approximately $2.9 million of
debt maturing during the last nine months of 2009 and approximately $7.2 million
and $1,125.1 million of debt maturing in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
On April 9, 2009, we completed a registered offering of $600.0 million aggregate
principal amount of 8.25% senior unsecured notes due 2014. The issue price was
91.805% of the principal amount of the notes. We received net proceeds of
approximately $539.0 million from the offering after deducting underwriting
discounts. During the month of April 2009, we used $206.7 million of the
proceeds to repurchase $214.4 million principal amount of debt. We intend to use
the remaining net proceeds from the offering to reduce, repurchase or refinance
our indebtedness or the indebtedness of our subsidiaries or for general
corporate purposes.
Cash Flow provided by and used in Operating Activities
------------------------------------------------------
Cash provided by operating activities improved $5.6 million, or 4%, for the
three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared with the prior year period.
Although our operating income decreased during the first quarter of 2009 as
compared to 2008, our cash needs for working capital items declined even more
during the first quarter of 2009 as compared to 2008.
We have in recent years paid relatively low amounts of cash taxes. We expect
that in 2009 and beyond our cash taxes will increase substantially, as our
federal net operating loss carryforwards and AMT tax credit carryforwards have
been fully utilized. We paid $1.3 million in cash taxes during the first three
months of 2009 and expect to pay approximately $90.0 million to $110.0 million
for the full year of 2009. Our 2009 cash tax estimate reflects the anticipated
favorable impact of bonus depreciation that is part of the economic stimulus
package signed into law by President Obama.
Cash Flow used by Investing Activities
--------------------------------------
Capital Expenditures
--------------------
For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, our capital expenditures
were $54.6 million and $48.0 million, respectively. We continue to closely
scrutinize all of our capital projects, emphasize return on investment and focus
our capital expenditures on areas and services that have the greatest
opportunities with respect to revenue growth and cost reduction. We anticipate
capital expenditures of approximately $250.0 million to $270.0 million for 2009.
Cash Flow used by and provided from Financing Activities
--------------------------------------------------------
Debt Reduction
--------------
During the first three months of 2009, we retired an aggregate principal amount
of $1.0 million of debt, consisting of $0.7 million of senior unsecured debt and
$0.3 million of rural utilities service loan contracts.
For the three months ended March 31, 2008, we retired an aggregate principal
amount of $129.4 million of debt, consisting of $128.7 million principal amount
of our 9.25% Senior Notes due 2011, $0.6 million of other senior unsecured debt
and rural utilities service loan contracts, and $0.1 million of 5% Company
Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities (EPPICS) that
were converted into our common stock.
18
We may from time to time repurchase our debt in the open market, through tender
offers, exchanges of debt securities, by exercising rights to call or in
privately negotiated transactions. We may also refinance existing debt or
exchange existing debt for newly issued debt obligations.
Issuance of Debt Securities
---------------------------
On March 28, 2008, we borrowed $135.0 million under a senior unsecured term loan
facility that was established on March 10, 2008. The loan matures in 2013 and
bears interest of 2.250% as of March 31, 2009. The interest rate is based on the
prime rate or LIBOR, at our election, plus a margin which varies depending on
our debt leverage ratio. We used the proceeds to repurchase, during the first
quarter of 2008, $128.7 million principal amount of our 9.25% Senior Notes due
2011 and to pay for the $6.3 million of premium on early retirement of these
notes.
Interest Rate Management
------------------------
On January 15, 2008, we terminated all of our interest rate swap agreements
representing $400.0 million notional amount of indebtedness associated with our
Senior Notes due in 2011 and 2013. Cash proceeds on the swap terminations of
approximately $15.5 million were received in January 2008. The related gain has
been deferred on the consolidated balance sheet and is being amortized into
interest expense over the term of the associated debt. We recognized $0.8
million and $3.3 million of deferred gain during the first three months of 2009
and 2008, respectively, and anticipate recognizing $2.6 million during the
remainder of 2009.
