Press release

Frontier Communications Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

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Frontier Communications Corporation (“Frontier” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Nick Jeffery, President and Chief Executive Officer of Frontier, said, “Frontier is now positioned with operational momentum and industry-leading leverage ratios to capitalize on the major growth forecast in the US fiber market. At this pivotal moment in the company’s evolution, we look forward to rapidly expanding our fiber footprint, delivering enhanced customer service offerings and value, and accelerating our efforts to build Gigabit America. Building on our first quarter performance, I am thrilled to announce our plan to expand our fiber footprint to 495,000 new locations in 2021.”

First Quarter 2021 Financial Results1

Frontier reported consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2021 of $1.68 billion, a 6.3% decline from consolidated revenue reported in the first quarter of 2020.

While overall Data and Internet Services revenue decreased $13 million in the first quarter of 2021, or 1.5%, against the prior year, Frontier’s fiber broadband revenues grew by $19 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the prior year. Consumer fiber net adds were 11,000 in the quarter, the seventh consecutive quarter of positive consumer fiber net adds.

First quarter 2021 net income was $60 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $670 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin2 was 40.0%. This compares with Adjusted EBITDA of $686 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 38.4% in the first quarter of 2020. The $16 million year-over-year decline in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by revenue declines, partially offset by cost savings initiatives including the emphasis on reducing video content costs. Capital expenditures increased to $384 million in the quarter from $356 million in Q4 2020, as fiber expansion initiatives accelerate. During the quarter, Frontier built fiber to approximately 100,000 new locations, more than the total number of locations it built in all of 2020.

Consumer Results

  • Consumer revenue was $844 million, down $50 million, or 5.6%, against prior year as fiber broadband growth was offset by video and voice subscriber losses.
  • Consumer customer churn was 1.45%, a strong improvement from 1.84% in the prior year.
  • Video revenue was impacted by subscriber losses, as video subscribers (excluding DISH) decreased by 141,000, or approximately 24% as the video bundle was deemphasized.
  • Fiber broadband ARPU increased $4 year-over-year from a higher speed mix, as well as price increases on new and existing accounts.

Commercial Results

  • Commercial revenue was $749 million, a $61 million decline, or approximately 7.5%, against prior year, driven by voice declines in our retail portion.
  • The wholesale portion of Commercial also declined reflecting proactive strategic repositioning with key business partners to reset pricing in exchange for higher win shares in the future and higher overall expected cash flow stability.

Sheldon Bruha, Chief Financial Officer, said, “Our early progress in implementing operational initiatives that enhance customer retention, simplify our internal processes, and reduce costs reflect a solid start to the year. Looking ahead, our expected emergence later today provides the opportunity to aggressively reinvest in expanding our fiber business and strengthening the customer experience.”

John Stratton, incoming Executive Chairman of the Board, said, “As Frontier transitions from its financial restructuring to its new course as a revitalized public company we are encouraged by what has been accomplished and enthusiastic about the future. Frontier is in a very strong position to accelerate the implementation of our fiber expansion plan and continually enhance the customer experience. The incoming Board of Directors is excited to work with the team to capture the significant opportunities that lie ahead.”

Capital Structure

In addition to the significant debt reduction accomplished in the Chapter 11 process, Frontier continues to take advantage of favorable market conditions to reduce interest expense and enhance liquidity. Some capital structure changes year-to-date include:

  • Issuing $750 million of takeback second lien debt to existing noteholders concurrent with today’s expected emergence as contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization, with a coupon of 5.875%;
  • Repricing the $1.25 billion Term Loan facility and reducing the interest rate by 125bps, resulting in approximately $16 million in annual interest savings;
  • Raising an incremental $225 million of First Lien Term Loan expected to close concurrent with emergence; and
  • At emergence, the company is expected to have total liquidity3 of approximately $1.3B and an expected net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately of 2.2x.

Stock Trading Update

  • Concurrent with emergence, Frontier will issue approximately 244 million shares of new common stock to its senior unsecured noteholders. Together with the 6% of shares reserved under the Management Incentive Plan (MIP), there will be approximately 260 million shares outstanding.
  • Frontier expects the new common stock to begin trading on the NASDAQ on May 4, 2021 under the ticker FYBR.
  • The pre-emergence common stock (trading under OTC: FTRCQ) will be extinguished and will not receive any new equity or other considerations, as provided in the Plan of Reorganization.

For more information on the new and previously issued common stock, please visit www.frontier.com/ir.

2021 Outlook and Investor Day

Frontier has established operational and financial guidance expectations for 2021. Upon emergence from Chapter 11, Frontier expects to adopt fresh start accounting in accordance with ASC 852. The impact of the application of fresh start accounting and any associated accounting policy changes will be determined by management upon and following emergence and, as such, the guidance below does not reflect any such impact.

Frontier’s guidance for the full year 2021 is as follows:

  • Adjusted EBITDA of $2.4-$2.5 billion4

    • Decrease from $2.8 billion in 2020 (adjusted for the sale of the Northwest operations), driven by strategic repositioning within Wholesale, secular declines of voice and copper broadband, and higher fiber broadband customer acquisition costs, partially offset by growth in fiber broadband revenue
  • Cash taxes of approximately $50 million
  • Cash interest payments of approximately $365 million
  • Cash pension and OPEB of approximately $120 million (net of capitalization)
  • Cash capital expenditures of approximately $1.5 billion

    • Increase versus $1.2 billion in 2020 (not adjusted for Disposal of Northwest Operations) primarily driven by fiber expansion efforts accelerating during the year
  • Fiber build to 495,000 locations in 2021

    • Incremental cash cost to build estimated at approximately $550 per location
    • Level of the 2021 fiber build continues to be evaluated by new executive management

Frontier will hold an investor day in August 2021 following the completion of a strategic business review by the new Board of Directors and management.

