FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2011
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x
|
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011
or
¨
|
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
For the transition period from _________to__________
Commission file number: 001-11001
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
|
06-0619596
|
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|
incorporation or organization)
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 High Ridge Park
|
|
|
Stamford, Connecticut
|
|
06905
|
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip Code)
|
|
|
|
(203) 614-5600
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No ___
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes X No ___
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer [ X ] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [ ] Smaller reporting company [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes No X
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock as of May 2, 2011 was 995,219,000.
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index
|
Page No.
|
Part I. Financial Information (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
Item 1. Financial Statements
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010
|
2
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
|
3
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2010, the nine months ended
December 31, 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2011
|
4
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010
|
4
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
|
5
|
|
|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
6
|
|
|
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
|
19
|
|
|
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
35
|
|
|
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
|
36
|
|
|
Part II. Other Information
|
|
|
|
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
|
37
|
|
|
Item 1A. Risk Factors
|
37
|
|
|
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
37
|
|
|
Item 6. Exhibits
|
39
|
|
|
Signature
|
40
|
|
|
Explanatory Note
Effective July 1, 2010, Frontier’s scope of operations and balance sheet capitalization changed materially as a result of the completion of the Transaction, as described in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Historical financial and operating data presented for Frontier is not indicative of the future financial position or operating results for Frontier, and includes the results of operations of the Acquired Business, as defined in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, from the date of acquisition on July 1, 2010. The financial discussion represents an analysis of our results of operations on a historical basis for our Frontier operations as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011and 2010, which includes the results of operations of the Acquired Business for just the three months ended March 31, 2011.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2011
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
359,382 |
|
|
$ |
251,263 |
|
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $80,195 and $73,571, respectively
|
|
|
519,239 |
|
|
|
568,308 |
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
93,284 |
|
|
|
100,603 |
|
Income taxes and other current assets
|
|
|
204,983 |
|
|
|
208,245 |
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
1,176,888 |
|
|
|
1,128,419 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash
|
|
|
184,207 |
|
|
|
187,489 |
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
7,572,985 |
|
|
|
7,590,614 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
6,277,637 |
|
|
|
6,292,194 |
|
Other intangibles, net
|
|
|
2,354,023 |
|
|
|
2,491,195 |
|
Other assets
|
|
|
212,783 |
|
|
|
200,319 |
|
Total assets
|
|
$ |
17,778,523 |
|
|
$ |
17,890,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt due within one year
|
|
$ |
279,873 |
|
|
$ |
280,002 |
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
385,480 |
|
|
|
436,886 |
|
Advanced billings
|
|
|
168,065 |
|
|
|
171,602 |
|
Accrued other taxes
|
|
|
148,981 |
|
|
|
167,857 |
|
Accrued interest
|
|
|
214,768 |
|
|
|
170,228 |
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
213,089 |
|
|
|
212,782 |
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
1,410,256 |
|
|
|
1,439,357 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
2,264,679 |
|
|
|
2,220,677 |
|
Pension and other postretirement benefits
|
|
|
827,735 |
|
|
|
816,588 |
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
208,595 |
|
|
|
220,172 |
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
7,986,248 |
|
|
|
7,983,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders' equity of Frontier:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.25 par value (1,750,000,000 authorized shares,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
995,225,000 and 993,855,000 outstanding, respectively, and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,027,986,000 issued at March 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and December 31, 2010)
|
|
|
256,997 |
|
|
|
256,997 |
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
5,321,796 |
|
|
|
5,525,471 |
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
131,818 |
|
|
|
77,107 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
|
|
|
(227,894 |
) |
|
|
(229,549 |
) |
Treasury stock
|
|
|
(414,695 |
) |
|
|
(433,286 |
) |
Total shareholders' equity of Frontier
|
|
|
5,068,022 |
|
|
|
5,196,740 |
|
Noncontrolling interest in a partnership
|
|
|
12,988 |
|
|
|
13,003 |
|
Total equity
|
|
|
5,081,010 |
|
|
|
5,209,743 |
|
Total liabilities and equity
|
|
$ |
17,778,523 |
|
|
$ |
17,890,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 AND 2010
($ in thousands, except for per-share amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
1,346,697 |
|
|
$ |
519,849 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Network access expenses
|
|
|
151,284 |
|
|
|
53,543 |
|
Other operating expenses
|
|
|
580,340 |
|
|
|
193,025 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
351,257 |
|
|
|
101,049 |
|
Acquisition and integration costs
|
|
|
13,223 |
|
|
|
10,370 |
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
1,096,104 |
|
|
|
357,987 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
250,593 |
|
|
|
161,862 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment income
|
|
|
3,115 |
|
|
|
2,497 |
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
6,470 |
|
|
|
4,956 |
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
167,415 |
|
|
|
93,787 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
92,763 |
|
|
|
75,528 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
36,567 |
|
|
|
32,056 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
56,196 |
|
|
|
43,472 |
|
Less: Income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in a partnership
|
|
|
1,485 |
|
|
|
907 |
|
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
54,711 |
|
|
$ |
42,565 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net income per common share attributable to common
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010, THE NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011
($ and shares in thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
Frontier Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
Paid-In
|
|
Retained
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
Treasury Stock
|
|
|
Noncontrolling
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
Capital
|
|
Earnings
|
|
Loss
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance January 1, 2010
|
|
349,456 |
|
$ |
87,364 |
|
$ |
956,401 |
|
$ |
2,756 |
|
$ |
(245,519 |
) |
|
(37,128 |
) |
$ |
(473,391 |
) |
|
$ |
11,459 |
|
|
$ |
339,070 |
|
Stock plans
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(14,058 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,082 |
|
|
15,023 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
965 |
|
Dividends on common stock
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(78,355 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(78,355 |
) |
Net income
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
42,565 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
907 |
|
|
|
43,472 |
|
Other comprehensive income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of tax
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
3,977 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,977 |
|
Distributions
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,500 |
) |
|
|
(1,500 |
) |
Balance March 31, 2010
|
|
349,456 |
|
|
87,364 |
|
|
863,988 |
|
|
45,321 |
|
|
(241,542 |
) |
|
(36,046 |
) |
|
(458,368 |
) |
|
|
10,866 |
|
|
|
307,629 |
|
Acquisition of the Acquired
Business
|
|
678,530 |
|
|
169,633 |
|
|
5,048,266 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,217,899 |
|
Stock plans
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(14,071 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,915 |
|
|
25,082 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11,011 |
|
Dividends on common stock
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(372,712 |
) |
|
(78,322 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(451,034 |
) |
Net income
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
110,108 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,137 |
|
|
|
112,245 |
|
Other comprehensive income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of tax
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
11,993 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11,993 |
|
Balance December 31, 2010
|
|
1,027,986 |
|
|
256,997 |
|
|
5,525,471 |
|
|
77,107 |
|
|
(229,549 |
) |
|
(34,131 |
) |
|
(433,286 |
) |
|
|
13,003 |
|
|
|
5,209,743 |
|
Stock plans
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(17,070 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,370 |
|
|
18,591 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,521 |
|
Dividends on common stock
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(186,605 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(186,605 |
) |
Net income
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
54,711 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,485 |
|
|
|
56,196 |
|
Other comprehensive income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of tax
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,655 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,655 |
|
Distributions
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,500 |
) |
|
|
(1,500 |
) |
Balance March 31, 2011
|
|
1,027,986 |
|
$ |
256,997 |
|
$ |
5,321,796 |
|
$ |
131,818 |
|
$ |
(227,894 |
) |
|
(32,761 |
) |
$ |
(414,695 |
) |
|
$ |
12,988 |
|
|
$ |
5,081,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 AND 2010
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
56,196 |
|
|
$ |
43,472 |
|
Other comprehensive income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of tax
|
|
|
1,655 |
|
|
|
3,977 |
|
Comprehensive income
|
|
|
57,851 |
|
|
|
47,449 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
attributable to the noncontrolling
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
interest in a partnership
|
|
|
(1,485 |
) |
|
|
(907 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income attributable to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the common shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
56,366 |
|
|
$ |
46,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 AND 2010
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
56,196 |
|
|
$ |
43,472 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
|
351,257 |
|
|
|
101,049 |
|
Stock based compensation expense
|
|
|
3,584 |
|
|
|
2,743 |
|
Pension/OPEB costs
|
|
|
11,279 |
|
|
|
7,323 |
|
Other non-cash adjustments
|
|
|
(2,999 |
) |
|
|
(2,159 |
) |
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
27,744 |
|
|
|
8,084 |
|
Change in accounts receivable
|
|
|
30,996 |
|
|
|
1,242 |
|
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities
|
|
|
29,469 |
|
|
|
(62,914 |
) |
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets
|
|
|
6,588 |
|
|
|
24,312 |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
514,114 |
|
|
|
123,152 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures - Business operations
|
|
|
(203,534 |
) |
|
|
(39,927 |
) |
Capital expenditures - Integration activities
|
|
|
(5,578 |
) |
|
|
(29,679 |
) |
Other assets purchased and distributions received, net
|
|
|
(3,207 |
) |
|
|
142 |
|
Net cash used by investing activities
|
|
|
(212,319 |
) |
|
|
(69,464 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt payments
|
|
|
(969 |
) |
|
|
(977 |
) |
Dividends paid
|
|
|
(186,605 |
) |
|
|
(78,355 |
) |
Repayment of customer advances for construction,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
distributions to noncontrolling interests and other
|
|
|
(6,102 |
) |
|
|
(1,954 |
) |
Net cash used by financing activities
|
|
|
(193,676 |
) |
|
|
(81,286 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
108,119 |
|
|
|
(27,598 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,
|
|
|
251,263 |
|
|
|
358,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31,
|
|
$ |
359,382 |
|
|
$ |
331,095 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the period for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
$ |
119,067 |
|
|
$ |
109,528 |
|
Income taxes
|
|
$ |
8,946 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1)
|
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
|
(a)
|
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates:
|
Frontier Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries are referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” “Frontier,” or the “Company” in this report. On July 1, 2010, Frontier completed the Transaction for the acquisition of the Acquired Business, as described further in Note 2. Our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Certain reclassifications of balances previously reported have been made to conform to the current presentation. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary, in the opinion of Frontier’s management, to present fairly the results for the interim periods shown. Revenues, net income and cash flows for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the full year. For our interim financial statements as of and for the period ended March 31, 2011, we evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through the date that we filed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The preparation of our interim financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, (ii) the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and (iii) the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Estimates and judgments are used when accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts, impairment of long-lived assets, intangible assets, depreciation and amortization, income taxes, purchase price allocations, contingencies, and pension and other postretirement benefits, among others. Certain information and footnote disclosures have been excluded and/or condensed pursuant to SEC rules and regulations.
