SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO/VA/ - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021 | |||||
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the transition period from__________ to __________ |
Commission File No.: 000-09881
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia | 54-1162807 | |||||||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
500 Shentel Way, Edinburg, Virginia 22824
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(540) 984-4141
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:
Common Stock (No Par Value) | SHEN | NASDAQ Global Select Market | 49,965,379 | ||||||||
(Title of Class) | (Trading Symbol) | (Name of Exchange on which Registered) | (The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding on October 22, 2021) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | Emerging growth company | ☐ |
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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
INDEX
Page Numbers | ||||||||||||||
PART I. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |||||||||||||
Item 1. | Financial Statements | |||||||||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | ||||||||||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||||
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | ||||||||||||||
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | |||||||||||||
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | |||||||||||||
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | |||||||||||||
PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION | |||||||||||||
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | |||||||||||||
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | |||||||||||||
Item 6. | Exhibits | |||||||||||||
Signatures | ||||||||||||||
2
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands) | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||
Current assets: | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 532,544 | $ | 195,397 | |||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $565 and $614, respectively | 25,026 | 70,393 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other | 16,463 | 9,631 | |||||||||
Current assets held for sale | — | 1,133,294 | |||||||||
Total current assets | 574,033 | 1,408,715 | |||||||||
Investments | 13,410 | 13,769 | |||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 525,799 | 440,427 | |||||||||
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net | 106,146 | 106,759 | |||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 56,952 | 50,387 | |||||||||
Deferred charges and other assets | 16,750 | 11,650 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,293,090 | $ | 2,031,707 | |||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
Current maturities of long-term debt, net of unamortized loan fees | $ | — | $ | 688,463 | |||||||
Accounts payable | 17,433 | 19,599 | |||||||||
Advanced billings and customer deposits | 9,510 | 8,594 | |||||||||
Accrued compensation | 9,482 | 16,413 | |||||||||
Income taxes payable | 432,760 | 6,951 | |||||||||
Current operating lease liabilities | 2,648 | 1,970 | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities and other | 13,590 | 13,869 | |||||||||
Current liabilities held for sale | — | 452,202 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities | 485,423 | 1,208,061 | |||||||||
Other long-term liabilities: | |||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 60,231 | 150,652 | |||||||||
Asset retirement obligations | 9,364 | 4,955 | |||||||||
Benefit plan obligations | 12,490 | 14,645 | |||||||||
Non-current operating lease liabilities | 51,786 | 46,095 | |||||||||
Other liabilities | 25,030 | 24,905 | |||||||||
Total other long-term liabilities | 158,901 | 241,252 | |||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13) | |||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
Common stock, no par value, authorized 96,000; 49,965 and 49,868 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively | — | — | |||||||||
Additional paid in capital | 47,832 | 47,317 | |||||||||
Retained earnings | 600,934 | 539,783 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes | — | (4,706) | |||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 648,766 | 582,394 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,293,090 | $ | 2,031,707 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Service revenue and other | $ | 62,244 | $ | 55,173 | $ | 182,635 | $ | 162,643 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | 25,426 | 22,669 | 73,044 | 65,167 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 20,238 | 20,039 | 60,711 | 64,227 | |||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring expense | 1,160 | — | 1,821 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 14,248 | 11,995 | 40,813 | 36,010 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 61,072 | 54,703 | 176,389 | 165,404 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 1,172 | 470 | 6,246 | (2,761) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income, net | 138 | 1,083 | 3,076 | 3,103 | |||||||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 1,310 | 1,553 | 9,322 | 342 | |||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (5,422) | 141 | (2,315) | (684) | |||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | 6,732 | 1,412 | 11,637 | 1,026 | |||||||||||||||||||
Discontinued operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax | (406) | 33,509 | 99,632 | 76,422 | |||||||||||||||||||
Gain on the sale of discontinued operations, net of tax | 886,732 | — | 886,732 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Total income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 886,326 | 33,509 | 986,364 | 76,422 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income | 893,058 | 34,921 | 998,001 | 77,448 | |||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net gains/(losses) on interest rate swaps, net of tax | 3,620 | 539 | 4,706 | (5,509) | |||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income | $ | 896,678 | $ | 35,460 | $ | 1,002,707 | $ | 71,939 | |||||||||||||||
Net income per share, basic and diluted: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic - Income from continuing operations | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.02 | |||||||||||||||
Basic - Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | $ | 17.73 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 19.73 | $ | 1.53 | |||||||||||||||
Basic net income per share | $ | 17.86 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 19.96 | $ | 1.55 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted - Income from continuing operations | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.02 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted - Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | $ | 17.68 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 19.67 | $ | 1.53 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share | $ | 17.81 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 19.90 | $ | 1.55 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic | 49,984 | 49,911 | 49,984 | 49,889 | |||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted | 50,120 | 50,105 | 50,136 | 50,049 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares of Common Stock (no par value) | Additional Paid in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2021 | 49,950 | $ | 46,681 | $ | 644,726 | $ | (3,620) | $ | 687,787 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | 893,058 | — | 893,058 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax (Note 10) | — | — | — | 3,620 | 3,620 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared ($18.75 per share) | — | — | (936,850) | — | (936,850) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation | — | 1,061 | — | — | 1,061 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised | 15 | 85 | — | — | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued | — | 5 | — | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2021 | 49,965 | $ | 47,832 | $ | 600,934 | $ | — | $ | 648,766 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares of Common Stock (no par value) | Additional Paid in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2020 | 49,868 | $ | 47,317 | $ | 539,783 | $ | (4,706) | $ | 582,394 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | 998,001 | — | 998,001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax (Note 10) | — | — | — | 4,706 | 4,706 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared ($18.75 per share) | — | — | (936,850) | — | (936,850) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation | 118 | 2,041 | — | — | 2,041 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised | 15 | 85 | — | — | 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued | — | 16 | — | — | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares retired for settlement of employee taxes upon issuance of vested equity awards | (36) | (1,627) | — | — | (1,627) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2021 | 49,965 | $ | 47,832 | $ | 600,934 | $ | — | $ | 648,766 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares of Common Stock (no par value) | Additional Paid in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, June 30, 2020 | 49,852 | $ | 44,659 | $ | 472,537 | $ | (5,739) | $ | 511,457 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | 34,921 | — | 34,921 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax | — | — | — | 538 | 538 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock based compensation | — | 1,259 | — | — | 1,259 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued | — | 7 | — | — | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2020 | 49,852 | $ | 45,925 | $ | 507,458 | $ | (5,201) | $ | 548,182 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares of Common Stock (no par value) | Additional Paid in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2019 | 49,671 | $ | 42,110 | $ | 430,010 | $ | 308 | $ | 472,428 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | 77,448 | — | 77,448 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax | — | — | — | (5,509) | (5,509) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | 152 | 5,974 | — | — | 5,974 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued | — | 23 | — | — | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares retired for settlement of employee taxes upon issuance of vested equity awards | (47) | (2,182) | — | — | (2,182) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued to acquire non-controlling interest in nTelos | 76 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, September 30, 2020 | 49,852 | $ | 45,925 | $ | 507,458 | $ | (5,201) | $ | 548,182 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||||||
(in thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||
Net income | $ | 998,001 | $ | 77,448 | |||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 986,364 | 76,422 | |||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations | 11,637 | 1,026 | |||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
Depreciation | 40,193 | 35,522 | |||||||||
Amortization | 620 | 488 | |||||||||
Accretion of asset retirement obligations | 298 | 247 | |||||||||
Bad debt expense | 755 | 514 | |||||||||
Stock based compensation expense, net of amount capitalized | 1,953 | 5,306 | |||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 4,384 | (279) | |||||||||
Gain from patronage and investments | (438) | (596) | |||||||||
Amortization of long-term debt issuance costs | 109 | — | |||||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
Accounts receivable | (1,195) | (1,189) | |||||||||
Current income taxes | (6,870) | (261) | |||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 2,631 | 2,966 | |||||||||
Other assets | (8,841) | (4,122) | |||||||||
Accounts payable | (5,626) | (276) | |||||||||
Lease liabilities | (2,845) | (1,890) | |||||||||
Other deferrals and accruals | (5,193) | 7,344 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations | 31,572 | 44,800 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations | 121,067 | 182,499 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 152,639 | 227,299 | |||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (118,800) | (82,740) | |||||||||
Cash disbursed for deposit on FCC spectrum leases | — | (16,118) | |||||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets and other | 200 | 252 | |||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities - continuing operations | (118,600) | (98,606) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by investing activities - discontinued operations | 1,944,063 | (17,794) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 1,825,463 | (116,400) | |||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||
Payments for debt issuance costs | (841) | — | |||||||||
Dividends paid, net of dividends reinvested | (936,850) | — | |||||||||
Taxes paid for equity award issuances | (1,627) | (2,182) | |||||||||
Payments for financing arrangements and other | (1,081) | (727) | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities - continuing operations | (940,399) | (2,909) | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities - discontinued operations | (700,556) | (25,591) | |||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (1,640,955) | (28,500) | |||||||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 337,147 | 82,399 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 195,397 | 101,651 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 532,544 | $ | 184,050 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Other Information
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X for interim financial information. All normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been omitted. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingencies at the date of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements. These estimates are inherently subject to judgment and actual results could differ.
