UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 4, 2023
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (501 ) 850-0820
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Explanatory Note
Earlier today, May 4, 2023, Uniti Group Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, a copy of which was furnished with a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Original Report”). This Form 8-K/A (the “Amendment”) amends the Original Report and is being filed solely to correct a typographical error in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Original Report. In the “Updated Full Year 2023 Outlook” section of the press release, the range of projected AFFO (as defined therein) has been updated to $373 million to $393 million. Except for the foregoing, the Amendment does not modify or update any disclosure contained in the Original Report or its exhibits, but for ease of reference, this Amendment restates in its entirety the press release, as amended.
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On May 4, 2023, Uniti Group Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the Company’s results for its fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023. A copy of the Company’s press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 2.02 disclosure.
The information contained in this Item 2.02, including the exhibit attached hereto, is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. The information in this Item 2.02 shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or into any filing or other document pursuant to the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in any such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)Exhibits
Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Date: | UNITI GROUP INC. | ||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Daniel L. Heard | ||||||||||
| Name: | Daniel L. Heard | ||||||||||
| Title: | Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary | ||||||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Press Release
Release date: May 4, 2023
Uniti Group Inc. Reports First Quarter 2023 Results
Updates 2023 Outlook
•Net Loss of $19.2 Million or $0.08 Per Diluted Common Share for the First Quarter Due to One-Time Items
•Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA Grew 4.2% and 2.9% for the First Quarter, Respectively, from the Prior Year First Quarter
•AFFO Per Diluted Common Share of $0.39 for the First Quarter
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 4, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Uniti Group Inc. (“Uniti” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: UNIT) today announced its results for the first quarter 2023.
“Despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges, including persistent inflationary and supply chain pressures, our business remains predominantly resilient and the demand for our product offerings and services has not waned. To ensure that we are fully taking advantage of the current opportunity set within our industry, we continue to densify our networks in order to maximize our lease-up potential in existing markets, as well as evaluate new markets for expansion within our Southeast footprint, ” commented President and Chief Executive Officer, Kenny Gunderman.
Mr. Gunderman continued, “These industry tailwinds, combined with the steps we have taken to strengthen our balance sheet and push out maturities, with over 97% of our outstanding debt maturing in 2027 or later, positions Uniti to be successful now and in the long term.”
QUARTERLY RESULTS
Consolidated revenues for the first quarter of 2023 were $289.8 million. Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA were $19.2 million and $231.2 million, respectively, for the same period. Net loss attributable to common shares was $19.5 million for the period, and included the write-off of $10.4 million of deferred financing costs and $52.0 million of costs related to the early repayment of the 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025. Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) attributable to common shareholders was $107.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted common share.
Uniti Fiber contributed $79.0 million of revenues and $33.7 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2023, achieving Adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 43%. Uniti Fiber’s net success-based capital expenditures during the quarter were $36.1 million.
Uniti Leasing contributed revenues of $210.8 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $205.0 million for the first quarter. During the quarter, Uniti Leasing deployed capital expenditures of $71.7 million primarily related to the construction of approximately 1,200 new route miles of valuable fiber infrastructure.
FINANCING TRANSACTIONS
On March 24, 2023, Uniti entered into an amendment to its credit agreement that, upon receipt of routine regulatory approval, extends the maturity date of each lender’s commitment under the
1
Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility to September 24, 2027. The amendment also transitions the $500 million revolving credit facility from LIBOR to Term SOFR, and in connection with that change, sets the credit spread adjustment to ten basis points for all interest periods.
LIQUIDITY
At quarter-end, the Company had approximately $495.3 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, and undrawn borrowing availability under its revolving credit agreement. The Company’s leverage ratio at quarter-end was 5.87x based on net debt to first quarter 2023 annualized Adjusted EBITDA.
On May 2, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, payable on June 30, 2023, to stockholders of record on June 16, 2023.
