Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and 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,” “will,” “proposes,” “potential,” “could,” “should,” “outlook” or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of future financial performance, anticipated growth and trends in 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 actual results to differ materially and adversely from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and, in particular, the risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A, and those discussed in other documents the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Introduction
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis section provides an overview of Cincinnati Bell Inc.’s financial condition as of March 31, 2023 and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes as well as the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Results for interim periods may not be indicative of results for the full year or any other interim period.
altafiber Brand
In March 2022, the Company announced that we will begin doing business as “altafiber” in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana as we continue to expand our geographic reach and invest in our fiber network that delivers broadband connectivity. The branding change will not impact our Hawaiian Telcom business or IT Services business, which is branded as CBTS in the U.S. and Europe and OnX in Canada.
25
Executive Summary
Segment results described in the Executive Summary are net of intercompany eliminations.
Cincinnati Bell Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries ("altafiber," "Cincinnati Bell," "we," "our," "us" or the "Company") provide integrated communications and IT solutions that keep consumer and enterprise customers connected with each other and with the world. Through our Network segment, the Company provides Data, Video, and Voice solutions to consumer and enterprise customers over an expanding fiber network and a legacy copper network. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States, Canada and Europe rely on the IT Services and Hardware segment for the sale and service of efficient, end-to-end communications and IT systems and solutions.
Consolidated revenue totaling $448.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $13.1 million compared to the same period in 2022 due to strategic revenue growth in both segments offsetting declines in Legacy revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, Fioptics revenue increased $10.1 million compared to the comparable period in the prior year as the Company continues to focus on high-speed internet activations while Legacy revenue decreased $8.8 million compared to the comparable period in 2022. IT Services and Hardware experienced revenue growth in all practices primarily due to services for existing customers which continue to bill and grow in 2023 in addition to increased hardware sales.
Operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $43.2 million and $15.0 million, respectively. Revenue growth in both segments was more than offset due to SG&A expenses to support revenue growth and higher depreciation and amortization expenses in the Network segment related to assets placed in service in connection with the expansion of our fiber network. In addition, Corporate SG&A costs in the three months ended March 31, 2023 include $3.1 million related to employee contract termination costs. These increases were partially offset by the decrease in transaction and integration costs in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year.
Interest expense increased $19.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the comparable period in the prior year. The increase is primarily due to higher interest rates on the Term B-1 Loans, Term B-2 Loans and the Company's accounts receivable securitization facilities in addition to increased borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility due 2026 and accounts receivable securitization facilities.
Other components of pension and postretirement benefit plans expense increased for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 due to the annual remeasurement of the pension and postretirement projected benefit obligations that resulted in additional expense due to higher interest costs and less benefit from expected return on plan assets.
Other expense (income), net totaled $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to recording losses associated with the Company's interest rate swap agreements and interest rate cap agreements of $8.2 million partially offset by recording a patronage distribution of $5.0 million from one of the syndicated lenders in the Company's Credit Agreement.
Loss before income taxes totaled $82.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 resulting in an increase in the loss of $53.7 million compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to the increase in operating loss in addition to higher interest expense in the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The income tax provisions for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were benefits of $12.3 million and $6.5 million, respectively. In the three months ended March 31, 2023, the income tax provision was lower than the period’s income at the statutory rate, due primarily to a federal and state valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. With the current year loss, net operating losses now exceed deferred tax liabilities available for offset, therefore a $8.4 million partial federal and state valuation allowance was recorded on net operating losses that are primarily non-expiring. In the comparable period, the income tax provision was higher than the period’s income at the statutory rate due to the effect of state taxes. The income tax benefit recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2023 was higher than the benefit recorded in the comparable period due to higher losses before taxes in the current period, offset in part by the effect of the federal valuation allowance that was recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2023.
