Uniti Group Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Reiterates 2023 Outlook for Consolidated Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO

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

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

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

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

QUARTERLY RESULTS

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

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

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

LIQUIDITY

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

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

UPDATED FULL YEAR 2023 OUTLOOK

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

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

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

CONFERENCE CALL

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

ABOUT UNITI

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

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

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

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

NON-GAAP PRESENTATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2023				2022				2023				2022
Net loss		$	(80,933	)		$	(155,749	)		$	(74,506	)		$	(49,117	)
Depreciation and amortization			77,337				73,516				231,379				217,276
Interest expense, net			120,691				97,731				389,243				290,280
Income tax benefit			(43,095	)			(13,056	)			(49,864	)			(10,183	)
EBITDA		$	74,000			$	2,442			$	496,252			$	448,256
Stock-based compensation			3,148				3,151				9,408				9,664
Transaction related and other costs			1,441				2,375				9,805				7,324
Goodwill impairment			153,000				216,000				153,000				216,000
Gain on sale of operations			-				(176	)			-				(176	)
Gain on sale of real estate			(1,424	)			(94	)			(1,424	)			(344	)
Other, net			2,091				600				23,073				(6,534	)
Adjustments for equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities			754				755				2,264				2,816
Adjusted EBITDA		$	233,010			$	225,053			$	692,378			$	677,006
Adjusted EBITDA:
Uniti Leasing		$	208,561			$	203,209			$	620,079			$	602,531
Uniti Fiber			29,857				28,586				88,712				93,628
Corporate			(5,408	)			(6,742	)			(16,413	)			(19,153	)
		$	233,010			$	225,053			$	692,378			$	677,006
Annualized Adjusted EBITDA (1)		$	932,040
As of September 30, 2023:
Total Debt (2)		$	5,698,830
Cash and cash equivalents			34,119
Net Debt		$	5,674,711
Net Debt/Annualized Adjusted EBITDA			6.08x
________________________
(1) Calculated as Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently reported three-month period, multiplied by four. Annualized Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared on a pro forma basis in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
(2) Includes $18.4 million of finance leases, but excludes $98.4 million of unamortized discounts and deferred financing costs.

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

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

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

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

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

		Year Ended December 31, 2023
Interest expense on debt obligations		$	443
Accretion of Windstream settlement payable			10
Amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discounts (2)			29
Premium on early repayment of debt (3)			32
Interest expense, net (4)		$	514
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(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
[e-mail]

Bill DiTullio, 501-850-0872
Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasury
[e-mail]