UPDATED FULL YEAR 2023 OUTLOOK
The Company is updating its 2023 outlook primarily for business unit level revisions, and the impact from recent debt refinancings and transaction related and other costs incurred to date. Our 2023 outlook excludes future acquisitions, capital market transactions, and future transaction-related and other costs not mentioned herein.
The Company’s consolidated outlook for 2023 is as follows (in millions):
| Full Year 2023 | |||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 1,154 | to | $ | 1,174 | ||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | 60 | to | 80 | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (1) | 915 | to | 935 | ||||||||
Interest expense, net (2) | 517 | to | 517 | ||||||||
| Attributable to common shareholders: | |||||||||||
FFO (1) | 280 | to | 300 | ||||||||
AFFO (1) | 373 | to | 393 | ||||||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted | 290 | to | 290 | ||||||||
__________________________
(1) See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
(2) See “Components of Interest Expense” below.
CONFERENCE CALL
Uniti will hold a conference call today to discuss this earnings release at 8:30 AM Eastern Time (7:30 AM Central Time). The conference call will be webcast live on Uniti’s Investor Relations website at investor.uniti.com. Those parties interested in participating via telephone may register on the Company’s Investor Relations website or by clicking here. A replay of the call will be available on the Investor Relations website beginning today at approximately 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
ABOUT UNITI
Uniti, an internally managed real estate investment trust, is engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission critical communications infrastructure, and is a leading provider of fiber and other wireless solutions for the communications industry. As of March 31, 2023, Uniti owns approximately 137,000 fiber route miles, 8.3 million fiber strand miles, and other communications real
2
estate throughout the United States. Additional information about Uniti can be found on its website at www.uniti.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release and today’s conference call may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended from time to time. Those forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact, including, without limitation, our 2023 financial outlook, expectations regarding bookings, installs and strong demand trends, our business strategies, growth prospects, our ability to sustain difficult economic conditions, industry trends, sales opportunities, and operating and financial performance.
Words such as "anticipate(s)," "expect(s)," "intend(s)," “estimate(s),” “foresee(s),” "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seek(s)" and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained. Factors which could materially alter our expectations include, but are not limited to, the future prospects of Windstream, our largest customer; the ability and willingness of our customers to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, and the ability to reposition our properties on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant; the availability of and our ability to identify suitable acquisition opportunities and our ability to acquire and lease the respective properties on favorable terms; the risk that we fail to fully realize the potential benefits of acquisitions or have difficulty integrating acquired companies; our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness and fund our capital funding commitments; our ability to access debt and equity capital markets; the impact on our business or the business of our customers as a result of credit rating downgrades and fluctuating interest rates; our ability to retain our key management personnel; changes in the U.S. tax law and other state, federal or local laws, whether or not specific to real estate investment trusts; covenants in our debt agreements that may limit our operational flexibility; other risks inherent in the communications industry and in the ownership of communications distribution systems, including potential liability relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; and additional factors described in our reports filed with the SEC.
Uniti expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any of the forward-looking statements set forth in this press release and today’s conference call to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
NON-GAAP PRESENTATION
This release and today’s conference call contain certain supplemental measures of performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Such measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP. Further information with respect to and reconciliations of such measures to the nearest GAAP measure can be found herein.
