FairPoint Communications Reports 2015 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results


  • Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs1 of $23.3 million for the quarter and $120.0 million for the year
  • Revenue of $209.8 million for the quarter and $859.5 million for the year
  • Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs1 of $63.9 million for the quarter and $255.9 million for the year
  • Capital expenditures of $33.2 million for the quarter and $116.2 million for the year
  • Net income of $42.3 million for the quarter and $90.4 million for the year

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FairPoint Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:FRP) (“FairPoint” or the “Company”), a leading communications provider, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2015.  As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss its results today at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

“We achieved our financial guidance for the year, and I am proud of our many accomplishments in 2015,” said Paul H. Sunu, Chief Executive Officer.  "Our solid fourth quarter results reflect the hard work of our team to serve our customers while managing costs.  I would like to personally thank those whose work has better positioned us for the future and helped make the year a success.”

“Our efforts over the past few years have created a solid operational platform, and while we still have room to improve, I feel confident our customers, peers, communities and employees recognize our progress,” Sunu continued.  “We are committed to delivering excellent customer service which we know is a fundamental element of success.  In addition, we will continue our investments in the network and develop new services to ensure we are positioned to deliver effective and secure communication and technology solutions to our markets.”

“We are focused on enhancing shareholder value and remain committed to delivering on our unlevered free cash flow objectives,” Sunu concluded.  “We expect to be an active participant in our consolidating industry, although industry consolidation is partially dependent upon the availability of financing on reasonable terms.”

Operating Highlights

The Company saw a continuation of the progress it has been making to improve customer service during the fourth quarter.  A renewed focus on service has resulted in fewer repair tickets in the queue and an improved ability to timely address the service orders received.  This has led to lower employee overtime and fewer repeat calls into the call centers. These improvements in customer service are expected to yield greater brand loyalty and reductions in customer churn over time.

Strategic investments in the network continued during the quarter, including launching the Company's first gigabit Internet service and starting its engineering and upgrades toward meeting its CAF Phase II commitments.  These strategic investments also further harden the network and improve overall service to customers.

The Manchester, New Hampshire data center secured several new tenants during the quarter, and the Advanced Services team continued to have success in driving Hosted and Advanced Services revenue.  These growth-related revenues provide state of the art services to a growing customer base.

Ethernet services contributed $24.8 million of revenue or 11.8% of total revenue as compared to $21.8 million or 10.0% of total revenue a year ago, as Ethernet circuits grew 15.0% year-over-year.  Growth in the Company's Ethernet products is expected to continue based on demand from customers like regional banks, healthcare networks and wireless carriers.

The Company is focused on driving growth revenue2 as a critical component of its continued revenue transformation.  In the fourth quarter of 2015, growth revenue was 29.7% of total revenue as compared to approximately 13% of total revenue as measured in the first quarter of 2011 when revenue transformation efforts began.

As of December 31, 2015, FairPoint had 2,718 employees, a decrease of 334 employees versus a year ago.

Financial Highlights

Fourth Quarter 2015 as compared to Third Quarter 2015

Revenue decreased $11.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2015 to $209.8 million impacted by an anticipated $4.8 million reduction in regulatory funding revenue as well as additional quarterly seasonality in revenue. 

The following strategic revenue categorization2 is presented to provide visibility into revenue trends for the Company as a result of product and service evolution within our industry as well as the Company's efforts to continue to transform revenue to more sustainable growth products.  We intend to present this strategic revenue categorization each quarter.

  • Growth revenue decreased by $0.9 million, or 1.4%, primarily due to a decline in broadband subscribers and seasonal subscriber disconnects as well as Ethernet bandwidth pricing pressure resulting from the re-terming of long-term contracts.
  • Convertible revenue2 declined by $2.4 million as customers continued to migrate from non-Ethernet circuits and businesses shifted from traditional voice products to VoIP and hosted products.
  • Legacy revenue2 was down $3.4 million due to lower residential voice and related products revenue, in part due to seasonal disconnects. 
  • Regulatory funding revenue2 decreased $4.8 million, as anticipated, due to the year-to-date true-up of transitional revenue recorded during the third quarter associated with our acceptance of CAF Phase II funding.
  • Miscellaneous revenue2 decreased $0.4 million primarily due to lower special purpose construction projects in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The following traditional categorization of revenue is presented to provide reporting continuity.

  • Voice services revenue decreased $3.8 million primarily due to fewer lines in service and, in part, seasonal disconnects.
  • Access revenue decreased $2.2 million primarily due to the continued loss and conversion of legacy transport circuits to fiber-based Ethernet services.
  • Data and Internet services revenue decreased $1.1 million due to broadband subscriber losses and seasonal subscriber disconnects. 
  • Regulatory funding revenue decreased $4.8 million primarily due to the year-to-date true-up of transitional revenue recorded during the third quarter associated with our acceptance of CAF Phase II funding.
  • Other services revenue increased $0.2 million.