Adoption of New Accounting Principles
There have been no material developments related to recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and note disclosures, from those disclosed in the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, that would be expected to impact the Company.
Note 2. Discontinued Operations
On August 26, 2020, Sprint Corporation ("Sprint"), an indirect subsidiary of T-Mobile US, Inc., ("T-Mobile"), on behalf of and as the direct or indirect owner of Sprint PCS, delivered notice to the Company exercising its option to purchase the assets and operations of our Wireless operations for 90% of the “Entire Business Value” (as defined under our affiliate agreement and determined pursuant to the appraisal process set forth therein). Shortly thereafter, the Company committed to a plan to sell the discontinued Wireless operations.
On July 1, 2021, pursuant to the previously announced Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated May 28, 2021, between Shentel and T-Mobile, Shentel completed the sale to T-Mobile of its Wireless assets and operations for cash consideration of approximately $1.94 billion, inclusive of the approximately $60 million settlement of the waived management fees by Sprint, and net of certain transaction expenses (the “Transaction”).
The assets and liabilities that transferred in the sale (the "disposal group") were presented as held for sale within our historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, and discontinued operations within our historical unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
The transaction was structured as an asset sale for income tax purposes. As a result, no current or deferred tax assets or liabilities were included within the disposal group. While our long-term debt did not transfer in the sale, its provisions required us to fully repay all of the debt concurrent with the consummation of the sale. Our debt was therefore presented outside of the disposal group as a current liability as of December 31, 2020. Our related interest rate swap liabilities were also presented outside of the disposal group as a current liability as of December 31, 2020, because management terminated them at consummation. Because repayment of the debt is contractually triggered by the sale, the related interest expense and debt extinguishment costs were presented within discontinued operations under the relevant authoritative guidance.
7
The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities, classified as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheets, were as follows:
(in thousands) | December 31, 2020 | ||||
ASSETS | |||||
Inventory | $ | 5,746 | |||
Prepaid expenses and other | 47,003 | ||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 299,647 | ||||
Intangible assets, net | 176,459 | ||||
Goodwill | 146,383 | ||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 421,586 | ||||
Deferred charges and other assets | 36,470 | ||||
Current assets held for sale | $ | 1,133,294 | |||
LIABILITIES | |||||
Current operating lease liabilities | $ | 409,887 | |||
Accrued liabilities and other | 8,770 | ||||
Asset retirement obligations | 33,545 | ||||
Current liabilities held for sale | $ | 452,202 |
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income consist of the following:
(in thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue: | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Service revenue and other | $ | — | $ | 100,963 | $ | 201,076 | $ | 302,488 | |||||||||||||||
Equipment revenue | — | 9,862 | 12,253 | 32,222 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | — | 110,825 | 213,329 | 334,710 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | — | 28,567 | 38,144 | 95,242 | |||||||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold | — | 9,600 | 11,964 | 31,565 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | — | 7,696 | 17,514 | 25,931 | |||||||||||||||||||
Severance expense | — | — | 465 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | — | 15,077 | — | 62,804 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | — | 60,940 | 68,087 | 215,542 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating income | — | 49,885 | 145,242 | 119,168 | |||||||||||||||||||
Other (expense) income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt extinguishment | (11,032) | — | (11,032) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense and other, net | (733) | (4,508) | (9,434) | (15,477) | |||||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of disposition of Wireless assets and operations | 1,224,815 | — | 1,224,815 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 1,213,050 | 45,377 | 1,349,591 | 103,691 | |||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 326,724 | 11,868 | 363,227 | 27,269 | |||||||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | $ | 886,326 | $ | 33,509 | $ | 986,364 | $ | 76,422 |
Consummation of the sale triggered the recognition of approximately $21 million of incremental selling costs during the three months ended September 30, 2021, for contingent deal advisory fees and severance expenses, which are netted against the gain on sale of disposition of Wireless assets and operations. Additionally, also triggered by the disposition event, we recognized an $11.0 million loss on debt extinguishment and incurred interest expense of approximately $2.6 million on the termination of our interest rate swaps.
8
Note 3. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Our Broadband segment provides broadband data, video and voice services to residential and commercial customers in portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, via fiber optic, hybrid fiber coaxial cable, and fixed wireless networks. The Broadband segment also provides voice and DSL telephone services to customers in Virginia’s Shenandoah County and portions of adjacent counties as a Rural Local Exchange Carrier (“RLEC”).
These contracts are generally cancellable at the customer’s discretion without penalty at any time. We allocate the total transaction price in these transactions based upon the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service. We generally recognize these revenues over time as customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of the service, with the exception of equipment sales and home wiring, which are recognized as revenue at a point in time when control transfers and when installation is complete, respectively. Installation fees, charged upfront without transfer of commensurate goods or services to the customer, are allocated to services and are recognized ratably over the longer of the contract term or the period in which the unrecognized fee remains material to the contract, which we estimate to be about one year. Additionally, the Company incurs commission and installation costs related to in-house and third-party vendors which are capitalized and amortized over the expected weighted average customer life which is approximately six years.
Our Broadband segment also provides Ethernet and Wavelength fiber optic services to commercial fiber customers under capacity agreements, and the related revenue is recognized over time. In some cases, non-refundable upfront fees are charged for connecting commercial fiber customers to our fiber network. Those amounts are recognized ratably over the longer of the contract term or the period in which the unrecognized fee remains material to the respective contract. A related contract liability of $3.8 million at September 30, 2021, is expected to be recognized into revenue at the rate of approximately $0.2 million per year.
The Broadband segment also leases dedicated fiber optic strands to customers as part of “dark fiber” agreements, which are accounted for as leases under Accounting Standards Codification 842, Leases, ("ASC 842").
Our Tower segment leases space on owned cell towers to our Broadband segment, and to other wireless carriers. Revenue from these leases is accounted for under ASC 842.
Refer to Note 14, Segment Reporting, for a summary of these revenue streams.
