• Uniti Group Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

    Источник: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 02 ноя 2023 08:00:55   America/New_York

    • Net loss of $80.9 Million or $0.34 Per Diluted Common Share for the Third Quarter Due to Non-Cash Items
    • Consolidated Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA Grew 2.7% and 3.5% for the Third Quarter, Respectively, from the Prior Year Third Quarter
    • AFFO Per Diluted Common Share of $0.35 for the Third Quarter

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark, Nov. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uniti Group Inc. (“Uniti” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: UNIT) today announced its results for the third quarter 2023.

    “We delivered another solid quarter of results and consolidated bookings, demonstrating the resiliency of demand for fiber infrastructure and our overall business despite the current challenging macroeconomic environment. Our consolidated core recurring revenue grew 3% during the quarter when compared to the same quarter in the prior year, and we continue to focus on driving high margin recurring revenue through additional lease-up of our 139,000 route mile fiber network, while managing our capital intensity and low monthly company-wide churn of 0.3%,” commented President and Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Gunderman.   

    Mr. Gunderman continued, “Uniti remains uniquely positioned to capitalize on all of the growing use cases of fiber, including mobile broadband, fixed wireless, fiber-to-the-home, small cells, fiber-to-the-tower, hyperscaler connectivity, and artificial intelligence. We also remain well positioned to weather any potential prolonged economic headwinds with no significant debt maturities until 2027, minimal floating rate debt, and nearly $7 billion of revenue under contract with an average remaining term of 7 years.”

    QUARTERLY RESULTS

    Consolidated revenues for the third quarter of 2023 were $290.7 million. Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA were $80.9 million and $233.0 million, respectively, for the same period, achieving Adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 80%. Net loss attributable to common shares was $81.2 million for the period, and included a $153.0 million goodwill impairment charge related to our Uniti Fiber segment that was driven by an increase in the macro interest rate environment. Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) attributable to common shareholders was $95.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted common share.

    Uniti Fiber contributed $76.1 million of revenues and $29.9 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2023, achieving Adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 39%.   Uniti Fiber’s net success-based capital expenditures during the quarter were $30.3 million.

    Uniti Leasing contributed revenues of $214.6 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $208.6 million for the third quarter. During the quarter, Uniti Leasing deployed capital expenditures of $86.1 million primarily related to the construction of approximately 1,000 new route miles of valuable fiber infrastructure.

    LIQUIDITY

    At quarter-end, the Company had approximately $263.1 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, and undrawn borrowing availability under its revolving credit agreement. The Company’s leverage ratio at quarter-end was 6.08x based on net debt to third quarter 2023 annualized Adjusted EBITDA.

    On November 1, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable on January 4, 2024, to stockholders of record on December 15, 2023.

    UPDATED FULL YEAR 2023 OUTLOOK

    The Company is updating its 2023 outlook primarily for business unit level revisions, and transaction related and other costs incurred to date. Our 2023 outlook excludes future acquisitions, capital market transactions, and future transaction-related and other costs not mentioned herein.

    The Company’s consolidated outlook for 2023 is as follows (in millions):

     Full Year 2023
    Revenue$1,154 to$1,174 
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders (1)(58)to (38)
    Adjusted EBITDA (2) 915 to 935 
    Interest expense, net (3) 514 to 514 
          
    Attributable to common shareholders:     
    FFO (2) 161 to 181 
    AFFO (2) 373 to 393 
          
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted 290 to 290 
    ________________________     
    (1)   Includes $153 million goodwill impairment charge.
    (2)   See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
    (3)   See “Components of Interest Expense” below.

    CONFERENCE CALL

    Uniti will hold a conference call today to discuss this earnings release at 8:30 AM Eastern Time (7:30 AM Central Time). The conference call will be webcast live on Uniti’s Investor Relations website at investor.uniti.com. Those parties interested in participating via telephone may register on the Company’s Investor Relations website or by clicking here. A replay of the call will be available on the Investor Relations website beginning today at approximately 12:00 PM Eastern Time.