3
Uniti Group Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except per share data)
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 3,855,189 | $ | 3,754,547 | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 70,346 | 43,803 | |||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 53,594 | 42,631 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 361,378 | 361,378 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 327,402 | 334,846 | |||||||||
| Straight-line revenue receivable | 74,654 | 68,595 | |||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | 85,551 | 88,545 | |||||||||
| Other assets | 78,364 | 77,597 | |||||||||
| Investment in unconsolidated entities | 38,337 | 38,656 | |||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets, net | 43,384 | 40,631 | |||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 4,988,199 | $ | 4,851,229 | |||||||
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit: | |||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities | $ | 125,832 | $ | 122,195 | |||||||
| Settlement payable | 229,610 | 251,098 | |||||||||
| Intangible liabilities, net | 164,418 | 167,092 | |||||||||
| Accrued interest payable | 72,726 | 121,316 | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 1,226,389 | 1,190,041 | |||||||||
| Dividends payable | 35,855 | 2 | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 64,045 | 66,356 | |||||||||
| Finance lease obligations | 16,186 | 15,520 | |||||||||
| Notes and other debt, net | 5,377,313 | 5,188,815 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 7,312,374 | 7,122,435 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||||||
| Shareholders' Deficit: | |||||||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding: 236,427 shares at March 31, 2023 and 235,829 at December 31, 2022 | 24 | 24 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,212,137 | 1,210,033 | |||||||||
| Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings | (3,538,683) | (3,483,634) | |||||||||
| Total Uniti shareholders' deficit | (2,326,522) | (2,273,577) | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests - operating partnership units and non-voting convertible preferred stock | 2,347 | 2,371 | |||||||||
| Total shareholders' deficit | (2,324,175) | (2,271,206) | |||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit | $ | 4,988,199 | $ | 4,851,229 | |||||||
4
Uniti Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||
| Leasing | $ | 210,808 | $ | 204,641 | |||||||
| Fiber Infrastructure | 79,014 | 73,393 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | 289,822 | 278,034 | |||||||||
| Costs and Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 148,863 | 96,172 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 76,775 | 71,457 | |||||||||
| General and administrative expense | 28,433 | 23,870 | |||||||||
| Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | 35,068 | 34,976 | |||||||||
| Transaction related and other costs | 2,788 | 1,714 | |||||||||
| Other expense (income), net | 20,179 | (398) | |||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | 312,106 | 227,791 | |||||||||
| (Loss) income before income taxes and equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | (22,284) | 50,243 | |||||||||
| Income tax benefit | (2,412) | (2,071) | |||||||||
| Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | (661) | (544) | |||||||||
| Net (loss) income | (19,211) | 52,858 | |||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (9) | 128 | |||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders | (19,202) | 52,730 | |||||||||
| Participating securities' share in earnings | (247) | (331) | |||||||||
| Dividends declared on convertible preferred stock | (5) | (5) | |||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | (19,454) | $ | 52,394 | |||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders - Basic | (19,454) | 52,394 | |||||||||
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | — | 2,994 | |||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders - Diluted | $ | (19,454) | $ | 55,388 | |||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||
| Basic | 236,090 | 235,046 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 236,090 | 267,304 | |||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per common share: | |||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.08) | $ | 0.22 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.08) | $ | 0.21 | |||||||
5
Uniti Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Cash flow from operating activities | |||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (19,211) | $ | 52,858 | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 76,775 | 71,457 | |||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount | 4,963 | 4,514 | |||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt, net | 31,187 | — | |||||||||
| Interest rate swap termination | — | 2,830 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (2,754) | (3,664) | |||||||||
| Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | (661) | (544) | |||||||||
| Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated entities | 980 | 980 | |||||||||
| Cash paid for interest rate swap settlement | — | (3,144) | |||||||||
| Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles | (9,427) | (11,022) | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 3,130 | 3,312 | |||||||||
| Loss (gain) on asset disposals | (422) | 663 | |||||||||
| Accretion of settlement obligation | 3,017 | 2,876 | |||||||||
| Other | — | (318) | |||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (10,963) | (2,814) | |||||||||
| Other assets | 6,553 | 157 | |||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities | (68,605) | (54,920) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 14,562 | 63,221 | |||||||||
| Cash flow from investing activities | |||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (114,981) | (94,728) | |||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of other equipment | 607 | 379 | |||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (114,374) | (94,349) | |||||||||
| Cash flow from financing activities | |||||||||||
| Repayment of debt | (2,263,662) | — | |||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of notes | 2,600,000 | — | |||||||||
| Dividends paid | (9) | (105) | |||||||||
| Payments of settlement payable | (24,505) | — | |||||||||
| Borrowings under revolving credit facility | 140,000 | 85,000 | |||||||||
| Payments under revolving credit facility | (253,000) | (60,000) | |||||||||
| Finance lease payments | (452) | (280) | |||||||||
| Payments for financing costs | (26,688) | — | |||||||||
| Payment for settlement of common stock warrant | (56) | — | |||||||||
| Termination of bond hedge option | 59 | — | |||||||||
| Costs related to the early repayment of debt | (44,303) | — | |||||||||
| Employee stock purchase program | 314 | 264 | |||||||||
| Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation | (1,343) | (1,525) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 126,355 | 23,354 | |||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 26,543 | (7,774) | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 43,803 | 58,903 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 70,346 | $ | 51,129 | |||||||
| Non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment acquired but not yet paid | $ | 13,049 | $ | 13,338 | |||||||
| Tenant capital improvements | 81,592 | 38,669 | |||||||||
Uniti Group Inc.