Conference Call and Webcast

Frontier will host a conference call today at 10 AM Eastern time, followed by a question and answer session. In connection with the conference call, Frontier furnished today, under cover of a Current Report on Form 8-K, additional materials regarding its quarterly results. The conference call will be webcast and may be accessed in the Webcasts & Presentations section of Frontier’s Investor Relations website at www.frontier.com/ir.

A replay of the conference call will be available in the Webcasts & Presentations section of Frontier’s Investor Relations website at www.frontier.com/ir.

About Frontier Communications

Frontier Communications offers a variety of services to residential and business customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks in 25 states, including video, high-speed Internet, advanced voice, and Frontier Secure® digital protection solutions. Frontier Business™ offers communications solutions to small, medium, and enterprise businesses. More information about Frontier is available at www.frontier.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Frontier uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its performance, including EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, operating free cash flow, adjusted operating expenses, and leverage ratio, each of which is described below. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to (i) assist in analyzing Frontier’s underlying financial performance from period to period, (ii) analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions, (iii) establish criteria for compensation decisions, and (iv) assist in the understanding of Frontier’s ability to generate cash flow and, as a result, to plan for future capital and operational decisions. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors regarding Frontier’s financial condition and results of operations because these measures, when used in conjunction with related GAAP financial measures (i) provide a more comprehensive view of Frontier’s core operations and ability to generate cash flow, (ii) provide investors with the financial analytical framework upon which management bases financial, operational, compensation, and planning decisions and (iii) present measurements that investors and rating agencies have indicated to management are useful to them in assessing Frontier and its results of operations.

A reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is included in the accompanying tables. These non-GAAP financial measures are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP, nor are they alternatives to GAAP measures and they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) less income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, investment and other income (loss), pension settlement costs, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt, reorganization items, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by total revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA, as described above, adjusted to exclude, certain pension/OPEB expenses, restructuring costs and other charges, stock-based compensation, and certain other non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by total revenue.

Management uses EBITDA, EBITDA margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to assist it in comparing performance from period to period and as measures of operational performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information for investors in evaluating Frontier’s operational performance from period to period because they exclude depreciation and amortization expenses related to investments made in prior periods and are determined without regard to capital structure or investment activities. By excluding capital expenditures, debt repayments and dividends, among other factors, these non-GAAP financial measures have certain shortcomings. Management compensates for these shortcomings by utilizing these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Frontier common shareholders is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Frontier common shareholders and excludes restructuring costs and other charges, pension settlement costs, reorganization items, certain income tax items and the income tax effect of these items, and certain other non-recurring items. Adjusting for these items allows investors to better understand and analyze Frontier’s financial performance over the periods presented.

Management defines operating free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, as net cash provided from operating activities less capital expenditures. Management uses operating free cash flow to assist it in comparing liquidity from period to period and to obtain a more comprehensive view of Frontier’s core operations and ability to generate cash flow. Management believes that this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors in evaluating cash available to service debt and pay dividends. This non-GAAP financial measure has certain shortcomings; it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures, as items such as debt repayments and preferred stock dividends are not deducted in determining such measure. Management compensates for these shortcomings by utilizing this non-GAAP financial measure in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measure.

Adjusted operating expenses is defined as operating expenses adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization, restructuring and other charges, goodwill impairment charges, certain pension/OPEB expenses, stock-based compensation, and certain other non-recurring items. Investors have indicated that this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating Frontier’s performance.

Leverage ratio is calculated as net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) divided by Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent four quarters. Investors have indicated that this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating Frontier’s debt levels.

The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in Frontier’s documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” related to future events. Forward-looking statements address Frontier’s expected future business, financial performance, and financial condition, and contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “may,” “will,” “would,” or “target.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the financial restructuring of our existing debt, existing equity interests and certain other obligations pursuant to the Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Frontier Communications Corporation and Its Debtor Affiliates Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code; our ability to comply with the restrictions imposed by covenants in our financing; declines in revenue from our voice services, switched and nonswitched access and video and data services that we cannot stabilize or offset with increases in revenue from other products and services; our ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives, including opportunities to enhance revenue and realize productivity improvements; our ability to effectively manage our operations, operating expenses, capital expenditures, debt service requirement and cash paid for income taxes and liquidity; competition from cable, wireless and wireline carriers, satellite, and over the top companies, and the risk that we will not respond on a timely or profitable basis; our ability to successfully adjust to changes in the communications industry, including the effects of technological changes and competition on our capital expenditures, products and service offerings; risks related to disruption in our networks, infrastructure and information technology that result in customer loss and/or incurrence of additional expenses; the impact of potential information technology or data security breaches or other cyber-attacks or other disruptions; our ability to retain or attract new customers and to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; our ability to secure, continue to use or renew intellectual property and other licenses used in our business; changes to our board of directors and management team upon emergence from bankruptcy or in anticipation of emergence, and our ability to hire or retain key personnel; our ability to dispose of certain assets or asset groups on terms that are attractive to us, or at all; the effects of changes in the availability of federal and state universal service funding or other subsidies to us and our competitors and our ability to obtain future subsidies, including participation in the proposed RDOF program; our ability to meet our CAF II obligations and the risk of penalties or obligations to return certain CAF II funds; our ability to defend against litigation and potentially unfavorable results from current pending and future litigation; our ability to comply with applicable federal and state consumer protection requirements; the effects of state regulatory requirements that could limit our ability to transfer cash among our subsidiaries or dividend funds up to the parent company; the effects of governmental legislation and regulation on our business, including costs, disruptions, possible limitations on operating flexibility and changes to the competitive landscape resulting from such legislation or regulation; the impact of regulatory, investigative and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks; government infrastructure projects (such as highway construction) that impact our capital expenditures; continued reductions in switched access revenues as a result of regulation, competition or technology substitutions; our ability to effectively manage service quality in the states in which we operate and meet mandated service quality metrics; the effects of changes in income tax rates, tax laws, regulations or rulings, or federal or state tax assessments, including the risk that such changes may benefit our competitors more than us, as well as potential future decreases in the value of our deferred tax assets; the effects of changes in accounting policies or practices, including potential future impairment charges with respect to our intangible assets or additional losses on assets held for sale; the effects of increased medical expenses and pension and postemployment expenses; our ability to successfully renegotiate union contracts; changes in pension plan assumptions, interest rates, discount rates, regulatory rules and/or the value of our pension plan assets, which could require us to make increased contributions to the pension plan in 2020 and beyond; adverse changes in economic, political and market conditions in the areas that we serve, the U.S. and globally, including but not limited to, changes resulting from epidemics, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases, including the COVID-19 pandemic, or other adverse public health developments; potential adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations, including potential disruptions to the work of our employees arising from health and safety measures such as social distancing and working remotely, our ability to effectively manage increased demand on our network, our ability to maintain relationships with our current or prospective customers and vendors as well as their abilities to perform under current or proposed arrangements with us, and stress on our supply chain; the trading price and volatility of our common stock; and the risks and other factors contained in Frontier’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent report on Form 10-K. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Frontier has no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements and does not undertake to do so.

