February 20, 2014
HIGHLIGHTS
- Strong Adjusted EBITDA of $407 million in line with revised guidance range
- Achieved full year revenue guidance of $1.2 billion
- Revenue from strategic products totaled $359 million, up 17 percent year-over-year
- Fioptics annual revenue exceeded $100 million, up 48 percent over prior year
- Record high 23,100 Fioptics high-speed internet and 19,100 entertainment net activations
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE:CBB) today announced financial results for the full year and fourth quarter of 2013, highlighted by impressive full-year Adjusted EBITDA1 totaling $407 million, after excluding CyrusOne, and the continued strong demand and growth in our strategic products.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
On January 24, 2013, the company successfully completed the initial public offering ("IPO") of CyrusOne, and its consolidated year-to-date results for 2013 include the results of that business up to the IPO date. Year-to-date revenue for 2013 was $1.3 billion, operating income was $164 million, and net income excluding special items2 totaled $14 million. Excluding the data center segment results, Cincinnati Bell generated revenue of $1.2 billion, down 1 percent from the prior year and operating income of $181 million. Adjusted EBITDA excluding the data center business was $407 million, and includes a gain of $6 million associated with mark-to-market adjustments on compensation plans indexed to the company's stock price.
Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $308 million, down $10 million from the prior year after excluding the data center segment results. Operating income totaled $40 million, down $10 million from the prior year after excluding CyrusOne. The fourth quarter net loss of $28 million includes a $30 million loss on the early extinguishment of the 8.25 percent Senior Notes due 2017, repaid with proceeds from the issuance of a $540 million Tranche B term loan facility.
SEGMENT RESULTS
Wireline Segment
Revenue growth from strategic fiber based products continues to increasingly mitigate access line loss. Fioptics revenue totaled $29 million in the quarter, up 49 percent from the same period in 2012. Strategic revenue for business customers totaled $40 million, up 12 percent compared to the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA margin3 was 44 percent in the quarter, down from prior year due to the loss of higher margin access lines.
- Wireline revenue was $182 million for the quarter, flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. Full year Wireline revenue totaled $725 million, down 1 percent from a year ago.
- Operating income for the quarter was $43 million, down from $50 million in the same period of 2012, and full year 2013 operating income was $190 million, down 11 percent compared to 2012.
- Adjusted EBITDA was $80 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 and $331 million for the full year, down 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively, from the same periods in 2012.
- Fioptics entertainment subscribers increased by 4,500 in the quarter and 19,100 for the year. Fioptics entertainment subscribers totaled 74,200 at the end of the year, up 35 percent compared to the end of 2012.
- Fioptics internet subscribers now total 79,900, up more than 40 percent from a year ago. The company added 5,600 new Fioptics high-speed internet subscribers in the quarter, and 23,100 for the year.
- In 2013, we passed 71,000 units with Fioptics and achieved 29 percent penetration. The Fiopitcs suite of products is now available to 276,000 residential and business customers, approximately 35 percent of Greater Cincinnati.
IT Services and Hardware Segment
Strong demand for managed and professional services resulted in revenue of $33 million, up 20 percent over the prior year. Hardware sales totaled $53 million for the quarter.
- Revenue for the quarter was $86 million, down $1 million from the fourth quarter of 2012. Full year revenue was $344 million, up 9 percent compared to the prior year.
- Operating income totaled $2 million for the quarter and $9 million for the full year.
- Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $5 million, up $1 million from a year ago. Full year Adjusted EBITDA totaled $20 million, up 11 percent from the prior year.
Wireless Segment
We continue to manage our Wireless segment for cash flow and profitability as the business is challenged by revenue declines due to the loss of postpaid subscribers.
- Revenue was $47 million for the quarter and $202 million for 2013, a decrease of 17 percent for both periods compared to 2012.
- Wireless reported full year operating income of $18 million, including a $1 million operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2013.
- Adjusted EBITDA was $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 and $63 million for the full year, down from $17 million and $85 million, respectively, from the same periods in 2012.
- Wireless subscribers totaled 340,000 at the end of the year compared to 398,000 a year ago.
Investment in CyrusOne
Cincinnati Bell continues to effectively own 69 percent of CyrusOne, which is accounted for as an equity method investment. As of year-end, the company's investment in CyrusOne was valued at approximately $1 billion.
- CyrusOne reported revenue of $72 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $40 million for the fourth quarter of 2013. For the full year, CyrusOne reported revenue of $264 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $139 million, in line with its established financial guidance range.