    ABOUT UNITI

    Uniti, an internally managed real estate investment trust, is engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission critical communications infrastructure, and is a leading provider of fiber and other wireless solutions for the communications industry. As of September 30, 2023, Uniti owns approximately 139,000 fiber route miles, 8.4 million fiber strand miles, and other communications real estate throughout the United States. Additional information about Uniti can be found on its website at www.uniti.com.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release and today’s conference call may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended from time to time. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact, including, without limitation, our 2023 financial outlook, expectations regarding high-margin recurring revenue, lease-up of our network and strong demand trends, our business strategies, growth prospects, our ability to sustain difficult economic conditions, industry trends, sales opportunities, and operating and financial performance.

    Words such as "anticipate(s)," "expect(s)," "intend(s)," “estimate(s),” “foresee(s),” "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seek(s)" and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. Factors which could materially alter our expectations include, but are not limited to, the future prospects of Windstream, our largest customer; the ability and willingness of our customers to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, and the ability to reposition our properties on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant; the availability of and our ability to identify suitable acquisition opportunities and our ability to acquire and lease the respective properties on favorable terms; the risk that we fail to fully realize the potential benefits of acquisitions or have difficulty integrating acquired companies; our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness and fund our capital funding commitments; our ability to access debt and equity capital markets; the impact on our business or the business of our customers as a result of credit rating downgrades and fluctuating interest rates; our ability to retain our key management personnel; changes in the U.S. tax law and other state, federal or local laws, whether or not specific to real estate investment trusts; covenants in our debt agreements that may limit our operational flexibility; the possibility that we may experience equipment failures, natural disasters, cyber-attacks or terrorist attacks for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage; other risks inherent in the communications industry and in the ownership of communications distribution systems, including potential liability relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; and additional factors described in our reports filed with the SEC.

    Uniti expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any of the forward-looking statements set forth in this press release and today’s conference call to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

    NON-GAAP PRESENTATION

    This release and today’s conference call contain certain supplemental measures of performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Such measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP. Further information with respect to and reconciliations of such measures to the nearest GAAP measure can be found herein.

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In thousands, except per share data)

      September 30,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2022
    Assets:    
    Property, plant and equipment, net $3,962,436  $3,754,547 
    Cash and cash equivalents  34,119   43,803 
    Accounts receivable, net  46,824   42,631 
    Goodwill  208,378   361,378 
    Intangible assets, net  312,541   334,846 
    Straight-line revenue receivable  87,733   68,595 
    Operating lease right-of-use assets, net  121,816   88,545 
    Other assets  79,000   77,597 
    Investment in unconsolidated entities  37,686   38,656 
    Deferred income tax assets, net  90,792   40,631 
    Total Assets $4,981,325  $4,851,229 
           
    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit      
    Liabilities:      
    Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities $133,958  $122,195 
    Settlement payable  185,855   251,098 
    Intangible liabilities, net  159,071   167,092 
    Accrued interest payable  50,778   121,316 
    Deferred revenue  1,214,287   1,190,041 
    Dividends payable  69   2 
    Operating lease liabilities  81,302   66,356 
    Finance lease obligations  18,388   15,520 
    Notes and other debt, net  5,582,057   5,188,815 
    Total Liabilities  7,425,765   7,122,435 
           
    Commitments and contingencies      
           
    Shareholders’ Deficit:      
    Preferred stock, $ 0.0001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding  -   - 
    Common stock, $ 0.0001 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, issued
    and outstanding: 236,540 shares at September 30, 2023 and 235,829 shares at December 31, 2022    		  24   24 
    Additional paid-in capital  1,218,815   1,210,033 
    Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings  (3,665,569)  (3,483,634)
    Total Uniti shareholders’ deficit  (2,446,730)  (2,273,577)
    Noncontrolling interests – operating partnership units and non-voting convertible preferred stock  2,290   2,371 
    Total shareholders’ deficit  (2,444,440)  (2,271,206)
    Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit $4,981,325  $4,851,229 
             