26
Network
The Network segment provides products and services that are categorized as Fioptics, Enterprise Fiber or Legacy. Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC ("CBT"), a subsidiary of the Company, is the incumbent local exchange carrier ("ILEC") for a geography that covers a radius of approximately 25 miles around Cincinnati, Ohio, and includes parts of northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. CBT has operated in this territory since 1873. In 2022, the Company announced that we will being doing business as "altafiber" and started our network expansion outside of this territory to provide fiber services to Dayton, Ohio. Voice and data services in the Enterprise Fiber and Legacy categories that are delivered beyond the Company's ILEC territory, particularly in Dayton and Mason, Ohio, are provided through the operations of Cincinnati Bell Extended Territories LLC ("CBET"), a subsidiary of CBT. On July 2, 2018, the Company acquired Hawaiian Telcom. Hawaiian Telcom is the ILEC for the State of Hawaii and the largest full-service provider of communications services and products in the state. Originally incorporated in Hawaii in 1883 as Mutual Telephone Company, Hawaiian Telcom has a strong heritage of 140 years as Hawaii’s communications carrier. Its services are offered on all of Hawaii’s major islands, except its video service, which currently is only available on the island of Oahu. On May 2, 2022, the Company acquired Agile IWG Holdings, LLC (“Agile”), based in Canton, Ohio. Agile leases wireless infrastructure assets to third parties and provides connectivity through hybrid fiber wireless data networks primarily to customers in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Fioptics products include high-speed internet access, categorized below as data, voice lines and video as well as subsidized fiber build project revenue included in Other related to extending the Company’s fiber network in the Greater Cincinnati territory subsidized through our UniCity program and in Hawaii subsidized through a customer contract. The Company is able to deliver speeds of up to one gigabit per second to more than 80% of Greater Cincinnati and nearly 45% of Hawaii’s total addressable market.
Enterprise Fiber products include metro-ethernet, dedicated internet access, wavelength, IRU contracts, and wireless backhaul to macro-towers and small cell. Hawaiian Telcom Enterprise Fiber revenue also includes revenue from the SEA-US cable. As enterprise customers migrate from legacy products and copper-based technology, our metro-ethernet product becomes the preferred method of transport due to its ability to support multiple applications on a single physical connection. Subsequent to the Company’s acquisition of Agile in May 2022, Enterprise Fiber revenue also includes revenue from Agile.
Legacy products include traditional voice lines, consumer long distance, switched access, digital trunking, DSL, DS0, DS1, DS3 and other value-added services such as caller identification, voicemail, call waiting and call return.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
(dollars in millions) |
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
$ |
136.2 |
|
|
$ |
126.1 |
|
|
$ |
10.1 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
Video |
|
|
48.6 |
|
|
|
48.6 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0 |
% |
Voice |
|
|
56.9 |
|
|
|
59.3 |
|
|
|
(2.4 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
)% |
Other |
|
|
8.1 |
|
|
|
9.5 |
|
|
|
(1.4 |
) |
|
|
(15 |
)% |
Total Revenue |
|
|
249.8 |
|
|
|
243.5 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
3 |
% |
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of services and products |
|
|
116.9 |
|
|
|
108.0 |
|
|
|
8.9 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
53.1 |
|
|
|
45.2 |
|
|
|
7.9 |
|
|
|
17 |
% |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
108.9 |
|
|
|
93.4 |
|
|
|
15.5 |
|
|
|
17 |
% |
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
|
278.9 |
|
|
|
246.6 |
|
|
|
32.3 |
|
|
|
13 |
% |
Operating loss |
|
$ |
(29.1 |
) |
|
$ |
(3.1 |
) |
|
$ |
(26.0 |
) |
|
n/m |
|
Operating margin |
|
|
(11.6 |
)% |
|
|
(1.3 |
)% |
|
|
|
|
(10.3) pts |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
$ |
137.7 |
|
|
$ |
81.5 |
|
|
$ |
56.2 |
|
|
|
69 |
% |
27
Network, continued
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|