Credit Facilities
-----------------
As of March 31, 2009, we had an available line of credit with seven financial
institutions in the aggregate amount of $250.0 million. Associated facility fees
vary, depending on our debt leverage ratio, and were 0.225% per annum as of
March 31, 2009. The expiration date for this $250.0 million five year revolving
credit agreement is May 18, 2012. During the term of the credit facility we may
borrow, repay and reborrow funds, subject to customary borrowing conditions. The
credit facility is available for general corporate purposes but may not be used
to fund dividend payments. Although we believe, based on information available
to us, that the financial institutions syndicated under our revolving credit
facility would be able to fulfill their commitments to us, given the current
economic environment and the recent severe contraction in the global financial
markets, this could change in the future.
Covenants
---------
The terms and conditions contained in our indentures and credit facility
agreements include the timely payment of principal and interest when due, the
maintenance of our corporate existence, keeping proper books and records in
accordance with U.S. GAAP, restrictions on the allowance of liens on our assets,
and restrictions on asset sales and transfers, mergers and other changes in
corporate control. We currently have no restrictions on the payment of dividends
either by contract, rule or regulation, other than those imposed by the Delaware
General Corporation Law. However, we would be restricted under our credit
facilities from declaring dividends if an event of default has occurred and is
continuing at the time or will result from the dividend declaration.
Our $200.0 million term loan facility with the Rural Telephone Finance
Cooperative (RTFC), which matures in 2011, contains a maximum leverage ratio
covenant. On May 6, 2009, the Company and the RTFC amended the terms of the
maximum leverage ratio covenant. Under the amended leverage ratio covenant, we
are required to maintain a ratio of (i) total indebtedness minus cash and cash
equivalents in excess of $50.0 million to (ii) consolidated adjusted EBITDA (as
defined in the agreement) over the last four quarters no greater than 4.50 to 1.
Our $250.0 million credit facility, and our $150.0 million and $135.0 million
senior unsecured term loans, each contain a maximum leverage ratio covenant.
Under the leverage ratio covenant, we are required to maintain a ratio of (i)
total indebtedness minus cash and cash equivalents in excess of $50.0 million to
(ii) consolidated adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the agreements) over the last
four quarters no greater than 4.50 to 1. Although all of these facilities are
unsecured, they will be equally and ratably secured by certain liens and equally
and ratably guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries if we issue debt that is
secured or guaranteed.
19
Our credit facilities and certain indentures for our senior unsecured debt
obligations limit our ability to create liens or merge or consolidate with other
companies and our subsidiaries' ability to borrow funds, subject to important
exceptions and qualifications.
As of March 31, 2009, we were in compliance with all of our debt and credit
facility covenants.
Proceeds from the Sale of Equity Securities
-------------------------------------------
We receive proceeds from the issuance of our common stock upon the exercise of
options pursuant to our stock-based compensation plans. For the three months
ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, we received approximately $0.7 million and $0.6
million, respectively, upon the exercise of outstanding stock options.
Share Repurchase Programs
-------------------------
In February 2008, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to
$200.0 million of our common stock in public or private transactions over the
following twelve month period. This share repurchase program commenced on March
4, 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, we had repurchased
approximately 2,317,000 shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of
approximately $24.8 million. The $200.0 million share repurchase program was
completed on October 3, 2008 through the repurchase of 17,778,000 shares of our
common stock during the full year of 2008.
Dividends
---------
We expect to pay regular quarterly dividends. Our ability to fund a regular
quarterly dividend will be impacted by our ability to generate cash from
operations. The declarations and payment of future dividends will be at the
discretion of our Board of Directors, and will depend upon many factors,
including our financial condition, results of operations, growth prospects,
funding requirements, applicable law, restrictions in our credit facilities and
other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
------------------------------
We do not maintain any off-balance sheet arrangements, transactions, obligations
or other relationships with unconsolidated entities that would be expected to
have a material current or future effect upon our financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
------------------------------------------
We review all significant estimates affecting our consolidated financial
statements on a recurring basis and record the effect of any necessary
adjustment prior to their publication. Uncertainties with respect to such
estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of financial
statements; accordingly, it is possible that actual results could differ from
those estimates and changes to estimates could occur in the near term. The
preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, the disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenue and
expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and judgments are used when
accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts, impairment of long-lived assets,
intangible assets, depreciation and amortization, pension and other
postretirement benefits, income taxes, contingencies and purchase price
allocations, among others.
Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical
accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and our
Audit Committee has reviewed our disclosures relating to such estimates.