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, decreased $1.9 million to $90.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $92.8 million in the third quarter of 2015 primarily resulting from lower employee expenses due to lower headcount as well as lower bad debt expense.  Those items were partially offset by higher pension expense resulting from the curtailment gain and operating tax settlement proceeds recognized in the third quarter of 2015.  However, pension expense is excluded from the Company's definition of Adjusted Operating Expenses1 and Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted Operating Expenses were $145.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $154.9 million in the third quarter of 2015.  The decrease was primarily due to lower employee expenses from a lower bonus accrual, decreased overtime and decreased salaries due to lower headcount as well as lower network expenses and lower bad debt expense.  Those items were partially offset by higher operating taxes due to the settlement proceeds recognized in the third quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased $2.8 million to $63.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $66.7 million in the third quarter of 2015.  The decrease was driven by lower revenue which was significantly offset by operating expense savings.

Capital expenditures were $33.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $28.2 million in the third quarter of 2015.  The increase was primarily due to spending associated with the CAF Phase II obligations and motor vehicle purchases.

Unlevered Free Cash Flow was $23.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $33.1 million in the third quarter of 2015.  Unlevered Free Cash Flow was lower in the fourth quarter of 2015 primarily due to higher capital spending,lower Adjusted EBITDA and higher cash contributions towards our pension plans and OPEB payments.  

Net income was $42.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $53.1 million in the third quarter of 2015.  The change was primarily due to lower revenue partially offset by a decrease in operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, as described above. 

Cash was $26.6 million as of December 31, 2015 compared to $17.0 million as of September 30, 2015. Total gross debt outstanding was $922.4 million as of December 31, 2015, after the regularly scheduled principal payments of $1.6 million on the term loan made during the fourth quarter of 2015, as compared to $924.0 million as of September 30, 2015.  The Company's $75.0 million revolving credit facility was undrawn, with $60.8 million available for borrowing after applying $14.2 million of outstanding letters of credit.

Fourth Quarter 2015 as compared to Fourth Quarter 2014

Revenue was $209.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $217.1 million a year earlier.

As mentioned above, the following strategic revenue categorization is presented to provide visibility into revenue trends for the Company as a result of product and service evolution within our industry as well as the Company's efforts to continue to transform revenue to more sustainable growth products. We intend to present this strategic revenue categorization each quarter.

  • Growth revenue increased by $3.1 million as we experienced growth in Ethernet revenue and hosted and advanced services revenue.  Broadband revenue declined as the mitigating impact of speed upgrades and pricing increases did not fully offset broadband subscriber declines.
  • Convertible revenue declined by $6.1 million as customers continued to migrate from non-Ethernet circuits and businesses shifted from traditional voice products to VoIP and hosted products.
  • Legacy revenue was down $8.1 million resulting from the loss of voice access lines versus a year ago combined with lower long distance usage. 
  • Regulatory funding revenue grew $1.8 million due to our acceptance of CAF Phase II and the corresponding transitional revenue associated with that program.
  • Miscellaneous revenue increased $1.9 million due to lower late payment fees and higher service quality credits in the fourth quarter of 2014 during the strike.

The following traditional categorization of revenue is presented to provide reporting continuity.

  • Voice services revenue declined $9.8 million resulting from the loss of voice access lines versus a year ago combined with lower long distance usage.
  • Access revenue declined $1.1 million due to the continued loss and conversion of legacy transport circuits to fiber-based Ethernet services.  That impact was partially offset by an increase in wholesale Ethernet revenue, as higher circuits more than offset bandwidth pricing pressures, and lower service quality credits.
  • Data and Internet services revenue increased $0.7 million reflecting strength in retail Ethernet services.  Broadband revenue declined as the mitigating impact of speed upgrades and price increases on broadband products did not fully offset subscriber declines.
  • Regulatory funding revenue grew $1.8 million due to our acceptance of CAF Phase II and the corresponding transitional revenue associated with that program.
  • Other services revenue increased $1.1 million primarily due to lower late payment fees in the fourth quarter of 2014 during the strike.

