Uniti Group Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

Источник: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 05 авг 2021 16:05:03 America/New_York

Completes Strategic Transaction with Everstream

Revenues of $268.2 Million for the Second Quarter
Net Income of $0.20 Per Diluted Common Share for the Second Quarter; Increase of $3.26 Per Diluted Common Share from the Prior Year Second Quarter
AFFO Per Diluted Common Share of $0.41 for the Second Quarter
Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO Grew 6% and 10% in the Second Quarter, Respectively, from the Prior Year Second Quarter
Updates 2021 Outlook

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uniti Group Inc. (“Uniti” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: UNIT) today announced its results for the second quarter 2021.

“Uniti delivered another strong quarter of results including consolidated bookings during the quarter of approximately $1.0 million in monthly recurring revenue, representing an increase of over 80% from consolidated bookings in the first quarter of 2021, and industry leading monthly churn of 0.2%. Demand for our fiber infrastructure remains very strong and is fueled by the continued virtualization of our society,” commented Kenny Gunderman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Gunderman continued, “Given the tailwinds we are seeing for more investment needed by our customers to enable 5G networks, fiber to the home, and greater cloud-based connectivity, we expect these strong demand trends will continue for the foreseeable future.”

QUARTERLY RESULTS

Consolidated revenues for the second quarter of 2021 were $268.2 million. Net income and Adjusted EBITDA were $49.6 million and $215.7 million, respectively, for the same period. Net income attributable to common shares was $48.6 million for the period and included a $28.1 million gain on the sale of Uniti Fiber’s Northeast operations and certain dark fiber contracts relating to the Everstream transaction, and $0.4 million of transaction related and other costs. Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) attributable to common shareholders was $103.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted common share, an increase of 10% when compared to the second quarter of 2020.

Uniti Fiber contributed $72.1 million of revenues and $29.4 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2021, achieving Adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 40.8%, up from 36.1% Adjusted EBITDA margins in the second quarter of 2020. Uniti Fiber’s net success-based capital expenditures during the quarter were $37.4 million.

Uniti Leasing contributed revenues of $196.1 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $192.1 million for the second quarter, representing growth of 6% and 5%, respectively, when compared to the second quarter of 2020. During the quarter, Uniti Leasing deployed capital expenditures of $50.0 million primarily related to the construction of over 1,500 new route miles of valuable fiber infrastructure.

INVESTMENT TRANSACTION

On June 1, 2021, Uniti announced it had completed its previously mentioned strategic transaction with Everstream Solutions LLC (“Everstream”). As part of the transaction that was initially announced on November 9, 2020, Uniti entered into two 20 year IRU agreements with Everstream on Uniti-owned fiber. In addition, Uniti sold to Everstream a portion of Uniti Fiber’s Northeast operations and certain dark fiber IRU customer contracts acquired as part of the Windstream settlement.

Total cash consideration to Uniti, including upfront IRU payments, was approximately $135 million. In addition to the upfront proceeds, Uniti will receive fees of approximately $3 million annually from Everstream over the initial 20 year term of the IRU lease agreements, subject to an annual escalator of 2%.

LIQUIDITY

At quarter-end, the Company had approximately $574 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 5.65x based on Net Debt to Annualized Adjusted EBITDA.

On August 3, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable on October 1, 2021, to stockholders of record on September 17, 2021.

UPDATED FULL YEAR 2021 OUTLOOK

The Company is updating its 2021 outlook primarily for the impact of the gain on sale of operations and income tax expense related to the Everstream transaction, the impact of transaction-related and other costs incurred to date, and revised estimates of interest expense. Our outlook excludes future acquisitions, capital market transactions, and future transaction-related and other costs not mentioned herein.