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metrics information (in thousands): |
|
March 31, 2023 |
|
|
March 31, 2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
Cincinnati |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fioptics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internet FTTP* |
|
|
309.8 |
|
|
|
267.5 |
|
|
|
42.3 |
|
|
|
16 |
% |
Video |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fioptics Video |
|
|
122.2 |
|
|
|
121.5 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
1 |
% |
Voice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fioptics Voice Lines |
|
|
99.6 |
|
|
|
100.7 |
|
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
)% |
Fioptics Units Passed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units passed FTTP* |
|
|
679.0 |
|
|
|
554.3 |
|
|
|
124.7 |
|
|
|
22 |
% |
Enterprise Fiber |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ethernet Bandwidth (Gb) |
|
|
11,450 |
|
|
|
7,233 |
|
|
|
4,217 |
|
|
|
58 |
% |
Legacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DSL and FTTN** |
|
|
44.2 |
|
|
|
69.0 |
|
|
|
(24.8 |
) |
|
|
(36 |
)% |
Voice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Legacy Voice Lines |
|
|
130.1 |
|
|
|
150.0 |
|
|
|
(19.9 |
) |
|
|
(13 |
)% |
* Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP)
**Internet speeds of less than 100mpbs including Legacy DSL and Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) previously included in Fioptics Data
28
Network, continued
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metrics information (in thousands): |
|
March 31, 2023 |
|
|
March 31, 2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
Hawaii |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fioptics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internet FTTP* |
|
|
75.1 |
|
|
|
66.2 |
|
|
|
8.9 |
|
|
|
13 |
% |
Video |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fioptics Video |
|
|
35.5 |
|
|
|
36.7 |
|
|
|
(1.2 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
)% |
Voice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fioptics Voice Lines |
|
|
29.7 |
|
|
|
28.6 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
Fioptics Units Passed ** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units passed FTTP* |
|
|
284.4 |
|
|
|
224.2 |
|
|
|
60.2 |
|
|
|
27 |
% |
Enterprise Fiber |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ethernet Bandwidth (Gb) |
|
|
5,284 |
|
|
|
4,270 |
|
|
|
1,014 |
|
|
|
24 |
% |
Legacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DSL and FTTN*** |
|
|
35.2 |
|
|
|
36.8 |
|
|
|
(1.6 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
)% |
Voice |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Legacy Voice Lines |
|
|
117.7 |
|
|
|
134.3 |
|
|
|
(16.6 |
) |
|
|
(12 |
)% |
* Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP)
** Includes units passed for both consumer and business on Oahu and neighboring islands
***Internet speeds of less than 100mpbs including Legacy DSL and Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) previously included in Fioptics Data
29
Network, continued
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
(dollars in millions) |
|
Cincinnati |
|
|
Hawaii |
|
|
Total |
|
|
Cincinnati |
|
|
Hawaii |
|
|
Total |
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fioptics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
$ |
59.6 |
|
|
$ |
13.9 |
|
|
$ |
73.5 |
|
|
$ |
51.3 |
|
|
$ |
10.8 |
|
|
$ |
62.1 |
|
Video |
|
|
39.9 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
48.6 |
|
|
|
39.5 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
|
|
|
48.6 |
|
Voice |
|
|
8.5 |
|
|
|
2.9 |
|
|
|
11.4 |
|
|
|
8.5 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
|
|
|
11.3 |
|
Other |
|
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
3.5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3.5 |
|
|
|
|
109.4 |
|
|
|
26.2 |
|
|
|
135.6 |
|
|
|
102.8 |
|
|
|
22.7 |
|
|
|
125.5 |
|
Enterprise Fiber |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
25.4 |
|
|
|
12.8 |
|
|
|
38.2 |
|
|
|
21.5 |
|
|
|
11.7 |
|
|
|
33.2 |
|
Legacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data |
|
|
15.8 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
24.5 |
|
|
|
19.3 |
|
|
|
11.5 |
|
|
|
30.8 |
|
Voice |
|
|
22.6 |
|
|
|
22.9 |
|
|
|
45.5 |
|
|
|
23.7 |
|
|
|
24.3 |
|
|
|
48.0 |
|
Other |
|
|
2.5 |
|
|
|