Below is a summary of the Broadband segment's capitalized contract acquisition and fulfillment costs:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Balance | $ | 15,290 | $ | 12,780 | $ | 14,669 | $ | 11,005 | |||||||||||||||
Contract payments | 1,532 | 2,195 | 4,747 | 6,128 | |||||||||||||||||||
Contract amortization | (724) | (1,013) | (3,318) | (3,171) | |||||||||||||||||||
Ending Balance | $ | 16,098 | $ | 13,962 | $ | 16,098 | $ | 13,962 |
Note 4. Investments
Investments consist of the following:
(in thousands) | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
SERP Investments at fair value | $ | 2,165 | $ | 2,687 | |||||||
Cost method investments | 10,905 | 10,536 | |||||||||
Equity method investments | 340 | 546 | |||||||||
Total investments | $ | 13,410 | $ | 13,769 |
SERP Investments at Fair Value: The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) is a benefit plan that provides deferred compensation to certain employees. The Company holds the related investments in a rabbi trust as a source of funding for future payments under the plan. The SERP’s investments were designated as trading securities and will be liquidated and
9
paid out to the participants upon retirement. The benefit obligation to participants is always equal to the value of the SERP assets under ASC 710, Compensation. Changes to the investments' fair value are presented in Other income (expense), while the reciprocal changes in the liability are presented in selling, general and administrative expense. At September 30, 2021, an additional $0.9 million of SERP investments were presented as prepaid expenses and other (current assets) as we intend to liquidate certain investments to pay the current portion of our SERP obligation.
Cost Method Investments: Our investment in CoBank ACB’s Class A common stock represented substantially all of our cost method investments with a balance of $10.1 million and $9.8 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. We recognized approximately $0.5 million and $1.0 million of patronage income in Other income (expense) during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and approximately $1.5 million and $3.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Historically, approximately 75% of the patronage distributions were collected in cash and 25% in equity.
Equity Method Investments: At September 30, 2021, the Company had a 20.0% ownership interest in Valley Network Partnership (“ValleyNet”). The Company and ValleyNet purchase capacity on one another’s fiber network. We recognized revenue of $0.2 million from providing service to ValleyNet during each of the three months ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively. We recognized cost of service of $30 thousand and $0.7 million for the use of ValleyNet’s network during the three months ended September 30, 2021, and 2020, respectively, and $1.1 million and $2.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Note 5. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
($ in thousands) | Estimated Useful Lives | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||
Land | $ | 3,771 | $ | 3,909 | |||||||||||||
Land improvements | 10 years | 3,141 | 2,910 | ||||||||||||||
Buildings and structures | 10 - 40 years | 94,539 | 91,335 | ||||||||||||||
Cable and fiber | 15 - 30 years | 428,055 | 390,209 | ||||||||||||||
Equipment and software | 4 - 8 years | 374,019 | 331,047 | ||||||||||||||
Plant in service | 903,525 | 819,410 | |||||||||||||||
Plant under construction | 84,731 | 49,417 | |||||||||||||||
Total property, plant and equipment | 988,256 | 868,827 | |||||||||||||||
Less: accumulated amortization and depreciation | 462,457 | 428,400 | |||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 525,799 | $ | 440,427 |
Property, plant and equipment net, increased due primarily to capital expenditures in the Broadband segment driven by our Glo Fiber and Beam market expansions.
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Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets consisted of the following:
September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization and Other | Net | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization and Other | Net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Goodwill - Broadband | $ | 3,244 | $ | — | $ | 3,244 | $ | 3,244 | $ | — | $ | 3,244 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangibles: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cable franchise rights | $ | 64,334 | $ | — | $ | 64,334 | $ | 64,334 | $ | — | $ | 64,334 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
FCC spectrum licenses | 29,958 | — | 29,958 | 29,958 | — | 29,958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Railroad crossing rights | 141 | — | 141 | 141 | — | 141 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total indefinite-lived intangibles | 94,433 | — | 94,433 | 94,433 | — | 94,433 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finite-lived intangibles: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FCC spectrum licenses | 6,811 | (594) | 6,217 | 6,811 | (340) | 6,471 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subscriber relationships | 28,425 | (26,338) | 2,087 | 28,425 | (26,000) | 2,425 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other intangibles | 463 | (298) | 165 | 463 | (277) | 186 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total finite-lived intangibles | 35,699 | (27,230) | 8,469 | 35,699 | (26,617) | 9,082 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total goodwill and intangible assets | $ | 133,376 | $ | (27,230) | $ | 106,146 | $ | 133,376 | $ | (26,617) | $ | 106,759 |
Amortization expense was $0.2 million during both of the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and $0.6 million and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") has delayed the issuance of Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) Priority Access Licenses acquired by the Company for $16.2 million in September 2020. The delay stems from a FCC review of the aggregate ownership of CBRS spectrum by certain shareholders of the Company. The Company is in the process of resolving this issue. The Company does not believe that it is probable or reasonably possible of a material loss.
Note 7. Other Assets and Accrued Liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other, classified as current assets, included the following:
(in thousands) | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
Prepaid maintenance expenses | $ | 8,665 | $ | 4,018 | |||||||
Broadband contract acquisition and fulfillment costs | 4,426 | 4,417 | |||||||||
SERP investments | 862 | — | |||||||||
Other | 2,510 | 1,196 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other | $ | 16,463 | $ | 9,631 |
Deferred charges and other assets, classified as long-term assets, included the following:
(in thousands) | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
Broadband contract acquisition and fulfillment costs | $ | 11,672 | $ | 10,252 | |||||||
Prepaid expenses and other | 5,078 | 1,398 | |||||||||
Deferred charges and other assets | $ | 16,750 | $ | 11,650 |
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Accrued liabilities and other, classified as current liabilities, included the following:
(in thousands) | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
Interest rate swaps | $ | — | $ | 4,048 | |||||||
Accrued programming costs | 3,180 | 2,868 | |||||||||
Sales and property taxes payable | 1,769 | 1,072 | |||||||||
Restructuring accrual | 2,388 | — | |||||||||
Other current liabilities | 6,253 | 5,881 | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities and other | $ | 13,590 | $ | 13,869 |
Other liabilities, classified as long-term liabilities, included the following:
(in thousands) | September 30, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
Noncurrent portion of deferred lease revenue | $ | 19,066 | $ | 18,687 | |||||||
FCC spectrum license obligations | 3,817 | 3,845 | |||||||||
Noncurrent portion of financing leases | 1,575 | 1,492 | |||||||||
Other | 572 | 881 | |||||||||
Other liabilities | $ | 25,030 | $ | 24,905 |
During 2021, we implemented a restructuring plan whereby certain employees were notified of their pending dismissal under the workforce reduction program. The following table identifies the activity that has occurred as a result of the plan:
(in thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 | |||||||||
Beginning Balance June 30, 2021 and January 1, 2021, respectively | $ | 608 | $ | — | |||||||
Expense (1) | 3,213 | 4,340 | |||||||||
Payments (2) | (1,433) | (1,952) | |||||||||
Ending Balance - September 30, 2021 | $ | 2,388 | $ | 2,388 |
_______________________________________________________
(1)For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, approximately $2.2 million and $2.5 million of expense was recognized within discontinued operations.
(2)For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, approximately $1.1 million and $1.2 million of payments were attributable to discontinued operations.
Note 8. Leases
We lease various broadband network and telecommunications sites, fiber optic cable routes, warehouses, retail stores, and office facilities for use in our business. These agreements include fixed rental payments as well as variable rental payments, such as those based on relevant inflation indices. The accounting lease term includes optional renewal periods that we are reasonably certain to exercise based on our assessment of relevant contractual and economic factors. The related lease payments are discounted at lease commencement using the Company's incremental borrowing rate in order to measure the lease liability and right of use asset.
The incremental borrowing rate is determined using a portfolio approach based on the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a similar term. The Company uses the observable unsecured borrowing rate and risk-adjusts that rate to approximate a collateralized rate. At September 30, 2021, our operating leases had a weighted average remaining lease term of 20.2 years and a weighted average discount rate of 4.4%. Our finance leases had a weighted average remaining lease term of 13.5 years and a weighted average discount rate of 5.2%.