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (In thousands, except per share data)

     Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2023   2022   2023   2022 
    Revenues:           
    Uniti Leasing$214,588  $208,623  $637,849  $618,878 
    Uniti Fiber 76,067   74,480   226,326   226,234 
    Total revenues 290,655   283,103   864,175   845,112 
                
    Costs and expenses:           
    Interest expense, net 120,691   97,731   389,243   290,280 
    Depreciation and amortization 77,337   73,516   231,379   217,276 
    General and administrative expense 25,481   26,863   77,331   75,818 
    Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 37,392   36,291   109,878   108,184 
    Goodwill impairment 153,000   216,000   153,000   216,000 
    Transaction related and other costs 1,441   2,375   9,805   7,324 
    Gain on sale of real estate (1,424)  (94)  (1,424)  (344)
    Gain on sale of operations -   (176)  -   (176)
    Other expense (income), net 1,435   74   21,323   (8,254)
    Total costs and expenses 415,353   452,580   990,535   906,108 
                
    Loss before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities (124,698)  (169,477)  (126,360)  (60,996)
    Income tax benefit (43,095)  (13,056)  (49,864)  (10,183)
    Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities (670)  (672)  (1,990)  (1,696)
    Net loss (80,933)  (155,749)  (74,506)  (49,117)
    Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests (36)  (70)  (33)  135 
    Net loss attributable to shareholders (80,897)  (155,679)  (74,473)  (49,252)
    Participating securities’ share in earnings (321)  (226)  (890)  (897)
    Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock (5)  (5)  (15)  (15)
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders$(81,223) $(155,910) $(75,378) $(50,164)
                
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders – Basic$(81,223) $(155.910) $(75,378) $(50,164)
    Impact of if-converted securities -   -   -   - 
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders – Diluted$(81,223) $(155,910) $(75,378) $(50,164)
                
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:           
    Basic 236,533   235,739   236,352   235,483 
    Diluted 236,533   235,739   236,352   235,483 
                
    Earnings per common share:           
    Basic$(0.34) $(0.66) $(0.32) $(0.21)
    Diluted$(0.34) $(0.66) $(0.32) $(0.21)
                    

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (In thousands)

      Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2023  2022 
    Cash flow from operating activities:    
    Net loss $(74,506) $(49,117)
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
        operating activities:    		      
    Depreciation and amortization  231,379   217,276 
    Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  13,975   13,510 
    Loss on debt extinguishment  31,187   - 
    Interest rate swap termination  -   8,488 
    Deferred income taxes  (50,161)  (21,723)
    Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities  (1,990)  (1,696)
    Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated entities  2,959   2,959 
    Cash paid for interest rate swap settlement  -   (9,591)
    Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles  (28,795)  (31,066)
    Stock-based compensation  9,408   9,664 
    Goodwill impairment  153,000   216,000 
    Gain on sale of unconsolidated entity  -   (7,923)
    Gain on sale of real estate  (1,424)  (344)
    Gain on sale of operations  -   (176)
    (Gain) loss on asset disposals  (242)  902 
    Accretion of settlement obligation  8,273   8,733 
    Other  2   (126)
    Changes in assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts receivable  (4,194)  (2,863)
    Other assets  10,530   7,756 
    Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities  (108,826)  (75,556)
    Net cash provided by operating activities  190,575   285,107 
           
    Cash flows from investing activities:      
    Capital expenditures  (368,264)  (292,666)
    Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated entity  -   32,527 
    Proceeds from sale of real estate, net of cash  1,530   575 
    Proceeds from sale of operations  -   541 
    Proceeds from sale of other equipment  1,581   338 
    Net cash used in investing activities  (365,153)  (258,685)
           