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and
estimates from the information provided in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
20
New Accounting Pronouncements
-----------------------------
The following new accounting standards were adopted by the Company in the first
quarter of 2009 without any material financial statement impact. All of these
standards are more fully described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial
statements.
* Fair Value Measurements (SFAS No. 157), as amended
* Business Combinations (SFAS No. 141R), as amended
* Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (SFAS
No. 160)
* Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment
Transactions are Participating Securities (FSP EITF No. 03-6-1)
The following new accounting standard will be adopted by the Company at the end
of 2009, but we do not expect its adoption to have a material impact on our
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
* Employers' Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets (FSP
SFAS No. 132(R)-1)
21
(b) Results of Operations
---------------------
REVENUE
Revenue is generated primarily through the provision of local, network access,
long distance, and data and internet services. Such revenues are generated
through either a monthly recurring fee or a fee based on usage at a tariffed
rate and revenue recognition is not dependent upon significant judgments by
management, with the exception of a determination of a provision for
uncollectible amounts.
Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $31.2 million, or
5%, as compared with the prior year period. This decline is a result of lower
local services revenue, switched access revenue, long distance services revenue
and subsidy revenue, partially offset by a $10.4 million, or 7%, increase in
data and internet services revenue, each as described in more detail below.
Change in the number of our access lines is one factor that is important to our
revenue and profitability. We have lost access lines primarily because of
competition, changing consumer behavior (including wireless substitution),
economic conditions, changing technology and by some customers disconnecting
second lines when they add High-Speed Internet or cable modem service. We lost
approximately 37,500 access lines (net), including 3,100 second lines, during
the three months ended March 31, 2009, but added approximately 20,100 High-Speed
Internet subscribers during this same period. We expect to continue to lose
access lines but to increase High-Speed Internet subscribers and wireless
internet customers during the remainder of 2009 (although not enough to offset
access line losses).
While the number of access lines are an important metric to gauge certain
revenue trends, it is not necessarily the best or only measure to evaluate our
business. Management believes that understanding different components of revenue
is most important. For this reason, presented on page 24 is a breakdown that
categorizes revenue into customer revenue and regulatory revenue (switched
access and subsidy revenue). Despite the decline in access lines, our customer
revenue, which is all revenue except switched access and subsidy revenue, has
declined in the first quarter of 2009 by less than 3 percent as compared to the
prior year period. The average monthly customer revenue per access line has
improved and resulted in an increased wallet share, primarily from residential
customers. A substantial further loss of access lines, combined with increased
competition and the other factors discussed herein may cause our revenue,
profitability and cash flows to decrease in 2009.
The financial tables below include a comparative analysis of our results of
operations on a historical basis for the three months ended March 31, 2009.
REVENUE
For the three months ended March 31,
------------------------------------------------------
($ in thousands)
---------------- 2009 2008 $ Change % Change
------------ ------------- -------------- -----------
Local services $ 200,896 $ 217,158 $ (16,262) -7%
Data and internet services 156,393 145,982 10,411 7%
Access services 90,065 107,818 (17,753) -16%
Long distance services 41,412 46,453 (5,041) -11%
Directory services 27,705 28,628 (923) -3%
Other 21,485 23,166 (1,681) -7%
------------ ------------- --------------
$ 537,956 $ 569,205 $ (31,249) -5%
============ ============= ==============
Local Services
Local services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $16.3
million, or 7%, to $200.9 million, as compared with the three months ended March
31, 2008, primarily due to the continued loss of access lines which accounted
for $11.6 million of the decline and a reduction in all other related services
of $4.7 million. Enhanced services revenue in the first quarter of 2009
decreased $3.1 million, as compared with the first quarter of 2008, primarily
due to a decline in access lines and a shift in customers purchasing our
unlimited voice communications packages with features included in the bundle
instead of purchasing individual features.
22
Economic conditions and/or increasing competition could make it more difficult
to sell our packages and bundles, and cause us to increase our promotions and/or
lower our prices for those products and services, which would adversely affect
our revenue, profitability and cash flow.