The Company’s consolidated outlook for 2021 is as follows (in millions):

	Full Year 2021					Midpoint Growth Rate Compared to Prior Year⁽¹⁾
Revenue	$	1,083	to	$	1,094	2%
Net income attributable to common shareholders ⁽²⁾		123	to		135
Adjusted EBITDA⁽³⁾		846	to		858	4%
Interest expense, net⁽⁴⁾		441	to		441

Attributable to common shareholders:
FFO⁽³⁾		331	to		343
AFFO⁽³⁾		408	to		420	6%

Weighted-average common shares outstanding – diluted		263	to		263
________________________
1. Represents growth rate at the midpoint of 2021 full year outlook compared to 2020 full year actuals. 2. Includes $28 million of gain relating to the Everstream Transaction. 3. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. 4. See “Components of Interest Expense” below.

CONFERENCE CALL

Uniti will hold a conference call today to discuss this earnings release at 4:15 PM Eastern Time (3:15 PM Central Time). The dial-in number for the conference call is (844) 513-7153 (or (508) 637-5603 for international callers) and the conference ID is 6138328. The conference call will be webcast live and can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.uniti.com. A replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website or by telephone beginning today at approximately 8:00 PM Eastern Time. To access the telephone replay, which will be available for 14 days, please dial (855) 859-2056 and enter the conference ID number 6138328.

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 June 30, 2021, Uniti owns approximately 123,000 fiber route miles, 7.1 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 2021 financial outlook, expectations regarding strong demand trends, our business strategies, growth prospects, 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 meet and/or perform their obligations under any contractual arrangements entered into with us, including master lease arrangements; the ability of our customers to comply with laws, rules and regulations in the operation of the assets we lease to them; 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 adverse impact of litigation affecting us or our customers; our ability to renew, extend or obtain contracts with significant customers (including customers of the businesses we acquire); 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; our ability to qualify or maintain our status as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”); changes in the U.S. tax law and other state, federal or local laws, whether or not specific to REITs; covenants in our debt agreements that may limit our operational flexibility; our expectations regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations and financial condition; 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)

	June 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	3,400,755	$	3,273,353
Cash and cash equivalents		108,536		77,534
Accounts receivable, net		42,986		62,952
Goodwill		601,878		601,878
Intangible assets, net		379,524		390,725
Straight-line revenue receivable		26,278		13,107
Other assets, net		115,730		152,883
Investment in unconsolidated entities		65,038		66,043
Deferred income tax assets, net		4,649		-
Assets held for sale		-		93,343
Total Assets	$	4,745,374	$	4,731,818

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit
Liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, net	$	136,577	$	146,144
Settlement payable		378,718		418,840
Intangible liabilities, net		183,133		187,886
Accrued interest payable		105,922		95,338
Deferred revenue		1,122,445		995,123
Derivative liability, net		16,786		22,897
Dividends payable		36,326		36,725
Deferred income tax liabilities, net		-		10,540
Finance lease obligations		14,497		15,468
Contingent consideration		-		2,957
Notes and other debt, net		4,884,410		4,816,524
Liabilities held for sale		-		55,752
Total Liabilities		6,878,814		6,804,194

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholder’s 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: 231,805 shares at June 30, 2021 and 231,262 shares at December 31, 2020		23		23
Additional paid-in capital		1,153,707		1,209,141
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(14,792)		(20,367)
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings		(3,341,371)		(3,330,455)
Total Uniti shareholders’ deficit		(2,202,433)		(2,141,658)
Noncontrolling interests – operating partnership units and non-voting convertible preferred stock		68,993		69,282
Total shareholders’ deficit		(2,133,440)		(2,072,376)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit	$	4,745,374	$	4,731,818

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

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021		2020		2021		2020
Revenues:
Leasing	$	196,057	$	185,320	$	390,993	$	369,672
Fiber Infrastructure		72,123		79,140		149,773		156,547
Towers		-		2,392		-		6,112
Consumer CLEC		-		(32)		-		651
Total revenues		268,180		266,820		540,766		532,982