    Cash flows from financing activities:      
    Repayment of debt  (2,263,662)  - 
    Proceeds from issuance of notes  2,600,000   - 
    Dividends paid  (107,395)  (107,362)
    Payments of settlement payable  (73,516)  - 
    Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests  (48)  (217)
    Payment for exchange of noncontrolling interest  -   (4,620)
    Borrowings under revolving credit facility  450,000   180,000 
    Payments under revolving credit facility  (367,000)  (105,000)
    Finance lease payments  (1,601)  (887)
    Payments for financing costs  (26,955)  - 
    Payment of settlement of common stock warrant  (56)  - 
    Termination of bond hedge  59   - 
    Costs related to the early repayment of debt  (44,303)  - 
    Employee stock purchase program  730   589 
    Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation  (1,359)  (4,434)
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  164,894   (41,931)
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (9,684)  (15,509)
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  43,803   58,903 
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $34,119  $43,394 
           

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Reconciliation of Net Income to FFO and AFFO
    (In thousands, except per share data)

      Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2023   2022  2023  2022 
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders $(81,223) $(155,910) $(75,378) $(50,164)
    Real estate depreciation and amortization  55,405   53,118   164,983   157,436 
    Gain on sale of real estate  (1,424)  (94)  (1,424)  (344)
    Participating securities share in earnings  321   226   890   897 
    Participating securities share in FFO  (321)  (226)  (1,298)  (1,788)
    Real estate depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities  435   436   1,305   1,931 
    Adjustments for noncontrolling interests  (24)  (24)  (74)  (235)
    FFO attributable to common shareholders  (26,831)  (102,474)  89,004   107,733 
    Transaction related and other costs  1,441   2,375   9,805   7,324 
    Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount  4,521   4,495   13,975   13,510 
    Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount  -   -   10,412   - 
    Costs related to the early repayment of debt  -   -   51,997   - 
    Stock based compensation  3,148   3,151   9,408   9,664 
    Gain on sale of unconsolidated entity, net of tax  -   -   -   (1,212)
    Gain on sale of operations  -   (176)  -   (176)
    Non-real estate depreciation and amortization  21,932   20,398   66,396   59,840 
    Goodwill impairment  153,000   216,000   153,000   216,000 
    Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles  (9,579)  (9,918)  (28,795)  (31,066)
    Maintenance capital expenditures  (1,594)  (2,314)  (5,338)  (7,136)
    Other, net  (50,963)  (19,182)  (77,041)  (35,412)
    Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities  320   319   960   887 
    Adjustments for noncontrolling interests  (55)  (96)  (92)  (137)
    AFFO attributable to common shareholders $95,340  $112,578  $293,691  $339,819 
                 
    Reconciliation of Diluted FFO and AFFO:            
    FFO Attributable to common shareholders – Basic $(26,831) $(102,474) $89,004  $107,733 
    Impact of if-converted dilutive securities     -   20,258   8,999 
    FFO Attributable to common shareholders – Diluted $(26,831) $(102,474) $109,262  $116,732 
                 
    AFFO Attributable to common shareholders – Basic $95,340  $112,578  $293,691  $339,819 
    Impact of if-converted dilutive securities  6,976   3,450   21,062   10,350 
    AFFO Attributable to common shareholders – Diluted $102,316  $116,028  $314,753  $350,169 
                 
    Weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings per common share (1)  236,533   235,739   236,352   235,483 
    Impact of dilutive non-participating securities  -   376   -   355 
    Impact of if-converted dilutive securities  53,428   31,691   53,837   31,691 
    Weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO and AFFO per common share   (1)  289,961   267,806   290,189   267,529 
                 
    Per diluted common share:            
    EPS $(0.34) $(0.66) $(0.32) $(0.21)
    FFO $(0.11) $(0.43) $0.38  $0.44 
    AFFO $0.35  $0.43  $1.08  $1.31 
                     
    (1)   For periods in which FFO to common shareholders is a loss, the weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO per common share is equal to the weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings (loss) per share.
                     