Reconciliation of Net Income to FFO and AFFO
(In thousands, except per share data)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | (19,454) | $ | 52,394 | |||||||
| Real estate depreciation and amortization | 54,516 | 51,893 | |||||||||
| Participating securities share in earnings | 247 | 331 | |||||||||
| Participating securities share in FFO | (247) | (658) | |||||||||
| Real estate depreciation and amortization from unconsolidated entities | 435 | 690 | |||||||||
| Adjustments for noncontrolling interests | (25) | (129) | |||||||||
| FFO attributable to common shareholders | 35,472 | 104,521 | |||||||||
| Transaction related and other costs | 2,788 | 1,714 | |||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount | 4,963 | 4,514 | |||||||||
| Write off of deferred financing costs and debt discount | 10,412 | — | |||||||||
| Costs related to the early repayment of debt | 51,997 | — | |||||||||
| Stock based compensation | 3,130 | 3,312 | |||||||||
| Non-real estate depreciation and amortization | 22,259 | 19,564 | |||||||||
| Straight-line revenues and amortization of below-market lease intangibles | (9,427) | (11,022) | |||||||||
| Maintenance capital expenditures | (1,828) | (2,366) | |||||||||
| Other, net | (12,661) | (8,170) | |||||||||
| Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | 320 | 296 | |||||||||
| Adjustments for noncontrolling interests | (32) | (21) | |||||||||
| AFFO attributable to common shareholders | $ | 107,393 | $ | 112,342 | |||||||
| Reconciliation of Diluted FFO and AFFO: | |||||||||||
| FFO Attributable to common shareholders - Basic | $ | 35,472 | $ | 104,521 | |||||||
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | — | 2,994 | |||||||||
| FFO Attributable to common shareholders - Diluted | $ | 35,472 | $ | 107,515 | |||||||
| AFFO Attributable to common shareholders - Basic | $ | 107,393 | $ | 112,342 | |||||||
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | 7,109 | 3,450 | |||||||||
| AFFO Attributable to common shareholders - Diluted | $ | 114,502 | $ | 115,792 | |||||||
Weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings (loss) per common share (1) | 236,090 | 235,046 | |||||||||
| Impact of dilutive non-participating securities | — | 1,226 | |||||||||
| Impact of if-converted dilutive securities | 54,748 | 31,032 | |||||||||
Weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO and AFFO per common share (1) | 290,838 | 267,304 | |||||||||
| Per diluted common share: | |||||||||||
| EPS | $ | (0.08) | $ | 0.21 | |||||||
| FFO | $ | 0.15 | $ | 0.40 | |||||||
| AFFO | $ | 0.39 | $ | 0.43 | |||||||
(1) For periods in which FFO to common shareholders is a loss, the weighted average common shares used to calculate diluted FFO per common share is equal to the weighted average common shares used to calculate basic earnings (loss) per share.
Uniti Group Inc.
Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
(In thousands)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (19,211) | $ | 52,858 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 76,775 | 71,457 | |||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 148,863 | 96,172 | |||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (2,412) | (2,071) | |||||||||
| EBITDA | 204,015 | 218,416 | |||||||||
| Stock based compensation | 3,130 | 3,312 | |||||||||
| Transaction related and other costs | 2,788 | 1,714 | |||||||||
| Other, net | 20,513 | 361 | |||||||||
| Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities | 755 | 986 | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 231,201 | $ | 224,789 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA: | |||||||||||
| Leasing | $ | 204,966 | $ | 198,973 | |||||||
| Fiber Infrastructure | 33,674 | 31,459 | |||||||||
| Corporate | (7,439) | (5,643) | |||||||||
| $ | 231,201 | $ | 224,789 | ||||||||
Annualized Adjusted EBITDA (1) | $ | 924,804 | |||||||||
As of March 31, 2023: | |||||||||||
Total Debt (2) | $ | 5,500,628 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 70,346 | ||||||||||
| Net Debt | $ | 5,430,282 | |||||||||
| Net Debt/Annualized Adjusted EBITDA | 5.87x | ||||||||||
(1)Calculated as Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently reported three-month period, multiplied by four. Annualized Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared on a pro forma basis in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
(2)Includes $16.2 million of finance leases, but excludes $107.1 million of unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs.
Uniti Group Inc.
Projected Future Results (1)
(In millions)
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Net income attributable to common shareholders - Basic | $60 to $80 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest share in earnings | 1 | ||||
| Participating securities' share in earnings | 1 | ||||
Net income (2) | 62 to 82 | ||||
Interest expense, net (3) | 517 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 308 | ||||
| Income tax benefit | (10) | ||||
EBITDA (2) | 876 to 896 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation | 13 | ||||
Transaction related and other costs (4) | 23 | ||||
| Adjustment for unconsolidated entities | 3 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA (2) | $915 to $935 | ||||
(1)These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above
(2)The components of projected future results may not add due to rounding.
(3)See “Components of Projected Interest Expense” below.
(4)Includes $20 million of costs associated with the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025. Future transaction related costs are not included in our current outlook.
Uniti Group Inc.
Projected Future Results (1)
(Per Diluted Share)
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Net income attributable to common shareholders – Basic | $0.26 to $0.34 | ||||
| Real estate depreciation and amortization | 0.92 | ||||
| Adjustments for unconsolidated entities | 0.01 | ||||
FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) | $1.19 to $1.27 | ||||
| Impact of if-converted securities | (0.15) | ||||
FFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted (2) | $1.05 to 1.12 | ||||
FFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) | $1.19 to $1.27 | ||||
Transaction related and other costs (3) | 0.01 | ||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount (4) | 0.12 | ||||
Costs related to the early retirement of debt (5) | 0.22 | ||||
Accretion of settlement payable (6) | 0.04 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation | 0.05 | ||||
| Non-real estate depreciation and amortization | 0.37 | ||||
| Straight-line revenues | (0.15) | ||||
| Maintenance capital expenditures | (0.04) | ||||
| Other, net | (0.24) | ||||
AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Basic (2) | $1.58 to $1.66 | ||||
| Impact of if-converted securities | (0.20) | ||||
AFFO attributable to common shareholders – Diluted (2) | $1.38 to $1.45 | ||||
(1)These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above.
(2)The components of projected future results may not add to FFO and AFFO attributable to common shareholders due to rounding.
(3)Future transaction related and other costs are not included in our current outlook.
(4)Includes the write-off of approximately $10 million of deferred financing costs related to the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
(5)Represents the premium paid on and related costs associated with the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
(6)Represents the accretion of the Windstream settlement payable to its stated value. At the effective date of the settlement, we recorded the payable on the balance sheet at its initial fair value, which will be accreted based on an effective interest rate of 4.2% and reduced by the scheduled quarterly payments.
Components of Projected Interest Expense (1)
(In millions)
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Interest expense on debt obligations | $446 | ||||
| Accretion of Windstream settlement payable | 10 | ||||
Amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discounts (2) | 29 | ||||
Premium on early repayment of debt (3) | 32 | ||||
Interest expense, net (4) | $517 | ||||
(1)These ranges represent management’s best estimates based on the underlying assumptions as of the date of this press release. Future acquisitions, capital market transactions, changes in market conditions, and other factors are excluded from our projections. There can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above.