Data and Internet Services
Data and internet services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009
increased $10.4 million, or 7%, to $156.4 million, as compared with the three
months ended March 31, 2008, primarily due to the overall growth in the number
of data and High-Speed Internet customers. As of March 31, 2009, the number of
the Company's High-Speed Internet subscribers had increased by approximately
57,000, or 11%, since March 31, 2008. Data and internet services also includes
revenue from data transmission services to other carriers and high-volume
commercial customers with dedicated high-capacity internet and ethernet
circuits. Revenue from these dedicated high-capacity circuits increased $3.4
million in 2009, as compared with 2008, primarily due to growth in the number of
those circuits.
President Obama signed into law an economic stimulus package that includes $7.2
billion in funding, through grants and loans, for new broadband investment and
adoption in unserved and underserved communities. The federal agencies
responsible for administering the programs are currently developing the rules
and evaluation criteria. Depending on these and any conditions included with
respect to acceptance and use of the money, the Company may apply to receive
funds from this package. These funds, if received, would be used by us to expand
broadband availability to customers in our markets to whom it is not currently
available due to the high cost of providing the service to those areas.
Access Services
Access services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased
$17.8 million, or 16%, to $90.1 million, as compared with the three months ended
March 31, 2008. Switched access revenue in 2009 of $62.6 million decreased $15.3
million, or 20%, as compared with 2008, primarily due to the impact of a decline
in minutes of use related to access line losses and the displacement of minutes
of use by wireless, email and other communications services. Reserves
established for disputed access charges also impacted access revenues in 2009
compared to 2008. Access services revenue includes subsidy payments we receive
from federal and state agencies. Subsidy revenue in 2009 of $27.4 million
decreased $2.4 million, or 8%, as compared with 2008, primarily due to lower
receipts under the Federal High Cost Fund program resulting from our reduced
cost structure and an increase in the program's National Average Cost per Local
Loop (NACPL) used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate
funds among all recipients.
Many factors may lead to further increases in the NACPL, thereby resulting in
decreases in our federal subsidy revenue in the future. The FCC and state
regulators are currently considering a number of proposals for changing the
manner in which eligibility for federal subsidies is determined as well as the
amounts of such subsidies. On May 1, 2008, the FCC issued an order to cap
Competitive Eligible Telecommunications Companies (CETC) receipts from the high
cost Federal Universal Service Fund. While this order will have no impact on our
current receipt levels, we believe this is a positive first step to limit the
rapid growth of the fund. The CETC cap will remain in place until the FCC takes
additional steps towards needed reform.
The FCC is considering proposals that may significantly change interstate,
intrastate and local intercarrier compensation and would revise the Federal
Universal Service funding and disbursement mechanisms. When and how these
proposed changes will be addressed are unknown and, accordingly, we are unable
to predict the impact of future changes on our results of operations. However,
future reductions in our subsidy and access revenues will directly affect our
profitability and cash flows as those regulatory revenues do not have associated
variable expenses.
Certain states have open proceedings to address reform to intrastate access
charges and other intercarrier compensation. We cannot predict when or how these
matters will be decided or the effect on our subsidy or access revenues. In
addition, we have been approached by, and/or are involved in formal state
proceedings with, various carriers seeking reductions in intrastate access rates
in certain states.
Long Distance Services
Long distance services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009
decreased $5.0 million, or 11%, to $41.4 million, as compared with the three
months ended March 31, 2008. Our long distance services revenue is trending
downward due to a reduction in the overall average revenue per minute of use. We
have actively marketed a package of unlimited long distance minutes with our
digital phone and state unlimited bundled service offerings. While these package
offerings have grown our long distance customer base, those customers who still
pay on a per minute of use basis have significantly reduced their calling
volumes, resulting in a decrease in our overall average revenue per minute of
use.
23
Our long distance minutes of use decreased by 3% during the three months ended
March 31, 2009, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. Average
revenue per minute of use has also declined. Our long distance services revenue
may decrease in the future due to further declines in rates and/or minutes of
use. Competing services such as wireless, VOIP and cable telephony are resulting
in a loss of customers, minutes of use and further declines in the rates we
charge our customers. We expect these factors will continue to adversely affect
our long distance revenue in the future.
Directory Services
Directory services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased
$0.9 million, or 3%, to $27.7 million, as compared with the three months ended
March 31, 2008, primarily due to lower revenues from yellow pages advertising,
mainly in Rochester, New York.
Other
Other revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $1.7 million,
or 7%, to $21.5 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2008,
primarily due to fewer equipment sales, reduced pole attachment fees and
decreased "bill and collect" fee revenue, partially offset by higher DISH
Network (DISH) video and wireless revenues.