During each of the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, we recognized $2.3 million and $2.3 million of operating lease expense, respectively. We recognized $0.1 million and $0.1 million of interest and depreciation expense on finance leases during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Operating lease expense is presented in cost of
12
service or selling, general and administrative expense based on the use of the relevant facility. Variable lease payments and short-term lease expense were both immaterial. We remitted $1.4 million and $1.2 million of operating lease payments during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We also obtained $2.2 million and $2.4 million of leased assets in exchange for new operating lease liabilities recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The following table summarizes the expected maturity of lease liabilities at September 30, 2021:
(in thousands) | Operating Leases | Finance Leases | Total | |||||||||||||||||
2021 | $ | 1,487 | $ | 63 | $ | 1,550 | ||||||||||||||
2022 | 5,562 | 175 | 5,737 | |||||||||||||||||
2023 | 5,014 | 177 | 5,191 | |||||||||||||||||
2024 | 4,661 | 179 | 4,840 | |||||||||||||||||
2025 | 4,457 | 181 | 4,638 | |||||||||||||||||
2026 and thereafter | 68,634 | 1,551 | 70,185 | |||||||||||||||||
Total lease payments | 89,815 | 2,326 | 92,141 | |||||||||||||||||
Less: Interest | 35,381 | 654 | 36,035 | |||||||||||||||||
Present value of lease liabilities | $ | 54,434 | $ | 1,672 | $ | 56,106 |
We recognized $2.4 million and $2.7 million of operating lease revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the cell site colocation space and dedicated fiber optic strands that we lease to our customers, which is included in Service revenue and other in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Substantially all of our lease revenue relates to fixed lease payments.
Below is a summary of our minimum rental receipts under the lease agreements in place at September 30, 2021:
(in thousands) | Operating Leases | |||||||
2021 | $ | 3,474 | ||||||
2022 | 13,749 | |||||||
2023 | 12,363 | |||||||
2024 | 11,614 | |||||||
2025 | 10,659 | |||||||
2026 and thereafter | 36,957 | |||||||
Total | $ | 88,816 |
Note 9. Debt
Our cash payments for interest were $10.4 million and $14.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
As discussed in Note 2, Discontinued Operations, upon consummation of the Transaction, the Company used approximately $681 million of the proceeds received from the sale to fully repay all outstanding principal amounts under, and terminate, the Credit Agreement existing as of June 30, 2021 ("Prior Credit Agreement").
On July 1, 2021, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with various financial institutions thereto (the “Lenders”) and CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”). The Credit Agreement provides for three credit facilities (collectively, the “Facilities”), in an aggregate amount equal to $400 million: (i) a $100 million five-year revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), (ii) a $150 million five-year delay draw amortizing term loan (the “Term Loan A-1”) and (iii) a $150 million seven-year delay draw amortizing term loan (the “Term Loan A-2” and, together with the Term Loan A-1, the “Term Loans”). The Credit Agreement includes a provision under which the Company may request that additional term loans be made to it in an amount not to exceed the sum of (1) the greater of (a) $75 million and (b) 100% of Consolidated EBIDTA (as defined in the Credit Agreement), calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with the Credit Agreement, plus (2) an additional unlimited amount subject to a maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 4.00:1.00, calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with the Credit Agreement,
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subject to the receipt of commitments from one or more lenders for any such additional term loans and other customary conditions.
The availability of the Facilities to the Company is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Company may use the proceeds from the Revolver and the Term Loans to finance capital expenditures, provide working capital, and for other general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. The Term Loans will be repaid in quarterly principal installments commencing on September 30, 2023, with the unpaid balance of the Term Loans due at maturity, as set forth in the Credit Agreement.
Rates for borrowing under the Credit Agreement are based, at the Company’s election, upon whether the borrowing is a LIBOR loan or a base rate loan. LIBOR loans will bear interest at an adjusted LIBOR rate (which shall be no less than 0.00%) plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.75% for the Term Loan A-1 and the Revolver and from 1.50% to 3.00% for the Term Loan A-2, depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio. Base rate loans will bear interest at a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.75% for the Term Loan A-1 and the Revolver and from 0.50% to 2.00% for the Term Loan A-2, depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio. In addition, under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company agrees to pay the Lenders a fee on undrawn portions of the Term Loans and Revolver from time to time. This fee rate is dependent on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio and ranges from a rate per annum equal to 0.200% to 0.375%.
The Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties, and affirmative and negative financial covenants usual and customary for similar secured credit facilities, each of which are applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, including covenants governing the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to negotiated exceptions, to incur additional indebtedness and additional liens on their assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets, pay dividends or make other distributions, enter into transactions with affiliated persons, make investments or change the nature of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses. The Company is also subject to certain financial covenants to be measured on a trailing twelve month basis on the last day of each calendar quarter. These covenants include:
•maintaining a Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) not greater than 4.25 to 1.00 (subject to customary increased leverage periods following certain qualifying acquisitions); and
•maintaining a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) not less than 2.00 to 1.00.
Indebtedness outstanding under any of the Facilities may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement). As of September 30, 2021, the Company had not drawn on the Term Loans or the Revolver and was in compliance with the financial covenants in its credit agreements.
Rate quotations provided by a group of banks that sustain LIBOR will no longer be required after 2021. As a result, it is uncertain whether LIBOR will continue to be quoted after 2021. Our term loans and revolver identify LIBOR as a reference rate and mature after 2021. Alternative reference rates that replace LIBOR may not yield the same or similar economic results over the terms of the financial instruments. The transition from LIBOR could result in us paying higher or lower interest rates on our current LIBOR-indexed term loans. Our Credit Agreement includes provisions that provide for the identification of a LIBOR replacement rate. Due to the uncertainty regarding the transition from LIBOR-indexed financial instruments, including when it will happen, and the manner in which an alternative reference rate will apply, we cannot yet reasonably estimate the expected financial impact of the LIBOR transition.
Note 10. Derivatives and Hedging
As discussed in Note 2, Discontinued Operations, upon consummation of the Transaction, the Company used approximately $3 million of the proceeds received from the sale to fully satisfy its obligations under, and terminate, the interest rate swaps. Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are presented as part of income from discontinued operations.
The table below summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component, including the reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings following the swap termination:
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(in thousands) | Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges | Income Tax (Expense) Benefit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of taxes | ||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ | (4,048) | $ | (658) | $ | (4,706) | |||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to earnings as a result of swap termination | 4,048 | 658 | 4,706 | ||||||||||||||
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income | 4,048 | 658 | 4,706 | ||||||||||||||
Balance as of September 30, 2021 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
Note 11. Income Taxes
The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns and various state income tax returns. The Company is not subject to any state or federal income tax audits as of September 30, 2021. The Company's returns are generally open to examination from 2017 forward and the net operating losses acquired in the acquisition of nTelos are open to examination from 2002 forward.
The effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, differ from the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% primarily due to the state income taxes, excess tax benefits and other discrete items.
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Expected tax expense (benefit) at federal statutory | $ | 275 | $ | 326 | $ | 1,958 | $ | 72 | |||||||||||||||
State income taxes, net of federal tax effect | 82 | 70 | 551 | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||
Revaluation of deferred tax liabilities | (7,675) | — | (6,629) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Stranded tax effects reclassified from other comprehensive income | 1,620 | — | 1,620 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefit from share based compensation and other expense, net | 276 | (255) | 185 | (771) | |||||||||||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | $ | (5,422) | $ | 141 | $ | (2,315) | $ | (684) |
The Company's cash payments for income taxes were approximately $24.9 million and $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
The disposition of Wireless assets and operations, (see Note 2 – Discontinued Operations), triggered a reduction in the Company’s future estimated tax rate as apportionable income and expenses for higher tax rate jurisdictions was reduced, resulting in a revaluation of deferred tax liabilities with a $7.7 million benefit recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2021.
The disposition of Wireless assets and operations triggered the recognition of an estimated current tax liability of $428 million scheduled to be paid during the remainder of 2021. The tax liability is subject to change pending the final purchase price allocation.