 


1 Prior Year Comparisons are Adjusted for Disposal of Northwest Operations. See Schedule D on page 14 and Schedule F on page 16 for reconciliation of reported results to the results adjusted for the Disposal of Northwest Operations. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure of performance, See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 4 for a description of this measure and its calculation. See Schedule A on page 12 for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income/(loss).

2 Adjusted EBITDA margin is a non-GAAP measure of performance, calculated as Adjusted EBITDA, divided by total revenue. See “Non-GAAP Measures” on page 5 for a description of this measure and its calculation. See Schedule A on page 12 for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss.

3 Total liquidity consists of cash and cash equivalents and available capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility.

4 Projected GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of projected non-GAAP financial measures are not provided herein because such GAAP financial measures are not available on a forward-looking basis and such reconciliations could not be derived without unreasonable effort

Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Data 
(Unaudited)
     
    For the quarter ended
($ in millions and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)   March 31, 2021   December 31, 2020   March 31, 2020
                   
Statement of Operations Data                  
Revenue    $ 

                         1,676

   $ 

                         1,695

   $ 

                         1,933

                   
Operating expenses:                  
Network access expenses    

                            198

   

                            208

   

                            286

Network related expenses     

                            422

   

                            421

   

                            444

Selling, general and administrative expenses     

                            408

   

                            393

   

                            444

Depreciation and amortization    

                            387

   

                            394

   

                            415

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations    

                                 –

   

                                2

   

                              24

Restructuring costs and other charges    

                                2

   

                                 –

   

                              48

Total operating expenses    

                         1,417

   

                         1,418

   

                         1,661

                   
Operating income    

                            259

   

                            277

   

                            272

                   
Investment and other income (loss), net    

                                2

   

                             (14)

   

                                5

Pension settlement costs    

                                 –

   

                                 –

   

                           (103)

Loss on early extinguishment of debt    

                                 –

   

                             (72)

   

                                 –

Reorganization items, net    

                             (25)

   

                           (136)

   

                                 –

Interest expense (contractual interest for the three months                  
ended was $338 million)    

                             (89)

   

                             (98)

   

                           (383)

                   
Income (loss) before income taxes     

                            147

   

                             (43)

   

                           (209)

Income tax expense (benefit)    

                              87

   

                                7

   

                             (23)

Net income (loss)    

                              60

   

                             (50)

   

                           (186)

                   
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic    

                     104,556

   

                     104,489

   

                     104,363

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted    

                     104,896

   

                     104,489

   

                     104,363

                   
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common share    $ 

                           0.57

   $ 

                          (0.48)

   $ 

                          (1.78)

                   
Other Financial Data:                  
Capital expenditures    $ 

                            384

   $ 

                            356

   $ 

                            286

Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Unaudited Financial Data for Remaining Properties  (Excluding Northwest Operations)
                   
Note: The following table presents disaggregation of revenue for the operations located in the remaining 25 states (“Remaining Properties”) after excluding the Northwest Operations (“Northwest Ops”) through the date of sale from the Consolidated Company’s results. See Schedule D for a reconciliation to the Total Company Results.
                   
     
    For the quarter ended
($ in millions)   March 31, 2021     December 31, 2020   March 31, 2020
                   
                   
Selected Statement of Operations Data                  
Revenue:                  
Data and Internet services     $ 

                          842

   $ 

                         834

   $ 

                          855

Voice services    

                          487

   

                         490

   

                          529

Video services    

                          169

   

                         181

   

                          212

Other    

                            95

   

                         101

   

                          108

Revenue from contracts with customers    

                       1,593

   

                      1,606

   

                       1,704

Subsidy and other revenue    

                            83

   

                           89

   

                            84

Total revenue    $ 

                       1,676

   $ 

                      1,695

   $ 

                       1,788

                   
Other Financial Data                  
Revenue:                  
Consumer    $ 

                          844

   $ 

                         857

   $ 

                          894

Commercial     

                          749

   

                         749

   

                          810

Revenue from contracts with customers    

                       1,593

   

                      1,606

   

                       1,704

Subsidy and other revenue    

                            83

   

                           89

   

                            84

Total revenue    $ 

                       1,676

   $ 

                      1,695

   $ 

                       1,788

Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Unaudited Operating Data for Remaining Properties  (Excluding Northwest Operations)
             
Note: The following table presents operating metrics for the operations located in the remaining 25 states (“Remaining Properties”) after excluding the Northwest Operations (“Northwest Ops”) through the date of sale from the Consolidated Company’s results. See Schedule E for a reconciliation to the Total Company Results.
             