Revenue is recognized when services are provided or when products are delivered to customers. Revenue that is billed in advance includes: monthly recurring network access services, special access services and monthly recurring local line and unlimited fixed long distance bundle charges. The unearned portion of these fees is initially deferred as a component of other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet and recognized as revenue over the period that the services are provided. Revenue that is billed in arrears includes: non-recurring network access services, switched access services, non-recurring local services and long-distance services. The earned but unbilled portion of these fees is recognized as revenue in our consolidated statements of operations and accrued in accounts receivable in the period that the services are provided. Excise taxes are recognized as a liability when billed. Installation fees and their related direct and incremental costs are initially deferred and recognized as revenue and expense over the average term of a customer relationship. We recognize as current period expense the portion of installation costs that exceeds installation fee revenue.
As required by law, the Company collects various taxes from its customers and subsequently remits these taxes to governmental authorities. Substantially all of these taxes are recorded through the consolidated balance sheet and presented on a net basis in our consolidated statements of operations. We also collect Universal Service Fund (USF) surcharges from customers (primarily federal USF) which we have recorded on a gross basis in our consolidated statements of operations and included in revenue and other operating expenses at $28.1 million and $10.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(c)
|
Goodwill and Other Intangibles:
|
Intangibles represent the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable tangible net assets acquired. We undertake studies to determine the fair values of assets and liabilities acquired and allocate purchase prices to assets and liabilities, including property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other identifiable intangibles. We annually (during the fourth quarter) or more frequently, if appropriate, examine the carrying value of our goodwill and trade name to determine whether there are any impairment losses. We test for goodwill impairment at the “operating segment” level, as that term is defined in U.S. GAAP. As of July 1, 2010 and as a result of the completion of the Transaction, the Company has five operating segments. Our operating segments are aggregated into one reportable segment.
The Company amortizes intangible assets with estimated useful lives over those lives and reviews such intangible assets to assess any impairment and whether factors exist that would necessitate a change in useful life and a different amortization period.
(2) The Transaction:
On July 1, 2010, Frontier acquired the defined assets and liabilities of the local exchange business and related landline activities of Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin and in portions of California bordering Arizona, Nevada and Oregon (collectively, the Territories), including Internet access and long distance services and broadband video provided to designated customers in the Territories (the Acquired Business). Frontier is considered the accounting acquirer of the Acquired Business.
We are accounting for our acquisition of approximately 4.0 million access lines from Verizon (the Transaction) using the guidance included in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805. We incurred approximately $13.2 million of acquisition and integration related costs in connection with the Transaction during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and $10.4 million of acquisition related costs during the three months ended March 31, 2010, respectively. Such costs are required to be expensed as incurred and are reflected in “Acquisition and integration costs” in our consolidated statements of operations.
Our consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 include $841.8 million of revenue and $97.5 million of operating income related to the results of operations of the Acquired Business.
The allocation of the purchase price of the Acquired Business is based on the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of July 1, 2010, the effective date of the Transaction. Our assessment of fair value is preliminary, and will be adjusted for information that is currently not available to us, primarily related to: other accrued liabilities, pending receipt of supporting documentation; deferred income tax assets and liabilities, pending Verizon providing us with tax values for the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Business; and pension and other postretirement liabilities, pending completion of actuarial studies and the related transfer of pension assets.
The preliminary allocation of the purchase price presented below represents the effect of recording the preliminary estimates of the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and related deferred income taxes as of the date of the Transaction, based on the total transaction consideration of $5.4 billion. The following allocation of purchase price includes minor revisions to the preliminary allocation that was reported as of December 31, 2010 for goodwill and current liabilities primarily due to the sales and utility tax matter in the state of Washington. These preliminary estimates will be revised in future periods and the revisions may materially affect the presentation of our consolidated financial results. Any changes to the initial estimates of the fair value of the assets and liabilities will be recorded as adjustments to those assets and liabilities and residual amounts will be allocated to goodwill.
($ in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total transaction consideration:
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,411,705 |
|
Current assets
|
|
$ |
461,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant & equipment
|
|
|
4,421,682 |
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
3,635,314 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other intangibles – primarily customer list
|
|
|
2,532,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent assets
|
|
|
75,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
(470,178 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
(1,318,746 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
(3,456,782 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities
|
|
|
(468,797 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Total net assets acquired
|
|
$ |
5,411,705 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Transaction provides for a post-closing adjustment for working capital, pension liabilities transferred and pension assets. Frontier and Verizon have not finalized the results of these calculations.
The fair value of the total consideration issued to acquire the Acquired Business amounted to $5.4 billion and included $5.2 billion for the issuance of Frontier common shares and cash payments of $105.0 million. As a result of the Transaction, Verizon stockholders received 678,530,386 shares of Frontier common stock. Immediately after the closing of the Transaction, Verizon stockholders owned approximately 68.4% of the combined company’s outstanding equity, and existing Frontier stockholders owned approximately 31.6% of the combined company’s outstanding equity.
The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations of Frontier and the Acquired Business as if the Transaction had occurred as of January 1, 2010. The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of what the financial position or results of operations actually would have been had the Transaction been completed as of January 1, 2010. In addition, the unaudited pro forma financial information is not indicative of, nor does it purport to project, the future financial position or operating results of Frontier. The unaudited pro forma financial information excludes acquisition and integration costs and does not give effect to any estimated and potential cost savings or other operating efficiencies that could result from the Transaction.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2010
|
($ in millions, except
per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
1,456 |
|
Operating income
|
|
|
335 |
|
Net income attributable to common
shareholders of Frontier
|
|
|
92 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net income per common
share attributable to common
shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
The components of accounts receivable, net are as follows:
($ in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End user
|
|
$
|
583,224
|
|
|
$
|
627,573
|
|
Other
|
|
|
16,210
|
|
|
|
14,306
|
|
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
|
|
|
(80,195
|
)
|
|
|
(73,571
|
)
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
$
|
519,239
|
|
|
$
|
568,308
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We maintain an allowance for estimated bad debts based on our estimate of our ability to collect accounts receivable. Bad debt expense, which is recorded as a reduction to revenue, was $28.3 million and $6.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(4)
|
Property, Plant and Equipment:
|
Property, plant and equipment is as follows:
($ in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
|
$
|
12,973,725
|
|
|
$
|
12,795,280
|
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(5,400,740
|
)
|
|
|
(5,204,666
|
)
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
7,572,985
|
|
|
$
|
7,590,614
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expense is principally based on the composite group method. Depreciation expense was $219.1 million and $87.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. As a result of an independent study of the estimated remaining useful lives of our Frontier legacy plant assets, we adopted new lives for certain plant assets as of October 1, 2010. In addition, we commissioned an independent study to determine the estimated remaining useful lives for our Acquired Business. These new lives were adopted effective July 1, 2010.
(5)
|
Goodwill and Other Intangibles:
|
The components of goodwill and other intangibles are as follows:
($ in thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill:
|
|
$
|
6,277,637
|
|
|
$
|
6,292,194
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Intangibles:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer base
|
|
$
|
2,697,509
|
|
|
$
|
2,702,409
|
|
Software licenses
|
|
|
104,923
|
|
|
|
105,019
|
|
Trade name and license
|
|
|
135,285
|
|
|
|
135,285
|
|
Other intangibles
|
|
|
2,937,717
|
|
|
|
2,942,713
|
|
Less: Accumulated amortization
|
|
|
(583,694
|
)
|
|
|
(451,518
|
)
|
Total other intangibles, net
|
|
$
|
2,354,023
|
|
|
$
|
2,491,195
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization expense was $132.2 million and $14.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 included $118.1 million for intangible assets (primarily customer base) that were acquired in the Transaction based on an estimated fair value of $2.5 billion and an estimated useful life of nine years for the residential customer list and 12 years for the business customer list, amortized on an accelerated method. Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 included $14.1 million in each period for intangible assets (customer base and trade name) that were acquired in the acquisitions of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., Global Valley Networks, Inc. and GVN Services.
(6)
|
Fair Value of Financial Instruments:
|
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and estimated fair values for certain of our financial instruments at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. For the other financial instruments, representing cash, accounts receivable, long-term debt due within one year, accounts payable and other current liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the relatively short maturities of those instruments. Other equity method investments, for which market values are not readily available, are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
The fair value of our long-term debt is estimated based on quoted market prices at the reporting date for those financial instruments.
($ in thousands)
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
Carrying
|
|
|
|
Carrying
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
Amount
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt
|
$ 7,986,248
|
|
$ 8,304,188
|
|
$ 7,983,693
|
|
$ 8,376,515
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The activity in our long-term debt from December 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011 is summarized as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended March 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rate* at
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
New
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
2010
|
|
Payments
|
|
Borrowings
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural Utilities Service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loan Contracts
|
$ |
11,214 |
|
$ |
(256 |
) |
$ |
- |
|
$ |
10,958 |
|
|
|
6.15 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Unsecured Debt
|
|
8,302,230 |
|
|
(713 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
8,301,517 |
|
|
|
8.01 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue Bonds
|
|
13,550 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
13,550 |
|
|
|
6.33 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT
|
$ |
8,326,994 |
|
$ |
(969 |
) |
$ |
- |
|
$ |
8,326,025 |
|
|
|
8.01 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Debt Discount
|
|
(63,299 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(59,904 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Less: Current Portion
|
|
(280,002 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(279,873 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,983,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,986,248 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Interest rate includes amortization of debt issuance costs, debt premiums or discounts, and deferred gain on interest rate swap terminations. The interest rates at March 31, 2011 represent a weighted average of multiple issuances.