Costs and expenses:
Interest expense, net		106,388		107,243		246,969		285,636
Depreciation and amortization		69,671		84,969		140,635		171,090
General and administrative expense		24,900		27,894		50,723		55,027
Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		33,185		40,167		71,269		80,477
Settlement expense		-		650,000		-		650,000
Transaction related and other costs		424		18,556		4,561		34,528
Gain on sale of real estate		(442)		(63,818)		(442)		(63,818)
Gain on sale of operations		(28,143)		-		(28,143)		-
Other (income) expense		8,021		6,013		8,475		9,088
Total costs and expenses		214,004		871,024		494,047		1,222,028

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities		54,176		(604,204)		46,719		(689,046)
Income tax expense (benefit)		5,084		(5,875)		2,527		(10,451)
Equity in (earnings) from unconsolidated entities		(547)		-		(945)		-
Net income (loss)		49,639		(598,329)		45,137		(678,595)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		732		(10,585)		668		(11,998)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders		48,907		(587,744)		44,469		(666,597)
Participating securities’ share in earnings		(333)		(424)		(581)		(624)
Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock		(2)		(1)		(5)		(4)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$	48,572	$	(588,169)	$	43,883	$	(667,225)

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders – Basic	$	48,572	$	(588,169)	$	43,883	$	(667,225)
Impact of if-converted securities		2,974		-		-		-
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders – Diluted	$	51,546	$	(588,169)	$	43,883	$	(667,225)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		231,801		192,479		231,636		192,358
Diluted		262,268		192,479		231,862		192,358

Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic	$	0.21	$	(3.06)	$	0.19	$	(3.47)
Diluted	$	0.20	$	(3.06)	$	0.19	$	(3.47)

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

	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021		2020
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	45,137	$	(678,595)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		140,635		171,090
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount		9,371		18,666
Loss on extinguishment of debt		43,369		73,952
Interest rate swap termination		5,658		4,496
Deferred income taxes		605		(11,209)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities		(945)		-
Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated entities		1,950		-
Cash paid for interest rate swap settlement		(6,110)		(2,251)
Straight-line revenues		(14,215)		711
Stock-based compensation		6,797		7,105
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		21		6,140
Gain on sale of real estate		(442)		(63,818)
Gain on sale of operations		(28,143)		-
(Gain) loss on asset disposals		(218)		672
Accretion of settlement obligation		8,889		-
Other		143		(195)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		19,965		6,263
Other assets		39,019		(8,285)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		46,991		51,539
Settlement payable		-		650,000
Net cash provided by operating activities		318,477		226,281

Cash flows from investing activities:
Other capital expenditures		(177,934)		(134,035)
Proceeds from sale of real estate, net of cash		1,034		225,149
Proceeds from sale of operations		62,113		-
Proceeds from sale of other equipment		399		-
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(114,388)		91,114

Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt		(1,660,000)		(2,044,728)
Proceeds from issuance of notes		1,680,000		2,250,000
Dividends paid		(70,386)		(71,645)
Payment of settlement obligation		(49,011)		-
Payments of contingent consideration		(2,979)		(7,086)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests		(1,039)		(1,282)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility		205,000		10,000
Payments under revolving credit facility		(220,000)		(456,700)
Finance lease payments		(1,393)		(1,979)
Payments for financing costs		(25,156)		(47,775)
Costs related to the early repayment of debt		(25,800)		-
Employee stock purchase program		319		306
Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation		(2,642)		(1,050)
Net cash used in financing activities		(173,087)		(371,939)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		31,002		(54,544)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		77,534		142,813
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		108,536	$	88,269