     
    For the quarter ended
    March 31, 2021   December 31, 2020   March 31, 2020
             
Consumer customer metrics            
Customers (in thousands)  

                       3,234

 

                       3,264

 

                       3,373

Net customer additions (losses)  

                          (30)

 

                          (42)

 

                          (39)

Average monthly consumer            
   revenue per customer  

 $                    86.60

 

 $                    87.00

 

 $                    87.88

Customer monthly churn  

1.45%

 

1.67%

 

1.84%

             
Broadband subscriber metrics             
Broadband subscribers (in thousands)  

                       3,052

 

                       3,069

 

                       3,183

Net subscriber additions (losses)  

                          (17)

 

                          (49)

 

                          (28)

             
Video (excl. DISH) subscriber metrics             
Video subscribers (in thousands)  

                          453

 

                          485

 

                          594

Net subscriber additions (losses)  

                          (32)

 

                          (33)

 

                          (37)

             
DISH subscriber metrics            
DISH subscribers (in thousands)  

                          129

 

                          134

 

                          149

Net subscriber additions (losses)  

                            (5)

 

                            (5)

 

                            (7)

             
Employees  

                     16,201

 

                     16,200

 

                     16,487

Frontier Communications Corporation  
(Debtor-In-Possession)  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data  
                 
                 
                 
    (Unaudited)          
($ in millions)   March 31, 2021     December 31, 2020  
                 
ASSETS                
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents (1)    $ 

                         2,107

     $ 

                         1,829

 
Accounts receivable, net    

                            519

     

                            553

 
Other current assets    

                            221

     

                            272

 
Total current assets    

                         2,847

     

                         2,654

 
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net    

                       12,987

     

                       12,931

 
Other assets    

                         1,126

     

                         1,210

 
Total assets    $ 

                       16,960

     $ 

                       16,795

 
                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)                
Current liabilities:                
Long-term debt due within one year   $

                         5,782

    $

                         5,781

 
Accounts payable and other current liabilities    

                         1,369

     

                         1,359

 
Total current liabilities    

                         7,151

     

                         7,140

 
                 
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities    

                         3,069

     

                         2,990

 
Liabilities subject to compromise    

                       11,570

     

                       11,565

 
Equity (deficit)    

                        (4,830)

     

                        (4,900)

#
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)    $ 

                       16,960

     $ 

                       16,795

 
                 
(1) On the effective date of our emergence from bankruptcy, an estimated $1,313 million of cash will be distributed to creditors as set forth in the Plan of Reorganization.
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Consolidated Cash Flow Data
(Unaudited)
     
    For the three months ended
($ in millions)   March 31, 2021   March 31, 2020
             
Cash flows provided from (used by) operating activities:            
Net income (loss)   $

                          60

  $

                      (186)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided from            
(used by) operating activities:            
Depreciation and amortization    

                        387

   

                        415

Pension settlement costs    

                            –

   

                        103

Stock-based compensation    

                          (1)

   

                            1

Amortization of deferred financing costs    

                            –

   

                            8

Other adjustments    

                            1

   

                            1

Deferred income taxes     

                          84

   

                        (30)

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations    

                            –

   

                          24

Change in accounts receivable    

                          34

   

                          29

Change in accounts payable and other liabilities    

                          48

   

                        110

Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes, and other assets    

                          52

   

                            2

Net cash provided from operating activities    

                        665

   

                        477

             
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:            
Capital expenditures    

                      (384)

   

                      (286)

Proceeds on sale of assets    

                            2

   

                            2

Other    

                            2

   

                            2

Net cash used by investing activities    

                      (380)

   

                      (282)

             
Cash flows used by financing activities:            
Long-term debt payments    

                            –

   

                          (5)

Finance lease obligation payments    

                          (5)

   

                          (8)

Other    

                          (2)

   

                             –

Net cash used by financing activities    

                          (7)

   

                        (13)

             
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash    

                        278

   

                        182

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at January 1,    

                     1,887

   

                        809

             
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at March 31,    $

                     2,165

  $

                        991

             
Supplemental cash flow information:            
Cash paid during the period for:            
Interest   $

                          40

  $

                        163

Income tax payments, net   $

                            –

  $

                            1

Reorganization items, net   $

                          56

  $

                             –

Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Unaudited Financial Data for Remaining Properties  (Excluding Northwest Operations)
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                   
Note: The following table presents Non-GAAP Measures for the operations located in the remaining 25 states (“Remaining Properties”) after excluding the Northwest Operations (“Northwest Ops”) through the date of sale from the Consolidated Company’s results. See Schedule F for a reconciliation to the Total Company Results.
     