Additional information regarding our Senior Unsecured Debt is as follows:
|
March 31, 2011
|
|
December 31, 2010
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Rate
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Rate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Notes:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due 5/15/2011
|
$
|
76,089
|
|
|
9.250%
|
|
|
$
|
76,089
|
|
|
9.250%
|
|
Due 10/24/2011
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
6.270%
|
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
6.270%
|
|
Due 12/31/2012
|
|
143,625
|
|
|
1.625% (Variable)
|
|
|
|
144,000
|
|
|
1.688% (Variable)
|
|
Due 1/15/2013
|
|
580,724
|
|
|
6.250%
|
|
|
|
580,724
|
|
|
6.250%
|
|
Due 12/31/2013
|
|
130,950
|
|
|
2.000% (Variable)
|
|
|
|
131,288
|
|
|
2.063% (Variable)
|
|
Due 5/1/2014
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
8.250%
|
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
8.250%
|
|
Due 3/15/2015
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
6.625%
|
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
6.625%
|
|
Due 4/15/2015
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
7.875%
|
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
7.875%
|
|
Due 4/15/2017
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
8.250%
|
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
8.250%
|
|
Due 10/1/2018
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
8.125%
|
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
8.125%
|
|
Due 3/15/2019
|
|
434,000
|
|
|
7.125%
|
|
|
|
434,000
|
|
|
7.125%
|
|
Due 4/15/2020
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
8.500%
|
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
8.500%
|
|
Due 4/15/2022
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
8.750%
|
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
8.750%
|
|
Due 1/15/2027
|
|
345,858
|
|
|
7.875%
|
|
|
|
345,858
|
|
|
7.875%
|
|
Due 2/15/2028
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
6.730%
|
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
6.730%
|
|
Due 10/15/2029
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
8.400%
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
8.400%
|
|
Due 8/15/2031
|
|
945,325
|
|
|
9.000%
|
|
|
|
945,325
|
|
|
9.000%
|
|
|
|
7,806,571
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,807,284
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debentures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due 11/1/2025
|
|
138,000
|
|
|
7.000%
|
|
|
|
138,000
|
|
|
7.000%
|
|
Due 8/15/2026
|
|
1,739
|
|
|
6.800%
|
|
|
|
1,739
|
|
|
6.800%
|
|
Due 10/1/2034
|
|
628
|
|
|
7.680%
|
|
|
|
628
|
|
|
7.680%
|
|
Due 7/1/2035
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
7.450%
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
7.450%
|
|
Due 10/1/2046
|
|
193,500
|
|
|
7.050%
|
|
|
|
193,500
|
|
|
7.050%
|
|
|
|
458,867
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
458,867
|
|
|
|
|
Subsidiary Senior
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes due 12/1/2012
|
|
36,000
|
|
|
8.050%
|
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
|
8.050%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Lease Obligation
|
|
79
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
$
|
8,301,517
|
|
|
8.01%
|
|
|
$
|
8,302,230
|
|
|
8.04%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We have a $750.0 million revolving credit facility (the Credit Facility). As of March 31, 2011, we have not made any borrowings utilizing this facility. The terms of the Credit Facility are set forth in the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2010, among the Company, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the Credit Agreement). Associated facility fees under the Credit Facility will vary from time to time depending on the Company’s credit rating (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and were 0.625% per annum as of March 31, 2011. The Credit Facility is scheduled to terminate on January 1, 2014. During the term of the Credit Facility, the Company may borrow, repay and reborrow funds, and may obtain letters of credit, subject to customary borrowing conditions. Loans under the Credit Facility will bear interest based on the alternate base rate or the adjusted LIBOR rate (each as determined in the Credit Agreement), at the Company’s election, plus a margin specified in the Credit Agreement based on the Company’s credit rating. Letters of credit issued under the Credit Facility will also be subject to fees that vary depending on the Company’s credit rating. The Credit Facility will be available for general corporate purposes but may not be used to fund dividend payments.
We also have a $190.0 million unsecured letter of credit facility. The terms of the letter of credit facility are set forth in a Credit Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2010, among the Company, the Lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (the Bank), as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank (the Letter of Credit Agreement). A letter of credit for $190.0 million was issued to the West Virginia Public Service Commission to guarantee certain of our capital investment commitments in West Virginia in connection with the Transaction. The commitments under the Letter of Credit Agreement expire on September 20, 2011, with a Bank option to extend up to $100.0 million of the commitments to September 20, 2012. The Company is required to pay an annual facility fee on the available commitment, regardless of usage. The covenants binding on the Company under the terms of the Letter of Credit Agreement are substantially similar to those in the Company’s other credit facilities, including limitations on liens, substantial asset sales and mergers, subject to customary exceptions and thresholds.
As of March 31, 2011, we were in compliance with all of our debt and credit facility financial covenants.
Our principal payments for the next five years are as follows as of March 31, 2011:
($ in thousands)
|
|
Principal Payments
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 (remaining nine months)
|
|
$ |
279,033 |
|
2012
|
|
$ |
180,366 |
|
2013
|
|
$ |
709,855 |
|
2014
|
|
$ |
600,517 |
|
2015
|
|
$ |
800,549 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following is a reconciliation of the provision for income taxes computed at Federal statutory rates to the effective rates:
|
For the three months ended March 31,
|
|
|
2011
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated tax provision at federal statutory rate
|
|
35.0
|
% |
|
|
35.0
|
% |
|
State income tax provisions, net of federal income
tax benefit
|
|
3.8
|
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
|
All other, net
|
|
0.6
|
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
|
Effective tax rate
|
|
39.4
|
% |
|
|
42.4
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2011 includes the impact of a $1.1 million charge resulting from increases in certain state income tax rates. Income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 includes the impact of a $4.1 million charge resulting from health care reform legislation associated with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (the Acts). The health care reform legislation enacted in March 2010 under the Acts eliminated the tax deduction for the subsidy that the Company receives under Medicare Part D for prescription drug costs.
The amount of our uncertain tax positions whose statute of limitations are expected to expire during the next twelve months and which would affect our effective tax rate is $16.0 million as of March 31, 2011.
(9)
|
Net Income Per Common Share:
|
The reconciliation of the net income per common share calculation is as follows:
($ and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
For the three months ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
Net income used for basic and diluted earnings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
54,711 |
|
|
$ |
42,565 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Dividends paid on unvested restricted stock awards
|
|
|
(966 |
) |
|
|
(641 |
) |
Total basic and diluted net income attributable to common
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
53,745 |
|
|
$ |
41,924 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total weighted average shares and unvested restricted stock awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
outstanding - basic
|
|
|
994,547 |
|
|
|
312,868 |
|
Less: Weighted average unvested restricted stock awards
|
|
|
(4,798 |
) |
|
|
(2,472 |
) |
Total weighted average shares outstanding - basic
|
|
|
989,749 |
|
|
|
310,396 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total weighted average shares outstanding - basic
|
|
|
989,749 |
|
|
|
310,396 |
|
Effect of dilutive shares
|
|
|
1,213 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Effect of dilutive stock units
|
|
|
474 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
|
|
|
991,436 |
|
|
|
310,396 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders of Frontier
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Options
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, options to purchase 1,115,000 shares (at exercise prices ranging from $10.44 to $13.95) and 3,551,000 shares (at exercise prices ranging from $8.19 to $18.46), respectively, issuable under employee compensation plans were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (EPS) for those periods because the exercise prices were greater than the average market price of our common stock and, therefore, the effect would be antidilutive. In calculating diluted EPS, we apply the treasury stock method and include future unearned compensation as part of the assumed proceeds.
In addition, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, we have deducted the impact of dividends paid on unvested restricted stock awards from net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier.
Stock Units
At March 31, 2011 and 2010, we had 473,940 and 449,284 stock units, respectively, issued under our Non-Employee Directors’ Deferred Fee Equity Plan (Deferred Fee Plan) and the Non-Employee Directors’ Equity Incentive Plan (Directors’ Equity Plan). These securities have not been included in the diluted income per share of common stock calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2010, because their inclusion would have an antidilutive effect.
At March 31, 2011, we had five stock-based compensation plans under which grants have been made and awards remained outstanding. No further awards may be granted under three of the plans: the 1996 Equity Incentive Plan, the Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, together with the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, the EIP) and the Deferred Fee Plan. At March 31, 2011, there were 12,540,761 shares authorized for grant under these plans and 7,057,774 shares available for grant under two of the plans.
The following summary presents information regarding outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2011 and changes during the three months then ended with regard to options under the EIP:
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Average
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Subject to
|
|
|
Option Price
|
|
Remaining
|
|
|
Intrinsic
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
Life in Years
|
|
|
Value
|
Balance at January 1, 2011
|
1,507,000 0
|
|
$
|
10.50
|
|
1.7
|
|
$
|
603,000
|
|
Options granted
|
- -
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercised
|
(10,000)0
|
|
$
|
8.19
|
|
|
|
$
|
12,000
|
|
Options canceled, forfeited or lapsed
|
(2,000)0
|
|
$
|
8.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at March 31, 2011
|
1,495,000 0
|
|
$
|
10.52
|
|
1.4
|
|
$
|
11,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at March 31, 2011
|
1,495,000
|
|
$
|
10.52
|
|
1.4
|
|
$
|
11,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There were no options granted or exercised during the first three months of 2010. There was no intrinsic value to the stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2010.
The following summary presents information regarding unvested restricted stock as of March 31, 2011 and changes during the three months then ended with regard to restricted stock under the EIP:
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
Balance at January 1, 2011
|
4,440,000
|
|
$
|
8.29
|
|
$
|
43,199,000
|
|
Restricted stock granted
|
1,679,000
|
|
$
|
9.40
|
|
$
|
13,802,000
|
|
Restricted stock vested
|
(914,000)
|
|
$
|
9.91
|
|
$
|
7,509,000
|
|
Restricted stock forfeited
|
(51,000)
|
|
$
|
7.70
|
|
|
|
Balance at March 31, 2011
|
5,154,000
|
|
$
|
8.37
|
|
$
|
42,368,000
|
For purposes of determining compensation expense, the fair value of each restricted stock grant is estimated based on the average of the high and low market price of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. Total remaining unrecognized compensation cost associated with unvested restricted stock awards at March 31, 2011 was $37.6 million and the weighted average period over which this cost is expected to be recognized is approximately two years.
The total fair value of shares granted and vested during the three months ended March 31, 2010 was approximately $9.7 million and $5.4 million, respectively. The total fair value of unvested restricted stock at March 31, 2010 was $20.5 million. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted shares granted during the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $7.69. Shares granted during the first three months of 2010 totaled 1,300,000.
(11)
|
Segment Information:
|
We operate in one reportable segment, Frontier. Frontier provides both regulated and unregulated voice, data and video services to residential, business and wholesale customers and is typically the incumbent provider in its service areas.