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

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2021			2020	2021		2020
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$	48,572	$	(588,169)	$	43,883	$	(667,225)
Real estate depreciation and amortization		52,178		62,107		105,555		126,059
Gain on sale of real estate assets, net of tax		(442)		(63,818)		(442)		(63,818)
Participating securities’ share in earnings		333		424		581		624
Participating securities’ share in FFO		(681)		(406)		(1,025)		(606)
Adjustments for unconsolidated entities		614		-		1,230		-
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests		(771)		30		(1,567)		(1,102)
FFO attributable to common shareholders		99,803		(589,832)		148,215		(606,068)
Transaction related and other costs		424		18,556		4,561		34,528
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		-		4,645		21		6,140
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt		4,412		8,958		9,371		18,666
Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount		2,413		-		22,828		73,952
Stock-based compensation		3,462		4,110		6,797		7,105
Gain on sale of operations		(28,143)		-		(28,143)		-
Non-real estate depreciation and amortization		17,493		22,862		35,080		45,031
Settlement expense		-		650,000		-		650,000
Costs related to the early repayment of debt		10,935		-		28,485		-
Straight-line revenues		(7,309)		602		(14,215)		711
Maintenance capital expenditures		(2,408)		(2,253)		(4,384)		(3,361)
Other, net		1,961		(11,356)		(2,009)		(21,810)
Adjustments for unconsolidated entities		258		-		614		-
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests		(52)		(12,317)		(870)		(14,339)
Adjusted FFO attributable to common shareholders	$	103,249	$	93,975	$	206,351	$	190,555

Reconciliation of Diluted FFO and AFFO:
FFO Attributable to common shareholders – Basic	$	99,803	$	(589,832)	$	148,215	$	(606,068)
Impact of if-converted dilutive securities		2,979		-		5,953		-
FFO Attributable to common shareholders – Diluted	$	102,782	$	(589,832)	$	154,168	$	(606,068)

AFFO Attributable to common shareholders – Basic	$	103,249	$	93,975	$	206,351	$	190,555
Impact of if-converted dilutive securities		3,450		3,450		6,900		6,900
AFFO Attributable to common shareholders – Diluted	$	106,699	$	97,425	$	213,251	$	197,455

Weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings (loss) per common share ⁽¹⁾		231,801		192,479		231,636		192,358
Impact of dilutive non-participating securities		135		-		226		-
Impact of if-converted dilutive securities		30,332		29,198		30,332		29,198
Weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO and AFFO per common share ⁽¹⁾		262,268		221,677		262,194		221,556

Per diluted common share:
EPS	$	0.20	$	(3.06)	$	0.19	$	(3.47)
FFO	$	0.39	$	(3.06)	$	0.59	$	(3.15)
AFFO	$	0.41	$	0.44	$	0.81	$	0.89

________________________

For periods in which FFO or AFFO attributable to common shareholders is a loss, the weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO or AFFO 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 June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021		2020		2021		2020
Net income (loss)	$	49,639	$	(598,329)	$	45,137	$	(678,595)
Depreciation and amortization		69,671		84,969		140,635		171,090
Interest expense, net		106,388		107,243		246,969		285,636
Income tax expense (benefit)		5,084		(5,875)		2,527		(10,451)
EBITDA		230,782		(411,992)		435,268		(232,320)
Stock-based compensation		3,462		4,110		6,797		7,105
Transaction related and other costs		424		18,556		4,561		34,528
Settlement expense		-		650,000		-		650,000
Gain on sale of real estate		(442)		(63,818)		(442)		(63,818)
Gain on sale of operations		(28,143)		-		(28,143)		-
Adjustments for unconsolidated entities		872		-		1,844		-
Other (income) expense		8,779		6,013		10,097		9,088
Adjusted EBITDA	$	215,734	$	202,869	$	429,982	$	404,583

Adjusted EBITDA:
Leasing	$	192,137	$	182,810	$	383,634	$	364,689
Fiber Infrastructure		29,439		28,493		59,160		56,034
Towers		-		85		-		77
Consumer CLEC		-		(292)		-		(275)
Corporate		(5,842)		(8,227)		(12,812)		(15,942)
	$	215,734	$	202,869	$	429,982	$	404,583

Annualized Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾	$	862,936


As of June 30, 2021:
Total Debt⁽²⁾	$	4,984,497
Cash and cash equivalents		108,536
Net Debt	$	4,875,961

Net Debt/Annualized Adjusted EBITDA		5.65x

________________________

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.
Includes $14.5 million of finance leases, but excludes $85.6 million of unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs.