OTHER FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
As of As of %
March 31, 2009 March 31, 2008 Change
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Access lines:
Residential 1,427,149 1,553,094 -8%
Business 789,654 832,979 -5%
-------------------- -------------------
Total access lines 2,216,803 2,386,073 -7%
-------------------- -------------------
High-Speed Internet (HSI) subscribers 600,047 543,020 11%
Video subscribers 146,010 101,410 44%
For the three months ended March 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 2008 $ Change % Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue:
Residential $ 230,466 $ 241,362 $ (10,896) -5%
Business 217,425 220,025 (2,600) -1%
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Total customer revenue 447,891 461,387 (13,496) -3%
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Regulatory (Access Services) 90,065 107,818 (17,753) -16%
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Total revenue $ 537,956 $ 569,205 $ (31,249) -5%
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Switched access minutes of use
(in millions) 2,377 2,602 -9%
Average monthly total revenue per
access line $ 80.21 $ 78.81 2%
Average monthly customer revenue
per access line $ 66.78 $ 63.88 5%
24
OPERATING EXPENSES
NETWORK ACCESS EXPENSES
For the three months ended March 31,
------------------------------------------------------
($ in thousands)
---------------- 2009 2008 $ Change % Change
------------ ------------- -------------- -----------
Network access $ 60,684 $ 60,549 $ 135 0%
Network access expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was relatively
unchanged as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2008. Long distance
carriage costs declined $4.5 million in the first quarter of 2009 due to
decreasing rates resulting from more efficient circuit routing for our long
distance and data products. In the first quarter of 2009, we expensed $6.7
million for the cost of new personal computers provided to customers in
connection with our "Rolling Thunder" promotion which resulted in additional
DISH video and High-Speed Internet subscribers. The first quarter of 2008
included costs of $2.6 million associated with High-Speed Internet promotions
that subsidized the cost of a flat screen television provided to customers.
As we continue to increase our sales of data products such as High-Speed
Internet and expand the availability of our unlimited long distance calling
plans, our network access expense may increase in the future. A decline in
expenses associated with access line losses, has offset some of the increase.
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
For the three months ended March 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------
($ in thousands)
---------------- 2009 2008 $ Change % Change
------------ ------------ ----------------- -------------
Wage and benefit expenses $ 92,867 $100,676 $ (7,809) -8%
Pension costs 8,246 (530) 8,776 NM
Severance and early
retirement costs 2,556 2,891 (335) -12%
Stock based compensation 2,122 3,019 (897) -30%
All other operating expenses 94,413 97,208 (2,795) -3%
------------ ------------ -----------------
$200,204 $203,264 $ (3,060) -2%
============ ============ =================
Wage and benefit expenses
Wage and benefit expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased
$7.8 million, or 8%, to $92.9 million, as compared to the three months ended
March 31, 2008, primarily due to headcount reductions and associated decreases
in compensation and benefit expenses.
Pension costs
The decline in our pension plan assets during 2008 has increased our pension
expense in 2009. Pension costs for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and
2008 were approximately $8.2 million and $(0.5) million, respectively. The first
quarter of 2009 pension costs represent an increase of $8.7 million over the
prior year period, as described in more detail below. Pension costs include
pension expense of $10.2 million and $(0.7) million, less amounts capitalized
into the cost of capital expenditures of $2.0 million and $(0.2) million for the
three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
As a result of negative investment returns for the first quarter of 2009 of
(4.7)%, and ongoing benefit payments, the Company's pension plan assets have
declined from $589.8 million at December 31, 2008 to $546.3 million at March 31,
2009, a decrease of $43.5 million, or 7%. Based on current assumptions and plan
asset values, we estimate that our 2009 pension and other postretirement benefit
expenses (which were $11.2 million in 2008) will be approximately $50.0 million
to $55.0 million. No contributions are expected to be made by us to our pension
plan until 2011, although pension volatility could require us to make a
contribution in 2010, at the earliest.