As permitted by U.S. GAAP, we have utilized the aggregation criteria to combine our operating segments because all of our Frontier properties share similar economic characteristics, in that they provide the same products and services to similar customers using comparable technologies in all of the states in which we operate. The regulatory structure is generally similar. Differences in the regulatory regime of a particular state do not materially impact the economic characteristics or operating results of a particular property. In conjunction with the reorganization of our operating segments effective July 1, 2010, we reassigned goodwill to our reporting units using a relative fair value allocation approach.
The components of investment income are as follows:
|
|
For the three months ended
March 31,
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest and dividend income
|
|
$ |
2,731 |
|
|
$ |
2,416 |
|
Investment gain
|
|
|
552 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Equity (loss) earnings
|
|
|
(168 |
) |
|
|
81 |
|
Total investment income
|
|
$ |
3,115 |
|
|
$ |
2,497 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The components of other income, net are as follows:
|
|
For the three months ended
March 31,
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on expiration/settlement of
customer advances
|
|
$ |
6,337 |
|
|
$ |
4,743 |
|
Litigation settlement proceeds
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
262 |
|
Other, net
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
(49 |
) |
Total other income, net
|
|
$ |
6,470 |
|
|
$ |
4,956 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(14) Retirement Plans:
The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension Benefits
|
|
|
For the three months ended
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Components of net periodic pension benefit cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service cost
|
$ |
9,615 |
|
|
$ |
1,609 |
|
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
|
|
21,172 |
|
|
|
12,381 |
|
Expected return on plan assets
|
|
(25,589 |
) |
|
|
(11,649 |
) |
Amortization of prior service cost /(credit)
|
|
(50 |
) |
|
|
(50 |
) |
Amortization of unrecognized loss
|
|
4,435 |
|
|
|
6,748 |
|
Net periodic pension benefit cost
|
$ |
9,583 |
|
|
$ |
9,039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postretirement Benefits
|
|
|
Other Than Pensions (OPEB)
|
|
|
For the three months ended
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service cost
|
$ |
4,228 |
|
|
$ |
99 |
|
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
|
|
6,328 |
|
|
|
2,629 |
|
Expected return on plan assets
|
|
(82 |
) |
|
|
(108 |
) |
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)
|
|
(2,550 |
) |
|
|
(1,929 |
) |
Amortization of unrecognized loss
|
|
1,499 |
|
|
|
1,581 |
|
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost
|
$ |
9,423 |
|
|
$ |
2,272 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the first three months of 2011 and 2010, we capitalized $3.1 million and $1.7 million, respectively, of pension and OPEB expense into the cost of our capital expenditures, as the costs relate to our engineering and plant construction activities. Based on current assumptions and plan asset values, we estimate that our 2011 pension and other postretirement benefit expenses will be between $70 million and $80 million before amounts capitalized into the cost of capital expenditures (they were $68.4 million in 2010 before amounts capitalized into the cost of capital expenditures, including the plan expenses of the Acquired Business for the second half of 2010). We expect that we will make cash contributions to our pension plan of approximately $50 million in 2011, including payments of $2.6 million made through March 2011.
In connection with the completion of the Transaction on July 1, 2010, certain employees were transferred from various Verizon pension plans into 12 pension plans that were then merged with the Frontier Communications Pension Plan (the Plan) effective August 31, 2010. Assets of $581.3 million, including approximately $142.5 million that represents a receivable of the Plan as of December 31, 2010, were transferred into the Plan during the second half of 2010, with the receivable to be settled by the transfer of assets by the end of the third quarter of 2011.
The Company’s pension plan assets have increased from $1,290.3 million at December 31, 2010 to $1,304.6 million at March 31, 2011, an increase of $14.3 million, or 1%. This increase is a result of $42.8 million of positive investment returns and cash contributions of $2.6 million, less ongoing benefit payments of $31.1 million, during the first three months of 2011.
(15) Commitments and Contingencies:
We anticipate total capital expenditures of approximately $750 million to $780 million for 2011 related to our Frontier legacy properties and the Acquired Business. Although we from time to time make short-term purchasing commitments to vendors with respect to these expenditures, we generally do not enter into firm, written contracts for such activities.
In connection with the Transaction, the Company undertook activities to plan and implement systems conversions and other initiatives necessary to effectuate the closing (Phase 1). The Company continues to engage in activities to enable the Company to implement its “go to market” strategy in its new markets and to complete the conversions of all the remaining systems into one platform (Phase 2). For the full year of 2011, the Company currently expects to incur operating expenses of approximately $90.0 million, including $13.2 million of integration costs incurred during the first three months of 2011, and capital expenditures of approximately $60.0 million, including $5.6 million related to integration activities incurred during the first three months of 2011, related to these Phase 2 initiatives.
In addition, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and certain state regulatory commissions, in connection with granting their approvals of the Transaction, specified certain capital expenditure and operating requirements for the acquired Territories for specified periods of time post-closing. These requirements focus primarily on certain capital investment commitments to expand broadband availability and speeds to at least 85% of the households throughout the acquired Territories with minimum speeds of 3 megabits per second (Mbps) by the end of 2013 and 4 Mbps by the end of 2015. To satisfy all or part of certain capital investment commitments to three state regulatory commissions, we placed an aggregate amount of $115 million in cash into escrow accounts and obtained a letter of credit for $190 million in 2010. Another $72.4 million of cash in an escrow account, with an associated liability (reflected in Other liabilities), was acquired in connection with the Merger to be used for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia. As of March 31, 2011, the Company had a restricted cash balance in these escrow accounts in the aggregate amount of $184.2 million. The aggregate amount of these escrow accounts and the letter of credit will decrease over time as Frontier makes the required capital expenditures in the respective states.
We are party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of our business covering a wide range of matters or types of claims including general contract, rights of access, tax, consumer protection, trademark and patent infringement, employment, regulatory and tort. Litigation is subject to uncertainty and the outcome of individual matters is not predictable. However, we believe that the ultimate resolution of all such matters, after considering insurance coverage, or other indemnities to which Frontier is entitled, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or our cash flows.
We sold all of our utility businesses as of April 1, 2004. However, we have retained a potential payment obligation associated with our previous electric utility activities in the State of Vermont. The Vermont Joint Owners (VJO), a consortium of 14 Vermont utilities, including us, entered into a purchase power agreement with Hydro-Quebec in 1987. The agreement contains “step-up” provisions that state that if any VJO member defaults on its purchase obligation under the contract to purchase power from Hydro-Quebec, then the other VJO participants will assume responsibility for the defaulting party’s share on a pro-rata basis. Our pro-rata share of the purchase power obligation is 10%. If any member of the VJO defaults on its obligations under the Hydro-Quebec agreement, then the remaining members of the VJO, including us, may be required to pay for a substantially larger share of the VJO’s total purchase power obligation for the remainder of the agreement (which runs through 2015). U.S. GAAP rules require that we disclose “the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee.” U.S. GAAP rules also state that we must make such disclosure “… even if the likelihood of the guarantor’s having to make any payments under the guarantee is remote…” As noted above, our obligation only arises as a result of default by another VJO member, such as upon bankruptcy. Therefore, to satisfy the “maximum potential amount” disclosure requirement we must assume that all members of the VJO simultaneously default, an unlikely scenario given that all VJO members are regulated utility providers with regulated cost recovery. Despite the remote chance that such an event could occur, or that the State of Vermont could or would allow such an event, assuming that all the members of the VJO defaulted on January 1, 2011 and remained in default for the duration of the contract (another 5 years), we estimate that our undiscounted purchase obligation for 2011 through 2015 would be approximately $474.2 million. In such a scenario, the Company would then own the power and could seek to recover its costs. We would do this by seeking to recover our costs from the defaulting members and/or reselling the power to other utility providers or the northeast power grid. There is an active market for the sale of power. We could potentially lose money if we were unable to sell the power at cost. We caution that we cannot predict with any degree of certainty any potential outcome.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements (including oral representations) are only predictions or statements of current plans, which we review continuously. Forward-looking statements may differ from actual future results due to, but not limited to, and our future results may be materially affected by, potential risks or uncertainties. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all potential risks or uncertainties. We note the following as a partial list:
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Our ability to successfully integrate the operations of the Acquired Business into Frontier’s existing operations;
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The risk that the growth opportunities and cost synergies from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;
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Our indemnity obligation to Verizon for taxes which may be imposed upon them as a result of changes in ownership of our stock may discourage, delay or prevent a third party from acquiring control of us during the two-year period ending July 2012 in a transaction that stockholders might consider favorable;
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The effects of increased expenses incurred due to activities related to the Transaction and the integration of the Acquired Business;
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Our ability to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers;
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The effects of greater than anticipated competition requiring new pricing, marketing strategies or new product or service offerings and the risk that we will not respond on a timely or profitable basis;
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Reductions in the number of our access lines that cannot be offset by increases in High-Speed Internet (HSI) subscribers and sales of other products and services;
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The effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry as a result of federal and state legislation and regulation, or changes in the enforcement or interpretation of such legislation and regulation;
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The effects of any unfavorable outcome with respect to any current or future legal, governmental or regulatory proceedings, audits or disputes;
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The effects of changes in the availability of federal and state universal funding to us and our competitors;
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The effects of competition from cable, wireless and other wireline carriers;
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Our ability to adjust successfully to changes in the communications industry and to implement strategies for growth;
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Continued reductions in switched access revenues as a result of regulation, competition or technology substitutions;
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Our ability to effectively manage service quality in our territories and meet mandated service quality metrics;
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Our ability to successfully introduce new product offerings, including our ability to offer bundled service packages on terms that are both profitable to us and attractive to customers;
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Changes in accounting policies or practices adopted voluntarily or as required by generally accepted accounting principles or regulations;
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Our ability to effectively manage our operations, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and to repay, reduce or refinance our debt;
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The effects of changes in both general and local economic conditions on the markets that we serve, which can affect demand for our products and services, customer purchasing decisions, collectability of revenues and required levels of capital expenditures related to new construction of residences and businesses;
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The effects of customer bankruptcies and home foreclosures, which could result in difficulty in collection of revenues and loss of customers;
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The effects of technological changes and competition on our capital expenditures and product and service offerings, including the lack of assurance that our network improvements will be sufficient to meet or exceed the capabilities and quality of competing networks;
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The effects of increased medical, retiree and pension expenses and related funding requirements;
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Changes in income tax rates, tax laws, regulations or rulings, or federal or state tax assessments;
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The effects of state regulatory cash management practices that could limit our ability to transfer cash among our subsidiaries or dividend funds up to the parent company;
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Our ability to successfully renegotiate union contracts expiring in 2011 and thereafter;
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Declines in the value of our pension plan assets, which would require us to make increased contributions to the pension plan in 2011 and beyond;
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Adverse changes in the credit markets or in the ratings given to our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations, which could limit or restrict the availability, or increase the cost, of financing;
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Limitations on the amount of capital stock that we can issue to make acquisitions or to raise additional capital until July 2012;
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Our ability to pay dividends on our common shares, which may be affected by our cash flow from operations, amount of capital expenditures, debt service requirements, cash paid for income taxes and liquidity; and
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The effects of severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornados, ice storms or other natural or man-made disasters.