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, decreased $104.0 million to $90.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $194.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 primarily due to $71.0 million lower OPEB expense and $49.9 million lower labor negotiation related expenses partially offset by higher employee expenses in the fourth quarter of 2015 due to the strike in the fourth quarter of 2014.  However, OPEB and labor negotiation related expenses are excluded from the Company's definition of Adjusted Operating Expenses and Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted Operating Expenses plus Estimated Avoided Costs were $145.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $149.7 million a year earlier.  The decrease was primarily the result of lower employee costs, lower network expenses and lower bad debt expense. Lower employee costs primarily resulted from lower salary and benefit costs due to fewer headcount partially offset by a higher bonus accrual and lower capitalized labor.  The fourth quarter of 2014 included one-time, non-operating income of $6.7 million from the FairPoint Litigation Trust (the "settlement proceeds"), which reduced Adjusted Operating Expenses during that period.

Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs was $63.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $67.5 million a year earlier.  The decrease is due to lower revenue and the favorable settlement proceeds recognized in the fourth quarter of 2014 partially offset by operating expense savings.

Capital expenditures were $33.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $27.7 million a year earlier.  The increase was primarily due to spending associated with the CAF Phase II obligation.

Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs of $23.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased $6.8 million compared to $30.1 million a year earlier.  The decrease was due to lower Adjusted EBITDA and higher capital expenditures partially offset by lower cash contributions towards our pension plans and OPEB payments.

Net income was $42.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to a net loss of $43.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The change was primarily due to a decrease in operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, partially offset by lower revenue, as described above, as well as a lower income tax benefit.  Net income is positive in the fourth quarter of 2015 largely due to the non-cash GAAP treatment for the change in the liability of the OPEB plan due to the elimination of post-employment health benefits for active represented employees.  The impact of this treatment will continue through 2016, but we do not expect that it will impact our cash income taxes or change our accumulated federal net operating loss carryforwards. 
_________________
1 Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs, Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs, Adjusted Operating Expenses plus Estimated Avoided Costs, Unlevered Free Cash Flow, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Expenses are non-GAAP financial measures.  Additional information regarding the calculation of these non-GAAP measures and a reconciliation to net income (loss) are contained under "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and in the attachments to this press release.
2 Additional information and definitions for regulatory funding revenue, strategic revenue categorization and its components are contained in the attachments to this press release.

2016 Guidance

For full year 2016, the Company expects to generate $105 million to $120 million of Unlevered Free Cash Flow. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $245 million to $255 million, annual capital expenditures are expected to be $115 million to $120 million and aggregate annual cash pension contributions and cash OPEB payments are expected to be approximately $20 million for 2016.

Annual Report

The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which will be filed with the SEC no later than March 15, 2016. The Company's results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 are subject to the completion of such annual report.

Conference Call Information

As previously announced, FairPoint will hold a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2015 results today at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

A live broadcast of the earnings conference call will be available online at www.fairpoint.com/investors. An online replay will be available shortly thereafter.

As an alternative to the webcast, participants can also call (800) 510-0219 (US/Canada) or (617) 614-3451 (international) and enter passcode 12692356 when prompted.  The title of the call is the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 FairPoint Communications, Inc. Earnings Conference Call.

A telephonic replay will be available for anyone unable to participate in the live call. To access the replay, call (888) 286-8010 (US/Canada) or (617) 801-6888 (international) and enter the passcode 29479609 when prompted.  The recording will be available from Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. (EST) through Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including but not limited to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs, Unlevered Free Cash Flow and Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs, Adjusted Operating Expenses, Adjusted Operating Expenses plus Estimated Avoided Costs and the adjustments to the most directly comparable GAAP measure used to determine the non-GAAP measures. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA provides a useful measure of covenant compliance, Unlevered Free Cash Flow may be useful to investors in assessing the Company's ability to generate cash and meet its debt service requirements and Adjusted Operating Expenses may be useful to investors in understanding period-to-period operating performance.  The maintenance covenants contained in the Company's credit facility are based on Consolidated EBITDA, which is consistent with the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA included in the attachments to this press release.