25
All other operating expenses
All other operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased
$2.8 million, or 3%, to $94.4 million, as compared to the three months ended
March 31, 2008, due to reduced costs for consulting fees and other outside
services, partially offset by higher marketing expenses.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE
For the three months ended March 31,
------------------------------------------------------
($ in thousands)
---------------- 2009 2008 $ Change % Change
------------ ------------- -------------- -----------
Depreciation expense $ 92,888 $ 95,145 $ (2,257) -2%
Amortization expense 44,670 45,935 (1,265) -3%
------------ ------------- --------------
$ 137,558 $ 141,080 $ (3,522) -2%
============ ============= ==============
Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009
decreased $3.5 million, or 2%, to $137.6 million, as compared to the three
months ended March 31, 2008, primarily due to a declining net asset base,
partially offset by changes in the remaining useful lives of certain assets. An
independent study updating the estimated remaining useful lives of our plant
assets is performed annually. We adopted the remaining useful lives proposed in
the last study effective October 1, 2008. Our "composite depreciation rate"
increased from 5.5% to 5.6% as a result of the study. We anticipate depreciation
expense of approximately $350.0 million to $370.0 million and amortization
expense of $113.9 million for 2009. Amortization expense for the three months
ended March 31, 2009 is comprised of $30.6 million for amortization associated
with our legacy properties, which will be fully amortized in June 2009, and
$14.1 million for intangible assets (customer base and trade name) that were
acquired in the Commonwealth and Global Valley acquisitions.
INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME (LOSS), NET / INTEREST EXPENSE / INCOME TAX EXPENSE
For the three months ended March 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
($ in thousands)
---------------- 2009 2008 $ Change % Change
------------ ------------- -------------- ----------
Investment and
other income (loss),
net $ 8,247 $ (907) $ 9,154 1009%
Interest expense $ 88,749 $ 90,860 $ (2,111) -2%
Income tax expense $ 22,053 $ 26,628 $ (4,575) -17%
Investment and other income (loss), net
Investment and other income (loss), net for the three months ended March 31,
2009 improved $9.2 million, to $8.2 million, as compared with the three months
ended March 31, 2008, primarily due to the loss on retirement of debt of $6.3
million recognized during the first quarter of 2008, combined with litigation
settlement proceeds of $2.2 million and the settlement of customer advances of
$2.5 million in 2009. These improvements were partially offset by a decrease in
2009 of $1.8 million in income from short-term investments of cash and cash
equivalents due to lower interest rates and investable cash balance in 2009.
Our average cash balance was $170.5 million and $227.1 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
26
Interest expense
Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $2.1
million, or 2%, to $88.7 million, as compared with the three months ended March
31, 2008, primarily due to slightly lower average debt levels and interest rates
in 2009, partially offset by decreased amortization of the deferred gain
associated with the termination of our interest rate swap agreements and
retirement of related debt during the first quarter of 2008. Our average debt
outstanding was $4,732.0 million and $4,759.5 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Our composite average borrowing rate as
of March 31, 2009 as compared with the prior year was 11 basis points lower,
decreasing from 7.65% to 7.54%.
Income tax expense
Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased $4.6
million, or 17%, to $22.1 million, as compared with the three months ended March
31, 2008, primarily due to lower taxable income. The effective tax rate for the
first three months of 2009 and 2008 was 37.4% and 36.7%, respectively. Our cash
taxes paid for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $1.3 million, a
decrease of $0.6 million from the first three months of 2008. We expect to pay
approximately $90.0 million to $110.0 million for the full year of 2009. Our
2009 cash tax estimate reflects the anticipated favorable impact of bonus
depreciation that is part of the economic stimulus package signed into law by
President Obama.
There were no material changes to the liabilities on our books as of December
31, 2008 related to uncertain tax positions recorded under FASB Interpretation
No. (FIN) 48 for the three months ended March 31, 2009.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
----------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure of primary market risks and how they are managed
We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations
due to ongoing investing and funding activities, including those associated with
our pension assets. Market risk refers to the potential change in fair value of
a financial instrument as a result of fluctuations in interest rates and equity
prices. We do not hold or issue derivative instruments, derivative commodity
instruments or other financial instruments for trading purposes. As a result, we
do not undertake any specific actions to cover our exposure to market risks, and
we are not party to any market risk management agreements other than in the
normal course of business. Our primary market risk exposures are interest rate
risk and equity price risk as follows:
Interest Rate Exposure
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to
the interest-bearing portion of our investment portfolio. Our long-term debt as
of March 31, 2009 was approximately 94% fixed rate debt with minimal exposure to
interest rate changes after the termination of our remaining interest rate swap
agreements on January 15, 2008.