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Any of the foregoing events, or other events, could cause financial information to vary from management’s forward-looking statements included in this report. You should consider these important factors, in evaluating any statement in this report on Form 10-Q or otherwise made by us or on our behalf. The following information is unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. We have no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, and do not undertake to do so.
Overview
See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a discussion of the Transaction.
As a result of the Transaction, the Company is the nation’s largest communications services provider focused on rural areas and small and medium-sized towns and cities in 27 states, and the nation’s fifth largest Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC), with approximately 5.6 million access lines, 1.7 million broadband connections and 14,900 employees as of March 31, 2011.
Expected Cost Savings Resulting from the Transaction
Based on current estimates and assumptions, we expect to achieve significant cost savings as a result of the Transaction, principally (1) by leveraging the scalability of our existing corporate administrative functions and information technology and network systems to cover certain former Acquired Business functions and systems and (2) by internalizing certain functions formerly provided by third-party service providers to the Acquired Business.
We estimate that our annualized cost savings will reach approximately $550 million by the end of 2012 as we implement a targeted list of initiatives. During 2010, we realized cost savings of approximately $140 million from this target list, primarily by the elimination of costs related to the previous owner’s centralized services applicable to the Acquired Business, in addition to a number of other cost reduction initiatives including reduction in employees and contractors and migration of long distance services to a different carrier. Our first quarter 2011 savings from the targeted initiatives list (which includes, but is not limited to, network cost savings, contractor reductions, cancellation of vendor services, completion of the long distance migration to another carrier, benefit changes and real estate savings) was approximately $16 million and combined with the savings achieved in 2010 equates to an annualized cost savings run rate of approximately $368 million. We expect to achieve annualized cost savings of approximately $400 million by the end of 2011 and $550 million by the end of 2012. The realization of the additional annual cost savings is expected to be fully achieved by the end of 2012, when the Acquired Business’ network and information technology systems and processes will be fully integrated with those of Frontier.
The foregoing future cost savings are based on our estimates and assumptions that, although we consider them reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, may affect these expected cost savings. See “Forward Looking Statements” above. As a result, there can be no assurance that these or any other future cost savings or synergies will actually be realized.
Regulatory Developments
On March 16, 2010, the FCC released, as required under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), its National Broadband Plan. The National Broadband Plan proposes a series of actions that could result in additional regulatory requirements for broadband services as well as a series of other regulatory reforms. As a follow-up to the National Broadband plan, on February 8, 2011, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment from the industry on both short- and long-term reforms to Intercarrier Compensation and the Federal Universal Service High Cost Fund. The Notice asked for comment on a broad range of possible outcomes. Frontier, along with many other parties in the industry, filed comments in April 2011. Frontier cannot predict whether or when the FCC will take additional actions or the effect of any such actions on the Company’s subsidy revenues.
The following should be read in conjunction with Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
(a) Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents aggregating $359.4 million (excluding restricted cash of $184.2 million, representing funds set aside for future broadband expansion and service quality initiatives). Our primary source of funds continued to be cash generated from operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we used cash flow from operations and cash on hand to fund all of our cash investing and financing activities.
At March 31, 2011, we had a working capital deficiency of $233.4 million. We believe our operating cash flows, existing cash balances, and existing revolving credit facility will be adequate to finance our working capital requirements, fund capital expenditures, make required debt payments, pay taxes, pay dividends to our stockholders in accordance with our dividend policy, pay our acquisition and integration costs and capital expenditures, and support our short-term and long-term operating strategies through 2011. However, a number of factors, including but not limited to, losses of access lines, pricing pressure from increased competition, lower subsidy and switched access revenues and the impact of the current economic environment are expected to reduce our cash generated from operations. In addition, although we believe, based on information available to us, that the financial institutions syndicated under our revolving credit facility would be able to fulfill their commitments to us, given the current economic environment, this could change in the future. Further, our below-investment grade credit ratings may also make it more difficult and expensive to refinance our maturing debt. As of March 31, 2011, we have approximately $279.0 million of debt maturing during the last nine months of 2011 and approximately $180.4 million of debt maturing in 2012.
The consummation of the Transaction resulted in a combined company with significantly larger business operations and, consequently, greater working capital, capital expenditure and other liquidity needs. Upon consummation of the Transaction, we assumed approximately $3.5 billion principal amount of debt. As a result of our greater liquidity requirements, we entered into a new revolving credit facility which increased our line of credit to $750.0 million to provide sufficient flexibility to meet our liquidity needs. As of March 31, 2011, we have not made any borrowings utilizing this facility.
Based on the level of debt incurred and the additional cash flows resulting from the Transaction, our capacity to service our debt has been significantly enhanced as compared to our capacity immediately prior to the Transaction, although our overall debt increased. At March 31, 2011, the ratio of our net debt to adjusted operating cash flow (“leverage ratio”) was 3.03 times.
In addition, the FCC and certain state regulatory commissions, in connection with granting their approvals of the Transaction, specified certain capital expenditure and operating requirements for the acquired Territories for specified periods of time post-closing. These requirements focus primarily on certain capital investment commitments to expand broadband availability and speeds to at least 85% of the households throughout the acquired Territories with minimum speeds of 3 Mbps by the end of 2013 and 4 Mbps by the end of 2015. To satisfy all or part of certain capital investment commitments to three state regulatory commissions, we placed an aggregate amount of $115.0 million in cash into escrow accounts and obtained a letter of credit for $190.0 million in 2010. Another $72.4 million of cash in an escrow account, with an associated liability, was acquired in connection with the Transaction to be used for service quality initiatives in the state of West Virginia. The aggregate amount of these escrow accounts and the letter of credit will decrease over time as Frontier makes the required capital expenditures in the respective states.
The Transaction provides for a post-closing calculation of working capital. Frontier and Verizon have not finalized the results of this calculation nor the post-closing adjustment, if any. The final resolution of this process will not negatively impact Frontier’s balance sheet or working capital.
Cash Flows provided by Operating Activities
Cash flows provided by operating activities improved $391.0 million, or 317%, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared with the prior year period. The improvement was primarily the result of incremental cash flow from the Acquired Business.
We expect that in 2011 our cash taxes will be approximately $50 million to $75 million. Our 2011 cash tax estimate reflects the continued impact of bonus depreciation under the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. We paid cash taxes of $8.9 million during the first three months of 2011.
In connection with the Transaction, the Company continues to undertake a variety of activities to plan and implement systems conversions and other initiatives. As a result of the Transaction, the Company incurred $13.2 million of costs related to integration activities during the first three months of 2011, as compared to $10.4 million of acquisition and integration costs during the first three months of 2010.
Cash Flows used by Investing Activities
Capital Expenditures
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, our capital expenditures were $209.1 million (including $5.6 million of integration–related capital expenditures) and $69.6 million (including $29.7 million of integration-related capital expenditures), respectively. Capital expenditures in 2011 included $149.1 million associated with the Acquired Business. We continue to closely scrutinize all of our capital projects, emphasize return on investment and focus our capital expenditures on areas and services that have the greatest opportunities with respect to revenue growth and cost reduction. We anticipate total capital expenditures of approximately $750 million to $780 million for 2011 related to our Frontier legacy properties and the Acquired Business.
In connection with the Transaction, the Company continues to undertake a variety of activities to plan and implement systems conversions and other initiatives. As a result of the Transaction, the Company incurred $5.6 million and $29.7 million of capital expenditures related to these integration activities during the first three months of 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Cash Flows used by Financing Activities
Debt Reduction
During the first three months of 2011 and 2010, we retired an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 million of debt in each period, consisting of $0.7 million of senior unsecured debt and $0.3 million of rural utilities service loan contracts.
We may from time to time repurchase our debt in the open market, through tender offers, exchanges of debt securities, by exercising rights to call or in privately negotiated transactions. We may also refinance existing debt or exchange existing debt for newly issued debt obligations.
Credit Facility
We have a $750.0 million revolving credit facility (the Credit Facility). As of March 31, 2011, we have not made any borrowings utilizing this facility. The terms of the Credit Facility are set forth in the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2010, among the Company, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the Credit Agreement). Associated facility fees under the Credit Facility will vary from time to time depending on the Company’s credit rating (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and were 0.625% per annum as of March 31, 2011. The Credit Facility is scheduled to terminate on January 1, 2014. During the term of the Credit Facility, the Company may borrow, repay and reborrow funds, and may obtain letters of credit, subject to customary borrowing conditions. Loans under the Credit Facility will bear interest based on the alternate base rate or the adjusted LIBOR rate (each as determined in the Credit Agreement), at the Company’s election, plus a margin specified in the Credit Agreement based on the Company’s credit rating. Letters of credit issued under the Credit Facility will also be subject to fees that vary depending on the Company’s credit rating. The Credit Facility will be available for general corporate purposes but may not be used to fund dividend payments.
Letter of Credit Facility
We also have a $190.0 million unsecured letter of credit facility. The terms of the letter of credit facility are set forth in a Credit Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2010, among the Company, the Lenders party thereto, and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch (the Bank), as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank (the Letter of Credit Agreement). A letter of credit for $190.0 million was issued to the West Virginia Public Service Commission to guarantee certain of our capital investment commitments in West Virginia in connection with the Transaction. The commitments under the Letter of Credit Agreement expire on September 20, 2011, with a Bank option to extend up to $100.0 million of the commitments to September 20, 2012. The Company is required to pay an annual facility fee on the available commitment, regardless of usage. The covenants binding on the Company under the terms of the Letter of Credit Agreement are substantially similar to those in the Company’s other credit facilities, including limitations on liens, substantial asset sales and mergers, subject to customary exceptions and thresholds.
Covenants
The terms and conditions contained in our indentures, the Credit Agreement and the Letter of Credit Agreement include the timely payment of principal and interest when due, the maintenance of our corporate existence, keeping proper books and records in accordance with U.S. GAAP, restrictions on the incurrence of liens on our assets, and restrictions on asset sales and transfers, mergers and other changes in corporate control. We are not subject to restrictions on the payment of dividends either by contract, rule or regulation, other than that imposed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. However, we would be restricted under the Credit Agreement and the Letter of Credit Agreement from declaring dividends if an event of default has occurred and was continuing at the time or would result from the dividend declaration.