(2)Includes the write-off of approximately $10 million of deferred financing costs related to the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
(3)Represents the premium paid on and related costs associated with the early repayment of our 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
(4)The components of interest expense may not add to the total due to rounding.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We refer to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Funds From Operations (“FFO”) (as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”)) and Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) in our analysis of our results of operations, which are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). While we believe that net income, as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings measure, we also believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO are important non-GAAP supplemental measures of operating performance for a REIT.
We define “EBITDA” as net income, as defined by GAAP, before interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as EBITDA before stock-based compensation expense and the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of transaction and integration related costs, costs associated with Windstream’s bankruptcy, costs associated with litigation claims made against us, and costs associated with the implementation of our enterprise resource planning system, (collectively, “Transaction Related and Other Costs”), costs related to the settlement with Windstream, goodwill impairment charges, executive severance costs, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs, costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments, and other similar or infrequent items (although we may not have had such charges in the periods presented). Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are important supplemental measures to net income because they provide additional information to evaluate our operating performance on an unleveraged basis. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated similar to defined terms in our material debt agreements used to determine compliance with specific financial covenants. Since EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered as alternatives to net income determined in accordance with GAAP.
Because the historical cost accounting convention used for real estate assets requires the recognition of depreciation expense except on land, such accounting presentation implies that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market and other conditions, presentations of operating results for a REIT that
uses historical cost accounting for depreciation could be less informative. Thus, NAREIT created FFO as a supplemental measure of operating performance for REITs that excludes historical cost depreciation and amortization, among other items, from net income, as defined by GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income attributable to common shareholders computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from real estate dispositions, plus real estate depreciation and amortization and impairment charges, and includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of FFO from unconsolidated entities. We compute FFO in accordance with NAREIT’s definition.
The Company defines AFFO, as FFO excluding (i) Transaction Related and Other Costs; (ii) costs related to the litigation settlement with Windstream, accretion on our settlement obligation, and gains on the prepayment of our settlement obligation as these items are not reflective of ongoing operating performance; (iii) goodwill impairment charges; (iv) certain non-cash revenues and expenses such as stock-based compensation expense, amortization of debt and equity discounts, amortization of deferred financing costs, depreciation and amortization of non-real estate assets, amortization of non-cash rights-of-use assets, straight line revenues, non-cash income taxes, and the amortization of other non-cash revenues to the extent that cash has not been received, such as revenue associated with the amortization of tenant capital improvements; and (v) the impact, which may be recurring in nature, of the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees, additional costs incurred as a result of the early repayment of debt, including early tender and redemption premiums and costs associated with the termination of related hedging activities, executive severance costs, taxes associated with tax basis cancellation of debt, gains or losses on dispositions, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and financial instruments and similar or infrequent items less maintenance capital expenditures. AFFO includes adjustments to reflect the Company’s share of AFFO from unconsolidated entities. We believe that the use of FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, combined with the required GAAP presentations, improves the understanding of operating results of REITs among investors and analysts, and makes comparisons of operating results among such companies more meaningful. We consider FFO and AFFO to be useful measures for reviewing comparative operating performance. In particular, we believe AFFO, by excluding certain revenue and expense items, can help investors compare our operating performance between periods and to other REITs on a consistent basis without having to account for differences caused by unanticipated items and events, such as transaction and integration related costs. The Company uses FFO and AFFO, and their respective per share amounts, only as performance measures, and FFO and AFFO do not purport to be indicative of cash available to fund our future cash requirements. While FFO and AFFO are relevant and widely used measures of operating performance of REITs, they do not represent cash flows from operations or net income as defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to those measures in evaluating our liquidity or operating performance.
Further, our computations of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, FFO and AFFO may not be comparable to that reported by other REITs or companies that do not define FFO in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or that interpret the current NAREIT definition or define EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO differently than we do.
INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS:
Paul Bullington, 251-662-1512
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
paul.bullington@uniti.com
Bill DiTullio, 501-850-0872
Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasury
bill.ditullio@uniti.com