    For the quarter ended
($ in millions)   March 31, 2021   December 31, 2020   March 31, 2020
                   
                   
Net income (loss)    $ 

                              60

   $ 

                             (50)

   $ 

                           (283)

Add back (subtract):                  
Income tax expense (benefit)    

                              87

   

                                7

   

                             (23)

Interest expense    

                              89

   

                              98

   

                             383

Investment and other (income) loss, net    

                               (2)

   

                              14

   

                               (5)

Pension settlement costs    

                                 –

   

                                 –

   

                             103

Loss on extinguishment of debt    

                                 –

   

                              72

   

                                 –

Reorganization items, net    

                              25

   

                            136

   

                                 –

Operating income    

                            259

   

                            277

   

                             175

Depreciation and amortization    

                            387

   

                            394

   

                             415

EBITDA    $ 

                            646

   $ 

                            671

   $ 

                             590

                   
Add back:                  
Pension/OPEB expense    

                              23

   

                              20

   

                               23

Restructuring costs and other charges    

                                2

   

                                 –

   

                               48

Stock-based compensation    

                               (1)

   

                                 –

   

                                 1

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations    

                                 –

   

                                2

# #

                               24

Adjusted EBITDA    $ 

                            670

   $ 

                            693

   $ 

                             686

                   
EBITDA margin    

38.5%

   

39.6%

   

33.0%

Adjusted EBITDA margin    

40.0%

   

40.9%

   

38.4%

 

SCHEDULE B
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for Total Consolidated Operations
 
 
For the quarter ended
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 March 31, 2020
($ in millions, except per share amounts) Net Income (Loss) Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Net Income (Loss) Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Net Income
(Loss)
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
Net income (loss) attributable to
Frontier common shareholders  $

          60

 $ 

       0.57

 $ 

         (50)

 $ 

      (0.48)

       (186)

 $ 

      (1.78)

 
Restructuring costs and other charges

            2

             –

          48

Pension settlement costs

             –

             –

        103

Reorganization items, net

          25

        136

             –

Loss on extinguishment of debt

             –

          72

             –

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations

             –

            2

          24

Certain other tax items (1)

          41

          51

          13

Income tax effect on above items:
Restructuring costs and other charges

           (1)

             –

         (10)

Pension settlement costs

             –

             –

         (25)

Reorganization items, net

           (7)

           (2)

             –

Loss on extinguishment of debt

             –

         (31)

             –

Loss on disposal of business

             –

           (8)

             –

$

          60

 $ 

       0.57

 $ 

        220

 $ 

       2.11

$

        153

 $ 

       1.47

Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to
Frontier common shareholders(2)  $ 

        120

 $ 

       1.15

 $ 

        170

 $ 

       1.63

         (33)

 $ 

      (0.32)

 
 
(1) Includes impact arising from federal research and development credits, changes in certain deferred tax balances, interest expense deductions, state tax law changes, state filing method change,  and the net impact of uncertain tax positions.
(2) Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Frontier common shareholders may not sum due to rounding.
SCHEDULE C
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for Remaining Properties  (Excluding Northwest Operations)
                   
Note: The following table presents Non-GAAP Measures for the operations located in the remaining 25 states (“Remaining Properties”) after excluding the Northwest Operations (“Northwest Ops”) through the date of sale from the Consolidated Company’s results. See Schedule G for a reconciliation to the Total Company Results.
                   
     
    For the quarter ended
($ in millions)   March 31, 2021   December 31, 2020   March 31, 2020
                   
Adjusted Operating Expenses                  
                   
Total operating expenses    $ 

                                 1,417

   $ 

                         1,418

   $ 

                           1,613

                   
Subtract:                  
Depreciation and amortization    

                                    387

   

                            394

   

                              415

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations    

                                        –

   

                                2

   

                                24

Pension/OPEB expense    

                                      23

   

                              20

   

                                23

Restructuring costs and other charges    

                                        2

   

                                 –

   

                                48

Stock-based compensation    

                                      (1)

   

                                 –

   

                                  1

Adjusted operating expenses     $ 

                                 1,006

   $ 

                         1,002

   $ 

                           1,102

SCHEDULE D
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for Remaining Properties to Consolidated Frontier
 
For the quarter ended  
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 March 31, 2020
Consolidated Consolidated Consolidated Northwest Remaining
($ in millions) Frontier Frontier Frontier Ops (1) Properties
       
Data and Internet services  $ 

                 842

 $ 

                       834

 $ 

                 932

 $ 

                   77

 $ 

                 855

Voice services  

                 487

 

                       490

                 572

                   43

                 529

Video services  

                 169

 

                       181

                 222

                   10

                 212

Other  

                   95

 

                       101

 

                 117

 

                     9

 

                 108

Revenue from contracts with customers  

              1,593

 

                    1,606

              1,843

                 139

              1,704

Subsidy revenue  

                   83

 

                         89

 

                   90

 

                     6

 

                   84

Revenue  

              1,676

 

                    1,695

              1,933

                 145

              1,788

       
Operating expenses (2):        
Network access expenses  

                 198

 

                       208

                 286

                   10

                 276

Network related expenses  

                 422

 

                       421

                 444

                   19

                 425

Selling, general and administrative expenses  

                 408

 

                       393

                 444

                   19

                 425

Depreciation and amortization  

                 387

 

                       394

                 415

                      –

                 415

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations  

                      –

 

                            2

                   24

                      –

                   24

Restructuring costs and other charges  

                     2

 

                             –

                   48

                      –

                   48

Total operating expenses  

              1,417

 

                    1,418

 

              1,661

 

                   48

 

              1,613

       
Operating income  

                 259

 

                       277

                 272

                   97

                 175

       
Consumer  $ 

                 844

 $ 

                       857

 $ 

                 971

 $ 

                   77

 $ 

                 894

Commercial  

                 749

 

                       749

 

                 872

 

                   62

 

                 810

Revenue from contracts with customers  

              1,593

 

                    1,606

              1,843

                 139

              1,704

Subsidy revenue  

                   83

 