3.5 |
|
|
|
6.0 |
|
|
|
3.8 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
6.0 |
|
|
|
|
40.9 |
|
|
|
35.1 |
|
|
|
76.0 |
|
|
|
46.8 |
|
|
|
38.0 |
|
|
|
84.8 |
|
Total Network revenue |
|
$ |
175.7 |
|
|
$ |
74.1 |
|
|
$ |
249.8 |
|
|
$ |
171.1 |
|
|
$ |
72.4 |
|
|
$ |
243.5 |
|
Fioptics
Fioptics revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $10.1 million compared to the same period in 2022 primarily due to the increase in the subscriber base for internet. The internet subscriber base continues to increase as we focus attention on growing the internet FTTP subscriber base and accelerating the pace of our fiber build which enabled us to pass 21,800 FTTP addresses in Cincinnati and 16,400 FTTP addresses in Hawaii during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Average Revenue Per User (“ARPU”) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased for internet in both Cincinnati and Hawaii compared to the comparable period in 2022 primarily due to price increases and more customers subscribing to higher broadband tiers. Video ARPU also increased 3% in Hawaii which partially offset the decline in subscribers. Video ARPU increases are related to price increases as well as the change in the mix of subscribers. Other revenue primarily consists of revenue from nonrecurring subsidized fiber build projects in Cincinnati and Hawaii and totaled $2.0 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
30
Network, continued
Enterprise Fiber
Enterprise Fiber revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $5.0 million compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to revenue contributed by Agile of $3.7 million. In addition, revenue increased as a result of customers migrating from legacy product offerings to higher bandwidth fiber solutions as evidenced by the 58% and 24% increases in Ethernet Bandwidth in Cincinnati and Hawaii, respectively. During 2022, significant contracts were signed with large carriers in Cincinnati and Hawaii to upgrade Ethernet Bandwidth across their networks which continue to bill and grow in 2023. Increased revenue was partially offset by pricing pressures to provide higher speeds at a lower cost.
Legacy
Legacy revenue decreased $8.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 due to the decline in voice lines and DSL subscribers. Voice lines declined 13% and 12% in Cincinnati and Hawaii, respectively, as the traditional voice lines become less relevant. DSL subscribers continue to decrease in Cincinnati and Hawaii as subscribers demand the higher speeds that can be provided by fiber.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Cost of services and products increased $8.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the comparable period in the prior year due to increased video content costs of $1.9 million due to rate increases and increases in operating taxes, rent expense and contract services of $1.8 million each. Operating taxes increased primarily due to increased regulatory fees. Higher rent expense is primarily due to expense contributed by Agile in the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in contract services is due to higher utilization of outside contractors on certain specialized projects including the expansion of our fiber network. In addition, payroll related costs increased $1.2 million due to higher headcount to support our fiber network expansion, partially offset by favorable payroll benefit costs in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
31
Network, continued
SG&A expenses increased $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. Increased costs are primarily due to initiatives to support revenue growth in addition to increases in payroll related costs, bad debt expense and advertising costs. Payroll related costs increased $3.5 million due to additional headcount, including headcount associated with the acquisition of Agile, and higher commissions costs. Bad debt expense increased $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 primarily due to favorable collection efforts resulting in lower bad debt expense in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in advertising costs of $0.9 million is due to increased marketing campaigns and promotional events.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 primarily due to assets placed in service in connection the expansion of our fiber network.