Our objectives in managing our interest rate risk are to limit the impact of
interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall
borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, all but $280.3 million of our
borrowings at March 31, 2009 have fixed interest rates. Consequently, we have
limited material future earnings or cash flow exposures from changes in interest
rates on our long-term debt. An adverse change in interest rates would increase
the amount that we pay on our variable obligations and could result in
fluctuations in the fair value of our fixed rate obligations. Based upon our
overall interest rate exposure at March 31, 2009, a near-term change in interest
rates would not materially affect our consolidated financial position, results
of operations or cash flows.
On January 15, 2008, we terminated all of our interest rate swap agreements
representing $400.0 million notional amount of indebtedness associated with our
Senior Notes due in 2011 and 2013. Cash proceeds on the swap terminations of
approximately $15.5 million were received in January 2008. The related gain has
been deferred on the consolidated balance sheet, and is being amortized into
interest expense over the term of the associated debt.
Sensitivity analysis of interest rate exposure
At March 31, 2009, the fair value of our long-term debt was estimated to be
approximately $3.9 billion, based on our overall weighted average borrowing rate
of 7.54% and our overall weighted average maturity of approximately 11 years.
There has been no material change in the weighted average maturity applicable to
our obligations since December 31, 2008.
27
Equity Price Exposure
Our exposure to market risks for changes in security prices as of March 31, 2009
is limited to our pension assets. We have no other security investments of any
material amount.
During 2008 and 2009, the diminished availability of credit and liquidity in the
United States and throughout the global financial system has resulted in
substantial volatility in financial markets and the banking system. These and
other economic events have had an adverse impact on investment portfolios.
The decline in our pension plan assets during 2008 has increased our pension
expense in 2009. As a result of negative investment returns for the first
quarter of 2009 of (4.7)%, and ongoing benefit payments, the Company's pension
plan assets have declined from $589.8 million at December 31, 2008 to $546.3
million at March 31, 2009, a decrease of $43.5 million, or 7%. No contributions
are expected to be made by us to our pension plan until 2011, although pension
volatility could require us to make a contribution in 2010, at the earliest.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
-----------------------
(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation
of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal
financial officer, regarding the effectiveness of the design and operation of
our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation, our
principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded, as of the
end of the period covered by this report, March 31, 2009, that our disclosure
controls and procedures were effective.
(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting
We reviewed our internal control over financial reporting at March 31, 2009.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting
identified in an evaluation thereof that occurred during the first fiscal
quarter of 2009 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
28
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
-----------------
There have been no material changes to our legal proceedings from the
information provided in Item 3. "Legal Proceedings" included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
We are party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of our
business. The outcome of individual matters is not predictable. However, we
believe that the ultimate resolution of all such matters, after considering
insurance coverage, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial
position, results of operations, or our cash flows.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
------------
There have been no material changes to our risk factors from the information
provided in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
-----------------------------------------------------------
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the quarter ended
March 31, 2009.
29
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Number of Average
Shares Price Paid
Period Purchased per Share
-----------------------------------------------------------------
January 1, 2009 to January 31, 2009
Employee Transactions (1) 630 $ 8.52
February 1, 2009 to February 28, 2009
Employee Transactions (1) 121,252 $ 7.39
March 1, 2009 to March 31, 2009
Employee Transactions (1) 6,890 $ 6.24
Totals January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2009
Employee Transactions (1) 128,772 $ 7.34
(1) Includes restricted shares withheld (under the terms of grants under
employee stock compensation plans) to offset minimum tax withholding
obligations that occur upon the vesting of restricted shares. The Company's
stock compensation plans provide that the value of shares withheld shall be
the average of the high and low price of the Company's common stock on the
date the relevant transaction occurs.
30
Item 6. Exhibits
--------
a) Exhibits:
10.1 Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 6, 2009, to Loan Agreement
between Frontier Communications Corporation and the Rural
Telephone Finance Cooperative.
31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule
13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule
13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SIGNATURE
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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, thereunto duly authorized.
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
-----------------------------------
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Robert J. Larson
-----------------------------
Robert J. Larson
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
Date: May 7, 2009
32