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Note 12. Earnings per Share and Dividends
We utilize the treasury stock method to calculate the impact on diluted earnings per share that potentially dilutive stock-based compensation awards have. The following table indicates the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Calculation of net income per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 6,732 | $ | 1,412 | $ | 11,637 | $ | 1,026 | |||||||||||||||
Total income from discontinued operations, net of tax | $ | 886,326 | $ | 33,509 | $ | 986,364 | $ | 76,422 | |||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 893,058 | $ | 34,921 | $ | 998,001 | $ | 77,448 | |||||||||||||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | 49,984 | 49,911 | 49,984 | 49,889 | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic net income per share - continuing operations | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.02 | |||||||||||||||
Basic net income per share - discontinued operations | $ | 17.73 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 19.73 | $ | 1.53 | |||||||||||||||
Basic net income per share | $ | 17.86 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 19.96 | $ | 1.55 | |||||||||||||||
Effect of stock-based compensation awards outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | 49,984 | 49,911 | 49,984 | 49,889 | |||||||||||||||||||
Effect from dilutive shares and options outstanding | 136 | 194 | 152 | 160 | |||||||||||||||||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 50,120 | 50,105 | 50,136 | 50,049 | |||||||||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share - continuing operations | $ | 0.13 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.02 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share - discontinued operations | $ | 17.68 | $ | 0.67 | $ | 19.67 | $ | 1.53 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share | $ | 17.81 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 19.90 | $ | 1.55 |
On July 2, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special dividend of $18.75 per share on the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Special Dividend”). The Special Dividend was paid on August 2, 2021. The total payout to Shentel shareholders, including amounts reinvested in the Company’s stock via the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan, was approximately $937 million.
On August 4, 2021, in accordance with the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company's Board of Directors adopted a resolution to modify the outstanding equity awards to offset the loss in intrinsic value caused by the disposition of wireless and the decline in the Company's share price following the special dividend. No other terms or conditions of the outstanding equity awards were modified, no incremental expense was required to be recognized, and there was no significant impact to dilutive securities.
Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies
We are committed to make payments to satisfy our lease liabilities. The scheduled payments under those obligations are summarized in Note 8, Leases. We are also committed to make annual payments of approximately $108.0 thousand on our FCC spectrum license obligation through 2039.
The Company is subject to claims and legal actions that may arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not believe that any of these pending claims or legal actions are either probable or reasonably possible of a material loss.
Note 14. Segment Reporting
The divestiture of our Wireless operations represents a strategic shift in the Company’s business and qualifies as a discontinued operation. As a result, for all periods presented, the operating results and cash flows related to the Wireless segment were reflected as discontinued operations in our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The tables below reflect the results of operations of the Company's reportable segments in continuing operations, consistent with internal reporting used by the Company.
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Three Months Ended September 30, 2021:
(in thousands) | Broadband | Tower | Corporate & Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||
External revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential & SMB | $ | 44,783 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 44,783 | |||||||||||||||
Commercial Fiber | 9,059 | — | — | 9,059 | |||||||||||||||||||
RLEC & Other | 3,972 | — | — | 3,972 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tower lease | — | 4,356 | — | 4,356 | |||||||||||||||||||
Service revenue and other | 57,814 | 4,356 | — | 62,170 | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenue for service provided to the discontinued Wireless operations | 99 | 93 | (118) | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | 57,913 | 4,449 | (118) | 62,244 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | 24,012 | 1,504 | (90) | 25,426 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 11,898 | 314 | 8,026 | 20,238 | |||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring expense | 71 | — | 1,089 | 1,160 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 12,211 | 468 | 1,569 | 14,248 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 48,192 | 2,286 | 10,594 | 61,072 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | 9,721 | $ | 2,163 | $ | (10,712) | $ | 1,172 |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020:
(in thousands) | Broadband | Tower | Corporate & Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||
External revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential & SMB | $ | 39,477 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 39,477 | |||||||||||||||
Commercial Fiber | 5,280 | — | — | 5,280 | |||||||||||||||||||
RLEC & Other | 3,853 | — | — | 3,853 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tower lease | — | 1,864 | — | 1,864 | |||||||||||||||||||
Service revenue and other | 48,610 | 1,864 | — | 50,474 | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenue for service provided to the discontinued Wireless operations | 2,100 | 2,637 | (38) | 4,699 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | 50,710 | 4,501 | (38) | 55,173 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | 21,326 | 1,283 | 60 | 22,669 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 9,792 | 330 | 9,917 | 20,039 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 10,106 | 467 | 1,422 | 11,995 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 41,224 | 2,080 | 11,399 | 54,703 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | 9,486 | $ | 2,421 | $ | (11,437) | $ | 470 |
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021:
(in thousands) | Broadband | Tower | Corporate & Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||
External revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential & SMB | $ | 131,702 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 131,702 | |||||||||||||||
Commercial Fiber | 21,975 | — | — | 21,975 | |||||||||||||||||||
RLEC & Other | 11,208 | — | — | 11,208 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tower lease | — | 8,525 | — | 8,525 | |||||||||||||||||||
Service revenue and other | 164,885 | 8,525 | — | 173,410 | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenue for service provided to the discontinued Wireless operations | 4,409 | 5,203 | (387) | 9,225 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | 169,294 | 13,728 | (387) | 182,635 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | 69,275 | 4,070 | (301) | 73,044 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 35,429 | 886 | 24,396 | 60,711 | |||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring expense | 203 | — | 1,618 | 1,821 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 35,747 | 1,398 | 3,668 | 40,813 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 140,654 | 6,354 | 29,381 | 176,389 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | 28,640 | $ | 7,374 | $ | (29,768) | $ | 6,246 |
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020:
(in thousands) | Broadband | Tower | Corporate & Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||
External revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential & SMB | $ | 114,170 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 114,170 | |||||||||||||||
Commercial Fiber | 17,762 | — | — | 17,762 | |||||||||||||||||||
RLEC & Other | 11,880 | — | — | 11,880 | |||||||||||||||||||
Tower lease | — | 5,490 | — | 5,490 | |||||||||||||||||||
Service revenue and other | 143,812 | 5,490 | — | 149,302 | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenue for service provided to the discontinued Wireless operations | 6,818 | 7,000 | (477) | 13,341 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | 150,630 | 12,490 | (477) | 162,643 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | 61,572 | 3,537 | 58 | 65,167 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 28,960 | 1,095 | 34,172 | 64,227 | |||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 30,448 | 1,414 | 4,148 | 36,010 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 120,980 | 6,046 | 38,378 | 165,404 | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | $ | 29,650 | $ | 6,444 | $ | (38,855) | $ | (2,761) |
A reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ operating income to consolidated income before taxes is as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total consolidated operating income (loss) | $ | 1,172 | $ | 470 | $ | 6,246 | $ | (2,761) | |||||||||||||||
Other income, net | 138 | 1,083 | 3,076 | 3,103 | |||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 1,310 | $ | 1,553 | $ | 9,322 | $ | 342 |
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The Company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM) does not currently review total assets by segment since the assets are centrally managed and some of the assets are shared by the segments, accordingly total assets by segment are not provided.
Note 15. Subsequent Events
Dividend Declaration
On October 26, 2021, the Company's Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.07 per common share. The dividend will be payable on December 1, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 8, 2021.
Pension Plan Termination
The Company assumed a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan in the 2016 acquisition of nTelos, which was fully integrated into the former Wireless segment, and covered all employees who met eligibility requirements and were employed by nTelos prior to October 1, 2003. This pension plan was closed to nTelos employees hired on or after October 1, 2003 and frozen. As of September 30, 2021, the plan obligation was approximately $6.2 million.
On October 13, 2021, the Company adopted a resolution to terminate its pension plan effective December 31, 2021. Following adoption of the resolution, on October 28, 2021, the Company provided notice of intent to terminate the pension plan to participants. The Company is currently in the process of determining the impacts of the plan termination.
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ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This management’s discussion and analysis includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions as they relate to Shenandoah Telecommunications Company or its management are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. All statements regarding Shenandoah Telecommunications Company’s expected future financial position and operating results, business strategy, financing plans, forecasted trends relating to the markets in which Shenandoah Telecommunications Company operates and similar matters, including information concerning our response to COVID-19, are forward-looking statements. We cannot assure you that the Company’s expectations expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct. The Company’s actual results could be materially different from its expectations because of various factors, including those discussed below and under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 as well as natural disasters, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments, such as COVID-19, changes in general economic conditions, increases in costs, changes in regulation and other competitive factors.