                         89

 

                   90

 

                     6

 

                   84

Total revenue  $ 

              1,676

 $ 

                    1,695

 $ 

              1,933

 $ 

                 145

 $ 

              1,788

 
(1) Amounts represent the financial results of our Northwest Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
(2) Operating expenses for Northwest Ops do not include allocated expenses which are included in operating expenses for our Remaining Properties.
SCHEDULE E    
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Unaudited Operating Data for Remaining Properties  (Excluding Northwest Operations)
                   
    For the quarter ended
    March 31, 2021   December 31, 2020   March 31, 2020
    Consolidated   Consolidated   Consolidated   Northwest   Remaining
    Frontier   Frontier   Frontier   Ops   Properties
Customers (in thousands)  

                       3,553

 

                                   3,571

 

              4,063

 

N/A

 

N/A

                   
Consumer customer metrics                  
Customers (in thousands)  

                       3,234

 

                                   3,264

 

              3,703

 

                 330

 

3,373

Net customer additions (losses)  

                           (30)

 

                                       (42)

 

                  (44)

 

                    (5)

 

(39)

Average monthly consumer                  
   revenue per customer  

 $                    86.60

 

 $                                87.00

 

 $          86.93

 

 $          77.22

 

$          87.88

Customer monthly churn  

1.45%

 

1.67%

 

1.81%

 

1.52%

 

1.84%

                                 
Commercial customer metrics                                
Customers (in thousands)  

                           319

 

                                      307

 

                 360

 

N/A

 

N/A

                                 
Broadband subscriber metrics                                 
Broadband subscribers (in thousands)  

                       3,052

 

                                   3,069

 

              3,480

 

                 297

 

3,183

Net subscriber additions (losses)  

                           (17)

 

                                       (49)

 

                  (33)

 

                    (5)

 

(28)

                                 
Video (excl. DISH) subscriber metrics                                 
Video subscribers (in thousands)  

                           453

 

                                      485

 

                 621

 

                   27

 

594

Net subscriber additions (losses)  

                           (32)

 

                                       (33)

 

                  (39)

 

                    (2)

 

(37)

                                 
DISH subscriber metrics                                
DISH subscribers (in thousands)  

                           129

 

                                      134

 

                 165

 

                   16

 

149

Net subscriber additions (losses)  

                              (5)

 

                                         (5)

 

                    (8)

 

                    (1)

 

(7)

                                 
Employees  

                     16,201

 

                                 16,200

 

           17,437

 

950

 

16,487

SCHEDULE F
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for Remaining Properties to Consolidated Frontier
 
 
For the quarter ended
March 31, 2021   December 31, 2020 March 31, 2020
Consolidated Consolidated Consolidated Northwest Remaining
($ in millions) Frontier   Frontier Frontier Ops (1) Properties
 
Net income (loss)  $ 

                   60

 $ 

                         (50)

 $ 

               (186)

 $ 

                   97

 $ 

               (283)

Add back (subtract):
Income tax benefit

                   87

                             7

                  (23)

                      –

                  (23)

Interest expense

                   89

                           98

                 383

                      –

                 383

Investment and other loss (income), net

                    (2)

                           14

                    (5)

                      –

                    (5)

Pension settlement costs

                      –

                              –

                 103

                      –

                 103

Loss on extinguishment of debt

                      –

                           72

                      –

                      –

                      –

Reorganization items, net

                   25

                         136

                      –

                      –

                      –

Operating income   

                 259

 

                         277

 

                 272

 

                   97

 

                 175

 
Depreciation and amortization

                 387

                         394

                 415

                      –

                 415

EBITDA  

                 646

 

                         671

 

                 687

 

                   97

 

                 590

 
Add back:
Pension/OPEB expense

                   23

                           20

                   23

                      –

                   23

Restructuring costs and other charges

                     2

                              –

                   48

                      –

                   48

Stock-based compensation

                    (1)

                              –

                     1

                      –

                     1

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations

                      –

                             2

                   24

                      –

                   24

Adjusted EBITDA $

                 670

$

                         693

$

                 783

$

                   97

$

                 686

 
EBITDA margin

38.5%

39.6%

35.6%

66.9%

33.0%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

40.0%

40.9%

40.5%

66.9%

38.4%

 
Free Cash Flow
Net cash provided from operating activities $

                 665

$

                         497

$

                 477

 N/A 

 N/A 

Capital expenditures

               (384)

                       (356)

               (286)

 N/A 

 N/A 

Operating free cash flow $

                 281

$

                         141

$

                 191

 

 N/A 

 

 N/A 

 
(1) Amounts represent the financial results of our Northwest Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Net loss does not include the impact of income taxes and interest expense.
SCHEDULE G
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-In-Possession)
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for Remaining Properties to Consolidated Frontier
                                     
       
      For the quarter ended
      March 31, 2021   December 31, 2020   March 31, 2020
      Consolidated     Consolidated     Consolidated   Northwest   Remaining
  ($ in millions)   Frontier     Frontier     Frontier   Ops (1)   Properties
                                     
  Adjusted Operating Expenses                                  
                                     
  Total operating expenses (2)   $

              1,417

    $

                   1,418

    $

              1,661

  $

                   48

  $

              1,613

                                     
  Subtract:                                  
  Depreciation and amortization    

                 387

     

                      394

     

                 415

   

                      –

   

                 415

  Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations    

                      –

     

                          2

     

                   24

   

                      –

   

                   24

  Pension/OPEB expense    

                   23

     

                        20

     

                   23

   

                      –

   

                   23

  Restructuring costs and other charges    

                     2

     

                           –

     

                   48

   