For purposes of calculating Adjusted EBITDA (in accordance with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA in our credit agreement), costs, expenses and charges related to the renegotiation of labor contracts including, but not limited to, expenses for third-party vendors and losses related to disruption of operations (including any associated penalties under service level agreements and regulatory performance plans) are permitted to be excluded from the calculation.  We believe this includes, among others, the costs paid to third-parties for the contingent workforce and service quality penalties due to the disruption of operations.  On October 17, 2014, two of our labor unions in northern New England initiated a work stoppage and returned to work on February 25, 2015.  As a result, significant union employee and vehicle and other related expenses related to northern New England were not incurred between October 17, 2014 and February 24, 2015 (the "work stoppage period").  Therefore, to assist in the evaluation of the Company's operating performance without the impact of the work stoppage, we estimated the union employee and vehicle and other related expenses using historical data for the work stoppage period by quarter that we believe would have been incurred absent the work stoppage ("Estimated Avoided Costs").  Estimated Avoided Costs is a pro forma estimate only.  Actual costs absent the strike may have been different.  In the fourth quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2015, had our incumbent workforce been in place, actual labor costs during the work stoppage period may have been higher than the $33 million and $27 million, respectively, recorded as Estimated Avoided Costs due to significant winter storm activity that increased our service demands; however, those incremental storm-related costs would have been an allowed add back to Adjusted EBITDA under the credit agreement. Estimated employee expenses avoided during the work stoppage period include salaries and wages, bonus, overtime, capitalized labor, benefits, payroll taxes, travel expenses and other employee related costs based on a trailing 12-month average calculated per striking employee per day during the work stoppage period less any actual expense incurred.  Estimated vehicle fuel and maintenance expense savings, which resulted from the contingent workforce utilizing their own vehicles, for the work stoppage period were estimated based on a trailing 12-month average of historical costs less actual expense incurred.  "Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs", "Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs" and "Adjusted Operating Expenses plus Estimated Avoided Costs" may be useful to investors in understanding our operating performance without the impact of the two unions' work stoppage.

The Company believes that the non-GAAP measures may be useful to investors in understanding period-to-period operating performance and in identifying historical and prospective trends that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures.  In addition, the non-GAAP measures are useful for investors because they enable them to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by the Company’s management.

However, the non-GAAP financial measures, as used herein, are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Furthermore, these non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or as an alternative to, net income or loss, operating income, cash flow or other combined income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs, Unlevered Free Cash Flow, Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs, Adjusted Operating Expenses, Adjusted Operating Expenses plus Estimated Avoided Costs and related ratios should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to invest in business growth or reduce indebtedness. The Company compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its GAAP results and using the non-GAAP measures only supplementally.  A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs, Unlevered Free Cash Flow and Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs to net loss or income is contained in the attachments to this press release.

About FairPoint Communications, Inc.

FairPoint Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:FRP) provides advanced data, voice and video technologies to single and multi-site businesses, public and private institutions, consumers, wireless companies and wholesale re-sellers in 17 states. Leveraging an owned, fiber-based Ethernet network — with more than 21,000 route miles of fiber, including approximately 17,000 route miles of fiber in northern New England — FairPoint has the network coverage, scalable bandwidth and transport capacity to support enhanced applications, including the next generation of mobile and cloud-based communications, such as small cell wireless backhaul technology, voice over IP, data center colocation services, managed services and disaster recovery.  For more information, visit www.FairPoint.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

Some statements herein or discussed on our earnings conference call are known as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained herein that are not historical facts. When used herein, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates”, "should", "could", "will" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results, events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other factors, including the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. You should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations or otherwise.  However, your attention is directed to any further disclosures made on related subjects in the Company's subsequent reports filed with the SEC.

Certain information contained herein or discussed on our earnings conference call may constitute guidance as to projected financial results and the Company's future performance that represent management's estimates as of the date hereof. This guidance, which consists of forward-looking statements, is prepared by the Company's management and is qualified by, and subject to, certain assumptions. Guidance is not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and neither the Company's independent registered public accounting firm nor any other independent expert or outside party compiles or examines the guidance and, accordingly, no such person expresses any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. Guidance is based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while presented with numerical specificity, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control and are based upon specific assumptions with respect to future business decisions, some of which will change. Management generally states possible outcomes as high and low ranges which are intended to provide a sensitivity analysis as variables are changed but are not intended to represent actual results, which could fall outside of the suggested ranges. The principal reason that the Company releases this data is to provide a basis for management to discuss the Company's business outlook with analysts and investors. The Company does not accept any responsibility for any projections or reports published by any such outside analysts or investors. Guidance is necessarily speculative in nature and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions of the guidance furnished by us will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Accordingly, the Company's guidance is only an estimate of what management believes is realizable as of the date hereof. Actual results will vary from the guidance and the variations may be material. Investors should also recognize that the reliability of any forecasted financial data diminishes the farther in the future that the data is forecast. In light of the foregoing, investors are urged to put the guidance in context and not to place undue reliance on it.


FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Supplemental Financial Information
(Unaudited)
         
 4Q153Q152Q151Q154Q14 20152014
Summary Income Statement (in thousands):       
Revenue:        
Voice services$77,401 $81,247 $81,470 $83,294 $87,194  $323,412 $362,491 
Access62,065 64,304 65,713 64,535 63,182  256,617 267,938 
Data and Internet services44,876 46,018 44,455 43,271 44,207  178,620 175,490 
Regulatory funding (1)13,143 17,927 11,338 11,410 11,302  53,818 45,556 
Other services12,339 12,073 11,122 11,464 11,237  46,998 49,921 
Total revenue209,824 221,569 214,098 213,974 217,122  859,465 901,396 
Operating expenses:                                    
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization (2)90,907 92,838 98,942 183,329 194,857  466,016 773,888 
Depreciation and amortization56,399 56,296 55,818 55,306 54,909  223,819 220,678 
Reorganization expense (post-emergence)5 6 20 7 27  38 104 
Total operating expenses147,311 149,140 154,780 238,642 249,793  689,873 994,670 
Income/(loss) from operations62,513 72,429 59,318 (24,668)(32,671) 169,592 (93,274)
Other income/(expense):                                    
Interest expense(20,739)(20,186)(19,974)(19,819)(20,145) (80,718)(80,371)
Other income/(expense), net60 153 97 175 7,467  485 7,548 
Total other expense(20,679)(20,033)(19,877)(19,644)(12,678) (80,233)(72,823)
Income/(loss) before income taxes41,834 52,396 39,441 (44,312)(45,349) 89,359 (166,097)
Income tax benefit/(expense)476 658 824 (901)1,725  1,057 29,778 
Net income/(loss)$42,310 $53,054 $40,265 $(45,213)$(43,624) $90,416 $(136,319)
         
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Unlevered Free Cash Flow to Net Income/(Loss) (in thousands): 
Net income/(loss)$42,310 $53,054 $40,265 $(45,213)$(43,624) $90,416 $(136,319)
Income tax (benefit)/expense(476)(658)(824)901 (1,725) (1,057)(29,778)
Interest expense20,739 20,186 19,974 19,819 20,145  80,718 80,371 
Depreciation and amortization56,399 56,296 55,818 55,306 54,909  223,819 220,678 
Pension expense (3a)2,297 (1,861)3,088 5,111 3,699  8,635 18,144 
OPEB expense (3a)(55,710)(55,707)(55,548)(12,008)15,264  (178,973)57,138 
Compensated absences (3b)(3,995)(6,084)(3,803)12,237 (1,623) (1,645)2,848 
Severance2 (106)3,760 358 1,228  4,014 2,005 
Restructuring costs (3c)6 5 20 7 27  38 104 
Storm expenses (3d) (8)    745   145 
Other non-cash items, net (3e)2,243 1,441 1,780 2,733 734  8,197 2,087 
Gain on sale of assets    27   450 
Labor negotiation related expense (3f)95 160 (850)49,528 51,335  48,933 73,590 
All other allowed adjustments, net (3f)(20)(35)(16)(99)(671) (170)(889)
Adjusted EBITDA (3) (7)63,890 66,691 63,664 88,680 100,470  282,925 290,574 
Estimated Avoided Costs (6)   (27,000)(33,000) (27,000)(33,000)
Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs$63,890 $66,691 $63,664 $61,680 $67,470  $255,925 $257,574 
Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs Margin30.4%30.1%29.7%28.8%31.1% 29.8%28.6%
                                     
Adjusted EBITDA (3) (7)$63,890 $66,691 $63,664 $88,680 $100,470  282,925 290,574 
Pension contributions(5,828)(3,958)(3,182)(1,200)(7,373) (14,168)(28,266)
OPEB payments(1,505)(1,457)(1,486)(1,149)(2,280) (5,597)(5,808)
Capital expenditures(33,238)(28,193)(28,298)(26,430)(27,714) (116,159)(119,489)
Unlevered Free Cash Flow (4)23,319 33,083 30,698 59,901 63,103  147,001 137,011 
Estimated Avoided Costs (6)   (27,000)(33,000) (27,000)(33,000)
Unlevered Free Cash Flow minus Estimated Avoided Costs$23,319 $33,083 $30,698 $32,901 $30,103  $120,001 $104,011 
         
         
         