The following management’s discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes included therein.
Overview
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (“Shentel”, “we”, “our”, “us”, or the “Company”), is a provider of a comprehensive range of broadband communication services and cell tower colocation space in the Mid-Atlantic portion of the United States.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis is organized around our reporting segments. Refer to Note 2, Discontinued Operations, and Note 14, Segment Reporting, in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Recent Developments
On July 1, 2021, pursuant to the previously announced Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated May 28, 2021, between Shentel and T-Mobile USA, Inc. (“T-Mobile”), Shentel completed the sale to T-Mobile of its Wireless assets and operations for cash consideration of approximately $1.94 billion, inclusive of the approximately $60 million settlement of the waived management fees by Sprint Corporation, an indirect subsidiary of T-Mobile (“Sprint”), and net of certain transaction expenses (the “Transaction”). The Company’s Wireless assets and operations were classified as discontinued operations after Sprint delivered notice to the Company exercising its option to purchase the Wireless assets and operations on August 26, 2020.
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Results of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Three Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 62,244 | 100.0 | $ | 55,173 | 100.0 | 7,071 | 12.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 61,072 | 98.1 | 54,703 | 99.1 | 6,369 | 11.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 1,172 | 1.9 | 470 | 0.9 | 702 | (149.4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income, net | 138 | 0.2 | 1,083 | 2.0 | (945) | (87.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before taxes | 1,310 | 2.1 | 1,553 | 2.8 | (243) | 15.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (5,422) | (8.7) | 141 | 0.3 | (5,563) | (3,945.4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations | 6,732 | 10.8 | 1,412 | 2.6 | 5,320 | 376.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 886,326 | 1,424.0 | 33,509 | 60.7 | 852,817 | 2,545.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 893,058 | 1,434.8 | $ | 34,921 | 63.3 | 858,137 | 2,457.4 |
Revenue
Revenue increased approximately $7.1 million, or 12.8%, during the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2020, driven by growth of $7.2 million, or 14.2%, in the Broadband segment and offset by a decline of $0.1 million, or 1.2%, in the Tower segment. Refer to the discussion of the results of operations for the Tower and Broadband segments, included within this quarterly report, for additional information.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses increased approximately $6.4 million, or 11.6%, during the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2020, driven by $7.0 million in incremental Broadband operating expenses incurred primarily to support the expansion of our Glo Fiber and Beam services partially offset by a $0.8 million decline in Corporate employee compensation expenses primarily as a result of the workforce reduction program and lower expected incentive bonus.
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income tax benefit was $5.4 million during the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared with an income tax expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, primarily due to a $7.7 million non-cash tax benefit for revaluation of deferred tax liabilities driven by the change in our estimated state tax rate that was triggered by the disposition of our Wireless assets and operations, partially offset by a $1.6 million reclassification of income taxes from other comprehensive income as a result of terminating our interest rate swaps, and changes in taxable income.
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, increased by $0.9 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2021 as compared with the three months ended September 30, 2020, primarily due to the completion of the disposition of our Wireless assets and operations for proceeds of approximately $1.9 billion resulting in recognition of a $1.2 billion gain, net of approximately $0.3 billion of income tax expense.
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
The Company’s consolidated results from operations are summarized as follows:
Nine Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 182,635 | 100.0 | $ | 162,643 | 100.0 | 19,992 | 12.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 176,389 | 96.6 | 165,404 | 101.7 | 10,985 | 6.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 6,246 | 3.4 | (2,761) | (1.7) | 9,007 | 326.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income, net | 3,076 | 1.7 | 3,103 | 1.9 | (27) | (0.9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before taxes | 9,322 | 5.1 | 342 | 0.2 | 8,980 | (2,625.7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (2,315) | (1.3) | (684) | (0.4) | (1,631) | (238.5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations | 11,637 | 6.4 | 1,026 | 0.6 | 10,611 | 1,034.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 986,364 | 540.1 | 76,422 | 47.0 | 909,942 | 1,190.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 998,001 | 546.4 | $ | 77,448 | 47.6 | 920,553 | 1,188.6 |
Revenue
Revenue increased approximately $20.0 million, or 12.3%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, driven by growth of $18.7 million, or 12.4%, in the Broadband segment and $1.2 million, or 9.9%, in the Tower segment. Refer to the discussion of the results of operations for the Tower and Broadband segments, included within this quarterly report, for additional information.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses increased approximately $11.0 million, or 6.6%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, driven by $19.7 million incremental Broadband operating expenses incurred primarily to support the expansion of Glo Fiber and Beam services partially offset by an $9.2 million decline in Corporate expenses primarily driven by lower employee compensation expense as a result of the workforce reduction program and lower expected incentive bonus.
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income tax expense of approximately $2.3 million decreased approximately $1.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily due to a $7.7 million non-cash tax benefit for revaluation of deferred tax liabilities driven by change in our estimated tax rate that was triggered by the disposition of our Wireless assets and operations, partially offset by a $1.6 million reclassification of income taxes from other comprehensive income as a result of terminating our interest rate swaps, a $1.0 million non-cash charge related to the revaluation of deferred tax liabilities for a change in tax law in the state of West Virginia and $3.4 million of additional expense attributable to changes in taxable income, excess tax benefits from share based compensation and other expense.
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, increased by $0.9 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily due to the completion of the disposition of our Wireless assets and operations for proceeds of approximately $1.9 billion resulting in recognition of a $1.2 billion gain, net of approximately $0.3 billion of income tax expense.
Broadband
Our Broadband segment provides broadband internet, video and voice services to residential and commercial customers in portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, via hybrid fiber coaxial cable under the brand name of Shentel, fiber optics under the brand name of Glo Fiber and fixed wireless network under the brand name of Beam. The Broadband segment also leases dark fiber and provides Ethernet and Wavelength fiber optic services to enterprise and wholesale customers throughout the entirety of our service area. The Broadband segment also provides voice and DSL
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telephone services to customers in Virginia’s Shenandoah County and portions of adjacent counties as a Rural Local Exchange Carrier (“RLEC”). These integrated networks are connected by over 7,200 fiber route mile network.
The following table indicates selected operating statistics of our Broadband segment:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||
Broadband homes and businesses passed (1) | 296,196 | 230,002 | ||||||||||||
Incumbent Cable (2) | 211,013 | 207,655 | ||||||||||||
Glo Fiber | 60,836 | 22,347 | ||||||||||||
Beam | 24,347 | — | ||||||||||||
Broadband customer relationships (3) | 118,143 | 106,314 | ||||||||||||
Residential & Small and Medium Business ("SMB") RGUs: | ||||||||||||||
Broadband Data | 115,579 | 98,764 | ||||||||||||
Incumbent Cable (2) | 105,116 | 95,962 | ||||||||||||
Glo Fiber | 9,272 | 2,802 | ||||||||||||
Beam | 1,191 | — | ||||||||||||
Video (2) | 50,652 | 53,647 | ||||||||||||
Voice (2) | 34,592 | 33,019 | ||||||||||||
Total Residential & SMB RGUs (excludes RLEC) | 200,823 | 185,430 | ||||||||||||
Residential & SMB Penetration (4) | ||||||||||||||
Broadband Data | 39.0 | % | 42.9 | % | ||||||||||
Incumbent Cable | 49.8 | % | 46.2 | % | ||||||||||
Glo Fiber | 15.2 | % | 12.5 | % | ||||||||||
Beam | 4.9 | % | — | % | ||||||||||
Video | 17.1 | % | 23.3 | % | ||||||||||
Voice | 13.6 | % | 15.5 | % | ||||||||||
Residential & SMB ARPU (5) | ||||||||||||||
Broadband Data | $ | 78.33 | $ | 77.85 | ||||||||||
Incumbent Cable | $ | 78.64 | $ | 77.82 | ||||||||||
Glo Fiber | $ | 73.82 | $ | 80.80 | ||||||||||
Beam | $ | 72.80 | $ | — | ||||||||||
Video | $ | 100.28 | $ | 93.35 | ||||||||||
Voice | $ | 28.71 | $ | 29.55 | ||||||||||
Fiber route miles | 7,219 | 6,705 | ||||||||||||
Total fiber miles (6) | 469,387 | 367,154 |
_______________________________________________________
(1)Homes and businesses are considered passed (“homes passed”) if we can connect them to our network without further extending the distribution system. Homes passed is an estimate based upon the best available information. Homes passed will vary among video, broadband data and voice services.