Our $200.0 million term loan facility with the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC), which matures in October 2011, the Credit Facility, and our $150.0 million and $135.0 million senior unsecured term loans, each contain a maximum leverage ratio covenant. Under those covenants, we are required to maintain a ratio of (i) total indebtedness minus cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) in excess of $50.0 million to (ii) consolidated adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the agreements) over the last four quarters no greater than 4.50 to 1.
The Credit Facility, the Letter of Credit Facility and certain indentures for our senior unsecured debt obligations limit our ability to create liens or merge or consolidate with other companies and our subsidiaries’ ability to borrow funds, subject to important exceptions and qualifications.
As of March 31, 2011, we were in compliance with all of our debt and credit facility covenants.
Dividends
We intend to pay regular quarterly dividends. Effective July 1, 2010, our Board of Directors set the annual cash dividend rate at $0.75 per share, subject to applicable law and within the discretion of our Board of Directors. Our ability to fund a regular quarterly dividend will be impacted by our ability to generate cash from operations. The declarations and payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, growth prospects, funding requirements, applicable law, restrictions in agreements governing our indebtedness and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not maintain any off-balance sheet arrangements, transactions, obligations or other relationships with unconsolidated entities that would be expected to have a material current or future effect upon our financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We review all significant estimates affecting our consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis and record the effect of any necessary adjustment prior to their publication. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that actual results could differ from those estimates and changes to estimates could occur in the near term. The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and judgments are used when accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts, impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of intangible assets, depreciation and amortization, pension and other postretirement benefits, income taxes, contingencies and purchase price allocations, among others.
Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and our Audit Committee has reviewed our disclosures relating to such estimates.
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
New Accounting Pronouncements
There were no new accounting standards that were adopted by the Company during the first three months of 2011.
(b) Results of Operations
Effective July 1, 2010, the Company’s scope of operations and balance sheet capitalization changed materially as a result of the completion of the Transaction. Historical financial and operating data presented for Frontier is not indicative of future results and includes the results of operations of the Acquired Business from the date of acquisition on July 1, 2010. The financial discussion and tables below include a comparative analysis of our results of operations on a historical basis for our Frontier operations as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. We have also presented an analysis of each category of revenue and operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 for the results of Frontier legacy operations (excluding the Acquired Business) and the results of the Acquired Business for the first quarter of 2011, as included in the consolidated results of operations. All variance explanations discussed below are based upon an analysis of the first quarter of 2011 financial data for Frontier legacy operations (excluding the Acquired Business) in comparison to the first quarter of 2010, except that the first two sentences in each category of revenue or operating expenses below shows the revenue, operating expenses and/or variances based upon an analysis of Frontier including the Acquired Business. Frontier has shown these adjustments to its financial presentations to exclude the effects of the Acquired Business because of the magnitude of the Transaction and its impact to our financial results in the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010.
REVENUE
Revenue is generated primarily through the provision of local, network access, long distance, and data and internet services. Such revenues are generated through either a monthly recurring fee or a fee based on usage at a tariffed rate and revenue recognition is not dependent upon significant judgments by management, with the exception of a determination of a provision for uncollectible amounts.
Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $826.9 million, or 159%, to $1,346.7 million as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. Excluding additional revenue of $841.8 million attributable to the Acquired Business for the three months ended March 31, 2011, our revenue decreased $14.9 million, or 3%, as compared to the prior year period. The decline for our Frontier legacy operations during the first three months of 2011 is a result of decreases in the number of residential and business customers, switched access revenue and directory revenue, partially offset by a $8.6 million, or 5%, increase in data and internet services revenue, each as described in more detail below.
Revenues from data and internet services such as HSI grew and increased for our Frontier legacy properties as a percentage of total revenues and revenues from voice services like local and long distance services and from switched access and subsidy (including federal and state subsidies) declined and decreased as a percentage of our total revenues.
Switched access and subsidy revenue for Frontier of $166.2 million represented 12% of our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Switched access revenue was $86.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 6% of our revenues, up from $58.8 million, primarily due to $37.6 million in the Acquired Business, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, or 11% of our revenues. We expect declining revenue trends in switched access and subsidy revenue during the remainder of 2011.
Change in the number of our access lines is one metric that is important to our revenue and profitability. Our Frontier legacy operations lost access lines primarily because of changing consumer behavior (including wireless substitution), economic conditions, changing technology, competition, and by the loss of second lines upon the addition of HSI or cable modem service. Our Frontier legacy operations lost approximately 31,100 access lines (net) during the three months ended March 31, 2011, or 6% on an annual basis, comparable to the 34,700 access lines (net) lost during the three months ended March 31, 2010, or 6% on an annual basis. The Acquired Business lost approximately 105,700 access lines (net) during the three months ended March 31, 2011. Economic conditions and/or increasing competition could make it more difficult to sell our bundles, and cause us to increase our promotions and/or lower our prices for our products and services, which would adversely affect our revenue, profitability and cash flow.
During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company added approximately 10,500 HSI subscribers. During the first quarter of 2011, the Company announced a price increase to be implemented in April 2011 for FiOS video customers in the state of Indiana who are on month-to-month plans. While the Company implemented a number of retention promotions, losses of FiOS video customers increased during the quarter as did the loss of FiOS data customers. During the first quarter, the Acquired Business lost approximately 4,900 FiOS data customers and added approximately 12,200 other HSI subscribers. In connection with the Transaction, the Company agreed to requirements that focus primarily on certain capital investment commitments to expand broadband availability and speeds. The Company plans to significantly expand broadband availability and speed over the next several years. We expect to continue to increase HSI subscribers during the remainder of 2011.
While the number of access lines is an important metric to gauge certain revenue trends, it is not necessarily the best or only measure to evaluate our business. Management believes that customer counts and understanding different components of revenue is most important. For this reason, presented in the table titled “Other Financial and Operating Data” below is an analysis that presents customer counts, average monthly revenue, products per customer, percentage of customers on price protection plans and churn. It also categorizes revenue into customer revenue (residential and business) and regulatory revenue (switched access and subsidy revenue). Despite the 7% decline in residential customers and the 6% decline in total access lines, customer revenue (all revenue except switched access and subsidy revenue) for our Frontier legacy operations declined in the first three months of 2011 by only 1 percent as compared to the prior year period. The decline in customers and access lines for our Frontier legacy operations was partially offset by increased penetration of additional products sold to both residential and business customers, which has increased our average monthly revenue per customer. A substantial further loss of customers and access lines, combined with increased competition and the other factors discussed herein may cause our revenue, profitability and cash flows to decrease in the remainder of 2011.
OTHER FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
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As of
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December 31, 2010
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Access lines:
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Residential
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3,521,710 |
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(3 |
%) |
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3,635,670 |
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1,322,665 |
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Business
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2,087,254 |
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(1 |
%) |
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2,110,048 |
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760,147 |
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Total access lines
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5,608,964 |
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(2 |
%) |
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5,745,718 |
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2,082,812 |
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HSI subscribers
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1,707,678 |
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1 |
% |
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1,697,167 |
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644,060 |
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Video subscribers
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546,404 |
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3 |
% |
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531,446 |
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175,775 |
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For the three months ended March 31, |
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$ Increase
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% Increase
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|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue (in 000's):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
|
|
$ |
576,679 |
|
|
$ |
220,396 |
|
|
$ |
356,283 |
|
|
|
162 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Business
|
|
|
603,797 |
|
|
|
210,669 |
|
|
|
393,128 |
|
|
|
187 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Total customer revenue
|
|
|
1,180,476 |
|
|
|
431,065 |
|
|
|
749,411 |
|
|
|
174 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulatory (switched
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
access and subsidy)
|
|
|
166,221 |
|
|
|
88,784 |
|
|
|
77,437 |
|
|
|
87 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Total revenue
|
|
$ |
1,346,697 |
|
|
$ |
519,849 |
|
|
$ |
826,848 |
|
|
|
159 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Switched access minutes of use
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
2,077 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
141 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Average monthly total revenue per
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
access line
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Frontier Legacy
|
|
$ |
85.26 |
|
|
$ |
82.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
- Total Company
|
|
$ |
79.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average monthly customer revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
per access line
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Frontier Legacy
|
|
$ |
71.84 |
|
|
$ |
68.42 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
- Total Company
|
|
$ |
69.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of or for the three months ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Increase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential customer metrics:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customers
|
|
|
3,338,306 |
|
|
|
1,230,426 |
|
|
|
171 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue (in 000's)
|
|
$ |
576,679 |
|
|
$ |
220,396 |
|
|
|
162 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Products per residential customer (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Frontier Legacy
|
|
|
2.64 |
|
|
|
2.54 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Total Company
|
|
|
2.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average monthly residential
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
revenue per customer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Frontier Legacy
|
|
$ |
61.48 |
|
|
$ |
59.13 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Total Company
|
|
$ |
56.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent of customers on price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
protection plans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Frontier Legacy
|
|
|
59.0 |
% |
|
|
55.3 |
% |
|
|
7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer monthly churn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Frontier Legacy
|
|
|
1.35 |
% |
|
|
1.37 |
% |
|
|
(1 |
%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Total Company
|
|
|
1.79 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Business customer metrics:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customers
|
|
|
333,396 |
|
|
|
138,223 |
|
|
|
141 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue (in 000's)
|
|
$ |
603,797 |
|
|
$ |
210,669 |
|
|
|
187 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average monthly business
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
revenue per customer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Frontier Legacy
|
|
$ |
528.90 |
|
|
$ |
503.41 |
|
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Total Company
|
|
$ |
594.39 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Products per residential customer: primary residential voice line, HSI and video products have a value of 1. Long
|
|
distance, Frontier Peace of Mind, second lines, feature packages and dial-up have a value of 0.5.
|
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2011 |
|
|
For the three
|
|
|
Vs. Frontier Legacy
|
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
|
|
|
months ended
|
|
|
$ Increase
|
|
|
% Increase
|
|
|
|
Reported
|
|
|
Business
|
|
|
Frontier Legacy
|
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local and long distance services
|
|
$ |
635,114 |
|
|
$ |
425,513 |
|
|
$ |
209,601 |
|
|
$ |
223,581 |
|
|
$ |
(13,980 |
) |
|
|
(6%) |
|
Data and internet services
|
|
|
458,527 |
|
|
|
286,549 |
|
|
|
171,978 |
|
|
|
163,368 |
|
|
|
8,610 |
|
|
|
5% |
|
Other
|
|
|
86,835 |
|
|
|
42,980 |
|
|
|
43,855 |
|
|
|
44,116 |
|
|
|
(261 |
) |
|
|
(1%) |
|
Customer revenue
|
|
|
1,180,476 |
|
|
|
755,042 |
|
|
|
425,434 |
|
|
|
431,065 |
|
|
|
(5,631 |
) |
|
|
(1%) |
|
Switched access and subsidy
|
|
|
166,221 |
|
|
|
86,752 |
|
|
|
79,469 |
|
|
|
88,784 |
|
|
|
(9,315 |
) |
|
|
(10%) |
|
Total revenue
|
|
$ |
1,346,697 |
|
|
$ |
841,794 |
|
|
$ |
504,903 |
|
|
$ |
519,849 |
|
|
$ |
(14,946 |
) |
|
|
(3%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local and Long Distance Services
Local and long distance services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $411.5 million, or 184%, to $635.1 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. Local and long distance services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $425.5 million as a result of the Acquired Business. Local and long distance services revenue for our Frontier legacy operations decreased $14.0 million, or 6%, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to the continued loss of access lines and, to a lesser extent, decreases in private line services and feature packages.