- CyrusOne provided 2014 financial guidance targets for Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, indicating expected growth of 18 percent and 17 percent at the mid-point of the range.
2014 Outlook
Cincinnati Bell is providing the following guidance for 2014:
| Category | 2014 Guidance |
| Revenue | $1.2 billion |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $383 million* |
*Plus or minus 2 percent
Conference Call/Webcast
Cincinnati Bell will host a conference call on February 20 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss its results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013. A live webcast of the call will be available via the Investor Relations section of www.cincinnatibell.com. The conference call dial-in number is (866) 863-7412. Callers located outside of the U.S. and Canada may dial (816) 581-1570. A taped replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the conclusion of the call until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday March 6, 2014. For U.S. callers, the replay will be available at (888) 203-1112. For callers outside of the U.S. and Canada, the replay will be available at (719) 457-0820. The replay reference number is 8619702. An archived version of the webcast will also be available in the Investor Relations section of www.cincinnatibell.com.
Safe Harbor Note
This release and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "predicts," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "endeavors," "strives," "may," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned these forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those reflected in the forwardlooking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this release and those discussed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). More information on potential risks and uncertainties is available in our recent filings with the SEC, including Cincinnati Bell's Form 10-K report, Form 10-Q reports and Form 8-K reports. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forwardlooking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains information about adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA margin, net debt, net income excluding special items, and free cash flow. These are non-GAAP financial measures used by Cincinnati Bell management when evaluating results of operations and cash flow. Management believes these measures also provide users of the financial statements with additional and useful comparisons of current results of operations and cash flows with past and future periods. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as being more important than comparable GAAP measures. Detailed reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP financial measures have been included in the tables distributed with this release and are available in the Investor Relations section of www.cincinnatibell.com.
1Adjusted EBITDA provides a useful measure of operational performance. The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as GAAP operating income plus depreciation, amortization, transaction-related compensation, restructuring charges, (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets, transaction costs, curtailment gain, asset impairments, components of pension and other retirement plan costs (including interest costs, asset returns, and amortization of actuarial gains and losses), and other special items. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to comparable GAAP measures of profitability and may not be comparable with the measure as defined by other companies.
CyrusOne defines Adjusted EBITDA as net (loss) income as defined by U.S. GAAP before noncontrolling interests plus interest expense, income tax (benefit) expense, depreciation and amortization, non-cash compensation, transaction costs and transaction-related compensation, including acquisition pursuit costs, loss on sale of receivables to affiliate, restructuring costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, asset impairments, (gain) loss on sale of real estate improvements, and other special items. Other companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner as CyrusOne. Accordingly, CyrusOne's Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to others. Detailed reconciliations of CyrusOne's Adjusted EBITDA to the comparable GAAP financial measure are available in the Investor Relations section of www.cyrusone.com.
2 Net income excluding special items in total and per share provides a useful measure of operating performance. Net income excluding special items should not be considered as an alternative to comparable GAAP measures of profitability and may not be comparable with net income excluding special items as defined by other companies.
3 Adjusted EBITDA margin provides a useful measure of operational performance. The company defines Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin should not be considered as an alternative to comparable GAAP measures of profitability and may not be comparable with the measure as defined by other companies.
Free cash flow provides a useful measure of operational performance, liquidity and financial health. The company defines free cash flow as cash provided by (used in) operating, financing and investing activities, adjusted for the issuance and repayment of debt, debt issuance costs, the repurchase of common stock, and the proceeds from the sale or the use of funds from the purchase of business operations, including transaction costs. Free cash flow should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss), cash flow from operating activities, or the change in cash on the balance sheet and may not be comparable with free cash flow as defined by other companies. Although the company feels that there is no comparable GAAP measure for free cash flow, the attached financial information reconciles free cash flow to the net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.
Net debt provides a useful measure of liquidity and financial health. The company defines net debt as the sum of the face amount of short-term and long-term debt and unamortized premium and/or discount, offset by cash and cash equivalents. Net debt should not be considered as an alternative to comparable GAAP measures of liquidity and may not be comparable with the measure as defined by other companies.
About Cincinnati Bell Inc.
With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB) provides integrated communications solutions - including local and long distance voice, data, high-speed internet, entertainment and wireless services - that keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States rely on CBTS, a wholly-owned subsidiary, for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. Cincinnati Bell also is the majority owner of CyrusOne (NASDAQ: CONE), which provides bestin- class data center colocation services to enterprise customers through its facilities with fully redundant power and cooling solutions that are currently located in the Midwest, Texas, Arizona, London and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com.