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Revenue (in thousands):       
Total revenue$209,824 $221,569 $214,098 $213,974 $217,122  $859,465 $901,396 
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization (2)$90,907 $92,838 $98,942 $183,329 $194,857  $466,016 $773,888 
Pension expense (3a)(2,297)1,861 (3,088)(5,111)(3,699) (8,635)(18,144)
OPEB expense (3a)55,710 55,707 55,548 12,008 (15,264) 178,973 (57,138)
Compensated absences (3b)3,995 6,084 3,803 (12,237)1,623  1,645 (2,848)
Severance(2)106 (3,760)(358)(1,228) (4,014)(2,005)
Storm expenses (3d) (8)    (745)  (145)
Other non-cash items, net (3e)(2,284)(1,558)(1,861)(2,809)(830) (8,512)(2,468)
Labor negotiation related expense (3f)(95)(160)850 (49,528)(51,335) (48,933)(73,590)
All other allowed adjustments, net (3f)       (1)
Settlement proceeds (7)    (6,727)  (6,727)
Adjusted Operating Expenses (5)$145,934 $154,878 $150,434 $125,294 $116,652  $576,540 $610,822 
Adjusted Operating Expenses margin69.6%69.9%70.3%58.6%53.7% 67.1%67.8%
Adjusted EBITDA (3) (7)$63,890 $66,691 $63,664 $88,680 $100,470  $282,925 $290,574 
Estimated Avoided Costs (6)   (27,000)(33,000) (27,000)(33,000)
Adjusted EBITDA minus Estimated Avoided Costs$63,890 $66,691 $63,664 $61,680 $67,470  $255,925 $257,574 
         
Adjusted Operating Expenses (5)$145,934 $154,878 $150,434 $125,294 $116,652  $576,540 $610,822 
Estimated Avoided Costs (6)   27,000 33,000  27,000 33,000 
Adjusted Operating Expenses plus Estimated Avoided Costs$145,934 $154,878 $150,434 $152,294 $149,652  $603,540 $643,822 
         
         
         
Strategic Revenue Categorization and Product Revenue Detail (in millions): (9) 
Growth (10)        
Broadband (10a)$33.9 $34.9 $33.7 $33.1 $34.4  $135.6 $138.7 
Ethernet (10b)24.8 24.8 23.4 22.9 21.8  95.9 81.6 
Hosted and Advanced Services (10c)3.7 3.6 3.1 3.0 3.1  13.4 12.5 
Subtotal Growth62.4 63.3 60.2 59.0 59.3  244.9 232.8 
Growth as a % of Total Revenue29.7%28.6%28.1%27.6%27.3%           
                                     
Convertible (11)                                    
Non-Ethernet Special Access (11a)17.9 19.6 21.3 21.1 21.2  79.9 94.7 
Business Voice (11b)31.0 31.2 32.2 33.3 32.9  127.7 134.1 
Other convertible (11c)5.5 6.0 6.0 6.4 6.4  23.9 28.9 
Subtotal Convertible54.4 56.8 59.5 60.8 60.5  231.5 257.7 
Convertible as a % of Total Revenue25.9%25.6%27.8%28.4%27.9%           
                                     
Legacy (12)                                    
Residential Voice (12a)53.8 57.7 57.3 57.2 59.9  226.0 245.6 
Switched Access and Other (12b)18.1 17.6 19.0 20.0 20.1  74.7 83.7 
Subtotal Legacy71.9 75.3 76.3 77.2 80.0  300.7 329.3 
Legacy as a % of Total Revenue34.3%34.0%35.6%36.1%36.8%           
                                     
Regulatory funding (1)13.2 17.9 11.3 11.4 11.3  53.8 45.5 
Regulatory funding as a % of Total Revenue6.3%8.1%5.3%5.3%5.2%           
                                     
Miscellaneous (13)7.9 8.3 6.8 5.6 6.0  28.6 36.1 
Miscellaneous as a % of Total Revenue3.8%3.7%3.2%2.6%2.8%           
                 
Total Revenue$209.8 $221.6 $214.1 $214.0 $217.1  $859.5 $901.4 
         
         
Select Operating Metrics (14):       
         
Broadband subscribers (15)311,130 313,982 315,320 316,640 319,915    
% change y-o-y(2.7)%(4.2)%(5.0)%(4.0)%(2.5)%   
% change q-o-q(0.9)%(0.4)%(0.4)%(1.0)%(2.4)%   
                             
Ethernet Circuits14,507 14,100 13,680 13,089 12,614    
% change y-o-y15.0%21.0%27.7%29.5%32.8%   
% change q-o-q2.9%3.1%4.5%3.8%8.2%   
                             
Residential voice lines409,852 423,667 437,303 451,423 466,682    
% change y-o-y(12.2)%(12.4)%(12.9)%(12.4)%(11.4)%   
% change q-o-q(3.3)%(3.1)%(3.1)%(3.3)%(3.5)%   
                             
Employee Headcount2,718 2,728 2,931 2,994 3,052    
% change y-o-y(10.9)%(11.7)%(7.2)%(5.4)%(3.8)%   
         