(2)The Company acquired Canaan Cable on December 31, 2020 adding 1,100 homes passed, 512 data RGUs, 324 video RGUs and 164 voice RGUs.
(3)Customer relationships represent the number of billed customers who receive at least one of our services.
(4)Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of users by the number of homes passed or available homes, as appropriate.
(5)Average Revenue Per RGU calculation = (Residential & SMB Revenue * 1,000) / average RGUs / 3 months
(6)Total fiber miles are measured by taking the number of fiber strands in a cable and multiplying that number by the route distance. For example, a 10 mile route with 144 fiber strands would equal 1,440 fiber miles.
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Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Broadband results from operations are summarized as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadband operating revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential & SMB | $ | 44,783 | 77.3 | $ | 39,477 | 77.8 | 5,306 | 13.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial Fiber | 9,059 | 15.6 | 7,308 | 14.4 | 1,751 | 24.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RLEC & Other | 4,071 | 7.0 | 3,925 | 7.7 | 146 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total broadband revenue | 57,913 | 100.0 | 50,710 | 100.0 | % | 7,203 | 14.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadband operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | 24,012 | 41.5 | 21,326 | 42.1 | 2,686 | 12.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative | 11,898 | 20.5 | 9,792 | 19.3 | 2,106 | 21.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring expense | 71 | 0.1 | — | — | 71 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 12,211 | 21.1 | 10,106 | 19.9 | 2,105 | 20.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total broadband operating expenses | 48,192 | 83.2 | 41,224 | 81.3 | 6,968 | 16.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadband operating income | $ | 9,721 | 16.8 | $ | 9,486 | 18.7 | 235 | 2.5 |
Residential & SMB revenue
Residential & SMB revenue increased approximately $5.3 million, or 13.4%, during the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to September 30, 2020, primarily driven by 17.0% year-over-year growth in broadband data revenue generating units ("RGUs") driven by demand for higher speed data service and the expansion of our Glo Fiber and Beam services.
Commercial Fiber revenue
Commercial Fiber revenue increased approximately $1.8 million due to initiating service for new enterprise connections, $0.7 million non-recurring amortized revenue reduction in 2020 and $0.5 million in non-recurring dark fiber sales-type leases in 2021.
Cost of services
Cost of services increased approximately $2.7 million, or 12.6%, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2020, primarily driven by the expansion of our Glo Fiber and Beam services. This included a $1.6 million increase in maintenance, and installation expenses, higher video programming costs of $0.5 million, and an increase in line costs of $0.5 million from an increase off-network circuits.
Selling, general and administrative
Due to the continued growth of our Broadband segment, our selling, general and administrative expense increased $2.1 million or 21.5% compared with the three months ended September 30, 2020, driven by a $0.6 million increase in Glo Fiber and Beam advertising, a $0.6 million increase in software and professional fees from enhancements to our back-office systems, a $0.3 million increase in bad debt expense due to the 2020 Keep Americans Connected pledge that delayed bad debt disconnects, a $0.3 million non-recurring increase related to a special one-time expense related to the sale of Wireless assets and operations, and a $0.2 million increase in commissions expense from higher sales volume arising from our Glo Fiber and Beam services.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization increased $2.1 million or 20.8%, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2020, primarily as a result of our Glo Fiber and Beam network expansion.
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Broadband results from operations are summarized as follows:
Nine Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadband operating revenue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential & SMB | $ | 131,702 | 77.8 | $ | 114,170 | 75.8 | 17,532 | 15.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial Fiber | 26,061 | 15.4 | 24,044 | 16.0 | 2,017 | 8.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RLEC & Other | 11,531 | 6.8 | 12,416 | 8.2 | (885) | (7.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total broadband revenue | 169,294 | 100.0 | 150,630 | 100.0 | % | 18,664 | 12.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadband operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of services | 69,275 | 40.9 | 61,572 | 40.9 | 7,703 | 12.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative | 35,429 | 20.9 | 28,960 | 19.2 | 6,469 | 22.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restructuring expense | 203 | 0.1 | — | — | 203 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 35,747 | 21.1 | 30,448 | 20.2 | 5,299 | 17.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total broadband operating expenses | 140,654 | 83.1 | 120,980 | 80.3 | 19,674 | 16.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadband operating income | $ | 28,640 | 16.9 | $ | 29,650 | 19.7 | (1,010) | (3.4) |
Residential & SMB (small & medium business) revenue
Residential & SMB revenue increased approximately $17.5 million, or 15.4%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 primarily driven by 17.0% year-over-year growth in broadband RGUs, driven by demand for higher speed data service and the rollout of our Glo Fiber and Beam services.
Commercial Fiber revenue
Commercial Fiber revenue increased approximately $2.0 million due to initiating service for new enterprise connections, $0.7 million non-recurring amortized revenue reduction in 2020 and $0.5 million in non-recurring dark fiber sales-type leases in 2021.
RLEC & Other revenue
RLEC & Other revenue decreased approximately $0.9 million, or 7.1%, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due primarily to a decline in residential DSL subscribers and lower governmental support. We expect RLEC revenue to continue to decline in future periods.
Cost of services
Cost of services increased approximately $7.7 million, or 12.5%, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily driven by expansion of our Glo Fiber and Beam networks. This included a $2.6 million increase in maintenance and installation expenses, a $2.3 million increase in compensation expense from increased staffing, a $1.5 million increase in video programming costs, and a $0.7 million increase in line costs from an increase off-network circuits.
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $6.5 million, or 22.3%, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, driven by a $2.4 million increase in software and professional fees, $1.3 million increase in advertising and telemarketing fees, $1.0 million of one-time costs for severance and expenses related to the sale of Wireless, a $0.9 million increase in commissions expense from higher sales volume arising from our Glo Fiber and Beam services, and $0.4 million increase in compensation expense from higher staffing to support our Glo Fiber and Beam services.
Restructuring expense
Earlier in the year, we implemented a workforce reduction program that impacted certain broadband employees and as a result we incurred $0.2 million of severance expenses.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization increased $5.3 million or 17.4%, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily as a result of our network expansion of Glo Fiber and Beam networks.
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Tower
Our Tower segment owns cell towers and leases colocation space on the towers to wireless communications providers. Substantially all of our owned towers are built on ground that we lease from the respective landlords.
The following table indicates selected operating statistics of the Tower segment:
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||
Macro tower sites | 223 | 222 | ||||||||||||
Tenants (1) | 470 | 414 | ||||||||||||
Average tenants per tower | 2.0 | 1.8 |
_______________________________________________________
(1)Includes 34 and 208 tenants for our Wireless operations, (reported as a discontinued operation), and Broadband operations, as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared with the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Three Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tower revenue | $ | 4,449 | 100.0 | $ | 4,501 | 100.0 | % | (52) | (1.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Tower operating expenses | 2,286 | 51.4 | 2,080 | 46.2 | 206 | 9.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tower operating income | $ | 2,163 | 48.6 | $ | 2,421 | 53.8 | (258) | (10.7) |
Revenue
Revenue was consistent with the prior year period.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses were consistent with the prior year period.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Tower results from operations are summarized as follows:
Nine Months Ended September 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tower revenue | $ | 13,728 | 100.0 | $ | 12,490 | 100.0 | % | 1,238 | 9.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Tower operating expenses | 6,354 | 46.3 | 6,046 | 48.4 | 308 | 5.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tower operating income | $ | 7,374 | 53.7 | $ | 6,444 | 51.6 | 930 | 14.4 |
Revenue
Revenue increased approximately $1.2 million, or 9.9%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily due to a 13.5% increase in tenants.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses were consistent with the prior year period.