32
Network, continued
Capital Expenditures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
(dollars in millions) |
|
Cincinnati |
|
|
Hawaii |
|
|
Total |
|
|
Cincinnati |
|
|
Hawaii |
|
|
Total |
|
Fioptics Capital Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Construction |
|
$ |
39.7 |
|
|
$ |
15.4 |
|
|
$ |
55.1 |
|
|
$ |
25.1 |
|
|
$ |
9.5 |
|
|
$ |
34.6 |
|
Installation |
|
|
21.4 |
|
|
|
8.9 |
|
|
|
30.3 |
|
|
|
10.9 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
|
|
|
16.0 |
|
Other |
|
|
7.1 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
7.6 |
|
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
2.3 |
|
Total Fioptics |
|
|
68.2 |
|
|
|
24.8 |
|
|
|
93.0 |
|
|
|
38.0 |
|
|
|
14.9 |
|
|
|
52.9 |
|
Enterprise Fiber |
|
|
5.4 |
|
|
|
5.3 |
|
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
Other |
|
|
14.9 |
|
|
|
19.1 |
|
|
|
34.0 |
|
|
|
9.5 |
|
|
|
12.8 |
|
|
|
22.3 |
|
Total Network Capital Expenditures |
|
$ |
88.5 |
|
|
$ |
49.2 |
|
|
$ |
137.7 |
|
|
$ |
50.2 |
|
|
$ |
31.3 |
|
|
$ |
81.5 |
|
Capital expenditures in Cincinnati are incurred to expand our Fioptics product suite, upgrade and increase capacity for our networks, and to maintain our fiber and copper networks. The Company is focused on building FTTP addresses and has accelerated the pace of our build, and during the first quarter of 2023, we passed 21,800 FTTP addresses in Cincinnati. As of March 31, 2023, the Company is able to deliver its Fioptics services with speeds up to one gigabit or more to 679,000 residential and commercial addresses, or more than 80% of our operating territory in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati construction capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $14.6 million compared to the same period in 2022 due to the timing of capital expenditures, which does not necessarily coincide with the timing of when addresses become available. In the three months ended March 31, 2023, Cincinnati installation capital expenditures increased $10.5 million compared to the comparable period in the prior year primarily due to increased activations. Cincinnati installation capital expenditures were also impacted by the timing of expenditures for customer premise equipment (“CPE”) utilized for installations.
Enterprise Fiber capital expenditures in Cincinnati are related to success-based fiber builds, including associated equipment, for enterprise and carrier projects to provide ethernet services as well as network refresh projects that ensure we continue to grow our capacity and services within the network core. Cincinnati Enterprise Fiber capital expenditures increased $2.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 primarily due to capital expenditures contributed by Agile of $1.7 million. Other capital expenditures are related to IT projects, cable and equipment maintenance and capacity additions, real estate upgrades and maintenance, plus other minor capital purchases.
Hawaii construction capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $5.9 million compared to the same period in the prior year due to building out 16,400 FTTP addresses in the first quarter of 2023. Hawaii installation capital expenditures increased $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the comparable period in 2022 primarily due to increased internet installations. Enterprise Fiber capital in Hawaii is primarily driven by new ethernet customers. Hawaii capital expenditures classified as Other include IT projects, real estate projects, road jobs or plant damage projects, and network upgrades or optimization projects.
33
IT Services and Hardware
The IT Services and Hardware segment provides end-to-end solutions ranging from consulting to implementation to ongoing optimization. These solutions include Cloud, Communications and Consulting services along with the sale and maintenance of major branded Telecom and IT hardware reported as Infrastructure Solutions. These services and products are provided through the CBTS brand in various geographic areas throughout the United States and Europe and through the OnX brand in Canada. By offering a full range of equipment and strategic services in conjunction with the Company’s fiber and copper networks, the IT Services and Hardware segment provides our customers personalized solutions designed to meet their business objectives.
Cloud services include the design, implementation and on-going management of the customer’s infrastructure. This includes on-premise, public cloud and private cloud solutions. The Company assists customers with the risk assessment phase through an in-depth understanding of the customer’s business as well as designing and building a solution, using either the customer's existing infrastructure or new cloud based options that transform the way that the customer does business.
Communications solutions help to transform the way our customers do business by connecting employees, customers, and business partners. By upgrading legacy technologies through customized build projects and reducing customer costs, the Company helps to transform the customer’s business. These services include Unified Communications as a Service ("UCaaS"), Software-Defined Wide Area Network ("SD-WAN"), Network as a Service ("NaaS"), Contact Center and Collaboration.
Using our experience and expertise, Infrastructure Solutions are tailored to our customers’ organizational goals. We offer a complete portfolio of services that provide customers with efficient and optimized IT solutions that are agile and responsive to their business and are integrated, simplified and manageable. Through consulting with customers, the Company will build a solution using standard manufacturer equipment to meet our customers’ specific requirements.