                      –

   

                   48

  Stock-based compensation    

                    (1)

     

                           –

     

                     1

   

                      –

   

                     1

  Adjusted operating expenses    $

              1,006

    $

                   1,002

    $

              1,150

  $

                   48

  $

              1,102

                                     
                                     
  (1) Amounts represent the financial results of our Northwest Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
  (2) Operating expenses for Northwest Ops do not include allocated expenses which are included in operating expenses for our Remaining Properties.
Schedule H
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-in-Possession)
Selected Financial and Operating Data for Remaining Properties, Excluding Northwest Operations
(Unaudited)
                                                             
          As of or for the Quarter Ended
          03/31/19   06/30/19   09/30/19   12/30/19   03/31/20   06/30/20   09/30/20   12/31/20   03/31/21
Estimated Fiber Passings (in millions)                                                        
  Base Fiber Passings      

N/A

               

           3.2

   

           3.2

   

           3.2

   

           3.2

   

           3.2

  Total Fiber Passings                      

           3.2

   

           3.2

   

           3.2

   

           3.3

   

           3.4

                                                             
Estimated Broadband Fiber % Penetration                                                        
  Base Fiber Penetration                      

40.9%

   

41.1%

   

41.2%

   

41.4%

   

41.5%

  Total Fiber Penetration                      

41.0%

   

41.1%

   

41.2%

   

40.7%

   

39.9%

                                                             
Broadband Customers, end of period (in thousands)                                                
  Consumer Fiber      

       1,195

   

       1,186

   

       1,186

   

       1,190

   

       1,200

   

       1,207

   

       1,214

   

       1,223

   

       1,234

    Copper      

       1,565

   

       1,523

   

       1,474

   

       1,441

   

       1,418

   

       1,401

   

       1,380

   

       1,348

   

       1,326

    Total      

       2,760

   

       2,709

   

       2,660

   

       2,631

   

       2,618

   

       2,608

   

       2,594

   

       2,571

   

       2,560

                                                             
  Business (1) Fiber      

          117

   

          117

   

          117

   

          118

   

          118

   

          116

   

          117

   

          117

   

          120

    Copper      

          198

   

          192

   

          185

   

          179

   

          171

   

          166

   

          160

   

          154

   

          149

    Total      

          315

   

          309

   

          302

   

          297

   

          289

   

          282

   

          277

   

          271

   

          269

                                                             
Broadband Net Adds (in thousands)                                                        
  Consumer Fiber      

             (7)

   

             (9)

   

             –  

   

              4

   

            10

   

              7

   

              7

   

              9

   

            11

    Copper      

           (19)

   

           (42)

   

           (49)

   

           (33)

   

           (23)

   

           (17)

   

           (21)

   

           (31)

   

           (22)

    Total      

           (26)

   

           (51)

   

           (49)

   

           (29)

   

           (13)

   

           (10)

   

           (14)

   

           (22)

   

           (11)

                                                             
  Business (1) Fiber      

             –  

   

             –  

   

             –  

   

              1

   

             –  

   

             (2)

   

              1

   

             –  

   

              3

    Copper      

             (7)

   

             (6)

   

             (7)

   

             (6)

   

             (8)

   

             (5)

   

             (6)

   

             (6)

   

             (5)

    Total      

             (7)

   

             (6)

   

             (7)

   

             (5)

   

             (8)

   

             (7)

   

             (5)

   

             (6)

   

             (2)

                                                             
Broadband Churn                                                        
  Consumer Fiber      

2.75%

   

2.81%

   

2.69%

   

2.24%

   

1.97%

   

1.54%

   

1.81%

   

1.56%

   

1.40%

    Copper      

2.38%

   

2.64%

   

2.91%

   

2.53%

   

2.36%

   

2.03%

   

2.11%

   

1.96%

   

1.63%

    Total      

2.54%

   

2.71%

   

2.81%

   

2.40%

   

2.18%

   

1.81%

   

1.97%

   

1.77%

   

1.52%

                                                             
  Business (1) Fiber      

2.14%

   

1.96%

   

2.00%

   

1.80%

   

1.88%

   

1.74%

   

1.67%

   

1.49%

   

1.44%

    Copper      

2.23%

   

2.18%

   

2.26%

   

2.16%

   

2.14%

   

1.88%

   

2.01%

   

1.76%

   

1.70%

    Total      

2.20%

   

2.09%

   

2.16%

   

2.02%

   

2.03%

   

1.82%

   

1.87%

   

1.65%

   

1.59%

                                                             
Broadband ARPU                                                        
  Consumer Fiber     $

55.1

  $

53.5

  $

52.9

  $

52.7

  $

52.5

  $

52.4

  $

52.8

  $

54.5

  $

56.0

    Copper      

38.1

   

38.5

   

38.9

   

38.8

   

38.7

   

39.1

   

39.1

   

39.3

   

40.1

    Total     $

45.4

  $

45.0

  $

45.1

  $

45.0

  $

44.9

  $

45.2

  $

45.5

  $

46.5

  $

47.7

                                                             
  Business (1) Fiber     $

84.8

  $

87.6

  $

87.8

  $

87.1

  $

87.1

  $

86.1

  $

86.2

  $

87.1

  $

86.6

    Copper      

61.9

   

64.2

   

63.8

   

64.4

   

65.2

   

64.0

   

64.2

   

65.2

   

64.9

    Total     $

70.4

  $

73.0

  $

73.1

  $

73.3

  $

74.0

  $

73.0

  $

73.6

  $

74.6

  $

74.4

                                                             
  (1) Business customers include our small, medium business and larger enterprise (SME) commerical customers. Wholesale customers are excluded.                  
Schedule H (continued)
Frontier Communications Corporation
(Debtor-in-Possession)
Selected Financial and Operating Data for Remaining Properties, Excluding Northwest Operations
(Unaudited)
                                                             