26
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
On July 1, 2021, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Shentel completed the sale to T-Mobile of its Wireless assets and operations for cash consideration of approximately $1.94 billion, inclusive of the approximately $60 million settlement of the waived management fees by Sprint, net of certain transaction expenses. The Company used approximately $684 million of the proceeds received from the sale to fully repay all outstanding principal amounts under, and terminate, the then-existing credit agreement (the "Prior Credit Agreement"), refer to Note 9, Debt , for additional information, and to fully repay and terminate our interest rate swaps, refer to Note 10, Derivatives and Hedging.
Sources and Uses of Cash: Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, cash generated from operations, and proceeds available under our Credit Agreement.
As of September 30, 2021 our cash and cash equivalents totaled $532.5 million and the availability under our delayed draw term loans and revolving line of credit was $400.0 million, for total available liquidity of $932.5 million.
Operating activities from continuing operations generated approximately $31.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, representing a decrease of $13.2 million compared with 2020, driven by changes in working capital.
Operating activities from discontinued operations generated $121.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $182.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due to six months of operations in 2021 as compared to nine months of operation in 2020.
Net cash used in investing activities for continuing operations increased $20.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2020, primarily due to $36.1 million increase in capital expenditures due primarily to higher spending in the Broadband segment to enable our Glo Fiber and Beam market expansions, partially offset by a $16.1 million decline in spectrum purchases.
Proceeds received from the July 1, 2021, disposition of our Wireless asset and operations or, net cash provided by investing activities for discontinued operations, were $1.9 billion.
Net cash used in financing activities increased approximately $1.6 billion due to the dividend distributions of $0.9 billion for continuing operations, and repayment of approximately $0.7 billion of debt for discontinued operations, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Indebtedness: On July 1, 2021, we entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with various financial institutions party thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for the following three credit facilities (collectively, the “Facilities”), in an aggregate amount equal to $400 million: (i) a $100 million five-year revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), (ii) a $150 million five-year delayed draw amortizing term loan (the “Term Loan A-1”) and (iii) a $150 million seven-year delayed draw amortizing term loan (the “Term Loan A-2” and, together with the Term Loan A-1, the “Term Loans”). The Credit Agreement includes a provision under which the Company may request that additional term loans be made to it in an amount not to exceed the sum of (1) the greater of (a) $75 million and (b) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement), calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with the Credit Agreement, plus (2) an additional unlimited amount subject to a maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 4.00:1.00, calculated on a pro forma basis in accordance with the Credit Agreement, subject to the receipt of commitments from one or more lenders for any such additional term loans and other customary conditions.
The availability of the Facilities to the Company is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Company may use the proceeds from the Revolver and the Term Loans to finance capital expenditures, provide working capital, and for other general corporate purposes, including but not limited to, funding any underfunded amounts of the Ntelos pension plan to enable its termination, of the Company and its subsidiaries. If drawn on, the Term Loans are required to be repaid in quarterly principal installments commencing on September 30, 2023, with the unpaid balance of the Term Loans due at maturity, as set forth in the Credit Agreement.
We have not made any borrowing under the Credit Agreement as of this date. We do not expect to draw upon any portion of the Credit Agreement until the first quarter of 2022.
Disposition of Wireless: The after-tax proceeds from the July 1, 2021, sale of our Wireless assets and operations for gross proceeds of approximately $1.94 billion will be approximately $1.5 billion. We currently expect to pay approximately
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$428 million in income tax payments on the transaction in December 2021. The transaction was accounted for as an asset sale for income tax purposes. Cash proceeds from the sale were required to be used to immediately repay our outstanding indebtedness. Principal payments on our debt were therefore presented as cash used to finance our discontinued operations. The Company used a portion of the after-tax proceeds from the sale of our Wireless assets and operations to, among other things:
•Repay and terminate approximately $684 million of outstanding term loans under our Prior Credit Agreement, and associated interest rate swap liabilities, concurrent with the closing of the disposition;
•Issue a special dividend of $18.75 per share to Company shareholders, or approximately $937 million in the aggregate (the "Special Dividend").
We expect our cash on hand, cash flow from continuing operations, and availability of funds from our Credit Agreement, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated liquidity needs for business operations for the next twelve months. There can be no assurance that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels or that we will be able to raise additional financing to support the Company's planned capital expenditures.
We expect our capital expenditures to exceed the cash flow provided from continuing operations through 2025, as we shift our focus to expand our Glo Fiber broadband services to our newly targeted markets covering over 450,000 homes passed.
The actual amount and timing of our future capital requirements may differ materially from our estimate depending on the demand for our products and services, new market developments and expansion opportunities.
Our cash flows from continuing operations could be adversely affected by events outside our control, including, without limitation, changes in overall economic conditions, regulatory requirements, changes in technologies, changes in competition, demand for our products and services, availability of labor resources and capital, natural disasters, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments, such as COVID-19, and other conditions. Our ability to attract and maintain a sufficient customer base, particularly in our Broadband markets, is critical to our ability to maintain a positive cash flow from operations. The foregoing events individually or collectively could affect our results.
Critical Accounting Policies
There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies as previously disclosed in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The outstanding term loans under the Prior Credit Agreement, and associated interest rate swap liabilities, were repaid and terminated on July 1, 2021. We have not drawn on the Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2021. As a result, our exposure to significant risks concerning fluctuating variable interest rates has been mitigated.
ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management, with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, who is the Principal Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer, who is the Principal Financial Officer, and the Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, who is the Principal Accounting Officer, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, (as defined by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
As disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, we identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. The material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the applicable enhanced controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively. As remediation has not yet been completed, our President and Chief Executive Officer our Senior Vice President - Finance, and Chief Financial Officer and our Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures continued to be ineffective as of September 30, 2021.
In light of the material weaknesses, management performed additional analysis and other procedures to ensure that our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
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Notwithstanding the material weaknesses, management has concluded that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly state, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended September 30, 2021, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We discuss in our Annual Report on Form 10-K various risks that may materially affect our business. We use this section to update this discussion to reflect material developments since our Form 10-K was filed. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has not identified any needed updates to the risk factors included in our most recent Form 10-K.
ITEM 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities
None.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer or Affiliated Purchasers
In conjunction with the vesting of shares or exercise of stock options, the grantees may surrender awards necessary to cover the statutory tax withholding requirements and any amounts required to cover stock option strike prices associated with the transaction. The following table provides information about shares surrendered during the second quarter ended September 30, 2021, to settle employee tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of stock awards.
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) | Number of Shares Surrendered | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1) | Approximate Dollar Value that May Yet be Purchased under the Plans or Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
July 1 to July 31 | 914 | $ | 55.01 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
August 1 to August 31 | — | — | 479,305 | — | |||||||||||||||||||
September 1 to September 30 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 914 | 479,305 |
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
The Company maintains a dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”) for the benefit of its shareholders. Shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to the DRIP were obtained in open market transactions and were provided to the DRIP participants in connection with the Special Dividend. In the quarter ended September 30, 2021, we purchased 497,305 shares in open market transactions to reinvest dividends for DRIP participants in relation to the Special Dividend.
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ITEM 6. Exhibits Index
Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | ||||||||||
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 28, 2021, between Shenandoah Telecommunications Company and T-Mobile USA, Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 1, 2021). | |||||||||||
Credit Agreement, dated July 1, 2021, by and among Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors, CoBank ACB, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 1, 2021). | |||||||||||
31.1* | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | ||||||||||
31.2* | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | ||||||||||
Certification of Principal Accounting Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |||||||||||
32** | Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. § 1350. | ||||||||||
(101) | Formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) | ||||||||||
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | ||||||||||
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | ||||||||||
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | ||||||||||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
* Filed herewith
** This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), or the Exchange Act.
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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 thereunto duly authorized.
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY | |||||
/s/James J. Volk | |||||
James J. Volk | |||||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | |||||
Date: October 28, 2021 |
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