Consulting services help customers assess their business and technology needs and provide the talent needed to ensure success. The Company is a premier provider of application services and IT staffing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
(dollars in millions) |
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consulting |
|
$ |
84.7 |
|
|
$ |
83.4 |
|
|
$ |
1.3 |
|
|
|
2 |
% |
Cloud |
|
|
26.6 |
|
|
|
24.6 |
|
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
Communications |
|
|
56.2 |
|
|
|
54.9 |
|
|
|
1.3 |
|
|
|
2 |
% |
Infrastructure Solutions |
|
|
37.5 |
|
|
|
35.9 |
|
|
|
1.6 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
Total revenue |
|
|
205.0 |
|
|
|
198.8 |
|
|
|
6.2 |
|
|
|
3 |
% |
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of services and products |
|
|
142.2 |
|
|
|
136.8 |
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
44.1 |
|
|
|
40.0 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
|
|
10 |
% |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
24.3 |
|
|
|
26.0 |
|
|
|
(1.7 |
) |
|
|
(7 |
)% |
Restructuring and severance related charges |
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
|
|
(78 |
)% |
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
|
210.8 |
|
|
|
203.7 |
|
|
|
7.1 |
|
|
|
3 |
% |
Operating loss |
|
$ |
(5.8 |
) |
|
$ |
(4.9 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.9 |
) |
|
|
18 |
% |
Operating margin |
|
|
(2.8 |
)% |
|
|
(2.5 |
)% |
|
|
|
|
(0.3) pts |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
$ |
5.9 |
|
|
$ |
6.3 |
|
|
$ |
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
)% |
34
IT Services and Hardware, continued
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metrics information: |
|
March 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
March 31, 2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
Consulting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Billable Resources |
|
|
2,388 |
|
|
|
|
2,289 |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NaaS Locations |
|
|
12,036 |
|
|
|
|
10,855 |
|
|
|
1,181 |
|
|
|
11 |
% |
SD - WAN Locations |
|
|
9,107 |
|
|
|
|
7,924 |
|
|
|
1,183 |
|
|
|
15 |
% |
Hosted UCaaS Profiles* |
|
|
317,224 |
|
|
|
|
305,443 |
|
|
|
11,781 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
* Includes Hawaii Hosted UCaaS Profiles
Revenue
IT Services and Hardware segment revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $6.2 million compared to the comparable period in the prior year due to growth in each of the practices. Consulting revenue increased $1.3 million due to existing projects which continue to bill and grow in 2023. Cloud revenue increased $2.0 million primarily due to providing ongoing monitoring and management services related to significant customer contracts obtained in prior years which continue to bill and grow in 2023. Communications revenue increased $1.3 million as a result of customers migrating to newer technologies which has increased the Company’s Hosted UCaaS profiles, NaaS locations and SD-WAN locations. These increases were partially offset by the decline in legacy communications revenue. The increase in Infrastructure Solutions revenue is due primarily to the sale of hardware partially offset by a decrease in the sale of maintenance services.
Operating Costs and Expenses
IT Services and Hardware cost of services and products increased $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 primarily due to increases in payroll related costs, contractor costs and operating taxes. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, payroll costs and contractor costs increased $1.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively, compared to the same period in the prior year due to additional headcount to support the growth in the Cloud and Consulting practices. Primarily as a result of existing consulting projects that continue to grow, billable resources increased by 99 persons compared to March 31, 2022. Operating taxes increased $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year due to increases in general excise tax and regulatory fees.
SG&A expenses increased $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year primarily to support revenue growth and to a lesser extent fill roles and implement software that the Company strategically determined will no longer be carried out by a shared resource for each of the segments. Payroll related costs increased $1.6 million due to increased headcount and employee commissions. Software development costs increased $1.1 million due to internal software projects. Bad debt expense increased $0.5 million due to the aging of certain customer receivables. Employee related costs increased $0.4 million as the Company continues to increase travel and entertainment expenses that were previously limited as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease is due to certain assets that were given a shorter useful life when recorded at fair value on the Company's merger date, September 7, 2021, and were fully depreciated by December 31, 2022 in addition to declining amortization expense on certain intangibles.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures are dependent on the timing of success-based projects. Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were primarily related to projects supporting the Cloud and Communications practices. In addition to success-based projects, the Company incurred $0.8 million for implementation work associated with internal software projects in the three months ended March 31, 2023.
35
Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $228.0 million and $1,826.7 million of outstanding indebtedness.