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
    (In thousands)

      Three Months Ended
    September 30,    		 Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
       2023   2022   2023   2022 

    Net loss     		 $(80,933) $(155,749) $(74,506) $(49,117)
    Depreciation and amortization  77,337   73,516   231,379   217,276 
    Interest expense, net  120,691   97,731   389,243   290,280 
    Income tax benefit  (43,095)  (13,056)  (49,864)  (10,183)
    EBITDA $74,000  $2,442  $496,252  $448,256 
    Stock-based compensation  3,148   3,151   9,408   9,664 
    Transaction related and other costs  1,441   2,375   9,805   7,324 
    Goodwill impairment  153,000   216,000   153,000   216,000 
    Gain on sale of operations  -   (176)  -   (176)
    Gain on sale of real estate  (1,424)  (94)  (1,424)  (344)
    Other, net  2,091   600   23,073   (6,534)
    Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities  754   755   2,264   2,816 
    Adjusted EBITDA $233,010  $225,053  $692,378  $677,006 
                 
    Adjusted EBITDA:            
    Uniti Leasing $208,561  $203,209  $620,079  $602,531 
    Uniti Fiber  29,857   28,586   88,712   93,628 
    Corporate  (5,408)  (6,742)  (16,413)  (19,153)
      $233,010  $225,053  $692,378  $677,006 
                 
    Annualized Adjusted EBITDA (1) $932,040          
                 
                 
    As of September 30, 2023:            
    Total Debt (2) $5,698,830          
    Cash and cash equivalents  34,119          
    Net Debt $5,674,711          
                 
    Net Debt/Annualized Adjusted EBITDA  6.08x         
     
    ________________________
    (1) Calculated as Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently reported three-month period, multiplied by four. Annualized Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared on a pro forma basis in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
    (2) Includes $18.4 million of finance leases, but excludes $98.4 million of unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs.
     

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Projected Future Results (1)
    (In millions)

      Year Ended December 31, 2023
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders – Basic $ (59) to $ (39)
    Noncontrolling interest share in earnings 1
    Participating securities’ share in earnings 1
    Net loss (2) (58) to (38)
    Interest expense, net (3) 514
    Depreciation and amortization 310
    Income tax benefit (51)
    EBITDA (2) 715 to 735
    Stock-based compensation 13
    Goodwill impairment 153
    Transaction related and other costs (4) 30
    Adjustment for unconsolidated entities 3
    Adjusted EBITDA (2) $ 915 to $ 935
     
    ________________________
    (1) These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above.
    (2) The components of projected future results may not add due to rounding.
    (3) See “Components of Projected Interest Expense” below.
    (4) Includes $20 million of costs associated with the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025. Future transaction related costs are not included in our current outlook.
     

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Projected Future Results (1)
    (Per Diluted Share)

      Year Ended December 31, 2023
    Net loss attributable to common shareholders – Basic $ (0.25) to $ (0.17)
    Real estate depreciation and amortization 0.93
    Gain on sale of real estate (0.01)
    Adjustments for unconsolidated entities 0.01
    FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) $ 0.68 to $ 0.76
    Impact of if-converted securities (0.05)
    FFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted (2) $ 0.63 to $ 0.70
       
    FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) $ 0.68 to $ 0.76
    Transaction related and other costs (3) 0.04
    Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount (4) 0.12
    Costs related to the early retirement of debt (5) 0.22
    Accretion of settlement payable (6) 0.04
    Stock-based compensation 0.05
    Non-real estate depreciation and amortization 0.38
    Goodwill impairment 0.65
    Straight-line revenues (0.16)
    Maintenance capital expenditures (0.03)
    Other, net (0.42)
    AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) $ 1.58 to $ 1.66
    Impact of if-converted securities (0.20)
    AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted (2)$ 1.38 to $ 1.45
     
    ________________________
    (1) These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above.
    (2) The components of projected future results may not add to FFO and AFFO attributable to common shareholders due to rounding.
    (3) Future transaction related and other costs are not included in our current outlook.
    (4) Includes the write-off of approximately $10 million of deferred financing costs related to the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
    (5) Represents the premium paid on and related costs associated with the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
    (6) Represents the accretion of the Windstream settlement payable to its stated value. At the effective date of the settlement, we recorded the payable on the balance sheet at its initial fair value, which will be accreted based on an effective interest rate of 4.2% and reduced by the scheduled quarterly payments.
     