          As of or for the Quarter Ended
          03/31/19   06/30/19   09/30/19   12/30/19   03/31/20   06/30/20   09/30/20   12/31/20   03/31/21
($ in millions)                                                          
Revenue by Product Type:                                                        
  Data       $

          888

  $

          885

  $

          851

  $

          822

  $

          855

  $

          849

  $

          838

  $

          834

  $

          842

  Voice        

          604

   

          582

   

          574

   

          555

   

          529

   

          509

   

          500

   

          490

   

          487

  Video        

          256

   

          248

   

          233

   

          222

   

          212

   

          197

   

          186

   

          181

   

          169

  Other        

          113

   

          111

   

          106

   

          108

   

          108

   

          105

   

          103

   

          101

   

            95

  Revenue from customers     $

       1,861

  $

       1,826

  $

       1,764

  $

       1,707

  $

       1,704

  $

       1,660

  $

       1,627

  $

       1,606

  $

       1,593

  Subsidy and other revenue      

            85

   

            89

   

            85

   

            85

   

            84

   

            94

   

            99

   

            89

   

            83

  Total revenue – Remaining Properties     $

       1,946

  $

       1,915

  $

       1,849

  $

       1,792

  $

       1,788

  $

       1,754

  $

       1,726

  $

       1,695

  $

       1,676

  Total revenue – Northwest Operations      

          155

   

          152

   

          148

   

          150

   

          145

   

            47

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

  Total revenue – Consolidated Frontier     $

       2,101

  $

       2,067

  $

       1,997

  $

       1,942

  $

       1,933

  $

       1,801

  $

       1,726

  $

       1,695

  $

       1,676

                                                             
Revenue by Customer Type:                                                        
  Consumer       $

          996

  $

          969

  $

          943

  $

          923

  $

          894

  $

          874

  $

          859

  $

          857

  $

          844

  Commercial        

          865

   

          857

   

          821

   

          784

   

          810

   

          786

   

          768

   

          749

   

          749

  Revenue from customers     $

       1,861

  $

       1,826

  $

       1,764

  $

       1,707

  $

       1,704

  $

       1,660

  $

       1,627

  $

       1,606

  $

       1,593

  Subsidy and other revenue      

            85

   

            89

   

            85

   

            85

   

            84

   

            94

   

            99

   

            89

   

            83

  Total revenue – Remaining Properties     $

       1,946

  $

       1,915

  $

       1,849

  $

       1,792

  $

       1,788

  $

       1,754

  $

       1,726

  $

       1,695

  $

       1,676

  Total revenue – Northwest Operations      

          155

   

          152

   

          148

   

          150

   

          145

   

            47

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

  Total revenue – Consolidated Frontier      $ 

       2,101

   $ 

       2,067

   $ 

       1,997

   $ 

       1,942

   $ 

       1,933

   $ 

       1,801

   $ 

       1,726

   $ 

       1,695

   $ 

       1,676

                                                             
Remaining Properties’ Financial Data                                                        
Net income (loss)     $

        (153)

  $

     (5,392)

  $

        (444)

  $

        (263)

  $

        (283)

  $

        (210)

  $

            15

  $

          (50)

  $

            60

Add back (subtract):                                                        
Income tax expense (benefit)      

18

   

        (534)

   

          (21)

   

          (74)

   

          (23)

   

          (57)

   

          (11)

   

7

   

            87

Interest expense      

379

   

383

   

382

   

391

   

383

   

160

   

121

   

98

   

            89

Investment and other (income) loss, net      

9

   

9

   

10

   

9

   

            (5)

   

20

   

14

   

14

   

            (2)

Pension settlement costs      

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

57

   

103

   

56

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

Loss on extinguishment of debt      

20

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

72

   

               –

Reorganization items, net      

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

          142

   

          131

   

          136

   

            25

Operating income (loss)      

273

   

(5,534)

   

(73)

   

120

   

175

   

111

   

270

   

277

   

          259

Depreciation and amortization      

449

   

429

   

422

   

420

   

415

   

397

   

392

   

394

   

          387

EBITDA       $

722

  $

     (5,105)

  $

349

  $

540

  $

590

  $

508

  $

662

  $

671

  $

646

                                                             
Add back:                                                          
Pension/OPEB expense      

20

   

19

   

20

   

19

   

23

   

23

   

24

   

20

   

23

Restructuring costs and other charges      

27

   

30

   

27

   

82

   

48

   

36

   

3

   

               –

   

2

Stock-based compensation      

3

   

4

   

3

   

5

   

1

   

1

   

1

   

               –

   

            (1)

Storm-related insurance proceeds      

            (1)

   

               –

   

               –

   

            (5)

   

               –

   

            (1)

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

Goodwill impairment      

               –

   

5,449

   

276

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

   

               –

Loss on disposal of Northwest Operations      

               –

   

384

   

30

   

32

   

24

   

136

   

               –

   

2

   

               –

Adjusted EBITDA     $

771

  $

781

  $

705

  $

673

  $

686

  $

703

  $

690

  $

693

  $

670

                                                             
EBITDA margin      

37.1%

   

-266.6%

   

18.9%

   

30.1%

   

33.0%

   

29.0%

   

38.4%

   

39.6%

   

38.5%

Adjusted EBITDA margin      

39.6%

   

40.8%

   

38.1%

   

37.6%

   

38.4%

   

40.1%

   

40.0%

   

40.9%

   

40.0%