The Company’s primary source of cash is generated by operations. The Company generated $26.6 million and $89.1 million of cash flows from operations during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $125.2 million of short-term liquidity, comprised of $7.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, $100.0 million of undrawn capacity on our Revolving Credit Facility due 2026, $4.2 million available under the Network Receivables Facility (defined below) and $13.6 million available under the CBTS Receivables Facility (defined below).
On January 31, 2023, the Company, together with certain of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, made certain amendments (the “Amendments”) to the Company’s accounts receivable securitization facility ("Receivables Facility"). The Amendments amend the Receivables Facility to, among other things: (i) increase the total maximum borrowing capacity to $280.0 million, (ii) separate the Receivables Facility into two separate facilities, with (A) the existing Receivables Facility (the “Network Receivables Facility”), as amended by the Amendments, covering receivables originated by certain U.S. subsidiaries of the Company including Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC, Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc. and certain of their respective subsidiaries having a maximum borrowing capacity of $55.0 million and (B) a new facility (the “CBTS Receivables Facility”) covering receivables originated by certain U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries in the Company's IT Services and Hardware segment including CBTS Technology Solutions LLC and OnX Enterprise Solutions Ltd. having a maximum borrowing capacity of $225.0 million, (iii) move the receivables monetization arrangements from the Network Receivables Facility to the CBTS Receivables Facility, and (iv) make applicable technical and conforming changes thereto. In addition, the Amendments extend the renewal dates of each facility to January 2025 and the termination dates of each facility to January 2026.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had borrowings of $35.5 million and $15.3 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Network Receivables Facility on a borrowing capacity of $55.0 million. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had borrowings of $198.8 million and $0.8 million of letters of credit outstanding under the CBTS Receivables Facility on a borrowing capacity of $213.2 million.
Capacity on the Network Receivables Facility and the CBTS Receivables Facility is calculated and will continue to be calculated based on the quantity and quality of outstanding accounts receivables. Therefore if the Company experiences declines in revenue or extends discounts to customers, the capacity could be negatively impacted and reduce our short term liquidity. While we expect to continue to renew the Network Receivables Facility and CBTS Receivables Facility, we would be required to use cash, our Revolving Credit Facility due 2026, or other sources to repay any outstanding balances on the facilities if they were not renewed.
The Company’s primary uses of cash are for capital expenditures and debt service and, to a lesser extent, to fund pension and retiree medical obligations. The Company believes that cash on hand, operating cash flows, its Revolving Credit Facility due 2026, its Network Receivables Facility and CBTS Receivables Facility, and the expectation that the Company will continue to have access to capital markets to refinance debt and other obligations as they mature and come due, should allow the Company to meet its cash requirements for the foreseeable future.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with the Credit Agreement covenants and ratios.
Cash Flows
Cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023 totaled $26.6 million, a decrease of $62.5 million compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to higher interest payments of $16.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the comparable period in 2022 due to higher interest rates and increased borrowings on the Company's credit facilities in addition to increased cash outflow due to increased working capital associated with the IT Services and Hardware segment as well as increased inventory by the Network segment to support the accelerated build strategy compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was partially offset by $19.1 million of accounts receivable sold on the CBTS Receivables Facility as of March 31, 2023 compared to no accounts receivable sold on the Company's former Receivables Facility as of March 31, 2022.
Cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023 totaled $146.4 million, an increase of $61.0 million compared to the same period in the prior year due to the increase in capital expenditures primarily associated with extending the Company's fiber network.
Cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023 totaled $122.7 million primarily due to net borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility due 2026 and receivables facilities of $77.0 million and $47.4 million, respectively. Cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022 totaled $4.2 million as net borrowings of $1.7 million on the Company's former Receivables Facility were more than offset by debt repayments of $5.9 million.
Regulatory Matters
Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 for a complete description of regulatory matters.
36
Contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various regulatory and tax proceedings, lawsuits, claims and other matters. The Company believes adequate provision has been made for all such asserted and unasserted claims in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and outcomes that are not predictable with assurance.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates or judgments that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and information available as of the date of the financial statements. As this information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates or judgments.
The Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Refer to Note 1 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on recently issued accounting standards. The adoption of new accounting standards did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
37