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

		Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net income attributable to common shareholders – Basic		$ 123 to $ 135
Noncontrolling interest share in earnings		2
Participating securities’ share in earnings		1
Net income ⁽²⁾		126 to 138
Interest expense, net ⁽³⁾		441
Depreciation and amortization		278
Income tax benefit		(2)
EBITDA ⁽²⁾		843 to 855
Stock-based compensation		15
Gain on sale of operations ⁽⁴⁾		(28)
Transaction related and other costs ⁽⁵⁾		13
Adjustment for unconsolidated entities		3
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽²⁾		$ 846 to $ 858

________________________

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.
The components of projected future results may not add due to rounding.
See “Components of Interest Expense” below.
Represents gain on the sale of a portion of our Northeast operations and certain dark fiber IRU contracts acquired as a part of the Windstream settlement.
Future transaction related and other costs are not included in our current outlook.

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

		Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net income attributable to common shareholders – Basic		$ 0.53 to $ 0.58
Real estate depreciation and amortization		0.90
Participating securities share in earnings		-
Participating securities share in FFO		-
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests		(0.01)
Adjustments for unconsolidated entities		0.01
FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic ⁽²⁾		$ 1.43 to $ 1.48
Impact of if-converted securities		(0.13)
FFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted ⁽²⁾		$ 1.31 to $ 1.35

FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic ⁽²⁾		$ 1.43 to $ 1.48
Transaction related and other costs⁽³⁾		0.02
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount ⁽⁴⁾		0.18
Costs related to the early repayment of debt ⁽⁵⁾		0.12
Accretion of settlement payable ⁽⁶⁾		0.07
Stock-based compensation		0.06
Gain on sale of operations ⁽⁷⁾		(0.12)
Non-real estate depreciation and amortization		0.30
Straight-line revenues		(0.13)
Maintenance capital expenditures		(0.03)
Other, net		(0.14)
Adjustments for noncontrolling interests		-
AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic ⁽²⁾		$ 1.76 to $ 1.81
Impact of if-converted securities		(0.16)
AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted ⁽²⁾		$ 1.61 to $ 1.65

________________________

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.
The components of projected future results may not add to FFO and AFFO attributable to common shareholders due to rounding.
Future transaction related and other costs are not included in our current outlook.
Includes the write-off of approximately $23 million of deferred financing costs related to the early repayment of our 8.25% Senior Notes due 2023, and of our 6.00% Senior Notes due 2023.
Represents the premium paid on and related costs associated with the early repayment of our 8.25% Senior Notes due 2023, and our 6.00% Senior Notes due 2023.
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 4.7% and reduced by the scheduled quarterly payments.
Represents gain on the sale of a portion of our Northeast operations and certain dark fiber IRU contracts acquired as a part of the Windstream settlement.

Components of Interest Expense⁽¹⁾
(In millions)

	Year Ended December 31, 2021
Interest expense on debt obligations	$	353
Capitalized interest		(2)
Accretion of Windstream settlement payable		17
Amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discounts ⁽²⁾		41
Premium on early repayment of debt ⁽³⁾		21
Swap termination ⁽⁴⁾		11
Interest expense, net⁽⁵⁾	$	441

________________________

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.
Includes the write-off of approximately $23 million of deferred financing costs related to the early repayment of our 8.25% Senior Notes due 2023 and of our 6.00% Senior Notes due 2023.
Represents the premium paid on the early repayment of our 8.25% Senior Notes due 2023, and our 6.00% Senior Notes due 2023.
Represents recognition of deferred interest expense attributable to the discontinuance of hedge accounting on interest rate swaps.
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 new enterprise resource planning system, collectively “Transaction Related and Other Costs”, costs related to the settlement with Windstream, goodwill impairment charges, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender 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. 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 use 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, and accretion on 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, 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 early repayment of debt, including early tender premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, 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:

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

Uniti Group Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

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