(1) We receive certain federal and state government funding that we classify as regulatory funding including:  CAF Phase II support effective January 1, 2015 to build and operate broadband services; CAF Phase II transition funding (scheduled to phase down over three-years); CAF Phase I frozen support (for Kansas and Colorado in 2015 and until a reverse auction is conducted); CAF funding under the CAF/ICC Order; and universal service fund support from certain states in which we operate.
(2) Excludes reorganization costs.
(3) For purposes of calculating Adjusted EBITDA (in accordance with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA in the Company's credit agreement), the Company adjusts net (loss) income for interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, in addition to:
a) the add-back of aggregate pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) expense,
b) the add-back (or subtraction) of the adjustment to the compensated absences accrual to eliminate the impact of changes in the accrual,
c) the add-back of costs related to the reorganization, including professional fees for advisors and consultants,
d) the add-back of costs and expenses, including those imposed by regulatory authorities, with respect to casualty events, acts of God or force majeure to the extent they are not reimbursed from proceeds of insurance,
e) the add-back of other non-cash items, including stock compensation expense, except to the extent they will require a cash payment in a future period, and
f) the add-back (or subtraction) of other items, including facility and office closures, labor negotiation expenses (including losses related to disruption of operations), non-cash gains/losses, non-operating dividend and interest income and other extraordinary gains/losses.
(4) Unlevered Free Cash Flow refers to Adjusted EBITDA minus capital expenditures, cash pension contributions and cash payments for OPEB.
(5) For purposes of calculating Adjusted Operating Expenses, the Company adjusts operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization for pension and OPEB expense see (3a), compensated absences see (3b), severance, storm expenses see (3d), other non-cash items, net see (3e), labor negotiation related expense see (3f), all other allowed adjustments, net see (3f) and settlement proceeds see (7).
(6) See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" above for information regarding the calculation. The first quarter of 2015 represents 39 business days of estimated avoided costs compared to 54 business days of estimated avoided costs in the fourth quarter of 2014.
(7) On January 24, 2011, the FairPoint Litigation Trust (the "Trust") was created and the Company transferred to the Trust the Litigation Trust Claims, as defined in the FairPoint Litigation Trust Agreement among the Company, its subsidiaries and the trustee.  The Trust thereafter settled its claims.  On October 16, 2014, we received payment from the settlement proceeds and recorded one-time, non-operating income of $6.7 million, which is included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA.
(8) While there are no costs reflected on this line item for the first quarter of 2015, we believe the impact is captured in our labor negotiation related expense through incremental contracted services.
(9) Management believes the Strategic Revenue Categorization provides key metrics that will enhance investors' ability to evaluate our business and assist investors in their understanding of the changing composition of our revenue as well as period-to-period revenue trends as a result of product and service evolution within our industry.
(10) Growth revenue is comprised of products and services that are generally viewed as in-demand by telecommunications consumers over the medium- to long-term and are expected to increase over time.
a) Broadband revenue is comprised of both residential and business customers delivered through DSL, ADSL, VDSL or other similar services.
b) Ethernet revenue includes Ethernet over copper ("EOC") or Ethernet over fiber ("EOF") services delivered to end-users or to wholesalers, who then sell to their end-users.
c) Hosted and Advanced Services includes VoIP and other digital voice services including unified messaging and other IP features as well as revenue generated from our various advanced services including the next-generation emergency 9-1-1 contracts in several of our service territories as well as data center and managed services.
(11) Convertible revenues are revenues that could move from TDM-based technologies to Ethernet or other advanced services.
a) Non-Ethernet Special Access includes high-capacity circuits.  The revenues are primarily comprised of business revenue from T1's, DS3's and SONET products.
b) Business Voice is traditional voice, long distance, ISDN and Centrex services for a business customer.
c) Other convertible revenue primarily includes Unbundled Network Element ("UNE"), Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM"), Frame Relay, ISDN, Analog Private Line and Internet services such as dial-up.
(12) Legacy revenues are TDM-based voice related consumer revenue largely related to residential customers.
a) Residential Voice is comprised of TDM voice services to residential customers.
b) Switched Access and Other primarily includes Switched Transport, Local Switching, NECA pooling elements and colocation of miscellaneous equipment.
(13) Miscellaneous is comprised of special purpose projects, late payment fees from our customers and pole rental revenues among other various service revenues.
(14) We believe access lines as a measure of the business are increasingly less meaningful measures of trend and are being replaced by revenue generating broadband subscribers and Ethernet circuits.  Following a peer review, we excluded non-revenue generating Company official lines from broadband subscribers, Ethernet circuits and residential voice access lines.  In aggregate, access line equivalents for prior periods would have been reduced by approximately 40,000 lines as a result of this change.  In addition, as we evaluated the historic presentation of business and wholesale access lines, management determined that the evolution of technology made these metrics less informative than in the past and therefore such presentation has been discontinued.  Finally, we have combined wholesale and retail Ethernet circuits as management believes these products are similar.
(15) Broadband subscribers include DSL, fiber-to-the-premise, cable modem and fixed wireless broadband, but exclude Ethernet and other high-capacity circuits.


FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2015 and 2014
(in thousands, except share data)
 
 December 31, 2015 December 31, 2014
    
Assets:   
Cash$26,560  $37,587 
Accounts receivable, net60,136  71,545 
Prepaid expenses24,410  25,360 
Other current assets5,030  5,406 
Total current assets116,136  139,898 
Property, plant and equipment, net1,118,781  1,213,729 
Intangible assets, net83,879  94,879 
Restricted cash651  651 
Other assets3,079  3,214 
Total assets$1,322,526  $1,452,371 
    
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity/(Deficit):   
Current portion of long-term debt$6,400  $6,400 
Current portion of capital lease obligations918  627 
Accounts payable28,157  62,985 
Claims payable and estimated claims accrual216  216 
Accrued interest payable9,983  9,978 
Accrued payroll and related expenses24,753  25,218 
Other accrued liabilities49,802  47,147 
Total current liabilities120,229  152,571 
Capital lease obligations1,223  962 
Accrued pension obligations150,562  212,806 
Accrued other post-employment benefit obligations94,042  735,351 
Deferred income taxes, net35,075  27,593 
Other long-term liabilities22,739  21,131 
Long-term debt, net of current portion900,145  902,241 
Total long-term liabilities1,203,786  1,900,084 
Total liabilities1,324,015  2,052,655 
Stockholders' equity/(deficit):   
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 37,500,000 shares authorized, 26,921,066 and 26,710,569 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively269  267 
Additional paid-in capital521,842  516,080 
Retained deficit(707,592) (798,008)
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)183,992  (318,623)
Total stockholders' equity/(deficit)(1,489) (600,284)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity/(deficit)$1,322,526  $1,452,371 


FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Consolidated Statements of Operations 
Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
  
 Quarters ended December 31,  Years ended December 31, 
  2015   2014   2015   2014 
                
Revenues$209,824  $217,122  $859,465  $901,396 
Operating expenses:       
Cost of services and sales, excluding depreciation and amortization97,241  119,109  430,308  440,979 
Other post-employment benefit and pension expense(53,412) 18,965  (170,338) 75,282 
Selling, general and administrative expense47,078  56,783  206,046  257,627 
Depreciation and amortization56,399  54,909  223,819  220,678 
Reorganization related expense5  27  38  104 
Total operating expenses147,311  249,793  689,873  994,670 
Income/(loss) from operations62,513  (32,671) 169,592  (93,274)
Other income/(expense):       
Interest expense(20,739) (20,145) (80,718) (80,371)
Other60  7,467  485  7,548 
Total other expense(20,679) (12,678) (80,233) (72,823)
Income/(loss) before income taxes41,834  (45,349) 89,359  (166,097)
Income tax benefit476  1,725  1,057  29,778 
Net income/(loss)$42,310  $(43,624) $90,416  $(136,319)
        
Income/(loss) per share, basic$1.59  $(1.65) $3.39  $(5.15)
        
Income/(loss) per share, diluted$1.56  $(1.65) $3.35  $(5.15)


FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
(in thousands)
 
 Years ended December 31,
 2015 2014 
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net income/(loss)$90,416  $(136,319)
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Deferred income taxes(1,260) (29,864)
Provision for uncollectible revenue5,793  9,218 
Depreciation and amortization223,819  220,678 
Other post-employment benefits(184,569) 51,337 
Qualified pension(5,534) (10,129)
Stock-based compensation6,357  4,274 
Other non-cash items4,211  2,137 
Changes in assets and liabilities arising from operations:   
Accounts receivable5,615  8,485 
Prepaid and other assets1,327  (338)
Restricted cash  463 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(36,642) 5,068 
Accrued interest payable5  1 
Other assets and liabilities, net2,463  (3,948)
Total adjustments21,585  257,382 
Net cash provided by operating activities112,001  121,063 
Cash flows from investing activities:   
Net capital additions(116,159) (119,489)
Distributions from investments and proceeds from the sale of property and equipment288  1,126 
Net cash used in investing activities(115,871) (118,363)
Cash flows from financing activities:   
Repayments of long-term debt(6,400) (6,400)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options13  32 
Repayment of capital lease obligations(770) (1,445)
Net cash used in financing activities(7,157) (7,813)
Net change(11,027) (5,113)
Cash, beginning of period37,587  42,700 
Cash, end of period$26,560  $37,587 

 


            

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