Data and Internet Services
Data and internet services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $295.2 million, or 181%, to $458.5 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. Data and internet services revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $286.5 million as a result of the Acquired Business. Data and internet services revenue for our Frontier legacy operations increased $8.6 million, or 5%, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to the overall growth in the number of HSI subscribers and high-capacity Internet and ethernet circuits purchased by customers. Data services revenue for our Frontier legacy operations increased $2.5 million to $93.2 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared with the same period of 2010. As of March 31, 2011, the number of the Company’s HSI subscribers for our Frontier legacy operations increased by approximately 11,300, or 2%, since March 31, 2010. Data and internet services also includes revenue from data transmission services to other carriers and high-volume commercial customers with dedicated high-capacity Internet and ethernet circuits. Nonswitched access revenue for our Frontier legacy operations increased $6.1 million to $78.8 million, in the three months ended March 31, 2011, as compared with the comparable period of 2010, primarily due to growth in the number of those circuits.
Other
Other revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $42.7 million, or 97%, to $86.8 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. Other revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $43.0 million as a result of the Acquired Business and decreased $0.3 million, or 1%, for our Frontier legacy operations as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. Directory services revenue for the first quarter of 2011 of $20.7 million for our Frontier legacy operations decreased $3.9 million, or 16%, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to a decline in yellow pages advertising. All other revenue for our Frontier legacy operations for the first quarter of 2011 of $23.1 million increased $3.6 million, or 19%, as compared to the prior period, primarily due to increased equipment sales, wireless revenue and DISH incentive payments, partially offset by higher bad debt expenses that are charged against revenues.
Switched Access and Subsidy
Switched access and subsidy revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $77.4 million, or 87%, to $166.2 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. Switched access and subsidy revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $86.7 million as a result of the Acquired Business and decreased $9.3 million, or 10%, for our Frontier legacy operations as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010.
Switched access revenue for our Frontier legacy operations for the first quarter of 2011 of $49.3 million, or 10% of Frontier legacy revenues, decreased $9.5 million, or 16%, as compared with $58.8 million, or 11% of our revenues in the first quarter of 2010. This decrease was primarily due to the impact of a decline in minutes of use related to access line losses and the displacement of minutes of use by wireless, email and other communications services. Switched access and subsidy revenue includes subsidy payments we receive from federal and state agencies, including surcharges billed to customers which are remitted to the FCC. Subsidy revenue for our Frontier legacy operations, including surcharges billed to customers of $10.9 million, for the first quarter of 2011 of $30.1 million increased $0.2 million, or 1%, as compared with the same period of 2010, primarily due to increased support for local switching and the Federal Universal Service Fund, partially offset by decreased support for the Federal High Cost Fund. We expect a decline in switched access and subsidy revenue in the remainder of 2011.
Federal, state subsidy and surcharges (which are billed to customers and remitted to the FCC) for the Company were $40.9 million, $10.3 million and $28.1 million, respectively, and $79.3 million in total, or 6% of our revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The federal and state subsidy revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 represents 4% of our consolidated revenues. Total federal, state subsidy and surcharges were $29.9 million, or 6% of our revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2010.
Federal subsidies are driven by many factors, including the National Average Cost per Local Loop (NACPL). Many factors may lead to further increases in the NACPL, thereby resulting in decreases in our federal subsidy revenue in the future. The FCC and state regulatory agencies are currently considering a number of proposals for changing the manner in which eligibility for subsidies is determined as well as the amounts of such subsidies. In addition, some of the reform proposals direct additional support for broadband deployment which could create an opportunity for federal subsidy support to assist with the broadband expansion in our high cost markets.
Certain states also have their own open proceedings to address reform to intrastate access charges and other intercarrier compensation. In addition, we have been approached by, and/or are involved in formal state proceedings with, various carriers seeking reductions in intrastate access rates in certain states. We cannot predict when or how these matters will be decided or the effect on our subsidy or switched access revenues. However, future reductions in our subsidy or switched access revenues may directly affect our profitability and cash flows as those regulatory revenues do not have an equal level of associated variable expenses.
OPERATING EXPENSES
NETWORK ACCESS EXPENSES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2011
|
|
|
For the three
|
|
|
Vs. Frontier Legacy
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
As
|
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
|
|
|
months ended
|
|
|
$ Increase
|
|
|
% Increase
|
|
|
Reported
|
|
|
Business
|
|
|
Frontier Legacy
|
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Network access
|
|
$ 151,284
|
|
|
$ 95,530
|
|
|
$ 55,754
|
|
|
$ 53,543
|
|
|
$ 2,211
|
|
|
4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Network access expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $97.7 million, or 183%, to $151.3 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. Network access expenses include “aspirational gift” costs of $9.8 million in the first quarter of 2011 for various HSI and video subscriber promotions. Network access expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $95.5 million as a result of the Acquired Business. Network access expenses for our Frontier legacy operations increased $2.2 million, or 4%, to $55.8 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to “aspirational gift” costs of $3.8 million and additional data backbone costs, partially offset by decreased long distance carriage costs in 2011.
As we continue to offer “aspirational gifts” (e.g., personal computers, televisions, digital cameras, gift cards, etc.) as part of our promotions, increase our sales of data products such as HSI and increase the penetration of our unlimited long distance calling plans, our network access expenses may increase in the future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2011
|
|
For the three
|
|
|
Vs. Frontier Legacy
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
As
|
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
|
|
|
months ended
|
|
|
$ Increase
|
|
|
% Increase
|
|
|
|
Reported
|
|
|
Business
|
|
|
Frontier Legacy
|
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wage and benefit expenses
|
|
$ |
284,866 |
|
|
$ |
184,252 |
|
|
$ |
100,614 |
|
|
$ |
104,987 |
|
|
$ |
(4,373 |
) |
|
|
(4%) |
|
All other operating expenses
|
|
|
295,474 |
|
|
|
213,525 |
* |
|
|
81,949 |
|
|
|
88,038 |
|
|
|
(6,089 |
) |
|
|
(7%) |
|
|
|
$ |
580,340 |
|
|
$ |
397,777 |
|
|
$ |
182,563 |
|
|
$ |
193,025 |
|
|
$ |
(10,462 |
) |
|
|
(5%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Includes $15.1 million of common corporate costs allocated to the Acquired Business.
Wage and benefit expenses
Wage and benefit expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $179.9 million, or 171%, to $284.9 million, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010. Wage and benefit expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $184.3 million as a result of the Acquired Business. Wage and benefit expenses for our Frontier legacy operations decreased $4.4 million, or 4%, to $100.6 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to lower costs for pension and certain other benefits.
Pension costs for the Company are included in our wage and benefit expenses. Pension costs for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 were approximately $7.9 million and $7.3 million, respectively. Pension costs include pension expense of $9.6 million and $9.0 million, less amounts capitalized into the cost of capital expenditures of $1.7 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
In connection with the completion of the Transaction on July 1, 2010, certain employees were transferred from various Verizon pension plans into 12 pension plans that were then merged with the Frontier Communications Pension Plan (the Plan) effective August 31, 2010. Assets of $581.3 million, including approximately $142.5 million that represents a receivable of the Plan as of March 31, 2011, were transferred into the Plan during 2010, with the receivable to be settled by the transfer of assets by the end of the third quarter of 2011.
The Company’s pension plan assets have increased from $1,290.3 million at December 31, 2010 to $1,304.6 million at March 31, 2011, an increase of $14.3 million, or 1%. This increase is a result of $42.8 million of positive investment returns and cash contributions of $2.6 million, less ongoing benefit payments of $31.1 million, during the first three months of 2011.
Based on current assumptions and plan asset values, we estimate that our 2011 pension and other postretirement benefit expenses (which were $68.4 million in 2010 before amounts capitalized into the cost of capital expenditures, including the plan expenses of the Acquired Business for the second half of 2010) will be approximately $70 million to $80 million for Frontier, including the plan expenses of the Acquired Business for 2011 and before amounts capitalized into the cost of capital expenditures. We expect that we will make cash contributions to our pension plan of approximately $50 million in 2011, including payments of $2.6 million made through March 2011.
All other operating expenses
All other operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $207.4 million, or 236%, to $295.5 million as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010. All other operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $213.5 million as a result of the Acquired Business. All other operating expenses for our Frontier legacy operations decreased $6.1 million, or 7%, to $81.9 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to $15.1 million in corporate costs allocated to the Acquired Business, partially offset by higher USF surcharges, marketing costs and outside service fees.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE |
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For the three months ended March 31, 2011
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For the three
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Vs. Frontier Legacy |
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($ in thousands)
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As
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Acquired
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months ended
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$ Increase
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% Increase
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Reported
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Business
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Frontier Legacy
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March 31, 2010
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(Decrease)
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(Decrease)
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Depreciation expense
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$ |
219,081 |
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$ |
132,816 |
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$ |
86,265 |
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$ |
86,996 |
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$ |
(731 |
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(1%) |
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Amortization expense
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132,176 |
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118,123 |
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14,053 |
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14,053 |
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- |
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- |
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$ |
351,257 |
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$ |
250,939 |
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$ |
100,318 |
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$ |
101,049 |
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$ |
(731 |
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(1%) |
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Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $250.2 million, or 248%, to $351.3 million, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010. Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $250.9 million as a result of the Acquired Business.