    Uniti Group Inc.
    Components of Projected Interest Expense (1)
    (In millions)

      Year Ended December 31, 2023
    Interest expense on debt obligations $443
    Accretion of Windstream settlement payable  10
    Amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discounts (2)  29
    Premium on early repayment of debt (3)  32
    Interest expense, net (4) $514
     
    ________________________
    (1) These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above.
    (2) Includes the write-off of approximately $10 million of deferred financing costs related to the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
    (3) Represents the premium paid on and related costs associated with the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
    (4) The components of interest expense may not add to the total due to rounding.
     

    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

    We refer to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) (as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”)) and Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) in our analysis of our results of operations, which are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). While we believe that net income, as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings measure, we also believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO are important non-GAAP supplemental measures of operating performance for a REIT.

    We define “EBITDA” as net income, as defined by GAAP, before interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as EBITDA before stock-based compensation expense and the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of transaction and integration related costs, costs associated with Windstream’s bankruptcy, costs associated with litigation claims made against us, and costs associated with the implementation of our enterprise resource planning system, (collectively, “Transaction Related and Other Costs”), costs related to the settlement with Windstream, goodwill impairment charges, executive severance costs, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments, and other similar or infrequent items (although we may not have had such charges in the periods presented). Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are important supplemental measures to net income because they provide additional information to evaluate our operating performance on an unleveraged basis. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated similar to defined terms in our material debt agreements used to determine compliance with specific financial covenants. Since EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered as alternatives to net income determined in accordance with GAAP.

    Because the historical cost accounting convention used for real estate assets requires the recognition of depreciation expense except on land, such accounting presentation implies that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market and other conditions, presentations of operating results for a REIT that uses historical cost accounting for depreciation could be less informative. Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of operating performance for REITs that excludes historical cost depreciation and amortization, among other items, from net income, as defined by GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income attributable to common shareholders computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from real estate dispositions, plus real estate depreciation and amortization and impairment charges, and includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of FFO from unconsolidated entities. We compute FFO in accordance with NAREIT’s definition.

    The Company defines AFFO, as FFO excluding (i) Transaction Related and Other Costs; (ii) costs related to the litigation settlement with Windstream, accretion on our settlement obligation, and gains on the prepayment of our settlement obligation as these items are not reflective of ongoing operating performance; (iii) goodwill impairment charges; (iv) certain non-cash revenues and expenses such as stock-based compensation expense, amortization of debt and equity discounts, amortization of deferred financing costs, depreciation and amortization of non-real estate assets, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, straight line revenues, non-cash income taxes, and the amortization of other non-cash revenues to the extent that cash has not been received, such as revenue associated with the amortization of tenant capital improvements; and (v) the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees, additional costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, executive severance costs, taxes associated with tax basis cancellation of debt, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments and similar or infrequent items less maintenance capital expenditures. AFFO includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of AFFO from unconsolidated entities. We believe that the use of FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, combined with the required GAAP presentations, improves the understanding of operating results of REITs among investors and analysts, and makes comparisons of operating results among such companies more meaningful. We consider FFO and AFFO to be useful measures for reviewing comparative operating performance. In particular, we believe AFFO, by excluding certain revenue and expense items, can help investors compare our operating performance between periods and to other REITs on a consistent basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated items and events, such as transaction and integration related costs. The Company uses FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, only as performance measures, and FFO and AFFO do not purport to be indicative of cash available to fund our future cash requirements. While FFO and AFFO are relevant and widely used measures of operating performance of REITs, they do not represent cash flows from operations or net income as defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to those measures in evaluating our liquidity or operating performance.

    Further, our computations of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO may not be comparable to that reported by other REITs or companies that do not define FFO in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition or define EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO differently than we do.

    INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS:

    Paul Bullington, 251-662-1512
    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
    paul.bullington@uniti.com

    Bill DiTullio, 501-850-0872
    Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasury
    bill.ditullio@uniti.com

     


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