Depreciation and amortization expense for our Frontier legacy operations decreased $0.7 million, or 1%, to $100.3 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to a declining net asset base, partially offset by changes in the remaining useful lives of certain assets. We annually commission an independent study to update the estimated remaining useful lives of our plant assets. We revised our useful lives for Frontier legacy plant assets based on the study effective October 1, 2010 and the plant assets of the Acquired Business based on the study effective July 1, 2010. Our “composite depreciation rate” for plant assets is 7.6% as a result of the study. We anticipate depreciation expense of approximately $860 million to $880 million for 2011 for Frontier, including the Acquired Business.
Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 included $118.1 million for intangible assets (primarily customer base) that were acquired in the Transaction based on an estimated fair value of $2.5 billion and an estimated useful life of nine years for the residential customer list and 12 years for the business customer list, amortized on an accelerated method. We anticipate amortization expense of approximately $510 million for 2011 for Frontier, including the Acquired Business.
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ACQUISITION AND INTEGRATION COSTS
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For the three months ended March 31,
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($ in thousands)
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$ Increase
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% Increase
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2011
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2010
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(Decrease)
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(Decrease)
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Acquisition and
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integration costs
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$ 13,223
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$ 10,370
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$ 2,853
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28%
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Acquisition and integration costs represent expenses incurred to close the Transaction (legal, financial advisory, accounting, regulatory and other related costs) and integrate the network and information technology platforms by closing (Phase 1). The Company continues to engage in activities to enable the Company to implement its “go to market” strategy in its new markets and to complete the conversions of all the remaining systems into one platform (Phase 2). The Company incurred $13.2 million and $10.4 million of operating expenses and $5.6 million and $29.7 million in capital expenditures related to acquisition and integration activities during the first three months of 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company currently expects to incur operating expenses and capital expenditures for the full year of 2011 related to these Phase 2 initiatives of approximately $90 million and $60 million, respectively, including the amounts incurred during the first quarter of 2011 .
INVESTMENT INCOME / OTHER INCOME, NET / INTEREST EXPENSE / INCOME TAX EXPENSE
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For the three months ended March 31, |
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($ in thousands)
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$ Increase
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% Increase
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2011
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2010
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(Decrease)
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(Decrease)
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Investment income
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$ |
3,115 |
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$ |
2,497 |
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$ |
618 |
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25% |
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Other income, net
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$ |
6,470 |
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$ |
4,956 |
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$ |
1,514 |
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31% |
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Interest expense
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$ |
167,415 |
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$ |
93,787 |
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$ |
73,628 |
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79% |
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Income tax expense
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$ |
36,567 |
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$ |
32,056 |
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$ |
4,511 |
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14% |
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Investment Income
Investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $0.6 million to $3.1 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to an increase in investment gains of $0.6 million and an increase of $0.3 million in income from short-term investments of cash (including restricted cash), as a result of higher overall cash balances, partially offset by a decrease of $0.3 million in equity earnings.
Our average cash balances were $305.3 million and $344.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Our average restricted cash balance was $185.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $1.5 million to $6.5 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to an increase of $1.6 million in settlement of customer advances.
Interest expense
Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $73.6 million, or 79%, to $167.4 million as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to higher average debt levels in 2011. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 included $71.1 million associated with the assumed debt from the Transaction. Our average debt outstanding was $8,326.5 million and $4,883.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Our debt levels have risen due to the $3.45 billion of debt that was assumed by Frontier upon consummation of the Transaction. Our composite average borrowing rate as of March 31, 2011 and 2010 was 8.01% and 7.86%, respectively.
Income tax expense
Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 increased $4.5 million, or 14%, to $36.6 million, as compared with the three months ended March 31, 2010, primarily due to higher taxable income as a result of the Acquired Business, partially offset by the impact of a $4.1 million charge in the first quarter of 2010, as described below. The effective tax rate for the first three months of 2011 and 2010 was 39.4% and 42.4%, respectively.
The first three months of 2010 included the impact of a $4.1 million charge resulting from health care reform legislation associated with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (the Acts). The health care reform legislation enacted in March 2010 under the Acts eliminated the tax deduction for the subsidy that the Company receives under Medicare Part D for prescription drug costs.
The amount of our uncertain tax positions whose statute of limitations are expected to expire during the next twelve months and which would affect our effective tax rate is $16.0 million as of March 31, 2011.
We paid $8.9 million in cash taxes during the three months ended March 31, 2011. We did not pay any cash taxes during the first three months of 2010. We expect that our cash taxes for the full year of 2011 will be approximately $50 million to $75 million, including the impact of bonus depreciation in accordance with the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier
Net income attributable to common shareholders of Frontier for the first quarter of 2011 was $54.7 million, or $0.05 per share, as compared to $42.6 million, or $0.14 per share, in the first quarter of 2010. The increase in the first quarter of 2011 is primarily the result of incremental operating income from the Acquired Business, partially offset by increased interest expense. The change in basic and diluted net income per share during the first quarter of 2011 was primarily due to the increase in weighted average shares outstanding as a result of the issuance of 678.5 million shares in connection with our acquisition of the Acquired Business.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Disclosure of primary market risks and how they are managed
We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to ongoing investing and funding activities, including those associated with our pension assets. Market risk refers to the potential change in fair value of a financial instrument as a result of fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. We do not hold or issue derivative instruments, derivative commodity instruments or other financial instruments for trading purposes. As a result, we do not undertake any specific actions to cover our exposure to market risks, and we are not party to any market risk management agreements other than in the normal course of business. Our primary market risk exposures are interest rate risk and equity price risk as follows:
Interest Rate Exposure
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the interest-bearing portion of our pension investment portfolio and floating rate indebtedness. Our long-term debt as of March 31, 2011 was approximately 97% fixed rate debt with minimal exposure to interest rate changes. We had no interest rate swap agreements related to our fixed rate debt in effect at March 31, 2011.
Our objectives in managing our interest rate risk are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, all but $274.6 million of our outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2011 have fixed interest rates. In addition, our undrawn $750.0 million revolving credit facility has interest rates that float with LIBOR, as defined. Consequently, we have limited material future earnings or cash flow exposures from changes in interest rates on our long-term debt. An adverse change in interest rates would increase the amount that we pay on our variable obligations and could result in fluctuations in the fair value of our fixed rate obligations. Based upon our overall interest rate exposure at March 31, 2011, a near-term change in interest rates would not materially affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Sensitivity analysis of interest rate exposure
At March 31, 2011, the fair value of our long-term debt was estimated to be approximately $8.3 billion, based on our overall weighted average borrowing rate of 8.01% and our overall weighted average maturity of approximately 10 years. As of March 31, 2011, there has been no material change in the weighted average maturity applicable to our obligations since December 31, 2010.
Equity Price Exposure
Our exposure to market risks for changes in security prices as of March 31, 2011 is limited to our pension assets. We have no other security investments of any material amount.
During 2008 and 2009, the diminished availability of credit and liquidity in the United States and throughout the global financial system resulted in substantial volatility in financial markets and the banking system. These and other economic events have had an adverse impact on investment portfolios.
The Company’s pension plan assets have increased from $1,290.3 million at December 31, 2010 to $1,304.6 million at March 31, 2011, an increase of $14.3 million, or 1%. This increase is a result of $42.8 million of positive investment returns and $2.6 million in cash contributions, less ongoing benefit payments of $31.1 million, during the first three months of 2011. We expect that we will make cash contributions to our pension plan of approximately $50 million in 2011, including payments of $2.6 million made through March 2011.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a)
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Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
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We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, regarding the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this report, March 31, 2011, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
(b)
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Changes in internal control over financial reporting
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We reviewed our internal control over financial reporting at March 31, 2011. As a result of the Transaction, we have begun to integrate certain business processes and systems of the Acquired Business. Accordingly, certain changes have been made and will continue to be made to our internal controls over financial reporting until such time as this integration is complete. In reliance on interpretive guidance issued by the SEC staff, management has chosen to exclude disclosure of changes in internal control over financial reporting related to the Acquired Business, and will include its assessment of internal control over financial reporting for the Acquired Business in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
There have been no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in an evaluation thereof that occurred during the first fiscal quarter of 2011 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
See Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report. There have been no material changes to our legal proceedings from the information provided in Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
We are party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of our business covering a wide range of matters or types of claims including general contract, rights of access, tax, consumer protection, trademark and patent infringement, employment, regulatory and tort. Litigation is subject to uncertainty and the outcome of individual matters is not predictable. However, we believe that the ultimate resolution of all such matters, after considering insurance coverage or other indemnities to which we are entitled, will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or our cash flows.
Item 1A.Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to our risk factors from the information provided in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2011.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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Period
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Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
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|
Average
Price Paid
per Share
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January 1, 2011 to January 31, 2011
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|
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Employee Transactions (1)
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|
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1,534 |
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$ |
9.32 |
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|
|
|
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|
February 1, 2011 to February 28, 2011
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|
|
|
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|
|
Employee Transactions (1)
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|
|
264,807 |
|
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$ |
9.25 |
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|
March 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee Transactions (1)
|
|
|
1,195 |
|
|
$ |
8.68 |
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|
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|
|
Totals January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee Transactions (1)
|
|
|
267,536 |
|
|
$ |
9.24 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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(1)
|
Includes restricted shares withheld (under the terms of grants under employee stock compensation plans) to offset minimum tax withholding obligations that occur upon the vesting of restricted shares. The Company’s stock compensation plans provide that the value of shares withheld shall be the average of the high and low price of the Company’s common stock on the date the relevant transaction occurs.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item 6. Exhibits
(a)
|
Exhibits:
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|
|
10.1
|
Offer of Employment Letter, dated March 31, 2011, between the Company and Susana D’Emic.
|
|
31.1
|
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
|
31.2
|
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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32.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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32.2
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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101.INS
|
XBRL Instance Document.
|
|
101.SCH
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
|
|
101.PRE
|
XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.
|
|
101.CAL
|
XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.
|
|
101.LAB
|
XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.
|
|
101.DEF
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
|
|
|
|
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
|
|
(Registrant)
|
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|
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By: /s/ Susana D’Emic
|
|
Susana D’Emic
|
|
Senior Vice President and Controller
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|
Date: May 6, 2011
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40